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fellowshippers2005-03-23 10:56 pm
saklani2.livejournal.com) wrote in fellowshippers2005-03-23 10:56 pm
NEW: Always Darkest 5/30 (Viggo/Elijah, some Astin/Elijah) [NC-17]
Title: Always Darkest
Author: Saklani (saklani@wildmail.com) and Wushu
Codes: Viggo/Elijah, some Astin/Lij RPS
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own these men, or anything else I mention here. I am not looking to make money from this... God forbid. And I am NOT them nor is what I put down here real. Thank you.
Summary: Elijah and Sean Astin share one night and then must deal with the consequences.
Author's Notes: This is one of a multitude of long, complex fictions that Wushu and I have been writing together. Basically, this is unbetaed as neither of us have time to beta this one and our regular beta readers want to kill us. We have four other fictions with them, so this one has to go out raw. We apologize for any errors, of which there are probably quite a few. Please ignore them!
"Please sing Viggo... pleasepleaseplease?" The words were a desperate whisper as he clung to Viggo.
"Hush," Viggo whispered kindly, as he settled them both more comfortably. Knowing Elijah's love for Elvish, he sang one of his favorite songs gently in his ear, "Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien
Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta." His own song, Aragorn's song, bubbled out of him, as if in promise to watch after his young friend.
Elijah closed his eyes tightly, and closed his ears to everything but the sound of Viggo's voice, singing so softly, and the sound of Viggo's hear beating in rhythm to the song, or so it seemed to Elijah.
One of the attendants reluctantly approached and said, "I'm sorry, we are about to start our descent. You really need to be in your own seats for this."
Viggo just nodded at her with an understanding expression. He eased Elijah back into his own seat, somehow without disentangling the arms around his shoulders and buckled him in. He changed songs, now humming an old tune from the forties, just to keep the sound going.
Elijah closes his eyes tighter, helping Viggo move him, knowing it was for a good reason, but all his concentration was on listening to Viggo's voice, letting the sound, the feeling of safety it inspired calm him until finally he could open his eyes and look up at Viggo.
Viggo touched his nose and then leaned his forehead against Elijah's. "Better?"
Elijah took a shuddering breath, "A little... I'm sorry, got a little out of control then." He sighed and pressed his forehead back against Viggo's lightly, "Thank you."
"You're allowed," Viggo replied with one of his patented smiles that used to make Orlando call him Father Time. "Maybe we can find you some artistic outlet to help release your tensions."
"Artistic outlet? Viggo you overestimate my talents." He even smiled a little before shaking his head, "I don't really have any, except acting." He shrugged, "That's my talent."/
"You don't need to be Picasso to have an artistic outlet," Viggo chided. "You can take up knitting or crochet or painting squiggles or pottery or anything to help you create things that express your feelings. That's the only part that really matters."
Elijah considered the suggestions for a while before saying, "I did pottery once, for a little while... one of my tutors liked it... it... it was fun."
"Good. We can set you up a small area in my studio to make pottery and do clay sculpture or whatever you want, while I work on my paintings. We can keep each other company through long afternoons and lonesome thoughts. All right?" Viggo looked excited around the edges of his face, his lips turned up at the ends.
"You know, I think you like that idea! And I'd heard you didn't like letting people into your studio while you worked... or was I misinformed?"
"Special exception," Viggo drawled, playing on his nasal voice. The plane began to descend quickly, and he gripped Elijah's hand. "Remember how Bean always turned green when we went up in the helicopter?"
Elijah stifled a giggle, "I remember watching the human fly climbing mountains so he didn't have to get into a copter!"
"He was determined to do his part, no matter how much he had to suffer," Viggo said with a fond laugh of remembrance. "You lot did not make it easier for him, asking the pilots to do flying tricks." The plane bounced a little as he spoke the words.
"I didn't know... when I asked! Once we knew, I never did!! I may like a few pranks, although you far out strip me, but I try not to be cruel." Elijah spoke softly, pressing a little closer at the bounce.
"It was Dom, mostly," Viggo said, looking down at Elijah in his arms. He noted how well Elijah seemed to fit against him and filed that away for later consideration. "You know, Bean once asked if I was in love with Dominic, simply because we pranked each other so often."
"Kind of like dipping girls braids in the ink wells?" Elijah snickered looking very amused, "Were you?"
Viggo tilted his head to look at Elijah for a long moment. "Actually, at that point, I was rather taken with you, my dear hobbit. This was not long after we started the serious shooting and before Orlando and I."
"With... with me?" Elijah's eyes opened almost comically wide in surprise, "Wow." He ruminated for a few moments before saying, "I never, ever, ever thought you'd be... interested in someone like me!" He shook his head, "You and Orli made a couple long before you all confessed... at least to the rest of us all."
"What do you mean someone like you?" Viggo asked, noting the ground rushing up to meet the wheels of the plane. The craft jolted a little and then the brakes applied, pressure against their bodies as they slowed down. "We were very like newlyweds for awhile. Just wanted to be together."
"Like me!! A ... a geek! With no... No... I'm not... not special! Orli's special! Like you are! I'm... I'm just not in the same league." Elijah tried to explain but the words didn't seem to say what he was thinking, "I'm not explaining very well, sorry... but... you two..." he sighed, "We all thought you two would be forever."
"Not special?" Viggo asked with wide eyes. "You are one of the most incredible people I have ever met, Doodle. I did not want to tell you about how I wanted to touch you. I thought you'd think me a perverted old man and avoid me for them. If I had realized earlier... well, Orlando and I may never have happened."
Elijah shook his head, "You don't get it... I..." He took a moment to think before speaking again, "When Orli, or you... Ian has it to... when you walk into a room, everyone's eyes look... they all turn, they don't even realize that they have done it." He smiled suddenly, "Star power! You both have it in spades, it's part of what made you such a sexy couple." Elijah blushed a little, looking down at his hands, as he confessed he found Viggo sexy. Well Orli and Viggo, but he did think Viggo sexy all by his little lonesome. "I... I wouldn't have thought you perverted Vig." Elijah didn't look up. When the seat belt sign went off he stood and started reaching for the carry ons in the overhead locker.
Viggo rubbed the small space between Elijah's shoulder blades, easily reaching down his carry-on. He took Elijah by the hand as they exited, politely thanking the stewardess. "We have a long drive before we reach my ranch. Want to spend a night at a hotel first?"
