[ really, it was his dream job. maybe there were some who thought it silly, useless even, to want to be a curator for a museum. it was a building filled with the remnants of the dead, or with coloured pieces of paper that were hung on walls, but it was the job that Rook had always wanted. to him, there was something comforting to be surrounded by the pieces that had survived, the reminders that humans were somewhat the same, no matter how much time or how much space there might be between them, there was always a fascination with beauty, and with war, and death. they might be a place that were often filled with bones and echoes, but for Rook they were the most vibrant places.
he remembers the first time that his mother took him to a museum, a simple thing in their hometown, with only a handful of rooms and a few chunks of rock, but that place was the most interesting place in the world to the boy. they had a sandbox in a room where you could 'dig' for dinosaur bones, and once every few months, there would be a new piece of art on the walls in the one room, and whether it was from a famous artist or a local one, Rook always thought it was amazing. after his first visit, Rook visited every day after, becoming friends with the old lady who worked behind the desk covered in pamphlets and dust, and who would tell him stories from times before.
and maybe that is what he learned to love the most, the stories behind each artifact, each statue or painting, every piece of jewellery or the burial shrouds. there were stories. there were memories. love woven into every piece, a love of something so vibrant that it didn't fade over thousands of years.
so Rook studied history and anthropology, along with management, finances and relations to make sure that, no matter what, he was qualified to work in a museum. made sure that he was the top of his classes, top of the university, and so he spent the last year of his degree in the hot sands of northern Africa brushing off dust from pieces of pottery, and while it seemed boring enough, Rook loved it. he came home sunkissed and smiling, all the more in love with the past.
only a year later, he landed his first job as a junior curator at a small museum slash gallery in London.
the following year, he moved up. and not five years after his graduation, got his foot in the door at one of the most prestigious museums in Europe. there were those that whispered he got it because of his face, because he was often likened to the marble statues of the greek gods that lined the halls, but Rook likes to think that it was because he knew his stuff. that his love for the past, and for art, shone when you saw him speaks about what seemed to be nothing more than an old rock.
(it was never just some old rock, not if you asked Rook. there was the blood of a Roman emperor on it, the carvings from the hand of Achilles, a splatter of paint from Da Vinci. a story that was hidden just out of reach.)
Rook was also, thankfully, a people person. which meant that, once being hired at the museum, he was tasked with teaching the small tours that came in about different things, about answering questions and telling the stories that no one else saw. he was all the more suited for it with his mastery of multiple languages (his mother always told him that would be a benefit, he is so very glad he listened to her), so it wasn't unusuall to see him sitting on the floor in the middle of the Greek section speaking French and German and Korean to the children that gathered around.
all in all, Rook was in heaven.
which is why he comes in wrapped in his sweater and a scarf on this chilly winter morning, with tea in hand and a smile on his face. and maybe he is humming under his breath as he enters, typing in the passcode to grant him access to the darker backrooms of the museum, excited to see what was new, or rather what was old, for the day.
instead of statues and old papyrus though, Rook is met with a very new face in the backroom.
blinking, Rook pauses, scarf half unwrapped from around his neck, and cheeks flushed from the walk over, tea still clutched in hand.]
Oh, um. Are you-- new? Lost? Usually no one is back here when I come in. [ a huff, and a small smile. ] I mean, I'm not trying to be rude! Just, um-- yeah.
[jiho doesn't have a fascination with any of those things, death and war most notably. he is comfortable with them, in a way that should make him uncomfortable. he walks into the museum and sees a statue that makes him think of a mission in greece. he sees a painting that reminds him of one he watched turned to ash, because the artist's god didn't look like the arsonist's god. he sees the bones of creatures long gone, and the bones of those recently gone, hunted to extinction. the red in monet's flowers looks like the splattering of blood.
this building houses so much beauty. but most of it is lost on him.
it's been a year since he lost his brother. a year since it was "suggested" that he take some time off, which was a piss-poor attempt at sounding concerned and caring when he was really just being told that no one trusted him with a gun in his hand anymore. the bastards probably expected him to pick one up and turn it on himself, but jiho is a lot more stubborn than any of the shadowy higher-ups had given him credit for.
unfortunately, the electric company is pretty stubborn too, especially when it comes to their bill being paid on time. and jiho's severance pay is wearing a little thin, which has forced a man who has never known a normal life to maybe seek one out.
not a life, a job. that's all it is. he almost doesn't even acknowledge the man speaking to him - being a people person was thankfully not one of the qualifications, or jiho would never have passed the first round of interviews. but something about the nervous certainty in his voice makes jiho look up and-
huh. this museum actually does have something beautiful in it after all.
[ there is a moment where Rook almost thinks that he is not going to get an answer to his question (it was a little rude, a little stilted really), because it takes the other a moment to look up from tying his shoes. and when he does look up there is a veneer of disintrest in the curve of his brows. not that it was personal, at least Rook didn't think so, it was just-- well some people were not morning people. or people people. and it was still fairly early in the morning and Rook was clearly people, so if he didn't get an answer it wasn't necessarily a personal thing.
however, Rook does get an answer.
and not really one that he thought he would get.
he lets a quiet 'oh' fall from his lips, more an exhale of breath than a word, while tugging his scarf the rest of the way off.]
That-- so you're George's successor then. [ this smile is a little more sure as he nods, dropping the scarf to hang around his neck and then holding it out to shake.] Nice to finally meet you! I'm Rook, junior curator and director of educational development programs.
