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"I know we do!" Holden had complete confidence in his brothers. Even in Alfie. If Alfie said he'd win the fight, he was sure he would. He rarely let them down when it came to those things. He resisted the urge to hug Jon, knowing that his brother wasn't that touchy-feely, not like Axel and Alfie could be. "You should eat and go to bed, Jonny. I'll tuck in Axel and Alfie can just go out."
"Are you kicking me out, you prat?" Alfie had heard that part, laughing at the audacity. He ruffled Axel's hair and shook his head. "What a nagging momma you have there with Holden, eh? Is he a pest?"
"Are you kicking me out, you prat?" Alfie had heard that part, laughing at the audacity. He ruffled Axel's hair and shook his head. "What a nagging momma you have there with Holden, eh? Is he a pest?"
Edited 2024-01-10 21:32 (UTC)
"No, you're a pest." Axel laughed and playfully shoved Alfie. He loved Holden, he might whine to him and get mad but no one could get angry at Holden but him. He stretched lazily and then yawned, looking at Alfie. "I wanna kip. And not with you cause you snore."
"He's got you there, mate." Jonathan teased as he grinned in the direction of Alfie. "I think Holden and Axel should be tucked in soon so me and you can go out and have fun."
Jonathan did not want to go out and have fun but he wanted to give the kids space to sleep and have some time with Alfie. Alfie needed someone to vent too as much as anyone else and he'd never do it around the kids.
"He's got you there, mate." Jonathan teased as he grinned in the direction of Alfie. "I think Holden and Axel should be tucked in soon so me and you can go out and have fun."
Jonathan did not want to go out and have fun but he wanted to give the kids space to sleep and have some time with Alfie. Alfie needed someone to vent too as much as anyone else and he'd never do it around the kids.
"Oi! I only snore when I am drunk!" He was also not too far from the whiskey bottle, so there was that. He supposed Axel had a point. He hugged the boy close briefly, then picked him up to drop him into Holden's arms. "There you go. Sweet dreams, wee lads."
Holden wrapped his arms around Axel and then got up. "Let's brush our teeth, yea?" He wanted them to not look like Alfie's did half the time. "Say good night."
"Let's go somewhere with music, Jonny, proper celebration. We'll have a good payday coming up, I can feel it." So he felt like singing and getting very drunk. Hey, it was the traveller way.
Holden wrapped his arms around Axel and then got up. "Let's brush our teeth, yea?" He wanted them to not look like Alfie's did half the time. "Say good night."
"Let's go somewhere with music, Jonny, proper celebration. We'll have a good payday coming up, I can feel it." So he felt like singing and getting very drunk. Hey, it was the traveller way.
"When the payday comes, we'll go out. For now, you'll have to settle for whiskey and a calm evening. The kids gotta sleep." Not just their kids but all of them across the site. Jonathan got up and grabbed the whiskey, heading outside and knowing that Alfie would follow. "I'm gonna leave tomorrow at 6am, see if I can find another buyer. You keep on training and hey, if we're lucky, we'll be racking it in."
Then they wouldn't have to worry about food or clothes or what they could afford to get next. They'd be set. If, of course, everyone behaved. "No gambling until we work out what to do. I fucking mean it."
Then they wouldn't have to worry about food or clothes or what they could afford to get next. They'd be set. If, of course, everyone behaved. "No gambling until we work out what to do. I fucking mean it."
"You are no fun. None whatsoever." Alfie was already lighting a cigarette, rolling his shoulders as he followed behind Jonathan. "I'll keep on winning this time. I can feel it. So don't worry so much. If you frown all the time, that will be stuck on your face."
Sometimes he wondered whether it already was. "Now come have some fun, Jonny. We'll do well by our boys, I know it. They're lucky lads."
Sometimes he wondered whether it already was. "Now come have some fun, Jonny. We'll do well by our boys, I know it. They're lucky lads."
Jon had told himself all day that he wouldn't take that route home, that it seemed ultimately pointless and he didn't want Edward anyway - and yet, when he left the caravan that day, he grabbed his fiddle. Now why the bloody hell did he do that? Well, if Edward was busking, perhaps he fancied some company. And company didn't have to be an opportunity.
