Dallas World Aquarium
An old warehouse in the historic West End, the Dallas World Aquarium is home to a unique display of flora and fauna from five continents. A 200 foot ramp lined with the plants and animals representative to Dallas start off the adventure before one even steps foot in the building.
The exhibits start with entrance into an indoor rainforest at treetop level, immersing guests in a canopy amidst scores of brilliantly colored tropical birds. Water splashes onto rocks from a tall waterfall that cascades down into a pond holding exotic fish. Thick glass panels form one side of the pond down below, making it easy for visitors to enjoy the colorful swimmers. As the walkway descends through the greenery, woodpeckers, pheasants and a few smaller birds can be seen milling about upon the forest floor. Another path can be found here, where visitors usually enjoy a leisurely stroll before heading to other exhibits.
The Aquarium portion contains a variety of sea-life from different locales. From humphead wrasse and pez chancho in the Pacific, lumpsuckers, and porgy in the Atlantic, and the Antarctic krill and orange footed sea cucumbers of the Polar Regions, the aquarium seems to have it all.
A rarity though it is for the Dallas World Aquarium to be open much after dark the location sometimes has special exhibits which require later hours. Beginning on Saturday, June 25th and running every Saturday through the month of July, the Aquarium is hosting an exhibit entitled "Summer Nights at the Aquarium". A rather interesting exhibit to be sure, since the entire aquarium is swathed in black lighting and takes visitors on a tour to see what life is like under the water at night.
Bethany would not normally jump at a chance to be at the aquarium during the time of a special exhibit. Tonight she has come to enjoy the exhibit before bringing a patient along the following week. Her eyes are locked onto a large tank filled with jellyfish that look more like the skyline in Las Vegas. The black lighting causing their bodies to shine in various off beat colors.
~~*~~
Hugo is actually rather vexed at the unexpected 'special' exhibit. After being cooped up all day in his studio, but still in the mood to work, he came expecting to enjoy sketching the rainforest jungle in comparatively cool atmosphere. But the dark lighting and dayglow effects are decidedly not what he was hoping for. But he's already paid for his admission, he might as well see if there's anything interesting to see while he's here. With his sketchbook tucked under his arm, Hugo is one of the few people here not glowing in some fashion, his blue jeans and black shirt utterly unaltered by the ultraviolet rays. While children run about ooh-ahhing, the artist tends to hang back more, quiet and uncharacteristically moody this night.
~~*~~
This evening's visit is not to look at the varied aquatic sea life shining under black-light. If anything, the old vampire avoids the lit tanks and stays further in the shadow, his cold gaze searching the gatherings as he saunters. He's looking for someone, though his hands as they're stuck in pockets make the attempt to appear a little less.. pointed?
Slowly but surely, city life and its demands are working its way into his skull.
As Marius walks slowly down the concrete ramp through the exhibits, the familiar form and figure of a little lamb strikes, and his eyes lock on her as she watches the ballet-style silent beauty of the jellyfish. For a long moment to him, a mere heartbeat in reality, he can feel the swell of hunger— but he'd satiated himself earlier..
As for Hugo.. the man isn't yet seen, or rather, his presence not yet registered.
~~*~~
Todd is glowing. Glowing! For some reason, he is wearing a long-sleeved white shirt with his usual blue jeans and sneakers. While most of the visitors are walking along and regarding the underwater exhibits with wonder, Todd is standing in the middle of the pathway and staring down at himself and his glowing clothes with wonder. He eyes his hands, which do not glow, and then pulls out his notebook…which is also glowing! So cool!
Some of the visitors whose path he is blocking are starting to get slightly irritated while waiting for Todd to get over the wonder of it all. Finally, a sour-faced woman clears her throat, very loudly, startling Todd out of his wonder-induced trance. He blinks a little, clearly puzzled, and says, "Bless you." This does not seem to make her any happier.