[he knows he replaced someone, though he didn't catch his name. that or he just didn't bother remembering it, since it was the name of a person he'd never meet. unlike this person, who he'd be working with every day. this person who, in jiho's mind, was under his protection.
rook, who would probably rather take a bullet than let one of the priceless museum pieces be stolen. fortunately jiho's not willing to let either of those things happen.]
That's a lot of titles for someone so young.
[he looks at him, trying to guess his age and placing it somewhere around his own. and a lot would say that he's pretty young to have done and seen the things tht he has.]
Nice scarf. [he reaches out to touch it, rubbing it between his fingers. that is why rook held it out to him, right?] Angola?
[ it would be funny to Rook if he realized just how well the new head of security managed to figure him out in a manner of a few moments; he would, indeed, rather take a bullet than have any of the pieces in this museum damaged or stolen. either way, the mention of his age makes him laugh, fingers tightening around the cup a little.]
I've worked hard to get here, but I mean I am only a junior curator.
[ which is still impressive for someone under the age of thirty, but Rook was nothing if not dedicated.
and perhaps a little bit flustered when the other reaches out to touch the scarf because, instead of offering his hand to shake, he went and just... offered his scarf.
the colour on his face is most certainly not from being outside anymore and most assuredly from him being as embarrassed as hell for that one. he makes a choked noise, not quite pulling it back, but kind of pulling it back as he tries to offer a hand to shake instead.]
Ah, sorry-- I mean, yeah, my mother send it to me, afraid of these European winters and all. [ here, let him try that handshake again.] I'm not-- I mean, it's early and I'm usually alone back here. Ah, would you care for some tea? It's spiced.
[ his thermos is more than large enough for him to share. ]
[it's part of what will make him good at his job - the ability to look at a person and see what's off about them. a nervous glance that's out of place with an otherwise relaxed posture. a bead of sweat in the cooler months with the ac still going. a hint that something on their inside doesn't quite match up with their outside wants you to believe.
he doesn't see anything like that with rook. he seems genuine inside and out. has he ever seen a grown man get flustered like that before? he doesn't think so. it's refreshing in a world like the one jiho's lived in. it's...charming. he wants to protect it and this large, beautiful man, and not just because it's his job.
he does sense that he might've offended him a little with his comment about age, and for that he's sorry.]
You must've worked very hard. [he says as an apology, trying not to smile too much as the other man withdraws his scarf.] She has good taste. I do a little knitting, believe it or not. But I'm not good enough yet to experiment with yarn that expensive.
[jiho takes his hand, shaking it but then pausing at the mention of something. his entire expression brightens.]
It is kind of dim for you to be alone back here, and it's almost an hour before we're open to the public.
[ it is less offence and more-- defence. there were many of those that seemed to think that Rook was gifted this position through some other means; money, sex, a nice smile at the right time. the truth of the matter is that he worked for it though, and-- well he feels like that is something the other might appreciate a little more.
he feels just a little pleased when he gets a smile, and even more pleased when he is given that little glimpse into the person that the other is.]
Oh? Really? My grandmother tried to teach me when I was little but-- I was always distracted with reading instead. [ usually books about myths and legends and history.] There might be days when you wish to have it with you here, depending on where you are for the day.
[ sure, there was always yelling at kids not to touch, or the occasional idiot that tried to get in the sarcophagus, but Rook was fairly sure art heists and thefts were better suited to movies than the reality of the place of his work.
don't mind the fleeting look of sheepishness there when you point out just how early he is at work.]
Ah, I mean, I like to have some quiet time in some of the wings before the visitors get here. Make sure-- ah, it sounds weird when I explain it, but I like to check in with the art and the artefacts? It it like a ritual of mine I guess. Also helps give me ideas about what stories to tell if we have any of the preschooler tours come in.
[he knows what rook means. the most exciting part of most of his days is likely to be helping a child find his lost mother, or pointing someone in the direction of the restrooms. he should be looking forward to that, all things considered. but it intimidates him in a strange way.
regardless, he will not get soft. he won't be fooled into think that every day will be that way. that it can't change in the blink of an eye.]
Check in with the artifacts - no, that's not strange at all. [please ignore the slight arching of his brow, and the barely contained smile because he really doesn't want rook to think that he's making fun of him. he's not, it's just another one of those strange and endearing things that has happened in the span of ten minutes.] Admit it, you've got a thing for one of the naked lady statues. They're very shapely.
[ Rook finds that he isn't all that surprised with how quickly the other responds to that in the negative. there is something so very serious about the other, something made of tempered steel at his core. part of Rook feels bad for the teens that try to get away with shit in here now, because he is sure that a scowl from him would be more than enough to terrify.
and yet-- Rook finds himself laughing a little more as he moves a little farther into the back room, putting his tea on the table and unbuttoning his jacket to hang it up. there is colour on his cheeks because he knows that what he is saying is more than a little strange. but it is the truth, there are times when he just wants to enjoy the silence of the different wings, see the statues and paintings and bits of old rock in the early morning light without the hustle and bustle of the day around them. not that they were less beautiful then, just--
there was a little more to them at this time. also, at closing, but Rook didn't often have time then to wander the halls, too tired from the day and needing to get home. and not just to feed his cat, though he is sure that was part of it. ]
That isn't-- [ one moment, he needs to think about that for a moment because-- what?] Ah I mean, not that I don't like the statues but, I can't say I have found myself fancying any of the ladies.
[ a pause while he opens his thermos, pulling a mug from one of the cubbies against the wall to pour some tea in it to offer.]
