Indecent Exposure (Private)(18+)

[Sathenus]

"Do you really believe they would be planning revenge on you?" Kario asked not being able to understand why anyone would come to this conclusion about the large animals. He personally found them to be gentle and loving, when under the right care anyway, and they like any other animal could be quite loyal to someone who treated them well. What was said next made the younger man open his mouth before shutting it again not even really sure where to begin with all of that, it made no sense to him and he truly felt as though it was an over-exaggeration. Crossing his arms over his chest he gave the politician a disbelieving look at the comment that they already looked threateningly at him. What was his boyfriend's definition of threateningly? It didn't make any sense in the end and that was even with him trying rather hard to understand the blonde's take and feelings towards these animals and the prospect of riding one. "Well... I mean yeah. I can get how reptiles like that would make you feel that way, but horses are different. Even though... I have to admit I would certainly love to see an Anaconda, they're beautiful snakes." The last part was an offhanded comment. But he actually liked snakes, he would never own one as he didn't like the idea of having a pet that he couldn't really bond with and because they could get extremely big. Before he could even realize what he was doing he was asking a follow up question, "What kind was it? A green or yellow?" He really did like his animals and it appeared as if even animals owned by the man's father weren't exempt from that despite the man clearly having nothing nice to say about him.

 

An amused look crossed his face when his boyfriend expressed that he didn't think a horse could form a bond with anyone, going on to mention how Paul his father's albino alligator had surely never formed a bond with anyone despite his father having handled and fed him. "Well, alligators and horses are different. Some animals, like horses, dogs, cats, raccoons, elephants and many other species are more than capable of forming strong bonds with people when treated correctly and given a loving environment to do so. Others like snakes, crocodiles, alligators and many other reptiles or even insects aren't capable of forming these bonds. But in the end it does depend strongly on the animal to whether or not a bond is even a possibility." Kario stated wanting to try to make this a little easier for the older man to understand.

 

Being reminded that Devon was a hunter and that his relationship with large and wild animals was to hunt them, it wasn't a very pleasant thought to him but he could accept that this was probably a large part of who Devon was and thus something he'd have to live with. They had already discussed it once before and he knew that it wasn't something that Devon had been able to impress him with originally, but he could tolerate the fact that Devon enjoyed the sport. "I know... but just because you're a hunter doesn't mean that you are incapable of forming a bond with another living creature outside of humans. It doesn't mean that you can't learn to connect with a large animal outside of the average family pet." Kario still had very high hopes that Devon could and would end up forming a bond with a horse if given the opportunity and an environment where he was already comfortable and at ease. It would be a process, but he really hoped that if the governor did buy him a horse that the blonde would also form a bond with the animal, or at least trust it enough to not worry about when he'd be with the animal.

 

A curious look crossed his face upon hearing that he had not only seen Sven naked but in all kinds of situations. There was clearly an interest as he wanted to know more about the two men's friendship and the things they had done together over the years. About to question it and ask he was stopped from doing so when Devon expressed that though the original plan was for Sven to come directly here that he could give the man a call and tell him we would meet in Ireland instead and return back here together. They could certainly do that, and it probably would make things a bit easier than if they didn't. Even though Kario hadn't really thought much about the statue and what kind of private situation Sven would have to see them in since the call. He came to realize that he hadn't fully realized the implications and reality of it, that he was willingly agreeing to someone outside of their relationship to see them in such a private way to make a statue of it. Not to mention, they would still have to figure out where said statue would even end up going once it was created. Laughing softly he nodded, "Yes we will have to keep the time zones in mind the next time you call him as I am certain he wouldn't enjoy it if we made a habit out of calling him so early in the morning. It would also be nice for us to all meet in Ireland first and spend some time together before we returned here for the statue and all."

 

The hand on his shoulder made it so he locked his dark gaze with his boyfriend's golden one, knowing that this was as much affection as Devon could currently show in their present situation. It squeezed his shoulder gently before the blonde was speaking saying they would do that. It was nice to think this was a dream he would finally be able to accomplish because he had a boyfriend who really loved him and wanted to help him achieve his goals but who also had the means to help him do so. Even if he didn't want to think about how others may see that exchange if they even knew it was happening, which he was a bit pleased to know that this wasn't something being made public for people to hate him for even more. But his struggle with the whole thing was still present and he felt that small part of him that couldn't be happy despite it all because of how he knew others saw their relationship. Having expressed how he felt a little more to Devon about it he wasn't surprised by the look he got as the older man sighed clearly Devon didn't see the issue he was having. "Well... yes." He mumbled softly when he was asked if this was his dream and if it would make him happy his gaze dropping to the ground for a moment. The explanation he received he sighed and had to come to realize that his boyfriend had a point, what he was doing, or offering to do was something that really wouldn't hurt him financially and could be seen as just something he did to make him happy without needing a reason to do so.

 

Kario was about to just agree with him but Devon wasn't finished yet, asking him what the matter was and what his hesitation was really about now while expressing that he could see that he'd actually love for him to do that. In the end there was no denying that he really would love for Devon to do this for him, he wanted the blonde to get him a horse and help him realize his dream. He would truly love nothing more than for that to happen. Cocking his head slightly when he was told that the older man didn't need permission to buy him things anyway and that he might as well just choose a horse for him then. There was no point in arguing this because he knew the politician had a point. If Devon really wanted to there was nothing stopping him from doing so, he didn't need his permission, or for him to give any sort of input in the end. The comment about how the stable he'd design himself either was because no one got a say about the architecture and decoration on his property no matter how much he loved them made him give the other a slightly questioning look. It wasn't as if he had any intention of changing anything to begin with, and he had automatically assumed this would be something the older man would end up designing because he was paying for it. Though hearing that had kind of hurt, and made him wonder why Devon felt so strongly about it, but he just shook it off and decided for right now he was going to ignore it.

 

"In the end I guess there really isn't a reason for me to be hesitant about it." He finally said though not all of his feelings were eased there was just no point in pressing it. Devon had made a good point, this was something he was doing to make him happy because he wanted to do it and because it wouldn't really hurt him financially to do so. Not something he was doing to keep him around, or to buy his love like other people may see it. And though Kario truly hated the prospect of people seeing that, there was nothing he could do to change the way others saw him and their relationship. As long as his lover knew why he was with him and didn't question it then that was what mattered in the end.

 

 

Devon explaining to him how bad this food actually was to him and how it was much more than simply not agreeing with him he wondered why he would put himself through that. But he knew why, it was because he liked the food and it only caused that reaction in the politician because this was not the type of food his body was used to consuming or had consumed growing up. A small understanding smile crossed his face, "Well, at least you're honest about it. But if it really does do that to you than you probably should try to exercise some caution and not eat it, or very much of it at least." Kario commented not wanting to make Devon feel like he was taking Stewart's side on this matter but wanting the blonde to know that he should truly take care of himself and his body. Clearly his body responded in a manner for a reason, and wasn't happy when he consumed the food here, he'd have to do his best to try to discourage it then, at least for the most part if not completely.

 

Clarence sitting down on the other side of Devon made Kario return to sipping his drink and taking in the people around them. At least until the man mentioned that the blonde should be a good influence and role model for the young generation not missing how he nodded towards him when making this remark. Kario wanted to blush and try to argue but there was no reason in doing so, Clarence in the end had a point and trying to complain about the fact that he was technically part of the 'young' generation despite not wanting to be referred to in that manner wouldn't make things better or easier. He was watching the two men though and found that the way Clarence spoke with him was sweet, and he really liked to see it because he knew Devon didn't have enough people in his life who treated him in such a manner.

 

Noticing the look Devon was giving the fatty food despite taking the sandwiches that were given to him made a slightly amused smile cross his own face. Though Stewart said that he would take the food when asked what to do with it. He wasn't surprised to hear that the man's mother had cooked food like this when he was growing up, his own mother had made something along these lines when he was growing up as well. But like now he had not been a big eater and whatever his siblings hadn't eaten his parents had. But what the adviser was saying about gay men and being vain and obsessed with their looks and weight made him roll his eyes and sigh as he glanced away from the men deciding it was best to try to focus on something else until the men had eaten and they could get back to things. Though he once more felt his dislike for the adviser growing. What snapped him back though was the comment about how Devon shouldn't eat this food or he would gain weigh and no gay would want to have sex with him anymore so he would invest more money in keeping him to pretend that he was into him. That was insulting, and Kario definitely didn't like what he was saying.

 

Now really wasn't the time to argue or fight with the adviser but he didn't like that he kept making these comments about Devon paying him to stick around and pretend he was interested in the politician either. Having opened his mouth to speak he noticed the way Devon was still looking at the food as he was eating the sandwich Clarence had given to him and found himself momentarily distracted before he shook his head and turned his gaze back to Stewart. "Gay men aren't that shallow. Sure some are just like some straight men and women are, but to say that applies to all gay men is just insulting. And Devon doesn't invest money in me to keep me around or make me pretend anything. Not everyone in the world is money or power oriented." Kario just couldn't understand why Stewart seemed to get those comments in whenever he could. Or to again make it seem like he was only sticking around because Devon was investing money into him.

 

With a soft sigh he leaned against the table they were sitting at letting his head rest on his hand and his dark eyes on his boyfriend. "You know, I did promise I'd cook you something sometime. There are other ways you can make these same foods that will make it so they aren't as greasy and thus easier on your stomach. We can try a few some time." Kario understood how important it was to keep Devon and his body in working order. But he was sure that with the right ingredients and some extra care that they could recreate the food Devon loved so much and yet didn't agree with him but make it so they weren't as bad for you and easier on his stomach. It would be a trial and error thing though, so he figured trying these recipes out would probably have to wait for a weekend when Devon didn't have to worry so much about his duties as governor or the campaign.

[-Hideki-]

“It’s entirely possible.” Ashfield said with a grin on his face when Kario asked him if he honestly thought the horses were planning revenge on him. “No, not literally of course but you really can’t know what a living animal is up to, what processes are going on in its brain and that fact makes it uncomfortable for me to depend on it in a way because I sit on its back in that moment. I prefer cars. They are faster, more powerful, have interesting and fun technological features, are impressive and stylish and they have no head of their own and don’t operate on instinct.” He explained.

 

“What is the difference?” he asked when the black haired man told him that horses and his father’s alligator were totally different. Sure Ashfield knew the fundamental differences between the species, they were obvious, and he wouldn’t run if he was finding himself standing in front of a horse without a gun but he’d definitely run if Paul would have run lose and he would not have had a gun or something. “In the end they are all large, uncontrollable, unpredictable animals that could, even if chances of it happening are different, potentially harm you if you were unarmed and they intended to.” He stated.

 

Now it was his turn to look at the man in disbelief when he told him he would like to see the Anaconda expressing that he found it beautiful. Devon had never found it beautiful. Some of the reptiles his father had owned he could see something interesting or maybe even slightly beautiful in but that Anaconda or bloody Paul definitely weren’t one of them. “Then you’ll love my parent’s mansion. It’s full of all different kind of weird creatures. I tell you though, even if you like them I’m not gonna adopt Paul or that Anaconda when I’ll inherit them.” He told him only to raise his eyebrow and to look a little baffled at the other again when he asked if the Anaconda had been yellow or green. “I don’t know. Muddy I guess. It’s not pretty, wouldn’t make good leather pants or shoes. And its tank is larger than your parent’s living room.” Ashfield said, not knowing that it was Eunectes murinus, commonly referred to as green anaconda. “We had that neighbour who let her cat run free and that cat ran quite far from home and onto our property. It used to shit on my father’s golf range and after my father had told her once to keep her cat on the property of her own mansion and he found cat shit on his golf range again, he made one of the guys of his staff chase the cat down and hand it to him and he then threw it into the tank and fed the Anaconda with it. And that was when it had still been a really young snake.”

 

Kario was telling Devon that horses unlike alligators were capable of forming bonds with people together with a list of other animals that were capable of forming bonds and those that weren’t. At the mention of elephants his mind trailed off a little and he scratched his chin. “I once went elephant hunting when I was in my twenties. I thought it to be quite the adventure but after I had been home again for less than a week articles got published and my family and our Corporation got shit on by some environmentalist and species protectors again. Apparently had not been exactly legal…. I had to pay a fine in addition to bad press … Quite the nuisance! I didn’t go on a safari again after that.” He remembered shaking his head. “Anyway, there are people who voluntarily hold insects?” he asked screwing up his nose. “Yikes. When I see one of those I smash them immediately. They are gross.” He said.

 

“Of course not! I have a lovely dog. I really like dogs.” Devon reminded him when the other man expressed how him being a hunter didn’t mean he couldn’t form bonds with animals, when he however added outside of the average pet his motivation was rather limited and he decided to throw his friend into the ring to get out of the spotlight of the topic himself.”You know, I think you and Sven will get along well, you have something in common with that animal thing.” He told him. “I sometimes think he prefers animals over people. He even founded some animal shelters in his country, is active in animal protection and cares about climate change and all that jazz.” The governor said. “He even had a boyfriend who had been in the green party.” Ashfield told the other. “It caused fights between that Niko and his brother Jens though.” he remembered. When it came to those topics Devon and Sven’s brother Jens were actually closer in their views. Jens who had inherited his father’s steel empire was in the libertarian party in his nation and just like Ashfield was strictly opposed to any government regulations of businesses including environmental ones.

 

Even though the other man stated that in the end he had no reason to be so hesitant about Devon buying him a horse the governor wasn’t really convinced that whatever had bugged the man in the first place was off the table and didn’t bother him anymore but it was no use. Kario obviously didn’t want to tell him what it was so he just shook his head and let it be. Maybe he’d ask him later again and hope he’d get an honest answer that time but now was not the time to try and get something the other was keeping from him out of him.

 

 

Stewart stared at Kario as he had not expected the man to chime in and say anything about the remark he had just made in regards to gay guys and the governor’s relationship to the younger man. Cooper snorted. “Splendid little speech boy! You should remember that one in case it’ll ever be needed to convince the public. Maybe some more naïve people will even buy it.” He said. “Money, power, sex and looks are the centre of nearly everything kid and you know that full well. You aren’t with the Republican governor who is nearly twenty years older than you because the two of you have so much in common and you just are on the same wavelength. If he was some poor fucker you’d not blink an eye. His money and power attract you. And he, he is attracted to your body and the sex he gets. He’d not blink an eye if you were some floppy middle aged guy with a receding hairline either.” He stated, only to snort once more. “And trying to tell me that gay men aren’t shallow and vain, really? Our governor freaks out over grey hair. He’s horrified by aging and physical imperfection. And have you seen his mansion? You have right? Need I say more? He is obsessed with perfect male bodies. He is the best example for what I just said.” He pointed at the governor.

 

Ashfield found it really uncomfortable to be pointed at. Not only that, he too was getting embarrassed, blushed deep red when he heard that. He couldn’t deny that he was afraid of aging, afraid of looking unattractive for other men and had an obsession with the male physique, admiring it as art. The reason it embarrassed him was that he felt himself reminded about how he had mocked Sven for being with and had been awful towards his effeminate drag-queen boyfriend because he had accused him of being a stereotype making a mockery of gay guys and not wanting to be associated with someone as feminine and now he was fitting an unfavourable stereotype himself, a completely different one, but a stereotype. Was he really shallow in the end ? He didn’t like the idea and he decided to at least fend for himself to a degree. “I am a little vain maybe but I am not superficial. When I am in a relationship I am not with this man because of his looks but because I love him as who he is.” the billionaire said but it made Stewart laugh again. “Come on, you have had one serious relationship throughout your life with this IT guy. For the most part you were entertaining yourself with some hotties whose names you didn’t remember an hour afterwards who’d willingly spread their legs for you.” Cooper said and it was another low blow that was embarrassing to take because it was true. Somehow the fact that Devon had insisted on taking Kario along must have made his adviser pretty mad after all since although he was not known for being exactly tactful he had never been like that towards him, he had been a lot more respectful than that. Apparently being with the black haired younger man who had been a prostitute before in a serious way and taking him to this event must have made a good portion of this respect vanish into the air.

 

It happened that Kario and Ashfield sighed at the same time and it made the governor, who was not exactly feeling high right now, smile slightly when the man offered that he could try to cook similar food for him in a way that Ashfield might be able to stomach better. “That would be really sweet of you. I’m looking forward to that.” he said and he was indeed. He liked the idea of Kario making him some food regardless of what it was, if it was that kind of food it was even better. If he could watch the other preparing it for him and snitch some food and fool around while the man was cooking it would be a lot of fun.

 

The weird atmosphere on the table was cut through by laughter as Valentina and Jason were approaching, seemingly enjoying themselves quite a lot, the woman walking on Jason’s arm. “We just witnessed an incredibly hilarious eating contest.” The lady said. “We even got offered free hotdogs.” She said raising one. “I could have gotten one too but I don’t eat carbs….” Jason started to talk but didn’t come far because he too was pointed at and Stewart laughed drily again: “There you have another example. Try to tell me again how not shallow and vain they are.” He said and the hair- and make-up artist looked confused. “What?” he asked. “This brat tried to tell me that he isn’t with the governor for the money and that gay men aren’t vain, obsessed with their bodies and superficial.” Cooper said and Jason narrowed his eyebrows shaking his head before he let go of Valentina who sat down next to Clarence whereas Jason stepped behind Stewart and grabbed his shoulders roughly kneading them as to massage him.

 

“Oh Stewie and my diet choices are making me shallow and superficial huh?” he asked in a mocking tone with a smile around his lips. “May I remind you that I never dumped or cheated on my former boyfriends because their looks changed and I then deemed them too unattractive for my attention?” the man said and Stewart groaned because he was pretty damn tense and the massage was rather necessary. “That is you! You started to ignore your wife and to cheat on her after her third pregnancy saying she not only bored you but she was also too old, fat and unattractive for you and you couldn’t get turned on by her at all anymore and hated to even see her face after work. You got yourself some thirty years younger mistress about whom you said that she is lucky to have that body because she is too stupid to breathe, expressing your dislike of everything but her body, only paying her attention in form of gifts before dumping her and exchanging her with another bimbo when she had cut her hair short what you didn’t like?” Jason went on embarrassing the other man another time pointing out his hypocrisy with an angelic voice and facial expression. Stewart’s face was blushed red by now but he couldn’t say a thing because Jason’s knuckles were pressing hard onto one of the worst spots on his neck, making him leave out an almost moaning noise when the artist leaned down to Stewart’s ear with a smirk, patting his cheek. “Stop projecting already!!!” he said, for everyone around the table to hear it.

 

Jason then let go of Stewart and placed himself onto the table. “When I have been in my mid-twenties what has just been recently…” he said. “You’re thirty-three.” Stewart grumbled still red faced. “That is a matter of perspective.” the hair- and make-up artist stated. “No it’s not!” Cooper hissed. “Anyway…” he shook it off. “When I’ve been in my mid-twenties I was in a relationship with a man older than governor Ashfield is. He was witty, a little clumsy, awkward, intelligent, really cute and I loved him. It was adorable how he was embarrassed to have a younger man top him at first though…” he remembered. “However, he made less money than me being a cars salesman and me being in the high-fashion industry. I loved him because I loved him and the money didn’t matter.” The brunette said. “Point is, it’s not always about the money and there are legitimate couples with an age gap and there is nothing wrong with that.” he stated smiling at Kario and Ashfield, as Valentina nodded in agreement. Clarence didn’t say or do anything because he still found that age gap a little uncomfortable but he certainly didn’t agree with Stewart’s assumptions about Devon and Kario either.

 

“What I had been about to say before I had shit thrown my way for my diet choices…” Jason came back to what Valentina and him had wanted to tell them. “I met the hottest guy there and he invited me to come watch him barrel racing and rodeo at the completion that’ll start every minute and Valentina and I are going and we wanted to ask if you want to join us. It’ll be near to where you’ll have to give the evening speech anyway.” He suggested smiling at Kario and Ashfield. Devon looked towards his boyfriend. “It’s a good idea don’t you think? There will be horse breeders too and you can see the barrel racers.” The blond found. “Just you pay more attention to the horses and not those cowboys or I might get jealous.” He jested.

[Sathenus]

"But they don't have their own personalities." Kario commented when Devon started to say that he preferred cars and listed off a few things that cars had or were and horses didn't. To Kario a car was uninteresting, it was an object used for transportation that cost way more than needed, with a bunch of unnecessary features or gadgets and had no personalities. Giving the blonde a look stating he didn't really find his argument as a good one right now he shook his head and offered a small smile instead. "I get it, you love your cars and nothing can compare. Let's go ahead and say your love of cars, is my love of horses." That was probably the best way for either of them to really understand the other's feelings was to compare them to something of equal value to the other.

 

"That's true." He agreed with a small nod, "In the end horses, like alligators are large and unpredictable animals. But alligators were never meant to be pets either." There were still big differences between a horse and an alligator that didn't make him feel like this was a good comparison either. "I also don't see why you would ever need to be armed around a horse to begin with." The younger man added giving a small shrug and not fully understanding why or even how that had come up into this conversation.

 

The look of disbelief he got this time hadn't really surprised him, he was sure the blonde hadn't expected him to express any sort of interest in the snake much less say how the reptile was beautiful. "Aww! Why not?!" Kario whined playfully when he was told that even if he liked them that Devon wouldn't adopt Paul or that Anaconda when he inherited them. It was a bit of a bummer, since he really did like snakes but he knew it didn't really matter to him in the end. "That's fine though, I really do like snakes but I wouldn't want to own one." This time he gave the other a questioning look, "Really?" He asked in a tone stating he didn't think about what a snake's color would look good as and didn't find the thought of the beautiful animal being turned into pants or shoes as appealing in the first place. After a moment he shrugged, "That's fine though, I suppose if ever given the chance to see it I can find out then." Though Kario highly doubted he would get the chance to see the snake anytime soon, or at all for that matter especially since it meant he would have to be near his boyfriend's father again and that alone was an extremely unappealing thought. Being told what happened to the neighbor's cat though was a little unsettling, "Well... they are known to be able to eat rather large prey though feeding a neighbors cat intentionally to a snake is just cruel." There was no denying that he didn't like being told that, and he felt extremely bad for the cat since the animal probably hadn't realized it was doing something wrong to begin with.

 

"Yeah... I can see how that wouldn't go over well. They are an endangered and protected species after all." He wasn't necessarily judging because he knew his boyfriend was a hunter and it was something that he had or maybe even still did enjoy. So he was trying to be understanding of what would have made the politician think such a thing would have been a good idea to begin with. "Yes, some people actually like them." He replied about the insects though he had to admit he was a little happy to hear Devon say that he smashed them immediately as they were gross. "I'll agree with you there, I am not a fan of insects or bugs. I also have a fear of spiders, I will not enter a room where I have seen a spider until I am a hundred percent sure it's dead." Since they were on the insect topic he figured it was a really good idea to mention that he was not remotely a fan of spiders. They were just plain creepy, way to many legs.

 

It made an instant smile cross his face when Devon said that he had a lovely dog and that he loved dogs. Barney did seem like a very lovely dog from the little interaction he had with him, and he was certainly looking forward to getting to know the cute dog better over the years. The younger man wasn't unaware of what Devon was doing by mentioning Sven and that he was sure they would get along well by saying they had something in common with 'that animal thing' as he had liked to put it. But instead of redirecting the conversation back to Devon he let the blonde get away with turning the spotlight onto someone else instead. "Really?" This time when he asked that it was clear he was even more interested in the man's friend. It seemed as though he did have a lot in common with Sven after all, and he was even more excited to meet him and get to know the artist better. "That's honestly really great of him." He added with a large happy smile.

 

 

Kario wasn't happy when Stewart didn't seem to believe him and said that maybe some more naive people would buy his 'little speech' as the Adviser had liked to call it. A frown crossed his face when the man then insisted on telling him why he was with the governor which only seemed to upset Kario more as he hated people judging why he was with Devon and thinking that they knew more about it than him or that he was just trying to convince people of something when they knew his true motives. "I wouldn't care if Devon is poor, his money doesn't mean anything to me." He objected not going to let anyone continue to tell him that was why he was with Devon when it just wasn't true. What was said as to why Devon was with him made him look away with a frown on his face and suddenly feeling self-conscious about himself even though he knew that wasn't why the politician was with him. Or at least he really hoped that wasn't true, it would honestly devastate him if he ever found out that it was. A sigh escaped him as the man continued telling him that Devon was the best example for what he had just said about get men being shallow and vain as he definitely didn't agree with Stewart but was tired of trying to defend not just himself but gay men in general with the man. It was a lost cause, and he felt like he was just giving the man even more of a reason not to like him.