~~*~~
Plenty of things beyond the subtle dance of the bright jellyfish are glowing. Sensing that there is a problem afoot Bethany finally draws her attention away from the tank to the man dressed in the glowing shirt.
Demeanor remaining calm, she fixes a stern gaze upon the irritated woman. "The area is large enough for you to walk around," she mentions softly. "You may even enjoy the jellyfish. Their dance is quite dazzling, the way the black light colors them simply astounding."
She has no idea that she is being watched from the darkness. Not even that general prickle sense on the back of her neck to alert her to the possible danger.
~~*~~
After awhile Hugo finds himself watching the patrons more than the exhibits. His attention, and his art, has always been drawn to people, the little fallen gods and angels of this earth, some of them saints, some of them sinners, all of them interesting as soon as you manage to unlock their secrets and sources. His lips curl with amusement as he espies and recognizes Todd, chuckling softly. Indeed, he was about to go and pull the man slightly to one side before his attention shifts to Bethany as she comes to his defense. See? Interesting. while he would have urged Todd, nicely, to move, she chooses to defend his right to stay exactly where he is. Marius is likewise missed for the moment as both artist and vampire are keeping to the shadows and the darkness.
~~*~~
And.. Todd is recognized.. as an easy and boring mark. Much better, then, that Marius watches the other. There is no sign of his own 'mark', and it seems that Marius will have to move on his way in the search.
But not quite yet.
Hugo, finally, is seen, and moving now, hands in his pockets still, he crosses the distance while staying in the shadows. His voice is low, the accented German evident in the clipped words. "I have not yet located him who calls you his own. Has he appeared again to you?"
~~*~~
As the other woman jumps to Todd's defense, the sour-faced woman looks at her, almost seeming to size her up. In the end, however, she just rolls her eyes, throws up her hands, and abandons the jellyfish in favor of the next exhibit. Todd is left to rediscover the jellyfish, momentarily distracted from the other goings on in the room by the crazy colors. "Whoa! Awesome. Those are jellyfish, right? Are they supposed to glow like that?" he wonders of Bethany, without quite taking his eyes off the aquatic creatures.
~~*~~
"One never knows what creatures of the deep are meant to look like," Bethany offers with a gentle roll of her shoulders. The German accent catches her attention, and her head cocks toward that direction while she maintains conversation with the brightly glowing one.
"I don't believe that they have such bright colors at extreme depths, as the lack of sunlight would cause the coloring to bland."
The woman that was giving Todd such a hassle moments ago is not even thought of again.
~~*~~
Hugo jolts slightly as a voice addresses him directly in the darkness, turning his head to see who it is before he pivots around completely, shaking his head from side to side, though he doesn't take his eyes off the vampire for a moment. "Ahhh, no, no I haven't seen him. I assumed that you had found him and had, ahh, dealt with the matter. I can only assume that he has gone back to NY then." But that clearly doesn't quite sit right with the human. He would like that to be the case, but he also knows Tareq. Once that vampire has his mind set on something, he rarely lets it go. Especially when his honor is involved. Like a dog with a bone. "If I do see him again," Hugo murmurs quietly, "I assume you would like me to inform you of his presence in Dallas?" In contrast to Marius, the artist's faint Dutch accent is barely even noticeable save for those with an ear for such things.
~~*~~
"Yes, I would." After all, it is the only question that is posed of him, and it is the only thing to which Marius cares to respond. "That he has not yet appeared causes some .. difficulty. His error shall be corrected.
"And if he has returned to New York, he will be met with a missive there." One can't avoid courtesies and conventions just by leaving an area. Oh no.
Marius keeps an eye on Bethany and Todd, and with a nod, he acknowledges her words to the simple one. "Deep sea is a mystery. Serpents of all measure live within.. undiscovered yet."
