Now that his wit is without its usual outlet, he lays the cigarette smoke on thicker than usual.
It’s the sleek smell of triumph that takes to the air as he quietly observes the one-sided face-off between the dim-witted director and Mortimer. As it turns out, the clairvoyant’s temper is nothing to sneeze at. That’s putting it lightly, of course. Frankly, Jans hadn’t even begun to imagine what the turnout would be like. Come the time the soft-spoken, conservative man loses his composure, it should be an event that falls on the day hell freezes over.
Figuratively, of course, and not literally, considering the steep drop in room temperature the moment Mortimer’s tolerance had snapped. How does he do it?
The director’s face is a bruised grape, red from sheer embarrassment and blue from what is most likely his first genuine experience of fear. To be quite frank, the turn of events has even Jans feeling slight mortification, but his mood has also improved drastically now that his employer has finally been put in to his rightful place. This was a long time coming, considering all of the absurd requests he had made of Mortimer. Perhaps it goes to show just how patient Jans really is for having tolerated the fool for over three years’ time.
After the clairvoyant and actor are at last left alone, the chill in the atmosphere finally dissipates, courtesy of a soothing calm that follows. Jans waits until the warmth has returned to the tips of his fingers, and Mortimer’s quiet gasps of anger are finally no more.
(･‿･;) Time to put this old brain through her paces. Aya’s done a version of this placing more emphasis on Siebold, so I’ll take some liberty in doing the opposite here. I’ve never revealed much about Erich even on his profile so here we go. Long post TW.
Who would be the big spoon?
Usually Erich, though it could vary. There are times when he needs a nudge in the right direction to get going when it comes to shows of affection. He’s perfectly decorous and observant of his partner’s whims, but the downside is that he’s not very spontaneous. That can actually be a little offensive or underwhelming. But with this being Siebold he’s romancing - someone who’s about twice as passionate about commitments - I can imagine Erich adjusting himself reasonably to cater.
Who would wake up first?
Erich is always attempting to beat the clock around the clock. With court duty occupying much of his day and social obligations taking up much of what’s left over, he seldom gets a good night’s rest and stirs frequently throughout the night even when he manages the standard 8 hours.
With Erich constantly rising before him, Siebold wouldn’t have it particularly easy either. If he gets out of the bed before or at the same time it’s either to prepare a meal, or concern himself with starting Erich’s day off right by reminding him of things he believes the other is prone to ‘forget’. The emphasis of jurisprudence is good case in point on a bad day, as is the occasional necessity of the velvet glove on a good one. He keeps him on his toes.
Do they have nicknames for each other?
None they would use in public, other than the indicative use of ‘dear’, ‘dearest’, etc that Aya mentioned in her take on this meme. For Erich, simple covers all, and he’s more than happy with ‘Siebold’ as he considers the name exquisite in itself.
What happened when they met each other’s parents?
Erich’s politesse backfired, rendering the dining table fertile for a Cold War. He lauded Siebold’s mother for favor, succeeding only as far as making himself look even more like the complacent upstart many make him out to be. Staying on the Laurents’ good side is probably a huge cause for headache. It would be less than surprising that his partiality for popular politics would not sit well with more than just a few aristocrats, anyway.
While the Valentine family leaves Erich to his own devices, his movement in Kalos will not exactly remain overlooked forever. Media focus on either Siebold or the Judiciary of Kalos will occasionally bring up the name of Erich Areleous. The Valentines may bellyache among themselves regarding their son’s detachment and the choices he has made, as his success and associations tend to say something negative about the Valentines and why their eldest son severed ties to begin with.
How do they apologize after an argument? nah I totally digressed.
Erich doesn’t usually concern himself with apologizing unless he reckons it will be effective. Actions are everything, and fortunately, he isn’t one who hesitates to instigate change where resolution is duly required. Surprisingly enough, he isn’t above mollycoddling after an argument, especially when he’s actually actually very forthright about his shortcomings where he knows he’s in the wrong.
Regarding the conflict Erich and Siebold would have concerning his borderline power trip… I’m at great pains to emphasize that the initial ‘cordial relations’ between them banked heavily on how Erich went about dealing with the conspirator Siebold had forewarned him about. What makes him so dangerous and contemptible is that his means of extracting incriminating information never amount to murder or wrongful conviction of his enemies. At the same time, Erich’s greatest fault is that he isn’t able to tolerate criticism without it affecting his mindset and ambitions, thus why he tends to actively seek out those who will give him their confidence.