Elijah didn't even think about his answer, "I wanna be away from all the people Vig... if you're.... you're ok to drive I wanna go now. I... I don't want any more of my personal life being in danger of ending up on E news or something like that."
"All right," Viggo said. "I'll rent a car here and we can drive out to my place." He let go of Elijah's hand at the other words and headed for the baggage claim.
Elijah followed Viggo for a moment before he reached out and took Viggo's hand again, "Hey... what... what was that for?" He frowned a little, looking troubled.
"Well, our holding hands might land us on E!, after all." Viggo smiled at squeezed the smaller hand reassuringly. "I don't mind myself. I was ready to face them all with Orli."
"I don't care if I'm on E! because someone caught us holding hands Vig... I care if I'm on E! cause someone heard me talking about Samwise." He sighed and squeezed back a little.
"You'd never do that, Elijah," Viggo assured him, stopping by the luggage carousel and watching bags go round in circles. "If someone tortured you in cruel ways, they would never drag those words out of you."
"I wouldn't tell someone on purpose, no... But... someone could have overheard us on the plane, or something like that. I..." He shrugged a little and then dropped Viggo's hand to grab his suitcase, the large one, "I wasn't really in a good state of mind to think about that possibility."
"Nobody heard, Elijah," Viggo assured him. "Do you think I would have let you say anything if I thought it might hurt you?" He frowned a little in Elijah's direction, letting him know he better not have thought so.
"No Vig... I don't. But I wasn't in a position to... I didn't know, I just... spoke. Part of it... maybe more than part is cause I trust you so much I guess... I feel safe with you Vig. But... I didn't check to make sure no one else could hear us, and I probably should have."
One of their bags slid down the ramp, landing with a think that made Viggo wince. He snagged its handle and managed not to brain any of the crowd nearby as he hauled it off the platform. "You would think they might figure out we prefer our luggage intact..." He ruffles Elijah's hair. "You're with me... you can leave the worrying up to me for now."
Grinning at Viggo suddenly, Elijah couldn't resist teasing Viggo, "I know so many people who would swoon at Viggo Mortensen telling them that they were 'with' him!" And he faded himself with his hand, fluttering his lashes at Viggo.
Two steel blue eyes rolled upward toward the sky, as if asking for patience. They reverted to normal and then narrowed in another wince, as Elijah's bag crashed out of the hatch and nearly fell off the side. "I hope you didn't pack anything you actually care about."
Elijah grabbed the smaller suitcase looking rather worried, "My CDs are in here... I insulated... but..." He bit his lip, all playfulness gone as he checked the bag.
"Are they all right?" Viggo asked, peering over Elijah's shoulder. He grabbed his bag of art supplies and set it on top of his larger suitcase. His hand began to rub at Elijah's back again, the support intuitive by now. Some little quiet part in the back of his mind remembered how he used to do the same for Orlando. .
Leaning into the soothing hands Elijah nodded, "I think so, the out side doesn't look damaged, and that's a good sign that the inside will be ok. What with all the insulation I put in it and all."
"Smart man," Viggo said with affection. "All right, let's go rent a car and be gone from this place."
"We could get a car with a driver you know... most airports have them as well... cause unless I'm mistaken, you have a car at the ranch... do you need two?" Elijah put the larger of his cases onto the trolley they had snagged while waiting and then, only when Viggo's were on, put the smaller on top.
"I can return it in town later," Viggo said. "I have enough money to buy a rental car company, without worrying about paying for an extra car for a few days." He got in line behind the Avis desk and watched people come and go. They paid the stars no mind, bustling about as people always do. "Ever feel there are too many of us?"
"Celebrities? Humans? Males? Members of the fellowship? Be a little specific Strider?"
"Its not important," Viggo said, stepping up to the desk. He smiled his most beguiling smile and soon received fast service, a free upgrade and a phone number.
Elijah watched with amusement, and yet there was a little part of him that wanted to tell the woman that Viggo was gay, so stop trying. On that thought Elijah pulled himself to a mental stop, searching his heart for a long moment, was he... jealous? Sighing he shook his head, realizing that wasn't quite right, but... he didn't want Viggo to be distracted. He even knew that there was no way Viggo would be, knowing Elijah needed him.
"I wish I knew how to turn off the movie star gene," Viggo mumbled, taking Elijah's hand again as the walked for the parking lot. "I really don't mean to lead people on." His suitcase skittered over a crack in the pavement as he approached their sporty little jag. "Whoa, when she said flashy... the horses will die laughing."
"A little different from your normal beat up old truck Vig." Elijah was proud he didn't sicker, "But I hope they don't... I haven't seen Urias for far too long, don't want 'im dying just as we get there."
"At least this will carry us home swiftly," Viggo said, dumping his case in the trunk and then setting Elijah's next to it. "We should be able to make it by two in the morning or so."
"Swift? Viggo, are you going to terrify me with your driving again?" Elijah opened up the smaller of the cases, pulling out a few CDs, some of his own 'home burnt' ones, that he though Viggo would enjoy as much as he did and then let Viggo close the trunk, "I'll probably sleep some of it... but... here..." he handed them to Viggo almost shyly, "I think you'll like these... I... I burnt them for you."
Checking the CDs for scorch marks, Viggo smiled and gave Elijah a little bow. "Some music to speed the journey. Thank you. Sleep as much as you need, Elijah. I have always been good at keeping my own company. And I promise not to molest you while you sleep... much." He hopped in and started the engine.
Sliding into the passenger seat Elijah muttered, just loud enough for Viggo to hear, "Not much?" and gave a dramatically sad sigh.
One eyebrow lifted neatly over Viggo's right eye. "Disappointed?"
"Always." And he giggled at Viggo, taking their jackets and making a pillow and blanket for himself, curling up in the corner of the seat, "Sing for me Viggo?"
"Any requests?" Viggo asked, pulling out of the parking lot and heading off through the airport at a reasonable speed. Once he hit the freeway, the odometer jacked up and they flew away from the city.
"Um..." Elijah thought for a moment before he asked, "Do you know any Peter, Paul and Mary stuff?"
"They stole from the best," Viggo said with a fond smile. "I know a lot of the songs they and many other folk singers sing. Even messed around with some of them in the studio, though I doubt you want me to sing any of those versions."
Elijah smiled slightly, "I like some of your stuff Vig... I think you have a great voice, and a lot of what you sing... hides it." He looked a little bashful as he finished speaking.