~~*~~
Todd nods a little, and continues admiring the jellyfish. "I suppose they don't look the same to each other as they look to us," he comments, thoughtfully, though her words bring a brighter smile to his face. Finally, he glances over at Bethany, "But man…if they /could/ see, I bet they'd be happy with the change. It don't know /what/ kind of lights these are, but it definitely makes things look awesome." He glances down, rediscovers his glowing shirt, and gives a laugh. "Look! I'm glowing!"
~~*~~
A gentle, caring smile lights upon Bethany's lips as she catches on to Todd's "issue". "We likely do not look the same to them as we look to each other either," she muses.
Attention shoots over to the old one and the man he is with. It is a far cry from a horse, but still interesting. "It is less of a mystery than it once was."
Then back to the glowing one. "They are called black lights. They cause anything white, or light, to glow. Your teeth are glowing as well."
~~*~~
Vampires. So damn… terse and unyielding. Well most of them at any rate. One brow lifts slightly as Hugo asks inquiringly, "Difficulty? What error? In coming and not announcing himself, or in leaving before doing so?" Not for a moment does Hugo believe that Tareq's attack on him would be considered an 'error'. Such are the ways of vampires after all. Turning slightly as the conversation spans over to the jellyfish tank, Hugo lifts a hand and waves to Todd before realizing that the man won't remember him and dropping it again. "On the other hand," he counters, "Some deep water fish have naturally glowing and fluorescent body parts." Heck, he read the introduction on his way in.
~~*~~
And again, Marius addresses the question as it's posed to him, as it amuses him to do so. "Yes." After all, the breather answered his own question even as he posed it, and seeks acknowledgment of his understanding, yes?
As for 'attacks', vampires can be pretty lenient, as long as no deaths have occurred— that cause difficulty for those in power, that is. If that happens, then corrections are also necessary.
"Less a mystery, lamb.. but there are many things in heaven and hell that are unknown." Marius pauses and adds, "Any who crosses the Channel can bear witness to that.. or.. who had." In wooden ships..
~~*~~
Todd picks up his notebook, pulling out his pen so that he can make notes on Bethany's explanation. "Black lights… Oh, cool! I guess it's good to know my teeth are nice and white!" he says, with a cheerful little grin. He glances over as Hugo chimes in, and gets a little more shy. "Oh. Really? That's so cool… I guess I don't really know that much about fish." He looks back to the tank, thoughtfully, and asks, "I wonder why, though? I mean, why would a fish need to glow?"
~~*~~
"Likely to attract an appropriate mate, or repel a predator," Bethany offers. Holding out the information pamphlet to Todd, she smiles. "I am certain it is all in this little booklet. You may have it if you like."
Again, Marius draws her attention. "I will agree on that point. There is far more than anyone is aware." She herself has spirit guides that talk to her, so who is she to judge? "I am certain that anyone crossing any body of water would attest to that."
A subtle glance between Todd and Hugo, the shyness noted. "Is that gentleman a friend of yours?"
~~*~~
See? Terse! Oh so terse. Almost rudely terse! Hugo stops himself from rolling his eyes and instead just nods. A small frown creases his brow as Marius keeps addressing Bethany as 'lamb'. Much too much like 'lamb to the slaughter' for Hugo's liking and without realizing it the artist finds himself moving closer to his compatriot humans, a pitiful protective gesture on the woman's behalf. "Well," he notes, "some fish use it as a lure, to draw prey in, thinking the glowing part is something good to eat only to find there are big sharp teeth at the end of it." Huh. Much like vampires really. Kinda fascinating and curious and then, whoops! Big sharp teeth. "Others glow to identify other members of their species in the darkness or find a mate." Turning to Todd, Hugo explains, "It's called bioluminescence." His gaze flickers to Bethany, the color impossible to judge under these lights and offering his hand and a quick smile, finally something on Hugo glows. "Hi, yeah, Todd and I have met a few times before. I'm Hugo," he offers, his name given as much to introduce himself to Bethany as to remind Todd of just who the heck he is.
~~*~~
Marius makes a dismissive noise as he turns his back to the scene. He hasn't quite worked out exactly why it would interest the breathers. Of what use is the information?
