[Hearing that word from Mattias surprises him. He thinks back to the ship, to being beaten and taunted for his future loss, for it being rubbed in that it wasn't him who was there for Mattias, but Ahl. That Mattias treasured Ahl as his true protector.
Be it accident from lack of memory or purpose, Oren was pleased by it. Either it was intentional, or his subconscious decided for him, right? Protector.]
Your protector, then.
[He agrees with a warm smile, moving to stand up.]
I suppose I'm not protected from your lack of manners, however. No "please?" [He's already moving to get him what he asked for, though, shaking his head. He's back in just a couple of minutes, passing him a wet cloth or whatever cleaning supplies he might have found under the sink in the bathroom.]
Protectors do whatever their wards ask. [He takes the supplies and gets to his knees, rolling up his sleeves as he gets ready to begin.] Like get on their knees and help. [He whips the cloth at Oren's legs.] Come now. It's your blood.
[After dancing away from the cloth with a laugh, he doesn't just drop to his knees. No, he makes something of a show of it, eyes stuck on Mattias as he takes one at a time.
And then playfully, he shoves at his shoulder and takes up a cloth on his own.]
Blood spilled for you. Ah, but as you wish, my ward. [So demanding, Mattias is. He'll help.]
[Unfortunately for Oren, he takes the only cloth available. Poor Mattias has nothing left to do but lean back against the bed and watch with amusement.]
You know, I do so like seeing you on your knees. It's a humble look for such a magnificent prince.
[Of course. He scrubs at it, focusing on that up until the commentary that makes him lift his chin and stare across at Mattias. The corner of his lips quirks slowly, a gradual amusement distracted by his stare at Mattias.
This is beyond flirting. He wonders if Mattias even recognizes that.]
Do you think so?
[He scrubs a little more, ducks his head a little further.] Then it is because I am humble in your presence, my dear Mattias. Shall I kiss your feet next?
[His face scrunches up and furiously he shakes his head, waving a hand in dismissal.]
Oh no. No. Groveling is ill-fitting. Besides, I've had enough of that in Renacht. You remember, don't you? We couldn't walk down the street without someone falling to my feet. No, I'm quite tired of that.
[Ah. That's no fun at all. His smile dims and he looks back down to the stain. Much like he's working to erase his own mark on Mattias' mind, he's left with this tedious task?
Well, if that's what he must do.]
You must be enjoying this. [He comments as he nears the end, just getting the last bit out with a few scrubs. This time, there's no glance upwards.]
[His exhaustion is catching up to him. The events of the night were far more chaotic than he could have guessed. He's half-asleep when Oren speaks again, peeking one eye open.]
I've garnered some amusement. Why? Does it bother you?
[Annnd done. He sits back on his knees, ignoring the ache as he smiles simply at Mattias. A slow stand and he looks him up and down.]
But if you intend to fall asleep, then I'll have to request that you save those containers for when I am around. That much you can manage, surely. [He turns, heading to the bathroom to rinse the towel in the sink.]
Perhaps next time we can enjoy those galaxy drinks.
[He looks back to the sink, pushing back the anger that sparks in him at that. Was it such an offense to think of spending time with him now?]
It's not confidence, but your own words that made me think so. Were we not working on a project together? Mapping? [He wrings the towel a little tighter than he normally would.]
I had thought that it would be preferable to drink with company. I had wanted to see how you liked it.
[He sits on his knees, gesturing though Oren can't see.]
There's a difference between mapping and drinking, Oren. Drinking together, doing... whatever this is—It's closer to what we were than... [he sighs, defeated.] ... than what we are.
[He's silent, reluctant to say what comes next and it shows.] We can't simply pick up as if nothing happened.
[He shuts the water off, squeezing the rag dry and not looking over to Mattias still. Earlier today-- no, just seconds ago-- he was flirting considerably, and now this?
His mind is clearly at war with itself. And Oren intends to play to one side, but it enrages him to think that he has to argue it to begin with. That Mattias can want something but deny it selfishly.]
Of course not. [He folds the rag, hangs it over the faucet and steps back, turning to view him through the doorway now.] But do you not find it telling that we were so easily able to feel at ease with one another despite everything that has happened?
I don't aim to avoid your feelings or your thoughts, Mattias, but I do want to ask for forgiveness. At least allow me chances to prove myself, if that's the task you've set out.
[It's a fair point. A good one. If they both wish to move forward they need the opportunity to do so, chats, walks, even drinks. Still, it was nerve-wracking. There were complications, other people ensnared in this web. Felix would hate him, he was sure of it. They would have to keep from sight. Keep their talks to dark recesses and loud rooms. The bar would be perfect, a place where they could get lost in the chaos.
