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Between the Bookshelves
An RP by PapillonCameo and Tachigami Daniel startled awake, blearily looking around for the source of the sharp thud that woke him and finding something on the floor. Cat? The family cat, a black thing with white paws they called Carlo. It was staring at Daniel with bright green eyes and when his own pale brown-amber gaze fell in with the cat's, it jumped up onto his bed and butted him in the forehead. He laughed, stroking the thin cat and sitting up. Carlo had such a bad---or was it good?---habit of waking him up about ten minutes before his alarm went off. He reached over Carlo and turned the ticking clock off, standing and stretching and ignoring the pitiful-sounding mewing that came from the young cat. He hated to be ignored, especially in the morning, when everyone had left him all alone. But he had to get to work. Gathering some clothes, Daniel went into his own bathroom, turning the shower on and breathing in the steam that emitted from the water stream. He stood there motionlessly for a moment, before sliding in and clenching his teeth against the heat of the water until he was able to handle it with ease. Perhaps cold would have woke him up faster, but he was an hour ahead of everyone else, as usual. Maybe because Carlo knew he was easy. Life among the Maverick household was interesting in itself. With a variety of others---a mechanic, a maid, a chauffeur a financial advisor, and the janitor---living under the same roof, things did become fascinating, and no day was the same. He was among the staff---the private tutor to the Mavericks' three kids. The youngest, Lily, at three. At five were her two older brothers, Ari and Remmy. They were relatively well behaved, at least, when they were in their lessons. Otherwise they tended to run the length and width of the house, out in the courtyard and in the extensive basement. Of course, Lily was kept upstairs. She learned her simpler lessons in the afternoon, and only for two hours, while the older ones started at ten in the morning and ended them at three in the afternoon. He was out and dressed quickly, making sure his hair was as dry as possible. Combing a fine-toothed brush through the copper-toned strands, he let it lie back and finish drying as he went into his room, then out through a second door that didn't lead into the hall, but into the room he used for the kids' studies. A room with a chalk board, a few bookshelves with a combination of kids' books and more advanced studies, and a teacher's desk facing two others. A third would be added for Lily when she reached a certain age. Today their main focus would be on literature, Daniel considered. The boys were picking up bad speaking and writing habits from television and he made a mental note to tell their mother to cut back on it if anything, at least for a punishment, until they knew which language was fit for what. He sat at the desk, spinning around to face it. It was better to start lining things up before breakfast was started, in two hours... |
Charles Maverick rubbed his forehead with a sigh as he poured over the speeches he'd worked so hard to write. There was just something slightly off with them, the promises, the things the man running for the new leadership of the liberal party would need to say ... Soft hands rubbing his slumped shoulders made the dark haired man tilt his head. He offered a tired smile to the delicate woman he called his wife.
"Have you even slept?" "No, I couldn't until this was done." "And you won't now because you need to go into the office and present these to Raymond. Charles ... You really need to take some time off." "I can't, not now when the prospects for Raymond are looking so good, and the new elections for positions within the party are coming so soon." He shrugged away from Felicia's touch. Distantly, he noted the alarm sounding. It was time to eat. As always he walked through the hall, down the stairs, all the while settling his suit jacket over his shoulders, and fixing his white dress shirt. The cuffs were rolled up just so, everything precise and well turned out. As he sat down to eat, smiling at his children, the twenty-seven year old found himself wondering why it was he still felt so discontent with his life. He had everything, after all. |
Daniel blinked hard. How long had it been...? Probably much longer than two hours. He glanced at the clock and found it was almost eight thirty. Sighing, Daniel closed the planner and tapped it lightly. He had everything set up for the next two weeks, at least. Homework wasn't necessarily a thing when children were homeschooled, since tests and work were completed in the schoolroom itself. It took pressure off Daniel, at least, to not have to take a pile of work home at the end of every day, since he lived with the family and the rest of the help. A big type of family, too, it seemed the family itself considered their hired help more than just that. Friends, if not family as well. Daniel sighed and looked up to the window across from his desk. It was a somewhat overcast day, though he could see ribbons of blue sky mixed in with the dark gray clouds. He didn't want to go down now. Not after everyone else had gone down to the dining room already and had already settled. His lessons didn't start until ten, after all, he could go find food later, after everyone had gone about their usual work or activities. Daniel hated everyone staring at him or regarding him the way they would, it made him feel like that awkward, uneased kid again. He stood and walked around the room, picking up a book from the corner shelf and studying it. Aztec history, detailed information on their culture, history, gods, practices, and demise. He smiled, but it seemed reserved. Maybe tomorrow he'd go around them more. It was his tendency, after all, to try to get over his shyness. And he'd managed that a good amount, but had recently gone back into his shell. A step forward, and two steps back. |
Charles did his best not to laugh as Ari and Remmy argued about who could eat the most. At least they weren't very picky about their food, unlike Lily. They were such a comical bunch. Watching them, spending time with them, was definitely a mood lifter. He needed that, desperately, before work and after it as well. Felicia just ... she wasn't able to do that for him, lift his mood and make him smile. Charles knew she tried, had always done so, but it had never worked.
