somehow, i'd find a way to survive. [ he shoots back, wry as ever. to be fair, though, it would take raphael a while to readjust to mornings without justin's cheery and terrible rise and shine messages which, no, has nothing to do with survival, but may or may not have something to do raphael's general well-being. he's accepted it without giving it more thought than he deems it deserves. ]
maybe you'll surprise us both and impress me.
[ raphael tucks his phone into his jacket, committed to this now, as if he wasn't before. of course, the museum is not too far from his apartment building, as most things are never really too far when vampire speed is at your disposal. once in the street, he takes off in the right direction, sweeping by pairs of people holding hands as they wander home and others who couldn't wait long enough to find some privacy and now kiss under streetlights. raphael doesn't pay anyone much more than a passing glance, but given the circumstances, he can't help the way his mind pinpoints the kind of meetings people tend to have at this hour, especially here in the city.
he slows just before the museum steps, glancing up at justin where he waits outside the doors. ]
Dime con quién andas, y te diré quién eres. [ he says as he climbs the stairs because apparently a simple hello lacks any real satisfaction. he repeats the phrase again, slower this time so justin can pay attention to the sound and shape of the words. he comes to a stop in front of justin, hands in his pockets. he's dressed for a business meeting or a high-class funeral or perhaps even a date, depending on what you want to see. which is probably true of the look raphael flashes, too, clearly expectant of something. ]
[ as it stands, justin has no plans of committing to an earlier bedtime, mostly because he's never really been one to turn in early (though early is relative in this case, specifically), but also because he's come to enjoy his evenings with raphael in them, even if it's just a back and forth of witty messages and, sometimes, talk of plans to meet up. early to bed and early to rise seems like less fun, and raphael doesn't have to know about the couple of times he's stayed up until sunrise, just to be able to say goodnight.
justin hasn't really forgotten about raphael's supernatural speed - it's one of the first new things he'd learned about vampires, back when they'd first met in person at pandemonium, something he filed away so he wouldn't forget -, but that doesn't mean he's not somewhat surprised to see him so soon. he hears his voice first, low and smooth and familiar, and lifts his head up from the pamphlet in his hand, reading it as if he doesn't have the entire thing memorized by now.
justin smiles at the sight of him, pleased by his attendance and a promise fulfilled. his lips part, and he's about to ask raphael to repeat the phrase slower for him, but raphael seems to read his mind before he can get the words out. he listens carefully, his eyes focused on raphael's mouth, on the shape of his lips as he pronounces each word for him, and repeats the words back to him under his breath for now. he'll have to run it through his head a few more times before he'll actually say it out loud. ]
I think it's plenty enough to get you in. [ he lifts his brows subtly, the corners of his mouth tugging a little with a soft smile as he reaches out to press the museum guide to the center of raphael's chest, fingertips grazing his dress shirt. it's soft against his skin and justin takes half a moment to look him over, not surprised in the slightest that he's dressed to impress. justin isn't quite so done-up, but he's not in jeans and a t-shirt, either. instead, he's dressed in black slacks and a dark navy button down, the sleeves cuffed at his elbows. work attire, seeing as he hasn't really left yet.
justin waits for raphael to take responsibility for the paper guide before he lifts his hand away, then moves to pull the only unlocked door open for him, stepping aside. ] But the quality of the tour depends on the quality of the phrase, and you haven't told me what it means.
[ the way justin's eyes dart up and down does not go unnoticed, but enough time spent together means raphael expects the subtle once over. it's possible raphael is guilty of the same kind of glance—he's never seen justin in work wear, dressed up just a little, the air of professionalism softened by the casual roll of his sleeves—but he makes a point of being especially secretive about it. he's not about to be caught staring.
justin presses the guide to his chest and raphael offers a look as he accepts it, like perhaps he means to say he knows they're on justin's turf now, but raphael's not about to let his guard down. what he's guarding against isn't exactly clear; this is just something they do, this give and take that sometimes results in raphael refusing to give or take anything. tonight, though, he might not be so concerned with avoiding the peculiar dance. ]
Do you torture all your patrons of the arts like this? [ he says as he follows justin through the door, pamphlet curled in hand. of course, he knows they had a deal and that makes him a special case, so he fully intends to fulfill his end of the bargain. ]
It means 'tell me who you spend time with, and I'll tell you who you are.' [ he offers as he peers appraisingly around the museum's foyer, and then finds justin's eyes again, judging his response. ] I'm sure that says something about you. Spending time with a vampire.