 

His heart started to pound faster in his chest when the younger man heard his boyfriend say that he wasn't with him because of his looks but because he loved him for who he was. It made him extremely happy to hear this, even if Stewart was already moving to argue otherwise by reminding the governor that he had only had one serious relationship previously and was otherwise entertaining himself with hot men whose names he wouldn't remember an hour later and who would willingly spread their legs for him. There was no doubt in Kario's mind that plenty of hot gay men would be all to willing to spread their legs for Devon to have a night of fun, but he didn't want to think that just because the blonde had only had one serious relationship before that it meant he wasn't serious about them. If anything it just made him feel even more special for being only the second person that the man felt so strongly about despite his age. He wanted to defend the older man but he was still aware that anything he said would not only not be taken seriously but probably seen as a joke or some sort of cover for either of them and only making him feel worse for trying. There was clearly no changing Stewart's outlook on this or them, and ignoring the man at this point felt like the better option.

 

Being told Devon looked forward to him making better versions of the food that he seemed to love so much here. It made a smile instantly appear on his face and he was even more happy and excited to do so for the older man. Especially since Devon also seemed to think that it was sweet of him, he really just wanted to do whatever he could for his boyfriend. Anything he could do to express how much he loved the blonde he would do, especially cooking since he enjoyed doing it.

 

Hearing the laugh made Kario look up at the two as they approached Valentina telling them about a hot dog eating contest they had just watched and how they were offered free hot dogs. It made him smile considering they both seemed quite happy and were clearly having fun, though when Jason started to say how he would have gotten one too but he didn't eat carbs he could already see how this was going to go. Sure enough Stewart was pointing at the hair and make-up artist as he gave a dry laugh before speaking, Kario rolling his eyes in slight irritation. Shaking his head he just rested his head in his hand and looked away from Stewart when the man told Jason about how he had tried to tell the Adviser that he wasn't with the governor for the money and that gay men aren't vain, obsessed with their bodies and superficial. "Can you at least stop calling me a brat?" He asked with a defeated look, glancing away from the man since he clearly wouldn't get anything across to him. The older man was obviously to stuck in his ways and didn't want to believe that anything but his own view was true.

 

Hearing what Jason said as the man was giving the other a massage made him wonder why the adviser had so much to say against him and Devon if he himself was cheating on his wife with another woman and had actually dumped one of them just because she had cut her hair to short and he no longer found her attractive. It was even more frustrating to him than anything else, because he just couldn't get or understand how people could be so hypocritical. Especially when he really wasn't with Devon because of the blonde's money or power and that he was almost positive now that Devon wasn't with him because of his looks. Still he hadn't moved his gaze from the ground where it had fallen or really turn back to the conversation having already been called a brat one too many times today and just feeling completely defeated and ready to be done with today.

 

It wasn't until he felt the difference of Jason finally joining them at the table as the man spoke finally managing to draw his gaze away from where it had fallen as his dark eyes landed on the other. He really did like this man, he didn't make him feel like he had to explain himself or constantly defend himself when the hair and make-up artist was around. The man clearly having a pull over Stewart that at least kept him at bay for a little while even if not for very long before he would be back at it again. Hearing about the relationship he had with an older man who had made less money than him and how he had loved him because he loved him and the money hadn't mattered. Kario probably couldn't be more relieved to hear this, even if it was in a sense the opposite of him and Devon since in their situation the older man was the one with more money, but it was the same in the sense that he wasn't with Devon for that money but because he loved him. It seemed that even Valentina agreed and this brought a noticeable change in Kario who suddenly seemed more at ease himself not having realized that even he had been tense and on edge. It was relieving to hear this and know that at least some people could see and understand that money had nothing to do with them.

 

Curiosity peaked when Jason said that he had met the hottest guy when they had been watching the hot dog eating contest and how he had invited the man to watch him barrel race. Kario was sure his interest was peaked at that especially when the man said that he and Valentina were going and wanted to ask if they wanted to join them. Instantly his gaze darted to Devon and he was already about to ask if they could when the politician met his gaze and said that it was a good idea. Telling him there would be horse breeders there too and that he could see the barrel racers. Kario was ready to start bouncing in his seat extremely eager and happy to see this when Devon spoke again telling him to pay more attention to the horses and not those cowboys or he might get jealous, hearing the joking tone in his words.

 

A soft laugh escaped him and he gave the man as innocent a look as he possibly could, "I would never! My eyes will be glued to those gorgeous horses only I promise!" The cowboys really wouldn't have his attention, he really just wanted to watch the event and it would be a great way to see some really great teams in action. At the same time he knew the only way any cowboy would ever hold any interest to him was if Devon had dressed that way and was getting on the back of a horse, something he knew would probably never happen. "When does the event start?" He asked curiously turning his gaze back to Jason as he really was eager to see it and since it was near where Devon would be giving the evening speech anyway he was hoping they would be able to leave not long after that before Stewart would have a chance to ruin his mood again.

[-Hideki-]

“Exactly! That’s the point, another main advantage that they don’t have personalities. You don’t want to be transported by something that has its own personality.” Devon nodded understanding the younger man’s talking point as an argument in favour of cars. When he looked at him though the expression on his lover’s face showed him that it had not been and that he somehow found that horses had personalities to be a good thing and Ashfield really didn’t get it at all. Hence when the other brought it down to his love for cars to be like Kario’s for the horses he was more than willing to agree to disagree in that manner too. “Fair enough.” He said.

 

With raised eyebrows and a roll of his eyes but an amused smile on his lips at the same time he looked at the black haired male when he playfully complained about why the governor would not adopt Paul and the Anaconda if he inherited them but his expression got more plain and serious again when Kario told him how intentionally feeding the neighbour’s cat to the snake had been a cruel thing to do after he had told him that little story about his father. “It’s my father we’re talking about here. The same man who threatens a pregnant woman to let her child be kidnapped to shut her up.” He reminded him. “Now, imagine going to school after that entering the class and seeing the neighbours daughter cry the whole day because their family cat had gone missing and a day later she had found footage of a snake devouring it in their letterbox.” The politician remembered. “Imagine how this made you want to disappear the whole day at school while she got all the compassion from the other students judging this as cruel and vile in your class and when you got home and told your sociopathic father about it and asked him if it had really been necessary he tells you that chick should stop whining and blame her cow of a mother for it as he had clearly told them to keep the cat off his property and they hadn’t done it, hence they had to feel the consequences.”

 

“Yeah, I figured that out too. They wouldn’t even let me keep my trophies.” Ashfield pouted as that had been really seldom trophies indeed but on top of the fine they had also taken his stuff away what he had found incredibly unfair. His boyfriend and him at least seemed to be on the same page when it came to insects though and he was definitely glad that they were. Devon would certainly not take any of those creeps out in a glass; he’d smash them like there wouldn’t be a tomorrow if he didn’t. “You won’t have to stay out of any room for long than because I smash spiders immediately as well.” he screwed up his nose. “I hate those fuckers.” The man added.

 

The distraction of the topic from him onto Sven worked out well enough and he could even spot excitement about meeting his friend now in Kario’s eyes and that was something the politician definitely liked to see because he wished for them to get along well and to like each other. And it obviously was a good sign that the younger man responded like that and that they had something in common. “Yes, really.” He confirmed. “He has odd prioritise sometimes.” The blond man winked towards his boyfriend as Devon clearly had other prioritise than Sven. “I think it is great that he does that animal shelter thing though. I got Barney from an animal shelter in our city. The people working there were weird, they didn’t want to charge me anything for him although they had something I wanted. It’s not really a lucrative business like that. I gave them like 10.000 bucks or something. How much does a dog cost usually? They didn’t seem like I had paid too little though.” he remembered his encounter in the animal shelter. “The female employee wasn’t a fan of mine, hated my politics and that young man found that I was hot what she found distasteful because of my age …. and my politics.” he added.

 

 

 

 

There was a smirk on the governor’s lips when Kario gave him that innocent look swearing to him that he’d never look at those cowboys and that his eyes would be glued onto the horses only. “Then there is nothing speaking against it.” Devon stated and Jason grinned chuckling. “I’ll be checking those hot guys out for you instead.” He winked into Kario’s direction and Valentina laughed. When the black haired wanted to know when the competition would start the man with the caramel brown hair looked into his dark eyes. “In about half an hour! But if we go over there now I might get another opportunity to flirt with Craig and you can pet the horse or something.” he suggested and Ashfield looked at his hair and make-up artist knowing that he’d probably get laid that night and would certainly look completely shitfaced and wear the same clothes when they’d see him in the limousine the next morning.

 

“What are we waiting for then!” the governor said. “Let’s go.” He said and when they got up he had nearly slapped Kario’s arse but had realised that and kept himself from it in the last second, asking Clarence if he’d come along too but the old man declined, said that he needed a break and would stay here with Stewart and maybe they’d join them later. On their way to the riding arena Devon was whispering into his lover’s ear. “I can pass on Stewart’s company. If he keeps that up I’m gonna fire him after the election!” the blond said and he was serious about it. He’d not put up with this disrespect and he wouldn’t care if his father would get even more pissed for having fired one of the people he had hired for him and that he’d then have to see Stewart in the corporation again working for his father like he did for decades.

 

The place was already crowded when they arrived and it took a while until Jason had found the man he had mentioned before and he had not lied, it was a handsome fellow indeed. He was toned, tall, had eyes as clear blue as the sea and straw blond hair and a sun tan. Ashfield never got a sun tan. He looked like he had been boiled and then turned back to his chalky, rosy self again. The man smiled and waved at them standing in front of his Hanoverian horse when he saw Jason and Jason smiled back charmingly, whilst grabbing Valentina’s wrist. “Damn look at him! Those arse-cheeks in those jeans! I want to burry my face between them!” he lowly said to her not wanting his boss to hear it but Devon had heard it and Devon grinned, chuckling, looking at Kario amused as they approached the stranger who then realised whom Jason had brought along there and self-consciously checked how he looked because he had not been prepared for a personal meeting with the head of their state at all, not to mention that he had voted for him and would do so again, even more gladly now knowing that Ashfield was gay like himself and would not do anything that would go against their rights.

[Sathenus]

"That just makes the whole thing worse." Kario said with a frown after Devon had told him about going to school and entering his class to see the neighbours daughter crying all day because their family cat had gone missing only to receive a video of that cat being eaten by the snake the next day and wanting to just disappear. It was easy for him to understand the way Devon had felt, but it also wasn't surprising how his boyfriend's father had responded to such a situation either. It was... upsetting still, to think that anyone thought such behavior was acceptable. At the same time, he didn't see that behavior in the governor, Kario coming to realize that it was one of the major differences between his boyfriend and the man's father. It was something he had to admit to himself he was glad he didn't see it in his boyfriend.

 

"They're creepy... way too many legs." Kario commented with a visible shiver for emphasis. He had fear of spiders for sure, but his reason behind it literally fell down to the little creeps having way to many legs. It was unnatural to him, anything more than four was to many, and something he just couldn't except or get over. But a fear of spiders was so common that he didn't really see any reason to not be open about it. Especially after having told his boyfriend about his fear of ducks, a fear that was much more uncommon.

 

"It depends on the bloodline of the dog." Kario replied when Devon had asked how much a dog would usually cost. "A puppy of champion bloodlines can be upward of $3,500 depending on the breed and gender of the puppy." He added after a moment and with a small shrug. It was something he had looked into doing himself at one point but of course had never been in any kind of financial situation to even get such a dog, "But I would assume a dog from a shelter wouldn't be more than a couple hundred dollars." Though he clearly didn't really know if that was true, but it was his thought on it. He didn't see why a shelter dog would cost more than a couple hundred especially since it was opening up space for said shelter to take in more dogs to find homes for. But at the same time he had not been aware that their own local shelter apparently hadn't been about to charge Devon for the dog he had gotten from them either, it didn't make any sense to him. It certainly wasn't a good way to run a business, that was something that was even clear to him.

 

"I am sure the shelter greatly appreciated you paying so much, that money will definitely be put to good use there." Kario commented with a smile. He was sure that they wouldn't have acted as though Devon was giving them to little, it was a pretty big donation considering the governor had only adopted a dog, a dog that had been at the shelter for who knew how long at that point. An amused look crossed his face when Devon said that the female employee he had met there wasn't a fan of his but that the young man had found him hot, which the girl had found distasteful due to his age and politics. "Well I certainly do have to agree with him, you are extremely hot."

 

 

 

The younger man was certainly happy to hear that there wasn't anything speaking against them going to see the barrel racers. Dark eyes moving back to Jaso who had chuckled and said that he'd be checking those hot guys out for him instead, yet another amused smile crossed his face at the words. There would be no denying the fact that those men were probably quite attractive, some if not most of them at least. But his eyes really were only for the politician in that regard, and thus he'd keep his gaze on the horses present instead. They were gorgeous creatures to him after all, something to be respected and admired so it was a pretty fair trade off. He would keep his attention on the animals while Jason could have fun with looking over all the riders.

 

Getting up from the table at Devon's encouragement for them to get going then he became aware of the fact that his boyfriend had wanted to smack his ass but managed to stop himself from doing so at the last second. In any other situation it probably wouldn't have had to be something the older man would have to avoid doing, but they did still have to be aware that them being a couple may not sit well with some of the people present and certain displays of affection should be kept to a minimum in public. Kario could accept it, maybe not be very patient when it came to them having some time alone, but he could be accepting of what they could and could not do when in the public eye. He stood waiting for the blonde nearby as Devon was asking Clarence if he would join them, just for the older man to decline saying he needed a break. It was understandable to the dark haired man, and he was glad that Clarence was going to take the chance to get a break, something he felt he greatly deserved. The senior was always doing what was in the best interest of his boyfriend and seemed quite busy most of the time he saw him, so even he could appreciate any moments that Clarence may have to relax.

 

As they were following Jason and Valentina towards the arena where the competition would take place he became aware of Devon leaning towards him. What the politician whispered into his ear he had to admit he fully agreed, "I can say I agree. I'm not a fan of him right now, and he very clearly doesn't like me." That was all he responded with at first a soft sigh having slipped out of him after speaking, it was disappointing that he was being met with so many people who had something against him. But it was something he knew he would unfortunately have to face throughout his whole life, not everyone was going to like him. He was just hoping that not so many people would so openly hate him or have a problem with him either. After they had put a bit more distance between them and the tables where they had left Stewart and Clarence he looked up at the older man, "Maybe he'll be better when I'm not around though." Kario didn't feel as though the advisor's problem was with Devon, rather it was with his presence. It made him feel as though if he was not around, wasn't brought along that Stewart wouldn't behave in such a manner. Even if it certainly didn't make his behavior appropriate. No one had to like having him around, though it wasn't like he was always going to be around to begin with. Which made him wonder why if it was his presence that Stewart couldn't just tolerate him being there or ignore his presence altogether. These were things he'd probably never quite understand though.

 

Arriving at the riding arena it had taken them a bit to find the man Jason had met, though he had to admit he did give the guy a quick look over when they did finally find him. He was an attractive man, just not his type. His eyes immediately moved to the gorgeous horse beside him though and he was much happier about this prospect than he probably should have been. Jason's comment about the man made him roll his eyes though an amuse smile had crossed his face, especially since he knew that Jason had tried to say it so Devon wouldn't hear him. Hid dark gaze had just moved up towards his boyfriend as Devon was turning to look at him and he flashed the man a smile, "He's certainly happy to see him." The younger man mused with a slight nod in Jason's direction. Noticing how the man seemed to be suddenly self conscious of his appearance upon noticing the governor.

 

For some reason the man's sudden nervousness made him a little curious about something else. "Have you ever watched this even before?" He asked his boyfriend wanting to know if this was the first time that Devon had actually watched this part of the festival. He wasn't sure himself, especially since the farmers festival was a yearly thing for him. Surely the governor had to see the barrel racing competition at least once during his term. At least, Kario thought he would have had to witness it once by now.

[-Hideki-]

Devon nodded. It had indeed made it much worse and it had made him feel horrible when this incident had taken place. But it had not been the first time his father’s actions had brought him into uncomfortable situations. “It got even worse the other day after the video when that kid suspected that it was my father’s snake.” The governor told his lover shaking his head. “I denied it.” He admitted, not proud but he had not wanted to take the blame for what his father had done again, hence he had lied and had said that they had no such snake and got nothing to do with it. “My school career is full of such incidents. It didn’t end at primary school.” Ashfield said and he remembered how his father had gotten that female history teacher everyone in his all boys middle school had loved fired for painting their family history unfavourable and how ‘popular’ Devon had been for quite some weeks after that. “If one gives it some thought, it still kinda is like that.” He commented and it was. His father still brought him into such situations with his radical actions and antisocial behaviour.

 

His lover told him that a dog from an animal shelter usually only cost some hundred dollars, by what he probably meant the protective charge, while a champion bloodline dog would be 3500 and up. “That’s incredibly cheap.” The billionaire found. “No wonder they were so excited by how much I paid. They made a really good deal there.” He mused smiling when the other said that he thought the money would be taken to good use in the animal shelter. The smile turned into a smirk though when his lover told him that he had to agree with the male employee at the animal shelter that Devon was extremely hot. “Yeah and my politics are quite sexy too.” He winked. He could at least try couldn’t he?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I don’t think it has much to do with you. I think he’d react like that to any other man as well. Maybe less if it weren’t for our age gap but still.” The politician guessed. “In the end he’s probably pissed about me. Pissed about how I handle this! Pissed about not having denied the accusations, denied being gay! He probably thinks that as governor I shouldn’t be openly gay. That this whole thing makes his job more difficult and that I other than your average heterosexual candidate should keep my partners and orientation hidden and out of the picture whilst representing the state.” Devon thought. “I think he is more uptight about it than many voters even.” The blond man sighed. “At any case, he has to keep it much more professional and respectful also when you’re around or he’ll be gone.” The blond said and there was something final in his voice.

 

When the riding arena came into sight and Jason expressed his desires for the handsome cowboy who was standing next to his horse his young boyfriend jestingly remarked how Jason was apparently really glad to see the man. “It seems like it.” The blond said. “Though I have to say that your arse would certainly look great in jeans like those too.” He whispered into the other’s ear with a playful smirk around his lips that he straightened as they were getting closer. “Parts of it.” The governor then answered when Kario wanted to know whether he had actually watched the barrel race competition before. “Never the whole thing though.” He admitted.

 

 

Jason greeted Craig with a wide smile and a “Hello there, I’ve brought some more company along to cheer you on.” While the man was staring at Devon with his jaw dropped to his knees. The blond man with the golden eyes reached out his hand and smiled. “Good day. I’m Devon Ashfield.” What was followed by the man hastily taking his hand after he had stared, shaking it enthusiastically. “I know. Of course I know. I mean, I’m Craig Johnson.It’s an honour to meet you governor Ashfield.” He stuttered and there was slight amusement playing around Devon’s lips.

 

“This is my partner Kario.” The politician introduced him and Craig shook Kario’s hand but still stared at Ashfield. “I didn’t believe it at first. When I came back from the fields and my dad told me ‘Unbelievable. You gay folks are like everywhere those days. Seems like our governor is one of those too.’ I thought he had just caught up some nonsense again or was making stuff up. It was difficult for them to accept when they found out about me, not as difficult as for myself but difficult. I’m pretty glad that you came out now. If more people in important positions like yours would have come out it would have been easier to accept for me. It also makes it easier for others to see us like normal people in all different kind of fields, with different kinds of ideas and ideals and opinions. I’ve always been a Republican although people assume otherwise as soon as they figure I’m gay. And when they learn both they treat it as some joke. I have voted for you before, I’m gonna vote for you again but now even more gladly.” It broke loose like a waterfall and Devon stood there and smiled nodding while Craig was still shaking Kario’s hand. “I’m glad that you’re feeling that way and I’m proud to have your vote and to represent you.” He stated and for some reason this encounter made him extremely happy.

 

It was so utterly positive. Much more positive than he had expected to be possible after the scandal had been dragged through the media. After what was said about him. In that moment it actually felt like he still had a chance. He had a chance and that there were people who still felt represented by him some even more so than before. It was a nice change for once and it was to see on his face when he turned to Kario – whose hand had gotten free by now. “Would you like that kind of horse?” he asked pointing at Craig’s Hanoverian horse hearing the rider who had pulled Jason to the side hush at the hair and make-up artist. “You are here with the governor!” in an unbelieving tone. “I told you I’m with company.” The man said. “Duh but I didn’t think that you were in such important company. Where do you know the governor from?” he wanted to know and Jason was smiling amused when he spoke in a voice that was meant to impress the other. “I work for him!”

[Sathenus]

Giving his boyfriend a small smile he could tell that the politician wasn't proud of denying that it had been his father's snake, but in the end he understood completely why he had denied it and didn't think things would have ended well had he not. Being told that his school career was full of such incidents he couldn't say he was surprised, it made sense. It just seemed like something that wouldn't abruptly end after the other had left primary school, especially not with what little he had already learned about the man's father. Clearly he'd never be a fan of his boyfriend's father, but it was probably going to be mutual. It did make him wonder if they would ever be able to at least tolerate each other, Kario was more than capable of playing nice and behaving around the man, but he didn't think the other would be able to return that. Drawn from his thoughts he listened as he was told that it was still kind of like that, this of course made him think about it even more. He was sure Devon was right, and that such things did still happen.

 

"Well, it definitely depends on the dog's breed as well." Kario said with a slightly amused smile on his face when Devon said that it was incredibly cheap. It was of course a matter of opinion, for his own family even the fee from a shelter was too much, and completely out of the question. For people more financially stable though he could see how such prices, even those of a champion bloodline would be cheap and extremely affordable. "But yes, for financially stable people the prices could be quite cheap." He mused. There was no missing how his boyfriend's smile turned into a smirk when he had expressed his agreement with the male employee at the animal shelter. Amusement once more making an appearance on his face when Devon said that his politics are quite sexy too with a wink, he couldn't help but laugh a little at that. "That's a nice try, love." Kario said thoughtfully a small smile appearing. "Though... I suppose depending on how you express those politics to me they certainly could be." He added rather playfully.

 

 

 

Being told that Devon thought Stewart would be that way with any other man the governor was with didn't make him feel any better. If anything it just made him feel worse about it, coming to the realization that the man would behave in such a manner no matter who it was with the politician. He didn't like being told that it might be less if it wasn't for their age gap, it seemed as though that was an issue that they faced with just about everyone. Though he still couldn't see what the big deal was himself, it wasn't too drastic, not in his own opinion. The final tone in his boyfriend's voice when saying that Stewart needed to stay much more professional and respectful when he was around or he'd be gone. Though Kario was glad that Devon felt that way, he was sure there was no making the blonde's advisor act with any kind of respect or professionalism when he was around. The man could at least continue to show those things to Devon though, even if not to himself. "Do you really think he would change that when I'm around? I mean... it's not like I'll be around that often." Kario still felt like he was being brought and included in these things just because them being able to be together outside of the brothel was still new and so Devon wanted him around whenever possible. Surely that'd change though, and he would see the blonde when he got home and would for the most part be left to his own devices until the older man returned home. It'd probably be like that during the week as it was, which was fine. It was something he was already made aware of and was fine with. It would give him plenty of time to reflect on himself and figure things out.

 

There was no denying how he liked hearing Devon say that his ass would certainly look great in jeans like that as well. "What could I possibly wear that you wouldn't say I look great in?" He asked curiously raising an eyebrow in question. Afterall, the governor seemed to think he looked cute in clothes that were to big for him, and sexy when not wearing anything at all. It just made the younger man want to know if there was anything his boyfriend wouldn't think he'd look good in.

 

It was amusing really, to see the way Craig responded to meeting Devon, at least it was amusing to Kario. He wasn't used to people reacting in such a way when meeting another person, but he knew it was because he had never been around or with someone as important either. His amusement only seemed to grow slightly when Devon introduced him and though they shook each other's hands it was quite clear that Craig was still fixated on the politician. The younger man followed his gaze back to Devon as Craig was starting to speak again the other still grasping his hand.

 

Once his hand was released and the two men had finished talking he watched as Craig pulled Jason aside to speak with him just in time for Devon to ask him if he wanted that type of horse. His eyes moving back to the rider's horse and examining it in an almost judging manner, "It's certainly a great representative of it's breed, but I can't say whether I want a type of horse based solely on its appearance. I'll need to wait and see how they perform in the arena." He replied with a small shrug. It would be quite easy for him to simply say what breed of horse he wanted, but that barely mattered if it couldn't perform well in such an event. Granted he didn't doubt that this horse would perform well, especially since Craig didn't seem like he was new to competing. Looking back up at the blonde he flashed him a smile, "So if I get really good at barrel racing and compete infrequently or even frequently does that mean I'll have you cheering me on?" It was a sincere question, as he did recall Devon saying a few minutes earlier that Devon had only seen bits and pieces of this competition before, but never the whole event.