The fact that Hugo makes a move towards the pair, however, catches the vampire's eye. This brings him around, the game is slow, but it has the potential of increasing.. Hugo the protector?
He moves slightly, keeping some distance from the blacklight, but a little closer to the breathers. "Drawing prey in using the victim's natural curiosity." The statement is flat, drawn slowly from the vampire. "A cautionary tale."
~~*~~
Todd accepts the pamphlet with a bright grin. "Oh! Thank you!" he responds, already fumbling to flip through the little information booklet without dropping his notepad. That becomes more complicated as Bethany asks if he knows Hugo, and he's forced to respond with a little, "Hold on," as he fumbles to look through his notepad without dropping the pamphlet. Luckily, while Todd is looking him up, Hugo takes it upon himself to introduce himself. In the strange lighting, who knows if he'd have even recognized the picture? With a little grin, Todd glances toward Hugo, and echoes, "Yeah, we've met a few times. He's Hugo." At last, Todd's attention is brought back to Marius, and his grin falters slightly. He blinks, and tilts his head a little, but finally just shakes his head. "I like the part about recognizing mates better."
~~*~~
"Todd and Hugo, a pleasure to meet you both," the woman says as she takes Hugo's hand, a gentle touch first before a firm professional handshake is offered. "Dr. Bethany Brooks," she says. She is a far cry from a "Beth".
"You are most welcome," she says to Todd with a smile. There appears to be more she wishes to say, but her train of thought is severely distracted.
"A cautionary tale or a specific warning, I wonder." Bethany watches Marius with quite a bit of curiosity despite the warning. "I do hope you had no issues in getting Abaddon stabled for the evening. I apologize for not knowing which entrance to use."
~~*~~
Lifting his gaze to Marius, Hugo holds it as he concurs, "Indeed. There is much that we can learn from nature if we take the time to pay attention." He holds his position, slightly before Bethany and Todd, between them and the vampire. Eventually his gaze turns, offered along with his hand to Bethany as he greets, "Nice to meet you." But as she continues to address Marius, indicating a more than passing knowledge of the vampire, Hugo lifts one brow before turning his head and giving Todd a smile. "Yeah, finding mates is generally better than eating them."
~~*~~
Inclining his head ever so slightly, Marius addresses Bethany, his gaze shifting and lingering. "There should have been a steward to greet you and take him. This has been remedied." Is this his way of telling her that she isn't at fault?
"I have checked in on him this evening, and have been assured his training will continue during the day such that I will take note of progress."
There is still that.. calmness that lies within her. Pain, fear, terror intrigue him, and it's something of an oddity that there isn't the fight or flight instinct kicking in. This causes him some.. curiosity, and something of a feeding reflex…
Still..
"I will take my leave. That which I seek is not within." Turning on his heel, Marius begins his path up the cement ramp, back towards the exit.
~~*~~
Todd seems somehow troubled by Marius, as he watches the vampire depart. He has that distant little frown that Hugo has seen him with, from time to time, but finally he blinks and looks around with a momentarily puzzled look. He glances between Hugo and Bethany, catching up to the conversation by pretending to know exactly what they were talking about. "Hm? Oh. Yeah, totally."
~~*~~
The pleasantness of the old one causes a little surprise in Bethany, especially as he admits that someone else was at fault. "I am glad that you have corrected that." There was a bit of foolish feeling, standing outside the building without any idea of where to go.
"With a gentle hand, or as you desire?" There will come no response as the old one is currently taking his leave of them.
"There is much we can learn from everything," is offered to Hugo. "Not just nature, but the past as well."
