Hadean and Pheres are discussing Malili’s insinuations of on-going problems with his local circus. However, the topic shifts, leading to an ashen chicken gambit on Pheres’s part - and much more romantic introspection on the issue of Emerel than either he or Hadean really intended.
LOWBLOODS CHAT, BWIC:
RS: / ahh /
RS: / would it be unkind / do you think / to pry further / ? /
ID: hmmm. idk, what were you gonna pry about?
RS: / what he did / mostly / I am sure it cannot be as bad as he is imagining /
RS: / he is an adult / I wasn't aware there were many things he could not get away with /
RS: / and it is easy enough to win highbloods over / they enjoy being well regarded / or feared / it's more useful than animosity /
ID: idk. probs clown trouble. i'm sure there are things you can do in that ring that'll get you in trouble.
ID: hmmm. idk. i make plenty of friends with animosity.
ID: maybe you should try it sometime. =:P
RS: / haha / and have everyone mistaking my ire as pitch flirting / ? /
RS: / i do believe I have enough difficulties with my quadrants / without adding onto them / =:B /
ID: that's because everyone is gossipy idiots who don't realize that platonic animosity is totes a thing.
ID: difficulties?
ID: ...
ID: well, that's the problem with quads i guess.
RS: / haha / yes / well / is it always platonic for you / ? /
RS: / and / mm /
RS: / I suppose it is fair to call them difficulties at this point / isn't it / ? /
ID: that's just one of life's great mysteries, isn't it? =:P
ID: i mean, you'd know best right? they're your quads. buttt.
ID: what's up? =:?
RS: / haha /
RS: / I / may be reconsidering some of my decisions / from the past perigees /
RS: / that is all /
RS: / do you talk to Emerel often / ? /
ID: oh.
ID: uhhh not super often, not really.
ID: seems a p busy guy these nights anyways.
RS: / he is /
RS: / if I can ask / has he mentioned Kit to you / ? /
ID: uhhhh. nope.
ID: why? =:?
RS: / ah /
RS:
RS: / not at all / ? / really / ? /
ID: idk how much you think em and i talk there pheres. we're not exactly... buds or anything.
ID: so nah, no buntalk.
RS: / I know very little about Emerel / so I don't know what to think about / anything / haha /
RS: / thank you for humouring me /
ID: oh.
ID: yeah, well. seems like a problem of his i guess.
-- refiningSpacetime [RS] is now messaging invertedDissident [ID]! --
RS: / the reason I was asking is because / ah /
RS: / / he is dating Kit / I don't know if he's ever mentioned that / ? / but he never really speaks of him / at all /
RS: / to anyone /
RS: / and that seems / / unkind / ? /
ID: ...wait i thought he was dating that chick he was blathering about all over the chat room to you.
RS: / in flush / he was carrying on with Kit in flush / and then they were in pale / because I asked him to get a moirail /
RS: / and that was his solution /
RS: / and / I am not very certain what is going on now /
ID: yeahhh... that's. some shady shit.
ID: he's fine talking about this chick but not kit i mean.
ID: but uh. how involved in this stuff are you?
ID: i mean. you and em have been split for a while now, but are still close. right. and you're close with kit?
RS: / / ah /
RS: / it is / mm / shady / then / ? /
RS: / and / yes / Emerel wants us to get back together / if the hearts in public did not insinuate as much / or / ah /
RS: / I am not certain he has ever seen this as us being / / split /
RS: / I don't suppose he's mentioned me to you / ? / =:? /
ID: on its own it might not be shady, but. if he's flinging info about this girl around at every opportunity and not a peep about kit, well.
ID: a biittt weird. and insulting to kit. if i was kit i'd be p pissed.
ID: and whattt. i thought those were platonic hearts. and 'babes'.
ID: =:P
ID: you come up.
RS: / haha /
RS: / well / that is something / at least / but if he is speaking of me / he ought to have been mentioning kit /
RS: / kit is incensed / and I am close to Kit / yes /
RS: / / I am not proposing any real questions to you / my apologies / =:) / but / you can see how my quadrants are proving / / difficult / right now / haha /
ID: so i'm gonna lay down what i think is happening here. and you can just correct as needed.
ID: em went off the tracks after... the faire.
ID: enough that you wanted a break after things weren't improving with the tracks situation. and you wanted him to get a rail to help him.
RS: / oh / he and Kit were / ah / dating / before that /
RS: / but / I will let you finish /
ID: ...kay.
ID: they were flush dating? =:?
ID: you said 'carrying on in flush' at least.
RS: / mm / yes / there was a / / misunderstanding / and Emerel did not realise we were exclusive /
RS: / or that Kit and I were close /
RS: / so it seemed / ah / cruel / to tell him that it had to dissolve / ? /
RS:
RS: / this seemed more reasonable a few perigees ago / haha /
RS: / they have been dating the entire time you've known him / so that is why I asked if he had mentioned him to you /
ID: ...wow.
ID: uh. i'm gonna be honest. and understand that i only see a very limited view and i'm sure there are plenty i know nothing about...
ID: but i don't really know why you. keep dealing with emerel.
ID: in any capacity.
RS:
ID: like... it just seems to be hurting you. and kit. which hurts you more.
RS: / / that is rather what Kit was getting at /
RS: / ah / not directly / he is not that sort of person / but /
RS: / I suppose / that is what I was rather looking to find an answer for in all of this / haha /
ID: can't set yourself on fire to keep others warm pheres. because you'll burn up and then that person is just as cold as they were before.
RS:
RS: / he is perfectly nice to me / the majority of the time / and he is charming / and funny / and he's never been deliberately unkind /
RS: / but / I suppose that alone is not the / / best / reason for a quadrant / ? /
RS: / especially given / Kit /
ID: no. plenty of people are funny and nice and charming pheres.
ID: if that was all it took for a quad, no one would die on drone day.
ID: and... em has some issues. which is okay- lots of people have their problems.
ID: but em refuses to acknowledge he has them. and that's less okay.
RS: / haha / that's / / true enough /
ID: and you've tried to push him towards the path of resolving them. and he's gotten kit hurt and a blue flushdate.
ID: you don't... like... owe em anything pheres.