"I do that on purpose," Viggo said with the air of someone divesting a great secret.
"Why?" Elijah was rather startled at the response for a few moments before realizing that Viggo was probably poking fun, at himself at least.
"Artistic license. I don't want to sound like other singers. I want to give the song my own twist, which often means distorting the way it sounds... the way I sound. A lot of people don't care for it." He spared a glance from the road at Elijah. "Odd?"
"To wanted to be unique? No... I understand wanting to be unique, have your own sound, but... I still like your voice too much."
"I roamed and I rambled, and I followed my footsteps, through the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts, while all around me, a voice was sounding- join me!- this land was made for you and me," Viggo sang in his normal voice, trying to get Elijah to join.
"This land is your land, this land is my land, From California, to the New York Island, from the redwood forest, to the Gulf Stream waters, this land was made for you and me." Elijah sings with him, but softly, Viggo's voice almost drowning his out.
"You don't have to sing so softly," Viggo said brightly. "This is a folk song- its not supposed to sound good. Let me hear you now!" He launched into another verse. "The sun came shining as I was strolling, and the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling, as the fog was lifting, a voice was chanting, this land was made for you and me!"
Elijah repeats the chorus louder this time, but still not as loudly as Viggo, he knew he didn't have the greatest voice, and was a little intimidated by singing with Viggo, who did. At least in Elijah's opinion.
"Aww, Elijah, you're not even trying," Viggo said with genuine disappointment.
"I was! I was singing!!" Elijah insisted, "I... just cause I wasn't louder doesn't mean I wasn't singing, or that I wasn't enjoying it."
"All right," Viggo said with a little side-glance at him. He pointed out the window. "Look at that... no cities, no people, just a lot of open land... makes me heart glad."
"It would be easier to look if it wasn't quite as dark." Elijah sighed a little before a little hesitantly he began to sing, "When I was just a wee little lad full of health and joy. My father homeward came one night and gave to me a toy. A wonder to behold, it was, with many colours bright. And the moment I laid eyes on it, it became my heart's delight."
"It went zip when it moved and pop when it stopped and whir when it stood still. I never knew just what it was and I guess I never will," Viggo sang joyously, with all the appropriate noises. He laughed at the end of the chorus and then changed gears. "If you miss the train I'm on, you will know that I am gone, you can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles."
"One hundred miles, one hundred miles, one hundred miles, one hundred miles, one hundred miles. You can hear the whistle blow one hundred miles. Lord, I'm one, lord, I'm two, Lord, I'm three, Lord, I'm four, Lord, I'm five hundred miles away from my home." Elijah's singing grew a little louder as he relaxed into the words.
"Not a shirt on my back, not a penny to my name, Lord I can't go along this way.... this way, this way, this way, this way Lord I can't go along this way," Viggo sang into the stillness of the car. He began to make his voice gentler, more soothing, wanting to lull Elijah to relax and then sleep.
Elijah finished the song softly, his tone rather wistfully sad, "If you miss the train I'm on, you will know that I am gone, you can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles." Closing his eyes he sighed deeply, his hand reaching over to rest on Viggo's thigh.
The touch warmed Viggo's skin right through his jeans, and he glanced down at the small hand, wondering when Elijah turned into a heat generator. He reached down and rested his larger hand over Elijah's, steering with the left. "Golden slumbers fill your eyes, smiles awake you when you rise... sleep pretty darling, do not cry, and I will sing a lullaby."
Elijah's lips turned up into a sleepy smile as he relaxed into the fatigue that was still bone deep and let himself drift away to the sounds of Viggo singing for him.
*********
They drove on well into the night, the miles evaporating behind them. Viggo stopped only twice- once for gas and once for a drink. Elijah did not stir either time, and Viggo kept himself company with the newly burned CDs and his own thoughts. They kept trailing around Viggo's own responses to Elijah and the meaning behind them. Eventually, he tuned his mind out, turned on some meaningless chatter and just concentrated on driving to his ranch. When they finally pulled in, no lights shown for miles around them. He left on the car headlights to unlock the door and let himself in. After a moment, he slipped back out, quietly opening the passenger side door, unbuckling the seat belt and lifting Elijah into his strong arms. He carried the limp man up to his guest bedroom, the bed turned down and slid him on the mattress. Tenderly, he removed Elijah's shoes, before covering him over.
Elijah's arms wrapped around Viggo's neck and he wouldn't let go, eyes focusing on Viggo's face more, "Stay?" The word was a whispered plea.
"Let me get the rest of our things out of the car," Viggo said softly. He kissed Elijah's forehead. "All right?"
"I can help..." Elijah started to sit up, not wanting to be alone all of a sudden.
Viggo soothed him and laid him back down. "No need. I'll only be a moment. I promise. I'll just dump everything in the hall and come back up. Please?"
Elijah wrinkled his nose before saying, "Need the bathroom..." He looked around the room and realized where he was in Viggo's place.
"Its down the hall, second door to the right," Viggo said. "Get back in bed when you're done." He kissed his head again and then disappeared to unload the rest of their things.
Elijah gave Viggo a salute before getting up and out of the bed, using the bathroom, washing his face and coming back to the bedroom, looking around it and sighing, "I like Vig's room better." It was a rueful confession meant for only his ears.
"Well, I suppose we can share my overly large bed," Viggo said, poking his head in with a big grin. "Tada- already done. Do you want to sleep in my room?"
Elijah blushed a little before looking at Viggo shyly and nodding his head, "Please?"
"Remember where it is?" Viggo asked with a little grin. "And do you want one of my old shirts to sleep in?"
"I remember Vig... and no thanks, I packed my PJ pants at the top of my suitcase, so... I'll just grab them..." He looked around, "as soon as you tell me where it is?"
"Argh, I have to go figure out which is your suitcase? Can we just commando it for tonight?" Viggo asked without really thinking about the way it sounded.
Elijah looked at Viggo, cocking his head to the side and then he shrugged, "I guess... I should shower then, in fact... I'd love to shower. We have been wearing the same clothes for far too long."
"Now you want to shower?" Viggo groaned. "Oh fine..." He trailed away to find Elijah's suitcase and separate his own out. He dragged those off, stuffing them in a corner.
Elijah stuck his tongue out at the retreating Viggo before heading for the guest bathroom, "You ... you could do with a shower too Vig..." Elijah called out loudly.