~~*~~
Turning and blinking, Hugo stares at Bethany with a hint of bemusement before replying, "Talk about your subtext. I think we had about three different conversations going on there." Her point is well taken, but was not the point that Hugo was trying to make to Marius' obvious parallel between predators of the sea and vampires. "You know that guy?" he asks, somewhat surprised. "You've worked for him?" He's feeling a bit foolish now. Perhaps Marius uses the term 'lamb' affectionately rather than patronizingly? From what he's witnessed of the vampire so far, he finds that unlikely, but then again he doesn't know Marius at all. Hugo is starting to get used to Todd's disconnections from conversations, the short term memory passing away without becoming long term. As such he shrugs and suggests, "Shall we check out the next exhibit?" It appears to be a tank with an octopus, the red glowing dully while bright blue rings fluoresce wildly.
~~*~~
Todd glances at Bethany as she starts talking about the past. He gives a faint smile, slightly curious. "You're probably right about that…The past, I mean." He glances back toward the exhibit for a moment, distracted, but then is drawn back in by Hugo's suggestion. He smiles, suddenly, and nods. "Sure." He even gives Hugo a sweet little grin as he follows him to the octopus tank. Right up until he spots the octopus, which totally distracts him. "Oh wow! That's awesome…"
~~*~~
"Quite possibly more than that," Bethany says with a gentle laugh. She got the parallel but that does not make her point any less valid. Especially considering her profession.
"Know him? Undetermined." There was plenty of thought put into it the previous evening on returning home. Hard to tell if it was someone from her past or not. "We met at the park last evening, and he needed my help in returning a horse to the Medieval Times."
"I suppose that can be considered working for him."
Flitting her eyes toward the octopi she nods. "I know that I am right about the past. I make it my business to know about the past."
~~*~~
"A horse," Hugo echoes curiously. "No offense, but why couldn't he return the horse himself? Are you a trainer or something?" Cocking his head to one side, Hugo clarifies, "If he paid you for the help, then yeah, you worked for him, or at least did him a favor. If not, well, then definitely just a favor." At her comment to Todd however, Hugo frowns uncomfortably and while Todd is distracted by the octopus, the artist's gaze catches Bethany's as he shakes his head from side to side and mouths, ~No past~, his head angling toward Todd, hoping that she gets what he means, or at least is tactful enough not to rub Todd's inability to remember in his face.
~~*~~
Even as Hugo is trying to get Bethany's attention to tell her about his memory problem, Todd is lighting up at her statement. "Oh! That's cool. So you're like…some kind of detective or something? Or a historian? Or what?" He smiles, happily, and starts to pull out his notebook, already flipping through it. "Man, that would be so cool… Knowing about things like that," he says, as he searches through his notes. "I bet you have /awesome/ stories."
~~*~~
"Because he had business elsewhere." Bethany didn't mind the walk with the horse, so she doesn't see why doing a favor is a bad thing. "A horse trainer? Truthfully, I am afraid of the beasts. I think I was trampled to death by one in a past life." The joys of being a stable hand in the past?
"I am a therapist," she offers to Todd. "A psychologist to be exact, though I dabble in past life regression." A minute nod is given to Hugo in understanding.
~~*~~
"That was.. mighty neighborly of you, especially considering you're afraid of horses. I'm surprised the animal let you lead it. They generally can sense when people are afraid of them and, depending on their temperament, they don't always react too well to that." Her comment about a past life causes one of Hugo's brows to lift. Oh yeah, definitely a skeptic. But he has the decency at least to keep his opinions on the matter to himself, smiling a little at Todd's enthusiastic response which more than makes up for his lack of one.
~~*~~
Todd blinks a little, and stares at Bethany blankly for a moment. "Past life?" He considers this for a moment, with less skepticism than Hugo, but eventually he just accepts it, with his usual fascinated little grin. "Interesting. I don't really know anything about past lives, though. I mean, how would you even find out about stuff like that?" He considers this a moment, frowning with concentration, until a sudden thought pops into his head and he smiles as he asks, "Do you use a Ouija board?"
~~*~~
"One can have a fear without letting it guide them." Bethany turns to watch the octopi for a while before saying another word. "As long as you do not show that fear and present a solid calm front, an animal will react accordingly. A soft, gentle touch can usually do more to calm a beast than running scared from it." As someone who works with others to get over their fears if she cannot take her own advice then she is a failure as a therapist.
