[At "I will not be outdone," Hubert's dour expression finally breaks into something lighter and softer. Were the mood before this not so heavy, he might have even laughed. Instead, a small exhale is given through his nose.]
I would not, in one million years, expect you to let your status hold you back.
[That would simply not be Ferdinand von Aegir.]
Drink your tea before it gets cold. I want to hear your opinion of it.
[Hubert has a discerning palate, but Ferdinand's taste for tea is unparalleled. He smiles, giving that exhale again as he remembers something.]
When I first arrived in Duplicity, I had just gotten settled in my apartment and was wandering the halls. I ran into a man named Huaisang, who is now a friend of mine. He taught me how my microwave worked by heating a mug of water in it. I found some poor quality tea bags in the cabinet and threw one into the cup, not wanting to waste the water, and he looked so disgusted with me. He insisted we get rid of it rather than drink such a sub-par beverage. I burst into the laughter of a man gone insane. I never thought I would meet someone quite so snobby about tea as you are, especially not here. And I realized in that moment that... I missed you. I wanted you here.
[And it was only the first day. He looks down at his cup.]
That was only a taste of what I felt in this past month. I do hope you didn't see all of my messages. I suppose one might say... I am finished with taking you for granted.
[At being told to drink his tea, Ferdinand wastes no more time talking and, as he introduces the floral tea to his palate, he listens to Hubert's story. Both the wonderful taste of it and the mention of someone he met earlier that he took a real shining to light up in his face, and he's rapt with attention, smiling with amusement at the story, and toward the end, with some sadness that pools from his sympathy.]
I am touched that you would miss me so, even though the turmoil I put you through is regrettable. I will not lie; shortly after waking, I saw the entire log of your messages and your missed calls, and that is what prompted me to contact you with no further delay. [He's so eager to tell Hubert his opinion that he skips along into that topic, also sensing that talking for too long about his slew of messages is prone to just embarrass him.] By the way, this tea has exceeded my 'snobby' expectations. It is delightfully smooth, and as soothing and heartening to the senses as burying my face into a fresh-cut bouquet of roses that were picked for me. [He takes another sip.]
[Hubert is embarrassed by his own expression of vulnerability, and the fact that Ferdinand saw everything he sent. He sounded like an absolute madman in those messages. He's grateful the conversation quickly moves on to the tea. He sips it himself, acting like he too is considering the flavour, but he couldn't care less.]
Good. I forgot I had gotten it when you first came to stay.
[He doesn't say he got it for Ferdinand, but he did. He didn't even touch it while his friend was gone.
Seeing Ferdinand happy calms Hubert further. He doesn't seem traumatized at all by whatever happened to him in the past month, doesn't seem fearful or distant or drugged. He's his usual self, but Hubert still has the nagging fear that he's just going to disappear again.]
Will you stay here tonight? Just to ensure that... That your health is not a concern. I'd like to monitor you for any potential ill effects of your kidnapping.
[Very smooth excuse, Hubert... Really, he just feels desperately anxious about Ferdinand leaving and never coming back.]
[Does that mean he got it with him in mind...? It wouldn't be the first time. Hubert wouldn't get tea for himself. Ferdinand sips it again to feel the warmth of the drink mingle with that of the thought. People can say all they want about Hubert, but he's really a true and thoughtful friend at the heart of it all.
Ferdinand can sense the desperation lurking in the suggestion. It isn't found in the quality of his voice, but simply knowing how he made him feel when he went missing. It's only natural to be put on edge like that, especially when there is so much about this realm, the study, and just who (or what) is in charge of it that needs making sense of. The closer he can be to Hubert, the more ease he will be put at.
To be honest, the same could be said for himself. He doesn't like the idea of going back Down, of leaving the comfort of Hubert's familiarity even with this high-strung edge worked into him by things that should rightfully rattle anyone. He seems a lot better after securing him in his company, which is further proof to Ferdinand that they really are better with each other than without.]
If you would have me, it would be my pleasure. There is nowhere else in all of Duplicity that I would rather be. I feel more at home here than I ever do in my run-down apartment... and the bed is much softer. Sleep should come easier.
[Hubert smiles, and it's genuine and warm, not sinister. He's relieved that Ferdinand actually wants to stay. He visibly relaxes.
He briefly thinks of asking Ferdinand to share his bed. No, that wouldn't be appropriate. And even if it were, it feels impossible to ask for. He's shown far too much of himself already. He must shake this strange, desperate feeling. It's ridiculous.]