They were old money and their parents had done everything they could to make sure they married well. At least they were friends. Their marriage wasn't entirely loveless, but it certainly wasn't anything like the sweeping romances one read about, like Anthony and Cleopatra. He yearned for that often enough ... Shaking his head, the man left the room after wishing everyone goodbye. Charles had to concentrate on work now, as he slipped into his rather expensive car and drove to one of the older buildings in town. Made of brick, with imposing doors and austere architecture, the building fit the bill of a place that housed politicians to a t. The moment Charles stepped inside, he was immersed in this stressful world, leaving behind his children and their happy smiles in order to concentrate on other things. |
He crept down when he heard everyone going about their separate ways. If he didn't clean up his own mess, he'd get a beating from Ceci, the maid and cook. But he would be safe if he ate some leftovers and made sure to leave the kitchen spotless afterward, and he went downstairs, nodding to the younger brothers as they sped past in their giggling freedom. They knew they would have to settle down and work for a few hours soon, so they were expending their energy now. Daniel was always thankful for that, because if they didn't run about and get their screaming out now, he'd be playing with fire trying to get them to settle enough to focus on their work. He reported directly to their parents, after all, and while he wasn't directly to blame for bad grades, Daniel always felt it was his fault, in some way, if they got a bad mark. Generally, he was alone in the kitchen as he ate a ham sandwich over the sink, unless Micky, the janitor and general handyman, came in to take a look at the stove. It hadn't been heating right these past few days, and he'd just finished with the heating and cooling system, so he could handle that afterward. Since the kitchen was a large and very central part of the house, people generally came though for one reason or another, sometimes just to take a shortcut to get out to the courtyard. His lesson today was running through his mind still. Literature seemed to be difficult for the boys to fully grasp. They needed to understand it, though, and Daniel would go the extra mile just to make them understand a minute amount of what he had to teach. After all, they had a rather strong connection to their teacher, something most children just didn't have because of large, many classes. He was glad to be with these people. These friends. For the most part. |
That day, Charles found himself walking through the city unexpectedly. In his hands he held a map upon which he would note things in the margins with a frown. There were many things that could be done to improve the area, the repair of roads, addition of parks ... All these things he jotted down in his meticulous hand writing.