Viggo used some of the obscenities Elijah taught him to let the man know what he thought of that suggestion. Instead, he snatched out a pair of boxers, an old rag of a shirt and buried himself under the covers of his second guest bedroom, where Elijah would have trouble finding him.
Elijah took a short, but welcome shower, and then found his suitcase, pulling on his PJ's before he headed up to Viggo's bedroom. Only to find it empty. Frowning he sat on the edge, waiting for Viggo, leaning against the post at the foot of the bed.
Viggo jerked awake and peered out from his position under the covers. He yawned and looked around for a moment in sleepy confusion. Grunting, he pulled himself out of the bed and went toward his own room. After nearly falling over two suitcases, he straggled in and headed for his bed without noticing Elijah.
Elijah had fallen asleep against the post while waiting for Viggo, and his entry didn't wake the younger male.
Noting a movement at the end of the bed, Viggo located Elijah. He wrapped an arm around his waist and dragged the younger man under the covers with him. After a few moments fumbling, he gave up trying to situate them correctly. Their bodies ended up half sideways, though completely covered by the warm quilt and sheets. Viggo shut his eyes and fell back asleep.
Elijah woke as he was pulled, but he woke knowing who it was and he didn't fight, just curled into Viggo happily, head on Viggo's shoulder as he drifted off into peaceful slumber.
**********
When Viggo finally woke and stuck his head outside the covers, light shone through the windows. He stared at it for a moment and then slipped back inside the warm cocoon. Elijah lay curled against him, using his shoulder as a pillow. Only Viggo's right foot seemed to know where the real pillows were, as the rest of him rested sideways on the mattress.
"We didn't make it to the pillows it seems... but you are a good replacement. In fact I think I like your shoulder better."
Viggo rumbled deep in his chest, a happy, lazy sound. "Does that mean you slept well, Elijah?'
Elijah didn't answer in words, but answered in a happy purr, a response to Viggo's rumble, but it told Viggo quite clearly that yes, he had slept very well.
"Good. Want to stay in for awhile longer yet?" he asked with a little snuggle.
Elijah nods and lays his cheek on Viggo's shoulder again and sighs happily, "No move."
"No move," Viggo said with a chuckle. He rubbed Elijah's back, enjoying the feeling of warm skin under his palms. "Tell me how you are."
Elijah thought for a moment before saying softly, "On the surface? I'm ok... underneath, totally fucked up... but... in a calm spot at the moment."
"Yeah, I understand," Viggo said. "I was like that for a long time. Somehow, I kept my outside in control when I needed. Did you know, I spent a month in denial before I realized Orlando was not coming back."
Elijah sighed, pressing his face against Viggo's neck, "I didn't know. I didn't know just how bad it was for you Vig... I'm sorry."
"There is no need for apologies, Elijah. When the worst days came, I went to Bean, who certainly understands what it is to have to deal with the end of a relationship. You and the other hobbits loved Orli. I didn't want to intrude on that love in anyway. Figured he would need you to talk to anyway." He rubbed the back of Elijah's neck.
"I don't think what he said to us, and what you went through were the same." Elijah purred a little at the pleasant rubbing, "I... I wouldn't have stopped loving Orli because of you're being in pain Vig, I just wish I could have been there for you too." He smiled a little, "I'm glad you had Beanie though."
Something inside of Viggo tightened at Elijah's rather careless words. Part of him felt very glad he never shared his feelings at the time with the hobbits. Bean understood how Viggo could love and hate Orlando at the same time.
"Just as I didn't stop loving you, cause Orli was in pain, although I know he's the one that ended it..." He sighed, "But I guess it all worked out the way it needed to in the end?"
"There is no way things need to work out," Viggo said softly, looking into the blanket with a rather far off gaze.
Elijah lifted his head to look into Viggo's eyes, thinking for a little while before he spoke again, "I don't think that meant what I thought it would." And he pressed a kiss to Viggo's stubbly cheek, "Thank you for looking after me the last few days."
Shrugging his thoughts back to the present, Viggo fluffed Elijah's scruffy hair with an almost paternal gesture. "Always here for you, Doodle. I better go get showered now. You were right about my being a bit pungent." He rolled out from under Elijah and the covers, heading for the bathroom. Part of him still stung irrationally.
Elijah pouted when Viggo got out of the bed and then snuggled into the warmth Viggo had left behind, dragging a pillow for his head and dozing off again as he waited for Viggo to come back.
The nice warm water soaked off most of Viggo's odd thoughts and ideas. He dressed in tight jeans only, peering his head out the window to breathe in the rich, refreshing air. Walking back to the bed, he noted the lump still under the covers. "Banzai!" he yelled as he jumped on the mattress, making the whole bed leap in the air a little.
Elijah just snuffled and rolled over.
Deflated, Viggo sagged into the mattress and pouted. He only lay for a moment, before shrugging, deciding to get up and head out to greet his horses. He slid off the bed, glancing about for his shoes and then deciding to go without them.
"Where are you going?" Elijah sat up and was watching Viggo as he walked towards the door, his own pout completely unconscious. "Stay? Please?"
"I thought I would say hello to my horses," Viggo said, but his feet moved obediently back to the bed. He sat down, fluffing up the pillows and leaning against them on the headboard. "Why did you come to me, Doodle?"
Elijah moved across the bed and snuggled into Viggo's lap, laying his head on Viggo's shoulder, "Why?" He nibbled his lip, wondering, "Because I needed a friend, someone I trusted without question. And my feet took me to you."
They settled together naturally, at least it felt so to Viggo. His arms settled around Elijah's waist, the fingers itching to stroke soft skin. "I'm glad they did."
"So am I Vig, now that I think about I don't think there was a better place for them to take me." Elijah wondered suddenly how comfortable he felt snuggled up to Viggo like this, but it was good wonder, and the knowledge that he was so comfortable with Viggo made him happy.
"Will you want to eat breakfast anytime soon, or shall I settle in for the long run?" Viggo asked, giving in finally to the temptation to tickle the stripe of skin near Elijah's waist.
Elijah wriggled a little at the tickling, "That tickles!!" He wriggled a little more as he thought about the question, "I'm not hungry yet... but... considering how infrequently I've been hungry recently... maybe I should?"
