[almost instinctively, she strokes her thumb along his cheek. she doesn't like seeing him upset, she really doesn't. and like, throné is not a very protective person, she doesn't rush to the aid of people in pain like castti does, she doesn't hold out a helping hand like partitio, but. she's softer than she likes to admit.
heartbreak is something she's intimately familiar with, at least. she thinks she can relate there, to how she felt before she slipped a knife between father's ribs. you have to, you have to, you have to.]
I believe in you. [she says, without thinking. it's the drink, mostly, but that doesn't mean it isn't true.] You'll do what is right even if it hurts. It's admirable.
[it's something a little out of her reach - she's not sure what she'd do if say, temenos stood in front of her and asked her to end the world. (she'd bring the dawn, however she had to.)
a pause, and then:]
It isn't kind to do the bare minimum, Rondo. [this is almost a little disapproving, like - she's just listening!! that's basic human decency!! even if there are a lot of people who wouldn't. never mind them.]
[ "i believe in you". those are powerful words - the kind that make his heart flutter. in the end, rondo is still just trying to understand the right thing to do, just a man who had his world upended and found it had to be his job to turn it right side up, no matter how painful the cost was. he's the flameguard, now. sazantos's former mentor told him similar, that he believed he would do well. the sacred flame said similar, when it chose him, where it lay warm in his breast, even if he can't feel it so well here.
his expression is a little complicated. soft, maybe a little beseeching. thankful shines through more than anything. even if throné says it's the bare minimum, it means a lot to him. a lot. the disapproving tone gets a quiet huff, and he argues back, though with no heat: ] To say the reality of the situation is a kindness that not everyone would give, either.
[ a platitude, a simple word. i'm sure you'll fix it. really, he doesn't think he will, either. rondo is far more realistic than he seems, and that tiny bit of optimism is a lost cause, so the pragmatism delivered with a kind hand is exactly what he needs to hear.
plus, she's like, holding his face and just rubbed under his eyes like if he might cry? how is this not kindness. the drink takes its effect here, and he adds, quietly but no less sincere: ] I'm really glad I've met you.
[the faintest, faintest bit of pink settles at the tops of her cheeks at that.]
I don't hear that often. [she says, honest, and it's a little bit the drink but it's also something that she doesn't really mind telling him. it's true. people don't like to meet her, because meeting her usually means they're about to die.]
... I'm glad to know you. [a beat.] You've been a comforting presence.
[and she thinks she isn't the only one who thinks that - there's something about his earnest desire to help, the way he carries himself... he's a good man, and the world has so few of those.]
[ oh... genuine warmth lights up his face immediately at the compliment - the smile that spreads across his face is as warm as the sun. as the flameguard, that's what he should always be, isn't it? comforting. warm, as sacred and warm as the hearth he carries in his heart, as the flames he can summon to his fingertips to light the way. it makes him happy, to hear it, and his dumb little ears perk up a little with it, too.
he reaches out - after a moment, and puts his hand on hers to give it a little squeeze. ]
If there's ever anything I can do to help you at all, you need only ask. [ for comfort, or for anything at all. ] And I'd be happy to say it more, too.
[ ah! this is nice, actually. rondo's got fairly big hands - he's not a small guy, and he's wearing his gloves like always. for a moment, he admires the contrast between their hands, turning his a little to line them up. throné's are so nice? her trade requires her to use her hands, so of course they are, but it's a nice visual of them, the knight and the thief.
the comment gets a huff. ]
Stolen! You've stolen nothing from me, Throné. [ again he'd have a wagging tail if he had one. ] And I won't. I've got a lot of stamina, you know!
[that last bit makes her laugh because he's so sincere about accidental innuendo, help her.
her eyes trail to their hands, palm to palm, fingertip to fingertip. she's a pretty slender person in general - her hands are much smaller than his. her pointer finger bends, scrunches a little to drag down his finger, and then settles back in place.
she doesn't answer that part - she doesn't think it's possible for her company to not be considered as some sort of theft, really, but she won't argue.]
You have gotten better at drinking. [she says, teasing.]
[ help. his ears droop a little bit, but it's not Really sad, it's more like he's just being bullied and he's pouting a little. because the first week here... ]
...I only got that drunk one time...
[ ... was very rough....
but despite that he's happy to keep his hand on throné's, and the ears perk right back up a second later at the contact. clearly, he enjoys this: he gives a little pressure back, idly pushing back against her fingertips as you'd do. ]
[she agrees, smiling. she's a little distracted by the pressure of his hand, actually, because it's just such... idle touch. there's no purpose to it other than to be connected, and she's finding she likes that. mostly when it comes to him. softer:]
I like it when you touch me. I don't usually like it when men do.
[the drink is a nightmare and she's being betrayed by it]
[ poor throné, kneecapped by the drink. he looks a little surprised by the comment, at first, eyebrows raising, and then... touched? he looks very touched, a smile spreading on his face, enough to show one single dimple.]
I'm glad that you told me. [ with that, he tilts his head a little bit so he might be able to catch her eye, a smile on his face, and asks: ] ...Then...could I hold your hand?
[she looks SO disgruntled. she's a little humiliated by admitting this sort of thing out loud and it comes out as pouting and looking away so she doesn't have to confront the fact that his big dumb cute face probably gets all :D about it. ugh.
but he tries to catch her gaze, and she gives him eye contact, just briefly, even though her face is turned away. a beat.]
[ his big dumb face does go all :D about it. he looks so happy. his ears? perky. his smile? radiant.
with the permission, he turns his hand just so to the side, and laces their fingers together. they are holding hands!!!! he immediately beams at her and probably makes it ten times worse. ]
[ cute. he seems very happy about this, and throné's reaction is... good? he thinks it's good. he gives their hands a little squeeze and smiles at her, pleased.... ] I hope I can continue to make things comfortable for you, Throné.
[ and then, conversationally, he blurts out: ] You know, I've never held a girl's hand before. [ a beat. he winces. that was the drink. ] - Besides - besides, my sister. That's different though!
[i had this in a tab and forgot to post it because i got distracted by charts
okay, that breaks her embarrassment, and she huffs out a little laugh at his super smooth save. she doesn't let go! she just sets their clasped hands down on the table or the seat, whatever is closer, and gives him an amused look.]
I see. Comparing me to your sister... [stop don't tease him]
anyway predictably he gets a little embarrassed by this!! he sputters a little, at first, but does not pull their hands apart at all, just waving his other one. ]
I - no! Not like that! [ BULLIED ] This is much different!
[another long pause, and then like. very, very carefully, she reaches for his hands to pull them from his face.
silence. she looks down at his hands - and then brings them cautiously up to kiss his knuckles. the drink is the only thing making it possible for her to say this, but:]
... Me too.
[you ever think about how both of them have stupid animal ears right now]
as throné pulls his hands away, rondo looks...mortified? he looks mortified. his face is very red, and he doesn't quite meet her eyes - but when she says that, his head snaps up fully to look at her, eyes big and round and sparkly and so, so surprised, and just says, hushed and faintly awed: ]
[the cat ears in response flick and press back against her skull, just a little wary, but. the way he looks at her like he's surprised makes her tilt her head.]
... Yes. I don't spend time like this with people I'm not interested in. [which is also true, and it's not even the drink, it's just. honest.]
... I probably wouldn't have told you if you hadn't said something.
well. he squeezes her hand at that, then, delighted - reaching out to lift it, to wrap his other one around it and squeeze it again. ]
Then - haha. Then, perhaps this silly drink could be a blessing! I'm glad you decided not to sit in silence with me like my original plan for distracting you from the side effects, that's for sure. [ rondo ducks his head a little, embarrassed but clearly pleased. ] I'll confess, this kind of thing is very new to me, but ... wherever even just knowing takes us, I'd be happy to find out.
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heartbreak is something she's intimately familiar with, at least. she thinks she can relate there, to how she felt before she slipped a knife between father's ribs. you have to, you have to, you have to.]
I believe in you. [she says, without thinking. it's the drink, mostly, but that doesn't mean it isn't true.] You'll do what is right even if it hurts. It's admirable.
[it's something a little out of her reach - she's not sure what she'd do if say, temenos stood in front of her and asked her to end the world. (she'd bring the dawn, however she had to.)
a pause, and then:]
It isn't kind to do the bare minimum, Rondo. [this is almost a little disapproving, like - she's just listening!! that's basic human decency!! even if there are a lot of people who wouldn't. never mind them.]
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his expression is a little complicated. soft, maybe a little beseeching. thankful shines through more than anything. even if throné says it's the bare minimum, it means a lot to him. a lot. the disapproving tone gets a quiet huff, and he argues back, though with no heat: ] To say the reality of the situation is a kindness that not everyone would give, either.
[ a platitude, a simple word. i'm sure you'll fix it. really, he doesn't think he will, either. rondo is far more realistic than he seems, and that tiny bit of optimism is a lost cause, so the pragmatism delivered with a kind hand is exactly what he needs to hear.
plus, she's like, holding his face and just rubbed under his eyes like if he might cry? how is this not kindness. the drink takes its effect here, and he adds, quietly but no less sincere: ] I'm really glad I've met you.
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I don't hear that often. [she says, honest, and it's a little bit the drink but it's also something that she doesn't really mind telling him. it's true. people don't like to meet her, because meeting her usually means they're about to die.]
... I'm glad to know you. [a beat.] You've been a comforting presence.
[and she thinks she isn't the only one who thinks that - there's something about his earnest desire to help, the way he carries himself... he's a good man, and the world has so few of those.]
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he reaches out - after a moment, and puts his hand on hers to give it a little squeeze. ]
If there's ever anything I can do to help you at all, you need only ask. [ for comfort, or for anything at all. ] And I'd be happy to say it more, too.
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she doesn't remove his hand. instead, she turns it, palm to palm with his, almost idly.]
And I'm alright. I've stolen so much of your time already. [...] Make sure that you don't overextend.
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the comment gets a huff. ]
Stolen! You've stolen nothing from me, Throné. [ again he'd have a wagging tail if he had one. ] And I won't. I've got a lot of stamina, you know!
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her eyes trail to their hands, palm to palm, fingertip to fingertip. she's a pretty slender person in general - her hands are much smaller than his. her pointer finger bends, scrunches a little to drag down his finger, and then settles back in place.
she doesn't answer that part - she doesn't think it's possible for her company to not be considered as some sort of theft, really, but she won't argue.]
You have gotten better at drinking. [she says, teasing.]
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...I only got that drunk one time...
[ ... was very rough....
but despite that he's happy to keep his hand on throné's, and the ears perk right back up a second later at the contact. clearly, he enjoys this: he gives a little pressure back, idly pushing back against her fingertips as you'd do. ]
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[she agrees, smiling. she's a little distracted by the pressure of his hand, actually, because it's just such... idle touch. there's no purpose to it other than to be connected, and she's finding she likes that. mostly when it comes to him. softer:]
I like it when you touch me. I don't usually like it when men do.
[the drink is a nightmare and she's being betrayed by it]
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I'm glad that you told me. [ with that, he tilts his head a little bit so he might be able to catch her eye, a smile on his face, and asks: ] ...Then...could I hold your hand?
[ c: ? ] If you want!
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but he tries to catch her gaze, and she gives him eye contact, just briefly, even though her face is turned away. a beat.]
... Yes. That'd be fine. [HUFF!!!!]
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with the permission, he turns his hand just so to the side, and laces their fingers together. they are holding hands!!!! he immediately beams at her and probably makes it ten times worse. ]
There. It's a good fit.
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I... [she starts, and then trails off, looking at their clasped hands. that's all she's got, she's just going to explode
... she holds his hand very tightly. don't let go, though.]
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[ and then, conversationally, he blurts out: ] You know, I've never held a girl's hand before. [ a beat. he winces. that was the drink. ] - Besides - besides, my sister. That's different though!
[ nice save?? ]
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okay, that breaks her embarrassment, and she huffs out a little laugh at his super smooth save. she doesn't let go! she just sets their clasped hands down on the table or the seat, whatever is closer, and gives him an amused look.]
I see. Comparing me to your sister... [stop don't tease him]
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anyway predictably he gets a little embarrassed by this!! he sputters a little, at first, but does not pull their hands apart at all, just waving his other one. ]
I - no! Not like that! [ BULLIED ] This is much different!
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Oh, it is, is it? [:3] How is it different?
[you are setting yourself up for failure, throné]
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Because I enjoy your company in the romantic manner that one would not ever experience with their sibling!
/2
-- Oh no.
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aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
a long pause.]
Oh. [she is. bright red.] You do?
[she sounds sort of skeptical i'm so sorry not in the bad sort of way just in the i have no self esteem way]
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Uh-huh.
[ EMBARRASSING!!! MORTIFYING!!!! ]
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silence. she looks down at his hands - and then brings them cautiously up to kiss his knuckles. the drink is the only thing making it possible for her to say this, but:]
... Me too.
[you ever think about how both of them have stupid animal ears right now]
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as throné pulls his hands away, rondo looks...mortified? he looks mortified. his face is very red, and he doesn't quite meet her eyes - but when she says that, his head snaps up fully to look at her, eyes big and round and sparkly and so, so surprised, and just says, hushed and faintly awed: ]
...Really?
[ and yes the dog ears perk up. ]
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... Yes. I don't spend time like this with people I'm not interested in. [which is also true, and it's not even the drink, it's just. honest.]
... I probably wouldn't have told you if you hadn't said something.
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well. he squeezes her hand at that, then, delighted - reaching out to lift it, to wrap his other one around it and squeeze it again. ]
Then - haha. Then, perhaps this silly drink could be a blessing! I'm glad you decided not to sit in silence with me like my original plan for distracting you from the side effects, that's for sure. [ rondo ducks his head a little, embarrassed but clearly pleased. ] I'll confess, this kind of thing is very new to me, but ... wherever even just knowing takes us, I'd be happy to find out.