Richard finds himself taking another look at the package but cannot come up with any other thought than that it's another ton of books Orlando scored on the internet and plans on sorting during the week (and the next couple of weeks).

Distracted by that thought- and the idea of the mess that tends to come with that process- he replies a little belatedly.

'There is no need to lay the table, it's ready.'

Richard shakes his head to get rid of the little frown that he feels is clinging to his lips and follows Orlando into the kitchen.

'Just pick something to drink, everything else is ready.'

Orlando turns around without stopping and smiles at him.

'Thank you, as always,' he says. 'It smells fantastic. So good, in fact, that I was barely able to focus on my essay for the last fifteen minutes.'

He turns towards the fridge.

'What do you want with that? Beer, water, something else?'

'I'll take a Nix, cheers,' Richard replies. He turns off the stove and transfers the rice into the beautiful handmade ceramic bowl that Mark brought as a late housewarming gift. It was the main incentive for making the curry today, if he is being honest, he really was keen on using the bowl. That, and the fact that the weather seemed to call for something warm and spicy. And Orlando is absolutely right, he has to admit, it smells great.

Orlando takes a bottle of water and a beer over to the table.

'That was perfect timing,' he says when they sit down.

'You know I found out that it doesn't matter what I'm reading, when you are cooking that always takes precedent over my book.'

Richard smiles at him.

'Thank you,' he says and pulls the bowl a little closer towards them.

'You know that I don't mind you closing the door, though, right? If I am distracting you? I always leave it open because then it feels as if were still are in the same room, even though we we aren't. But just tell me if you need space and a bit of quiet.'

'Yeah, I know,' Orlando replies easily as he pours their drinks.

'Same goes vice versa.'

Richard takes the lid of the pot and gives the curry a stir before he offers the ladle to Orlando.

'Cheers,' he says with a smile. 'It's really not been an issue here, though, I like how we are spending our time together. And I even get around to working out.'

Orlando chuckles as he helps himself to some of the curry.

'Yeah, and sometimes you even get dressed and out of bed for that,' he jokes. 'That was a great way to start the morning by the way.'

Orlando's words immediately conjure up memories and images, they always do, and the recollection of Orlando's embrace tightening to keep him close while he thrusts into him is so vivid that it seems difficult to take a breath all over again.

'It was,' he agrees and feels heat rising into his cheeks, his body still likes to do that.

'It was a great way to spent yesterday as well.'

Orlando agrees with a hum that turns into one of obvious pleasure when he has the first forkful of curry.

'This is awesome,' he says when he has swallowed, pointing at his plate. 'And yes, I agree. As much as I liked having Mark here, I reckon we did that in the wrong order.'

He smiles at Richard across the table.

'Next time, we'll do two days of shagging, then Mark comes to visit and you get to hike and whatnot while I spend the day with my books. Then we golf and all the rest.'

'Oh, I like that,' Richard replies, mirroring his smile.

'Not just the idea of two days in bed, but of Mark visiting again. I really would like to spend more time with the two of you together.'

'I enjoyed that,' Orlando says easily. 'He's a smart guy, a lot of fun to talk to.'

He still has his eyes on his plate, as he usually has when he is eating, but he adds,

'And I'm glad you enjoy your time with your mate so much. Invite him up here any time.'

Richard has no doubt that he means what he says, he always does, there is no need for second guessing, ever. It's brilliant.

'Thank you,' he says and his smile widens when he takes in Orlando's expression. There is no doubt, either, that he likes the food. Cooking for him is just so rewarding.

'I'll ask him. I got the impression that he really liked the shed, so he might want to come back, despite the long journey.'

'Yeah, we didn't figure that into our calculations,' Orlando replies. 'And there isn't even an airport close by, not a commercial one at least.'

He takes another forkful of food, then muses,

'Or you just agree to, like, meet in the middle.'  His smile widens a bit. 'I hear Leicester is supposed to be nice. Perhaps you'll find a cheap place to stay there for the occasional weekend.'