Something, people, caught his eyes as he walked before a café. Iron wrought fence, warm welcoming atmosphere glimpsed through the windows, and the pair embracing by a metal patio set. It wasn't what they did, that caught him up so, but that they were two men, holding each other so close and with such clear tenderness. His breath caught, and his mind veered away from painful thoughts he'd long thought to have buried away. Those longings had no place in his life. He was married, had three wonderful children, and had a meaningful job. Charles believed in his work, in the man he worked to put into office. He loved Felicia, was happy with her ... And yet ... The man shook his head quickly and continued down the crowded street. Soon he was just one among many again, anonymous in the crowd. |
It was five minutes to ten in the morning, and Daniel was standing outside the door. He didn't have to wait long before the boys came upstairs, filing quietly into the room and taking their desks, though neither were assigned specifically. The boys looked different enough, and Daniel had been with them since they were two years old, hired by their parents for his patient and one-on-one teaching tactics. He closed the door, going around to the desk in front of them and pulling two booklets. "I assume you know how to speak correctly, am I right?" He had a stern tone to his voice, learned over time with the boys that responded to a stern grasp. They nodded, but didn't speak, and from Daniel's stance over them, they looked a bit like puppies in trouble with their master after overturning the garbage. "Well, I can't tell that from how you behave. With the adults of the house, no less, your vocabulary is declining daily." He lifted the booklets. "I made these for you this morning. There are thirty pages, but I don't expect you to complete it all. I just want to see if you can still retain your knowledge so far despite your language. Just finish the first five pages, they're not long at all." He handed the boys the booklets, and they fished out pencils from their desks. Daniel watched them start getting to work, leaning over the booklets and carefully reading, writing, filling out small bubbles, and Daniel went to his own desk, flipping open a book and staring at the words spread over the pages without taking it in. He wasn't taking in what it said, or even what book it was. He was suddenly distracted, feeling that sinking sensation in his chest again. When he didn't have to think about something, that feeling was there. It was like a big piece of himself were missing, or at least, some big part that would fill the void. It was hard to determine what---someone, perhaps. But he wasn't sure if he could go out to find someone. He was too affixed to life here, as it was, and felt like a change would be... odd. Difficult. He wasn't even sure if he was allowed to have someone else at the house without permission, since that issue hadn't come up when he'd been hired. He glanced up. The boys were still working, and Daniel was glad to see how vigilant they were. They were just impressionable, was all. |
The busy man walked back into the office, map in hand. He paid no heed to the secretary who guarded his door. She was a stern woman, perfect for the job in his opinion. A man could have done it as well, but there weren't many who applied for such positions. The way of the world, Charles supposed.
He bent over his desk, and started tapping away a report on the computer. It was a long thing, and straightforward all the way. The executive summary would be most precise of all, but that he needed to take care of once everything else had been written up. That took up the rest of his day. Charles was more then glad to leave the office, flung over his shoulders casually, briefcase in hand. He yawned and blinked sleepily. Grey eyes struggled to remain open as he drove, slowly and carefully, back home. He couldn't wait to get there, to see his children. That was why Charles bypassed everywhere else, and walked to the schoolroom. If they weren't there, then their tutor might be, and Daniel would have an idea of where the kids were at least. |
The boys did well enough, tripping up in their answers where Daniel predicted they would, as he'd slipped in difficult questions a little above their grade level. Though Remmy managed to answer two of the three correctly, with a little time given. He was glad to see that, but made it a point to warn them that if they kept using their picked-up language, their freedom with television would be cut back a good amount. Since they tended to listen to Daniel's concerns and heed his observations, their parents would probably be on them about any persisting problems. He gave them a list of weekly vocabulary words, making sure they would keep them in mind for a test at the end of the week, and requested they finish the next five pages of the booklet. At the end of their lessons, Daniel was able to eat lunch with the rest of the household, actually joining them this time to ignore the feeling that would probably make him feel cold, and heavy, and generally sad. Being able to be around others that spoke with him and he was able to reply gave him freedom to feel something else, like he was appreciated and needed, which was nice, really. He didn't bring up the television thing to Felicia, though, not unless it became a problem again. But he had to sneak off quickly, taking Lily to the living room where their simple, slow-moving lessons would take place for just two hours. She could keep attentive that long, at least, then she would lose interest and stop retaining the information. Daniel had flash cards of numbers, letters, and shapes and colors, each in specific manners. He'd usually make them random so no pattern could be figured out after she learned the alphabet and numbers. Numbers up to five, now, then in a year, fifteen, then twenty five, until she could figure it out on her own. When he returned to the schooling room, Daniel was left alone again. He usually spent his time here, or in his room, or generally in areas of the house not often frequented. It was that reclusive nature that had him cut himself off from the others without even realizing it sometimes. He was reviewing the boys' work so far in the books, making sure he didn't miss anything and vaguely listening to footsteps both upstairs and down. |
Charles popped his head into the doorway. "Daniel, have you seen the children?" He couldn't help but stare a little at the way the other man. For some reason, he reminded him of that moment on the street. What was that thought? Charles stepped into the room to take a quick peek into the two desks. They were becoming worn already, with use and abuse. One chair wobbled a little, normal enough but it would need to be replaced. He couldn't leave it like that, when one of his children could be hurt by the unstable seat.