ID: you don't owe him your pity. you were together. you wanted a break- which he seems to have a hard time even accepting as a break-
ID: except when it means going on flush dates apparently-
ID: i think you need to sit down and evaluate what you're getting out of this.
ID: because from my seat, it doesn't seem like much other than frustration and pain.
ID: and that's not what a quad is about.
RS: / oh / ! / ah / they're pale / his new blueblood / as far as I know /
ID: ...so he's just cheating on kit then.
RS: / / mm / that is why Kit is upset / and it was more understandable with the two of us / given everything / but they are both /- blue -/(edited)
RS: / but / you are right / you are just saying what / I have been thinking / I think /
ID: whoa, whoa.
ID: hold the page.
ID: he doesn't get to cheat on you because you're maroon pheres.
ID: is that why you stayed together even when he was dating kit on the side?
RS:
RS: / not particularly / ? / it just was a factor / he didn't realise we were exclusive / that is all / and Kit is /
RS: / well / you've never met him / so you don't know / haha / but he's amazing /
ID: so you two were- dating, at the very least. and he had to be told that hey, don't flush date other trolls?
ID: he's not 2 pheres. it doesn't matter how amazing kit is.
ID: how did you find out they were dating?
RS: / ah / dating / for six perigees / so / not that long / ? /
RS: / and I found out they had / mm / met / when Kit apologised for it / when he heard my matesprits name /
RS: / / as I said / Kit is lovely / haha / he was a great deal more distraught than he needed to be /
ID: ...so he was dating both you and kit. never thought to let either of you know about the other. for. perigees.
RS:
RS: / to be fair / he slept with kit / and then I found out a perigee or so later / he wasn't running a sham /
RS: / I am making this sound dreadful / =:/ /
ID: newsflash pheres- it sounds dreadful because it is.
ID: would you have done that to em? gone out and slept with another troll, hide it until he found out about it?
RS:
RS: / haha / we both know the answer to that /
ID: so why is it okay that he did?
ID: because he's jade and kit is blue?
RS:
RS: / i see your point / there is no need to hammer it in /
RS: / it was unkind of him / and inconsiderate /
RS: / regardless of our respective hues /
RS: / given the length of the courtship /
ID: ...so uh. has your relationship had a lot of that?
RS: / and I suppose I should evaluate
RS:
RS: / ? /
ID: em doing things that hurt you and you just. taking it or forgiving him or brushing it aside?
RS: / a lot of kit / ? /
ID: until you finally couldn't anymore?
RS:
RS:
RS: / i am not planning on reigniting our flush / I think / until he understands what he's doing better / it's not fair to kit /
RS: / or to myself / =:/ /
ID: no. no it definitely isn't.
ID: from the sounds of it, it's never been fair.
RS:
RS: / hm /
RS: / thank you for your input / ! / I did not intend for this whole conversation to turn into / / this /
ID: well i think that makes two of us.
ID: but. y'know. no problem.
RS: / haha / my apologies /
ID: sometimes it's hard to face things. especially when you care about someone.
RS: / I will try not to do it again / and spare you / =:) /
ID: pfff. i wasn't complaining, you're fine. =:P
ID: i'm usually around if you ever need someone to try and talk sense to you.
ID: keyword being try, btw.
RS: / try seems a rather weak word / you do get awfully determined sometimes /
RS: / but / thank you / I appreciate your help in this / and your insights /
RS: / it is / ah / always good to have an external perspective / even if I do not necessarily appreciate it at the time /
ID: what can i say? i'm stubborn. especially when it's important to be.
ID: you're welcome. the truth can be a hard pill to swallow and all that.
ID: and not liking it is p natural too. so.
ID: ...good luck with everything. think it out, maybe talk it out with kit.
ID: see what he's going to do too.
RS: / I can appreciate the intentions in hindsight / =:) /
RS: / and / haha / I have been talking to Kit / do not worry / I doubt I'd have considered there to be any issue / if he hadn't been upset in the first place /
RS: / thank you / ! / but / ah /
RS: / how are you / ? /
ID: things usually are easier with some time between you and them.
ID: ...and well. just because you didn't consider the upset didn't mean it wasn't still there.
ID: i'm fine. as always.
RS: / haha / as always / ? /
ID: almost always. =:P
RS: / where are you headed next / ? /
ID: uhhh. scarabshell or something like that i think.
RS: / oh / ! / that's near where I met my kismesis / but she doesn't live there anymore /
RS: / / I should go speak to Kit / but / ah / I will message you later / ! / =:) /
RS: / if you go to scarabshell / be sure to stop by the taverns / they have marvellous coffee /
ID: gotcha.
ID: good luck with kit. and em.
ID: it'll. be hard, but it's... for your own good and also em's.
RS: / ah / I will keep that in mind /
RS: / thank you /
-- refiningSpacetime [RS] is no longer messaging invertedDissident [ID]! --
Follow-up to THIS CHAT-LOG, in which Pheres and Emerel discuss Hadean’s fight, and agree to meet up in person before-hand to talk about their trust issues.
It doesn’t quite work out. Pheres admits to smuggling contraband and stolen items, Emerel admits to knowing where to buy contraband, and then absconds to the fight.
>PHERES
If you've ever had a complaint about fairs, it's been the boredom of them. When you're chained to your booth, after all, stuck guarding your merchandise from thieves and the environment alike, you don't get to see the sights. And it's hard to catch up with your peers when you're busy selling things. But with Maidel and Sipara here, it's left you with a great deal more time: to polish up everyone's outfits and give their horns a shine, to tidy up the shop, to get your own gear together...
... and, for the last thirty minutes, to keep an eye out for Emerel from on top of your cart. Your feet dangle over the edge as you peer into the crowd, peering at the bobbing heads. Thank heavens he's got such distinct horns, and a unique pallor: it'd be hard without it, but as is, you perk up as soon as you see the sickle shapes. "Emerel! Over here!"
>EMEREL
You make your way through the crowd, mentally noting with an air of distaste just how many people couldn't be bothered to do their research before making their costumers. Assholes. You bet Hadean is amongst them somewhere. You would not be the least bit surprised, for how stupid he made you think he is.