I have to say, the initial acquainting with Siebold wasn’t the happiest accident Erich could have asked for. Here’s a league member who is scrupulous enough to make him look transparent and who will also not hesitate to condemn some of the lawless methods he uses to achieve prosecution. While this would pose a thorn in Erich’s side, Siebold’s point-blank honesty probably still made him hard not to like.
If Erich moved forward to court him regardless of their differences, it probably means Siebold’s ongoing disapproval made him self-aware enough to re-evaluate his most important considerations where jurisprudence is concerned. Needless to say it isn’t as simple as a walk in the park, but it’s possible it led him to adopt an attitude similar what the Theban Greeks had in mind when they formed an army of 150 lovers: the fear of fucking up before someone whose opinion you value will ensure that you stay on the right track.
What would they be like as parents?
Erich and Siebold are both people who worked to merit their current social standings, the latter moreso than the other. I doubt their child would end up being a chip off the old block, and may very well end up the quintessential model of the impossible excellence many parents tends to expect their child to be. What happens behind closed doors is another story, and I see Siebold sometimes having greater say in the child’s upbringing. If he insists on something, Erich would probably remind the child that Siebold’s word is the ultimate authority.
The household politics would give me a good laugh, considering how analogous it would be to the chain of command between the League and the Kalos Judiciary.
Who is the better cook?
Erich, a knife, and a cutting board are the basic components to a comedy feature. Siebold beats him by a clear mile without having to break a sweat.
Who is more romantic?
Siebold. But Erich’s enjoyment of erudition will make him just as much so, much to the surprise of people who assume he’s an emotionless shell of a man. He was probably just saving his feels for the right person.
What sort of gifts do they get for each other?
Things with sentimental value everywhere. Erich isn’t the prodigal kind of person. If he is to give gifts to Siebold on a regular basis, they would comprise of things that aren’t necessarily inexpensive or not extravagant, but have practicality to them. He’s probably paying too much for those white winter truffles, but when you have a meticulous chef in the equation, there’s no gain in skimping on quality. (Probably.)
As for Erich, he would just as readily welcome rare volumes as he would a locket picture.
Who gets jealous easiest?
It really depends. The people whom Erich genuinely commits himself to, which are few and far between, generally mean a great deal to him, so I imagine he wouldn’t appreciate being trifled with. There’s a reason why he distances himself, so it’s possible he’s unexpectedly finicky on the matters of love.
Who gets more excited for events e.g.. Birthdays, Christmas?
Definitely Siebold. Erich’s generally numb to the sentimental value of occasions concerning the family, and is potentially one RSVP away from rolling his eyes at receptions that are more excuses to flaunt one’s wealth than anything else.
Who is the most adventurous?
Context decides it. Erich is known to make dangerously bold moves, but that’s just in the political sphere. I think this entire meme so far just saw me building a case about how he isn’t particularly stellar at taking the initiative in matters that don’t concern politics.
Who is the most protective?
Protect Siebold, it’s possibly a do or die matter. Interestingly enough, should he ever be handed some sort of ultimatum, I can see the marquess staking his profession and/or reputation in exchange for Siebold’s security. The stress of it will probably cause him another angina attack but love hurts, what can you do about it. The first time Siebold covered his blind spot against a conspirator was a favor Erich won’t forget, and one he would perpetually seek to return. At least that says something about how his moral integrity hasn’t gone to the dogs.
What would they have been like as childhood sweethearts?
Erich’s… well, Cain Valentine’s personality was far more malleable as a child, but childhood infatuations often end up going completely awry and this would probably be a case in point. Placement probably makes this sort of scenario impossible, anyway; not to mention Erich was ridiculously studious, so he missed out on many family vacations and there couldn’t have been a chance he’s been to Coumarine. This question is evidently too much of a challenge…
Do I ship it?
NOTP / Crack only / AU only / Not really / Maybe a little / Well now I do/ Yes/ Of course! / OTP
Like previously mentioned, I like the idea of them and their dynamics, but it doesn’t necessarily mean I will enjoy them as a ship. There are instances where I value strong platonic associations so much that romance will do a disservice to the strength of the dynamics between two characters. This may be one of those cases. Ultimately, what I find so appealing is the idea of someone having the potential to best Erich at his own game, simply by making him want to hold a friendship together.