"Regression therapy," she mentions to Todd. "It's an actual certified technique via use of hypnosis."
~~*~~
"I guess that was my point," Hugo notes mildly. "Usually animals can see past the facade that we humans put up." But he lets the matter drop, guessing that as a psychiatrist, perhaps Bethany is the sort of person who cannot help but dissect everything and offer advice. Pursing his lips, Hugo moves on to the next exhibit, a tank of tropical fish. These are even under ordinary lights beautiful and extraordinary in their coloring. Under black light? They're completely surreal looking, like something from a really intense acid trip. Even Hugo pauses for a moment, a totally foolish grin coming over his features as he lets out a trippy, "Whooaaaaa…"
~~*~~
Todd blinks, and stares at Bethany for a moment. "Hypnosis?" He's got that weird, distant look he gets sometimes. His brow furrows, thoughtfully, "Hypnosis… that's like…like…" He frowns, searching for the thought, and then eyes Bethany with a suddenly intense little stare. "Isn't that like mind-control or something?" He takes a little step away from her, suddenly seeming to have a slight aversion. "Past lives and mind control and… What kind of person are you? That's…" But he trails off, not finishing the thought as he looks away to watch the fish, with a troubled expression darkening his features.
~~*~~
"Usually. However better the gentle hand of a scared one than a heavy hand of an upset master." Bethany's fear of horses aside, she has a demeanor that just exudes calm. A technique she learned primarily for her patients.
"Hardly mind control. A simple therapeutic technique. Truthfully there are medications on the market that do more harm to one's mind than aiding someone in getting over a fear." Bethany glances from the octopi to the brightly colored tropicals to Hugo.
"Perhaps I should take my leave so as not to trouble your friend further?"
~~*~~
This is the first time that Hugo's ever seen Todd get upset and frowning in surprise he takes a step closer to the man, laying a hand lightly on his shoulder as he explains, "That's more in the movies. When people do hypnosis in therapy, they know what's going on. They're totally themselves. They're just more relaxed and better able to access hidden memories or experiences. I'm sure Bethany here would never use her abilities to control someone's mind." He's not about to tell the woman to go away, but for the moment Hugo stands close to Todd and waits to see what his reaction to this information might do. Maybe he'll relax, or maybe he won't. At that point Bethany can make her own choice as to what would be prudent. After all, she is the psychologist of the three of them.
~~*~~
Todd doesn't relax immediately, though he does lean slightly toward Hugo as the hand goes to his shoulder. "I don't know about all that…" he says, uncertainly, and gives a nervous glance toward Bethany, that quickly shifts back to the tank. "It still sounds like…like…people mucking around in other people's heads…" he murmurs, his eyes following the octopus as it slowly creeps across the bottom of the tank. He grows silent, and continues watching the exhibit, until suddenly he spots the tropical fish in all their neon glory, and his brows shoot up in awe. "Oh, wow, look at /those/!"
~~*~~
Monitoring the situation, the doctor nods her head in Hugo's direction. Best to take her leave now before chancing to upset the unstable one again. "It was a pleasure to meet you both. I have the information I came here for, and I thank you for a pleasant discussion."
Her patient will benefit greatly from this exhibit next Saturday. It is a safe environment in which to see the majesty of aquatic life.
Her hand lifts in a delicate wave before she disappears into the crowds to make her way outside.
~~*~~
Hmmmm, probably the best choice really. If only Bethany were more … warm. She's likely a good therapist, but she doesn't have the best bedside manner really, which is the sort of thing that helps put people at ease. She's just a little too… formal. Nodding, Hugo offers a casual, "Bye," as she departs before turning to Todd and asking, "Are you okay?"