You fix your bag over your shoulder, standing on your toes to see where you're going in a crowd of unusually tall trolls. They're not usually this tall and it's weirding you out. When you hear someone calling your name, however, you look up to see an arm waving at you from the top of a cart. A very familiar cart. Aha.
"Pheres! Hey!" You call to him, pushing and shoving your way through the crowd to get to him. It doesn't take much effort before you're approaching his cart, finding your foothole to climb towards him on the roof. "And here I was worried you'd gone and moved on me!"
>PHERES
Emerel's actually climbing up, fingers hooked in the grill of your cart and foot braced on the rim. You laugh, delighted as you lean over onto your elbow to peer at him. "Move on you? And miss seeing your face? Never," you say, and pat the roof. "Ah, you know, you could just go through the front door -"
"- but if you'd like to slide down the hatch, I don't suppose I'll stop you. How long do you have?"
>EMEREL
"And we all know how much I'd hate to deprive you of my face, haha." You wink at him as you climb, pulling yourself the rest of the way up and crawling over to him, pressing your lips to his cheek before you sit down. "I could go through the front door, but where's the fun in that?" You grin, scooting yourself as close as you can get to him, letting your legs dangle alongside his. "Holy hell, this is a great view." You shield your eyes from the moonlight as you look over head after head below you. You could spit on people from here. It's tempting.
"I've got about an hour or so. So we've got time to chill for a bit. How's setting up going?"
>PHERES
As soon as he's close enough, you're looping an arm around him, and lacing your fingers through his. "Isn't it? Maidel was half-convinced I was going to break my neck, but, ah.. obviously not! And look, you can even see inside people's bags up here, if they haven't got them zipped! Not a lot of books," you admit, amused, "but plenty of videos. I suppose this isn't a reading sort of crowd?"
"And.. it's going well enough. Everything's out." A beat. "Mostly out," you correct yourself. "I'm not certain if we'll be bothering with the metal gear tonight."
>EMEREL
You squeeze his hand, bringing his knuckles to your mouth to kiss them. "I think I might see some contraband in there too." You comment, your shoulders shaking as you laugh. "It would be a real shame if someone were to mention that to security~" You're joking, of course, but your blackmail-loving heart is still beating strong. "Well, then. Looks like we'll have to direct some people over here to buy the books instead of just looking at them. That booth babe of yours might just do the trick." You snicker, wondering just what ridiculous outfit he's planning on putting that idiot in.
"Do you need any help setting up? I'm pretty sure I've got more muscle than you and Maidel combined." You glance down, mentally mapping out where that gear might go if you helped him get it out. "Really, though. I'll be sure to send people your way tonight."
>PHERES
Do not preen. Do not preen. Do not -
It's too late! You're preening, idly fluffing at your hair even as you squint at him side-long. "There's no contraband. Stop being silly. You see one little mislabelled stamp, Emerel, and you have to go and get these ideas..." A derisive click of your tongue. "I'm going to have to try to be more exciting," you say, amused, "just so you have something to work with."
".. mm, no! We've got it covered, I think." .. do you want to discuss Hadean just yet? No. Maybe not, although you'll have to before the hour's up. For now, you'll just steer it towards another topic -- "Ah, I wouldn't want you getting sore before your fight." (Oh, damn it.)(edited)
>EMEREL
You move your head away a little so Pheres' hair doesn't get in your mouth again (as nice as his shampoo smells, his hair does not taste as good) as he fluffs it. "I'm just saying. If we caught somebody trying to shoplift us or whatever, it's good to have a profile on hand to deal with it." You wiggle your eyebrows at him like you've got a real good idea that he's just avoiding.
"I don't know, I think you're plenty interesting to begin with." You nuzzle your cheek against his, carefully avoiding the loose locks. "I can handle a little soreness, don't you worry." You pull back, looking at him over the top of your glasses, your mouth twitching to the side as you note the puases in his voice."
"I know you're worried about us, Pheres. But I keep telling you it'll be okay. Just have some faith in me, okay?"
>PHERES
"Us? I'm glad you're taking such a communal view of my shop." You grin at him to take the edge off of your words. It's not that you're bothered, but.. well, Sipara would be, if she hadn't fled to the market at the mention of your matesprit. "You worry so much! Ah, first contraband, now shop-lifters.." You pat his knee. "Don't!" you advise him. "My little part is all perfectly uninteresting, I'm afraid! And, ah.. even if it wasn't, I do have connections."
"One's that mean I don't have to worry about contraband." Being out of mind and out of sight from the crowd and Maidel alike is positively lovely. It gives an illusion of privacy that's thrilling, and you're leaning in to bump him with your shoulder, add another joking comment about soreness, when Em pulls back.
Oh. Right. "I always have faith in you," you protest, with a bemused sort of titter. (Bemused, and awkward.) "Ah. That's not - well, that isn't an issue."
>EMEREL
"Well, I would help you out more if I had time for it. Moving things is the best I can do for the time being." You idly play with his fingers, pressing his palm to yours and noting how skinny his fingers are. "What kind of connections are we talking here?" You can't imagine what Pheres has in the way of security. You don't really see Sipara being all that effective and you have no idea how Maidel works on that front either.
He says he always has faith in you and you glance at him sideways, resting your head on his shoulder and pushing his hair back for good measure. "What's the issue then?" You ask, looking to him from your rather bony perch. "Something's eating at you. Explain it to me."
>PHERES
Emerel is so courteous: it's something you've come to expect, but somehow it still delights you anew each time he reminds you. ".. if you'd really like to help, I can find some work for you. Ah, Sipara's supposed to haul the gear out of the storage hutch, but there is an awful lot. And it's in the hutch." A beat. "And just connections," you say, evasive, already regretting the words. "I've been with the society for sweeps, Emerel. Security wouldn't bother me! Even over here, I don't think."
".. do you really want to talk about this now?" You lean against him, squeezing his fingers. "You've only got an hour."
>EMEREL
"Bring it. I'm plenty strong enough to do some heavy lifting before the fight." You grin, nuzzling your face into his neck a little. You appreciate how warm he is, even if it did take some getting used to at first. Plus, affection is an easy way to get him to talk, as you've learned. "You never know. It's a crazy world, anything could happen."
