Etiquette

by Vivi

Etiquette and subtlety were lost on the young. Long years of experience had taught Ian that particular truth, time and again. For example, there were certain questions that one should never ask another person, particularly when said person had their mouth filled with food or beverage lest some unpleasantness occur as a result.

"What's it like to be with another guy?" Was just such a question, and it was those same years of experience that allowed Ian to avoid any of the aforementioned unpleasantness by swallowing his last bite of sandwich without choking.

Elijah was watching him with serious blue eyes, not a hint of hobbity mischief visible and Ian resisted the childish urge to poke his tongue out at the boy, just to see him blink. The rest of the cast and crew were some small distance away, too polite to smoke in the tent and the two of them were alone at the table.

"Well," he started, slowly, "I suspect it's a great deal like being with a woman, aside from a few general differences in the landscape." He was rather proud that he'd managed to keep most of the dryness from his tone, considering the boy's seriousness; despite his lack of manners, neither did Ian want to be rude himself. When Elijah frowned and seemed about to ask another question, Ian could not resist adding, "Why don't you tell me what it's like to be with a woman, and I'll point out any differences."

Elijah was apparently not a completely beyond his aid, because he blushed deeply and looked away. "I'm sorry. People probably ask you that all the time."

"Not as often as you might think," Ian replied, and he did not bother to hide his dry tone this time. Elijah's cheeks went from flushed pink to a rather charming crimson.

"I'm sorry," he repeated and he looked miserable enough that Ian felt a pang of bemused pity.

"Quite all right, but I must admit, I'm curious as to why you asked."

Elijah's eyes flicked away from his own, and Ian followed his gaze curiously, raising a set of mental eyebrows when he saw where it landed, though it did not linger. "Just...you know...curious, I guess," Elijah said evasively.

"Indeed," Ian murmured, considering, and then nodded decisively. He took a deep drink of his water, rinsing away the flavor of his sandwich before he simply leaned forward and kissed the boy.

Gently, hardly more than a brush of pressure over Elijah's lips at first, and the boy was clearly startled. Still, it was hardly a moment before he responded, his lips parting hesitantly and his tongue venturing out to linger over Ian's.

Ian gently stroked Elijah's cheeks with his long fingers, smooth and soft to the touch, and despite his lacking of manners, there was a certain charm in simple naiveté and the sweetness of youth.

He lingered only briefly, allowing the both of them a mere taste before he pulled away to find wide, blue eyes staring at him. Such a lovely boy; Elijah wet his lips nervously as he searched for words, close to stammering something out before Ian took pity on him.

"It's rather like that," Ian said lightly, "I'm afraid if your curiosity has not been appeased, however, you're simply going to have to find someone else to ask." He winked at Elijah, who still seemed stunned to silence, ruffling the boy's hair fondly before he moved to depart.

He made a point of not looking at Orlando, who was standing just inside the doorflap and gaping quite rudely, eyes flicking back and forth as though he could not decide who to stare at.

Ian tutted quietly, walking past him. Truly, etiquette was lost on the young.

-finis-

Email comments to mailto:vivianedesblanc@gmail.com