Should I make sure you don't get distracted in the greek sculpture wing, is that what you are telling me there, Pan?
because that's how he thinks of it now, though in a different way than the way rook feels about it, where it's a place that is cherished and 'his' in the way one might think of their lover. for jiho, it's 'his' because it's his to protect. which...he would actually also think of a lover.
the other man seems flustered again at his tease, but jiho doesn't get the feeling that that's the usual state for rook. he's too personable. he does seem to have a love for the inanimate things around him, so maybe he enjoys their company more. but he's still willing to bet that jiho's had more than a few pleasant and easy conversations with actual humans, even if it was only about said objects.
maybe it has something to do with his response. so jiho waits for that, and gathers all that he can from it.
oh. well, that is interesting.
jiho leans forward, taking the tea with a quiet thanks.]
Me? [he smiles a little, pausing and then taking a sip.] No. I can promise you that they're safe with me.
[he looks up at him before lowering the cup.]
I was in Greece a couple of years ago. Have you ever been?
[ a notion that Rook will come to appreciate. maybe, over time, he might manage to make him find a little joy and beauty in the halls of this place too. and it might be more enjoyable as a job then as well. while Rook understands that not everyone finds the same joy, the same escape, in this place, he does try to at least ensure that people can enjoy their time here. not be bored by it.
security included.]
Mmm, I do hope they are. You will have to watch them when the high school tours come in, teenagers don't seem to understand art much.
[ there is a wry twist to his lips, still remembering the many occasions when he had caught children, and teens, trying to take ridiculous photographs with the marble. and not just the boys, oh no. Rook pours himself some tea and hums at the warmth as is settles in him.]
Oh? I was, in my first year of university, we went to some of the historical sites there. [ he laughs, fondness lingering there.] I was so annoyed at some of my classmates trying to steal rocks from the temple of Athena, I ended up getting quite lost for a few hours.
[he's guessing that rook was different at that age, when a lot of teenagers find humor in the naked statues and don't quite get the abstract paintings. old things are just...old. so many of them are looking to the future.
he probably wasn't much different. he did appreciate comic book art, old martial arts films, that sort of thing. but he doesn't recall a wing for any of that here. maybe, though. maybe he will come to appreciate these things, see them a little more through rook's eyes.
rook continues on to tell a story that proves his earlier assumption. he clearly had a respect for these things from a young age.]
I was only there for a couple of days. I didn't get a chance to sight-see much. The food was good. [and that's all he's really gotten out of all the places he's been - a meal or two, not even really enough to give him an idea of what the food is like in that part of the world.] You seem to have a lot of stories.
[ Rook has always had a strange love of things that were old, and things that were beautiful. there was no way you could look towards the future without knowing how you got to the present, at least that was what Rook believed.
there is a pained noise from Rook when he hears that the other never got to stay too long in Greece, never got to really see the sights. at least he managed to enjoy some food though, that was something that was delicious there, everywhere really. you could learn a great deal about a place through what you found in their museums and what was served in the tiny little, hole-in-the-wall places to eat. ]
Pity, there are some gorgeous places in Greece, business trips are never long enough for the fun things are they? [ he assumes it was a business trip, can see him in a suit with his phone in hand, though he has no idea the kind of business.] If you get a holiday at all, I can certainly recommend some things to go see, I mean, if you care about that kind of thing.
[ because not everyone cares about piles of old rocks like Rook does. just let him sip his tea a little and perhaps choke on it a bit because--]
Ah, I mean most of them are about rocks and dust, so they aren't the interesting kind. Not to most people.
[business trips. jiho manages to keep himself from choking on his next sip of tea. it's natural that rook would assume that. hell, that's what jiho told people. it's a generic term that people understand, but also quells curiosity. everyone knows that business trips are boring.]
They're really not. If I ever do get another chance, I'd like to see more than I saw.
[which was mostly bodies and blood. if another chance does come, it won't be for awhile.
he looks at rook, notes the way he always almost puts himself or the things he loves down. it bothers him. rook's passion is so...pure. honest. it's nothing to be ashamed of. and it makes jiho want to know more.]
I'm not most people. [it's as soft and steady as his gaze on the other man. ...until his expression twists.] Fuck, I can't believe I said that. Sorry.
[ luckily for Jiho, Rook really isn't the most observant when it comes to people and doesn't catch any discomfort that might be present, instead is just so pleased that the other would like to actually see some of the places that Rook could offer. and while a lot of them were historical sites, he also knew about quiet a few nice places, beaches and secluded valleys, houses on the sea and rocky shores that were too beautiful to be real. ]
I can give you some amazing places to go, especially if you are willing to go for a hike to get there. Greece has some beautiful islands that are so much fun to hike, and they are full of little treasures. Places untouched in centuries and-- Ah, yeah. I mean, I um--
[ okay so maybe he is passionate about these kinds of things, about places that are as beautiful as the art they produce. as amazing as the myths they have given birth too.
Rook is about to apologize, or maybe try to reign himself in just a little, when he hears that and--
oh.
yeah he might snicker into his tea a little, but instead of looking apologetic looks so-- at ease? a little more open. Rook is used to people just wanting him to stand around and look pretty (or perhaps they just want someone who cares more about relationships and physical things than someone who is in love with rocks and dust and old tombs), he is used to people actually tuning out most of his stories. unless, of course, they were children during a tour.
looking down into his tea, Rook's smile goes a little soft before he looks back up.]
Ah, I mean, I won't hold it against you. It is still early, right? More tea maybe?