 

He spared the other two men a glance as they talked a little amused by their conversation, but his attention always fell back to the blonde. "You really are the supportive and caring type of guy." He mused with a small smile. There was a lot that Devon supported him in and that he was caring about. It of course made the younger man want to return that, support Devon in the places he needed it and with what he loved to do, and be caring about the blonde and the things in his life. He hadn't anyone to really support or care about, and he hadn't had anyone to do those things to him until now. After moving out he didn't really have anyone, which was his own fault, but it certainly impacted the events that had lead him down this path. In the end, Devon made that path worth it, but it also made him wonder if they would have met had things been different. Kario certainly hoped so.

[-Hideki-]

He listened as the other told him that the price of a dog also depended on the breed and looked a little surprised when the other than said that for financially stable people those prices could be indeed cheap. The surprise was not that the other agreed that it was cheap, for some people at least, but the term used. No one had ever referred to him as ‘financially stable’, people usually plain and simply said that he was rich or wealthy but financially stable had another ring to it. One that sounded less like abundance and opulence, but something that one would also say about the middle-class or at least the upper middle class one of which Ashfield wasn’t a part of, who were far away from him when it came to capital and property. The governor was born into just the world of opulence that was connected to the superrich. “Financially stable I am.” He nodded and noted in the back of his mind that he’d use that term if the opposition called him an unworldly rich man who had spend his life in an ivory tower again.

 

A fake pout was to see on his face when Kario told him that it had been a nice try after he had talked about how sexy his politics were but he couldn’t hold it up for long and it was replaced with an amused chuckle when the other said that he thought his politics could potentially become quite sexy to him depending on how he expressed them. “Is that so?” he commented with a dirty grin and a raised eyebrow. “You mean when I spoil your hot body while I tell you my political ideas and goals you’ll love them all?”

 

 

 

“I don’t know if he can and I don’t care. He has to or he’ll be fired.” Ashfield said. “Although my father will then take him back and he’ll sit in the corporation again.” He added a little grumpily. The billionaire was cocking his head to the side a little and looked at the other questioningly when he said that he wouldn’t be around often though. “If I lose the election the whole thing is over. But if not, I don’t see why you shouldn’t be around often. I was thinking to bring you to galas and other such events and to not show up alone anymore either. I too was thinking to include you to a degree, maybe give you some representative tasks, let you make and take you to one or the other visit in our state.” The governor explained. “Only if you’re open for that that is.” He quickly added scratching his chin.

 

“Mmmh, that’s quite the challenge.” Ashfield mused playfully when he was asked by his boyfriend what he could possibly wear that the politician wouldn’t find he looked great in. “Women’s clothing and dresses.” He then came up with an answer. “I wouldn’t find that attractive at all.” The blond said and he really didn’t like feminine attire on men and hoped that he’d never have to see his lover wearing something like that.

 

After their introductions with Jason’s new flame Craig they were standing in front of the horse and to his question whether that was the type of horse the other man wanted he was told that he wouldn’t want to choose the horse based on its appearance but that he needed to wait and see how they performed in the arena. Ashfield looked at the other a little confused. “Aren’t those all bred for specific purposes and have specific qualities?” he asked. “Like, this one would be shit at dragging old farming machines or something?” the governor pointed at the Hanoverian horse and then shrugged. He didn’t really care what kind of horse he’d buy the other man, he couldn’t really tell the difference most of the time anyway. He could however tell the difference between different horse meat dishes. “Have you ever ate horse?” he then asked because it just had come to his mind. “When I was in Europe I tried a lot of different dishes with horse. It’s delicious.” Ashfield told the other looking at the horse as if it was a waste to not eat it.

 

Being pulled out of his thought about food he looked into the dark eyes of his lover and smiled when he was asked whether he’d come and cheer him on if he was to perform in such a tournament- “Of course.” He promised. “I’ll scream the loudest and start random fights with other racer’s partners.” The blond jested and nudged the shorter male into his sides. “I always wanted to do that.” The man added but it was clear that he wouldn’t, plus, it was absolutely unfitting for Ashfield. Then again, his father had indeed yelled at him at competitions despite the elitist and civilised atmosphere at the competitions because Andrew Ashfield had always wanted or rather demanded his son to be on top and he hence had shared the thrill of the games and insulting a bunch of kids risking to make them cry and then insult them for crying had been nothing Devon’s father had backed away from.

 

His gaze followed Kario’s who was looking at Jason and Craig and was seemingly amused by how Jason bragged about working for him because it was obvious that Craig found Devon admirable and Ashfield couldn’t help himself but to be amused about this too. It took him a little of guard to then have the other remark how he was a supportive and caring type of man. The golden eyes looked into the brown ones as he was thinking. It wasn’t how he was usually described and looking at his life history he wasn’t so sure if he really was that but then again he maybe was in a sense when he was in love. “I just want to provide for and be able to spoil and protect the man I’m in love with. It’s not that unusual is it?” he said figuring that being able to provide for and make the person one was in love with happy was something that not only he found gratifying but that was generally a gratifying thing.

 

A moment later Valentina approached them and laid her hand onto Ashfield’s shoulder. “Governor, the competition starts every minute now, we should go over to the stands.” The woman suggested and Devon nodded. “Alright.” He said and took Kario’s hand again, while seeing Jason steal Craig a kiss under the disguise of wishing him good luck before the man quickly went over to them to accompany them to the stands. “God, isn’t he hot.” Jason expressed with a grin. “I hope he wins. I wanna celebrate with him.” He added and Devon grinned shaking his head about the man searching for a good space for them around the arena that granted them a good overview.

[Sathenus]

Kario had a large smile cross his face at his lover's words, he really would think his politics were sexy if it meant his body was spoiled while he was told the other's political ideas and goals. That smile was also turning to a smirk though. "What can I say? I listen and retain information better when presented to me in a sexy manner. Not to mention, it would definitely make politics a hell of a lot sexier." There was after all no point in lying to Devon, and he really would enjoy political talks more if he was being given attention at the same time. It'd make the whole thing much more interesting and positive to him.

 

 

 

His dark eyes moved back up to the politician when Devon told him that if he won the election he didn't see why he shouldn't be around often. This made Kario give him a questioning look, "You... would want me to be around more?" He asked as though this was something completely foreign to him. "I just... thought maybe you wanted to include me so much and have me around this much was because us being together... free to be together is still new... that it'd wear off and you wouldn't want me around as much." It was honestly hard for him to admit that, because he could hear how ridiculous it all sounded after he had said it which made him blush furiously almost immediately after. "It was silly..." He mumbled as if trying to brush off his initial thoughts as just some silly thing on his part, but that didn't mean he hadn't thought or felt that way. "When you win, I wouldn't mind being included in your career." Which was true, as long as that was something Devon wanted to do and would like to do then that was something Kario would like to be part of.

 

The smile that appeared on his face when his love said it was quite the challenge made it clear he knew it would be. There hadn't been anything he was wearing -or the lack of- that Devon hadn't thought he looked great in. When he did finally speak indicating that he wouldn't find it attractive if he was in woman's clothes or dresses made him questioningly raise an eyebrow at the handsome man. "I have no intention of putting on any of that to begin with. So unless it was like a death bed wish you probably never would have seen it. Even then, it's not a very high chance." Kario admitted. He didn't think such was flattering to begin with, and he certainly didn't think it'd look flattering on him. "But other than that I am glad to hear that I would apparently look great in everything." He mused.

 

Glancing back towards the horse when Devon asked if they were all bred for farming machines or something he shook his head. "No. Well... not necessarily. Many horse breeds can be good at something, any with the proper training can be great at something. But only certain breeds or even horses have a natural affinity for something." Kario responded with a small shrug. "There are breeds of horses that excel at barrel racing, a few that seem to be naturals. But any one of those breeds has the chance to win or lose as every horse like a person has their good and bad days." He tried to explain why it wasn't so easy to look at a horse and automatically say that was the breed he wanted. When he was asked if he had ever eaten horse before he gave his boyfriend a look as if he had just kicked a puppy. "Ah... no..." Kario replied glancing back towards the horse before them and not remotely seeing any reason why they should or would ever eat one. To him a horse was a friend, it was even family, a partner, not something that ended up on your dinner plate. He felt that way about many animals, and just couldn't see why eating them was even a thing. But he knew that things were different between him and Devon, and he was okay with that. "If that's something you like, I'd never stop you from enjoying it... but... I'll pass." He admitted giving his boyfriend a small smile.

 

His thoughts about eating horse was left completely behind when the governor indicated he would of course cheer him on if he was to compete in these competitions. The joke he made about screaming the loudest and starting fights with other participant's partners only made him laugh as he definitely couldn't see his lover starting a fight with anyone especially if he was reelected. Laughing amused when Devon indicated he had always wanted to do that he flashed the other a smile, "That's sweet." It really was to him, it meant a lot that he even joking said he would do that and he was amused that he had apparently always wanted to do so as well.

 

"No, it isn't that unusual. For most people." The younger man replied giving him a small smile. "It's just unusual in regards to me." It felt that way to him, sure his parents had always wanted to provide for him, but they were not in any position to spoil him or any of that and he had never had a boyfriend who had wanted to do that for him. Any man he had ever been with in any sexual situation was paying him for his body, not with him because they actually cared about him. This really was a first, and loved Devon completely and unconditionally. He loved the politician so much he couldn't find words to describe it half the time, but it didn't make it any easier to realize that there was someone who actually loved and cared about him and not just his body.

 

As Valentina approached he glanced towards her as they were told the competition would be starting any minute now and they should head over to the stands and find a seat. Allowing his hand to be taken he was happy to even have this much affection shown considering they were still in the public's eye with Devon as the governor. Once Jason joined them a small smirk appeared on his face at the comment of Craig being hot, the comment about hoping Craig would win as he wanted to celebrate with him made him shake his head slightly, quite amused. "If he doesn't win he'll need someone to make him feel better." He commented his eyes moving from the area around them to Jason. He knew the make-up artist and hair dresser would be more than happy to help Craig feel better if he did lose, especially since he seemed so eager already.

 

Turning his gaze back to the stands he managed to find a place that he knew would give them a good view and thus moved to lead the small group there. it also wasn't overly crowded, something he appreciated since large crowds still made him quite uncomfortable. Sitting comfortably next to his boyfriend he allowed himself to just enjoy being close to him, knowing he couldn't be nearly as affectionate as he wanted to be until they were in a more private setting.

[-Hideki-]

Ashfield raised an eyebrow questioningly listening to Kario state his surprise about him wanting to include the other in his public life more and wanting him around more, telling him how he had thought that he had only taken him because it was still new and thrilling for them to be together freely and that it’d wear off again. There was a chuckle coming from him when the other realised that it had been a silly thought. “Yeah, it’s somewhat silly indeed.” The blond man agreed. “We’re a couple, of course I want to include you and have you around.” Devon told him. “All those years I actually wished that I, like all the other politicians, could have and include my partner and show myself with him as well and wouldn’t have to appear alone. If I got re-elected and had the opportunity to act like the governors before me with their partners it’d be a wish of mine come true. It’d feel like a victory to be honest.” The politician admitted and it still felt completely unrealistic. That he’d be able to be openly gay, even on a political stage, it seemed absurd, like wishful thinking indeed.

 

Upon having answered his boyfriend’s question as to what he’d find him unattractive in he got assured that the black haired younger man had no intention to ever wear female clothing anyway and it made Devon smile contently. He hadn’t thought that the other liked dressing up in drag but to hear him express this was still relieving nonetheless. Having gotten more mature the blond regretted having acted that hostile and having hated on femme guys but he still didn’t want to date them and the idea of his lover in female or feminine clothing irked him off and he couldn’t tell how he’d react if he ever saw his lover do that, making it ideal that Kario was completely uninterested in dressing girly to begin with. A laugh came from him when the man then said that he was glad that he’d apparently look great in everything else though. “You know that you do. You just generally look extremely attractive, for people like you, who look that gorgeous it doesn’t matter what they wear, no matter how ugly the clothing it can’t smaller their handsome features. There aren’t many people like those but you are one of them.” The billionaire told his boyfriend, knowing full well that he wasn’t blessed with such otherworldly looks despite being a good looking man.

 

After his innocent question whether the other man had ever eaten horse before the younger one looked at him as if he was a cruel monster that drowned puppies for fun before he told him that he hadn’t. The governor looked at the other with a slight smile. “It mind sound weird but believe me it’s delicious. When I first got this while I was at Sven’s I was rather surprised that horse meat was something one could eat and that was eaten but it’s really delicious. When we’re in Europe together you can try it and you’ll see. It’s a totally normal thing to eat there.” Ashfield suggested but the other man declined immediately after, telling him that he’d not stop Devon to enjoy eating horse but that he’d certainly pass on it. “A pity but that way there’s more for me.” The politician said amused at how strongly the man declined trying it. “You don’t seem to be adventurous and the most open person when it comes to trying new dishes huh?” he guessed. “My dad isn’t either. Everywhere he goes he demands to get served the food he eats at home and knows. Which he says is American but as I have told you before his mother was an English aristocrat and she cooked English dishes for him which he labels as American too. He also gets offended when people say he’s basically half European and then points at the Ashfield’s family history, from when the first ship arrived, to how they established as business people and how our ancestors fought in the civil war for the confederate states, ignoring that his mother, my grandma, the English lady actually moved back to England after the divorce.” He told his lover. “I’m really different in that regards. I like trying new stuff.” He let the other know. “I was even brave enough to try slugs and frog in France. I made Sven try it too and to not chicken out. We went through with it but it wasn’t mine nor his thing.” Devon laughed at the memory where Sven and him had been sitting in that French restaurant in Strasbourg trying weird foods.

 

Smiling amused he had to keep himself from running his hand through his lover’s black hair and from kissing him when he said that it was sweat that Ashfield would cheer him on if he participated in barrel racing. The smile went a little more to the melancholic side of things when he heard Kario say that it probably wasn’t unusual for someone to want to provide and spoil his lover but that it was in regards to him because it reminded him of how bad the other man had been treated so far. “Well, you better get used to it.” The governor winked, “Because I am still determined to be the best boyfriend possible for you and to make you forget all the other losers running around on this planet.”

 

While they were searching for the perfect place at the stands he heard his lover say that Craig would need someone to make him feel better if he lost the race and Jason smirked. “Yeah and I’d certainly catch him and lift him up in his moment of vulnerability but I’d rather he wins and feels victorious and great. I enjoy it more if the guy is happy and confident. Not that I’d ever tell a guy like him off.” The hair- and make-up artist said and Devon couldn’t help but to say:”I bet you won’t.” What was probably hypocritical of him to say, but Jason just grinned. “It could turn into something serious, who knows.” He said but the blond shook his head. It was pretty obvious that this wouldn’t lead anywhere serious and Jason most likely knew that too. It was a long drive from the city out to the countryside and Jason’s urban life in high-fashion was completely incompatible with the life of a farmer who was probably the family kind of guy.

 

They had just found a good spot to sit when the competition began and Devon who was at the beginning constantly looking at Kario had to keep himself from touching the other man by laying his hand on his thigh or around his shoulder or to toy with his hair and because he couldn’t do that he tried to focus on what was going on in the arena. It wasn’t that interesting to him he realised. He didn’t even know how the performances were judged exactly. What he realised was that this type of horse riding was completely different from the European one. Be that the polo match he had attended against the English student or what he had seen at the stable of Sven’s uncle in the M?nsterland. The whole stable had been extremely tidy, orderly and neat. Everywhere had been lists with the stable rules, duties of the members and code of conduct, no one was allowed to run around with dirt on their riding boots and all those dressage riders with the tense posture had been dressed in riding uniforms, no one had been riding in jeans and they had been sitting on their horses entirely different too. What he was seeing here seemed more casual, less uptight and strict and more like something one did for fun instead of incredibly seriously. Even the horse track used was rather different.

 

Seeing that it was Craig’s turn Ashfield paid some more attention, what wasn’t that easy because Jason was cheering while Valentina was clapping her hands in a lady like manner. The man’s performance looked good but he couldn’t say whether that was the best performance or not. “Was that good? Is he leading so far?” the politician wanted to know from Kario, who had more of an interest in this and probably understood the rules better than him.

[Sathenus]

Kario really did feel silly having felt that way about the whole thing, thinking that wanting him around would wear off didn't really make any sense. The more he thought about it, the more he realized it was a stupid thought. Especially as Devon was telling him that they were a couple and of course he wanted to include him and have him around. The more his boyfriend spoke the more he realized that Devon really wasn't like other people, not that he really had been to begin with. The older man was very much one of a kind, and a lot of what he said or did wasn't just for him but both of them. Giving his handsome boyfriend a smile he spoke, "Then consider it a dream come true. When you get elected again, I'll be more than happy to accompany you and be a part of your career in any way I can." Kario really did want to be supportive and a part of his boyfriend's career in any way he could, especially if it could give a more positive view of gay men. It did bother him how so many people still saw them so negatively today, they weren't any better or worse than any other couple.

 

His smile turned to a smirk when Devon said that he knew he did, which was true. Looking back on growing up, even to this very moment he can't recall wearing something that people have ever told him he looked bad in. Kario could even recall being told he looked great in his high school gym clothes and thinking it was quite odd and made no sense to him. But he wasn't about to argue against anyone thinking he looked good, especially not when it came to his sexy lover. If Devon thought he looked good he'd be happy, at this point anyone else's opinion about him didn't really matter anymore. "Come now, you're an extremely sexy man. You'd probably look better in most things than you are giving yourself credit for." He added looking him over.

 

"Isn't... most meat sources edible?" The question was one he had never thought of asking before this conversation, as he had just assumed that most sources of meat were something that could be eaten. It didn't mean that people did so, it just meant that it was a possibility if a reason ever occurred that would require such an action. That didn't necessarily mean that Kario thought every source of meat should be eaten, it was actually quite the opposite. He liked animals too much to think of all of them as food, he hated what happened in the food industry as it was, but being a vegan or vegetarian wasn't something he could do either. "I can't say that I am... I'd try new foods... within reason." Kario admitted with a slight brush. He definitely wasn't the most adventurous eater, but when traveling he would try some native foods, within reason of course. Horse was in no way within reason to him, and that outlook would not change no matter how many people told him it tasted delicious. It just wasn't something he could do. "You're definitely more adventurous in quite a few ways than I am." Kario admitted with a small smile. This wasn't the first thing Devon had said he had done or did that was different than him and made his boyfriend seem far more adventurous. He didn't mind of course, these differences were important after all. Being with someone that you shared every single thing with would be boring and surely grate on each other's nerves as time went on.

 

"You're already the best boyfriend for me, I can't see anyone being able to treat me better or actually genuinely caring about me the way you do." This was followed by him squeezing his lover's hand. Kario really would have preferred to kiss Devon in that moment, but they were unfortunately not in a place or position to do such a thing. This was another thing that bothered him, Kario wanted to be able to show affection for the politician even when out in public no matter who was around and that just wasn't possible. It really wasn't fair to him, and sure Kario knew life itself wasn't fair but it definitely didn't make the reality of it any easier. "I can't see me ever wanting anyone but you." He added with a small smirk before he let that look disappear not wanting to draw too much attention to them or their conversation from anyone around them.

 

Watching the event Kario was quite happy with the competition so far and the beautiful horses that were participating. As he had promised the governor he had kept his attention off the riders, well the best he could anyway. Devon still was the only man for him as far as Kario was concerned but a rider here and there caught his attention too for different reasons and not in a remotely romantic sense. Suddenly Devon was speaking and he turned to face the handsome man as he was asked if that was good and if Craig was leading, this caused him to give the other a slightly amused smile. "You don't fully understand the competition do you?" He asked as he pat his boyfriend's arms.

 

"It's in a sense like actual racing, the winner is the team that completes it the fastest, without knocking over or actually coming into contact with one of the barrels. To achieve this it's actually a matter of teaching the horse to be more bottom heavy when they are rounding a barrel and to use their momentum to their advantage taking as few steps as possible while covering the most distance." Kario explained as he pointed down into the arena at the team that was going now. "Some riders can encourage their horses to be more bottom heavy by putting a hand on their hindquarters and placing pressure there. It's also a matter of the rider knowing how to distribute their weight to the horses advantage." Turning his attention back to Devon he gave the other a large smile this time. "It's a really interesting competition, though a lot of western riding is really cool. It's not as uptight as a lot of English riding." Which was true, something that he had known even from a young age. Though some competitions could be similar it was clear that most English riding and competitions were a bit more uptight than that of Western. Both were great styles of riding and had their own pros and cons just like anything else.

 

After he had explained this bit he returned to Devon's question about whether or not Craig had done good and was currently leading. "Craig and his horse actually did quite well, as I am sure you were able to tell. They have completed the course the fastest so far, but they are only leading by a few seconds. So it's still a tight competition, it really is anyone's game still." So far, Craig was in the lead, but it was still possible for that to change by the time the competition was over. Kario didn't like to think of anyone as the clear winner until the competition had come to an end as you never knew how well the other competitors would do until they have preformed.

[-Hideki-]

There was a small but warm smile appearing on Ashfield’s face and he looked to the side into Kario’s dark eyes when his lover told him that he shall consider it a dream come true and that he’d be happy to accompany him and partake in his career wherever he could. “I’m glad to hear that.” he told him, the smile not wearing off anytime soon. “You know, it’ll come with plenty of opportunities for yourself as well and certainly won’t make a bad impression in your vitae.” He pointed out that it would by no means just be him following Devon around. No, it’d open the younger man different kind of doors, maybe inspire him in one way or the other and what the black haired would make of it and how much he’d benefit in the end would be up to him and which doors he chose to walk through, which hands he’d take and which path he chose. If he chose to ignore the possibilities, that was on him too. The governor would stay out of that if not asked for his advice and he’d not tell the other that he had to network with the people from his party and those tied to it since it had become clear earlier on that his lover had major differences with their party and would probably also have them with its members, not that Ashfield didn’t have differences with many of the people in his party as well but he still was in line with a certain wing of his party.

 

“That’s true, I am sexy.” The billionaire said. “The mortal kind of sexy though.” he laughed. “You are the fantasy, otherworldly, art kind of sexy.” The blond pointed out the difference amused. “It doesn’t matter though.” he added. “Because to make an impression on you and to have you falling in love with me is quite the achievement and means that I must be an amazing man.” The politician grinned feeling like Kario was the first prize he had won in life. Surely the handsome young man could be with almost everyone but he had chosen to stay with him and that meant something.

 

“I think so.” Devon answered when the other man asked if not all meat sources were edible. “But I didn’t ask myself whether one could eat it in the sense of whether it is digestible but more like eatable in the sense of one being able to eat it without feeling as though one is chewing on an old shoe sole or something.” the man tried to explain how he had meant it. When the other then admitted that he indeed couldn’t say that he was an adventurous eater but that he tried new foods within reason it made the blond man chuckle. “Within reason?” he repeated questioningly. “And you’d say that I am unreasonable in that regards? And how do you define and decide what is reasonable and unreasonable to eat?” the blond wanted to know. “I personally can’t see a difference between eating horse or a frog and eating a cow or a pig when it comes to reason or if you want to bring them in ethics. To say to eat a pig is alright and reasonable and a horse is not seems arbitrary to me depending on what kind of animal the person subjectively likes more, thinks is cuter or superior. As far as I know pigs for instance are as smart as a five years old toddler, smarter than horses definitely. So why would you consider them to be eaten reasonable and horses not?” he asked a little thought provokingly.

 

“If one asked me personally I draw the line at eating something that is still alive, poisonous or eating something that is actually rancid or mouldy, as I would define that as unreasonable, especially health wise.” The governor said. “However, I do think that what to eat is every consumers own decision. If some people decide to eat something that’s bad for them, potentially dangerous and there is a market for it, let the market run free as it’s their choice. A free market for a free and independent population.” Ashfield stated on a more political note before he laughed when his boyfriend noted how Devon was more adventurous in quite a few ways. “Well, I’m more adventurous than most people probably. I don’t fear trying new ways and taking some risks. I can also adapt rather quickly, which are all great traits for a businessman.” He winked.

 

It made his heart jump when the other told him that he was already the best boyfriend that he could imagine and that he couldn’t see himself ever wanting anyone else. This was flattering, it was what he wanted to hear and it made him want to be somewhere else right now, somewhere, where he could show his love to the other more than it was possible now where all they could do was to squeeze each other’s hands. If the competition, his final speech and then later the celebration with the plastic bull riding would be over and they’d be back at the guest house to spend the night they’d finally be alone together and could be closer without having to think about their gestures and be able to finally relax more again and he was pretty much looking forward to that. Especially considering that for a while Devon and Kario would not see each other much anymore after that day because campaigning was going into its finals where he had to move around and travel through the state a lot, giving speeches and being busy in general and to travel everywhere with him would be too much to ask of someone who was still getting used to being amongst people, being outside and free again. And not only that, even if Kario was to travel with him they’d not have much time and not see each other a lot anyway since it was nothing like that farmer’s festival.