That was what he told himself. That he brought it as a show of support, perhaps a talking piece and not at all to show off a little so a guy like Edward might be drawn in. It didn't help to try and think these things.
As soon as he saw Edward, he felt right into the lap of temptation all over again. Those fucking eyes, he could drown in them and when they looked right at him, he lost his breath for a second. He paused across the street and looked back at Edward but he didn't approach. He looked away and lit up up a cigarette.
What the fuck did he do now?
That was what he told himself. That he brought it as a show of support, perhaps a talking piece and not at all to show off a little so a guy like Edward might be drawn in. It didn't help to try and think these things.
As soon as he saw Edward, he felt right into the lap of temptation all over again. Those fucking eyes, he could drown in them and when they looked right at him, he lost his breath for a second. He paused across the street and looked back at Edward but he didn't approach. He looked away and lit up up a cigarette.
What the fuck did he do now?
Of course Edward noticed Jonathan pretty much immediately, even though he was mid-song. Jon hadn't really left his mind since he'd talked to him the other day. Stood out, with those eyes and the voice and the general demeanour. Stood out not just because he was one of the few Irishmen he'd met since coming here. Stood out also because he had most definitely not been averse to his flirting and that realisation was... titillating, to say the least.
He saw him stand there and it wasn't as if he couldn't read the signs. Stoic strong man, not taking his eyes off of him but staying at a distance. There was a pull to that. Seemed to him as if Jon wanted to be wooed. He could certainly comply with that desire.
So, after ending the current song, he strummed his fingers again, breaking into his own interpretation of the old classic Raggle Taggle Gypsy. Seemed fitting enough.
He saw him stand there and it wasn't as if he couldn't read the signs. Stoic strong man, not taking his eyes off of him but staying at a distance. There was a pull to that. Seemed to him as if Jon wanted to be wooed. He could certainly comply with that desire.
So, after ending the current song, he strummed his fingers again, breaking into his own interpretation of the old classic Raggle Taggle Gypsy. Seemed fitting enough.
He knew Edward was playing to him and only him, it was quite nice actually. He listened for a few before he took his case off his shoulder and opened it up. He started taking out his fiddle and bow out, dropping the case to the floor and putting his foot on it so no one could nick it.
As he looked at Edward, he reared up his bow and started to play along with Edward, still not approaching. Though he did look at him, even smiled ever so slightly as he played along. His grandfather had gifted him this fiddle, it was generations old and Jonathan had been taught by the community to play. He was pretty good, though he knew better musicians.
It was fun, to just play with someone. To be apart but be together. It was relaxing, in a sense.
As he looked at Edward, he reared up his bow and started to play along with Edward, still not approaching. Though he did look at him, even smiled ever so slightly as he played along. His grandfather had gifted him this fiddle, it was generations old and Jonathan had been taught by the community to play. He was pretty good, though he knew better musicians.
It was fun, to just play with someone. To be apart but be together. It was relaxing, in a sense.
This was quite something. He hadn't expected Jon to join in and if he would have dared to abandon his guitar case, he would have walked right over to play closer to him. However, he had his earnings of at least the past hour in that case, he wasn't budging. Still, he also wasn't looking away from Jon the whole time. He laughed when they finished the song, pausing to push the hair back from his face while thinking of another.
"This one's for you, Jonny!"
With that, he started on 'I'll tell me Ma', which seemed fitting enough. People were certainly having fun watching them. They might be more scandalised if they had been able to see how dirty some of Ed's thoughts were getting, but he was also simply enjoying himself.
"This one's for you, Jonny!"
With that, he started on 'I'll tell me Ma', which seemed fitting enough. People were certainly having fun watching them. They might be more scandalised if they had been able to see how dirty some of Ed's thoughts were getting, but he was also simply enjoying himself.
Jonathan copied along, knowing the song well as he sang it to his Axel when he was sick. Jon had gotten pretty good at playing by ear and he did so. It was fun and hell, people were giving Jon some money too. He wouldn't say no to any money, he was scrapping by as it was.
Once Edward had finished playing, Jonathan put his bow into the other hand and got the money from his case, pocketing it and closing the case. He picked it up and walked across the road, case slung across his shoulder again but his fiddle still in his hand.
"Alright, sunshine. How's the hard work going?"
