Benjamin A Langstrom @theempprofessor - Tumblr Blog

@fairandcruel requested this

averyrook:

“Oui, monsieur, cela semble parfait,” he replied, chuckling quietly. “Let no one say y’don’ know how t’romance someone, luv.” Rook eyed up one of the flower displays coming up on the side of the carriage and gave a quick look around.

When they’d just gone past, one of the brightly coloured four o’clock flowers, in full bloom, severed from its stalk and floated quickly to the carriage and Rook’s waiting hand. It was yellow with stripes of orange-red. He tucked it into Ben’s coat button. “There. Pretty as anythin’.”

“I’ll admit, some of it is natural talent, but there’s a large component of living with the master, too.” Ben smiled crookedly as he looked at the purloined petals, then leaned forward to steal a kiss in return. “I know you’ve been practicing moving other things for a while now, but it’s still impressive to watch. You’re amazing, Rook.”

The park was quiet outside of the clopping of the horse’s shod feet on the pavement, most of the hustle and bustle of tourists gone with the sun. A few stars managed to gleam past the light pollution of the rest of the city, and the moon was on the rise. It was late enough that they’d likely have to take a cab home once dinner was over, but hopefully that wouldn’t dampen the mood too much.

#theempprofessor #averyrook

averyrook:

“Well. It’s very much appreciated, either way. Thank you.” He drew Ben in for another kiss, a proper one this time. And then he leaned back in the carriage and watched the park rolling by. He pulled a flask from his coat pocket and held it out.

“I obviously can’t indulge at the moment, but I forgot t’take it out. Want some? What are we eatin’, by the way?”

Chuckling, Ben accepted the flask and took a swig, then tucked it into his own pocket for safe keeping. “I was thinking La Boite en Bois over on Columbus. French being the language of romance and all of that. Does that sound alright to you?”

#theempprofessor #averyrook

averyrook

theempprofessor:

averyrook:

“M’almost hopin’ they take after Lucifer an’ stay short.” He laughed at the egg comment, but he’d wondered (worried) the same too, just a short while before.

“Nah. Wouldn’ be able t’feel the kickin’ so much if I were. This kid’s comin’ out in a C-section. Overeager, still. It’ll be interestin’ havin’ another little kid around. For a while anyway– Jasper grew so fast it passed like a blur.”

“That’s true. Jasper was a cute kid, though.” Smiling, Ben rearranged their hands to lace fingers. “I’m looking forward to meeting them.”

“So, tonight,” Ben said, changing tack. “I figured you deserved someone else cooking for you for once, so I hope you haven’t eaten already. And when we get back, if you’d like, I brought one more thing back with me, something to do with massage oil?”

“Yeah. Between me an’ Lucifer, we do make cute kids, I reckon.” He brought their hands up to his lips for a moment, humming. “M’sure they’re gonna love meetin’ you too.”

Rook listened, smile growing as Ben explained what was in store. “Well, well, well. I am bein’ spoiled tonight. That all sounds amazin’. Y’gonna have t’let me return the favour later, y’know.”

theempprofessor

"After working through Valentine's Day and not even leaving you a card? This is the bare minimum of what I can do. I fully intend to take my time and thoroughly spoil you tonight." Ben smiled, a hybrid of smooth and sheepish. Smoothish.

averyrook:

“M’almost hopin’ they take after Lucifer an’ stay short.” He laughed at the egg comment, but he’d wondered (worried) the same too, just a short while before.

“Nah. Wouldn’ be able t’feel the kickin’ so much if I were. This kid’s comin’ out in a C-section. Overeager, still. It’ll be interestin’ havin’ another little kid around. For a while anyway– Jasper grew so fast it passed like a blur.”

“That’s true. Jasper was a cute kid, though.” Smiling, Ben rearranged their hands to lace fingers. “I’m looking forward to meeting them.”

“So, tonight,” Ben said, changing tack. “I figured you deserved someone else cooking for you for once, so I hope you haven’t eaten already. And when we get back, if you’d like, I brought one more thing back with me, something to do with massage oil?”

#theempprofessor #averyrook

averyrook:

“Name, lowercase ‘n’. Uppercase Name is Amitael– means honest. Liron means ‘my song’. Liron Amitael an’ Jasper Tajrael Rook. I think they work nicely.”

Leaned into the gentle rubs and sighed, their combined efforts getting Liron to settle down.

“Thanks. Kid’s eager as anythin’ t’get out.”

“If they’re taking after you, they’re probably cramped.” Ben smiled. “At least you aren’t laying an egg or anything, right?”

#theempprofessor #averyrook

averyrook:

“It started with pets an’ a dhampir, now it jus’ keeps growin’. Got you in deep, Ben.” Eventually settled his head on Ben’s shoulder, slipping one hand across to take his and let it settle in their laps under the blanket.

“M’gettin’ a C-section, but I think it should be good in the next week or so. They’re very active. Feel healthy. Lucifer says their Song is strong as well. So… good signs.”

As if the Nephilim knew they were being talked about, they started kicking up a storm on the front of Rook’s stomach, making him groan quietly. “Oi. Quit that,” he mumbled, free hand rubbing at his abused tum.

“We decided on the name Liron.”

Ben smiled, gloved thumb sweeping over the back of Rook’s hand as it rested between them. “Is that their name or their Name?” he asked curiously. He remembered that had been a thing with Jasper, that Jasper was only what he was called, but they had given him a different Name too. As promised, mainly so he’d never accidentally let it slip, he’d forgotten that.

He brought his other hand across to gently rub Rook’s belly, shaking his head. “Hey... be nice in there, no reason to roughhouse.”