[oh, now that is something that jiho is interested in. he's never been into sports, neither watching nor participating. but things like hiking, running, where his only opponent is himself - jiho enjoys those kinds of things.]
Good. I've been dying to buy one of those backpacks with the solar panels. But you make it sound like you wouldn't mind going back yourself someday.
[and that fills jiho's head with thoughts that he should not be having, for lots of reasons. but it's been so long since he's had thoughts like that, or anything that bordered on fantasy or daydream. maybe he can allow himself an image of hiking through greece with him, stealing glances while rook gazes at athena or artemis or apollo. whatever temple they happen to find themselves in.
rook seems to relax a little after his...whatever that was. it was not a poor attempt at flirting, no sir. but maybe it was worth it if it makes him look like this, a little less stiff and awkward. the obvious warmth of this man spreading from the inside out.]
It is still early, and I bet you still have half a thermos of tea. [he glances at it with an arched brow before smiling at rook.] Or you could give me your own tour of this place.
[he's been through it, of course, noting exits and cameras and objects that would have the most value on the black market. but right now he's more interested in seeing this place the way rook sees it.]
[ it is a novel thing for Rook, to have someone that was willing to listen to him, actually pay attention to what he was saying, and not just stare at him like he was either insane or just something to be devoured. he finds himself opening up a little more than normal under the attention, something childish and pleased when backpacking with solar panels is mentioned.]
I would love to go back some day, I was suppose to take a trip for the museum actually, but then we decided to do a focus on the Celts. Which, well, interesting I suppose but-- [ he shrugs like 'what can you do'.] And that is a fancy level of backpack, I should have figured you would be a well prepared type.
[ Rook is more of a absent minded professor type when it comes to that, there are times when he is a little more than surprised that he has managed to make it through some of his excavations and adventures. probably thanks mostly to coworkers though.
the tea (which has a third left, thank you) is half way to his lips when he is asked for a tour.
congrats, you just made his day.]
Really? I would love to! And I can even promise to not ramble about the histories. Well, too much at least.
[there are times when he can be too prepared, though jiho would be loathe to admit that such a thing was even possible. sure, it might be hard to surprise him. next to impossible for a predator, human or animal, to stalk him. but he can't be that prepared and relax at the same time. he misses so many pleasures of what he's doing. sometimes it doesn't seem worth doing at all.]
Oh, really.
[he smirks at the almost-promise of not rambling too much about history. sorry rook, he does not believe you. but that's okay, because jiho sees a way that this can work in his favor.]
Okay, well. If you're not finished talking about it by the time my shift starts, you owe me dinner. There's a Greek restaurant somewhere in the city, right?
[a fitting punishment. and he really doesn't think that rook will be able to wrap up his tour in the relatively short time that they have left.]
[ there is a soft laugh, and a curve of a smile on his lips at that because yeah, he probably won't manage to keep a lid on some of the things he will have to say. that and well, they only have about forty minutes until the museum opens to the public and there is no way that Rook could give him a good tour of the place in that time. maybe some time, a night or holiday, he can take him through the place but--
huh. that was an interesting thought to have.
Rook shakes it away with a laugh, fingers curling a little tighter around his tea as he looks down, inhales, before looking up with a smile that threatens to bloom into a full on grin with only a little more attention from the other.]
Sounds like a deal, I do know a great place by the river that does the authentic cuisine justice.
[ he moves towards the door into the halls filled with marble and gold and rock, holding it open and gesturing forward.] Not that I think I will fail at this, because I probably will, but what is it the kids say? Challenge accepted?
[is he joking, it's hard to tell. jiho's sense of humor has always been a little on the dry side. sometimes biting, though he doesn't think he'll ever have to turn that on rook.
he finishes the rest of his tea quickly before standing. but halfway to where rook is holding the door, he stops. his face is blank, eerily unreadable.
and then he bursts into laughter.]
You did not just - please don't ever say that again.
[because it was awkward and adorable and next time he might not be able to blame spiced tea for the warmth that he's feeling inside his stomach and chest.]
[ there is a moment where Rook seems to pause, mouth partially open as he stares at the other as if trying to discern whether or not he means what he says. not that it it really matters, Rook is pretty sure that he is teasing in a sense.
mostly.
maybe?
he is saved actually figuring out the truth of what is being said when he hears laughter though because--
oh.
oh.
oh no.
Rook stumbles a little because he is pretty sure that is the first time he has thought a living person honest to god beautiful. it is a little unnerving. and thrilling.
please pretend that the flush on his face is from embarrassment or something and not the way his heart jumps in his chest, thank you. ]
Ah, I mean, I can't make a promise... [ he gives a quiet smile, knowing that he would do anything to hear him laugh like that again.] It is a good saying, something I expect Alexander the Great would have said. And with more enthusiasm I am sure. Oh, chronological tour, or tour of favourites?
[he will chalk that up to embarrassment, but the touch of pink on rook's tan, warm skin looks good regardless. he looks more like a swimmer than someone who spends his days inside a museum. he certainly has the body for it, and don't when the last time jiho had a thought like that was.]
Right. And I can't wait to hear about the 'yeeting' of Genghis Khan.
[god, they sound like a couple of dumb teenagers. but maybe it's fitting, because he sort of feels like one at that moment.
jiho's laughter has become a smile as he reaches out to make sure that the larger man is steady on his feet. he caught that little stumble there too. and to answer his question, there's only one thing that jiho wants to see right now.]