But there was still the fear left over. A fear that was less of what harm Oren would inflict and more what traps Mattias himself might step into. Oren was a weakness. His words like honey, his demeanor a relaxant. He could be terrifying and vicious and yet still draw him back with a spell of comfort and whispered words. He was too easy to fall back into particularly with desire already in place.
Mattias bites his lip. Squeezes his wrists. Weaves his fingers in and out and pulls at the hem of his tunic. Closes his eyes and considers, for a moment, what he's about to do.]
All right. [He frowns.] Drinks. Tomorrow night.
[They could use the time to discuss the map. At least, that's what he tells himself.]
[Then it's a date. He longs to tease with those words, but instead, he smiles, stepping out of the bathroom and resting his hands at his hips.]
Tomorrow night. Shall I meet you outside this building? [The walk to the place was half of the fun. He's trying to pry more out of it, to get more time. It gives him enough space to not show up at his door, he thinks.]
[His tone gets more bitter, disbelieving, and anger shines through in that way rather than outright aggression.]
You'll allow others to protect you, but when I attempt to do so, it's insulting? You don't need protection? [Even when he had called him his protector just earlier, that was joking around. False. It wasn't enough to make up for before.]
Is this formality, Mattias? Have you abandoned me?
[ a spark flares within him. A hand slams down on the desk and he whirls on Oren.]
I allow nothing! I forbade you protect me and yet you did! [ he tames somewhat.] It's the same with them. [Scowling again, he turns back to the desk. ] I can't prevent any of you fools.
[He swipes out at the air with his arm, leaving it out to the side for a few seconds before it drops. With both now at his sides, he steps forward, easing the anger out of his shoulders, flattening his frown.]
Don't you understand? If protection isn't something you desire, then you must stand up for yourself! Make your own decisions and stand by them! What does it matter if they see you if this is a choice you're making?
[Slowly, his tone has softened into something almost pleading.] I think that you've shown quite well you can protect yourself against me, Mattias.
[He'd beat him, but more than that-- his attempts back home had proven worthless. He told him that in great detail, didn't he? Took joy from it. So why was he cowering now?]
Honestly, would you rather pretend that their protection is needed?
[Turning it back on him, just like that? He bites back as much anger as he can and it results in a long silence, a heavy pause like he's thinking on those accusations.]
Both, if you must know.
[His words are low, and they do sound hurt.]
Hope is not something so easily held onto, Mattias. But I hold it with you. [He pauses, taking a step back to reflect him backing off from his arguing, from his anger. Truth frames more sinister and indecisive goals in his words.]
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Date: 2015-05-09 02:17 am (UTC)Be it accident from lack of memory or purpose, Oren was pleased by it. Either it was intentional, or his subconscious decided for him, right? Protector.]
Your protector, then.
[He agrees with a warm smile, moving to stand up.]
I suppose I'm not protected from your lack of manners, however. No "please?" [He's already moving to get him what he asked for, though, shaking his head. He's back in just a couple of minutes, passing him a wet cloth or whatever cleaning supplies he might have found under the sink in the bathroom.]
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Date: 2015-05-09 02:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-05-09 02:37 am (UTC)And then playfully, he shoves at his shoulder and takes up a cloth on his own.]
Blood spilled for you. Ah, but as you wish, my ward. [So demanding, Mattias is. He'll help.]
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Date: 2015-05-09 02:42 am (UTC)You know, I do so like seeing you on your knees. It's a humble look for such a magnificent prince.
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Date: 2015-05-09 02:56 am (UTC)This is beyond flirting. He wonders if Mattias even recognizes that.]
Do you think so?
[He scrubs a little more, ducks his head a little further.] Then it is because I am humble in your presence, my dear Mattias. Shall I kiss your feet next?
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Date: 2015-05-09 03:00 am (UTC)Oh no. No. Groveling is ill-fitting. Besides, I've had enough of that in Renacht. You remember, don't you? We couldn't walk down the street without someone falling to my feet. No, I'm quite tired of that.
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Date: 2015-05-09 03:06 am (UTC)Oh, I remember. [He'd like it if he didn't. Everyone throwing themselves at him...]
Am I to be proud while on my knees, then? [He looks up again.] That is something I can manage. On top of that, I'll have this stain gone completely!
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Date: 2015-05-09 07:29 am (UTC)See to it that you do. [He closes his eyes.] I'll have the damage charged to you otherwise.
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Date: 2015-05-09 08:13 am (UTC)Well, if that's what he must do.]
You must be enjoying this. [He comments as he nears the end, just getting the last bit out with a few scrubs. This time, there's no glance upwards.]
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Date: 2015-05-09 08:17 am (UTC)I've garnered some amusement. Why? Does it bother you?