"I don't mind. But you're the one who brought it up." You squeeze his fingers back, wrapping your other arm around him. "Talk to me, Pheres. What's been bothering you so much if it's not the promise not to kill each other?"
>PHERES
It's time to move when he nuzzles his face into your neck, and your breath goes a little unsteady. Knowing that doesn't make it any easier to pull away, but you still try - until he wraps his free arm around you, and you give up. "You are distracting me, you menace," you accuse him, dragging a hand down your face. "If you keep that up, we're not going to be talking at all."
"And I didn't mean to bring it up." You don't really want to talk about this, but if he's asking.. well. It's not fair to shut it down, is it? ".. you keep saying promise, Emerel, like it means anything."(edited)
>EMEREL
"I am a menace. Might as well just lock me up because whatever else will you do with me?" You snicker, kissing his neck and comfortably curling yourself up against him. While this would be the perfect opportunity for an innuendo that would probably get you pushed off this roof, you decide to refrain for now. He's welcome.
"Huh?" You're confused and you sit up, staring at him like you didn't understand him correctly. "You're going to have to explain that one to me, Pheres, because I have no idea what you mean by that. Did I do something to make you think I'm a liar or what?" You might as well be direct about it; you want a quick answer to that one and you know Pheres will beat around the bush if you aren't.
>PHERES
Anyone could look up and see Emerel being over-affectionate, but your resolution to shove him off the roof lasts roughly as long as it takes to press his mouth to your neck. Oh, goddamnit.
.. him pulling away a moment later is more distressing than it should be. You huff, smoothing a hand over your hair, but you take the opportunity to slide back, folding your hands primly in your lap. (Momentarily. Then they're tugging at the bottom of your shirt, and worrying at the hem.) "You haven't said anything." Why did you start this conversation? "It doesn't have anything to do with you being a liar."
"But.. oh. They're just words. It's easy to forget promises if you get, I don't know.. too enthusiastic?"(edited)
>EMEREL
"A-ha." You say quietly as you turn so you're facing him, sitting on your knees next to him. "So your issue is that I'll get overexcited and lose control, thereby causing me to go for the throat?" Somehow, you feel like you should have seen that one coming. It fits in with Pheres' general paranoia about...pretty much everything, honestly.
"I'll tell you again, man." You reach forward to take his hand, squeezing it in yours and stroking his hair. "Have some faith in me. I've been at this for sweeps now and I know what I'm doing. If I was going to kill someone over being too enthusiastic, I would have done it a long time ago." As it stands, you typically don't kill people that you weren't aiming to kill in the first place. "You need to relax and just trust that I know what I'm doing. You do trust me, right?" You look him dead in the eye on that one, your brows knitting together. This is a particularly important question, damn it.(edited)
>PHERES
Whenever Emerel says what you're thinking, it sounds so.. stupid.
You loop your fingers through his, using your grip to turn over his hand and examine the palm. Better than looking at him right now, when every tug of his hand through your hair - ruining your curls, you note distantly - tries to pull your thoughts towards something warmer. There's scars on his hands, though. The sight of them's grounding. "Too enthusiastic is.. perhaps not the right term. What if he gets you angry?" You do flick your eyes up at that, a quick glance to assess his expression. "I've seen you in the ring," you say, bland, "and I've seen Sipara, and plenty of other people. Someone hits hard enough, and it's like people lose their sense."
Looking up was a mistake, because Emerel's staring at you, mouth pinched. "Ah -"
".. of course I trust you. On some things."
>EMEREL
"Again." You say, sighing. Pheres worries way too much. At this rate, he's going to give himself an early pusher attack between the stress and the lack of not eating properly. "I've been at this a long time. I'm not a wriggler, Pheres. I know how to control my temper. Have you ever seen me pissed enough to kill? I'm pretty chill most of the time, if you haven't noticed." You resist the urge to roll your eyes at him, tempting as it may be. That's not the right thing to do at this moment.
"...Which things are we talking about here?" You give him The Look ™, having exactly one expectation for what he means by that. And you hope said expectation is wrong because it's the last thing you want to hear right now.
>PHERES
".. yes." His tone chafes. You bite your lip, turning the reflex to frown into something more deliberately uncertain. He's fretting, but there's no need to actually react. It'd be unfair to react, really. Fretting is what Emerel does. You pat his hand, just a touch condescending: "- you've taken me to the ring before, Emerel. And wanted me to cull that teal. You're perfectly calm for the most part, but, ah.."
"Perhaps I'm phrasing it wrong. It's not that I think it's a flaw! There's nothing wrong with it. And -"
The look throws you. You blink at him, frowning. ".. ah. Well! I trust you not to.. oh, I don't know, get angry with... me? I don't know. Do you want a list?"(edited)
>EMEREL
"Well, yeah. It's part of the game. You're the first troll I've seen who wouldn't cull him at first chance you got. To be honest, that's still a hard one to wrap my pan around." How the hell has Pheres not died yet? Not that you want him to, of course, but the question is still there all the same. He's chatty, he's awkward, he sells shady goods, and he won't fight. Yet, here he is alive and well. He's clearly quite lucky.
"Pheres, really?" You sigh, rolling your eyes and shaking your head at him. "No, I don't need a list. You've got to learn to chill out and just trust me. I haven't steered you wrong before and I'm not going to now. I already told you I wouldn't kill him, what more do you fucking want? Do I have to write a declaration in my own blood or something?"]
>PHERES
Don't get annoyed. Just because Emerel is doesn't mean you have to: you're maroon, for heavens sake. "I trust," you say, clipped, "that you wouldn't do anything deliberately to my detriment, and that you have the best of intentions towards me. And Kit. Forgive me if I hesitate on assuming that it extends that to everyone, given your own admission. There's no need to get theatrical."
