Before Dusk (ClockwiseDream)

''You're welcome'', Samael said, looking towards the man next to him as they slowly neared the table. Once there, Samael pushed his book back down to the floor and sat on the chair opposite the one from which Eros had gotten up when he had bumped into him. ''Thought it is my fault you have lost your first cup, so there is no need to thank me really'', he said, shrugging his shoulders as he took a large sip of his drink, the mixed flavours dancing beautify on his tongue before the hot liquid went further down his throat, burning it. Coughing a bit, he put his drink down deciding to let it cool for a moment even though it would probably ruin the flavour at least somewhat.

''It's not, not really'', he said, shaking his head as Eros said he thought his name was just a variation of Samuel. ''Samuel actually means 'told by God', 'name of God' or 'God has heard'. Depends on the language and where you look it up, really.''

Samael already had this memorised, having always been interested in the meaning behind his name, and having already had to explain all of this at least two or three times in the past.

''Samael on the other hand'', he said, checking the temperature of his drink by having another small sip of it and deeming it still too hot yet again, ''means something like 'severity of God' or 'Venom of God'. It's usually an archangel's name, though there are cases where it is listed as demon's.''

He wasn't sure whose idea was to name their children Samael and Michael, his parents having always been very secretive about that, but he had figured out the pattern when he was about nine, if not sooner. He was not sure what they would have done had they had a third child thought, he mused, chuckling to himself at the thought.

''Indeed you did'', Samael said, nodding his head when Eros asked about getting a biblical part right before giving him a warm, bright smile as he complimented his name.
''Thank you'', he said, laying his hands down on the table as he lowered his drink as he did not want to cut their conversation short by finishing it too soon. It was obvious that Eros was on some sort of time limit anyway, there was no need to add anything else to it, after all.

He had heard people compliment his name before, but not often, as most of them did tend to think that it weird or strange rather than nice even when they were good-natured and did not mean any harm by it. Imagining that it was same for Eros, especially since he himself did seem to dislike his name, he decided to return the compliment.

''Yours is very nice too. I like the sound of it'', he said, remembering how Eros himself had said it when he had introduced himself. ''Though I would probably pronounce it all wrong myself'', he chuckled lightly at himself before taking a big sip of his coffee again, the drink having finally cooled down enough for him to drink.

''Ah, these'', he said, frowning at the pile in the bag as he lied eyes on it again. ''Those are for my brother'', he said, kicking at the bag with his leg, though not too hard, as he knew that it would only hurt him rather than the books. ''He has moved out of the house but still needs them for some of his college work. I was supposed to give them to him today, but he had bailed on me, probably to go and do something stupid'', he said, clicking his huffing a bit in disapproval as he did so. He had nothing against Michael doing stupid college stuff that were as mandatory as your freshmen classes to most people, as long as he did not get himself hurt, in trouble or bookless, making Samael carry the whole pile back to the city once again.

''He was the one I was talking to on the phone when I bumped into you'', he explained, focusing his gaze back on Eros again, rather than looking into his distance as he berated his brother's behaviour in his head. ''He was just telling me that he could not make it to pick up the books, which are, you will notice, rather heavy'', he smiled, rolling his eyes. ''So it's technically his fault your coffee ended up on the floor'', he finished, taking another sip of his own drink.

''Eros it is then'', Samael said, smiling as he downed yet another gulp of his drink. ''Though you're still welcome'', he added, looking the other man in the eyes. And those were some nice eyes, he thought, his mind suddenly getting side tracked as he continued to stare into the other man's bright hazel eyes as if he were set in stone. He was unable to break eye contact, as if he were...Hypnotized, he realised suddenly, his whole body twitching as he shook his head, breaking eye contact and ending the spell like state which had came over him. He had been around enough people with similar powers to know what had happened immediately, especially since he could still feel the lingering effect of it on him. He took a deep breath however, and instead of allowing it to grow, pushed it aside, establishing his own control over his body as he had learned to do multiple times while learning how to change between one body and another. He would not break. No matter what kind of power Eros head, he will not be drawn into it.