 

Was it a little embarrassing to have the other look at him amused whilst patting his arm realising that Devon Ashfield didn’t quite know the rules of the competition they were watching, definitely yes. Was it true? Also yes. Well, he certainly knew it was a race and speed was the major aspect that determined the winner but he was not so sure what other factors played into it too. In show jumping it wasn’t merely the time that counted, the riders got points too and dressage riding had plenty complicated criteria the riders had to meet, even their posture counted into the final estimation of their performance but this seemed to be a lot simpler when it came to the rules of the sport and his lover, though he had never participated, knew a damn lot about it. It was clear that this indeed interested the man and since Kario had at least tried to show some interest in what interested Ashfield the billionaire was trying to keep up with this and show some interest in it too.

 

“It’s different than German riding too. Different than what I have seen in Europe in general.” Devon told him. “This looks a lot more free and fun, well, if one likes riding that is.” the blond commented. “What happens if you crash into the barrel though? Won’t the horse be startled, throw you down and trample on you?” he asked in an attempt to show interest which made his massive mistrust of those animals shine through again though. Him trying to show interest in riding and horses and animals was a little like Kario trying to show interest in politics.

 

His lover could actually tell him that so far Craig was leading and that he had done quite well but that everything was still open and that he’d not dare to say that he’d make it just yet. “Jason will certainly be happy if he wins.” Devon commented. “I actually think he should win too. He seemed like a decent fellow with a decent understanding of politics.” The governor said, basically because Craig had said he voted for him, agreed with his politics and had admired him like that. Someone like this man definitely deserved to win this competition in Devon’s opinion.

 

At the end of the competition he still wasn’t so sure who had won the thing now but he had actually sat through the whole competition and had seen it till the end now. “And did you enjoy the show?” he asked Kario, watching Jason leave the stands, leaving his friend Valentina behind to get to Craig. “Do you have more of an idea what kind of horse you’d like?” the governor than asked the younger man as Valentina leaned over to them. “You want to get into riding?” she wanted to know from Kario. “When I was a teenager I had a horse too. I actually won an international vaulting championship back then.” she told them. “I still got a horse although not in the city so I’m not riding it regularly anymore. But if you’d like we could go on a ride together sometime.” The woman smiled.

[Sathenus]

No matter how many times Devon said that to him, Kario just couldn't except that his beauty was anything other than normal. He didn't think he was some sort of otherwordly or art kind of sexy. Just as Devon referred to himself as the mortal kind of sexy, that was how Kario felt about himself, granted he also saw his handsome lover as the otherworldly kind of sexy as well. It was probably normal for one to think of themselves as one way while others saw them another. "You most certainly are." He replied flashing a large happy smile. To him the older man in front of him really was an amazing man, he made him feel like no one else has. Not to mention, he believed in him, and that was more important than most things to Kario. He really needed someone who truly believed in him, and the politician was certainly that man.

 

"For the most part I still think that would fall under most fresh sources of meat are edible." He replied with a small shrug. Sure the blonde had a point, it was more of whether or not one could eat it without feeling as though they are chewing on an old shoe sole or something similar. But to him it still seemed as though all fresh sources, were probably in that category. Being asked what he considered was reasonable in that regards he listened as he was told what his boyfriend defined as reasonable. "My feelings don't come to what animal I feel is cuter or superior to any others. I also understand in some places and cultures what I find as disgusting or what I morally feel would be wrong to eat is something that they quite enjoy. I won't condemn anyone for eating something that I can't bring myself to eat." Kario replied at first wanting to make that clear. Devon, and anyone else was perfectly free to go and eat whatever they wanted, but that didn't mean he'd be eating it with them. "I personally can't see myself eating a horse, dogs, cats, lamb or veal. All for morale reasons and no other. To me a horse, dog or cat is family, their things you form a bond with, animals you get to know and grow up with. Lamb and veal never had a chance to live their lives, they were cut... extremely short..." At this point he paused before shaking his head and clearing his throat to continue. "So for my own morales I'd never even consider it. But I don't hate the people who do eat them, it's their choice. I made mine, they have full right to theirs."

 

At this point he shrugged before he decided to name what other things he wouldn't eat, "I won't eat oysters, snails or anything remotely close to the two. It's a texture thing more than anything. It's just... gross and slimy. I don't like jello, jam or jelly for the same reason." With that he stopped again and looked up at Devon giving him a small smile, "Other than that, things are pretty open. As long as it's not one of the things I listed as morally wrong or wiggly or slimy I'll give it a shot at least once before ever saying no to it again." To him this wasn't a lot, it didn't cancel out tons of food and severely shelter him in what he could try. But he also knew living with someone who was rich and who had a high end life like Devon that it was important they cover this now, early in their relationship to avoid any issues later on. If Devon wanted to eat anything that he wouldn't then they'd have to make arrangements for him to eat something else. So it was kind of a good thing this topic came up. But then he recalled what Devon had said about pigs and horses and he decided to make a last minute comment on that as well. "I also wouldn't eat a pet pig, one I've grown attached too and formed a bond with. But I have nothing against pork in general. With the number of wild horses declining because of loss of habitat and the roundups not just for slaughter I feel more strongly towards conserving them, saving them. It just comes back to a moral thing." Kaine knew Devon had a point. What went on in everyone's mind to make it so eating one thing is reasonable and another not was definitely an interesting thing, but it was hard for anyone to truly explain why it worked that way.

 

"I agree, it is every consumers own decision as to what they do and do not eat. It should always be left that way." Kario replied with a nod and small smile. "I can't say I wouldn't try those things though... I mean... aren't you the least bit curious? I mean... there are cultures that eat scorpions and other bugs... it's weird and sounds gross but I'd be lying to say I wasn't the tiniest bit curious." When Devon said that he was more adventurous than most people he nodded in agreement, thinking the same exact thing about his boyfriend. "I like how adventurous you are." The younger man replied with a smile.

 

"It is possible that such a thing could happen. Any horse that collides with something can be unpredictable in how they respond. But it also isn't very likely either. The first response a horse would have isn't to knock off their rider and trample them. Those moments are normally complete and utter accidents." The dark haired man responded shaking his head slightly before he squeezed the hand he was holding. "You know... the best way for you to really learn about them and their behavior would be to try to build a connection with one." Kario thought he'd try again. If Devon was willing to get him a horse and have a stable built on his property, maybe he could get him to spend some time with the animal as well, build a connection with it. If for no other reason that because it would be him riding it, and maybe it'd ease Devon's anxieties about it -if he even had any- if he knew the animal as well.

 

"True..." He mused with a small smile. It was cute really how Devon seemed to think Craig would win just because he seemed decent and liked his politics. But he didn't mind either, since right now that was who they were here to support, mainly because Jason had met him and had brought them here to support him, but that was who they were here to support all the same.

 

"Very much so!" Kario happily replied when Devon asked if he had enjoyed the show once the event was over and they were getting ready to leave. "I think I want a Paint Horse, they perform very well across most Western style competitions, and maybe I could branch out into other competitions myself eventually. Just on a hobby basis of course." Kario said with a small smile. He liked that kind of horse, and they had performed well in the competition today, which made him all the more eager. A well bred Paint with good training could quite easily be a pro at this competition in no time. At least that was how Kario felt about it, and he wasn't really in this to win after all, even if it would be nice to win, he wanted to do it to have fun and because he had always wanted to compete.

 

When Valentina spoke he was turning to face her as she asked him if he wanted to get into riding. "Yes, I've always wanted to." Being told she had a horse when she was a teenager and had actually one an international championship in vaulting it made him more interested, and he would be quite happy to discuss more with her and get to know her better. Hearing that she still had a horse, though since she lived in the city she was not able to ride it regularly he became even more excited, especially when she mentioned that they should ride together some time if he was interested. "That sounds like a lot of fun." Kario replied more than happy to do that. Not to mention it would be good for him to get to know the people who were more active in Devon's career, especially those who worked so closely with him. She seemed like a really nice person too, which only made him happier to accept this offer and spend some time with her.

[-Hideki-]

Ashfield listened intently when the other man told him that his reasons to categorise something as reasonable or not were based on his own subjective morals. To Devon the argument still seemed rather arbitrary because what animal to consider family or to form a bond with was something that subjectively differed and hence he didn’t see that this was a good argument to base ones morals off of it and judge one thing as morale and the other as immoral. However it seemed to him that Kario actually was aware of the flaw in his own argument that seemed to be an emotional one to begin with. His golden eyes opened and his eyebrows were raised when he heard the man say that despite himself not eating lamb and veal for morale reasons either he didn’t hate people who did. “Seems like I’m lucky then.” the governor grinned . “Because I eat both and one party hating the other would be a little suboptimal in a relationship.” He let him know. “I can’t see why breeding something to slaughter it early on would make a difference as to breeding something to slaughter it later on. Or why a younger life would be more valuable than an older one. From a rationalistic standpoint it makes no sense.” The billionaire argued but he already knew that his and Kario’s morale codes differed. Kario’s in many ways seemed a lot tighter and stricter whereas Devon, well, Devon Ashfield was overall morally flexible. He had been raised around people who were too.

 

It made him laugh when the other told him he’d not eat anything slimy due to the texture because he kinda got that one although he had eaten the slugs anyway and had made Sven do it too. “You aren’t missing out on anything not eating slugs.” He assured the other not having liked those himself. He nodded when the other told him that despite what he had listed he was pretty open to trying anything. “Well, then there are a lot of things you can still try. Ever eaten rabbit in cranberry sauce? Because that’s the main dish my parents will serve at Thanksgiving.” The man let the other know and realised that he had never gotten a Thanksgiving turkey his entire life. His mother didn’t want them anymore. She had said that she had made it so far and that she wanted to stand out against the general public and his father, well, he wasn’t the general public to begin with. He was Andrew Ashfield something he’d constantly remind his surroundings of.

 

It was completely odd and it kinda defeated the black haired male’s own former argument when he then went on and said he’d not eat a pet pig, the one he had formed a bond with, but had no issue with eating pork in general. The blond raised an eyebrow. “You do realise that no one hunts wild horses down and eats those don’t you?” he told him. “If you will eat pork jut not one you formed a bond with it makes no sense to say horse is unreasonable because they are pets and one can form a bond with them when you at the same time acknowledge that you can form a bond with a pig and it can be a pet also but will eat them regardless, just not the one you formed a bond with.” Devon deconstructed the argument he found rather messy to begin with. “There is a deep logical flaw in your argument.” He pointed out. This would not stand for long if the other was a politician and would say something like this publically.

 

At least they could agree on costumer’s choices and economic freedom, which was a more important thing than the whole eating morale thing to begin with. It was interesting though that his lover expressed an interest in eating poisonous disgusting animals though. After all they had discussed this far that was surprising and definitely unexpected. “I don’t know. Maybe a tiny bit. Not enough to actually eat something that is potentially dangerous though. It’s not worth it for me. And when it comes to risks it’s always the question whether the risk is worth it or not.” The governor explained himself and a dirty smirk appeared on his face when the younger man told him that he loved how adventurous he was. “Any chance that I could infect you with my love for adventure?” he told him in a playful suggestive tone of voice.

 

The politician was not convinced that the horse wouldn’t take the first opportunity it got to throw off its rider although his younger boyfriend claimed to know otherwise. When the suggestion for the governor to form a bond with a horse was made, he kind of regretted to have tried to show interest in this whole thing altogether. “I connect enough with them when I got them on my plate. They run through my alimentary tract after all.” The blond man found. He really didn’t want to try to bond with a horse. It wouldn’t work anyway. Back then when he had to learn to sit on one for that polo match against that English bloke he had formed no bond to that horse at all. The only thing he had experienced was great relieve when he was off of its back and away from it. Then again if the other man wished for him to interact with the horse he guessed he’d try it for him. “If that was something that you’d absolutely wish I’d try, I’d try it, for you.” The man let him know that he wanted to make him happy and that he’d even do something he had zero interest in doing if it made the other happy that he’d at least give it a try. He’d draw the line at riding that thing. He’d not do that.

 

Seeing his boyfriend that happy when he expressed that he had enjoyed the show made Ashfield feel happy as well and he beamed at Kario and nodded when he was told that he wanted a Paint Horse. “A Paint Horse it’ll be then.” he said listening as the man described his plans when it came to riding and he was glad that the other was looking forward to something this much and was making plans he enjoyed making.

 

Devon had not known that Valentina had been into vaulting as a teenager and still owned a horse – what didn’t one learn about ones employees like that – watching the two of them as they were arranging that they’d go for a ride together. “Great, just call me when you got your horse and would like to go for a ride.” The woman said and handed the black haired her shiny business card. Devon placed his hand onto Kario’s shoulder and leaned over to him. “I have to head off to get ready to speak on that stage soon. It’s the last one for today.” He let him know and he would have liked to kiss him but refrained from it. “I’m glad you found someone you could share your new hobby with too, well someone who lives on the same continent, aside from Sven I mean.” The blond expressed and Valentina looked at him curiously. “Who is Sven?” she asked. Having broken up with her ex lately a foreign man who was into horse riding sounded like someone she might be into. “A weird German man.” Devon told her before he left Kario and Valentina behind and the woman was tapping her smooth, dark skinned chin with her index finger. “How generous he is with his information again.” She mumbled and then smiled, shaking her head. “Anyway,” she turned to Kario again. “Have you ever ridden before?” she wanted to know. “And why didn’t you get a horse earlier on? Just recently discovered your interest?”

 

It had been a good speech, better than the first one he had given for sure. The people seemed to be a lot less focussed on his sexuality and the brothel thing – which he had denied earlier on – and thus it was a lot more comfortable for the billionaire but he was thankful when it was over nonetheless. He felt tired by now and he actually had enough of that feast, having been up since crazy early in the morning but there was one last place to go and soon he stood in the local bar in front of a plastic bull next to Kario whom had agreed to ride the thing. “Are you sure you want to do this in front of everyone?” he asked him another time,country music playing in the background and the people celebrating and chatting exuberantly while Stewart was pissed off again because Jason “Confused work with free-time” as he had grumpily commented because he had seen him being all playful and flirty with Craig.

[Sathenus]

For some reason the talk of a younger life being more valuable than an older one made him smirk slightly and he gave his handsome boyfriend a loving look. "Well, I certainly like to think your life is more valuable than a younger one. So my outlook on that can be more circumstantial." He playfully mused but he knew the conversation they were having was actually a more serious one, but what could he say? His outlook for animals and people were different, his feeling that the young needed a chance to grow up to experience what life could be was big. But he still had nothing against anyone who ate them, that was after all their choice, and his was not to do so. Yet Kario would also hold no one's or anything's life more valuable than his handsome lover, it didn't matter that he was older. "Honestly... the idea of breeding something just for slaughter isn't appealing to me in the first place, whether you're slaughtering that poor animal young or as an adult." Kario admitted with a small shrug not really feeling the need to go further into the topic.

 

"No, can't say I have." Kario admitted when he was asked if he had ever eaten rabbit in cranberry sauce. It wasn't an unappealing thought either, rather a curious one and hearing that it was the main dish that his parents will serve at Thanksgiving in place of the usual turkey was certainly interesting as well. Granted, Kario wasn't a fan of turkey to begin with, not on Thanksgiving or as sandwich meat. The bird just wasn't one of his favorite things to eat, granted he would, when absolutely necessary. "I can't say I wouldn't welcome the change from the usual turkey, I never really was a fan of it." He admitted with a small smile.

 

"Maybe not directly no, but the chances of those wild horses that are caught in the roundup ending up being slaughtered isn't a big leap or even impossible. Maybe someone doesn't just decide one day they want horse for dinner and go hunting for a wild one. That doesn't mean make me any more or less of a fan." The younger man responded giving the other a small smile knowing he was trying to understand this better. "I may not have a problem with eating pork now, but if I formed a bond with a pig there is a very good chance my consumption of it will drastically drop or even stop." Having never formed a bond with a pig, he couldn't say if it would stop or not. But Kario had been lucky enough to see and form a bond with a horse, even if it wasn't his own it had been in their neighborhood. A horse alone in a field that was friendly enough to come up to the fence for pets, apples, carrots, really anything you wanted to share with it. It had made him even more a fan of the animals, and he certainly couldn't see himself ever eating one, especially not with the prospect of finally being able to have one of his own. That same response could be triggered if he was to have a pet pig, or even a chicken or cow. The bond formed with the animals would be able to change a lot in the young animal lover. Not being a fan of the meat industry and it's treatment of animals already a bond with such animals would probably be all it took to turn him away from the meat in general, if not at least mainly. "I'm not saying that chickens, cows and other animals one would normally eat can't be bonded with either, and I can't say a bond with them wouldn't probably change my outlook on eating them as well. I'm not a fan of the meat industry and it's treatment of animals as it is." He decided to fully admit to his lover.

 

After a moment he did give Devon another small smile, "Don't get me wrong, I don't have what it takes to be a vegan or vegetarian or I would have done so long ago. But that doesn't mean I have to like how things are either." There was no point in denying that, if he had been able too he would have made that choice a long time ago, but like many other people around the world he was just as guilty for the demand of meat as to why the meat industry was as huge as it was. If Kario truly had it his way he would probably limit his meat consumption literally to game animals, animals killed only when needed for food, not in an overabundance like chicken and beef. A lot of the meat in stores would go bad before being used, thrown out, tossed aside. A life wasted for what? What didn't go bad in the store could and probably did go bad in homes rather frequently as well, which didn't make matters any better to Kario.

 

He'd be lying to say he wasn't amused when Devon told him that he wasn't curious enough to actually eat something that was potentially dangerous though saying it wasn't worth it to him. "Not even worth it just to get more in touch with the local culture?" He questioned curiously. For Kario that was the main reason he would do so, to get more in touch with the local culture, but also because he was just plain curious and when would he ever get the chance to try it again? When the blonde spoke in a playful and suggestive manner he couldn't help the amused laugh that escaped him. "You're certainly welcome to try." He playfully replied with a smile.

 

Being told that his lover connected enough with horses when they were on his plate made him give his boyfriend a look stating that is definitely not what he had in mind when he had suggested he bond with one. But in the end it was who Devon was, Kario was in no way about to force him to form a bond with an animal if he didn't want to do so. So it was when Devon indicated that if that was something that he'd absolutely wish he would try he would do so for him Kario was quick to shake his head. "I do want you to form a bond with a horse, but I don't want you to do it just because I asked you too or because I want you to do so. It'd defeat the purpose." Squeezing his boyfriend's hand he gave him a small smile. "If you don't want to do it, I won't force you to do so. It wouldn't be good for you, or the horse. Just... if the mood ever struck to give the horse a carrot or apple or something, or even to pet it then by all means do so. But do it because you want to do it, not because someone's asking you too." In no way did he want Devon doing something he didn't want to do just for him, especially not when that thing came to a large animal with a mind of its own. An animal known to be able to pick up on the emotions of those around it, he wouldn't want Devon 'trying' to form a bond with the horse when the animal would pick up on the fact that Devon didn't want to do so and would thus end negatively for all parties involved.

 

Kario reached out and took the shiny business card when it was handed to him with a nod and saying that he would definitely do so. The hand on his shoulder made his head turn towards Devon as he leaned over to him and said he had to head off to get ready for his final speech of the day. He nodded and watched him go before his attention was turning back to Valentina who was speaking again. "No, I've never ridden a horse before." He fully admitted with a small smile, but he was hoping it was something he could pick up on quickly. "I've actually always had an interest in horses and riding just... never the means to do so." Kario answered honestly with a slightly sheepish smile at this point. "It's honestly great and exciting to think that I'll finally have that opportunity. Though I'll admit when I mentioned that I had always wanted to do barrel racing I never expected it to have the effect on Devon it did." He decided to admit to the woman. For some reason he felt he could confide that in her, since she wasn't one of those people who had immediately gone off on how he could only be with the governor for his money and power and not the man. Everything the blonde did for him that concerned money or that he could use his power to get him wasn't anything he had ever actually asked his boyfriend for. These were all things the blonde wanted to do for him, and in that case Kario so no reason to stop him from doing so. Especially since Devon was always so determined to explain to him that if he wanted to do something for him there really was nothing he could to stop him.

 

After the speech had concluded and they were standing in the local bar near the plastic bull and looking at it while everyone was having a good time celebrating he turned towards his lover when he asked him if he was sure that he wanted to do this in front of everyone. "Of course, it looks like it could be a lot of fun." Kario replied with a smile. It didn't bother him at all that this was something he had never done before, or that he was doing it in front of all of these people either. To him it was just a chance to have some fun and maybe even connect more with these people, which to Kario was only an added bonus. With a small smirk he gave his boyfriend a teasing look, "Besides, I think I'm pretty good at riding this bull." He teasingly whispered giving the governor a slight nudge in the side when he did so. "Anyway, no matter how good or bad this goes at least it's something I can check off my bucket list."

 

In the end Kario was truly eager to give it a shot, and when the time finally came for him to do so he didn't give it a second thought. Instead he just told Devon in a quick whisper to wish him luck before he moved to get on the plastic bull. Getting into place wasn't difficult at all and before long he was ready to do this shifting his weight just a little. Who knew? Maybe he'd be really good at this and set a nice goal for everyone else, or he'd end up being really bad at this and it'd be over rather quickly. As it turned out, Kario really wasn't that bad at it, he had gained a great control over his body when working in the brothel for as long as he had making it easier for him to shift his weight when needed to stay on for a decent amount of time. At least enough to not make a complete fool out of himself, it didn't even bother him when he did end up falling off just laughing it off since he had fun doing it to begin with. In total, it didn't take long before he was back at Devon's side flashing his handsome governor a smile. "That was fun!" He said happily before his smile turned to a grin. "Are you sure you don't want to give it a shot?" He questioned.

[-Hideki-]

“Hey.” Ashfield nudged Kario into his side when he joked about how he thought that the blond’s life to him was of more value than a younger one. “Did you just compare me to cattle?” he jested chuckling, finding the leap the other made from their talk about food and whether there was a difference in slaughtering animals young or at an older age when it came to ethics rather amusing. His lover got more serious again though and with him Devon got as well when he learned that the black haired didn’t find the idea of breeding something for slaughter appealing at all. “That’s how the meat industry works though.” the politician stated. “And the industrialisation process of the meat industry was definitely good for the economy.” the heir to the Ashfield Corporation found. He knew people who worked for the meat industry. Actually he had given the head of the local meat industry advice how to better their image with an advertisement campaign. Granted, the pictures used in the advertisement had nothing to do with reality but the campaign had worked at least to a degree and had distracted from the scandal the meat giant had been facing. And it really had been an important company in that industry. Not only that, Ashfield’s help might not have been entirely self-less either.

 

When he had asked whether the other had ever eaten rabbit in cranberry sauce he was told that he had not and for a moment Ashfield was worried that the black haired would say no to this as well and he was relieved when that was not the case and the young man seemed rather interested in trying it, stating that it’d be a welcome change from the turkey he had usually gotten. This made it a lot easier. To explain to his parents that his boyfriend wouldn’t eat the rabbit – especially to explain his father without being allergic to any of the ingredients – would have ended up in an argument and a wave of further insults. Devon smiled at the younger man: “Can’t say much about the usual Thanksgiving turkey because I never got one.” He admitted and he usually didn’t like to admit this as it seemed to people as though he was missing an important cultural experience and hence made him less relatable. What was why this was something he’d never say in public.

 

What followed got him worried. Worried that the other would turn vegetarian or worse vegan soon and they’d have to order food at weird places where Ashfield would hate every single fucking dish they were serving like at that bloody environmentalist fundraiser where they had served that stupid grass as if it was real food. Hearing that as soon as the other would form a bond with one animal of a certain species that it could lead to him not wanting to eat it anymore was really something that got him worried! “Great, let’s keep you from bonding with anything but that bloody horse than or it’ll drastically limit the options of delivery services we can call.” He expressed his worries when the other was going at the meat industry, attacking it, saying he wasn’t a fan of it. “It’s still an important industry that is good for the economy. There are plenty of jobs and existences tied to it too, my acquaintances job for instance. The meat industry is good for the country.” Devon who found whatever strengthened the economy was beneficial said, leaving out how his acquaintances job in the industry was to own one of the largest providing companies in their nation. “They have a great information video, maybe you shall watch it. I helped out with ideas for it and you might learn stuff you didn’t know about the industry yet.” The governor told the other referring to the image film they had created after the scandal as an information film once more, leaving out the scandal and how it had even come to the scandal.

