“It’s Aurri Case!” Killian said, his voice rising slightly in pitch with his excitement, the sound sending tingles down Cyrus’ spine.
Even when he wasn’t trying, the Siren’s voice was music to whoever was listening. The man’s mood, of course, determined if there was any danger or manipulation coming with it.
“That multi-media painter you love? You recently managed to get your hands on a couple of his paintings, didn’t you?”
Cyrus could picture both pieces in his head. They were both collages of many textures, looking like bizarre, desolate underwater landscapes, filled with structures that made no sense. He could also picture many of the Cryptid’s other works, remembering the details clearly. Not because they were his style, but because Killian would show them to him, and then often describe every detail with even less contained excitement than he was showing now.
When it came to emotions, the Siren tended to be more muted and controlled. So Cyrus couldn’t help but try to hold tight in his mind anything that pushed the slightly emotionally muted man to loosen his restraints.
“Yes, through a few of Severo’s, or rather his mother, Bella’s, contacts.” Killian wrinkled his nose. “It was a giant pain in the ass, even with her help.”
“I do remember a few of your complaints.” He smirked. “It does make me wonder why he is coming here. I thought both Aurri and his artwork rarely left Mars?”
“Haven’t discovered the reason yet, but I will,” the Siren swore, his smile turning devious for just a second before going back to normal, making him fully aware that Killian wouldn’t be finding out through legal means and gossip. “What I do know isthat he is in fact coming, and that there will be a private grand opening, with a chance to meet the artist, before the gallery finally opens the show for public viewing.”
His smirk widened. “I’ll get us an invite.”
Killian beamed and reached across the table, slowly sliding his hand over one of Cyrus’. “Ah, to be with a man who can figure out what I want without me having to ask.”
Cyrus chuckled. “You make it easy for me, Baby, with all of the context clues you graciously provide for me to follow. When is it?”
“The dates haven’t been released to the public yet, but the grand opening, based on what I found?—”
“Illegally found?” he cut in.
“I was making sure they weren’t embezzling,” Killian lied, his smile serene.
He chuckled. “I’m sure you were. So, the grand opening is…?”
“October 20th.”
“Sooner than I assumed. Did you find anything else out about the show while hacking?”
The Siren’s smile widened, as the glow of his blue-jean-colored eyes brightened. “Only that the gallery will be filled with a series of work that Aurri has never mentioned or shown before! The title of the show is Breaking Even. And based on his previous work, we really can only speculate as to what that means about the mix-media paintings.” The man paused with a happy hum before adding, “Oh, also, he will be running sales in an auction-like manner during the grand opening, even if the work will remain up until the last day of the exhibition. Apparently, most of the proceeds will be going to a number of charities.”
“Should I be prepared to make a count of how many people you talk out of buying things, so you can get your lovely hands on them?”
Killian shrugged, looking unbothered, yet undeniably pleased with the reality of his future manipulations. “Considering how much you let me indulge in my interests, I’d assumed I was well known enough in the fine art circles for people to know it’s best to stay out of my way.”
“One would assume so, but some people are severely lacking in critical thinking skills. Though, if it’s an auction, between your voice and my wealth, I feel we won’t be having any issues, unless Severo’s parents show up, that is.”
The Siren’s expression didn’t change, clearly unbothered by the possibility. “Aurri Case’s work really isn’t to Bella’s taste, and her husband is wholly uninterested in art. If anything, she’d likely be showing up to buy for me, since she knows how much I enjoy his work.”
“Fair enough,” Cyrus agreed with a smile, which widened as the man started to speculate on what the series could be about.
Cyrus could honestly listen to Killian talk for hours. And it wasn’t just because of his voice. He loved watching Killian’s eyes glow brighter with excitement, just feeling the change in temperature as the man’s shifting mood caused it to raise or drop. Cyrus just loved hearing about the man’s interests, about what made him happy, so he could be part of that.
The Siren’s very presence made him feel alive. It sometimes felt like he needed Killian just to breathe. He loved him… With all of his being, he loved him. And he knew he shouldn’t be hiding what he had done, what he had seen, but Cyrus just couldn’t find the will, or… Sometimes it felt like hecouldn’ttell him, like something was stopping him.
He knew he wasn’t the only one hiding something. Cyrus had figured out pretty easily that Killian was holding something back. But, the man had a right to privacy. He didn’t need to share everything with him, even if they were dating. He was, however,worried, well…more fearful, that whatever the Siren was hiding, it had everything to do with Killian’s no longer impending death.
Staring into the man’s glowing blue eyes, while listening and holding on to each word the Siren spoke, Cyrus couldn’t understand how anyone could have expected him to let him go…
How could he have been expected to just let himself lose the very person who gave him breath each day, without doing all he could to stop it?
Quill Kepler sat therein the grass drying Princess, a Rhode Island red hen, while trying to convey with his eyes to the newbie recruit to shut the fuck up. Because he really would like the man to stop talking, to end the potentially dangerous thoughts he was stupidly voicing aloud in front of Ender.
Thomas was barely dabbing the chicken in his hold with the towel. The brown hen, Josaphine, clucked angrily up at the Chupacabra, looking ready to attack. Not that Thomas seemed to notice, as he continued spewing his idiocy.
