Jacob's footsteps rang out throughout the stage and throughout the walls.
It was unusual for him to appear all alone on an empty stage, as most other times he had visited, the stage was usually set with a fancy dinner table, chairs, play necessities and other kind of splendor Jacob did not particularly pay much attention to.
It wasn't everyday he was able to see the wet footsteps after him, as usually the lights would hide them in their kind of cosy shades of yellow. He took notice of them today, due to looking about, his expression turning rather sour, without him realizing it. He had frankly hoped for some kind of activity today from Roth. Some kind of fun thing they could do this evening. It could be something as petty as just getting a drink in the nearest pub, or find themselves some hidden chairs to relax in.
It was a disappointing sight to see most of the stage inventory moved to safe keeping. Jacob retraced his wet footsteps, taking it slow, in a childish posture.
If he didn't find his own company to his own liking, he would swear being this lonely would not be too good for him. Being too bored is not too good for him though, perhaps that was something to aim for instead?
Frankly, the thoughts were lost as soon as they started to flow about in his head.
Having an argument with a certain sister had brought him down, more than usually this certain day. After all, hiding something he just couldn't tell her was already a heavy load on his shoulders, due to his sisters staring eyes, and commanding gaze that simply screamed; "Tell me!" for every word she spoke out loud.
There was no way in hell Jacob were able to tell her about his meetings with Roth. Perhaps it was his pride, perhaps it was his steadfast, sudden commitment to Roth, or personal feelings... Jacob frankly didn't care at this point.
Between the fetching of a few templars, and the night they had spent simply drinking, he found he only cared for another drink, and perhaps a few more stories from the man.
He told some interesting stories from his own personal experience. There were themes of freedom especially, which had perked Jacob's interest more than he would like to admit. A trail to a murder of crows, and awaiting wings was his favourite so far.
And speaking of freedom, Jacob found himself sitting in where he came in, feeling the rain on his face. He had climbed up a for a while, in order to have a better view of the night sky, and what awaited on ground level once he wanted to climb down. The nightly sky was draped in a slow moving, heavy blanket of grey, bordering to almost black, and it showed that it was nearing bedtime. Jacob sighed, listening to the city for a slight moment, before his brows furrowed in annoyance.
So many were out, hollering their drunken words merrily. It almost felt unfair, though the only thing stopping him from feeling this completely was the realization he had chosen to go out by his own, and that this was all his fault.
At least he could admit to that.
Roth found himself staggering back to the room behind the stage, merrily carrying a candle with him as he was turning off the lights for the night. After having a particulary rough day, with a lot of sitting about and doing nothing but paperwork, he found simply moving in order to get the last of his papers thrilling, as it at least proved to be a little freedom, in knowing he could sleep directly after this. After unlocking the door and heading inside, something stopped him right under the doorway. He swore there was something wet dripping above him, and it would be most unfortunate, considering the costs of repairs were already high enough. Taking two steps into the room and dropping off the candle, Roth now inspected the doorway, and everything over it, not needing the candle for the moment, as the lights were still on.
He found himself confused for a moment, his tired head unable to put two things together as quick as it used to, before he realized what had been the case.
He must have had a visitor!
Roth found a slightly easier way to climb up, and followed the wet, dirty footsteps to a window, where he saw a heavy figure sitting yet. Though there was one thing that caught Roth off guard.
Jacob had watched Roth climb up, and were fully aware of him from the time he heard the door being unlocked. His eyes were intense as they tried to focus properly in the poor lightning, so it gave off this predatory vibe he hadn't realized before he managed to make out a face in the darkness.
"Jacob, my dear...! Now, what /are/ you doing here, this glum evening?"
As well as a voice, apparently.
"Roth." Jacob found no other words, as the way he had his head turned frankly made it painful to speak. It worked best for silent stalking...
"I found myself bored, and wished to honour your invite for another drink." Jacob continued, keeping up a mindful effort to hide the surprise he felt of seeing Roth. He spoke as he was turning around, mindfully keeping it casual.