 

At the beginning of his time in office governor Devon Ashfield had had two main concerns, one had been to privatise as much as he could and smaller the government and the other had been to get rid of restrictions and regulations for the industry, businesses and corporations. And the blond man had gotten rid of the regulations for the meat industry in their state for the most part, allowing his acquaintance to use his resources more efficiently and thus increase production. It had definitely been a business friendly decision that had been good for his acquaintance and his industry but not so much for the animals though. And thus environmentalists – who hated Ashfield’s guts and deemed him their worst enemy anyway – together with animal rights activists and a few other groups had protested the governor and drawn caricatures of him and the owner of the company torturing baby animals holding them up before some of the activists had gone even further and had broken into one of the company’s halls documenting the circumstances in the factory, plus, stealing some of the animals in an attempt to set them free. The videos had gone viral online and while the animal’s rights activists had gotten convicted for breaking into the company’s property, damaging the property and stealing some of the animals the meat industry and governor Ashfield had been facing a major shit storm. Thus in an attempt to not only better the industry’s and his friend’s company’s image but the image of his own decision as well they had created that wonderful heart-warming image film.

 

It would have been a full out lie to say that he wasn’t happy and relieved to hear that the other ‘didn’t have what it takes’ to be a vegan or a vegetarian and that the blond didn’t find being a vegan or vegetarian to be something desirable in the first place. “Have what it takes?” he laughed snortingly. “Being vegan or vegetarian isn’t desirable in the first place. Especially veganism is unhealthy and you’d have to take supplements to even get all the vitamins you need. Aside from that nothing is more of a turn off than some grass nibbling castrated hippie.” The politician said totally not thinking about his ex’s new husband Theodore Parker who had long declared that he didn’t eat meat publically. “You don’t have to like how things are of course, that’s your opinion. But maybe you’ll change your outlook on the meat industry as an important industry that provides not only food in our nation but also exports our goods abroad.” He stated getting back to the economics. Ashfield was a businessman and the heir to a Corporation after all. He had been brought into the position he was in to make politics for businesses and the industry. He was a corporate politician so to speak with a priority on the economy. Plus, it had been companies and the big guys from the industries who had donated to his campaign. A lot. In absolute certainty that the blond man would not make any decision that would be bad for business but that he’d further their mutual cause. And until now Ashfield had delivered. Thus even unpleasant men like Harvey Flint from the automobile industry still had his back after the revelation of him being gay and the whole brothel rumours.

 

“No.” he clearly and drily answered when the other wanted to know whether it was not even worth the risk to get more in touch with a local culture. To be fair Devon Ashfield trying all kinds of stuff he wanted to try had never had anything to do with an attempt to get more in touch with the local’s culture to begin with. He had just found it interesting and fun to try so he had done it. Well, in many occasions he too had tried more unexciting things that had not really been to his taste to not offend foreign business partners or potential business partners. Aside from that scorpio and insects weren’t on the menu at the places the governor usually went. And when he had been on a safari he had not even spend the night in that nation afterwards but had flown over to a more advanced one right away after he had had gone on the safari. However, since he had been fined for the whole safari thing and shooting that elephant he had never gone another time in the first place.

 

A cocky smirk was to see on his face when the other was giving him a look after he had expressed how he was already bonding enough with horses when they were on his plate. What followed made the whole subject more complicated though. He had thought if Kario wanted for him to interact and ‘bond’ with the horse he’d go and try but it appeared that the man didn’t want him to go and bond with one for him but that he wanted him to want to go and bond with a horse and to achieve that was a lot harder because he didn’t even feel a little bit of motivation to form a bond with such a creature or to interact with it or care for it. “Why would I go and give it food. I was going to hire someone to feed it and clean the stable and all that bothersome stuff.” The billionaire asked with a raised eyebrow when the other suggested that he could give it a carrot or an apple if he’d ever feel like it. The governor didn’t really intend to have much anything to do with the horse even though it was on his property. Sven would probably like to see it though. The guy had a fable for animals really. He remembered that injured rabbit he had brought into the dorm room that had eaten Ashfield’s expensive designer shoes his mum had send him for what the billionaire’s son had been thankful to that rabbit beyond believe and had vigorously declined Sven’s offer to replace the shoes.

 

After the governor had left them alone and Valentina had shown interest in Kario’s history as a rider she learned that the young man had never ridden a horse before and she found the story he told her rather adorable, to hear that he had always wanted to ride and had always had an interest in horses but had never gotten the chance to do so but now had thanks to his lover. Valentina had grown up in a wealthy family. She was the daughter of a mother working for the music industry and an investment banker father and as such her father had fulfilled every wish of his daughter. “You’ll figure out how to ride in no time. If I can help I’ll be more than willing to. And if you need a trainer I know the perfect woman for you. She’s a friend of mine and has trained plenty champions. She has won many tournaments in show jumping herself.” She informed him. There was a smile playing around her lips when the other almost guiltily said that he had not thought it would have that effect on Ashfield if he told him that he had always wanted to do barrel racing. “Governor Ashfield is actually a nice gentleman, he wants to be liked and he is generous to those who have his favour. His representation in the media is inaccurate to say the least.” She told him. “Well, when it comes to information he could be more generous though.” The woman added and clicked her tongue. “Do you know whether that friend of his is my age and currently available? He sounds interesting.” The dark haired woman expressed with a smile.

 

 

 

 

His lover seemed absolutely determined to go through with riding the plastic bull and Devon would definitely not stop him from doing so. Seeing that teasing, playful look on his face before his boyfriend added that he was pretty good at riding Ashfield, implying that he’d not screw this up too bad anyway made the politician smirk widely and his golden eyes flashed up.”You sure are.” He said and that was true. The other was actually great at riding him. Drove him crazy. Devon couldn’t say that he had something with a guy with such a technique ever before. Kario knew men well. Knew men like him, men of the upper class well and he knew how to please them. “I’d rather have you ride this bull than that plastic fellow over there though.” He whispered back, a cocky grin on his thin lips and he once more had to control himself to not slap the other man’s arse when he went over to the plastic bull. Did he slap his arse that much? Seemed like it. Seemed as though it was almost a habit of his to do that.

 

When the black haired was sitting on that plastic bull he was doing quite well, better than many of the others who had tried prior to him and the governor would have liked to be one of those cheering him on too but there was the voice of his mother in his ear that told him to think of his status, about who he was, that he had to always keep his countenance and appear worldly and sophisticated. Considering how this would be all over the news and the internet if he let himself go he did nothing more than smiling and nodding encouragingly whilst Valentina, who had one or the other shot too many already, was cheering the other man on for him. It was amazing though how this woman, cheering, with a shot in her right hand, could still appear that graciously lady like. She was an elegant woman indeed. If Devon had been straight he thought that he’d have wanted a woman like her. She certainly deserved better than that arsehole of an ex she had been with before.

 

Devon’s smile went wider when the other came back to him after he had fallen off the bull and the billionaire found the other had done a good job there. He himself would have probably broken his neck. “Looks like it was.” He agreed when the other said that he had found the experience fun. And not only that the people had had a lot of fun too what was definitely a good thing. Eagerly he shook his head though when the other asked him if he didn’t want to give it a shot after all. “No. I’m good. Trust me.” He stated. “Riding a plastic bull won’t do much good for my credibility as a professional politician.” The man said and it definitely was better if he didn’t partake in anything silly like that, no matter how much fun it potentially could be.

 

After that he talked and drank a little with the people in the bar but was actually happy when they finally arrived back at the guest house and in their room and there finally was silence around them. The blond man didn’t even care to bother with his clothing. He just dropped the trousers, the jacket and the tie all over the floor and let himself fall onto the bed in his boxers and with his shirt opened. “I’m done.” He said, his eyes falling shut. “I arranged us an appointment with a horse breeder for tomorrow morning before we’ll be heading back home.” The blond man informed him, his voice a little slurry as he was already half asleep.

[Sathenus]

A soft laugh escaped him when he was nudged in the side after joking about how he thought his lover's life was more important to him than a younger one. "Maybe." He teasingly replied when Devon jokingly had asked if he had just compared him to cattle. "It might be how it works, and I get that's it's kind of a necessity with the size of the population it's putting meat before. That doesn't mean I have to like it." Kario replied with a soft sigh. He understood the importance of the meat industry, but he full out did not have to like the meat industry to see and understand how important it is. "I suppose." He added when Devon indicated that the industrialisation process of the meat industry was definitely good for the economy. The blonde would have a better understanding and knowledge of that than he did, and would know as the governor what was best for the economy. Not something he'd argue about, but that still didn't make him a fan of the meat industry, nothing probably would. But that was fine, it wasn't didn't matter if he was or not.

 

"You're not missing anything." He responded when learning that Devon had never had a Thanksgiving turkey, it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. At least not to Kario, who never was a fan and just ate it because it was tradition and his mother never deviated from it while he was growing up. She probably still managed to make that traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner even now. "I suppose if you're ever able to convince your parents that you want to spend it with my family you'd get that Thanksgiving turkey finally. My mother definitely likes to hold true to tradition." Offering the blonde a small smile as he had said so, they would after all have to make time for both of their parents, so it only seemed fair that there would be instances where they'd be spending a holiday with one versus the other -especially if they couldn't get the two families together for the holidays. Which Kario had to admit to himself definitely did not sound remotely like a good idea. "I have to admit I don't really care for turkey, but because my mother was so big on tradition I always ate it anyway. At least enough of it for her not to start fussing."

 

The younger man couldn't help but laugh when Devon said that they would keep him from bonding with anything other than the horse or it'd drastically limit the options of delivery services they could call. "You know, if I ever did stop eating something I wouldn't stop you from doing so. It'd just mean I'd need things stocked in the kitchen for me to make here. Granted, I'd want that done anyway so I can cook for you instead of you ordering out all the time." Kario said with a small smile. "But I won't go around bonding with every animal, I promise." That after all wasn't asking very much, and the blonde was already doing a lot by getting him a horse and encouraging him to follow his dreams. A soft sigh escaped him when they returned to the topic of the meat industry, his boyfriend explaining that there were plenty of jobs tied to it too. Kario could get that too, but that didn't mean there wasn't room for some major improvement in their operations. At the mention of an information video the look that crossed Kario's face clearly stated he was not going to be stupid enough to fall for that and the lies presented in the video. "Devon, you and I both know the way the meat industry is portrayed in that video isn't accurate. That the way the video portrays the animals they are raising for slaughter and how they are living their lives is horribly inaccurate."

 

"Look, I love you dearly and I am not even bothered that you helped make that video, but I'm not going to watch it." Kario clearly stated before he glanced around quickly to ensure no one was paying them any mind and gave the other a very quick kiss, flashing him a small smile. "I will completely agree that the meat industry is an important industry, it may be good for the economy and it does supply a good number of jobs. That doesn't mean I have to like it or the way those animals live their miserable lives before finally being slaughtered." Kario wasn't mad or frustrated that Devon had a part in the video portraying the meat industry as something they weren't. But it didn't mean he had to like the industry, and he certainly was not going to watch that stupid informational video either since he was more than aware that it was a lie. There may be aspects of it that were true, but none of those aspects would make him feel more in their favor. His tone had even been light hearted making it clear that he wasn't really taking any of this personally and that in the end it wasn't a big deal.

 

"Aww! You wouldn't love me if I turned out to be a grass nibbling hippy?" Kario asked playfully before laughing. "First off, please don't castrate me, I love you too much." He mused teasingly before he shook his head and continued, "But I'll fully admit, I do enjoy meat too much to ever cut it out of my diet." He really wouldn't be able to live being a vegan or vegetarian, he wouldn't be happy anymore, and he certainly wouldn't enjoy anything. "I'm also not a rabbit and have no intention of living on rabbit food." He added as a backhanded comment. To him that's what he saw when he saw a salad, something you'd put in front of a rabbit, it didn't mean he hated salads, but he certainly wasn't the biggest fan. "Maybe." It was the only response he could really give Devon, he knew it was an important industry and it did provide food for the country and export abroad. That didn't make him any more of a fan for it, and it didn't mean he liked the scale of which is was doing those things either.

 

Kario really did love the governor and the response he had to him telling the blonde that he could give the horse a carrot or apple if the mood ever struck just made him love the man even more. "To bond." He replied with a little laugh. "I certainly don't expect you to feed it and clean out the stall or anything, but giving it a carrot or apple as a treat once in awhile, or once wouldn't hurt." Came his reply as he gave a soft shrug. Granted he didn't feel like any of that was bothersome stuff that Devon had listed, but he knew it wasn't anything his boyfriend was used to doing or particularly wanted to either. Not that Kario expected him to do any of that stuff either, the last thing he expected was for Devon to end up cleaning up a stall or even the horse for that matter.

 

He was a bit surprised when Valentina expressed that if he needed a trainer she knew the perfect woman for him. Surprised more so that she even seemed to be so supportive about this as well. It was nice, just a bit surprising to him. "That would be nice, Devon did say he wanted to get me a trainer." Kario replied with a small smile. At least it would put them into contact with someone who could be his trainer. "I can't say I know much about how he is represented in the media." He admitted when she commented about it being inaccurate to say the least. It made him curious, since he wasn't that aware of how they portrayed his boyfriend. At the same time, he didn't really care either, because that wasn't how he saw the older man and he didn't care how any one else wanted to portray the man he loved. Especially if it wasn't accurate. Suddenly the subject was changed and Valentina was asking him about Sven and whether he knew if the man was her age and currently available. From what Kario did know Sven was single, but he wasn't sure if the man had any interest in women considering his past conversations with Devon about who he had dated. He felt it was safe to say he wasn't into women, but at the same time he didn't really want to be the one to tell Valentina she didn't stand a chance, especially since she seemed like such a nice person. "I honestly can't really say, I haven't met him myself. We've had maybe a three minute conversation at best over the phone at what was a very indecent hour for the man." Kario replied deciding this was the best route for him to take. Since he really didn't know much about Sven other than what Devon had told him, and even then it was more about the relationship the two of them had than it was about Sven himself. It was only recently he started to learn more about the artist, and that was because they seemed to share the common love of animals.

 

 

 

"Oh believe me, I'd much rather ride this bull than that plastic one myself." Kario replied with a pleased smirk looking the governor up and down while he was speaking. There were a lot of things he would prefer to do with Devon then getting up on the plastic bull no matter how fun that experience could and certainly would be. He was certainly glad that the governor would prefer that he did so as well, and he was really wishing that he could show more affection towards him right now instead of having to control his actions so much.

 

"Aww!" The younger man playfully whined when Devon indicated that he would still pass on the opportunity to ride the plastic bull despite it having looked like it was fun. It certainly had been fun, and he had really been hoping he'd be able to convince Devon to do so as well. Giving the older man slight pout when he was told that it wouldn't do much good for his credibility as a professional politician. Kario would still love to see Devon ride the plastic bull, but he knew it was a lost cause. Ah well, it wasn't that big a deal in the end and if the older man didn't want to do it he certainly didn't have to.

 

It was great once they were able to leave the bar and had made it back to the guest house. An amused smirk reappearing as he watched Devon so carelessly ditch his clothes until he was in nothing but his boxers and the button up shirt was open as the man collapsed on top of the bed. Laughing softly he shook his head, moving around the room to collect what the governor had tossed so carelessly aside. Folding them up neatly he placed them on a chair in the corner of the room so that everything would be easily accessible come morning. It was apparently a good thing that he had too when he heard the older man say he had arranged an appointment with a horse breeder in the morning before they would head home. Slowly he slipped out of his own clothes down to his boxers setting his clothes over the back of the chair before he moved to join the other on the bed. Moving right over to his side and settling himself down there, nuzzling gently into Devon's chest as he got comfortable.

 

"So another early morning, huh?" He asked though he knew he shouldn't be surprised that it was the case. Shifting he moved so he was hovering over his lover and gave him a small smile. "You can't tell me that you're about to go to bed without giving me a proper kiss first? I'm so neglected!" Kario playfully whined though he was dead set that he got a proper kiss tonight before he'd let the older man go to bed on him. He had hated going around all day watching every move he made and even what he said when he had so desperately wanted to kiss the older man and be close to him. Wanted to express his affections openly and not have to worry about what other's thought. Even if he was aware this was going to be an ongoing battle. That would be fine, as long as he got at least one proper kiss in the end to make up for it.

[-Hideki-]

It was most definitely surprising when Kario told him that he wasn’t missing out on much after he had let the other know that he had never gotten that Thanksgiving turkey. Usually people were, well, more enthusiastic about traditional holiday food but his lover apparently wasn’t a fan at all and that got confirmed later on, when he learned that his boyfriend only ate it to not hurt or upset his mother who cared a lot about tradition. What actually made him smile was to hear that if they celebrated with his lover’s family, he’d probably get the traditional dinner he hadn’t gotten before. “I’d love to spend Thanksgiving with your family. Much rather than with mine and their dubious guests actually! If it was on me we could spend every holiday with your parents and pretend mine didn’t exist.” The blond politician said knowing that this would not happen and wasn’t possible. He only had met the other man’s parents once but they had seemed like real parents. Kario and them had interacted like a normal, actual family to him unlike the absurd, ridiculous interactions that occurred between his sociopathic father, his narcissistic mother, their business friends and him. Then again there was a high chance that Devon’s parents would invite Kario’s for Thanksgiving. He could already see it coming! His lady mother suggesting to his father that they shall invite the parents of their son’s boyfriend because this was what one did and his father protesting ‘I don’t want those losers in my house’, and his mother in response ramming her pointed little elbow into his old man’s side going: ‘Andrew!!! We will be polite and invite them, what impression would it make if we wouldn’t, it wouldn’t shine a good light on our family. We’ll have them over and you’ll behave.’ And after his father being stubborn for a while longer and plenty more scolding ‘Andrews’ from his mother she would invite them with the sweetest most charming voice to maintain the spotless veneer while his father would be grumbling and in the end not manage to behave after all and create a disaster by saying something rude and insulting.

 

Kario laughed but Ashfield was dead serious about keeping him from bonding with any more foo… animals. More than serious, he was determined. When he then heard the other man say that it wouldn’t mean that he couldn’t call the usual delivery services anymore, that it just meant that his lover had to store some ingredients to make himself the food he wanted to eat, that he had planned on doing that anyway to cook for Devon the governor was looking at the other and it was clear that he had not even considered cooking themselves as an available option. “Sounds fair.” He then said. As long as he didn’t have to eat grass and didn’t have to cook himself he didn’t care. And his lover cooking for him too was actually something he was excited about.

 

The look the other gave him about the information video he had helped working on for the meat industry was definitely not giving off a vibe that said that he was enthusiastic about learning more about the meat industry from the meat industry. And when the other said that they both knew how inaccurate the image film was and that the portrayal got nothing to do with how the animals actually lived their lives in the industry, Ashfield was pouting. Well, he knew that what the other said there was correct but they had put some effort into creating that film and it was really well done. Plus, a lot nicer to watch than the video those criminal animal rights activists who had broken into his acquaintance’s property had made and uploaded. Their image film had much better quality too. “Have you even seen the video yet? You can’t judge it without knowing it. It’s really well made.” The governor found, crossing his arms in front of his chest. It wasn’t the first image film the man had helped with. Their own Corporation was popping out high- budget image films and advertisements with models, actors and idols as well and they always countered bad rumours or accusations. The Ashfield Corporation was basically an angel, according to the advertisement.

 

It apparently didn’t matter that he acted all offended about the other accusing the film to be propaganda without even seeing it because his lover seemed really final when he said that he wasn’t bothered that Devon had helped with the creation of the video but that he wasn’t going to watch it. When he felt the young male’s lips on his own for a brief moment he let his arms sink from his chest, sighing though as he saw the other’s smile. At least they seemed to agree about the industry being beneficial economically even if the man repeated once more that he still didn’t like it nor did he like the way those animals had to live their miserable lives before being slaughtered. Something told him that his boyfriend wouldn’t be happy about the billionaire having introduced the abolishment of the regulations for their states meat industry giving full liberty to the industry when it came to keeping conditions and whatnot as the economic benefit didn’t seem to weigh as much for the other than the animal’s living conditions.

 

“If you were a grass nibbling hippie chances were you wouldn’t love me and would rather spray paint my car or hold up unflattering caricatures of me at a protest.” The governor said when the other man playfully asked him if he wouldn’t love him if he was a grass nibbling hippie. He certainly wouldn’t love him any less if he were to quit eating meat or animal products altogether but if he would become a self-righteous hippie prick about it that’d be a different story. “Vegans and vegetarians don’t get castrated, they castrate themselves by becoming vegans in the first place.” The heir to the Ashfield Corporation said and in that moment he sounded like his father. There was a wide grin forming on his face when the other man then admitted that he enjoyed eating meat too much to ever cut it out of his diet, informing him that he was not a rabbit what got him a laugh from the politician. That was the spirit he liked! Something he’d said before too looking at that ridiculous excuse for food at that fundraiser. “I always say the grass is no food, it’s what you feed the food.” The blond said with a wink.

 

“Who’s gonna guarantee me that it doesn’t suddenly feel like it’d rather want to eat my arm than the carrot though with that giant mouth and head it has?” the governor said. Granted he knew horses weren’t carnivores but it could still decide to bite him or nibble on and get drool all over his suit. “One of our staff members fed my dad’s snakes once because the guy who usually did had called in sick and since he tried to feed it the rat with his hand he had a bloody snake biting itself into his arm, dangling down there and he couldn’t get it off.” The governor remembered. His father had found it hilarious.

 

“I’ll text the governor her contacts for you then.” Valentina smiled, squeezing Kario’s shoulder encouragingly. “I met her back at a championship when we were both teens. She was impressive then and she still is. She became a professional rider and then trainer though other than me.” Devon’s speech writer and former marketing and communication manager of the Ashfield Corporation said, texting the politician the contacts as she had said. Upon learning that the black haired man apparently didn’t know much about the governor’s media representation she brushed it off with a wave of her hand. “No need to look into it either. They are just hungry for stories and headlines to sell, that’s all!” the woman said. “My mother works in the music industry and the media would outright stalk her clients. She had to deal with paparazzi a lot.” She remembered, shaking her head, and then she laughed. “We once had a famous singer hiding in our house thanks to that though. I was a huge fan of his so I was extremely excited.” The dark haired lady let him know, her brown eyes meeting his. “A shame.” She sighed when the younger man told her that he couldn’t really give her any information about the governor’s friend because he merely had had a short conversation over the phone with him. Learning that it had been at an ungodly hour she chuckled though. “Governor Ashfield forgot the time differences again?” she guessed. “He always does. If we don’t pay attention and remind him about it he ends up calling people in the middle of the night or early morning hours all the time.” She let him know. “One time he called a British minister out of bed. It was quite the faux pas.” Valentina said, tapping her finger with the sparkling, artificial nail against her lower lip. “From what you can tell, did this Sven sound nice though? Did he have an attractive voice?” she asked. “I’m really into European men. Especially if they share a hobby of mine.” She winked.

 

 

 

 

 

“It’s always an early morning if you’re the governor.” Ashfield mumbled not fully there anymore, laying his arm around the younger man’s warm body that was nuzzling against his side automatically. He indeed felt like he hadn’t really slept long ever since he had become the governor. His life had definitely changed drastically compared to how it had been before working in business. The blond man then heard the other’s playful whining about how he couldn’t just go to sleep without giving the man a proper kiss at least and how he was neglected. Ashfield turned to his side, opened his eyes slightly for a moment to lay his hand onto Kario’s cheek before he closed them again as their lips met and he was kissing the other quite deeply, putting the last bit of energy he had left into the kiss and the short dance of tongues before he rolled back onto his back, mumbling a “Good night, I love you”, falling asleep with the sweet taste of his cute boyfriend’s lips on his own.

 

He heard the knocking at the door as if someone was knocking on his head the other morning and he hadn’t even opened his eyes when one could hear the sound of heels on the ground. “Good morning governor Ashfield.” Valentina’s voice said, the women seemingly being in a rush. “Jason is nowhere to find so I put out some clothing for you instead. You have to hurry. Apparently a new appointment has been added for this morning last night….” She was bending down on her way to the window to collect the clothes that were always flying around just to find that there were none. “There are none of your clothes on the floor.” She remarked, looking at the neatly folded pieces and then to Kario, knowing it definitely had not been Ashfield, shaking her head turning back to the phone were the schedule for the governor was listed. “You have to ‘Buy a horse’ at ….” She stopped reading off of it when she realised what the spontaneously added appointment had been and she immediately lost the hasty attitude and the tension in her body. “Thank god.” She called out when she realised it wasn’t anything official and she didn’t have to knock out some speech just like that.

 

By now Devon was at least sitting on his bed looking at the woman. “I added this.” he informed her and she nodded. “Well, you have to be punctual regardless though. So you should head into the bathroom now. Kario can use the other bathroom down the floor to get ready.” She told them. “I put your clothes here for you.” She said laying the fresh clothes onto the table. “I’m going to kill Jason when I find him.” The perfectly styled woman said to herself as she was heading out of the room again.