"I don't know what you want. What sort of question is that?" You've been playing with your shirt to keep yourself from gesturing, but now you unfold your arms, lean forward to brace yyourselfon your knees instead. "Do you mean universally?" you say, dubious. "Because that's silly. Of course I don't - and neither do you. You don't even trust me to meet your other quadrants, for heavens sake."(edited)
>EMEREL
"Extends to everyone? Theatrical?" You raise an eyebrow at him, confused. "Now you're just making no sense. All I'm reading out of this is that you don't trust me enough to believe I have self-control and you're so convinced that I can't possibly not get mad the first time someone hits me too hard that you won't listen to a damn thing I say to the contrary." You sigh, scooting away and getting ready to stand up. This argument is going nowhere and you know it. "Look, I'm going to go get dressed, okay? I have to get going." You're starting towards the hatch when he points out that he's never met your quads and that makes you stop.
"What quads are you talking about? Alturo? Pheres, he was busy as shit most of the time and so were you. What was I supposed to do, schedule a meeting for sometime next sweep? Because that's pretty much the only time your schedules ever lined up. I didn't have any more to meet." You're going for the hatch again. "Look, if you don't want to be straight with me, that's fine. But I have somewhere to be. If it makes you feel better to not watch, then don't. I'll see you after the fight." Are you annoyed now? Slightly.(edited)
>PHERES
He pops up like he's going to slide down the hatch, and.. well, if he was annoyed before, now he's positively aggravated. You bite your lip, shrinking in as you try to decide what you'll do. You ought to let him just leave. This isn't your business. If he wants to just go and walk off in the middle of your conversation, then it's not your problem at all -
But you're on your feet all the same. "Emerel," you say, worried, reaching out to brush his shoulder before he can duck inside, "ah, don't go. I'm sorry. It's your business. I shouldn't have put my nose in. But I didn't tell Hadean he ought to not fight, did I? I am listening to you. It's just, ah -"
You take a breath. "I said I don't understand what you want. You keep saying trust! What -" Frustration isn't helpful. If you don't sound repetent, he's going to leave, and this'll be just another mark against you. He already thinks you're immature, and silly, and incompetent - you don't need to give him reasons for it. "I think," you say slowly, "we have different definitions of it. What's yours?"(edited)
>EMEREL
You're almost to the hatch when he's behind you, touching your shoulder. You keep your back to him, but you stop moving all the same, your shoulders slumping as you catch the fear and desperation in his voice. You turn around slowly, meeting his eye as you brush your knuckles across his cheek. Call it a habit; you hate when he's upset, even when it is his own fault. But he's apologizing and begging you to say, so that must have really gotten to him.
But if Pheres wants to have a real talk, finally, you're thrilled to have a real talk with him.
"I think we have different definitions of a lot of things, Pheres." You sit yourself back down, taking his arm to bring him down with you. "My definition of trust, in this case, is not sitting there worrying your head off about whether or not I'll get so angry that I'll be driven to murder. Then acting like it's the only possible outcome for this fight no matter what I say because your pan said it was. What's yours?"
>PHERES
At moments like these, it's easy to remember why you thought he was pitch-flirting when you first met him. Does he say things just to frustrate you?
Defending your reasoning is not how you win an argument. So you keep your frustration dampened, force out a laugh instead as he tugs you back down next to him. At least it's easy enough to lean into your anxiety, let it drip into your words. "That is a highly specific definition, Emerel." You lean against him, light enough that you won't go stumbling if he flounces up again. "Mine is meeting quadrants. And friends. And not -- compartmentalising everything, like it's something to hide."
(And him not assuming you can't take care of yourself - or handle your customers - or dress yourself, for heaven's sake - but no, that'd only make him leave again.)
>EMEREL
"Well, it makes sense in context." You point out, flicking his cheek. "Hate to break it to you, Pheres, but I don't have that many people for you to meet. I could take you around to some trolls I pal around with at the ring if you'd like, though." You're not with Alturo anymore, you're not taking Pheres anywhere near Thalia or even mentioning that she exists to him, and you don't really have that many friends to introduce him to. He knows Gliese and Kit already. "I'm not sure what else to tell you there."
Wait, compartamentalizing what?
"And added onto the list of things you'll have to explain to me because I don't get it: That. What do you mean I'm putting things into compartments? I don't know what you think I have to hide." Except the obvious but you're hiding that from him.
>PHERES
You know how to tell if someone's got a secret. How could you not? You've had sweeps of Sipara's subterfuge, of knowing she's doing something and not knowing what: the signs add up, after time. The converstional shifts, the flashes of irritation, the furtiveness.. it all adds up into something, but you don't know what. You don't even know the shape of it.
When he flicks your cheek, you nip at his finger absently. (Everything he says sounds so reasonable, but you know it's not right.) "I don't know," you admit with a thin smile, and lean against him, resting your head against his shoulder. "I'm not in your pan, am I? So I wouldn't have the faintest idea."
"I just.." You barely know him, is what you want to say: you know how he is with you, and you know how he is with Kit, but that's one page, and a, half filled one at that. But if you say that, he'll be hurt. And he'll leave again.
"Do you think you know me well?" is what you ask instead.
>EMEREL
You wrap your arm around him, resting your hand on his back and kissing his head. This is a weird conversation and you don't really like it, but you guess it was a long time coming. You're the first to admit you both kind of suck at this communication thing. It was why you agreed to an in person meetup instead of arguing online, after all.
"And I keep trying to tell you, but it feels like you're not listening half the time." Then again, you imagine Pheres feels the same by this point. "You just what?" You ask. He wants to know if you know him well and your eyebrows go up. Oh boy. This is a loaded question. A question so loaded that breathing on it will activate the springtrap. You're going to have to choose your next words carefully if you want him to stay calm.
"Well-" You start, speaking slowly as you form your thoughts. "-Pretty well, I think. But not as well as I could, I think." Was that the right answer? Please let that have been the right answer.
>PHERES
Emerel's always been more touchy than you. You should object right now, really! He uses it as a distraction. But you curl tighter around his side instead, tugging at his arm with your free one. "My apologies," you say, only a little stiff. "I'll try to listen more. This is my first time doing this.. ah, quadrant. I've said that, haven't I? I'm still learning, ah, how to. I'm afraid."
Unlike him, with his violet matesprits.
His answer is so meticulous. And you're not sure what you want to say in response. Or what you should. How do people manage this? Why do they even bother trying? You bury your face in the crook of Emerel's neck, and it's nice: if it was Kit, you'd feel hi pulse racing, but there's just the steady, slow beat from Emerel, the same as always. If he's not worried, why should you be?