"We don't have to move anywhere... well, for a long time," Viggo said with a purposeful drawl. "We're not gainfully employed at the moment, all the ROTK stuff is not going to start for several months... why, we could just wander out in the wilderness and lose ourselves for a long time."
Author: Saklani (saklani@wildmail.com) and Wushu
Codes: Viggo/Elijah, some Astin/Lij RPS
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own these men, or anything else I mention here. I am not looking to make money from this... God forbid. And I am NOT them nor is what I put down here real. Thank you.
Summary: Elijah and Sean Astin share one night and then must deal with the consequences.
Author's Notes: This is one of a multitude of long, complex fictions that Wushu and I have been writing together. Basically, this is unbetaed as neither of us have time to beta this one and our regular beta readers want to kill us. We have four other fictions with them, so this one has to go out raw. We apologize for any errors, of which there are probably quite a few. Please ignore them!
"Please sing Viggo... pleasepleaseplease?" The words were a desperate whisper as he clung to Viggo.
"Hush," Viggo whispered kindly, as he settled them both more comfortably. Knowing Elijah's love for Elvish, he sang one of his favorite songs gently in his ear, "Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien
Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta." His own song, Aragorn's song, bubbled out of him, as if in promise to watch after his young friend.
Elijah closed his eyes tightly, and closed his ears to everything but the sound of Viggo's voice, singing so softly, and the sound of Viggo's hear beating in rhythm to the song, or so it seemed to Elijah.
One of the attendants reluctantly approached and said, "I'm sorry, we are about to start our descent. You really need to be in your own seats for this."
Viggo just nodded at her with an understanding expression. He eased Elijah back into his own seat, somehow without disentangling the arms around his shoulders and buckled him in. He changed songs, now humming an old tune from the forties, just to keep the sound going.
Elijah closes his eyes tighter, helping Viggo move him, knowing it was for a good reason, but all his concentration was on listening to Viggo's voice, letting the sound, the feeling of safety it inspired calm him until finally he could open his eyes and look up at Viggo.
Viggo touched his nose and then leaned his forehead against Elijah's. "Better?"
Elijah took a shuddering breath, "A little... I'm sorry, got a little out of control then." He sighed and pressed his forehead back against Viggo's lightly, "Thank you."
"You're allowed," Viggo replied with one of his patented smiles that used to make Orlando call him Father Time. "Maybe we can find you some artistic outlet to help release your tensions."
"Artistic outlet? Viggo you overestimate my talents." He even smiled a little before shaking his head, "I don't really have any, except acting." He shrugged, "That's my talent."/
"You don't need to be Picasso to have an artistic outlet," Viggo chided. "You can take up knitting or crochet or painting squiggles or pottery or anything to help you create things that express your feelings. That's the only part that really matters."
Elijah considered the suggestions for a while before saying, "I did pottery once, for a little while... one of my tutors liked it... it... it was fun."
"Good. We can set you up a small area in my studio to make pottery and do clay sculpture or whatever you want, while I work on my paintings. We can keep each other company through long afternoons and lonesome thoughts. All right?" Viggo looked excited around the edges of his face, his lips turned up at the ends.
"You know, I think you like that idea! And I'd heard you didn't like letting people into your studio while you worked... or was I misinformed?"
"Special exception," Viggo drawled, playing on his nasal voice. The plane began to descend quickly, and he gripped Elijah's hand. "Remember how Bean always turned green when we went up in the helicopter?"
Elijah stifled a giggle, "I remember watching the human fly climbing mountains so he didn't have to get into a copter!"
"He was determined to do his part, no matter how much he had to suffer," Viggo said with a fond laugh of remembrance. "You lot did not make it easier for him, asking the pilots to do flying tricks." The plane bounced a little as he spoke the words.
"I didn't know... when I asked! Once we knew, I never did!! I may like a few pranks, although you far out strip me, but I try not to be cruel." Elijah spoke softly, pressing a little closer at the bounce.
"It was Dom, mostly," Viggo said, looking down at Elijah in his arms. He noted how well Elijah seemed to fit against him and filed that away for later consideration. "You know, Bean once asked if I was in love with Dominic, simply because we pranked each other so often."
"Kind of like dipping girls braids in the ink wells?" Elijah snickered looking very amused, "Were you?"
Viggo tilted his head to look at Elijah for a long moment. "Actually, at that point, I was rather taken with you, my dear hobbit. This was not long after we started the serious shooting and before Orlando and I."
"With... with me?" Elijah's eyes opened almost comically wide in surprise, "Wow." He ruminated for a few moments before saying, "I never, ever, ever thought you'd be... interested in someone like me!" He shook his head, "You and Orli made a couple long before you all confessed... at least to the rest of us all."
"What do you mean someone like you?" Viggo asked, noting the ground rushing up to meet the wheels of the plane. The craft jolted a little and then the brakes applied, pressure against their bodies as they slowed down. "We were very like newlyweds for awhile. Just wanted to be together."
"Like me!! A ... a geek! With no... No... I'm not... not special! Orli's special! Like you are! I'm... I'm just not in the same league." Elijah tried to explain but the words didn't seem to say what he was thinking, "I'm not explaining very well, sorry... but... you two..." he sighed, "We all thought you two would be forever."
"Not special?" Viggo asked with wide eyes. "You are one of the most incredible people I have ever met, Doodle. I did not want to tell you about how I wanted to touch you. I thought you'd think me a perverted old man and avoid me for them. If I had realized earlier... well, Orlando and I may never have happened."
Elijah shook his head, "You don't get it... I..." He took a moment to think before speaking again, "When Orli, or you... Ian has it to... when you walk into a room, everyone's eyes look... they all turn, they don't even realize that they have done it." He smiled suddenly, "Star power! You both have it in spades, it's part of what made you such a sexy couple." Elijah blushed a little, looking down at his hands, as he confessed he found Viggo sexy. Well Orli and Viggo, but he did think Viggo sexy all by his little lonesome. "I... I wouldn't have thought you perverted Vig." Elijah didn't look up. When the seat belt sign went off he stood and started reaching for the carry ons in the overhead locker.
Viggo rubbed the small space between Elijah's shoulder blades, easily reaching down his carry-on. He took Elijah by the hand as they exited, politely thanking the stewardess. "We have a long drive before we reach my ranch. Want to spend a night at a hotel first?"
Elijah didn't even think about his answer, "I wanna be away from all the people Vig... if you're.... you're ok to drive I wanna go now. I... I don't want any more of my personal life being in danger of ending up on E news or something like that."