 

Ashfield turned to Kario, leaned over him to kiss him awake quite eagerly, a lot more energetic and passionate than the kiss in the night where he had been nearly asleep. “We should get up.” He said, patting the younger man’s thigh before getting out of bed. “We meet downstairs in the front yard.” He told him before he disappeared in the bathroom to get ready for the day. Freshly showered, dressed and taken care of he headed down the stairs and into the front yard checking his phone while he was waiting for the black haired man to meet up with him. He saw Valentina’s text with contact data that she had sent him with the note ‘for Kario’. Hence when the younger man joined him he grinned cheekily and teasingly. “Valentina left me a French phone-number for you. Are you planning on leaving me for a French bloke now after all?” he wanted to know in a playful tone of voice, knowing that ‘C?lestine Bonnaire’ was definitely a female name.

[Sathenus]

Kario wasn't the least bit surprised to hear that Devon would much rather spend every holiday with his family than he would with his parents and their dubious guests. They had discussed things like this in the past and he was expecting it as an answer, however, the look that crossed his face clearly stated he wasn't about to let that happen. "I know you'd rather spend every holiday with my family, but we really do need to make time for both. It's only fair that way." Came the younger man's reply as he gave the governor a light pat on the arm. It didn't matter to Kario that his boyfriend's father pretty much hated him and probably didn't want him around at all much less for a holiday, he was dead set that they split the holidays evenly between their families. They could trade off ever year when deciding which holiday would be for which family, that way they had a chance to spend every holiday with the other person's family. It did get him thinking about his boyfriend's father again though, wondering if the man would ever at least tolerate his presence or if it was always going to be met with multiple insults and degrading comments.

 

Now that the topic of him having the kitchen stocked with ingredients required for him to cook his boyfriend dinner sometimes it came to the point of finding out what Devon really liked to eat. "So handsome, tell me what some of your favorite foods are? If I am going to start cooking for you I'd like to know what you like to eat and what you don't. Are you allergic to anything?" Kario asked with a raised eyebrow. He didn't want to try to feed Devon something he didn't like, or something he was allergic to for that matter. Wanting to make him something he would love instead, especially since it would make him all the more eager to cook for him more frequently if the politician truly enjoyed what he was cooking.

 

The look that crossed his face when he was asked if he had seen the video yet made it clear that it didn't matter if he had seen the video yet. They both knew it was a lie no matter what, and watching it wasn't going to change that, no matter how well made the video was. Watching his boyfriend cross his arms in front of his chest made him smile a bit amused though, that response really was a bit cute and he couldn't help but see it in that manner. Patting the other's arm once more he shook his head, "Nope, and I'm not going too." He stated simply. It didn't matter how hard the blonde had worked on that film, he was not going to watch it now, or ever. It would just depress him even more, especially since he knew it was lying. That was the point of image films after all, to make you think that everything was all great and alright when in reality they were covering up the true things going on. Whether it was unsafe working conditions or disastrous living conditions of its 'product' there was no denying that all image films were hiding something.

 

"Aw! You wouldn't let me spray paint your car?" Kario teasingly replied when Devon indicated if he was a grass nibbling hippie that chances were he wouldn't love him and would rather spray paint his car or hold up unflattering caricatures of him at a protest. He couldn't help it though, he had to tease his boyfriend a little, wanting Devon to ease up a bit. The blonde was too tense all the time, and Kario was determined to get him to relax a bit. "In all seriousness though I wouldn't love you any less if I decided not to eat meat or animal products. I'd love you more for putting up with my decision to cut it out of my life if anything." Kario admitted with a small smile. What his boyfriend said next sounded more like something the man's father would say and the curious look that crossed his face probably even indicated that a little. "I love you... but you realize how that sounds right?" He asked after a moment. Kario ended up giving Devon a playful nudge again when the man said that grass wasn't food and was what you fed the food. A smile and roll of his eyes another response before he was slipping his hand into his lover's. "At least we can both agree that we don't eat grass."

 

"Barney has just as much of a chance of biting you as a horse does, Devon. But I am sure you wouldn't have any problem giving him a treat." Kario replied when Devon mentioned the horse suddenly wanting to eat his arm instead of the carrot. They both knew that the horse wouldn't actually eat him since it was a herbivore and all, but that didn't mean his lover wasn't being overdramatic at this point either. "The first mistake was thinking it was smart to feed a snake by hand." He commented about the politician telling him of a staff member of his father's feeding the snake a rat by hand when the man who usually fed them called in sick. "And please tell me you were not just comparing a horse to a snake." He added with an amused laugh. Shaking his head he just squeezed the other's hand gently, "Devon it really won't be that bad. You have nothing to fear, I'll be right there with you if it would make you feel more comfortable." Kario added with a large grin.

 

"What encouraged you to go down a different path?" Kario asked Valentina curiously when she told him about her friend whose information she would text to Devon for him. It had sounded like she had done well, winning a championship herself, so it made him curious as to why she had decided to deviate from that path and go down a completely different one. Working as a speech writer was one of the farthest paths away from any professional horse riding career you could get. Being told that there was no need to look into the governor's media representation just made him nod, especially when she told him that they were just hungry for stories and headlines that would sell. He wouldn't put it past the media to be looking just for that and grasping at straws when there really wasn't anything there. So he still didn't have any interest in looking into it to begin with, her encouragement not to just made him more set on never bothering with it. "Yes!" He replied with a laugh as she asked if Devon had forgotten the time differences again. As Valentina was telling him that this was something the older man forgot frequently and needed to be reminded of he made a mental note about that for future reference in order to keep him on the good side of Sven and not wake him up so terribly early again. "He seems really nice, a bit eccentric but that's never a bad thing." Kario replied with a small shrug not really sure why Valentina was that interested in this but knowing it was best to at least humor her a little. He'd leave it to Devon to truly indicate whether she stood a chance or not, or Sven himself if the two ever came into contact with one another. "An attractive voice?" He repeated as he thought about the phone call, "I mean... I suppose his accent was appealing." This was an odd part of the conversation to Kario. He didn't think much about whether Sven's voice had been attractive or not, especially after the activities that he and Devon had just finished before the call and the fact that Devon had been right beside him.

 

 

 

There wasn't any denying that. Kario had discovered quite quickly already that it always seemed like Devon was getting up at obnoxiously early times especially when he had work to get done. The arm that went around him immediately upon him cuddling up to his lover's side made a pleased sigh escape him. A little surprised when the older man suddenly turned to his side and opened his eyes enough to rest a hand on his cheek before their lips met in a deep kiss. It was a short kiss, but still deep before Devon was lying back on the bed and falling asleep as he was speaking. "I love you too, Devon." He whispered as he rested his head on the other's chest once more. It was sweet to Kario that Devon had even been able to muster up enough energy to kiss him after he had playfully complained. That was enough to make it so he was just lying there silently against him. The events of the day had kept him distracted from his body's growing need, but now that Kaine wasn't distracted by anything he was becoming more aware of it. With a soft groan he just pressed his body along the side of his boyfriends and closed his eyes.

 

He wasn't sure how long he had laid there in silence, eyes closed and not moving before he finally fell asleep, but it seemed as though he hadn't been asleep long when there was knocking on the door and he heard Valentina's voice break through the silence of the room. Kario's eyes never opened as he rolled to the side and away from the warm body he had been clinging to in the night, not even paying attention to what they were saying. Mumbling something about being woken at an ungodly hour before he was falling asleep on the bed again, completely determined to not get up right now and pretend like this was all just some bad dream. He was not about to budge until the last possible second when there really would be no other choice.

 

Kario had done well in falling back asleep as the two talked until he felt lips on his as Devon was kissing him rather eagerly and passionately. He moaned softly into the kiss before it was broken and his lover was patting his thigh as he was told they should get up. That didn't stop him from again mumbling that it was too early, especially now that he was feeling that familiar ache back with a vengeance that made him groan and nuzzle further into the sheets. Listening as he was told they would meet downstairs in the front yard he didn't respond instead just lying there silently trying to build any motivation that he could to get out of the bed and get ready for the day. It took him longer than he wanted to admit but he was eventually in the bathroom having showered and getting dressed making sure he at least looked semi presentable at this point.

 

Dragging himself outside he was stretching his back and aching muscles as he stopped beside the older man with a groan. Dark eyes looked up at his lover when the man spoke teasingly, noticing the cheeky grin that was on his face a small amused smile crossing his own at what he had to say. "Nonsense! How could I ever leave you for some French bloke?" He teasingly replied. Though he of course had absolutely no intention of doing that. "I take it she sent you the information for that trainer friend of hers?" He asked as he leaned into the other man's side. "We have got to teach you what waking up at a normal hour is." He added as he rubbed at his eyes. Granted, this wasn't really early when he thought about when the brothel closed and opened, but that was a different type of tired than what he felt now.

 

"You truly are lucky that when you leave the bed so does the warmth." Kario playfully teased his boyfriend as he yawned softly. Standing up straighter and glancing around them, "So... what are we doing again?" He asked still not being fully awake just yet. He recalled something about Valentina saying buy a horse, but even then he didn't feel like that called for them getting up this early.

[-Hideki-]

Fair. What was fair in life? Ashfield didn’t really think that his parents had always been particularly fair to him. They still weren’t. His lover however seemed to be dead set that they shall make time for both of their families and even if for another reason than Kario had said, Devon knew that his parents couldn’t just be kept out of the equation. Even if he tried to ignore them they’d force their way back into his life, especially his father who would not tolerate being ignored. And he’d rather spend time with him seemingly voluntarily than having to deal with the man when he was angry at him and would then certainly do something as a pay back. Not to mention that he was still seeing Kario’s parents getting invited into the Ashfield’s mansion for the holidays. “Do you think your parents would take an invitation of mine to celebrate together?” he wanted to know how much success his mother could have with that offer. Aside from his farther potentially misbehaving he also thought that it might get awkward because his parents were probably the age as the black haired man’s grandparents. Then again when he had met his boyfriend’s parents they had taken the fact that he was about the same age as them rather well.

 

“No, I am not allergic.” Devon answered when the other had asked him whether there was something he couldn’t eat. Unlike his father who was allergic to almonds and nuts the governor didn’t suffer from any allergies and he was damn thankful for that. Allergies were rather restricting and a true hassle. His father couldn’t even touch an almond or nut without his skin breaking out in a rash immediately. He had seen it when he had touched something of which’s ingredients he had been unaware. It had not been a nice thing to look at and his father had fired the person who had brought that into his house immediately, cursing the whole day whilst scratching himself furiously.

 

“I’d rather you’d surprise me. The only things I can’t stomach are too fatty and fried foods, as you have already heard today.” He told the other. He didn’t really have one favourite dish to begin with and he’d really like the man to surprise him food wise maybe even make something he had not eaten before. It would be a nice change from ordering precisely what he wanted all the time.

 

The Republican governor laid his head back into his neck and sighed when he had his arm pat while his boyfriend told him that he wasn’t going to watch the wonderful information video he had helped working on while continuing to judge it regardless. “Are you sure?” he asked another time. “We flew to Austria for it. It has a really sweet elderly couple on an alp in it and little kids playing with, cuddling and feeding animals, I think you’d like that kind of film. And my acquaintance got a new haircut for it too.” Devon told him. “The landscape pictures are really soothing and in high definition.” Ashfield let his lover know. They had used soothing, peaceful imagery on purpose to calm down the outraged and angry people who had drawn stuff accusing their governor – whom they would have liked to resign more than anything – of killing and torturing little puppies. Well, people sure were creative but why the hell did they seem to be so eager to draw such extremely unflattering pictures of him all the time?

 

“No.” Ashfield said with a grin. “Spray painting one of my cars would be a divorce reason, if we were married that was.” He laughed. “I think I’d not be happy if my man was running around painting gruesome pictures of me either. It doesn’t hurt when strangers do it but if you did it certainly would. You should know that I don’t torture puppies, don’t have my head stuck up in Police Commander Mahler’s arse and am not a puppet on strings of my father and other businessmen.” The politician said and he hoped that Kario, all differences aside, really didn’t see him like that. Hence he was glad to hear the other say that if he ever were to decide to not eat meat anymore, that this would not change his outlook on the billionaire and that he could only love him more for putting up with the decision to cut meat out of his diet. “You should. Vegetarians and vegans are exhausting after all.” He grinned teasingly. The governor however didn’t get why the other looked at him like that after he had said that the veggies castrated themselves by their decision and that didn’t change when the other asked him if he realised how that sounded. “Yeah, like the truth.” He said his golden eyes looking into the brown ones, not realising the similarity to his father’s San Francisco rant or whenever Andrew Ashfield declared that their youth had gone to the dogs because they were all soft, whining little sissies. He grinned widely though when his lover then said that they could at least both agree on not eating grass. “Damn sure we do.” The man confirmed.

 

Kario took him way too seriously when he had said what he shall do if the horse suddenly decided it rather wanted to eat his arm. Ashfield wasn’t scared of horses as it was, he just mistrusted them and wasn’t particularly fond of them other than on his dinner plate. Their heads were too big and their bodies too strong for his liking. He didn’t want a pet stronger than himself without his gun. “ Of course I give Barney treats. But he is a dog, they are loyal and bred with the will to please. Besides, his head isn’t the size of a truck’s wheel.” He stated amused by how serious the other was when he spoke. Hearing his lover reassure him that he didn’t have something to fear and that he’d be right there if it made him more comfortable was darn cute though and he wished he could press a kiss onto his cheek, instead he squeezed his hand. “So protective of me.” The blond remarked slightly amused and teasing, although he really appreciated it. “I’ll be fine though. I got a gun, just in case. That’s what you have them for anyway, for those situations where some horse tries to eat you alive!” he jested with a wink hoping the other wouldn’t take this that seriously too and would accuse him of planning to buy him that horse only to shoot it down then.

 

Valentina’s dark eyes lay on Kario and she smiled widely at him when he asked her what had encouraged her to go down another path. “Oh well, I never planned to become a professional rider. I loved riding, I loved competing at champion ships and I thought that I’d continue that as a hobby forever. Of course the reality looks different when you are busy with college, internships and then work and compete with people who dedicated their lives to riding. You won’t be winning anymore.” She told him. “As a child and a teen I actually always wanted to be a famous singer. Tour the world. Everyone loving and singing my songs.” The woman admitted. “There was just one problem: My musical and rhythmic abilities are … limited.” She told him, laughing, because she really couldn’t sing, play any instrument nor could she dance. Not that she hadn’t tried all of this as a teen! At one point she had to be realistic though. Actually, at party events no one wanted to dance with her who had ever seen her dance. Thus she usually ended up with the governor who was an even worse dancer and they stepped each other onto their feet laughing. “I still loved music and lingered around at the record company my mum worked for a lot. And there I got into contact with the marketing and communication department and I loved the work they did which was still creative and important and you could work with creative people. So I decided to go for that with the goal to work in the music industry too.” She remembered. “The internship I got there while I was in college sucked though and I searched for something else and got the opportunity to work at the Ashfield Corporation. My roommate was furious. Telling me if I worked for the Ashfields she’d quit our friendship and switch rooms but I knew a great possibility when I saw one. I told her she shall understand that time was a linear thing and we didn’t live in the past anymore and I took the internship and after college I worked myself up really quickly. I now write the speeches of the head of our state and she, well, works as a barista at Starbucks still waiting for her breakthrough. I am happy and she is angry all the time. I sure would be too if I had thrown away a lifetime opportunity for nothing like she did with that offer for a role back then.” She told the other self-sufficiently. “And, what do you want to do? Stewart said you’re in college? What is your major? Do you need an internship? I’m sure the governor’s office can get you everywhere you want to be.”

 

Valentina’s eyes were glowing like a lioness that had focussed on its prey when the other told him Sven was nice but eccentric since eccentric oftentimes meant creative and she liked creativity. At the question whether the man’s voice had been attractive she caught up on the fact that she was weirding the young man out a little. “I’m sorry. You must find I am annoying.” She apologised. “I have been through a bad breakup lately and I really don’t like being single at all but don’t have the time to actually go out and find someone. So a European guy who shares a hobby of mine and is friends with the governor sounds like a good catch you see.” The woman explained, playing with a strand of her long, black hair that looked neatly ironed into perfection and was shining as if she was smearing one million products into it each morning to make it glossy.

 

 

 

 

“She did.” Devon nodded. “A French contact. Celestine Bonnaire.” Ashfield shrugged. “I see that you must have had quite the vivid exchange, you and Valentina.” The governor guessed. “She’s a great woman. Ambitious, talented, she was one of the managers of the headquarters marketing and communication department before she was thirty years old.” The blond told the other. “I’m glad you’re making friends like her. That’s the type of people you need to surround yourself with. Not some brainless thu…”he spoke and stopped himself. “Sorry. Anyway I’m glad you’re making friends.” He tried to smile it off.

 

The billionaire listened to the other man’s complaint about having to get up early while he was already on the move, his security walking behind him, to his side and in front of him whilst leaving them enough space to at least pretend that there was some kind of privacy. “Oh I knew a thing or two about getting up at normal hours back in the day.” He told him. “The good news for you is, I will be gone all week, travelling the state and you will be able to sleep as long as you want to. I can’t guarantee that my mother will pay you a visit or Aiden will want to find a place for that tree with you.” The man told his young lover, grinning before remarking: “It’s really you who is lucky to be a sucker for my warmth. Because our schedule is tight. We have to hurry to get the horse before we have to be back to get into the limousine and head back home. And if you hadn’t gotten up till then you’d have to drive back home in your sleeping attire or stay here.”

 

It wasn’t that long of a walk, the smell of early morning in the field greeting them and the sun kissing their faces, until they arrived at the horse breeder’s stables. The man was already waiting for them, waving. To him this was not early at all. He had already cleaned all the stables, feed the animals and was now making time to sell one of his precious horses. The man was greeting both of them with a firm handshake, saying that it was quite the thing to have the governor buying one of his horses before he went to the paddock with them, where the horses that were currently for sale were grazing. The breeder had a lot to tell about the horses, their bloodlines and each individual horse but Devon was not paying attention. Instead he was enjoying the cool morning breeze, the clean air and quiet. That pause that’d be the only pause he’d get that day before he’d fall onto the bed again and had to get on campaigning tour again the next morning.

[Sathenus]

What he hadn't been expecting at all was Devon asking him if he thought his parents would accept an invitation from his boyfriend's to celebrate together. That... was asking a bit much, at least to Kario not really sure if his parents would accept such an invitation. "They would probably accept so not to insult anyone, but whether they'd actually feel welcome or feel more out of place is a completely different story." Kario admitted as he looked up at his boyfriend. "Do you really think your parents would invite them to any holiday to begin with?" He asked wondering if this was even something he had to think about or worry about at all. If it wasn't then he could just forget about it altogether, if it was he was sure to think on it more and more as time went on. "I mean, I highly doubt your father even wants me around for the holidays, much less my parents. Do you really think he'd tolerate both?" Kario asked as he was considering things a little more.

 

Hearing that Devon wasn't allergic to anything was certainly a huge plus, especially since he remembered that his father was allergic to nuts. It was quite easy to avoid nuts when cooking, but there were other ingredients that some people were allergic too that weren't so easy to work around. Which was one of the reasons why he had asked, though the main reason was definitely because he didn't want to feed his boyfriend something he'd have an allergic reaction too. That's be quite rude of him, not to mention highly inconsiderate. "It's great to hear you aren't allergic to anything. I'll start thinking of meals I can make for you. It's sure to be better than ordering out all the time. A nice change." Kario said happily with a large smile.

 

The politician telling him that he'd rather he surprised him with what he made, expressing that the only things he couldn't stomach were foods that were to fatty or fried didn't necessarily help him make a choice in what he'd make him first. But he figured anything he made would be a hit or miss in the beginning. He'd soon learn about Devon and find out himself what food he seemed to like the most when he cooked and if there were any he didn't like at all.

 

The fact that they had left the country to film the informational video wasn't helping Devon's case in getting him to watch it and he was sure the look on his face clearly stated he was not about to sit down and watch it just because there was a nice old couple, kids playing, feeding and cuddling with animals or great landscapes in it. It was still a lie, plain and simple. "I'm positive, love." Kario replied wanting to ensure to his lover once and for all that he was not going to watch that video no matter what it contained. "Even if it was a video about the real conditions of those animals or their treatment in the meat industry I still wouldn't watch it." Kario stated pretty much saying no matter what the video had he was not going to sit down and watch it. Whether it was positive or negative for the industry in question.

 

"Aww! You wouldn't let me spray paint cute hearts all over your car?" He whined when Devon had told him he couldn't spray paint his car and that it'd be grounds for divorce if they were married. A small pout appearing on his face as he looked innocently up at the blonde. After a moment he let the look disappear and he laughed, "You have nothing to worry about. I wouldn't go around spray painting your stuff or painting gruesome pictures of you. I'm not very artistic in general." Kario admitted. He laughed when Devon expressed that vegetarians and vegans were exhausting, unable to hide how amused he was by the teasing. When he had asked if Devon knew how he sounded when he had said that his boyfriend responded with the truth, and though yes to him it may be that way he sounded awfully like his father. Kario was not about to say that though, not wanting to make Devon upset or anything and instead decided that it was probably for the best to just let that go for now and they could revisit it another time if the need arose.

 

"But you have to admit, dogs can be quite dangerous as well. Most animals can be a danger to someone." Kario said wanting that at least said. Sure a horse could be quite dangerous, but so could other common pets and even uncommon pets. Monkeys could be extremely dangerous but it didn't stop the illegal capturing and selling of them along with other animals like tigers and lions, alligators, large exotic snakes or even many poisonous varieties. What Devon had said after made him blush softly, he might be a bit protective of his boyfriend, but it was only because he loved him so much. Well justified in his opinion, that didn't mean attention being brought to it didn't embarrass him even if the other was just teasing him. What came after made him playfully roll his eyes and shake his head slightly a small smile appearing on his face. "Whatever makes you even slightly willing to do it I suppose." He commented with a laugh.

 

Listening as Valentina spoke it made perfect sense why the woman would have gone down such a different career path. She hadn't wanted to make a career out of riding, rather keep it as a hobby, and even though she wasn't doing it as much as she had probably hoped at the time it was still a hobby she seemed to have. Even if competing was no longer part of it, at least riding was and that was enough of a win to Kario. Hearing about how she had actually wanted to be a singer when she was a teen made him smile, that seemed to be such a common dream for teenager girls and for most of them it was never a reality. Not always because they didn't have talent either, though in many cases that was the reason why. "You did what was best for you despite what your roommate said, it was smart. Definitely a good thing you didn't let her convince you not to take that great opportunity." Kaine replied with a smile. Valentina had done what was best for her, her roommates opinion didn't matter and shouldn't have especially with such a once in a lifetime opportunity. Clearly taking it had been a good thing for her, and now she was in a really good position making what Kario was sure was good money and working closely with the governor. Hearing that her old roommate now worked at Starbucks was a bit depressing, but it seemed as though such stories weren't that uncommon. People going to school and getting degrees that they then never did anything with. It was at the mention of Stewart saying he was in college and asking what he majored in and talking about if he needed an internship that he gave her a small shy smile. "It was more of an assumption of Stewarts. I'm not in college, yet. I also haven't decided on a major, Devon and I have discussed possible options based on my interests, but it's not a decision I want to make lightly." Kaine admitted feeling that with her at least he could be completely honest.

 

"It's not that I find you annoying, this whole situation is just kind of a new one to me." Kario admitted not wanting to Valentina to feel like this was in any way her fault. After being shut away for so long he hadn't really had situations like, and though he was sure they were common between friends and stuff this wasn't common for him. None of this was common for him, not even a simple discussion anymore. "You know... I've always heard that the best relationships one could find are the ones they aren't looking for. The ones that find you." Kario said softly. Even though she said that she didn't like being alone, sometimes taking a step back and just letting yourself go with things was the best thing you could do. "I can't say for sure if that's true or not, and I get that you don't like being alone. But, take this as an opportunity to focus on yourself. Someone will come along when the time is right."

 

 

 

"We definitely connected during out conversation." Kario said with a small nod, "I like her, she's really nice." He was quietly listening as Devon told him more about Valentina, similar things that she had told him herself last night. As the blonde was telling him that those were the type of people that he needed to surround himself with he already had a feeling where he was going when his boyfriend seemed to catch himself and apologize. "I know those are the type of people I need to make friends with but... that doesn't really help with making friends my own age either. Not a lot of people my age are going to be as successful." Kario commented knowing that while he liked Valentina and Jason he wanted to make friends with people his own age too. Those people wouldn't be as accessible to him though when with Devon as not as many people his age were quite as successful. Not that he was aware of anyway.