~~*~~
To be fair, Todd is not Bethany's patient, and therapists are people too. Regardless of what Bethany might or might not have done, Todd is distracted from the fish as Bethany retreats, and he shoots her a perfectly friendly smile and wave. He actually seems to already have forgotten the incident. He glances back to Hugo with the question, and blinks with his usual bemused confusion. "Yes. Shouldn't I be?"
~~*~~
With a soft sigh and a shake of his head, Hugo just pats Todd's shoulders and shifts over closer to the psychedelic tropical fish. "Yes, of course you should be. Ohhh, check out that one!" He points out, the fish in question a whizzing stripe of electric blue and Day-Glo orange. This memory problem is clearly both a blessing and a curse, but Hugo can't help but wonder a bit at Todd's reaction to Bethany. Normally he's so friendly and open. But he was really freaked out. Once again Hugo finds his gaze drawn to the man's head. No obvious injuries or scars are visible. Perhaps … perhaps there is a very good reason, one that even memory loss can not completely erase, which makes Todd fearful of anyone messing with the contents of his head?
~~*~~
It may very well be that Todd's reaction is significant. Even at his worst, Todd seems to have a few unpredictably surfacing memories. How else would he know that he likes strawberries! Todd, however, is free from such heavy thoughts for now as the blue and orange fish goes whizzing by. It startles a delighted laugh from the shorter man, his expression clear of any upset he'd experienced minutes previous. "Oh, wow! Look at him go…" He glances back to Hugo, and gives a laugh. "They're so colorful! Oh man, look at /that/ one," he says, pointing out a clownfish whose white stripes glow brightly under the black lights.
~~*~~
His attention is quite honestly more on Todd and the mystery he is than the fish, but Hugo's gaze flickers to the fish obediently as the man next to him points out the clownfish. "Very impressive," he concurs. Patting the Todd on the shoulder again, Hugo notes, "So Todd? I'm going to head off now. Are you here with someone or just by yourself? Do you need anything before I go?"
~~*~~
Todd blinks and looks back to Hugo, uncertainly. "Am I…I'm here with you," he points out, in a voice that suggests this should be obvious to Hugo. At least he still seems bemused by the whole thing, though in his confusion he reaches for his notepad to flip through it. "I don't know. I think I'm probably fine. I think I'll just sit here and watch these glow-in-the-dark fish. That's fine, right?" he asks, glancing from the paper to Hugo.
~~*~~
Hugo hesitates for a moment before realizing that really he might as well stay. Bethany seems like the sort of woman who can take care of herself, but Todd? Todd inspires a protective urge in Hugo and with a small smile and a shrug he concurs, "You're totally right. You're here with me." Walking over, Hugo sits down on a nearby bench that allows one to look at all three of the tanks that they have passed at the same time, patting the spot next to him. "We'll just sit for a bit and watch the neon fish and then check out the next room. That's totally fine."
~~*~~
Todd nods a little, and gives a shy little grin as Hugo sits on the bench. "Okay. Sounds wonderful…" he decides. The small notebook is tucked away in his pocket, and he walks over to sit next to Hugo on the bench. He glances aside, considering, then scoots a little closer to lean against Hugo's arm, and eventually rests his head against his shoulder. Maybe he's sensing and responding to that protective streak of Hugo's, or maybe he's just interpreting the situation as the evidence seems to dictate. Regardless, he seems more relaxed than ever, just resting on Hugo's shoulder and watching the fish.
~~*~~
Sitting next to him is fine. Leaning against him is fine. But when Todd rests his head against Hugo's shoulder? The artist has a hard time not shrugging to push him off. But he realizes that Todd would likely be terribly hurt by that sort of rejection, and in the darkness of the aquarium, where everybody's attention is on the fish, its not like it's garnering much interest. Still, he only allows Todd the indulgence for a little while before clapping his hands and stating, "Right! Next room!" And Todd better move quick if he wants to stay with Hugo, cause the artist is eager to keep moving through the exhibits lest Todd decide he wants to indulge in any further public displays of affection.