"I smuggle goods, Emerel," you murmur against his skin, low enough that it won't carry even as far as the ground below. You don't need Maidel catching wind through the hatch and panicking. You're already panicking enough right now, because you don't know Emerel's reaction and you hate it, you hate taking risks, it's never worked out for you --
-- but you're supposed to, aren't you? Isn't this how relationships work? "For the society. There. Something you didn't know."(edited)
>EMEREL
"You and me both." You decide now is a good time for a little honesty. "I have had matesprits before, but it's kind of...fizzled out. I told you it was personality differences, but really it was more I was a lot younger back then and a lot stupider about who I was hanging out with." Is that honest enough for him? It better be because you hate talking too much about your emotions. "This one is really nice, even if you do like Troll Twilight." You finish off, wrapping your arms around his waist in a tight hug as you stick your tongue out at him. Fuck Troll Twilight.
"Oh, that?" You raise both eyebrows, running your fingers through his hair. "Somehow that doesn't surprise me." You lower your voice to match his, glancing around. "I've seen enough of your cart to know that some of the stuff in it is shady. But I never quite made the smuggling connection, though." Well, it seems your favorite redblood has some tricks up his sleeve yet. You're quite proud of him, but you're also very worried now. "What kinds of safeguards do you have up if someone comes snooping?" You ask him, your tone serious as you look down. Do you need to bodyguard your boyfriend now?
>PHERES
... it says something dreadful about you that his admission's actually satisfying. When he was younger. A lot younger. They don't count as a real matesprit if he was only seven sweeps, regardless of what he was getting up to back then.
Who's to say he'd even prefer a violet now? He's with you now, after all, and Kit, for all that he's blue, is meek enough to be a greenblood. And he was pitch-flirting with Hadean, you're sure. His tastes have clearly drifted.
Thank god.
When Emerel just lowers his voice and starts demolishing your curls, the weight in your chest lightens. ".. I've never let you see anything important," you admit, lip quirking up. "Don't worry! No one comes snooping. And if they do.. I just distract them. I've been doing this for three sweeps." You lift your head so you can bump your nose against his, fond. "I know what I'm doing. I just.. if we're. Ah. Talking about trust. That's the sort of thing that I should share, isn't it?"
>EMEREL
"Pher." You say, tapping your fingers lightly on his shoulders as you lower your voice again. "I've seen some shit myself-" You pause. "-I won't tell if you won't." He tells you to stop worrying and you look down at him, your brows furrowed together. Nobody's come snooping yet. But you got a girl and part of her quads killed once by slipping banned journals into her bag. They wouldn't hesitate to come after Pheres if they thought they had to. He's been at this a while, so maybe he's more careful than you've given him credit for. Still....You worry.
"...At least tell me what you do to keep it covered and hidden, Pheres." You finally say, your shoulders slumping. "Tell you what. Let's make a trust game out of it. You tell me something and I tell you something." Call it a...trust bonding exercise. You want to trust Pheres, you really do. But you have no idea how much of a pan he has under that fluff sometimes.
>PHERES
His concern is warming, sometimes! It means that he thinks you're properly pitiable, and that you're someone that needs protecting. Your entire life has been shaped around guaranteeing that people think of you that way, that they decide they'd rather protect you than injure you, so every time he frets, it ought to feel like validation. You're doing things right.
Unfortunately, it just chafes.
You could probably kiss him, and thoroughly disrupt this entire conversation in a matter of minutes. You know how to distract Emerel well enough that he won't even complain about it, not until later. But.. that's not the mature response to this discomfort, is it? "A trust game," you say, twisting your mouth. This isn't how you wanted it to go. You just.. wanted him to say something, like you did, but if you bring that up now, he'll balk.
Two secrets for the price of one. Well, you shouldn't have expected more. "I don't keep copies, Emerel. They're hidden in my cart, where no one but me can fetch them. And if people ask too many questions, or won't be distracted, then I can just... oh.." You smile at him, flat. "Teleport them. It is sort of my thing."
>EMEREL
"Well that's a start." Where nobody but him can fetch them? Is there some kind of hidden compartment in the cart or something? You can't imagine where he'd be hiding it that someone else can't find them. But you're supposed to be listening to him, damn it. And you really are trying. It's just your natural instinct to question everything, like you can't feel better until you know things are exactly where they should be. Where you want them to be. "I won't ask where they are, though. I'll just..." You choke a little on your words. "...Trust you know how to take care of them and yourself." Fuck, that shouldn't have been as hard as it was.
"Where do you even teleport them too? The middle of a lake, hopefully." You snicker. "It's the best thing to do with people who ask too many questions, clearly."
>PHERES
He isn't talking. He's just fretting, so you pat his cheek, just a little condescending. "You just said you weren't going to ask where they were," you remind him, teasing. "And don't get distracted."
"I told you something. It's your turn."
>EMEREL
"Whoops. What can I say, I'm a curious man." You chuckle, patting his cheek back. When he tells you it's your turn, however, you look to the side, nervously licking your lips. You have plenty you could tell him and none of it is something he'll like. You're not used to answering to people when it comes to your personal life and this is weird. "Well....I know where to find banned and illegal materials. It's pretty easy actually." You tell him, your voice low. "But keep that one under your hair." You pull out your phone, checking the time.
"Hey, I have to start getting ready here." You tell him, slowly detangling yourself from him. "We'll talk more later, okay?"
"It won't be a fight, Emerel." You finally pull your face away to look up at him. Your voice is clogged. Your face is a mess. That.. doesn't matter as much as the fact you need him to realise you're serious. "I will cull them," you say, carefully enunciating each word. "I don't like to. I don't think - people shouldn't do it. But I have, and I will, and I will make a fucking point of him and anyone else that I need to, if someone - someone -" A breath.
"If someone kills you. It's - it wouldn't be right, otherwise."
fun facts: Pheres is the only character of my cast that would genuinely start a revenge cycle, and then doggedly carry it out until the issue is settled, or everything/everyone involved is dead.
He doesn’t like it! He doesn’t really approve, but there’s things you’re just supposed to do.