"Do you have everything you need in here?" There were many things he could ask. Many ways to make his time in the school room longer. |
From time to time he would rub the cold feeling away from his chest, but it always seemed to come back. He wasn't sure if it was normal... Maybe it was a health thing? But he was too young for that yet. Right? In any case, Daniel actually hoped it was that, because then it'd have a reason that could be cured with a pill, or a different diet or sleeping courses. Maybe a little less stress by not going over and over the kids' work when he knew what was there after the first five times. He looked up quickly when a voice broke the relative silence---Charles, someone he didn't see too often, but wished it were otherwise. Spending time with his employer would be nice, after all, especially since he lived in the same house. "I think Lily is with Felicia." He said in reply, straightening himself up a little. "And the boys... I'm not sure. They may be playing in their room around this time." They didn't keep much of a schedule, beyond some piano lessons after their schooling. Daniel could never be sure where they were between those times, and bed. And now, for some reason, he couldn't really look directly at Charles. He hadn't felt that before, but did know the sensation. Embarrassment...? Perhaps. He shook his head. "No, I think I have everything I need." He said, taking a quick inventory of his surroundings and desk contents. "But I'll keep a list in case I need any new materials or books for the boys, or Lily, when she gets older." Daniel forced himself to snap his mouth shut, or he'd have kept babbling in a nonsensical manner. |
He was relieved to hear that everyone was accounted for. Charles allowed himself to relax, and gave the other man a small smile. "I hope they weren't too much trouble. How are they doing? Learning well?" If the boys were giving their tutor trouble, he wanted to know about it. Charles was surprised to find himself thinking that he hoped they made a good impression on Daniel. It was an odd thought, or so it seemed to him.
Casually, he removed his jacket and placed it on one of the chairs. "And how are you? You seem a little tired." He did notice those things. Charles made it a point to know those who worked for his family. They were family too, after all. There were usually family gatherings, and the workers in the house were usually invited. It was always a grand affair when Christmas came around. He smiled fondly at the thought. |
Daniel shook his head. "No trouble at all." He promised. "They're generally very good, but can be a bit hyperactive in the morning. I don't mind it as long as they settle down by noon." He put the books aside so he wasn't tempted to keep going through them for yet another time, and so he could focus more on Charles. "They're learning very well, I'm glad to see their progress is constant and a little higher in grade than they ought to be, so that's positive too." Remmy was retaining the information better, and Ari was having a bit of trouble regarding sciences, but otherwise they were very good kids. Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose to stave off the headache forming from so much reading, and looked up in response to Charles' question. "I... yes, I suppose I'm a bit tired. That's nothing new, I can tell you that---I wake up early out of habit, maybe a little too early." Then he would stay up until midnight, and beyond, and curse his decision every day, promising himself to go to bed earlier, but he never did. A vicious cycle he couldn't really be bothered enough by to break. He shook his head. "But how are you? I assume your job is more stressful than mine could be." He stayed home every day, after all, worked with three kids, one that didn't have much grasp on language yet. |
A smile swept across his features as he heard his children praised so. Charles really couldn't help it. They were his pride and joy, in a time when unusual thoughts plagued his mind. He kept thinking again of those two men he'd seen, how happy they'd been together, how ... loved. He shook his head slightly, concern over the other man replacing his earlier thoughts, the rebellious ones.
