Shuffle

[Shianni Veridian Trace]

"So your friends are inviting you out to go do dangerous things," Shianni said. She did care about Rowan and didn't want him to be in an unsafe situation, even if he was able to keep the worst of it from affecting him. She had never really understood why people did those kinds of things, anyway.

[Rowan Trace]

Put like that, Rowan didn't know if there was any way to make it sound better. He avoided a simple yes, and tried to get his thoughts in order.

"My friends are inviting me to a place where dangerous things are available," he clarified. "The culture is very open and friendly, and troublemakers are ejected. They'll stop the music and everyone there will send someone out if they need to." He'd seen it done more than once.

"If I've done things in the past, it's always carefully. I don't let myself get into situations where things can go wrong."

[Shianni Veridian Trace]

Shianni looked down at Vivienne, who was happily playing with the toy Rowan had given her earlier. "As always, I do not mind you going out with your friends, but I want you to be safe, Rowan," she said after a moment, then looked up at him. The last thing they needed was for something to happen to him.

[Rowan Trace]

Rowan gave a brief nod. "I've only gone out to a party once since we've been married, when I'd come back from Peru and you were still with your mother. She made it very clear to me that if I damaged your family's reputation, I would regret it. I take care with these things, and I always have. I want to keep my career intact, and I want my students to respect me. I'll be safe."

[Shianni Veridian Trace]

"I trust you," Shianni said after another moment's silence. "It is your choice whether or not you go out. As long as you are safe, I will not stop you. I would prefer you stay away from the drugs, however." She wouldn't demand it, she didn't want to be like some of the women she had seen, controlling and entirely unreasonable.

[Rowan Trace]

"I'll be safe," Rowan repeated. He would have liked to be able to promise the rest, but it was all so tied into the culture, and he wasn't entirely certain he could resist. He wasn't certain he wanted to resist, or how he would be able to combine the life he had now with that other side of him. It was easy enough when he'd had a quiet home with no one to answer to. If he'd needed half a day to recover, there were no other responsibilities to tend to.

"I won't let it interfere with our home life," he said after a moment. "I'll find a way."

_______________________________________________________

Rowan reminded himself repeatedly as he dressed for his night out that this was the last of his secrets. Shianni knew about his family, they'd discussed his forays into the nightlife, and getting this last bit out into the open would be the end of it.

He'd slid into his skinny jeans and tugged on a sleeveless black t-shirt that hadn't seen the outside of his closet in the better part of a year. His chest was marked by a white sketch of a human heart that would look impressive in the dark, and his gloves, black with white bones on the backs, hung out of his pocket.

He put on his eyeliner before making himself open the door. It would be horrible to dress and sneak out, no matter how much he might want to, and so he paused at the mirror over his dresser and took a long breath before reaching for his piercings. The hard part would be walking out the door, and then it would all be over.

[Shianni Veridian Trace]

Vivienne was in her nursery and Shianni had stepped out at the sound of the door opening, somewhat curious. Her eyes widened sightly and her pale eyebrows raised. "Now that is an interesting outfit," she commented, taking her time letting her eyes drift along Rowan to take it all in.

[Rowan Trace]

Rowan tried not to grimace at the way that sounded, and told himself that it could have been much, much worse. With his snakebites in place, he turned to look at Shianni. "You wouldn't believe the costumes some people put together," he said. "Trust me, this is tame." And he was comfortable with it. He picked up his brush to smooth his hair forward.

[Shianni Veridian Trace]

Shianni hmm-ed softly at the information, uncertain what costumes people could wear. "I have never seen someone in such close fitting clothes without robes over top," she said. "What are some of the things others wear?" It was strange to imagine a room full of people dressed like Rowan.

[Rowan Trace]

Rowan did typically wear robes over his skinnies, though the ones he wore from day to day weren't quite as obvious. His usual clothes were all toned down, and bare of the graphics that his club clothes tended to have.

"There are candy kids," he said, wondering just how to describe such people to Shianni. "They wear exaggerated versions of kids' clothes, in bright colors. Hair in pigtails, wearing cheap jewelry, things like that.

"There are kids who wear fake fur, things that flash in the light, things with spikes or buckles; there's really no way to describe it all." He picked up his liquid charm and tucked it deep into one pocket, then braced himself and reached for the mask he'd worn the last time he went out. He held it up for Shianni to see.

"Things like this don't get a second glance. They're actually pretty cool..." He thought so, anyway.

[Shianni Veridian Trace]

"It is a very strange world you're venturing into tonight," Shianni said. "I am glad you go for the more tame option." What a world where what he was wearing was considered tame. Well, he had assured her he would be careful, and there was no scandal attached to his name as far as she was aware.

[Rowan Trace]

Rowan nearly chuckled. Tame had been a relative term, most definitely. Maybe he didn't deck himself out with ten pounds of accessories, but he glowed enough to make up for it. And he danced enough to make up for it.

"It is a strange world," he agreed after a moment, "but that's part of its charm." It was a complete break with reality, and no reminders of the life he had outside of it. It would be easy to lose himself tonight.

"Oh, before I forget; these things last well into the night, so you and Vivienne can have a quiet evening. There's no need to wait up for me." He glanced around his room, but he'd gotten everything. He was ready to head toward the door.

[Shianni Veridian Trace]

Shianni nodded, but that worried her, as well. "Do be careful," she said again. She didn't wish to wake up in the morning to find that something horrible had happened. "I will see you in the morning, then?" A quiet night. Well, as long as Vivienne decided to be quiet it would be one, anyway.

[Rowan Trace]

"Yes, definitely," Rowan said. As a matter of fact, he'd picked up a good, strong hangover potion just in case he overindulged. He didn't intend to lie in bed until afternoon and leave Shianni only the elf for company.

He pulled his door shut behind him as he left the room, his black-rimmed eyes meeting Shianni's. She seemed genuinely concerned, and it would eat at him if he didn't have everything settled before he left.

"I promise not to get myself into any situation or condition where I can't be here by sunrise," he said. "I thank you for being so accepting of things, but I realize that I have responsibilities at home. I won't embarrass myself; I'd hate for Vivienne to think less of me." It was an attempt at humor which made the truth easier to say. Whatever happened, he didn't want to lose Shianni's respect. He would take care not to overdo things.

[Shianni Veridian Trace]

Shianni smiled and dipped her head slightly. "Enjoy yourself, then," she said when she looked back up at him. "It will be good to have some time with Vivienne." She had found that she did rather enjoy having Vivienne around.