''I'm afraid that he had already made if clear he won't be picking them up'', Samael said, focusing his mind on the conversation rather than on whatever it was that came over him a moment ago, a hand holding tightly onto the edge of the table in front of him, as if to make sure that the object was still between him and Eros, or to stop him if he tried to stand up. His other hand was still leisurely wrapped around his cup, holding onto the now acceptable, and comforting warmth. With each breath the took, the broke a little more of the spell, his body soon completely relaxing again.

''And I have to work tonight, so I couldn't wait for him that long anyway'', he said, taking a look of Eros' clock as he said that, remembering that he too needed to keep track of time. ''So I will just have to bring them back home again'', he said, sighing as he took another sip of his drink. ''I have no intention of bringing them over again, however. He will have to drag his lazy ass back home to pick them up'', he said, scoffing, still irritated by his brother's behaviour, his hand finally letting go of the table once he became sure he was not going to do anything rash or out of his control.

''I'm fine now'', Samael said, giving Eros a quick smile, though he avoided looking directly into the other man's eyes, as he was almost completely sure that they were the source of his allure, as nothing else about him seemed to entrance him so.

''It's not the first time I have been faced with such powers'', he said, though he wasn't quite sure what Eros's power was. He wasn't about to ask however. The man could share, if he wanted, but he would allow him to do it so, and on his own terms.

''Besides, I'm already quite used to arguing with my own body about it wants to do'', he said, giving the man a small grin before taking another gulp of his coffee, breaking his own line of sight so he did not have to meet those bright hazel eyes.

''It kind of comes with being a shifter'', he explained, having no problems with sharing his own power with Eros. ''We've come to the agreement that I am the one in charge long ago'', he said, giving Eros another almost mischievous grin. ''So you have nothing to worry about, really'', he said, his voice suddenly becoming quiet and soothing, but still carrying a bit of humour as not to make the air around them suddenly to heavy to continue talking. ''I'm not about to do anything unsavoury, I swear'', he finished, leaning back into his chair.

''I'm not going to push it either, though, so you'll excuse me not meeting your eyes, I hope'', he said, then, frowning a bit. ''That is where your power is coming from right?'', he didn't want to ask, but he still needed to make sure, just to make it safe for both of them.

As Samael noticed that Eros was about to get up, the air around him having already changed the moment he had asked him about his powers and eyes, he too got on his feet, reaching for the other man. Not wanting to make him feel trapped, yet needing him not to walk away, he did not grab him by the arm or shoulder but simply put a light pressure against his wrist, just strong enough to signal he needed him to listen to him for a moment longer.

''You're welcome'', he said, his voice calm and soothing. ''Even though it was really my fault, and all'', he said, a small grin breaking out on his face. ''And if you truly need to leave, please do'', he said, removing his hand from Eros' wrist, thus lifting the pressure meant to hold him back. ''But please do not feel the need to walk away simply because of your powers, or something similar'', he sad, hoping he was getting his point across properly rather than insulting the other man. It happened, sometimes, even when he did not want to, even when he was on his most careful behaviour, simply due to the fact that he had days on which his tongue and words would not listen to him.

''I do not mind them, and am fairly sure I could resist them, at least for a while'', he said, thinking back on that first moment when the...disappearing of the wards, probably, he thought, thinking of what Eros had just said about that...caught him by surprise. ''Though I should probably avoid your eyes, simply because I do not want to push my luck. I would rather I not I become overwhelmed and do something... unsavoury because of that'', he said, a frown now replacing the smile on his face. ''I do hope to see you again, either way however. Perhaps you could give me your number or something?'', he asked, fairly certain he was not stepping over any lines. He had a feeling he was making a friend, and would hate to lose that, really.

@"Trahnael": same thing, as in the other thread, sorry for the wait. I should open the continuation of Subtle soon too.