[ the laughter that spills from Rook's lips at that echoes in the empty hallway, whole face scrunching up in amusement. he might lean into the hand that tries to steady him, almost ready to fall over again but for a wholly different reason.]
I cannot-- the yeeting of Genghis Khan, I don't even--
[ don't mind the now giggling curator leaning into you a little more there, but he can't help it. Rook is rather tactile in nature, but he usually waits until knowing a person a while longer than just a quarter hour, but--
well, this seems to be different all around.
it means that when he smiles at him, it's all the brighter. all the closer.]
Okay, a tour of only the best then, just for you. First stop, the Assyrian section.
[jiho will continue to steady him for as long as rook needs him to. it's not a hardship, not when it also allows him the opportunity to feel how solid the other man is. to smell the clean, subtle scent of his soap or shampoo, whichever it is.
he even closes his eyes for a moment. when is the last time he heard someone laugh like that? did it always sound so nice?
but his eyes blink open again when rook speaks. he seems almost startled, just a little. he totally just bared his throat to this man. something to think about for later.]
[ if touch is a welcome thing, then he just might find himself the subject of more than one easy and idle touch from Rook. he grew up with a very loving mother, and when they moved to Spain, he was gifted with very easy and open step-siblings. for him, touch is a part of living, though he is more than aware that not everyone feels the same way about it as him. so, often times, Rook holds himself back (garners himself the 'aloof' label) because he simply does not want to put people in an awkward position.
so as they make their way through the halls, Rook shows little trouble in swaying close to the other, arms brushing, or curing fingers around his elbow to pull him in the right direction.]
Know the word! Hah. Technically, there are still those that bear the title of Assyrians in Iraq, Iran, and parts of Turkey today, but it was a rather ancient Mesopotamian empire from nearly 3000 years ago. I grew up fascinated with it because the only museum in the small Turkish town I was born in was dedicated to the uncovered Assyrian temple in that area. [ not that you care about that, but this is something he adores. oops. ] It was the most powerful empire in that area for hundreds of years.
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timeasmymeasure
exhibit b; soft sweaters and marble statues
Date: 2019-02-13 08:15 pm (UTC)he remembers the first time that his mother took him to a museum, a simple thing in their hometown, with only a handful of rooms and a few chunks of rock, but that place was the most interesting place in the world to the boy. they had a sandbox in a room where you could 'dig' for dinosaur bones, and once every few months, there would be a new piece of art on the walls in the one room, and whether it was from a famous artist or a local one, Rook always thought it was amazing. after his first visit, Rook visited every day after, becoming friends with the old lady who worked behind the desk covered in pamphlets and dust, and who would tell him stories from times before.
and maybe that is what he learned to love the most, the stories behind each artifact, each statue or painting, every piece of jewellery or the burial shrouds. there were stories. there were memories. love woven into every piece, a love of something so vibrant that it didn't fade over thousands of years.
so Rook studied history and anthropology, along with management, finances and relations to make sure that, no matter what, he was qualified to work in a museum. made sure that he was the top of his classes, top of the university, and so he spent the last year of his degree in the hot sands of northern Africa brushing off dust from pieces of pottery, and while it seemed boring enough, Rook loved it. he came home sunkissed and smiling, all the more in love with the past.
only a year later, he landed his first job as a junior curator at a small museum slash gallery in London.
the following year, he moved up. and not five years after his graduation, got his foot in the door at one of the most prestigious museums in Europe. there were those that whispered he got it because of his face, because he was often likened to the marble statues of the greek gods that lined the halls, but Rook likes to think that it was because he knew his stuff. that his love for the past, and for art, shone when you saw him speaks about what seemed to be nothing more than an old rock.
(it was never just some old rock, not if you asked Rook. there was the blood of a Roman emperor on it, the carvings from the hand of Achilles, a splatter of paint from Da Vinci. a story that was hidden just out of reach.)
Rook was also, thankfully, a people person. which meant that, once being hired at the museum, he was tasked with teaching the small tours that came in about different things, about answering questions and telling the stories that no one else saw. he was all the more suited for it with his mastery of multiple languages (his mother always told him that would be a benefit, he is so very glad he listened to her), so it wasn't unusuall to see him sitting on the floor in the middle of the Greek section speaking French and German and Korean to the children that gathered around.
all in all, Rook was in heaven.
which is why he comes in wrapped in his sweater and a scarf on this chilly winter morning, with tea in hand and a smile on his face. and maybe he is humming under his breath as he enters, typing in the passcode to grant him access to the darker backrooms of the museum, excited to see what was new, or rather what was old, for the day.
instead of statues and old papyrus though, Rook is met with a very new face in the backroom.
blinking, Rook pauses, scarf half unwrapped from around his neck, and cheeks flushed from the walk over, tea still clutched in hand.]
Oh, um. Are you-- new? Lost? Usually no one is back here when I come in. [ a huff, and a small smile. ] I mean, I'm not trying to be rude! Just, um-- yeah.
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Date: 2019-02-13 11:39 pm (UTC)this building houses so much beauty. but most of it is lost on him.
it's been a year since he lost his brother. a year since it was "suggested" that he take some time off, which was a piss-poor attempt at sounding concerned and caring when he was really just being told that no one trusted him with a gun in his hand anymore. the bastards probably expected him to pick one up and turn it on himself, but jiho is a lot more stubborn than any of the shadowy higher-ups had given him credit for.
unfortunately, the electric company is pretty stubborn too, especially when it comes to their bill being paid on time. and jiho's severance pay is wearing a little thin, which has forced a man who has never known a normal life to maybe seek one out.
not a life, a job. that's all it is. he almost doesn't even acknowledge the man speaking to him - being a people person was thankfully not one of the qualifications, or jiho would never have passed the first round of interviews. but something about the nervous certainty in his voice makes jiho look up and-
huh. this museum actually does have something beautiful in it after all.
jiho finishes tying his boot before standing up.]