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Date: 2015-05-09 08:31 am (UTC)[Annnd done. He sits back on his knees, ignoring the ache as he smiles simply at Mattias. A slow stand and he looks him up and down.]
But if you intend to fall asleep, then I'll have to request that you save those containers for when I am around. That much you can manage, surely. [He turns, heading to the bathroom to rinse the towel in the sink.]
Perhaps next time we can enjoy those galaxy drinks.
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Date: 2015-05-09 11:25 pm (UTC)You're so confident there will be a next time? I know where they're located. There's nothing stopping me from going there myself.
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Date: 2015-05-09 11:31 pm (UTC)It's not confidence, but your own words that made me think so. Were we not working on a project together? Mapping? [He wrings the towel a little tighter than he normally would.]
I had thought that it would be preferable to drink with company. I had wanted to see how you liked it.
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Date: 2015-05-09 11:41 pm (UTC)There's a difference between mapping and drinking, Oren. Drinking together, doing... whatever this is—It's closer to what we were than... [he sighs, defeated.] ... than what we are.
[He's silent, reluctant to say what comes next and it shows.] We can't simply pick up as if nothing happened.
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Date: 2015-05-09 11:47 pm (UTC)His mind is clearly at war with itself. And Oren intends to play to one side, but it enrages him to think that he has to argue it to begin with. That Mattias can want something but deny it selfishly.]
Of course not. [He folds the rag, hangs it over the faucet and steps back, turning to view him through the doorway now.] But do you not find it telling that we were so easily able to feel at ease with one another despite everything that has happened?
I don't aim to avoid your feelings or your thoughts, Mattias, but I do want to ask for forgiveness. At least allow me chances to prove myself, if that's the task you've set out.
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Date: 2015-05-10 05:16 pm (UTC)But there was still the fear left over. A fear that was less of what harm Oren would inflict and more what traps Mattias himself might step into. Oren was a weakness. His words like honey, his demeanor a relaxant. He could be terrifying and vicious and yet still draw him back with a spell of comfort and whispered words. He was too easy to fall back into particularly with desire already in place.
Mattias bites his lip. Squeezes his wrists. Weaves his fingers in and out and pulls at the hem of his tunic. Closes his eyes and considers, for a moment, what he's about to do.]
All right. [He frowns.] Drinks. Tomorrow night.
[They could use the time to discuss the map. At least, that's what he tells himself.]
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Date: 2015-05-10 06:13 pm (UTC)Tomorrow night. Shall I meet you outside this building? [The walk to the place was half of the fun. He's trying to pry more out of it, to get more time. It gives him enough space to not show up at his door, he thinks.]
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Date: 2015-05-10 07:31 pm (UTC)No. That's too noticeable. [Standing.] We'll meet at the bar.
[Somehow.]
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Date: 2015-05-10 07:32 pm (UTC)[That makes him pause, dropping one of the hands from his hip to gesture out for explanation.] Why?
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Date: 2015-05-10 07:36 pm (UTC)[Things would get complicated.]
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Date: 2015-05-10 08:09 pm (UTC)[His tone gets more bitter, disbelieving, and anger shines through in that way rather than outright aggression.]
You'll allow others to protect you, but when I attempt to do so, it's insulting? You don't need protection? [Even when he had called him his protector just earlier, that was joking around. False. It wasn't enough to make up for before.]
Is this formality, Mattias? Have you abandoned me?
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Date: 2015-05-10 08:40 pm (UTC)I allow nothing! I forbade you protect me and yet you did! [ he tames somewhat.] It's the same with them. [Scowling again, he turns back to the desk. ] I can't prevent any of you fools.
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Date: 2015-05-10 08:45 pm (UTC)[He swipes out at the air with his arm, leaving it out to the side for a few seconds before it drops. With both now at his sides, he steps forward, easing the anger out of his shoulders, flattening his frown.]
Don't you understand? If protection isn't something you desire, then you must stand up for yourself! Make your own decisions and stand by them! What does it matter if they see you if this is a choice you're making?
[Slowly, his tone has softened into something almost pleading.] I think that you've shown quite well you can protect yourself against me, Mattias.
[He'd beat him, but more than that-- his attempts back home had proven worthless. He told him that in great detail, didn't he? Took joy from it. So why was he cowering now?]
Honestly, would you rather pretend that their protection is needed?
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Date: 2015-05-11 12:29 am (UTC)[He whirls again, bracing himself against the desk.] Are you hurt that I won't protect myself or simply that I won't let you do it?
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Date: 2015-05-11 12:47 am (UTC)Both, if you must know.
[His words are low, and they do sound hurt.]
Hope is not something so easily held onto, Mattias. But I hold it with you. [He pauses, taking a step back to reflect him backing off from his arguing, from his anger. Truth frames more sinister and indecisive goals in his words.]
But what am I to you?
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