"- I said I love you, that’s all," you say, laughing. "أحبك. Oh, why are you looking at me like that?"
It's a lovely night. The weather here is so muggy, but in a pleasant way: between that and the crisp warmth from the moons, it feels like home, in a way you rarely get this far north. It might've been too much, sometimes, but Emerel's got an arm slung around your shoulders, pulling you in close. The dry chill of his skin feels like a balm.
When he pulls away, you can't help the whine of protest, even as you let him.
For a moment, he's wide-eyed. Then he smiles, the flash of his fangs like moonlight through the clouds. "How much have you had to drink? Did you already finish that?"
"Not that much," you protest, but he's already taking your drink, shaking it so that the dregs slosh against the sides. "Give it back!"
He leans in and kisses your nose. "You're drunk."
"I - why do I have to be drunk?" The world's pleasantly blurred. He isn't wrong, and the both of you know it - but you grin at him all the same, leaning forward to snatch at the cup.
He lifts it higher. "I'm not drunk," you complain, giving up on the cup. "But - oh, fine.”
When he tugs you into his lap, you don’t protest: you just curl in against him, pulling his arms so that they’re wrapped around you. “I do love you, though. As much as Sipara. You know that? Not the same as Sipara, of course, but.. I love your thoughts, and your hands, and - and -"
He's shaking behind you. "I love your laugh," you add, earnest, twisting to look up at him. “And - and - oomph!”
He tugs you against him so your face is buried in his shoulder. “Shh,” he says, fond, lacing his fingers through your hair. You ought to protest, but he’s so cold, and the chill of him’s leaving you boneless.“I love you too.”
MEME THING for Em/Pheres, ID/Steamy. Pheres/Lucina, and Maecii/Rmeros or Lucina/Rmeros because The World's Most Tragic Sitcom makes me laugh a lot
Cut for length!
EM/PHERES
VISUAL ATTRACTIVENESS: 💗💗💗💗💗(+5)(Pheres is 110% attracted to Em, and general affection and familiarity has turned even the features he mocked initially into endearing things for him. Emerel’s lankiness is now a lean build, his small horns are now dignified, ect, ect. And Pheres remains deeply enthralled by his eyes.)
FRIENDSHIP LEVEL: 💗💗💗(Even after six months, Pheres is still flinchy. He’s not going to stop beng flinchy, unfortunately, because he adores Emerel and is outright infatuated with him - but he’s also constantly, painfully aware that quadrants will still fuck you up when you least expect it, he still finds Emerel to be physiclly and socially intimidating, and he hasn’t forgotten Em wanted to kick his ass over forged wares.)
(Add in all the minor conflicts over restricted information, how much one should follow the law, and their differing standards of hemoloyalty, and it’s complicated. Pheres adores Emerel wholeheartedly! He does not particularly trust him, and so tends to treat him as a more distant relationship in terms of trust than he necessarily should.)
SEXUAL DESIRE: 💗💗💗💗💗(Combined ridic teenage libido + the affection overload of both of them in the same room + frequently long distance = you could probs add like, +5 to this, tbqh.)
(... and add another +5 when Pheres eventually figures out that Em is a vampire and gets past his initial hysteria. Pheres is goth trash and he has exactly enough white clothing to live out his shitty Interview with a Vampire dreams.)
ROMANTIC INTENT: 💗💗💗💗💗
(Pheres has been going “OH NO I WANT TO DATE AND SLEEP WITH AND POSSIBLY MARRY THIS GUY” since the first time Em kissed him, tbqh.)
ID/STEAMY
VISUAL ATTRACTIVENESS: 💗💗💗💗💗(Steamy’s skin is just slightly alarming, because ID is well-aware that getting paler than him is not actually healthy. But it’s a novelty! And also, she’s really, really hot, so he’ll overlook that.)
FRIENDSHIP LEVEL: 💗💗💗💗(They’re pretty close by ID’s standards! She doesn’t get to know very much about his life, but she knows more than most people - Steamy’s the one getting snapchats of his ballet practice and his adventures with Bonnie. Steamy is also the one getting asked if she ate, what she’s up to, please give him the five page essay on exactly what project she’s working on right now because he is just plain curious --)
SEXUAL DESIRE: 💗💗💗💗💗(See above wrt being really, really hot.)
ROMANTIC INTENT: 💗💗💗(They’re fairly casual, which is how ID likes his relationships, tbh!)
LUCINA/PHERES
VISUAL ATTRACTIVENESS: 💗💗(Pheres likes his girls shorter or the same height as him, and theoretically capable of bench-pressing him. Lucina is neither! However, Luci is a rustblood with an aesthetic not entirely different from his, so that wins her back a star.)
FRIENDSHIP LEVEL: 💗💗💗(Pheres actually, sincerely trusts Lucina to do what is morally right, and to act mostly in the best interests of everyone involved. He has a lot of respect for her, to the point she’d one of the first people he would turn to for advice in a crisis, and part of his constant salt is that he is aware that she does not trust him in the same way.)
(With that said, he also sincerely thinks she’s a sanctimonious hick who would cry if she ever felt direct moonlight on her skin and dresses herself in the dark, SO.)
SEXUAL DESIRE: 💗💗💗(Angry bite-y hate make-outs, like cave-ins, are probably a high risk of them caving together. But also: Luci is not Emerel. Lucina is actually respectable, so Pheres is never going to admit he’d be open to sleeping with her first.)
ROMANTIC INTENT: 💗💗💗💗💗(Pheres is mildly angling at this, in the most round-about way possible! It’s a low-key traditional rivalry, and Em’s occasional comments about him getting a kismesis grate enough that he’s seriously considered it.)
MAECII/RMEROS (is this #graveyard crush???)
VISUAL ATTRACTIVENESS: 💗💗💗💗(Rmeros, while alive, had full sleeves, multiple piercings and glowing white eyes. He sees Maecii’s baby-goth aesthetic and fake lenses and wants to get patronisingly dry about her inability to just commit to the aesthetic, but he secretly loves it. Also, he thinks she’s cute as a fucking button in general.)
FRIENDSHIP LEVEL: 💗💗💗💗💗(Rmeros is dead! He literally has no one else to talk to except for 1) the roving, fading dead and 2) Blanca, so he latches onto Maecii immediately and aggressively.)