I'm the new head of security.
[all five and a half feet of him.]
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Date: 2019-02-14 07:41 pm (UTC)however, Rook does get an answer.
and not really one that he thought he would get.
he lets a quiet 'oh' fall from his lips, more an exhale of breath than a word, while tugging his scarf the rest of the way off.]
That-- so you're George's successor then. [ this smile is a little more sure as he nods, dropping the scarf to hang around his neck and then holding it out to shake.] Nice to finally meet you! I'm Rook, junior curator and director of educational development programs.
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Date: 2019-02-15 12:07 am (UTC)[he knows he replaced someone, though he didn't catch his name. that or he just didn't bother remembering it, since it was the name of a person he'd never meet. unlike this person, who he'd be working with every day. this person who, in jiho's mind, was under his protection.
rook, who would probably rather take a bullet than let one of the priceless museum pieces be stolen. fortunately jiho's not willing to let either of those things happen.]
That's a lot of titles for someone so young.
[he looks at him, trying to guess his age and placing it somewhere around his own. and a lot would say that he's pretty young to have done and seen the things tht he has.]
Nice scarf. [he reaches out to touch it, rubbing it between his fingers. that is why rook held it out to him, right?] Angola?
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Date: 2019-02-15 12:35 am (UTC)I've worked hard to get here, but I mean I am only a junior curator.
[ which is still impressive for someone under the age of thirty, but Rook was nothing if not dedicated.
and perhaps a little bit flustered when the other reaches out to touch the scarf because, instead of offering his hand to shake, he went and just... offered his scarf.
the colour on his face is most certainly not from being outside anymore and most assuredly from him being as embarrassed as hell for that one. he makes a choked noise, not quite pulling it back, but kind of pulling it back as he tries to offer a hand to shake instead.]
Ah, sorry-- I mean, yeah, my mother send it to me, afraid of these European winters and all. [ here, let him try that handshake again.] I'm not-- I mean, it's early and I'm usually alone back here. Ah, would you care for some tea? It's spiced.
[ his thermos is more than large enough for him to share. ]
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Date: 2019-02-15 12:57 am (UTC)he doesn't see anything like that with rook. he seems genuine inside and out. has he ever seen a grown man get flustered like that before? he doesn't think so. it's refreshing in a world like the one jiho's lived in. it's...charming. he wants to protect it and this large, beautiful man, and not just because it's his job.
he does sense that he might've offended him a little with his comment about age, and for that he's sorry.]
You must've worked very hard. [he says as an apology, trying not to smile too much as the other man withdraws his scarf.] She has good taste. I do a little knitting, believe it or not. But I'm not good enough yet to experiment with yarn that expensive.
[jiho takes his hand, shaking it but then pausing at the mention of something. his entire expression brightens.]
It is kind of dim for you to be alone back here, and it's almost an hour before we're open to the public.
[and spiced tea is his fucking favorite.]
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Date: 2019-02-15 01:20 am (UTC)he feels just a little pleased when he gets a smile, and even more pleased when he is given that little glimpse into the person that the other is.]
Oh? Really? My grandmother tried to teach me when I was little but-- I was always distracted with reading instead. [ usually books about myths and legends and history.] There might be days when you wish to have it with you here, depending on where you are for the day.
[ sure, there was always yelling at kids not to touch, or the occasional idiot that tried to get in the sarcophagus, but Rook was fairly sure art heists and thefts were better suited to movies than the reality of the place of his work.
don't mind the fleeting look of sheepishness there when you point out just how early he is at work.]
Ah, I mean, I like to have some quiet time in some of the wings before the visitors get here. Make sure-- ah, it sounds weird when I explain it, but I like to check in with the art and the artefacts? It it like a ritual of mine I guess. Also helps give me ideas about what stories to tell if we have any of the preschooler tours come in.
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Date: 2019-02-15 07:36 pm (UTC)[he knows what rook means. the most exciting part of most of his days is likely to be helping a child find his lost mother, or pointing someone in the direction of the restrooms. he should be looking forward to that, all things considered. but it intimidates him in a strange way.
regardless, he will not get soft. he won't be fooled into think that every day will be that way. that it can't change in the blink of an eye.]
Check in with the artifacts - no, that's not strange at all. [please ignore the slight arching of his brow, and the barely contained smile because he really doesn't want rook to think that he's making fun of him. he's not, it's just another one of those strange and endearing things that has happened in the span of ten minutes.] Admit it, you've got a thing for one of the naked lady statues. They're very shapely.
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Date: 2019-02-15 08:52 pm (UTC)and yet-- Rook finds himself laughing a little more as he moves a little farther into the back room, putting his tea on the table and unbuttoning his jacket to hang it up. there is colour on his cheeks because he knows that what he is saying is more than a little strange. but it is the truth, there are times when he just wants to enjoy the silence of the different wings, see the statues and paintings and bits of old rock in the early morning light without the hustle and bustle of the day around them. not that they were less beautiful then, just--
there was a little more to them at this time. also, at closing, but Rook didn't often have time then to wander the halls, too tired from the day and needing to get home. and not just to feed his cat, though he is sure that was part of it. ]
That isn't-- [ one moment, he needs to think about that for a moment because-- what?] Ah I mean, not that I don't like the statues but, I can't say I have found myself fancying any of the ladies.