Richard chuckles.

'My parents would love that,' he says with a shake of his head. 'But I would not get him to myself there. They are relentless.'

Orlando chuckles and nods, attention again on his plate.

'It surely sucks to be you,' he concludes with humour.

Richard lifts his brows and grins at him.

'I really can't complain, after a weekend like this.'

Orlando chuckles again.

'Yeah, I'm pretty happy about it as well so far,' he agrees.

'Anything you got planned for the rest of the day?'

'Oh, I want to finish my book, it's brilliant,' Richard replies,

'If you don't mind reading for another while? I'm halfway through.'

'No, I'm fine with that,' Orlando replies. 'Read for as long as you like. Start another one, too, if you want.'

He grins at Richard.

'There are plenty.'

'Oh, yes, there are,' Richard replies with a chuckle.

'And I strongly suspect that there are more in the hall? Did you buy more books from somebody who died?'

Orlando looks up, brows raised in slight surprise, before he starts laughing.

'That would make me one monomanic neceomancer, wouldn't it? Raising people from the grave to haggle with them over books?'

He laughs again and shakes his head before he looks down at his plate again.

'I'm sure there would be some bagains to be made that way.'

Richard has felt his smile turning fond and shakes his head, amused.

'Oh, I am sure about that,' he says. 'Especially when they are a bit smelly and moth-eaten.'

Orlando chuckles.

'I still think that Descartes book was chewed on by a mouse, not a moth,' he argues.

It's not for a lack of trying, but Richard can't keep his face straight. It stretches into a grimace and he pulls up his shoulders a little. Just the thought makes his skin crawl.

'I would hate that so much, a mouse in here that burrows into the books and furniture. Fuck.'

Orlando stops chewing and looks up from his plate and at Richard. He tilts his head and regards his expression closely for a moment before he chews a couple of times, swallows.

'That mouse took a bite out of Descartes probably around 1970, you're aware of that, yeah?' he then says, head still tilted with curiosity. 'There were no paper shavings in any of the boxes. I didn't buy mouse.'

Richard exhales, then shakes his head again.

'Tell me that you have this kind of experience because you live in ancient house and not because you did buy a mouse, in the past?'

Orlando still hasn't resumed eating, he is still regarding him with an expression that seems to be both curiosity and amusement.

'I haven't, non, not to my knowledge,' he then replies. 'You're really worried about that? All kidding aside?'

'Not about mice, no,' Richard replies and tries to chase away the slight unease by rubbing the back of his neck. The thought never occured to him, of a mouse hitching a ride, even though it should have, maybe?

'But about mould and moths, a little, yes, if you haven't actually gotten a chance to look at the books.'

Orlando hums, taking in that clarification, and continues to eat.

'So it's not about books I buy second hand at the store, like in Wigtown? But online purchases?'

Richard nods.

'At the store you pick them up, and you can give them a sniff, if they look suspicious. And they don't usually come in a box there. It stresses me out a little when you haven't actually seen them before.'

'I'm sorry,' Orlando says after regarding him for another moment. 'I wasn't aware of that.'

He pauses for a moment, apparently thinking.

'I can look through them outside next time, if you want.'

Richard shakes his head.

'I don't want to spoil the experience for you. You had so much fun unpacking last time. That would not have been the same in the hall.'

Orlando tilts his head.

'I meant "outside" outside', he corrects Richard. 'Like, in front of the cottage. I'd not mind that. If you're, like, worried about them, I can look through them outside.'

It's a really nice offer, but Richard hesitates to accept it.

'Thank you,' he says. 'But you would probably just end up reading in the driveway, and that would be a shame, now that we have such a lovely library. But maybe we could- I don't know, take them out of the box, shake them out and take them inside in one of our boxes?'

Orlando nods.

'Sure, works for me,' he replies easily.

'You know that means you'll probably be doing 80% of the work because I will of course start reading straight away, yeah?'

Richard chuckles.