 

"How is that good news?" Kario whined at the news that Devon would be gone all week and so he would be able to sleep as long as he wanted. All he was able to get from this was he'd be alone in the mansion while Devon was gone dying of boredom and missing his boyfriend who wouldn't be around for a week. It wasn't an appealing thought, and even being told that his mother would probably stop by and pay him a visit and Aiden would want to find a place to plant the tree with him wasn't helping matters any. Kario understood that Devon had to go and do this, that it wasn't something that was optional, but it didn't mean that he liked it. It also didn't mean that he had to like it either, finding that he'd be alone for that long was already making him tense, even more so than he already was. A soft groan came from him when Devon explained how it was really him who was lucky he was a sucker for the blondes warmth and honestly, he wasn't feeling like that was a positive right now even when told the consequences of if he hadn't hurried and gotten up.

 

When they reached the stables and met the man who would be selling them a horse he was more awake and eager now to see the horses for sale. When they reached the paddock where they were currently being kept Kario's eyes moved over the horses and he listened as the man spoke telling them about the different ones he had for sale. In no way was he blind to the fact that Devon wasn't paying attention, so when it came time for them to make a decision he gently nudged his boyfriend before he was pointing towards a horse that wasn't too far from them. The horse was a dark bay coloring with a common tobiano marking pattern and it was the one that Kario had liked the most, not just in the horses appearance -which was a solid plus- but in what the seller had to say about the horse and it's bloodline. "I want that one." He told Devon after pointing it out to him, knowing that since Devon hadn't really been paying much attention if any that it'd be solely up to him to make the decision on the horse he wanted.

[-Hideki-]

Ashfield nodded when his dark haired lover was letting him know that his parents would probably take the invitation of his parents to not be rude although the other didn’t think that they’d feel comfortable but rather out of place. “I was afraid so.” He remarked, musing, having already suspected that it’d be highly awkward. Upon being asked if he actually thought that his parent’s would invite the other man’s to any holiday to begin with the politician nodded. “My mother definitely will.” He confirmed. There was no doubt about this. Now that his mother knew his boyfriend and was aware of her son being in a committed relationship, she would certainly stick to the etiquette and invite the young man’s parents and would be curious as to who they were and what family Kario came from. A snort came from the blond when the other told him that he highly doubted that his father would even want him around for the holidays, much less his parents. While this was absolutely accurate, this didn’t mean that they’d be lucky enough to not be brought into that situation. “He doesn’t and he won’t. That’s why I had hoped your parents would decline if my mother invited them. But I think one can’t expect for them to take it upon them to be the ones viewed as rude and impolite then.” he concluded.

 

The other seemed strictly against watching the information film about the meat industry. Devon didn’t know why he was that stubborn about it but in the end it didn’t matter. Maybe the other would actually see it sometime without sitting down and watching it consciously. His acquaintance had bought airtime for it and screens integrated into a figure that held pamphlets were showing the video in the supermarkets next to their products because that had had a positive impact on the number of sales and completely overshadowed smaller companies products as well as ecological, bio products in the market. So if Kario actually planned on buying the ingredients as he had said and to not order the ingredients to be brought to the mansion, he’d sooner or later see parts of the image film. Although Ashfield had no idea why the man wanted to go to the supermarket and not just order the ingredients in the first place. Devon hadn’t been in a supermarket anymore since ages. “If you won’t be watching the video, at least say yes to revisiting the Alps again one day. Those landscapes really are idyllic.”

 

“Thank god you aren’t artistic then.” he commented when the other said that he needn’t worry that he’d spray paint his cars or draw gruesome pictures of him. “Admittedly not being very artistic doesn’t stop many of those protestors either. They attempt to draw anyway and their signs are an insult to the eyes.” The governor jested. Considering how differently they saw some things the idea that the other man may protest his policies one day didn’t seem all too farfetched though and it’d not only be uncomfortable for him but also damn humiliating so he hoped that they would never get into the situation where Kario would stand in front of his office or in front of the Ashfield Corporation and protest something Ashfield had either done or was part of.

 

Valentina nodded with a smile on her perfectly accentuated lips when the other said that her decision back then had been smart, she knew, but she was glad that the young man knew too otherwise he’d probably have been a hopeless case. “It’s important to operate with ones goals in mind and to not be blinded by ideology or false believes of holding the morale high-ground without any sense for reality.” She stated. “I lost quite some college friends over different issues but I stayed true to myself and I found better friends than them and am content with what I achieved… for now.” the ambitious lady smiled. “If you know what you want and you are focussed to get it, no one else can hold you down. That is what my parents taught me.” She said. When the conversation went to Kario and what his major in college was she realised how the other was acting a bit shy and she figured that Stewart had just falsely applied the label ‘college boy’ onto the young man as he wasn’t in college yet. “What are you currently doing then?” she was curious and nodded when the other said he didn’t want to make the decision on what to study lightly although he had quite some ideas and interests. “ It’s a decision that shall be made wisely. Maybe different internships can help you with that too. I’m sure you could get any internship in the Ashfield Corporation being with the governor. And there is no sector in business that you couldn’t look into in the Corporation. Not only business though, the Corporation has opportunities in technology and engineering as well, the headquarters has a really advanced IT and tech department. There are mathematicians and statisticians too. So everything you are now considering you can try there and even if that’s not it you might, as I did in the record company my mum worked for, find another field that speaks to you.” Valentina told him, being sure the man wanted to go into STEM, not considering that there was even anything else than STEM since for her, if not being an international superstar, only STEM had been an option she had considered. “Which field do you currently have on mind? Maybe I know someone in the department and can get you an internship as the governor is pretty busy these days?” she asked. “It’ll be the perfect opportunity for you. And one may say about Andrew Ashfield what one will but as a boss, he doesn’t care who you are. If you got it in you and you are doing the best job, you’ll rise in the Corporation in no time.” She assured him.

 

And Valentina had. Some Negative Nancy had tried to tell her that she’d get overlooked and overrun but she had not let anyone overrun her, she had overrun them on her way up. When she had played on the middle field, she had had that dull colleague named Bill. And Bill had tried to go over her head once, only once and she had in turn told him that she was the one who did the best work and got the best ideas, that he’d be nothing without her and that they both knew it and if he’d try to go over her head another time she’d make sure that he’d regret it and helplessly drown completely. After that she had stormed Ashfield’s office to demand a rise in payment, more than Bill, because she simply was a whole lot better than him. She had braced herself, had built up all her confidence and although she had been nervous as hell she had argued strongly as to how she was doing a better job and worked a lot more than Bill and that although they had the same position the one who worked more shall get more, confronted by the amused looking face of a young blond man with golden eyes, who had clapped his hands when she had been over with it and had stood from his seat and walked around the table, patting her shoulder. “Well spoken sweetie, well spoken! If you manage to be that fierce when eye to eye with my father, he might as well raise your salary, who knows. And now excuse me I have something to do in the IT department and I am determined to not be turned down this time.” The man had said and she had blushed and stared like a pig into the clockwork stammering: “You’re not Mister Ashfield?” and Devon had laughed. “Yes, I am. Ashfield Junior, hun! Junior!”

 

The blond had refused to put in a word for her and had told her that he respected people a lot more who did it themselves and she had tried. But when she had looked into the icy gaze of Ashfield senior she had ended up to be a stuttering mess and had gotten turned down what had led to her sitting in the lounge in front of the man’s office rather depressed when she had met the Junior again on his way into his father’s office who had asked how it had gone. She had told him and had asked him if he had managed to get whatever it had been he had wanted in the IT department although she had not been able to think of any department denying the heir to the Corporation anything work related he asked them for and the blond man had said:” I am apparently annoying and entitled and was asked whether I don’t understand what ‘No’ means. I do certainly know but I am not willing to take this for an answer. I’m determined to get what I want, and I will, even if I have to be persistent about it. And I could feel I am rather close now, next time I’ll win.” the son of her boss had said and she had stood up, had taken the elevator down and had later returned with evidence and data that showed how much better and more she worked that she had slammed onto her boss’s desk and Andrew Ashfield’s eyes had pierced through her chest like daggers when she had been over with her speech and he had said. “Fine. You’ll get more than him. But you should better be able to handle what will happen then if it makes round. They will start to complain that it’ll be unfair, unequal, you can argue however much you want that you just put in more effort and prioritise your job more, they’ll blame it on unrelated factors and envy and hate you for it.” He had told her one side of his lips tugging up with a sardonic glee looking forward to lean back and enjoy the show, to see whether she’d make it and keep it up or not. And Valentina had certainly made it with the same persistence Devon had used to get Jeff to saying ‘Yes’ to a date with him.

 

Valentina sighed when the young man told her that he had heard the best relationships one can find are those one isn’t looking for. It wasn’t like she hadn’t heard that before. “I know the saying.” The woman said. “I am not sure it is true though. I wasn’t looking for my ex and he was a jerk.” She said. “I think looking for someone who fulfils certain criteria might be more efficient at my age.” The woman said. “My best and most intense relationship I had when I was in college though. He was an international student from Italy.” She remembered looking a little dreamy. “He talked to me because of my name. Which in full is Valentina Valencia Jones.” She let him know. “He was pretty disappointed at first when he learned I had no ties to Italy though.” she giggled. “My roommate didn’t talk to me for a week when we’ve gone official because she disapproved. Gosh, she was a radical asshead, always had her knickers in a twist! I thought it was maybe because she had grown up poor but then I thought, being poor is no excuse to being an extremist asshead right. She later completely quit the friendship because of my internship anyway.” The woman shrugged. “How have you and the governor met though? You seem like an unusual couple after all?” she was curious. “Were all men you’ve been with before… you know… older? Are you into older guys?” she asked him.

 

 

 

It was like a slap into the politicians face when the other man’s response to telling him that those were the type of people he shall make friends with was to say that he knew but that it didn’t help him to find friends his own age and that he wanted friends his own age too. Devon Ashfield looked at the man with a completely awkward smile on his pale face. Valentina was as old as him! Jason even younger! “Yes, sure you would want that.” he nodded and he definitely understood but it was a painful reminder of how he was much older, how he wasn’t the other man’s age group and how they’d basically be living in different kind of worlds when the other would go to college while he was either re-elected and would be the governor again or he’d be a successful businessman. “But Valentina and I, all those people, we have been the younger versions of ourselves before too Kario. I wasn’t always….. middle aged…” he said. “So you should look out for that type of people regardless. Diego, the delivery guy, he is what I am talking about. The dude will make it! I can see that!” the politician told the black haired.

 

A teasing grin appeared on his face and he nudged the other into his side when the young man whined how this was remotely good news. “I thought you hated to get up this early. And this way, my ungodly sleeping rhythm won’t affect you at all and you can stay in bed as long as you wish.” He told the other, finding it amusing how apparently the man had changed his mind and would rather get up with or because of him than to be alone without him.

 

Leaning on the fence Devon was closing his eyes, feeling the morning breeze on his skin, the sun tickling it and he completely managed to blank out the horse breeders talking, enjoying the peace and the quiet, from time to time overlooking the field and the animals that were going about their business. And he realised that he’d like this kind of vacation, something he had never thought he’d find in anyway appealing but just boring and a waste of time. But if he thought about it, the type of vacation he usually had done, that contained plenty of action, busy cities, clubs, events, hook-ups, seemed completely unappealing to him at the moment. Instead he’d love to go somewhere quiet, somewhere with nice landscapes, where he could walk some miles and then lie somewhere in nature, dozing around. God, he’d probably bore his young lover to death, not being that adventurous guy thirsting for thrill and to try everything once anymore. He really had reached the settling down point hadn’t he? Where driving or walking through nature would be enough for him? Granted, he had reached that phase ten years later than many of his former friends who had built a family in their late twenties to early thirties but he had reached that point nonetheless it seemed. Or it was exhaustion due to the campaign. Yes, maybe it was just that.

 

“Hmmm…” he made staring ahead when Kario had turned to him, not having heard what he had said but when he looked at the black haired he saw him pointing at a horse. To him they all looked about the same way but he nodded. “That one it is then.” the governor heard the horse breeder say that it had been an excellent choice and they went with him to make the contract and Devon said he’d send someone to get the horse and that he’d arrange a place at a stable for it in their city until the stable on his property would have been built.

 

Back at the guest house he was urged into the limousine and as soon as Devon had fallen onto one of the seats and the convoy had started to move Stewart wordlessly and with a dark expression on his face slammed a tablet onto his lap and Ashfield put his glasses on before he took the tablet up, his golden eyes wandering over the words of the headline that said ‘Meet Governor Ashfield’s male trophy wife’ and the blond man’s eyebrows narrowed. It was a teaser for an upcoming talk on the left-wing news channel and it didn’t read well. Not because it would have been insulting to the governor, he was used to it by now, but it was focussed on Kario entirely, ripping the man apart with bad commentary and the wildest speculations. “I told you!” Stewart hissed. Ashfield looked at his advisor. “You said it would be our side that would be enraged about the age difference and me being gay!” the governor reminded. “Doesn’t matter which side it is! I told you this wasn’t a good idea. And here you have it, they are already at it. Even the teaser accuses you of exploitation and pulls your boy toy into pieces.” The man grumpily said. “It won’t make the countdown to the election any easier Devon.” He stated and that was definitely true and he chewed on his bottom lip staring at the screen while Stewart turned to Kario. “I hope you will be able to handle it! I warned you. I told you to go back to your college but you wouldn’t listen. Now you are the centre of the leftists smear campaign. And whether you are a brainless bimbo with a nice body who can’t do anything on his own or not, it’s everywhere now. Good luck starting an independent career after they destroyed your reputation if your relationship doesn’t last.”

[Sathenus]

Listening to Devon it made him curious why the blonde had asked if he had already figured that his parents would have accepted the invitation. It really didn't make much sense to him in the least, but maybe he had just wanted to confirm it. Being told that his boyfriend's mother definitely would invite his parents wasn't helping matters any as he sighed softly thinking about how such holidays would go. Surely his parents would agree for the sake of not being rude, even if they wouldn't really feel that welcome and out of place knowing how high class his boyfriend was and thus how high class his parents were as well. It'd be awkward to say the least, and just the thought of it was enough to make his anxiety suddenly skyrocket. "As much as I would honestly prefer they decline for the sake of peace if your father does end up deciding to make comments about me or them again they won't." Kaine admitted with a soft sigh. "My mother couldn't possibly decline an invitation without good reason, and I'm not sure what reasons would constitute as good when it comes to missing a holiday with the family of the person your son is with. Especially your parents particularly." No matter how Kario thought about it he couldn't find any reason his parents could us to get out of such a commitment and avoid agreeing to it. "I guess my biggest worry in that situation is my dad really won't sit by and let your father insult me. Things could get... messy really quick." Kario said softly feeling like it'd just be a nightmare. How long could Ashfield Senior avoid insulting him or his parents? Probably not very.

 

It seemed like they were finally going to get over the informational video when Devon said that if he wouldn't watch the video if he would at least say yes to revisiting the Alps again some day, mentioning that the landscapes are really idyllic. "I can't really say no to that, can I? I don't think I'd ever pass up the opportunity to travel with you, no matter where we go. It'd also make for great pictures." Kario said thoughtfully as he was thinking it over. In the end he couldn't say no to traveling with Devon anyway, but he wouldn't deny that the place was beautiful and he would love to see it. "We'll certainly need to travel there some day." He finally said with a more sincere voice and a nod of his head. There was no reason for him to not want to see it, in fact, he'd be quite happy to see the landscape, outside of that video.

 

"I can only imagine." He admitted with a little amusement thinking about how those signs would look with little to no artistic skills. He certainly would never end up doing anything like that, Kario wasn't one for protesting anything much less anything that his boyfriend had put into action. Even if he didn't and wouldn't always agree with Devon, he'd stand by the decisions that he made with the understanding that he was doing his job and what he thought was truly the best. Even if some of those decisions were a bit biased since they were also being made for what was best for business in some ways, but that was still what his boyfriend thought was best. So he'd support it, even if he didn't completely agree.

 

Being told that if you know what you want and are focussed to get it no one else can hold you back made Kario think back on a lot of his life. Not positively either, not that he felt like it was very positive to begin with but that certainly didn't help him see it any more positively either. For a moment he had forgotten that they were even still talking until until he was asked what he was currently doing then and his eyes snapped up from where they had fallen and landed on the older woman. "I guess... nothing. Getting used to a big change in my life that's about it. Everything with Devon is a lot different than what I've experienced before. It's a lot to take in all at once." Kario said not wanting to bring all that much attention to this and not really knowing what she actually knew about him and what she didn't. Since she seemed to have fallen for him being a college student thanks to Stewart it was probably safe to say that she didn't know anything about him and that she probably heard little about him if anything until the ride in the limo this morning. The more Valentina talked to him about internships the more out of place he was starting to feel as well, none of the jobs she mentioned were remotely interesting to him. "We were discussing Asian Culture the most recently to be honest." Kaine said clearing his throat and being prepared to hear how this was probably a silly idea from someone who was so successful at a young age. "Touched base on Archeology a little too." He added as those had been the ones they had discussed that he was the most interested in. Though his biggest interest still fell heavily on Asian Culture, something he really was considering since he had such a big interest in Asian history and culture. "Believe me, Devon's father I'm positive despises me already, I don't think working in his corporation or even being an intern there would be beneficial to me. Even if it's so low in the corporation that he doesn't even notice my presence, it will only be a matter of time." Kario said with a sigh not thinking being anywhere near his boyfriend's father or his company was the greatest idea.

 

Nodding when Valentina told him she didn't think the saying was true as she hadn't been looking for her ex and he was a jerk. Fair enough. It was just a saying after all, for some people that saying held true, for others it was far from the truth. Being told about the best relationship she had ever had being in college it made him wonder why things had ended, how they ended and for a moment he seriously considered asking her. Though he didn't want to reopen any old wounds but she had brought it up... so surely a follow up question wouldn't be completely unexpected. His awkwardness and inexperience in conversations seemed to come through as he shifted and debated with himself struggling with the concept that he could ask her questions if he wanted and not be in any way reprimanded for asking. Told she didn't want to discuss it sure, but nothing more than that. Hesitantly he finally built up what little courage he had to finally ask his question, "If you don't mind me asking... why exactly did that relationship come to an end?" Even as he was saying it he could hear the uncertainty and hesitation in his voice quite clearly. Which only made him blush slightly as he hated the sound of it and that it was even remotely present right now. Then the subject moved to how he and Devon had met and Kario found himself struggling to answer it, they had discussed what they would say to his parents on this topic but not what he should say to other people especially those the governor worked so closely with. The questions that followed would be a little easier for him to answer, mainly because he had only been with older men before Devon and though yes, he was into older guys that hadn't necessarily been the reason behind him originally dating them. "Yes, I have only dated older me and I am into older guys. Their not as immature as men my own age, they're ready to settle down and honestly... that's what I want." Kario said deciding to focus on that right now. He wanted a man who was ready to settle down, who could take their relationship seriously and was mature. "Not to mention older men know what they want." He added with a small smile.

 

 

 

Kario was glad to hear that Devon understood he wanted to make friends his own age, but what came after didn't help matters and he found himself fighting the urge to sigh at the words. Of course he knew that they had at one time been his age, but that wasn't helpful to him now. Sure they were successful in their careers from a young age and they were clearly the type of people Devon wanted him to become friends with but they weren't his age now. He had absolutely nothing against Valentina, Jason or his boyfriend, he enjoyed being around the three of them, he even liked Sven what he had learned about him at least. But they weren't his age now, and as much as Kario had no issues being friends with them and was happy to be friends with them and hang out with them it wasn't as satisfying. There was something missing from the friendship that he could find in people his own age. "I know, love. I don't have a problem with making friends who are older than me, and I don't mind having mainly friends that are older than me. But I still want friends my own age too." Kario replied with a small smile. Being told that Diego the delivery guy was what he was talking about and how the other was going to make it made him give Devon a curious look. Not that he didn't like Diego, he didn't really know him and the first encounter he had with him was certainly an interesting one he just wasn't sure how that would specify the type of people his age he should be making friends with. Kario even remembered how Devon had that very night encouraged a friendship there, telling him that he could speak with Diego about taking him to the college at some point so he could see the classes offered and that sort of thing, indicating they should be friends. It was a possibility, once he got to know the other more, but he didn't really see the opportunity for them to hang out coming up. Especially feeling awkward about them only knowing each other because he seemed to deliver food to Devon was quite some time and his boyfriend had decided to introduce them. It seemed like an odd friendship, and though it could turn into something and become an actual friendship it would still have an odd and possibly awkward beginning.

 

"I'm definitely not a fan of getting up this early, but I'd do it because it means I'm spending time with you. I don't want to be alone more than I don't like getting up early." Kario said with a small pout. He'd of course have to deal with being left home alone for the week while Devon was tending to more pressing matters and the election was growing closer. That didn't mean he had to like it and it didn't mean he was going to enjoy the time alone either.

 

Kario was quite intently listening to the horse breeder as he was telling them about the horses, it didn't bother him that Devon wasn't listening at all his boyfriend seeming to have quite easily checked out of the conversation. Since the horse was going to be his anyway it was probably more important that he was paying attention. But there was a small part of him that wasn't focused on the horses and was wondering what was going through Devon's head. He seemed to b e interested or occupied by his thoughts, spacing out completely. But also relaxed and content, something he didn't truly expect from his boyfriend considering their settings not having thought of him as one to enjoy the outdoors like this. Now that his mind was on it though he remembered Devon's hunting lodge in Alaska, though he wasn't a fan of hunting for sport he was still eager to see the hunting lodge. It made him realize that his boyfriend probably had a soft spot for the country despite his upbringing and being so used to luxury. This made him want to take the other camping more than before, really thinking Devon would do just fine and be able to enjoy it.

 

When it came time for him to pick the horse he wanted it was easy for him to clear his mind of what he had been thinking and he easily picked the horse he wanted based on the information the horse breeder had shared and on the animals general demeanor that he could see from this distance while it was in the paddock. After making his choice he had turned to Devon to point the horse out to him and a small amused look had appeared on his face when he came to realize just how checked out of the conversation Devon had been. He didn't seem to comment on the horse at all just saying that it was that one then. The horse breeder seemed to think they had made an excellent choice but Kario didn't really see him thinking that any choice was a bad one considering they were all his horses. Surely he'd think all of them would be excellent choices for any buyer or he'd probably be more selective in the ones he showed them. The contract and all wasn't as interesting to Kario as learning about and picking a horse had been so he left this sort of thing mainly to Devon who was probably much better at it than he could ever be. His boyfriend letting the horse breeder know that someone would be sent to get the horse and he'd be arranging a place to stable it until the stable on his property was built and ready for it.

 

Upon returning to the guest house it wasn't long before they were back in the limousine and on their way again and this time Kario's attention was back on the scene outside the window since he was back in close quarters with Stewart who he had managed to completely avoid since lunch the day before. At least until the man's movement caught his attention and he turned his head to see the tablet that he had apparently placed in Devon's lap his boyfriend slipping on his reading glasses and taking a look at what the advisor was showing him. Kario glanced over his boyfriend's shoulder at it a little curious and had to admit, he wasn't really surprised by the headline or that it was actually more focused on him and tearing him apart. People didn't have to like him, that was something he was quickly coming to terms with and no longer cared about. What bothered him was how Stewart was behaving again or that he was now calling him a boy toy which wasn't remotely correct. His attention was still mainly for Devon who was still looking at the headline and chewing on his bottom lip, at least until he noticed that he had Stewarts full attention again and the man started to speak. What was with him to where he felt the need to speak to him like that all the time? Kario truly didn't care if Stewart was his boyfriend's adviser because of Devon's father or not at this point the man was beyond irritating and seemed to take every chance he had to talk down to him and treat him like shit. Something he felt he took enough of from Ashfield Senior even in the very few interactions that ever happened between them. It was very quickly wearing thin on his nerves and for the first time since he was told he would end up spending the week alone he was glad that it at least meant he wouldn't have to see the advisor during that time.

 

"I'll handle it fine, thanks." Came his reply his eyes were making it quite clear that he wasn't impressed with the man or anything he had to say to him at this point. But he knew not to say too much as he'd probably just be called childish and stubborn again if he even said anything on his mind. There was a lot he wanted to say to the man, but he was done trying to defend himself and stand up for himself with someone who'd never like him. Though he was sure even that comment would give Stewart more than enough to begin insulting him again, and he'd take it just to shut him up and not give him anymore of a reason to be such an ass. Not to mention Kario wasn't worried about them destroying a reputation he didn't even have, he had practically vanished for five years and before that had never done anything to make a name for himself. He truly wasn't concerned about what they could or would do to him, it was only Devon that he was really concerned about. Wanting his boyfriend to get re-elected and not have to deal with all of this nonsense about who he was with or that he was gay and that sort of thing. But Kario also felt him staying out of the picture completely would be just as bad and give the media even more fuel than if he was at least trying to be part of his boyfriend's career and campaign. That could of course not be the case at all, but he still didn't care what they said or did in regards to him.

