For immortal_pirate

[so_far_fallen]

Aria hadn't taken well to sea life at first - the motion of the ship rolling on the waves had done nothing for his health and he'd been rather poorly. They'd been at sea a while now and he'd become used to it.

He'd spent a lot of time with Morgan during the day when he could, but he'd been sure to retire to his own room each evening.

This evening he'd settled himself against the ships railing to watch the sun set on the horizon and then spotted a pod of dolphins. He'd never seen the sea mammals in the flesh before, he'd heard about them, but this was his first sight. He was enchanted by them and completely lost track of time as he watched them weaving and and leaping about the waves made in the ship's wake.

Comments

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

Aria took a seat beside him and said nothing, instead he glanced at him and smiled before touching his lily white fingers to the piano keys and launching straight into a flawless rendition of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.

[immortal-pirate.livejournal.com]

"Well done," Morgan applauded softly. "Shall we try a duet? Are you familiar with Mozart's Sonata for piano in C Major?"

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

"Oh, yes I am. I'm very fond of it," Aria nodded. "I'd like to play that with you."

He touched his fingers to the piano keys once more, appearing calmer and more relaxed than Morgan's ever seen him, having lost himself in the music he was playing.

[immortal-pirate.livejournal.com]

He smiled, Morgan liked this side of Aria. The young man was so beautiful lost in the music. He set his fingers to the keys and started playing his part of the Allegro.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

Aria relaxed further as they continued to play together. He glanced at Morgan, smiling. After some time he shuffled a little closer to Morgan.

It had surprised him that Morgan had not visited his chamber or attempted to share his company in a more intimate manner since he'd taken him from the brothel. Now he had no doubt that Morgan's intentions had been nothing but good and he allowed himself to recognise the attraction he'd felt at their first meeting.

[immortal-pirate.livejournal.com]

He noticed Aria scoot a little closer to him on the piano bench and just smiled. Morgan kept playing. Since he was no longer a whore, he didn't want to treat him like one. He couldn't force himself on the lad. Never in all his years had he ever had to resort to rape to get what he wanted. Morgan wanted to give Aria a chance to decide whether or not he liked him naturally. However, it did seem as if he was interested.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

Aria finished with his last few notes before folding his hands in his lap and smiling to himself.
"You play beautifully," he commented.

[immortal-pirate.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, so do you," he started playing a new piece he'd heard by the French composer Claude Debussy. He liked it, the piece was fairly dramatic.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

Aria didn't know this piece, but he listened carefully, soaking in the sounds. As he watched Morgan play it occurred to him exactly how fond he was of the man. He was undeniably handsome, he reminded him of a stallion - strong, bold, but also graceful in a way. He was a fine man, a magnificent one in fact. Aria owed him a lot, but he thought his liking of him ran deeper than that.

He realised he was staring and turned his eyes to his lap, smiling softly.

[immortal-pirate.livejournal.com]

He did notice Aria watching him and smiled softly as he continued to play. Morgan liked Aria as well. He was beautiful, intelligent and talented. He wanted to get to know the young man better. He finished the piece and looked over at the younger man.

"It's called Claire de Lune."

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

"Moonlight," Aria translated, "Very fitting."

There was a silence, it seemed even more prominent after such beautiful music had filled the space before it. Aria took a deep breath and spoke again.
"Morgan... I want to say thank you again, for everything you've done for me. You can't know how you've saved me, it's taken a little time for me to realise it myself. If it's not too much a burden then I'd very much like to stay with you a while in New York."

[immortal-pirate.livejournal.com]

"I thought so," Morgan admitted about the music. "Of course, you can stay with me a while. I figured you might want to until we got you established in a place of your own." He hadn't dared to hope that Aria would want to stay with him for another reason.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

"Yes.. well... I wouldn't want to outstay my welcome..." Aria said, quietly. "Thank you."

He was blushing and he didn't really know why. He stroked the piano keys lightly with his fingertips absenmindedly.

[immortal-pirate.livejournal.com]

"Aria, you wouldn't... You're always welcome," he noticed that the younger man was blushing. "What is it that makes you blush so?"

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

Aria stood up, turning away and becoming flustered.
"Oh... erm, nothing. No reason. I mean... It's just I forget myself with you sometimes, Morgan. You make me feel so... comfortable. I don't think I've ever felt so relaxed in someone's company before."

[immortal-pirate.livejournal.com]

"I like that you can feel that way in my company," Morgan smiled softly, turning toward him on the piano bench. Then he dared to hope. "But if you are attracted to me truly, you're welcome to say so."

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

Aria's blush deepened and he spoke quietly.
"...I'm afraid to say so... I'm afraid of what it would mean... I've been hurt so badly, and it's no reflection on you, but I'm scared to go through that again..."

[immortal-pirate.livejournal.com]

"Aria, I understand," he started, a little disappointed, but he figured this might be a possibility. "If you would rather not start a deeper relationship. And I have no wish to hurt you, you know that. If you're not ready... I understand." Morgan closed his eyes for a moment, he had wanted to say 'nothing ventured, nothing gained,' and that all relationships had risk of pain, but he didn't. He wanted the younger man to make his own decisions, then he couldn't influence him more than he'd already done.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

"I know you would never hurt me," Aria sighed, turning back to Morgan and smiling. "I'm being silly really. I'm just... I don't know myself anymore. But I do care deeply about you, Morgan, of that I'm certain.
... I was also afraid that my feelings would not be reciprocated..."

[immortal-pirate.livejournal.com]

"I do care deeply for you, Aria. More than I have felt for anyone in a long time," he had held himself back for so long, Morgan could hardly stand it. "I wanted you to come to me out of genuine feelings rather than because you felt you owed me anything." He was afraid to say it. He didn't want Aria to think that he only brought him on this trip to New York to exploit him sexually.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

"And I needed the time to trust your intentions for myself. I knew in my heart that you only meant well for me, but there was still part of me that was so uncertain. Now I know I can trust you, and more than that I feel like you'll take care of me, like I'm safe in your company. I enjoy your company."

[OOC: Sorry for the late reply - I was so certain I'd already tagged this :S ]

[immortal-pirate.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, I enjoy your company too," he wanted Aria to feel safe with him. If that meant putting aside his own desires, so be it. He would have kissed Aria then, but that they were in a public area of the ship and anyone could come walking in.

[ooc: no worries.]

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

Aria let out a sigh of relief, it felt like a great weight had been lifted and he wasn't entirely sure why.

"Perhaps we can forget the dance tonight. I feel we should spend some time together, just us two. What do you think?"

[immortal-pirate.livejournal.com]

"I'd like that," he smiled widely. "Shall we play something else?" he was enjoying this time spent with Aria, sharing their common interest in music.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

"Yes, let's."

Aria sat back down and tinkled out a little tune he'd composed himself, a pretty and light little dity with only two chords. It lasted only two minutes and then he smiled at Morgan and laughed for no other reason than because he was happy.