#theempprofessor #averyrook

averyrook:

“Ooh? Sounds interestin’. Y’know I always love samplin’ new meat.” Only realised after he’d said it how that sounded. Face palmed and shook his head. “Can I blame that one on baby brain?”

Couldn’t help but snort a little at Ben’s proposal. “That sounds interestin’, luv. Have t’say I didn’ think breedin’ would ever catch your interest.” More needling with his elbows, because it feels good to let off some steam and tease Ben again. It’d been too long. “That’d be cool, though, seein’ what kinda critters y’can make. I mean, I think I had possum-chicken when I was there?”

Ben couldn’t help grinning, a bit of color rising in his face. “Maybe being a stepfather to a growing hoard’s inspired me,” he teased back, nudging him back in a manner slightly less boisterous than normal, as if afraid of the common ‘jockular elbowing based miscarriage.’

“There’s gotta be limits somewhere,” he shrugged, smiling. He dropped his volume a little and leaned close, just so the driver wouldn’t hear. “Speaking of, er, do you... know how far from due...?”

#theempprofessor #averyrook

averyrook:

“We’ve both been distant. But… thank you. This is wonderful.” He pressed a kiss to the corner of Ben’s mouth before he took the package.

Nephilim grew quickly. Rook was sometimes surprised his body managed to keep up with the rapid changes at all; felt like he should have burst more times than he could count, at yet here he still was.

He pulled out the blanket, rubbing the soft fabric and fur against his face.

“Thank you. It’s gorgeous, luv. Luci’s not gonna think I skinned one of his kin though, is he?” Another little laugh as he draped the blanket over their laps. He might not get cold, but he knew Ben wasn’t so lucky.

“Find anythin’ interestin’ while you were there?”

Feeling somewhat emboldened, Ben smiled and sat a little closer, his arm falling around Rook’s side. The water tribe really did do a great job when it came to warm fabrics.

“Naw, it’s some kind of seal-hybrid I think. Seal-boar? Whatever they were, they were round and had a lot of teeth, and they cooked up nice.” He shrugged a shoulder, eyes twinkling. “I may have some bacon for you to sample stashed at the house. It’s a lot different from the things we tried last time you came to visit.”

“I’m actually thinking of expanding my field of study,” he said after a bit. “The hybridization over there is, well, really fascinating, and, I mean, I’m not really a biologist, but it does raise a lot of questions. I’m interested to find out if Darwinian Evolution plays out there at all, or if it’s just a genetic free-for-all.”

#theempprofessor #averyrook

averyrook:

Rook laughed softly when Ben bowed from the carriage. Had a high blush on his cheeks– a little more green-blue than red nowadays. If anyone asked he’d attribute it to the lamplight.

He took the offered hand and pulled himself up, wheezing a little with the effort.

“You still know how t’make an entrance. Thank you.” He got himself settled in the seat, running a hand along the side of the carriage.

“These would have been all booked up f’Valentine’s anyway. So. Good call leavin’ it for a couple weeks.” Gently nudged Ben with his elbow before resting his arm over his stomach again. “An’ here I was worried about gettin’ tired walkin’.”

Once Ben joined him on the seat, the driver returned to his bench and with a quiet snap of the reins, the carriage took off with a gentle lurch.

“You always see the upside to things,” Ben smiled ruefully, rubbing his arm where he’d been nudged. “I figured after being so...” he hesitated, swallowed, and composed himself. “...Distant, and then missing Valentine’s to boot, you deserved something special.”

His eyes drifted, taking in the tell-tale tightness of Rook’s coat, more noticeable now that he was seated, and a mixture of emotions flickered over his face before he could completely hide them. Envy and fear, perhaps, but chiefly regret. He’d been distant, disappeared to work, and look how far things had progressed without him.

“I wouldn’t make you walk anyway. You’re on your feet at all hours in the kitchen, you deserve a break. And... just in case you get cold...” Something he knew wasn’t really ever an issue for Rook but... perhaps... it might be for someone Rook would meet soon enough... “I brought you a souvenir.” Fishing under the seat, Ben drew out a package wrapped in red and white striped paper. Inside he’d find a thick blanket in blues and whites and blacks complete with some sort of fur trim. “We, ah, took a trip to the North Pole for some research. I thought, maybe... you” they “’d like it.”

#theempprofessor #averyrook

averyrook

Dear Rook,

I’m sorry I missed Valentine’s Day, it was a definite oversight on my part. I tend to get the calendar mixed up while I’m at work.

If you would allow me, I’d like to make it up to you. Please meet me tonight after close at the corner of W85th and Central Park West.

I hope you can make it.

Love,

Ben

Alright. He’d go along– he wasn’t mad at Ben. A little hurt maybe, but well. Things happened.

They were at different places in their lives at the moment.

Rook could understand that.

He was heavily pregnant at this stage, but a thick winter coat could hide enough of it. Shoes with good grip and a knit scarf, hat, and gloves. Didn’t need to stand out at night for being underdressed.

He waited on the corner, not quite sure what to expect.

theempprofessor

It was really rather late for the carriages to be running, but it was amazing what one could do with enough cash on hand. The horse waited placidly as the driver stopped in front of the tall, bundled up man on the corner. Stepping down, he opened the door, and the single passenger stepped down, faintly luminous green eyes revealing a mixture of nerves and relief that his date had decided to oblige him. Honestly, he’d have understood if he’d chosen to stay in and soak his feet instead, given the scientist’s behavior.

“Well, hello there, sir,” Ben smiled, bowing somewhat formally and extending a hand to Rook. “Would you care to join me for a ride?”

#theempprofessor #averyrook