SEXUAL DESIRE: 💗💗(I think they’re the same age? LET’S SAY THEY’RE THE SAME AGE. Rmeros wants Maecii’s body! Just, like, in a possession sense. In a “burn you out and take over your brain” kind of sense. In a “I will take this lifeless husk and pilot it as a meatsack” kind of sense.)
(With that said: post-theoretical-zombie-inhabitance, he is still probably less actually inclined towards genuine desire, and significantly more inclined to hitting on her, winding her up and then making wry comments about the immorality of necrophilia, good fucking grief.)
ROMANTIC INTENT: 💗💗💗(RMEROS would genuinely ship this spade, and consider it a done deal, because RMEROS is fucking terrible.)
LUCINA/RMEROS
VISUAL ATTRACTIVENESS: 💗💗💗💗💗(Rmeros thinks her clothing is cute, the tiny, useless horns are cute, and that her general perceived fragility is fucking precious.)
FRIENDSHIP LEVEL: 💗💗(Lucina, as far as he’s concerned, is an ignorant stick-in-the-mud who doesn’t know what’s best for herself, and thus needs to have a guiding hand and positive influence towards proper manifestation of her ambition in her life, despite the fact that - emotionally / physically - Lucina’s likely older than him.)
SEXUAL DESIRE: 💗💗(She is attractive, adorable and he is presumably a ghost inhabiting a dead body in this case LUCINA NO.)
ROMANTIC INTENT: 💗💗💗💗💗(The fact Pheres wants to date Lucina would only provide more motivation, tbqh.)
HOW DID THAT HAPPEN foooor The Scarf Wars, Em and Pheres, ID and Steamy, the Chair and the Pear, aaaand SAPPHO AND CANELA OR ARISTE AND AGGIE BC WHY NOT
Doing this in chunks! Will reblog with the next prompt, omg. Starting with:
EMEREL/PHERES
The lovely thing about Emerel is that when he tugs you under the mistletoe-toe, you don’t even have to wonder if it’s on purpose. He’s grinning like a fool, eyebrows arched, and if that hadn’t convinced you, the way he lifts his chin would. It’s a challenge. It’s always a challenge, with Emerel, and isn’t that amazing?
It’s been only a few perigees, but the shine hasn’t worn off: everything is still so amazing, and you’re still so pleased with this, with him, with everything. He grins at you and you feel like you’ve got the moon caught in your teeth, like it’s going to sweep you straight off your feet and into the sky. You want to bounce. You want to wrap your arms around him and hide your face in his neck, but then you couldn’t see his face, or that wonderful way he’s looking at you -
So you grin back at him instead, biting your lip like it’ll ground you. (It doesn’t! It never does, not around him.) “You are absurd,” you tell him, so warm that you flush, and before you can think twice, you’ve looped a hand behind his neck to tug him down. “- ah! If you wanted a kiss, you could’ve just asked.” Practice has you sliding off your glasses, your claws catching at your curls in your taste, and then you tilt your head and lean in.
The kiss lasts longer than it necessarily should. You’re not quite sure when you looped your arms around his neck, or buried your hand in his hair - but, well. You don’t let go, not until you’re laughing and half-breathless with the shame of it.
SQUARE THINGY I CAN'T SEE FOOOOOOR ID/Steamy, Em/Pheres, and Sipa/Chiare 8D
ID/STEAMY:
ID was made solely to be an antagonist, with relatively few redeeming features outside of his affection for Sipara and Riccin, so I was surprised you wanted to pair Steamy with him, omg. even with Bonnie, he has SO FEW REDEEMING TRAITS. cass why
Also: surprised how well it actually works! I’m not sure you can get much more different than ID, troll!Mafia cyberpunk child murderer, and, uh, STEAMY, the actual Alternian sweetheart who just wants to build dancing robots. But they do, despite having pretty different personalities and themes, and that’s neat. 8D The relationship brings out new aspects of ID that I did not think were really in his personality, mostly in his general loyalty and actual interest in her as a person, so that’s nice, too!
I also like that it works without either actually wanting to change the other: ID shifts because he wants to make her more comfortable, not because she isn’t down with her dreadful boyfriend. Steamy’s an actual cinnamon roll who’s brilliant and sickly and exactly the kind of troll that ID loves to declare cullbait, but he has no desire to change her: the start and end of his motivations are ensuring she doesn’t actually die, and let her do as she wants otherwise.
EM/PHERES:
hello hello my problematic OTP
They’re fluffy and adorable and they don’t really get each other, I think, which is part of what makes the ship so appealing to me: they view each other in such deeply interesting ways that I think the other would find offensive, if they ever actually voiced it! But as soon as they got over wanting to strangle each other, they started trying to get each other and they haven’t stopped since, and that’s just deeply, deeply endearing.
Every time we discuss meta and it turns out they’ve got radically different opinions on yet another thing, it’s basically a delight, because the question is "how are they going to try to bridge this gap?” I can’t picture a situation where they wouldn’t try to fix it, and I love it, okay. “Relationships are work and take work” is a lovely trope.
Things I also love: the fact Em thinking Pheres is anxious and Pheres getting spooked by him frequently, they’re still adorable, over-affectionate dorks. I like that they express affection by bickering in public. I love the fact that every AU is basically “they wage a bitter, aggressive war against each other, get married in the middle of it, flip the banquet table and continue the war anyway” in various settings.
Sipa/Chiarei
I love that sending them to gay baby jail is a valid plot option, HOW ABOUT THAT
Nah, they’re functionally a mess that should never, ever be let near each other, because Chiare will drag Sipara head first into hemoterrorism and Sipara will enable her every bad habit, and that is exactly why I want to smash them together.
Especially because, apart from the bad consequences of that: they’d work so well. I feel like Sipara is exactly the kind of cheerful, over-affectionate, jocular person that Chiare needs to get her head pulled out of her ass, and Chiare’s seriousness and general lack of humour could do well to anchor Sipara into a more adult viewpoint, which she kind of needs. What are long-term consequences and valid risk assessment??
(not things that she could learn from dating Chiare, probably, but maybe together they could learn something?? 8′D)
