Faolan had quite literally wolfed his food down, barely stopping to breathe and sip the milk that Lucien had brought. When his plate was clean, he still felt as though he could eat a bit more, but was not about to tell Lucien that. He nearly blushed when the Frenchman pushed the last two pieces of bacon toward him, but took them anyway and nodded his thanks.

As he finished them off, he nodded in response to Lucien's question. Although he could tell that he would not like the question he was about to be asked by the tone in Lucien's voice, he knew that the Frenchman would not do this without good reason. He downed the last of the milk, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. The smile that had been present on his face throughout the night and morning was gone now as Lucien finished his inquiry. 

He knew that eventually he would have to explain this,. it was best to get it out of the way now. Although Lucien was more worldly than he had ever been, especially in these last two months, Faolan knew there was much of the world that he had not seen. Lucien was so carefree and optimistic that darkness had seemingly avoided him in his life since his childhood, and Faolan felt sorry that he had to hang a shadow over him now.

He looked into the grain of the table as he spoke, memories flooding through his brain as he thought of the answer to Lucien's question. He knew not how to begin except to just say it, [color=a36209]"Do you remember what those women said to us outside their house that night...what they called me?"[/color] Although that night had been only two months ago, Faolan felt as though it was a distant memory now that he was sitting here with Lucien, wearing only a towel. The two of them had come a long way in one night, it had just taken Faolan two months to work up the nerve to take the first step.

Lucien grimaced a little at Faolan's words. He remembered that night clear as day, and he still regretted not being able to say anything in the Irishman's defense. [color=burlywood]"I do.."[/color] He muttered. [color=burlywood]"I'm sorry that I said nothing in your defense that day.. I don't think you were completely in the wrong.. I had just wanted to get us out of that situation as soon as possible.."[/color] He said a little dejectedly.

Faolan merely shook his head, [color=a36209]"No, Lucien, you did the right thing."[/color] he reached across the table and placed a hand on top of the Nephilim's, squeezing his chill fingers. [color=a36209]"The world is...a cruel place for people like me."[/color] he paused, fully realizing what he was finally admitting, [color=a36209]"People like us."[/color]

There was a paused as Faolan withdrew his hand, trying to come up with the right words to express what he meant without being too...harsh. [color=a36209]"I've known for a long time that I was...different. I tried for years to keep it hidden, buried so deep that even I forgot. But...then I met you."[/color] He looked back at Lucien then, and smiled before continuing. [color=a36209]"As a lad, I tried it with girls but...I knew that something wasn't right...in me,"[/color] he laid a hand on his chest. [color=a36209]"It wasn't [i]wrong[/i], I see that now, but it felt wrong then. I was told all my life that it was,"[/color] he said this part very quietly, [color=a36209]"for two men to lay together. I've seen men beaten, killed...worse, for just others thinkin' that they were...funny."[/color] He paused again, glancing out the window to see the passersby in the street below; men and women walking together, and two women together, or else alone, or with children. Nowhere did he see two men walking together as he and Lucien did. [color=a36209]"There was a boy in town, when I was young. His mum caught him, I don't know, with pictures of men, adults. But the rumor started that he was doing things...to kids."[/color] he looked back at Lucien. [color=a36209]"I knew him, since I were a lad. He never did any of the things he said, else he would have done it to me."[/color] he dropped his gaze and looked out the window once more. [color=a36209]"They hanged him. He was thirteen."[/color]