"All right," Viggo said. "I'll rent a car here and we can drive out to my place." He let go of Elijah's hand at the other words and headed for the baggage claim.
Elijah followed Viggo for a moment before he reached out and took Viggo's hand again, "Hey... what... what was that for?" He frowned a little, looking troubled.
"Well, our holding hands might land us on E!, after all." Viggo smiled at squeezed the smaller hand reassuringly. "I don't mind myself. I was ready to face them all with Orli."
"I don't care if I'm on E! because someone caught us holding hands Vig... I care if I'm on E! cause someone heard me talking about Samwise." He sighed and squeezed back a little.
"You'd never do that, Elijah," Viggo assured him, stopping by the luggage carousel and watching bags go round in circles. "If someone tortured you in cruel ways, they would never drag those words out of you."
"I wouldn't tell someone on purpose, no... But... someone could have overheard us on the plane, or something like that. I..." He shrugged a little and then dropped Viggo's hand to grab his suitcase, the large one, "I wasn't really in a good state of mind to think about that possibility."
"Nobody heard, Elijah," Viggo assured him. "Do you think I would have let you say anything if I thought it might hurt you?" He frowned a little in Elijah's direction, letting him know he better not have thought so.
"No Vig... I don't. But I wasn't in a position to... I didn't know, I just... spoke. Part of it... maybe more than part is cause I trust you so much I guess... I feel safe with you Vig. But... I didn't check to make sure no one else could hear us, and I probably should have."
One of their bags slid down the ramp, landing with a think that made Viggo wince. He snagged its handle and managed not to brain any of the crowd nearby as he hauled it off the platform. "You would think they might figure out we prefer our luggage intact..." He ruffles Elijah's hair. "You're with me... you can leave the worrying up to me for now."
Grinning at Viggo suddenly, Elijah couldn't resist teasing Viggo, "I know so many people who would swoon at Viggo Mortensen telling them that they were 'with' him!" And he faded himself with his hand, fluttering his lashes at Viggo.
Two steel blue eyes rolled upward toward the sky, as if asking for patience. They reverted to normal and then narrowed in another wince, as Elijah's bag crashed out of the hatch and nearly fell off the side. "I hope you didn't pack anything you actually care about."
Elijah grabbed the smaller suitcase looking rather worried, "My CDs are in here... I insulated... but..." He bit his lip, all playfulness gone as he checked the bag.
"Are they all right?" Viggo asked, peering over Elijah's shoulder. He grabbed his bag of art supplies and set it on top of his larger suitcase. His hand began to rub at Elijah's back again, the support intuitive by now. Some little quiet part in the back of his mind remembered how he used to do the same for Orlando. .
Leaning into the soothing hands Elijah nodded, "I think so, the out side doesn't look damaged, and that's a good sign that the inside will be ok. What with all the insulation I put in it and all."
"Smart man," Viggo said with affection. "All right, let's go rent a car and be gone from this place."
"We could get a car with a driver you know... most airports have them as well... cause unless I'm mistaken, you have a car at the ranch... do you need two?" Elijah put the larger of his cases onto the trolley they had snagged while waiting and then, only when Viggo's were on, put the smaller on top.
"I can return it in town later," Viggo said. "I have enough money to buy a rental car company, without worrying about paying for an extra car for a few days." He got in line behind the Avis desk and watched people come and go. They paid the stars no mind, bustling about as people always do. "Ever feel there are too many of us?"
"Celebrities? Humans? Males? Members of the fellowship? Be a little specific Strider?"
"Its not important," Viggo said, stepping up to the desk. He smiled his most beguiling smile and soon received fast service, a free upgrade and a phone number.
Elijah watched with amusement, and yet there was a little part of him that wanted to tell the woman that Viggo was gay, so stop trying. On that thought Elijah pulled himself to a mental stop, searching his heart for a long moment, was he... jealous? Sighing he shook his head, realizing that wasn't quite right, but... he didn't want Viggo to be distracted. He even knew that there was no way Viggo would be, knowing Elijah needed him.
"I wish I knew how to turn off the movie star gene," Viggo mumbled, taking Elijah's hand again as the walked for the parking lot. "I really don't mean to lead people on." His suitcase skittered over a crack in the pavement as he approached their sporty little jag. "Whoa, when she said flashy... the horses will die laughing."
"A little different from your normal beat up old truck Vig." Elijah was proud he didn't sicker, "But I hope they don't... I haven't seen Urias for far too long, don't want 'im dying just as we get there."
"At least this will carry us home swiftly," Viggo said, dumping his case in the trunk and then setting Elijah's next to it. "We should be able to make it by two in the morning or so."
"Swift? Viggo, are you going to terrify me with your driving again?" Elijah opened up the smaller of the cases, pulling out a few CDs, some of his own 'home burnt' ones, that he though Viggo would enjoy as much as he did and then let Viggo close the trunk, "I'll probably sleep some of it... but... here..." he handed them to Viggo almost shyly, "I think you'll like these... I... I burnt them for you."
Checking the CDs for scorch marks, Viggo smiled and gave Elijah a little bow. "Some music to speed the journey. Thank you. Sleep as much as you need, Elijah. I have always been good at keeping my own company. And I promise not to molest you while you sleep... much." He hopped in and started the engine.
Sliding into the passenger seat Elijah muttered, just loud enough for Viggo to hear, "Not much?" and gave a dramatically sad sigh.
One eyebrow lifted neatly over Viggo's right eye. "Disappointed?"
"Always." And he giggled at Viggo, taking their jackets and making a pillow and blanket for himself, curling up in the corner of the seat, "Sing for me Viggo?"
"Any requests?" Viggo asked, pulling out of the parking lot and heading off through the airport at a reasonable speed. Once he hit the freeway, the odometer jacked up and they flew away from the city.
"Um..." Elijah thought for a moment before he asked, "Do you know any Peter, Paul and Mary stuff?"
"They stole from the best," Viggo said with a fond smile. "I know a lot of the songs they and many other folk singers sing. Even messed around with some of them in the studio, though I doubt you want me to sing any of those versions."
Elijah smiled slightly, "I like some of your stuff Vig... I think you have a great voice, and a lot of what you sing... hides it." He looked a little bashful as he finished speaking.
"I do that on purpose," Viggo said with the air of someone divesting a great secret.