 

The more he had to deal with Stewart the more of a toll it took on Kario in general, because he wasn't used to someone taking every single chance they had to say something bad about him or talk down to him. His clients had even treated him with more respect, and that was certainly saying something especially whenever he thought about Harvey Flint. But damn... Kario would prefer to be dealing with that man right now than be anywhere near Stewart. He was half tempted to turn his attention back to the window and scenery but knew he'd probably be accused of pouting if he did so and instead turned his attention to Devon wondering what his boyfriend was even thinking at this point.

[-Hideki-]

“My father being a sociopath doesn’t count for a good reason to decline their invitation does it?” the blond man asked. Kario’s parents would probably get into contact with his parents on his birthday and Election Day party that was coming up and that he had invited them to. Sure they could avoid both of them almost completely but chances were that they’d at least see them and that was enough to know all there was about his parents the governor found. When the black haired man told him that he couldn’t see his father sitting still if Andrew Ashfield decided to insult his son a smile was to see on the blond politicians face. “I wouldn’t either.” He assured him. Devon had had enough of that already when he had talked to his father in the man’s office at the head quarters and he certainly wouldn’t sit through it at a family dinner. However there was something hopeful shining in his golden eyes regardless. “Do you think your father could take out Michalski and Smith and punch my father in the face? Hard?” he asked rather excited at the mere idea. For how long had he wanted to punch the old man properly, just once, make him shut his mouth and put him in his place, to show him that he couldn’t just do whatever he wanted and say whatever he wanted to the people in his life without any consequences at all what his father had grown up learning. Andrew Ashfield had never gotten set any boundaries while walking through society and life, it had been like his playing field, as if he held a powerful card that nearly no one else had. But it was clear as the sky was in that moment that Devon would never hit his father so the idea that someone else would finally show him boundaries in his late seventies created a tiny satisfaction entertaining the idea alone.

 

There was a smile appearing on his face when the young man agreed on travelling to the alps with him one day. Ashfield had only been to the Austrian alps for the purpose of that video and he had once gone to the Bavarian alps with Sven and some other friends who, regardless of it being a state of his nation, he complained how he hated the mountains and how driving their made him feel sick. The man was from the Northern Germany and the North was flat. No mountains whatsoever. Devon had found it hilarious. Until Sven had eaten too much of beer and too much of the solid foods and that in combination with driving in the mountains had made him feel even sicker and he had just so made it out of the car to throw up into a bush. Then again, that had been rather hilarious too. “Maybe we can check in at the nice elderly couple’s little hotel. They were really friendly.” The governor mused.

 

Valentina’s round dark eyes examined Kario a little when he told her that he was doing nothing at the moment and was just getting used to a lot of the changes in his life and in that moment she couldn’t help but to think that maybe the media had not lied for once. That this young man might have actually been a prostitute and Devon Ashfield had gone to a brothel. It had seemed rather absurd. Surely the governor didn’t need to pay for sex. There’d be plenty men and women who’d like to sleep with him. She decided to not inquire further about this though as she’d step on rather delicate territory then and she’d like to avoid that. It was a lot easier writing speeches were the governor denied the allegations of having slept with a young male hooker when she thought it actually was a lie.

 

She stared. Blank. Blinking. “Asian Cu…. Archaeolo… What?” she shook her head. “Honey! Noooo!” she said concerned, laying her head to the side patting his shoulder. “You’re so cute.” She told him and shook her head. “I think the governor just couldn’t bring himself to say this to you because he loves you so much but…” she paused, thinking about how to phrase it. “It’s a really dumb idea.” The woman just didn’t know how to word it more nicely. “Those are completely useless degrees. Asian Culture even more so than Archaeology. If you even find a job in those fields you’ll make garbage money but you’ll most likely end up working at McDonald’s selling me my milk shake and burger at the drive in when I had a rough day and stuff disgusting food into my system while crying and listening to sad songs in my car anyway. When you’re incredibly lucky you’ll get something at Wal-Mart.” She described the future she saw if he went for studies like those. “You don’t want that. Your life is too precious for that. You’re such a cute young man.” She now wanted to save him from the social studies. “Doesn’t a young dynamic guy like you like technology? You must like technology. Every guy likes technology. I can talk to Jeff, he’s brilliant, he can teach you a lot and show you the IT department.”

 

It was surprising for her to hear the young man say that Ashfield senior would despise him as she couldn’t think about a reason as to why he would. “I don’t think so. Why would he despise you? I am sure that it’d make a great impression on him if he saw you building a career and contributing to the Corporation. I can only see how this would have a positive effect.” The woman encouraged Kario. Valentina sure didn’t know where the other man had gotten the impression from that the governor’s father would hate him but even if he did feel negative about him she thought that it could easily be improved through this as well. It could only be a win in her book. The conversation about finding love made her forget about the careers for a second though and she smiled mildly, patting the black haired male’s lower arm when he asked her what had happened with her relationship to the Italian man that had started in college as he was so shy and hesitant about it. “Of course you can. Nothing bad or dramatic happened. No.” she assured him and she sighed. “Adult life parted us, you see. He was a higher semester and had a great job in Italy waiting for him. So he left. We were absolutely determined that if everyone else failed at that we’d manage and our relationship would survive a long term long distance relationship. Just that it of course did not. We became detached from one another and from each other’s lives.” she explained to him. “Long distance relationships just don’t work. You should keep this in mind when you choose the college you want to attend because the governor will stay here obviously.” She gave him some advice.

 

After he had told her that he was doing nothing the fact that the young male didn’t answer where the two of them had met didn’t come as a surprise. Heck, if it really was true that this man had been a prostitute before and they had met in a brothel she’d take that to her grave if she was her. Such a … “career” was definitely a negative at every job interview. When the other than confirmed that he was into older men and explained to her why this was she chuckled and smiled amused. “That’s so cute. You think they are mature.” She patted his shoulder. Valentina, who was Devon’s age, didn’t think men of her age group were exactly mature. She found them really immature rather often but she found it sweet that this young man would think that and compared to younger men Kario’s age they might actually appear so. “You’ll probably be disappointed when you learn that behind the professionalism our governor is a huge child in a suit.” She winked.

 

 

 

 

“I think you misunderstand me.” The governor said when the other explained once more how he wanted friends his own age even though he didn’t mind older friends as well. “I wasn’t suggesting that you’d mainly make friends with people my age because we’ve been young too. I was mentioning that to express that there are young people your age right now who are like we were back then and who’ll be where we are now in fifteen, twenty years.” The blond said with a smile. He wouldn’t discourage Kario from establishing himself a circle of friends his own age and him mainly having friends his own age either. It’d be unfair otherwise. If one were to look at it the reversed way the blond man wouldn’t want a group of friend that consisted out of people significantly younger than him either, he had absolutely zero interest in hanging out with people who were in college age now, they’d be completely uninteresting to him.

 

Back in the limousine on their way to the city a frown was settling down on his face as he stared at the tablet, not even paying much mind to Stewart who was coming at Kario again. It didn’t seem to matter though as the black haired handled it well enough. “You better will!” the adviser just said to the young man and then turned to Devon again. “I’m just going to ignore it.” Ashfield announced and Stewart shook his head. “You don’t have time to sit this one out. We have to come up with a strategy. Election Day is almost there and you’re still behind Claris Miller in the polls.” The man in his fifties said and though Ashfield knew that he had a point he’d much rather sit it out and don’t acknowledge any of this. “Call it all lies. Go against them and their attitude towards you, call their methods criminal. If you can’t destroy the message, destroy the messenger.” Jason chimed in with a hoarse voice. The stylist was wearing the same clothes as the night before, his hair was all over the place and it looked like he had not slept one second that night. The idea just led the blond to snort though. “Yeah right! After I stayed strong for so long and always remained professional with the press no matter what lies or insults the published about me all those years you want me to go against the bloody press and make myself look like an idiot? To embarrass myself in front of the public calling the liars and other names? They’ll turn it around and make ‘he’s against the free press’ , ‘he wants to silence opposition’ and what not. No, this is not an option.” The governor declined but Valentina had another idea.

 

“Empathy!” she said. “What?” Ashfield didn’t understand. “Empathy! Go for the voter’s empathy. Point out how cruel the insults to your spouse are and that you can tolerate them coming at you but not at someone who isn’t even a political player and has been nothing but nice. Say that this behaviour is disgraceful and that you wish for a political discourse instead of sensationalism!” she suggested and Devon looked at her rather interested. “That might actually work.” He mused, scratching his chin. “It will.” The speech writer assured. “Prepare something.” he told her, determined to make this stop, even if just for a short period of time.

 

The rest of the ride to the city stayed rather eventless and when they arrived at home Kario was dropped out at the mansion because Ashfield himself had to head to an interview and then back to the office. The governor was spending the rest of the day at work and returned to the mansion somewhere around 10pm in the night and dragged himself upstairs without eating or doing much anything other than taking a shower and lying down because he had to get up crazy early again the next day. After a few measly hours of rest he was sneaking into the bathroom to not wake Kario up again robbing him of his sleep and instead got ready and dressed before he stepped next to the sleeping man, letting his hand brush through his hair, kissing his lips. “I’ll be back in a week. I call you tonight. I asked someone to get to the stables when your horse arrives there. Love you.” And with that he grabbed the suitcase and gone he was, into the last week of his campaign. Those days that separated him from losing against Claris fucking Miller according to the polls.

 

And quite the week it turned out to be. His speeches were well attended. A lot more attended than they had ever been before and he had been incredibly well liked and popular amongst their voter base before and there still were many whom liked him. What was new were the screaming and screeching protesters not from the regressive left but from fundamentalist religious people and traditionalists who had previously voted for him. But after the crowd before his office he had expected that. He had not expected some really “creative people” managing to glue papers with Leviticus 20:13 onto the window of the building he was giving a speech in, in a small town. To speak with the windows screaming "And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." At him was rather unpleasant but much to his positive surprise those coming to visit actually showed their support for him.

 

All of this was exhausting though and had he never missed anything and had actually craved that exhaustion, that constant state of work when he had been alone he missed Kario now. There was only half an hour or so before he went to bed where he called the man and talked to him, heard his voice that only made him crave the other more at least the black haired could turn on the TV and the radio and see him. Well, maybe the commentary wasn’t always good and such incidents like that with the Bible verse probably didn’t make his boyfriend feel any better but he could see what he was doing and how it was going. The blond on the other hand just missed holding the man, missed touching and seeing him. And he was fucking horny too and ended up jerking off before he went to bed. He even once touched himself while they were on the phone. Made him feel like some naughty teen but he couldn’t help himself.

 

When the week was finally over though all he was was worn out and wanting a proper sleep, hitting the sofa, it all felt like after the campaign four years ago. He had had little to no sleep and had constantly been working and had been out and about, always surrounded by people and his staff and it didn’t matter how much he liked Clarence, Valentina and Jason, he was damn happy to not sit in the same room with them constantly anymore and to hear nothing for a moment. At least Stewart had gotten a grip on himself although it had taken him a few days. And now he was finally unlocking the door to his mansion, saying good night to the body guards entering and locking it again behind himself. Ashfield let the suitcase fall where he was before he dropped the jacket of his suit, threw his tie down somewhere on the way to the living room and felt like falling onto and hugging the greek statue that was greeting him in his living room. He merely brushed over the cold stone with his hand though before he fell onto the sofa onto his stomach like a stone, his face buried into the leather, closing his eyes, his feet dangling over the armrest of the sofa. Finally! Finally he was at home! It was 11pm and he had to get up at 9am latest the other morning again because in only one hour it’d not only be Election Day, he’d be 39 too.

 

It took him a while that he was lying there that he remembered that he didn’t live alone like the past eight years or so anymore and that he had Kario and that Kario lived in his mansion. “I’m back!” he called out then hoping the man would be near enough to hear it, especially considering that the governor wasn’t moving his head from the sofa even an inch.

[Sathenus]

Amusement appeared on Kario's face but he shook his head, "No, I don't think that would count as a good reason for them to decline the invitation. Especially since my parents probably wouldn't know that unless you told them and I don't think your mother would be very pleased if mine said they couldn't make it because your father's a sociopath." Kario admitted with a small smile. There didn't really seem to be any way to get his parents not to accept, telling them reasons why they shouldn't wouldn't deter them, it would probably make them less happy to accept but they would still do so. The younger man had to admit he was really happy to hear Devon say that he wouldn't sit still either if his father decided to insult him, which he was sure his lover's father would certainly end up doing at least once during dinner if not repeatedly throughout the whole night. The excitement he saw appear on his boyfriend's face when he asked if he thought his father was able to take out Michalski and Smith and punch his father in the face caused him to laugh softly as he shook his head. "Probably not to be honest, love." Kario wanted to be honest with his boyfriend and not give him a false sense of hope that such a thing was possible when it in all honesty probably was anything but when it came to his father. That wasn't to say his father was weak or incapable of protecting him and defending him, just that he wasn't a match for men who were trained like Smith and Michalski were. If he did get passed them to get anywhere near Ashfield Senior it would be because of pure luck and outsmarting the two men, not because of any physical prowess.

 

There had been some uncertainty and uneasiness following his revelation that he wasn't really doing anything right now and was just adjusting to the changes in his life. Kario's gaze was honestly anywhere but on Valentina at that point, though she didn't seem like the type of person to let his past like that make a complete change in whatever impression of him she had he couldn't help feel insecure about it. It seemed that she wasn't going to comment on it after all though, and it allowed him to let out a relieved breath when she instead just seemed to let that topic drop.

 

The look he was getting after telling her what he had been talking to Devon about made him give her a curious look when she told him 'no' in such a manner. It seemed as though she was concerned that he was considering those career paths and he honestly couldn't figure out why it was such a big deal. Kario wasn't sure how he felt about it when Valentina said that Devon probably just hadn't been able to tell him it was a dum idea because he loved him so much. It made him curious about it, because he hadn't exactly recalled stating any career names himself, just an interest in some things that had lead Devon to mention Archeology or Asian Culture. Deciding not to state this though he just let her continue, he was sure the look on his face was quite clear. Unsure why she thought any such career would not only pay him garbage money -not that he was exactly looking at how much a career would pay him- but that it would most likely end up with him working at McDonalds a place he didn't even walk into much less want to work at. At the mention of technology he just shrugged, not really interested in technology or working as an IT especially when she mentioned talking to Jeff and that he could teach him a lot and how him the IT department. It wasn't that he had anything against the other man, but he felt like things between them were bound to be awkward, and the man was a little too close to his boyfriend's father when it came to certain matters that made him uncomfortable. "I don't know... I'm not really tech savvy..." He said not really thinking he'd be cut out for such a career.

 

"Because every time we've been face to face he takes the opportunity to insult me..." Kario mumbled when she asked him why the man would despise him, not wanting to go into more detail of how he had first met Devon's father since it wasn't really under the best circumstances. The more he thought about it the more it gave him anxiety, especially since he knew without a doubt that the man at the very least didn't like him. That was probably quite an understatement too, but he was sure Devon had a better word for how exactly his father felt about him. Kario found himself being lost in thought at this point, wondering if trying to work for the corporation was really a good idea and would gain favor from his boyfriend's father, he couldn't find any reason why it would gain him any favor. That and he really didn't think he wanted to work for the large company, he wanted a job he'd be happy doing, one he wanted to get up and do every day that he was excited to do and was ambitious about. Even though he knew that Valentina only wanted to help him and get him on a successful path he couldn't see himself being happy working for the corporation or in any career really that was outside of what he had discussed with Devon previously. Kario found himself drawn from his thoughts when Valentina began to answer his question regarding what had happened with that relationship, and he found himself happy for the subject to distract him from any career path he may or may not end up taking. "Long distance relationships certainly aren't easy." He agreed with a small nod understanding why the relationship had not lasted, even if the chemistry between two people was great when they were face to face.

 

The fact that Valentina didn't bring any attention to him not having answered how they had met was certainly a relief. Happy to know that he wasn't going to be forced to think of a way they could have met right on the spot. Knowing that anything he could possible come up with in that regards would not be very good or would have a bunch of holes in it. He had to admit the more lighthearted conversation that ensued about men her age and his boyfriend's age being mature was definitely a needed change. "I'm sure he can be in certain situations." Kario mused thoughtfully. Not exactly thinking of his boyfriend as a child in a suit, but he was sure that Devon like anyone could certainly have his childish moments. Thinking of his boyfriend having such moments was quite an interesting thought, and he had to admit he probably wouldn't mind seeing it.

 

 

 

"But... how would I be able to tell that the friends I make would even end up as successful?" He asked with a small frown trying to think about it a little. Kario knew that some people could seem like they were on the right path but that it didn't mean they would continue on that path. There were so many variables and honestly, Kario wasn't really sure he cared if those friends ended up extremely successful or not. He wanted friends his own age as they'd have more in common than people his boyfriend's not that he minded being friends with Valentina or Jason as well. It was a question that he felt a bit stupid for asking, as he was sure finding such people was probably pretty obvious to Devon and quite easy. That just wasn't the case for the younger man though, clearly from who his previous friends were he wasn't the best judge of character when it came to those he made friends with. Devon really was the best thing that had ever happened to him and would definitely help keep him on a better path.

 

The ride back to the mansion wasn't a very comfortable one, Kaine had expected it to be better than the ride to the event had been and in some ways it certainly was but in others it was far worse. When he was dropped off he gave Devon a quick kiss on the cheek before going inside to relax a bit and try to figure out how he was going to occupy all the free time he suddenly had and how he was going to be left to his own devices this next week. The day was long and boring, he found himself lying over the couch, on the bed, exploring the never ending halls, lying on the floor of a hallway staring at the ceiling and trying to figure out what he was going to do with his life, wandering the grounds aimlessly, and even in the kitchen deciding he'd make a list of groceries to have the servants pick up for him. All of this and the day still dragged by so slowly making him groan, which only got worse by the renewed aches his body was giving him from going so long without sex. Hell, he even spent an hour or more trying to ease that and still failed. Whining to himself he just ended up trying to go to bed early that night sure that Devon would be back late. Which seemed to be exactly the case as when Devon finally climbed into bed Kario had just managed to fall asleep after hours of lying there only to stir slightly at the movement. His body just seemed to navigate to the other's snuggling up to it before allowing him to become fully asleep once more. Kario's sleep was troubled and uneasy though, his body kept waking him up every so often, it seemed every hour to him as he groaned softly and finally sat up looking down at the sleeping body beside him.

 

This all sucked, he knew Devon was exhausted and had to get up early, just as he had been the night before, but his body was aching and wanted sex something it was very quickly starting to demand at the same time. For what felt like hours he sat there debating on waking Devon up, but he never did. Knowing his boyfriend needed the sleep and feeling he needed it far more than he needed sex no matter what his body was saying he just got out of bed and made his way towards the bathroom. Soaking in the hot water of the tub he tried to let that ease his body and the tense muscles, but it only helped sooth it so much. Groaning to himself his eyes drifted shut, while he was happy to be free of the brothel it seemed that not all of him was exactly happy with that. When Kaine finally dragged himself out of the tub again the water had cooled and he was a little pruny. Drying off he pulled on a pair of boxers again before he was sliding carefully back into bed with Devon and trying to go back to sleep. It worked, for a little while at least. The next time he woke up though Devon was gone, and it made him wonder how long he had been gone for before he had woken up. By the other's spot in the bed and how warm it still was it wasn't very long and that made him glance towards the clock to see what time it was. At the sight he groaned and buried his face in the pillows, this was going to be one long week.

 

As it turned out, that's exactly how it was too. The servants had gotten the groceries he had asked for and the kitchen was now stalked for him to cook not just for himself but Devon as well. This would at least make caring for himself while Devon was gone easier, and it would allow him to cook for his handsome lover whenever the mood struck and he could convince him not to order out. That only kept him occupied for so long though. The clothes they had ordered for him arrived as well as he spent another hour or so taking care of hanging them up and putting them away himself insisting that he didn't mind doing it whenever anyone tried to offer to do so or to assist him in any way. He needed to keep his mind and hands busy or he was just going to be crushed by his bodies withdrawal to sex and he refused to let it get to him like this even if in many ways it already had. Having barely finished putting the clothes away he was told another package had arrived and he was quick to see what it was, when he opened the box he blushed remembering the toys they had ordered and the other stuff Devon had seen and wanted to try, coughing softly and trying to get past his blush he carried the box upstairs to their room to try to figure out how he even wanted to go about putting this stuff away or if he was just going to push the box under the bed and ignore it.

 

While that thought was going through his head his body decided to make his need clear again and the embarrassment he felt only seemed to deepen. Was he really going to do this? It turned out he was. His body needed relief too much to keep denying himself, and as much as he wanted to fight it and was embarrassed about using a toy he knew he had to at least try. Devon wasn't going to be home for days and he certainly was not going to get through this without sexual release and fingering himself or stroking himself wasn't enough to get him that. He made sure he locked the bedroom door before he slowly undressed, the more he thought about this the more he wanted to just back out and not do it. But he had too, he had to at least see if it was going to be able to take care of his body's needs when Devon wasn't around to do so and things became too much for him. Things had become too much for his body more than twenty-four hours ago and now everything he did seemed to be hindered by it. After getting his hole ready and deciding he'd try the one that didn't vibrate first he lubed himself up and eased it in. While in some ways it did feel similar too his boyfriend's cock, since the size was pretty much the same there were aspects that didn't parts he wasn't very fond of but would have to get over. His body had seemed happy with the entrance of the toy though and he could already feel it easing up. As embarrassing as this was it seemed like it would work, and that was what was really important. So he continued, and after he had managed to give his body the relief it had desperately wanted he was lying on the bed calming his racing heart and thinking of Devon. At least the older man was always on his mind, even in moments like this. Cleaning up he put the toy away after washing it and stuck the other items that had been ordered away before he showered and got dressed again. Leaving the room to go about other things, there was definitely more of a bounce in his step now and he was feeling a lot better even if he would have preferred Devon being here.

 

The rest of the week went similarly to that first day minus the packages arriving and all, he made sure to put his dirty clothes in the hamper, he cooked for himself and took care of the dishes when he was finished, he watched TV and when his body became to much to handle he went upstairs to give himself some much needed relief. Meeting with the gardner they took a walk through the property to pick a location for the willow tree that they had decided to plant and after taking into the older man's consideration of where the best places to put it were they finally decided on a location and he was happy to hear it hadn't been a bad one. Even if he was sure the other man would have preferred to put it somewhere else. This was a tree for him and the governor after all and he knew Devon trusted him to pick a good spot for it. The spot he had picked -which had been one of the ones the gardner had recommended- seemed so peaceful and lovely a good place for the tree that would mean a lot to him. That done he oversaw the stable being constructed to a point, stopping by once in awhile just to see how it was going since he was really looking forward to having his horse on the property instead of at some other stable.

 

At night he talked to Devon on the phone and while that was nice and he was glad to hear his voice before going to bed at night he really missed having him by his side. Kaine even talked to his parents daily, calling them to stay in touch and let them know he was okay especially after so long of no contact whatsoever. His mother really seemed to like Devon and always asked him how his boyfriend was doing no matter how much he had to remind her that he wasn't home for the week and he'd let her know how he was when the man actually got home. Even his father seemed a bit interested in that which only embarrassed him a little since the older man still wasn't shy about his son or his son's boyfriend and their relationship together. As glad as he was that his father was so accepting and okay with it, he was still embarrassed by it. The whole week he had been counting down the days until Devon would get home, and that morning he had practically bound out of bed and into the shower. Eager to see the man he loved and knowing that he wouldn't be sleeping in the bed alone tonight.

 

The day still dragged on but for an entirely different reason, and it was getting late with no sign of the governor. Though Kaine wanted to say that it was okay if he ended up falling asleep before Devon got home he refused to accept that happening. He needed to see the man tonight before he drove himself completely crazy. He was just making his way back towards the stairs after grabbing a drink when he heard a sound from the living room, as sound that made him perk up and happily move there instead. A small smile appeared at the sight of Devon not even caring that the man seemed so tired that he had just kind of fallen onto the couch. Amusement appearing as he moved towards the older man just as the blonde seemed to call that he was back without lifting his face and making it quite muffled. He wouldn't have heard it had he not already been in the room, and he wouldn't have been in the room had he not heard Devon plopping on the couch. Reaching out he ran his fingers gently through his lover's soft blonde strands. "Welcome home, love." He happily said half wanting to just cling to him but knowing that he should give him a chance to just relax for a bit. "How was your day?" He asked softly as he carefully sat himself on the edge of the couch holding his glass of water out towards the man, "Want some water?"