[ emphasis here on the word vampire, like maybe justin should consider just what that means. but raphael knows how justin feels; he's already proven that he's not particularly scared of what raphael is, despite the warning signs. and he knows, too, that when justin makes up his mind about something, he's not easily swayed. they have that in common. ]
Spending time with me. [ and he doesn't mean that in a self-deprecating way; that's clear from the smooth tone of voice. he more wants to recognize the rarity of that, of spending time with an acquired taste like raphael. and the rarity of raphael letting it happen. it all means something, surely, the mystery of which raphael leaves justin to contemplate as he passes him by, as if he intends to give himself that tour. ]
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maybe you'll surprise us both and impress me.
[ raphael tucks his phone into his jacket, committed to this now, as if he wasn't before. of course, the museum is not too far from his apartment building, as most things are never really too far when vampire speed is at your disposal. once in the street, he takes off in the right direction, sweeping by pairs of people holding hands as they wander home and others who couldn't wait long enough to find some privacy and now kiss under streetlights. raphael doesn't pay anyone much more than a passing glance, but given the circumstances, he can't help the way his mind pinpoints the kind of meetings people tend to have at this hour, especially here in the city.
he slows just before the museum steps, glancing up at justin where he waits outside the doors. ]
Dime con quién andas, y te diré quién eres. [ he says as he climbs the stairs because apparently a simple hello lacks any real satisfaction. he repeats the phrase again, slower this time so justin can pay attention to the sound and shape of the words. he comes to a stop in front of justin, hands in his pockets. he's dressed for a business meeting or a high-class funeral or perhaps even a date, depending on what you want to see. which is probably true of the look raphael flashes, too, clearly expectant of something. ]
Is that enough to get me in?
no subject
justin hasn't really forgotten about raphael's supernatural speed - it's one of the first new things he'd learned about vampires, back when they'd first met in person at pandemonium, something he filed away so he wouldn't forget -, but that doesn't mean he's not somewhat surprised to see him so soon. he hears his voice first, low and smooth and familiar, and lifts his head up from the pamphlet in his hand, reading it as if he doesn't have the entire thing memorized by now.
justin smiles at the sight of him, pleased by his attendance and a promise fulfilled. his lips part, and he's about to ask raphael to repeat the phrase slower for him, but raphael seems to read his mind before he can get the words out. he listens carefully, his eyes focused on raphael's mouth, on the shape of his lips as he pronounces each word for him, and repeats the words back to him under his breath for now. he'll have to run it through his head a few more times before he'll actually say it out loud. ]
I think it's plenty enough to get you in. [ he lifts his brows subtly, the corners of his mouth tugging a little with a soft smile as he reaches out to press the museum guide to the center of raphael's chest, fingertips grazing his dress shirt. it's soft against his skin and justin takes half a moment to look him over, not surprised in the slightest that he's dressed to impress. justin isn't quite so done-up, but he's not in jeans and a t-shirt, either. instead, he's dressed in black slacks and a dark navy button down, the sleeves cuffed at his elbows. work attire, seeing as he hasn't really left yet.
justin waits for raphael to take responsibility for the paper guide before he lifts his hand away, then moves to pull the only unlocked door open for him, stepping aside. ] But the quality of the tour depends on the quality of the phrase, and you haven't told me what it means.
no subject
justin presses the guide to his chest and raphael offers a look as he accepts it, like perhaps he means to say he knows they're on justin's turf now, but raphael's not about to let his guard down. what he's guarding against isn't exactly clear; this is just something they do, this give and take that sometimes results in raphael refusing to give or take anything. tonight, though, he might not be so concerned with avoiding the peculiar dance. ]
Do you torture all your patrons of the arts like this? [ he says as he follows justin through the door, pamphlet curled in hand. of course, he knows they had a deal and that makes him a special case, so he fully intends to fulfill his end of the bargain. ]
It means 'tell me who you spend time with, and I'll tell you who you are.' [ he offers as he peers appraisingly around the museum's foyer, and then finds justin's eyes again, judging his response. ] I'm sure that says something about you. Spending time with a vampire.
[ emphasis here on the word vampire, like maybe justin should consider just what that means. but raphael knows how justin feels; he's already proven that he's not particularly scared of what raphael is, despite the warning signs. and he knows, too, that when justin makes up his mind about something, he's not easily swayed. they have that in common. ]
Spending time with me. [ and he doesn't mean that in a self-deprecating way; that's clear from the smooth tone of voice. he more wants to recognize the rarity of that, of spending time with an acquired taste like raphael. and the rarity of raphael letting it happen. it all means something, surely, the mystery of which raphael leaves justin to contemplate as he passes him by, as if he intends to give himself that tour. ]