"Why?" Elijah was rather startled at the response for a few moments before realizing that Viggo was probably poking fun, at himself at least.
"Artistic license. I don't want to sound like other singers. I want to give the song my own twist, which often means distorting the way it sounds... the way I sound. A lot of people don't care for it." He spared a glance from the road at Elijah. "Odd?"
"To wanted to be unique? No... I understand wanting to be unique, have your own sound, but... I still like your voice too much."
"I roamed and I rambled, and I followed my footsteps, through the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts, while all around me, a voice was sounding- join me!- this land was made for you and me," Viggo sang in his normal voice, trying to get Elijah to join.
"This land is your land, this land is my land, From California, to the New York Island, from the redwood forest, to the Gulf Stream waters, this land was made for you and me." Elijah sings with him, but softly, Viggo's voice almost drowning his out.
"You don't have to sing so softly," Viggo said brightly. "This is a folk song- its not supposed to sound good. Let me hear you now!" He launched into another verse. "The sun came shining as I was strolling, and the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling, as the fog was lifting, a voice was chanting, this land was made for you and me!"
Elijah repeats the chorus louder this time, but still not as loudly as Viggo, he knew he didn't have the greatest voice, and was a little intimidated by singing with Viggo, who did. At least in Elijah's opinion.
"Aww, Elijah, you're not even trying," Viggo said with genuine disappointment.
"I was! I was singing!!" Elijah insisted, "I... just cause I wasn't louder doesn't mean I wasn't singing, or that I wasn't enjoying it."
"All right," Viggo said with a little side-glance at him. He pointed out the window. "Look at that... no cities, no people, just a lot of open land... makes me heart glad."
"It would be easier to look if it wasn't quite as dark." Elijah sighed a little before a little hesitantly he began to sing, "When I was just a wee little lad full of health and joy. My father homeward came one night and gave to me a toy. A wonder to behold, it was, with many colours bright. And the moment I laid eyes on it, it became my heart's delight."
"It went zip when it moved and pop when it stopped and whir when it stood still. I never knew just what it was and I guess I never will," Viggo sang joyously, with all the appropriate noises. He laughed at the end of the chorus and then changed gears. "If you miss the train I'm on, you will know that I am gone, you can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles."
"One hundred miles, one hundred miles, one hundred miles, one hundred miles, one hundred miles. You can hear the whistle blow one hundred miles. Lord, I'm one, lord, I'm two, Lord, I'm three, Lord, I'm four, Lord, I'm five hundred miles away from my home." Elijah's singing grew a little louder as he relaxed into the words.
"Not a shirt on my back, not a penny to my name, Lord I can't go along this way.... this way, this way, this way, this way Lord I can't go along this way," Viggo sang into the stillness of the car. He began to make his voice gentler, more soothing, wanting to lull Elijah to relax and then sleep.
Elijah finished the song softly, his tone rather wistfully sad, "If you miss the train I'm on, you will know that I am gone, you can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles." Closing his eyes he sighed deeply, his hand reaching over to rest on Viggo's thigh.
The touch warmed Viggo's skin right through his jeans, and he glanced down at the small hand, wondering when Elijah turned into a heat generator. He reached down and rested his larger hand over Elijah's, steering with the left. "Golden slumbers fill your eyes, smiles awake you when you rise... sleep pretty darling, do not cry, and I will sing a lullaby."
Elijah's lips turned up into a sleepy smile as he relaxed into the fatigue that was still bone deep and let himself drift away to the sounds of Viggo singing for him.
*********
They drove on well into the night, the miles evaporating behind them. Viggo stopped only twice- once for gas and once for a drink. Elijah did not stir either time, and Viggo kept himself company with the newly burned CDs and his own thoughts. They kept trailing around Viggo's own responses to Elijah and the meaning behind them. Eventually, he tuned his mind out, turned on some meaningless chatter and just concentrated on driving to his ranch. When they finally pulled in, no lights shown for miles around them. He left on the car headlights to unlock the door and let himself in. After a moment, he slipped back out, quietly opening the passenger side door, unbuckling the seat belt and lifting Elijah into his strong arms. He carried the limp man up to his guest bedroom, the bed turned down and slid him on the mattress. Tenderly, he removed Elijah's shoes, before covering him over.
Elijah's arms wrapped around Viggo's neck and he wouldn't let go, eyes focusing on Viggo's face more, "Stay?" The word was a whispered plea.
"Let me get the rest of our things out of the car," Viggo said softly. He kissed Elijah's forehead. "All right?"
"I can help..." Elijah started to sit up, not wanting to be alone all of a sudden.
Viggo soothed him and laid him back down. "No need. I'll only be a moment. I promise. I'll just dump everything in the hall and come back up. Please?"
Elijah wrinkled his nose before saying, "Need the bathroom..." He looked around the room and realized where he was in Viggo's place.
"Its down the hall, second door to the right," Viggo said. "Get back in bed when you're done." He kissed his head again and then disappeared to unload the rest of their things.
Elijah gave Viggo a salute before getting up and out of the bed, using the bathroom, washing his face and coming back to the bedroom, looking around it and sighing, "I like Vig's room better." It was a rueful confession meant for only his ears.
"Well, I suppose we can share my overly large bed," Viggo said, poking his head in with a big grin. "Tada- already done. Do you want to sleep in my room?"
Elijah blushed a little before looking at Viggo shyly and nodding his head, "Please?"
"Remember where it is?" Viggo asked with a little grin. "And do you want one of my old shirts to sleep in?"
"I remember Vig... and no thanks, I packed my PJ pants at the top of my suitcase, so... I'll just grab them..." He looked around, "as soon as you tell me where it is?"
"Argh, I have to go figure out which is your suitcase? Can we just commando it for tonight?" Viggo asked without really thinking about the way it sounded.
Elijah looked at Viggo, cocking his head to the side and then he shrugged, "I guess... I should shower then, in fact... I'd love to shower. We have been wearing the same clothes for far too long."
"Now you want to shower?" Viggo groaned. "Oh fine..." He trailed away to find Elijah's suitcase and separate his own out. He dragged those off, stuffing them in a corner.
Elijah stuck his tongue out at the retreating Viggo before heading for the guest bathroom, "You ... you could do with a shower too Vig..." Elijah called out loudly.