"You should sleep more. You can't very well teach my children when nearly falling asleep on the desk." He pursed his lips when thinking of his own work, aristocratic features showing his feelings over it all. It was tiring. "It is indeed. Tiring really. But I do like to think I make a difference, doing what I do..." |
Daniel shook his head quickly. "I apologize." He said. "I... try to sleep, I do. Although I assure you, my alertness and intelligence doesn't drop, nor make your children suffer because of it. I only feel my insomniac ways when I have nothing to keep my mind occupied." And that could be anything. Working, reading, writing, assessing his surroundings or talking to others. If he could just... find the will to get around others. Maybe he could make excuses to talk to Charles, he seemed to need a good conversation now and then. Maybe something to take his own mind off his work, off the stress that seemed to accumulate over time. He smiled. "I think you do make a difference." Daniel said. "Not that I'm trying to... earn positive marks from you, that is. Not much would get done without you, and others like you." Not much would change. Daniel didn't follow much of what Charles did, but it would probably be nice to get around to asking. After all, he lived with this family, and hoped to be considered a friend, someone to rely on as more than a private teacher. |
He smiled gently. Such praise ... He wasn't used to hearing anything of the sort. It was always more along the lines of people working out ways to change what he'd done, worked so hard to create. Charles tilted his head and took a step forward. He knew he was invading the other man's personal space, more then that he was overstepping the bounds. "It's alright. As for your sleeping habits ..." Charles lifted a hand to press its back to the other man's forehead. The soft press of skin against skin, the pure forbidden moments such a touch might lead to, it had his heart beating fast.
But he couldn't think of such things. Shaking his head slightly, the man let his hand fall. "It doesn't seem like you have a fever...Take care of yourself. I don't want to find another tutor for my children because of your insistence upon neglecting your health." Charles tilted his head to glance at the other man through his lashes. "You're important to them." And Daniel was such a temptation. The politician's assistant knew his thoughts had changed suddenly, hidden notions rising to the surface and hooking themselves into his daily musings. Maybe it would be a good idea to find another tutor, but ... He couldn't bring himself to do so. |
Daniel was nodding a bit, picking up a pen and twirling it a little to have something to focus on since staring at Charles would probably be a bad thing. But it froze in his hand and fell when his employer put a hand to his head, It was slightly cooler, and the momentary touch felt almost wrong. As if some code of conduct had been breached. He shook his head, though, when Charles spoke. "I'll make sure to... to try to sleep better." He promised. "I'll, um, get a few books to read in the evening... It should help." He lifted a hand to brush his hair back. Or at least, he wanted it to appear that way. In reality he was brushing his fingers against the place Charles had touched, as if the man's hand was still there. He looked down, away from the way Charles regarded him. It was intense, that look, almost unintentional, but he could feel it like a weight when he looked down at his hands and the pen he reached to pick up and twirl again. His thoughts, rising to the surface, were bad. Stupid, even. Like some kid's thoughts when he decided to look at someone he couldn't have, or a celebrity he had a crush on. Just something that would pass, since he'd been so focused on his work, perhaps. |
"Is reading all you do? Don't you have someone to spend time with, outside from the children?" He'd never seen the other man with anyone. Then again, he had been deliberately trying to avoid Daniel ... Now that he took the time to think about it. Yes, that was why he so rarely visited the schoolroom, that was why he usually let his wife take care of things. But now, he didn't want to do that anymore. Crazy though it was, perhaps he'd stumbled upon what he'd been missing.
But taking the chance to test the waters, was it worth the risk? "I haven't seen anyone visiting you. You do know you can invite people over, don't you?" He didn't want Daniel to say he knew, that he had someone. It was a selfish wish. He was married! Charles ground his teeth without realizing it. |
Daniel paused, and blinked a little quickly, thinking himself lucky that he wasn't looking directly at Charles. "I... was wondering about that, sure... About if I were allowed to invite someone by... I mean, if I had anyone." He found himself smiling a little, as if it cut through the pain behind his eyes. "I, uhm... I don't really have family. I mean... No immediate family. I don't know about anyone else, distant. Or friends. Reading, and writing, and doing what I do here is all I've really ever done." Curiously, it didn't hurt until he talked about it. Or was asked about it. He laughed quietly, and shook his head to ease the feeling of melancholy away without it bringing tears to his eyes. He couldn't cry in front of Charles, his chief employer! That would feel... unprofessional. Even if he wasn't necessarily working right now. "I guess I feel like this household is all the family I need. It feels okay." Okay was good enough, after all. He'd only ever settled for 'okay'. |
That was rather sad. The other man had no one save his employers and the children they paid him to teach. Charles lips set themselves into a hard line at the thought. That was no way for anyone to live, and certainly no one so sensitive seeming as Daniel. "Is that truly so? Tell me Daniel, would you be averse to going out to town with me? To visit a bookstore. I would like your opinion on something I want to get for the boys. I'm afraid the books I have in mind might be too advanced for them."
