Tavros smiled gratefully at Rose Lalonde, thanking her once again for hooking him up with such a sweet deal on a house of his very own. Rose was a kick-ass realtor, and he thanked the stars that she happened to be dating his dear friend, Kanaya Maryam. Before she left, the crisply dressed platinum blonde reminded the man that his stuff would be here later this afternoon. He shook her hand in affirmation and as a farewell gesture. Tavros watched her most likely top of the line vehicle speed off. Inhaling deeply, the Latino turned to the beautiful oaken double doors that led to his now official home. Opening them, he left the wraparound porch briskly with cheer in his step.
While waiting for his things to arrive, Tavros decided to give himself a tour. Smile plastered to his face, he strode through the entryway that led to the living room, open and inviting. He visualized all of the furniture as he went, placing and rearranging so that he would have a solid plan to give the movers. After brushing his fingers along the edge of the small but beautiful stone fireplace set into the opposite wall, he turned left and made his way into the adjoining kitchen. The room extended back, but Tavros kept moving forward into what he dubbed his game room. It was just big enough to function as his office, if he ever found the need to work, and double as a play space. The childlike 20-something year old enjoyed anything from Halo to Pokemon.
He continued on to the staircase in the back corner of the game room, a simple thing that extended into the house's rather spacious attic. This, of course, would be used for storage, and also the Taurus's bedroom. There was a beautiful window that looked across the backyard, which was streaming gentle sunlight into the room, that would make a wonderful backdrop for his room. He would have to put his Peter Pan posters somewhere else, perhaps the game room. All of the trivial details could be ironed out when the time came. For now, Tavros made his way back downstairs to the living room and continued to the right.
A hallway constituted the rest of pthe house, with all of its appropriate extensions- tons of closet space, the master bedroom that would become the guest room, and the bathroom. Flicking on the light in the last, Tavros leaned one elbow on the marble sink and ran a hand through his messy caramel mohawk. He met his own amber eyes in the mirror, and offered his reflection a lopsided grin. He wondered what Rufioh would say if he could see his baby brother now. The young man's smile slipped a bit at the thought of his estranged sibling. The two had been nearly inseparable until the older left for college in Asia and decided to stay. Still, Tavros made it a point to call Rufioh at least twice a month. He made a mental note to bring up the fact that he had a guest room available for the elder if he ever decided to visit, though the Taurus didn't get his hopes up.
He was jarred out of his head by the doorbell. His stuff must be here. Tavros rushed to the door and pulled one side open. A tall, dark, and handsome man that looked to be around his age, if not a little older, stood waiting. Smiling nervously, he swept a piece of his long, black hair behind his ear.
"Miss Lalonde said I was to help you move your things into your new home, Mr. Nitram. Simply tell me where and I'll be happy to put anything anywhere you like." His voice was deep and solid, with a slight accent that Tavros couldn't place.
"Are you by yourself? Because, I, um, could help, if that's what you'd like, I mean, if you don't mind?" Tavros said, his slight stutter and awkward phrasing making him blush. The stranger's blue eyes crinkled as his face stretched into a genuine smile.
"No thank you, sir. I'm very strong, and more than capable. And excuse my poor manners, I am Equius Zahaak. Feel free to command me as you wish, Mr. Nitram." He said, holding out his hand. I took it and said shakily that he could call me by my first name. Instead of replying, he straightened his deep blue tank and walked to the van that held Tavros's furnishings. After watching him work and sweat for a few hours (during which he was definitely, most likely, probably not watching the way his muscles moved under his clothes because Tavros was not going there) everything was in place, and Equius excused himself to use the restroom. Tavros sighed happily and stood in the middle of the living room, appreciating the tactful choices that had been made thanks to the mover's input.
As he was once again drawn to the fireplace, he heard Equius pull open a closet door. Because of the space in the attic, they had been rendered useless, and the man was most likely trying to find a use for them. He went to help when he heard a thunk and a gasp of shock. Walking quickly, the Taurus saw what looked like am ashy black box on the floor in front of a very pale Zahaak in the hallway. Eyebrows drawn in concern, Tavros put a hand on the older man's shoulder, only to have him jump out of his skin. Equius, with a sharp intake of breath, turned to me.
"Mr. Nitram, I don't know how to phrase this without it coming off as strange, but I would reccomend getting this house blessed." He whispered frightfully, before rushing away to the living room. Gaping after him, the Taurus blinked a few times before he heard the rumbling of an engine. He had left. What had scared him so badly to cause him to run off like that? And blessed? As in, by a priest? Tavros gave an involuntary shudder as he knelt to observe the box. The outside was blacked, as if it had been set on fire. He gingerly prodded it open and was met by the alphabet and a few words on a board. It might of been his eyes playing tricks in him, but Tavros could have sworn that the hallway got a bit dimmer as he laid eyes on the worse for wear Ouiji board.
He bit his lip, then shook his head. No, that was silly. It was just some game. Equius must be superstitious. Laughing, he closed it back up and put it back in the closet until he could think of what to do with it.
However, as he got ready for bed, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched.