there’s a long pause as tivian stares into the mirror of his vanity. reflected back at him is a face that, while familiar, isn’t truly his — it’s a mask, one he made years ago and hasn’t removed since. the changeling hasn’t dared reveal his true form to anyone but himself, in the privacy of his own tent, for… well, it’s been a long time now. see, changelings have a bit of a reputation for being tricksters, deceitful even, and while tiv is far from perfect — hell, there are far worse people in his theater troupe alone — he learned from a young age that it was best to keep his true identity a secret.
but ulrich… ulrich is different. closed off as the man may be, tiv likes to think he’s gotten through to the tiefling somewhat, and in the last however many months of their acquaintanceship he’s let ulrich into his life in a way that he hasn’t done with… well, anyone. and as much as tiv loves to string strangers along in games of flirtation and whimsy with little care for the emotional aftermath, he’s found himself unable to keep this part of himself from ulrich any longer. so, he takes a deep breath, and makes his way back to the chaise lounge where the tiefling is so he can take a seat on the edge, just a few inches away from ulrich’s feet. another deep breath and he finds his hands are trembling on his thighs, so he clenches them into fists.
“i’m — i’m not an elf, ulrich. this face, this body of mine… they’re not really me.” he steels himself, then finally dares to look the man in the eye for the first time since he sat down, and his expression is an open book: there’s a fear in his wide blue eyes, like a deer caught in the hunter’s trap. “ … i’m a changeling. i didn’t tell you earlier because — well, most people don’t take kindly to finding that sort of thing out, at least not in my experience. but i just… i couldn’t bear to keep it from you anymore. ” he swallows thickly, adam’s apple bobbing before he continues, his voice uncharacteristically small, “ … i hope you don’t think any less of me for this. ”
As soon as Tiv sits and Ulrich catches a glimpse of his face he realizes this isn’t going to be whatever scenario his mind has conjured; but his anxiety doesn’t quite ease, not until he gets an answer. And as soon as Tiv explains he lets out a long held breath, the weight gone just as quickly as it had appeared.
‘ Fuck, that’s all, ‘ he actually laughs a little with relief ringing clearly in his tone. Than catches himself, realizes how that must fucking sound to someone who has just confided a very close-kept secret. ‘ I—I mean— I don’t mean like ‘oh that’s not a big deal’! I just, I thought it was going to be something, like, really bad. No—I, uh, I’m glad you wanted to tell me! It’s cool, honestly. I’ve never met a changeling. Or. Not one that I knew of. But—of course I don’t like think you’re an asshole for that, or something. I’d be kind of a fucking hypocrite if I did, ‘ the flustered rambling ends with him gesturing to his own person, intending to imply the whole tiefling thing.
He assumes that’s what it is, anyway. Of course most of what Ulrich knows of changelings originates from sneers and ‘ jokes ‘ mocking others. Of course he’s been on the same end of such things. Even a town so sweet and welcoming to a small tiefling family didn’t mind turning when the right strings were pulled—what else can you expect from devilborn fucks, right? Ulrich sits up more on the cushions, bringing himself closer to Tiv as he awkwardly assures once more, in a concise way, ‘ But ... yeah, I think it’s kinda cool, honestly. You, uh, picked a nice face though, I’ll give it to you. ‘
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