Once Edward had finished playing, Jonathan put his bow into the other hand and got the money from his case, pocketing it and closing the case. He picked it up and walked across the road, case slung across his shoulder again but his fiddle still in his hand.
"Alright, sunshine. How's the hard work going?"
"Oh, it's going all right. I've even gotten some illicit offers, if you'll believe it." He bent down now to collect the money he had and quickly pocket it, holding a piece of paper out to Jonathan that had a number on it with three xs underneath. "I'm scandalised."
She had been a good tipper though, he had to admit that. He straightened up and looked at Jon, smiling brightly. "You've got all kinds of talents, eh? Didn't know I was going to have accompaniment today, it's an honour. True artistry there, you and your fiddle. You don't just have a good hand for horses."
Which was very attractive to learn about.
She had been a good tipper though, he had to admit that. He straightened up and looked at Jon, smiling brightly. "You've got all kinds of talents, eh? Didn't know I was going to have accompaniment today, it's an honour. True artistry there, you and your fiddle. You don't just have a good hand for horses."
Which was very attractive to learn about.
"I'm a country boy, son. I got a lot of skills. You gotta have 'em or you'll die. Especially when they're all out to get you. No one hates nothing quite as much as they hate a pikey paddy and his gypo family." Jonathan remarked playfully as he looked at the paper Edward had and hmmed curiously at it. Well, he wasn't surprised. Edward was a very handsome lad, he probably got hit on all the time.
"I ain't just here to play music though." Jonathan explained as he started to put the instrument away in his case, knowing this would be a tricky pitch, especially in public. Still, Jonathan was daring.
He always took a punt at things. They hated him anyway, may as well make the most of it. "You should come with me."
"I ain't just here to play music though." Jonathan explained as he started to put the instrument away in his case, knowing this would be a tricky pitch, especially in public. Still, Jonathan was daring.
He always took a punt at things. They hated him anyway, may as well make the most of it. "You should come with me."
"Yea? Why's that, mate, you gonna show me more of them skills?" Seemed intriguing. He said it in a joking tone, but he also picked up his guitar case to put the instrument away, clearly ready to follow Jon. He was a city boy. He had picked up a few tricks over the years as well and if he was reading this right then, no. This was not his first bout of a dalliance like that.
"'tis a lovely evening. Where am I coming with you?" He shouldered his guitar case and turned to face Jonathan. Tall, he liked that. Those cheekbones, the eyes, he loved all of that. So he met his eyes and said it quite brazenly, at least because he felt safe in assuming that they were on the same page. "I'm all yours, Jon."
"'tis a lovely evening. Where am I coming with you?" He shouldered his guitar case and turned to face Jonathan. Tall, he liked that. Those cheekbones, the eyes, he loved all of that. So he met his eyes and said it quite brazenly, at least because he felt safe in assuming that they were on the same page. "I'm all yours, Jon."
"Just for a walk. Come on." Jonathan didn't give much more than that and he started walking ahead before Edward could question too much. Not that he seemed willing to. It was not exactly something Jonathan did often. He had never really fucked a guy, never really gotten far except sucking one guys dick in a moment of impulsiveness once when venturing too far into Soho. The city was alive with temptation and here it was all over again. Manchester this time and no different.
Still pretty boys in the city making his heart flutter and his dick harden.
As they walked off towards the back streets, Jonathan turned to Edward and looked him over curiously. "You smoke?"
Still pretty boys in the city making his heart flutter and his dick harden.
As they walked off towards the back streets, Jonathan turned to Edward and looked him over curiously. "You smoke?"
"Nah. Makes your teeth yellow and I don't like the smell. I've better things to do with my mouth." If he was being honest here. Talking, singing. Sucking dick, sure. He put his hands in his pockets and shrugged as he looked back at Jonathan. "I don't mind if you smoke, Jon. Kind of like it. Looks good when you suck in the smoke."
He pursed his lips for just a moment in imitation, eyebrows raised a little. Well, he wasn't exactly trying to play coy.
He pursed his lips for just a moment in imitation, eyebrows raised a little. Well, he wasn't exactly trying to play coy.