[ a pause while he opens his thermos, pulling a mug from one of the cubbies against the wall to pour some tea in it to offer.]
Should I make sure you don't get distracted in the greek sculpture wing, is that what you are telling me there, Pan?
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Date: 2019-02-15 11:23 pm (UTC)because that's how he thinks of it now, though in a different way than the way rook feels about it, where it's a place that is cherished and 'his' in the way one might think of their lover. for jiho, it's 'his' because it's his to protect. which...he would actually also think of a lover.
the other man seems flustered again at his tease, but jiho doesn't get the feeling that that's the usual state for rook. he's too personable. he does seem to have a love for the inanimate things around him, so maybe he enjoys their company more. but he's still willing to bet that jiho's had more than a few pleasant and easy conversations with actual humans, even if it was only about said objects.
maybe it has something to do with his response. so jiho waits for that, and gathers all that he can from it.
oh. well, that is interesting.
jiho leans forward, taking the tea with a quiet thanks.]
Me? [he smiles a little, pausing and then taking a sip.] No. I can promise you that they're safe with me.
[he looks up at him before lowering the cup.]
I was in Greece a couple of years ago. Have you ever been?
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Date: 2019-02-16 03:35 am (UTC)security included.]
Mmm, I do hope they are. You will have to watch them when the high school tours come in, teenagers don't seem to understand art much.
[ there is a wry twist to his lips, still remembering the many occasions when he had caught children, and teens, trying to take ridiculous photographs with the marble. and not just the boys, oh no. Rook pours himself some tea and hums at the warmth as is settles in him.]
Oh? I was, in my first year of university, we went to some of the historical sites there. [ he laughs, fondness lingering there.] I was so annoyed at some of my classmates trying to steal rocks from the temple of Athena, I ended up getting quite lost for a few hours.
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Date: 2019-02-16 06:25 pm (UTC)[he's guessing that rook was different at that age, when a lot of teenagers find humor in the naked statues and don't quite get the abstract paintings. old things are just...old. so many of them are looking to the future.
he probably wasn't much different. he did appreciate comic book art, old martial arts films, that sort of thing. but he doesn't recall a wing for any of that here. maybe, though. maybe he will come to appreciate these things, see them a little more through rook's eyes.
rook continues on to tell a story that proves his earlier assumption. he clearly had a respect for these things from a young age.]
I was only there for a couple of days. I didn't get a chance to sight-see much. The food was good. [and that's all he's really gotten out of all the places he's been - a meal or two, not even really enough to give him an idea of what the food is like in that part of the world.] You seem to have a lot of stories.
[jiho does too, but not many he can tell.]
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Date: 2019-02-16 11:03 pm (UTC)there is a pained noise from Rook when he hears that the other never got to stay too long in Greece, never got to really see the sights. at least he managed to enjoy some food though, that was something that was delicious there, everywhere really. you could learn a great deal about a place through what you found in their museums and what was served in the tiny little, hole-in-the-wall places to eat. ]
Pity, there are some gorgeous places in Greece, business trips are never long enough for the fun things are they? [ he assumes it was a business trip, can see him in a suit with his phone in hand, though he has no idea the kind of business.] If you get a holiday at all, I can certainly recommend some things to go see, I mean, if you care about that kind of thing.
[ because not everyone cares about piles of old rocks like Rook does. just let him sip his tea a little and perhaps choke on it a bit because--]
Ah, I mean most of them are about rocks and dust, so they aren't the interesting kind. Not to most people.
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Date: 2019-02-17 11:21 pm (UTC)They're really not. If I ever do get another chance, I'd like to see more than I saw.
[which was mostly bodies and blood. if another chance does come, it won't be for awhile.
he looks at rook, notes the way he always almost puts himself or the things he loves down. it bothers him. rook's passion is so...pure. honest. it's nothing to be ashamed of. and it makes jiho want to know more.]
I'm not most people. [it's as soft and steady as his gaze on the other man. ...until his expression twists.] Fuck, I can't believe I said that. Sorry.
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Date: 2019-02-17 11:45 pm (UTC)I can give you some amazing places to go, especially if you are willing to go for a hike to get there. Greece has some beautiful islands that are so much fun to hike, and they are full of little treasures. Places untouched in centuries and-- Ah, yeah. I mean, I um--
[ okay so maybe he is passionate about these kinds of things, about places that are as beautiful as the art they produce. as amazing as the myths they have given birth too.
Rook is about to apologize, or maybe try to reign himself in just a little, when he hears that and--
oh.
yeah he might snicker into his tea a little, but instead of looking apologetic looks so-- at ease? a little more open. Rook is used to people just wanting him to stand around and look pretty (or perhaps they just want someone who cares more about relationships and physical things than someone who is in love with rocks and dust and old tombs), he is used to people actually tuning out most of his stories. unless, of course, they were children during a tour.
looking down into his tea, Rook's smile goes a little soft before he looks back up.]
Ah, I mean, I won't hold it against you. It is still early, right? More tea maybe?
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Date: 2019-02-18 12:37 am (UTC)Good. I've been dying to buy one of those backpacks with the solar panels. But you make it sound like you wouldn't mind going back yourself someday.