"I see why not! Come on out of the rain, darling, and let us find a bottle or two!"
It was clear from Roth's face that he have had a rough day, yet, it was probably clear in Jaboc's face as well. So he wouldn't be surprised if Roth pulled out the strong licqours for the night. Though, a certain arm interrupted, and basically derailed the train of though, and snapped him to focus 100% on what happened, as said arm was now pulling him out of the rain, and carefully too, mind you. It was unusual to not be yanked, and instead having a gentle arm around his shoulders.
Jacob of course kept to his feet, and was on his way to stand up anyway, so the two men were now down behind the stage, both actually for once climbing down slowly, instead of slumping to the ground like they usually would. Perhaps it was the stillness of the night that provoked them to be careful.
Roth led Jacob, his arm never moving, towards the back, and to a couch that stood awkwardly by a wall, facing out, with a small side-table beside it for a lamp.
"Pardon not having the table and chairs for the evening, as this will have to do." Roth said, his voice not reflecting any kind of will to be still with the night. Okay, so Jacob was wrong. But he so often found himself to be when in Roth's company.
Jacobs shock his head, and settled down into the couch, actually finding it to be comfortable. It was frankly not what he had expected.
Roth had dragged out an armchair by the time Jacob had sunk down in the fabric, one most likely used in plays and that sort, and was just as quickly gone again to fetch the drinks, most likely bringing along the whole damn bottle.
"Ah, it's such fun to be signing documents all day, and finding yourself to be all too tired after said day...!"
Small talk... Who would had known...!
"I would sign papers to prove that said thing is indeed the truth." Jacob replied, speaking loudly enough so that he was heard as well. Although, it wasn't too difficult, as the echo in this place had a haunting feel to it.
"There isn't one day I look forward to seeing Starrick squirm." Roth said, his voice coming closer and closer as he spoke, and viola, at the end of the sentence, Roth stood before Jacob, and handed him a glass, filled generously.
After Roth had settled, Jacob raised his glass towards the man, a smirk forming on his lips. "Cheers for that!"
The glasses clinked together, and had a sound that would indicate they were of Roth's finest.
A big gulp of liquor went straight down, Jacob grimacing slightly as the delayed burn set itself just nicely in his throat. Roth however, seemed to be just fine, however, Jacob knew there was no way a man could ever get used to the burn to a point were they would not feel it anymore. There was just no way.
"Darling. I must ask you something..."
Jacob's lips now lingered by the side of the glass, then he did a short, yet polite nod to tell Roth to ask away.
"Why on earth did you traverse the rain?"
Jacob took a little moment to think of the best way to explain his situation, and wondered if going on a personal level with the man would prove appropriate by this time. As frankly, the thought that Roth was associating with templars had passed a while ago, due to Roth's playful commitment to prove it to him.
"A family matter, I suppose." A small sip, and another grimace, before he continued. "My dear sister Evie, as you perhaps know, can be quite so foul mouthed. Treating me like a child, and... Some times one can get tired of it. There has been more on my mind than simply assassin business."
Roth had taken a sip by the time Jacob finished speaking, and yes! The man was not immune to the burn! A slow wink from the man proved it well enough!
"Ah- that is unfortunate, dear. Family can most certainly be a burden." Roth chuckled, taking notice of the small hint of victory in Jacob's eyes, though he had no idea where it came from. And it peaked his interest.
"You don't say." Jacob chuckled, and took another sip. This time another followed suit right after, and it was more of a gulp than a sip.
Roth couldn't lie, this was exactly what he was expecting.
"But darling, do you take such things to heart?"
It was that apparent, huh?
"I would say normally I don't, but lately, it has been hard not to. There has been more on my mind lately than normally."
"That is most understandable." A hearty chuckle escaped the man. "I suppose telling her of our meetings would prove fatal, more than it already is!"
Jacob took a moment to let that sink in. The fact that Roth saw it in the same light as himself caused Jacob to a feel a slight tint of relief, even if it was a morbid thought...