"Jesus, son. You got a dirty brain." Jonathan had never felt more weird smoking before. Rolling his eyes, he tossed his cigarette aside. It was basically done with anyway. He shoved his hands into his pocket and shook his head. "Don't act like I don't know where your brain is, son. I can basically see your thoughts. Could yesterday too."
No one was around now, they were in a pretty quiet area and Jonathan went ahead to pull back the fence in the alleyway so they could get off the paths and into the fields. "I'm not judging. I came back, I fucking knew."
No one was around now, they were in a pretty quiet area and Jonathan went ahead to pull back the fence in the alleyway so they could get off the paths and into the fields. "I'm not judging. I came back, I fucking knew."
"Ain't much point in me being subtle then, is there? I knew you knew, you knew I knew you knew. We can play that game all night long, but there's much better games to play. Cheers." With that he walked past the fence that Jon had pulled back, thanking him as if he was a gentleman holding open a door. He still had his hands in his pockets, waiting for Jon to lead the way so he could walk with him.
"I wanted you to come back too. You're handsome, Jonny. I like that." He saw no reason not to be open about that now. "Love your voice."
"I wanted you to come back too. You're handsome, Jonny. I like that." He saw no reason not to be open about that now. "Love your voice."
"You do, eh?" Seemed fake but Jon like that Edward could lie and make it sound real. Jonathan didn't think there was much about him that others would seek out. He knew his accent was thick and rough, he knew he wasn't dressed well and he wasn't the best looker or the cleanest but he had things he knew he could put forward. Things that he felt were his unique advantages.
He could be a gentlemen, he could pursue and he knew he was packing. Not that he often got to brag about that one. Though Alfie knew and he never stopped pouting over it. Genetics were a lottery. "This is the road that leads to my house but we don't gotta go that far. We just gotta get further in. Once we can't hear the motorway, we're in the clear." They could fuck up a tree, no problem.
He could be a gentlemen, he could pursue and he knew he was packing. Not that he often got to brag about that one. Though Alfie knew and he never stopped pouting over it. Genetics were a lottery. "This is the road that leads to my house but we don't gotta go that far. We just gotta get further in. Once we can't hear the motorway, we're in the clear." They could fuck up a tree, no problem.
"I love that you're a romantic too," Edward said, sounding quite amused, "Next time, we could just go back to my room. My landlady only has rules against me taking girls back home, she's never mentioned boys."
Unsurprisingly, Ed highly doubted that she suspected that he swung that way. Or swung any which way, as the case might be. "This is the furthest I've ever been out in the country."
Ed looked around, unconvinced. "Not sure I get the benefits, but there's something to be said for the privacy."
Unsurprisingly, Ed highly doubted that she suspected that he swung that way. Or swung any which way, as the case might be. "This is the furthest I've ever been out in the country."
Ed looked around, unconvinced. "Not sure I get the benefits, but there's something to be said for the privacy."
"It's the only place in the world that you get anything close to quiet." Jonathan told Edward as they started to get deeper. He was a nice guy, he held the branches out of Edward's face so he didn't get hit by anything as they slowly got deeper and deeper. It occurred to him then that he could easily be someone of ill-intent and Edward had just followed him all the way here. It was fascinating.
Their kind would do anything for a connect. Even risk death. It was sad in a way. Jonathan slid to a halt down a small steep incline and then turned back to Edward. "We gotta hop over this spot but the mud is thick so try and stay on the rocks or you'll lose a shoe in it. Trust me." Axel lost a shoes in the mud here before.
Their kind would do anything for a connect. Even risk death. It was sad in a way. Jonathan slid to a halt down a small steep incline and then turned back to Edward. "We gotta hop over this spot but the mud is thick so try and stay on the rocks or you'll lose a shoe in it. Trust me." Axel lost a shoes in the mud here before.
"Uh-huh. Definitely remember that I've got a room. For next time." Because he was hoping for a next time and, more importantly, hoping for a time when his shoes weren't in danger of getting muddy. He eyed the floor critically and then did his best to follow Jon's example. He wasn't much of a country boy, or at all one, but he was decently athletic, so that helped.
"Jonny, you're lucky that you're worth all this." He was already convinced. Anyone who gave him this much joy just from watching him was very much worth it. "Oi, if you're a serial killer, please just get it over with before I have to navigate more mud. Spares us the hassle."