[and that fills jiho's head with thoughts that he should not be having, for lots of reasons. but it's been so long since he's had thoughts like that, or anything that bordered on fantasy or daydream. maybe he can allow himself an image of hiking through greece with him, stealing glances while rook gazes at athena or artemis or apollo. whatever temple they happen to find themselves in.
rook seems to relax a little after his...whatever that was. it was not a poor attempt at flirting, no sir. but maybe it was worth it if it makes him look like this, a little less stiff and awkward. the obvious warmth of this man spreading from the inside out.]
It is still early, and I bet you still have half a thermos of tea. [he glances at it with an arched brow before smiling at rook.] Or you could give me your own tour of this place.
[he's been through it, of course, noting exits and cameras and objects that would have the most value on the black market. but right now he's more interested in seeing this place the way rook sees it.]
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Date: 2019-02-18 04:47 pm (UTC)I would love to go back some day, I was suppose to take a trip for the museum actually, but then we decided to do a focus on the Celts. Which, well, interesting I suppose but-- [ he shrugs like 'what can you do'.] And that is a fancy level of backpack, I should have figured you would be a well prepared type.
[ Rook is more of a absent minded professor type when it comes to that, there are times when he is a little more than surprised that he has managed to make it through some of his excavations and adventures. probably thanks mostly to coworkers though.
the tea (which has a third left, thank you) is half way to his lips when he is asked for a tour.
congrats, you just made his day.]
Really? I would love to! And I can even promise to not ramble about the histories. Well, too much at least.
[ no, he totally will. probably. ]
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Date: 2019-02-18 11:56 pm (UTC)Oh, really.
[he smirks at the almost-promise of not rambling too much about history. sorry rook, he does not believe you. but that's okay, because jiho sees a way that this can work in his favor.]
Okay, well. If you're not finished talking about it by the time my shift starts, you owe me dinner. There's a Greek restaurant somewhere in the city, right?
[a fitting punishment. and he really doesn't think that rook will be able to wrap up his tour in the relatively short time that they have left.]
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Date: 2019-02-19 12:15 am (UTC)huh. that was an interesting thought to have.
Rook shakes it away with a laugh, fingers curling a little tighter around his tea as he looks down, inhales, before looking up with a smile that threatens to bloom into a full on grin with only a little more attention from the other.]
Sounds like a deal, I do know a great place by the river that does the authentic cuisine justice.
[ he moves towards the door into the halls filled with marble and gold and rock, holding it open and gesturing forward.] Not that I think I will fail at this, because I probably will, but what is it the kids say? Challenge accepted?
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Date: 2019-02-20 11:22 pm (UTC)[is he joking, it's hard to tell. jiho's sense of humor has always been a little on the dry side. sometimes biting, though he doesn't think he'll ever have to turn that on rook.
he finishes the rest of his tea quickly before standing. but halfway to where rook is holding the door, he stops. his face is blank, eerily unreadable.
and then he bursts into laughter.]
You did not just - please don't ever say that again.
[because it was awkward and adorable and next time he might not be able to blame spiced tea for the warmth that he's feeling inside his stomach and chest.]
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Date: 2019-02-21 01:20 am (UTC)mostly.
maybe?
he is saved actually figuring out the truth of what is being said when he hears laughter though because--
oh.
oh.
oh no.
Rook stumbles a little because he is pretty sure that is the first time he has thought a living person honest to god beautiful. it is a little unnerving. and thrilling.
please pretend that the flush on his face is from embarrassment or something and not the way his heart jumps in his chest, thank you. ]
Ah, I mean, I can't make a promise... [ he gives a quiet smile, knowing that he would do anything to hear him laugh like that again.] It is a good saying, something I expect Alexander the Great would have said. And with more enthusiasm I am sure. Oh, chronological tour, or tour of favourites?
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Date: 2019-02-22 12:32 am (UTC)Right. And I can't wait to hear about the 'yeeting' of Genghis Khan.
[god, they sound like a couple of dumb teenagers. but maybe it's fitting, because he sort of feels like one at that moment.
jiho's laughter has become a smile as he reaches out to make sure that the larger man is steady on his feet. he caught that little stumble there too. and to answer his question, there's only one thing that jiho wants to see right now.]
Show me everything that you love.
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Date: 2019-02-22 01:27 am (UTC)I cannot-- the yeeting of Genghis Khan, I don't even--
[ don't mind the now giggling curator leaning into you a little more there, but he can't help it. Rook is rather tactile in nature, but he usually waits until knowing a person a while longer than just a quarter hour, but--
well, this seems to be different all around.
it means that when he smiles at him, it's all the brighter. all the closer.]
Okay, a tour of only the best then, just for you. First stop, the Assyrian section.
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Date: 2019-02-25 12:31 am (UTC)he even closes his eyes for a moment. when is the last time he heard someone laugh like that? did it always sound so nice?
but his eyes blink open again when rook speaks. he seems almost startled, just a little. he totally just bared his throat to this man. something to think about for later.]
I know the word. Where was that even at?
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Date: 2019-02-27 04:45 pm (UTC)so as they make their way through the halls, Rook shows little trouble in swaying close to the other, arms brushing, or curing fingers around his elbow to pull him in the right direction.]
Know the word! Hah. Technically, there are still those that bear the title of Assyrians in Iraq, Iran, and parts of Turkey today, but it was a rather ancient Mesopotamian empire from nearly 3000 years ago. I grew up fascinated with it because the only museum in the small Turkish town I was born in was dedicated to the uncovered Assyrian temple in that area. [ not that you care about that, but this is something he adores. oops. ] It was the most powerful empire in that area for hundreds of years.