'That is more than fine with me,' he says and means it. 'I'll happily carry more than one box of books into the library if I don't have to worry about a bunch of moths moving in.'

He loads a bit of curry onto his spoon.

'I can start with the box in the hallway later, if you want?'

Orlando smiles at him.

'Well, feel free to carry it in.

He lets his smile widen to a grin.

'But it doesn't contain books.'

Richard's brows rise.

'Seriously?' he asks, chuckling.

'You listened to me fussing about moths and mice when that was just a theoretical issue?'

Orlando's smile widens even further and he nods.

'Yeah, I might have done,' he confirms, amusement very clear in his voice.

'I told you it was kettle bells, though, didn't I?'

Richard snorts.

'Why do I not believe that?' he asks with a wink.

'Oh, because it's a lie, obviously,' Orlando replies, smirking.

'You can open it and have a look, if you want,' he then offers. 'But I'd rather you didn't and gave me half an hour later.'

Richard regards him, but there is no clue whatsoever in his expression as to what he is talking about. And it's not at all like him to keep a secret, so that alone makes him almost burst with curiosity.

'You certainly know how to keep this interesting,' he says with a heartfelt sigh. 'But I'll wait, then, if that's what you prefer.'

Orlando tilts his head and regards Richard for a long moment, lips twitching.

'You want to, though,' he deduces. 'Go ahead, it's not like this is Christmas Eve and you are five or something.'

'Of course I want to!' Richard exclaims, laughing.

'This never happens. You never order mysterious packages and then just leave them sitting there, for later.'

He huffs.

'But I won't look. because you said that you'd rather open it later. I'll just assume that there is a reason for that and that you're not simply enjoying to watch me squirm with curiosity.'

Orlando shrugs.

'Maybe,' he says vaguely and even though he is grinning, he seems to mean it.

'Alright,' Richard exhales and gives a firm nod. 'I can wait.'

To judge from Orlando's expression he is not buying Richard's resolve, but his reply gets postponed when Richard's phone vibrates with an incoming message. It's on the counter right where he left it when he turned off his podcast earlier.

'Later,' he just says in response to Orlando's slightly raised brows.

Orlando turns his hand to be able to check his watch. But it's apparently not just to find out what Richard means by "later".

'You mean you want to finish your meal before you plan the next one?' he asks, smile widening, and nods in the direction of the counter.

'Bet you five quid that that was the newsletter from the prolific farm shop.'

'Oh, but that would great,' Richard replies, not trying to hide his enthusiasm.

'Those cheeses we bought there were fantastic, I'd love to go there again.'

He glances at his watch.

'They do close early, though.'

Orlando chuckles and lowers his fork.

'So, not really "later", you mean?' he says with amusement.

Richard chuckles.

'Not really, no, I am afraid,' he admits.

'But it might actually be nice to stretch our legs a little? It's supposed to clear up. If you wouldn't rather stay here and read?'

Orlando shakes his head.

'No, I'd like to come with if you don't mind. I reckon I need to air out a bit or I'll be the one the moths follow around.'

Richard laughs.

'I deserve that, I guess. For making a fuss.'

Orlando grins at him.

'Maybe a bit. But I mean it, I'd like to get outside for a bit.'

'Me, too,' Richard agrees with a little nod.

'If it stops raining we could leave the car down by the road and walk the remaining way up to the farm? It shouldn't be more than 15 minutes, I'd say.'

Orlando smirks.

'I don't think that's such a clever idea, given the amount of stuff we'd probably have to carry back to the car afterward.'

Richard chuckles.

'You know me so well,' he says.

'Millk and cheese and vegetables , oh, and liked the cider they had.'

Orlando chuckles as well and leans back in his chair.

'Yeah, that's my point. But we can take a walk later or spend some time in the garden or whatever.'

Richard smirks at him.

'"Or whatever" usually is not something we do outside,' he says and reaches for his glass.

'But let's see what the afternoon brings.'



Previous posts:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7