"It would, yes. And a lifetime of never letting me forget it." As Jacob spoke, Roth emptied his glass, and poured himself another from the rather large bottle he had settled on the table beside the couch.
"But, darling... Would you like to forget about this? Hasn't our meetings been cosy?"
Cosy would maybe not be the right word. Though, even if Jacob were to try to find a word, it would be hard. He felt confused about how things ended up between them, and he felt like he wanted to take it slow, to properly digest everything. And it proved to be hard, as more things made him question things about Roth and his way of being...
"If I tried, it would be hard, I'd say."
Jacob guessed that he would perhaps have to regret those words later, when all this would be over... ... If it would ever end. They could just continue on like this, even if it did not exactly feel too right. But... That was what he liked.
Jacob's thoughtful state of mind reflected itself perfectly well on his face, and Roth was not slow to pick up on it. As frankly, the alcohol had started to perk him up a bit.
"Jacob, Jacob, Jacob... It seems I have done my part!"
"What...?" Jacob asked, after taking another gulp of his glass, which had seemed to suddenly be empty.
Just holding out the glass towards Roth caused the glass to fill up again, until it was generously full again.
"Now, what would be the point of our playful outings if I let you forget it? I'd personally say there would be none, darling."
Jacob nodded, though it felt more to the side than straight down. A smile formed on his lips as well.
"I'd say I agree."
Roth answered with a hearty laugh, seeming to approve of what Jacob said.
"Cheers, Jacob. For the future, and to our adventures!"
The glass that were held out towards Jacob was already half empty.
"Cheers."
It became silent, as Jacob lost himself in the moment, looking kind of awkwardly over the place, as well as the drinking Roth. He had felt slightly lightheaded since the two started to drink for some reason, and he guessed it would have to be the alcohol. It didn't really make him all too chatty, though, which was unusual.
"Darling?"
Roth coo'ed, clinking at Jacob's glass that had stopped by the man's mouth, and lingered there for a while.
"Roth?"
"There you are...! For a second I thought the thought train had carried you off!"
"Hmm."
Roth downed his drink, finding it to be enough for today. Especially considering the glasses were 0.5 liter's. The fact that Jacob almost seemed to be lost in thought caused Roth to gain quite the smirk, and decided to pat the man's shoulders, to see if he were more approachable this way.
"Daaarling?"
Roth's voice sounded mocking, almost like he was trying to coax Jacob would of his head in a snappy way. And it seemed to work, the man suddenly downing the rest of his alcohol, which took a little while, due to the burn. A loud sigh escaped the man as he finished, and he set the mug on the table beside him. Roth's hand had not yet moved.
"I don't want to go back to the train for tonight, Roth." Jacob faced Roth as he spoke, a serious tone in his voice that Roth frankly couldn't find himself recognizing.
"That will be arranged, Jacob my dear."
Suddenly, the large assassin stood up tall, his structure almost looming over Roth. Roth followed suit, guessing the man was done drinking for today. And frankly, it seemed to be a good idea, considering how he was acting. This really did not seem like Jacob's usual way of being drunk. There was something fishy with him.
"Lewis! Ready my carrige!"
Jacob stood wobbly, which would be only logical due to the alcohol he had been drinking.
"Have Lewis been eavesdropping on us?"
"No, darling. I believe he have nodded off, as I hear no footsteps...!" Roth stormed off in his usual energetic way, to look for the man in question. It left Jacob standing there, looking after Roth, almost feeling sorrowful that he left. It was a feeling he took notice off, but only slightly, as it was frankly hard to tell what he was really feeling at the moment. He felt so weird and almost feverish by now, that he even didn't realize he was standing steadfast. He looked around with wide open eyes to make sure that he was, indeed, standing properly, and when he figured he was safely planted on the ground, he chuckled slightly at himself. Roth returned just moments after, not with a questioning look, however, with a slight annoying look.
"It would seem we will have to find another means of transport."
"Well, let's get to it...!" Jacob replied, a smile had formed on his lips.