That said he caught up to Jonathan, reaching for his arm and holding on. Dangerous territory.
"Jonny, you're lucky that you're worth all this." He was already convinced. Anyone who gave him this much joy just from watching him was very much worth it. "Oi, if you're a serial killer, please just get it over with before I have to navigate more mud. Spares us the hassle."
That said he caught up to Jonathan, reaching for his arm and holding on. Dangerous territory.
Jonathan didn't know how to react and it was so silly. He didn't touch outside of his family so to suddenly have a city boy touch him like that? It was suddenly a lot at once and a reminder that he was definitely doing this. That he was trying to fuck some street kid. No worry or care for what risk it fucking had.
Pulling out of his thought spiral, he let Edward steady himself and kept leading him along the rocks until they were finally out of the worst of the mud.
Once they had come across the mud, Jonathan smiled slightly at Edward and tilted his head to the side. "I could be, you know? A killer. You don't know me. Seems stupid, don't it? Going this far with a guy you don't know for a tryst?"
Pulling out of his thought spiral, he let Edward steady himself and kept leading him along the rocks until they were finally out of the worst of the mud.
Once they had come across the mud, Jonathan smiled slightly at Edward and tilted his head to the side. "I could be, you know? A killer. You don't know me. Seems stupid, don't it? Going this far with a guy you don't know for a tryst?"
"Think it's the reasoning that makes something stupid, not the risk. Me? I like risk. I like excitement. So it's not stupid to go looking for danger. Just reckless." Which was clearly much preferable. He stepped closer to Jonathan, easily sensing that he had more experience. That he wasn't as nervous and most likely had less to lose.
"There'd still be passion, wouldn't there be? If you--" He reached for Jonathan's hands and moved them up to his throat while he looked at him. "--did this. If you strangled me like that, we'd still have passion, eh?"
He lowered his own hands, only to put them against Jonathan's chest. "Still a reason for your heart to be faster. Proves that we're alive right now. I'd rather die than never live."
"There'd still be passion, wouldn't there be? If you--" He reached for Jonathan's hands and moved them up to his throat while he looked at him. "--did this. If you strangled me like that, we'd still have passion, eh?"
He lowered his own hands, only to put them against Jonathan's chest. "Still a reason for your heart to be faster. Proves that we're alive right now. I'd rather die than never live."
If his dad could see him now, he would have beaten 7 shades of shit out of him. He felt his fingers around Edward's neck and wondered if he could ever do something like that. He had the urge, once or twice, to choke out people who wronged him. To stab them, to fight them, to set them on fire. The urge would always be there but was it worth? No. Could he ever look his Holden or Axel in the eye? Not a chance.
His fingers slid from Edward's neck to his shoulder and he held onto them for a moment as he let Edward touch him. "I don't think our sort get the option to not live. Not if we actually want something."
To live was to be extreme, even without any desire to be. "Do you have a condom?"
His fingers slid from Edward's neck to his shoulder and he held onto them for a moment as he let Edward touch him. "I don't think our sort get the option to not live. Not if we actually want something."
To live was to be extreme, even without any desire to be. "Do you have a condom?"
"Always, love. I'm prepared." There wasn't really any need, he reckoned, to act as if this was something he'd never done before or even something he did rarely. Clearly Jonathan was a cynic, not even believing him when he called him handsome. Certainly not looking for romance, that one. Not even for the illusion of one.
Perhaps that was what spurred him on. He looked deep into Jonathan's eyes of the bluest blue he'd ever seen and then he reached up with one hand to cup the back of his neck and pull him into a kiss. He was a good kisser, he knew that, but he wasn't concerned about technique then. He had few thoughts at all, just that feeling that it was nice to kiss and to believe that this could be more than it was. He didn't want to be cynical. He liked believing in romance.
Perhaps that was what spurred him on. He looked deep into Jonathan's eyes of the bluest blue he'd ever seen and then he reached up with one hand to cup the back of his neck and pull him into a kiss. He was a good kisser, he knew that, but he wasn't concerned about technique then. He had few thoughts at all, just that feeling that it was nice to kiss and to believe that this could be more than it was. He didn't want to be cynical. He liked believing in romance.
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