Viggo used some of the obscenities Elijah taught him to let the man know what he thought of that suggestion. Instead, he snatched out a pair of boxers, an old rag of a shirt and buried himself under the covers of his second guest bedroom, where Elijah would have trouble finding him.
Elijah took a short, but welcome shower, and then found his suitcase, pulling on his PJ's before he headed up to Viggo's bedroom. Only to find it empty. Frowning he sat on the edge, waiting for Viggo, leaning against the post at the foot of the bed.
Viggo jerked awake and peered out from his position under the covers. He yawned and looked around for a moment in sleepy confusion. Grunting, he pulled himself out of the bed and went toward his own room. After nearly falling over two suitcases, he straggled in and headed for his bed without noticing Elijah.
Elijah had fallen asleep against the post while waiting for Viggo, and his entry didn't wake the younger male.
Noting a movement at the end of the bed, Viggo located Elijah. He wrapped an arm around his waist and dragged the younger man under the covers with him. After a few moments fumbling, he gave up trying to situate them correctly. Their bodies ended up half sideways, though completely covered by the warm quilt and sheets. Viggo shut his eyes and fell back asleep.
Elijah woke as he was pulled, but he woke knowing who it was and he didn't fight, just curled into Viggo happily, head on Viggo's shoulder as he drifted off into peaceful slumber.
**********
When Viggo finally woke and stuck his head outside the covers, light shone through the windows. He stared at it for a moment and then slipped back inside the warm cocoon. Elijah lay curled against him, using his shoulder as a pillow. Only Viggo's right foot seemed to know where the real pillows were, as the rest of him rested sideways on the mattress.
"We didn't make it to the pillows it seems... but you are a good replacement. In fact I think I like your shoulder better."
Viggo rumbled deep in his chest, a happy, lazy sound. "Does that mean you slept well, Elijah?'
Elijah didn't answer in words, but answered in a happy purr, a response to Viggo's rumble, but it told Viggo quite clearly that yes, he had slept very well.
"Good. Want to stay in for awhile longer yet?" he asked with a little snuggle.
Elijah nods and lays his cheek on Viggo's shoulder again and sighs happily, "No move."
"No move," Viggo said with a chuckle. He rubbed Elijah's back, enjoying the feeling of warm skin under his palms. "Tell me how you are."
Elijah thought for a moment before saying softly, "On the surface? I'm ok... underneath, totally fucked up... but... in a calm spot at the moment."
"Yeah, I understand," Viggo said. "I was like that for a long time. Somehow, I kept my outside in control when I needed. Did you know, I spent a month in denial before I realized Orlando was not coming back."
Elijah sighed, pressing his face against Viggo's neck, "I didn't know. I didn't know just how bad it was for you Vig... I'm sorry."
"There is no need for apologies, Elijah. When the worst days came, I went to Bean, who certainly understands what it is to have to deal with the end of a relationship. You and the other hobbits loved Orli. I didn't want to intrude on that love in anyway. Figured he would need you to talk to anyway." He rubbed the back of Elijah's neck.
"I don't think what he said to us, and what you went through were the same." Elijah purred a little at the pleasant rubbing, "I... I wouldn't have stopped loving Orli because of you're being in pain Vig, I just wish I could have been there for you too." He smiled a little, "I'm glad you had Beanie though."
Something inside of Viggo tightened at Elijah's rather careless words. Part of him felt very glad he never shared his feelings at the time with the hobbits. Bean understood how Viggo could love and hate Orlando at the same time.
"Just as I didn't stop loving you, cause Orli was in pain, although I know he's the one that ended it..." He sighed, "But I guess it all worked out the way it needed to in the end?"
"There is no way things need to work out," Viggo said softly, looking into the blanket with a rather far off gaze.
Elijah lifted his head to look into Viggo's eyes, thinking for a little while before he spoke again, "I don't think that meant what I thought it would." And he pressed a kiss to Viggo's stubbly cheek, "Thank you for looking after me the last few days."
Shrugging his thoughts back to the present, Viggo fluffed Elijah's scruffy hair with an almost paternal gesture. "Always here for you, Doodle. I better go get showered now. You were right about my being a bit pungent." He rolled out from under Elijah and the covers, heading for the bathroom. Part of him still stung irrationally.
Elijah pouted when Viggo got out of the bed and then snuggled into the warmth Viggo had left behind, dragging a pillow for his head and dozing off again as he waited for Viggo to come back.
The nice warm water soaked off most of Viggo's odd thoughts and ideas. He dressed in tight jeans only, peering his head out the window to breathe in the rich, refreshing air. Walking back to the bed, he noted the lump still under the covers. "Banzai!" he yelled as he jumped on the mattress, making the whole bed leap in the air a little.
Elijah just snuffled and rolled over.
Deflated, Viggo sagged into the mattress and pouted. He only lay for a moment, before shrugging, deciding to get up and head out to greet his horses. He slid off the bed, glancing about for his shoes and then deciding to go without them.
"Where are you going?" Elijah sat up and was watching Viggo as he walked towards the door, his own pout completely unconscious. "Stay? Please?"
"I thought I would say hello to my horses," Viggo said, but his feet moved obediently back to the bed. He sat down, fluffing up the pillows and leaning against them on the headboard. "Why did you come to me, Doodle?"
Elijah moved across the bed and snuggled into Viggo's lap, laying his head on Viggo's shoulder, "Why?" He nibbled his lip, wondering, "Because I needed a friend, someone I trusted without question. And my feet took me to you."
They settled together naturally, at least it felt so to Viggo. His arms settled around Elijah's waist, the fingers itching to stroke soft skin. "I'm glad they did."
"So am I Vig, now that I think about I don't think there was a better place for them to take me." Elijah wondered suddenly how comfortable he felt snuggled up to Viggo like this, but it was good wonder, and the knowledge that he was so comfortable with Viggo made him happy.
"Will you want to eat breakfast anytime soon, or shall I settle in for the long run?" Viggo asked, giving in finally to the temptation to tickle the stripe of skin near Elijah's waist.
Elijah wriggled a little at the tickling, "That tickles!!" He wriggled a little more as he thought about the question, "I'm not hungry yet... but... considering how infrequently I've been hungry recently... maybe I should?"
"We don't have to move anywhere... well, for a long time," Viggo said with a purposeful drawl. "We're not gainfully employed at the moment, all the ROTK stuff is not going to start for several months... why, we could just wander out in the wilderness and lose ourselves for a long time."