It was no more then an excuse to get the tutor our of the house, with him. He wanted to spend time with Daniel, the reclusive man who taught his children. If his wife found out anything about Charles somewhat attraction to the man .... He shook his head slightly.. This was no time to let any of that cross his mind. Already he was threading a fairly thin line between propriety and impropriety. |
Daniel's heart leapt into his throat at the thought. Going to town? And with one of his employers, no less? It would be a great time to get to know him, to get away from the house for once. How long had it been since he'd actually left the house, anyway? Usually he would only go outside, or into the courtyard, or out to the edge of the wooded area that hugged the property's east side. He couldn't quite recall when, specifically, he'd left to go to town. A trip out, perhaps, would be something that would help him sleep a little easier. He swallowed hard. "A---I mean, sure, I think that'd be nice." Coming across as too eager had to be foolish. Had to seem desperate. Just because he didn't have living family didn't mean he had to be clingy, or give the puppy-dog eyes to anyone that offered to take him somewhere, as if he were a child waiting for their parent to offer a trip. Besides, it was for the kids. The boys, no doubt, since Lily was still too young to be evaluated specifically yet. Charles would need information from Daniel, first-hand, since he was the best to relate information to their parents. He was the teacher, after all, and while he offered monthly evaluations, it would be better to specifically speak about it with one of the parents. More of a business move, if anything. |
Pitiful, how little he knew about his own children. Charles actually had no idea what to buy for them. He knew he wanted to encourage their reading, but as to their likes and dislikes ... He knew the basics of course, but he wasn't confident in what he knew. Charles worked too often to be around the twins as often as he should have been. Those were thoughts to ponder over for another time. "I'm free to go tomorrow evening. And you? If not I'm sure the boys would appreciate a little holiday .. They get them so rarely."
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Daniel smile brightly. Tomorrow sounded like a perfect idea. He could give the boys the whole day off, since Charles did have a point. Even the weekends had them at their desks, and only a week before and after Christmas, the week of Easter, the day and day after of Halloween, and a few other singular days. Maybe some extra days would be nice for the boys. Maybe he'd have to schedule certain days that just let them get outside without having to try to learn anything. Or under the guise of learning about biology, perhaps. It would let them feel a bit more free. And it wouldn't make them lose their knowledge, for that matter. Daniel nodded. "Tomorrow evening sounds great." He said simply. "I'd be happy to come along." But that meant Charles would be leaving now. And Daniel would be left to look for something to do. Maybe he'd just go outside again. |
Charles returned the smile with one of his own, feeling an excited fluttering in his heart. He knew he was playing with fire. All the man could hope for was to escape with naught more then a singe. "Til tomorrow then, Daniel. I'll meet you outside by the front steps at four o'clock." Which implied they would be eating supper together.
The reasons were innocent enough. Charles knew his wife wouldn't suspect a thing, nor would Daniel for that matter. It was all for the good. He didn't want to actually play out any of his more risqué thoughts. They were forbidden, taboo, to a man like Charles. His very job could be at risk if anything so scandalous happened. |
Daniel could hardly contain his happiness. Instead of leaping up and throwing appreciative arms around Charles, he clasped his hands together and smiled. "I'll look forward to it." He said instead, stuffing out the tremor in his voice. Finally, someone to spend time with. Someone that wasn't the kids, the boys and girl, though he did adore them. They were sweet and friendly and shared their parents' intelligence, and now he'd be able to get to know Charles more. But then a thought crossed his mind---they would be leaving at four... Just how long would they be together? And what else would they be doing? How long would they be gone? Perhaps it was Daniel's overactive imagination, but he suddenly felt as if something else were going to happen. Was it just implication? Perhaps... He didn't know much about Charles at all and would hate to embarrass himself or put his job on the line just for thinking such things. And what was he thinking...? Whatever it was, it felt taboo and wrong, and even a little stupid. He sighed, bending over his book and opening it again. |
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