Good. Let me know how I can make you more comfortable. You still have some clothing here. If you're hungry, I'm sure I can find something for you.
You really do know how to court a submissive. [he retorts with playful humor decorating his tone. Mocking this society's major emphasis on these roles may never get old. Besides, they aren't really courting...!
Or... are they? Memories of their proximity, the intensity of intimacy that passed between them that they have all but buried by not bringing up, flash-flood his mind because of that remark. A strange, floaty warmth thrums in his chest with that combined with how he gets to stay the night and have his needs met by him now, and he tries very hard to abandon the thought of their LIEs-mandated rendezvous meaning anything for how they feel about each other now. At any rate, he can't look at Hubert for a moment, so he takes the excuse of wanting another long drink of tea to hide his face and let it cool over.]
[They both acknowledge this as a joke, but then there's an awkward silence that suggests they're both thinking about what it might be like if that weren't a joke. Or, Hubert is, anyway. He realizes there's now a certain tension between them, probably because of what happened when Hubert tied him up. It was... Intense, for both of them, and Hubert would be lying if he said he hadn't thought about it many times, even dreamed about it, since.
But Ferdinand confirms that what he said is, in fact, a joke, and Hubert mentally takes his offer to share a bed completely off the table.
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I would not, in one million years, expect you to let your status hold you back.
[That would simply not be Ferdinand von Aegir.]
Drink your tea before it gets cold. I want to hear your opinion of it.
[Hubert has a discerning palate, but Ferdinand's taste for tea is unparalleled. He smiles, giving that exhale again as he remembers something.]
When I first arrived in Duplicity, I had just gotten settled in my apartment and was wandering the halls. I ran into a man named Huaisang, who is now a friend of mine. He taught me how my microwave worked by heating a mug of water in it. I found some poor quality tea bags in the cabinet and threw one into the cup, not wanting to waste the water, and he looked so disgusted with me. He insisted we get rid of it rather than drink such a sub-par beverage. I burst into the laughter of a man gone insane. I never thought I would meet someone quite so snobby about tea as you are, especially not here. And I realized in that moment that... I missed you. I wanted you here.
[And it was only the first day. He looks down at his cup.]
That was only a taste of what I felt in this past month. I do hope you didn't see all of my messages. I suppose one might say... I am finished with taking you for granted.
no subject
I am touched that you would miss me so, even though the turmoil I put you through is regrettable. I will not lie; shortly after waking, I saw the entire log of your messages and your missed calls, and that is what prompted me to contact you with no further delay. [He's so eager to tell Hubert his opinion that he skips along into that topic, also sensing that talking for too long about his slew of messages is prone to just embarrass him.] By the way, this tea has exceeded my 'snobby' expectations. It is delightfully smooth, and as soothing and heartening to the senses as burying my face into a fresh-cut bouquet of roses that were picked for me. [He takes another sip.]
no subject
Good. I forgot I had gotten it when you first came to stay.
[He doesn't say he got it for Ferdinand, but he did. He didn't even touch it while his friend was gone.
Seeing Ferdinand happy calms Hubert further. He doesn't seem traumatized at all by whatever happened to him in the past month, doesn't seem fearful or distant or drugged. He's his usual self, but Hubert still has the nagging fear that he's just going to disappear again.]
Will you stay here tonight? Just to ensure that... That your health is not a concern. I'd like to monitor you for any potential ill effects of your kidnapping.
[Very smooth excuse, Hubert... Really, he just feels desperately anxious about Ferdinand leaving and never coming back.]
no subject
Ferdinand can sense the desperation lurking in the suggestion. It isn't found in the quality of his voice, but simply knowing how he made him feel when he went missing. It's only natural to be put on edge like that, especially when there is so much about this realm, the study, and just who (or what) is in charge of it that needs making sense of. The closer he can be to Hubert, the more ease he will be put at.
To be honest, the same could be said for himself. He doesn't like the idea of going back Down, of leaving the comfort of Hubert's familiarity even with this high-strung edge worked into him by things that should rightfully rattle anyone. He seems a lot better after securing him in his company, which is further proof to Ferdinand that they really are better with each other than without.]
If you would have me, it would be my pleasure. There is nowhere else in all of Duplicity that I would rather be. I feel more at home here than I ever do in my run-down apartment... and the bed is much softer. Sleep should come easier.
no subject
He briefly thinks of asking Ferdinand to share his bed. No, that wouldn't be appropriate. And even if it were, it feels impossible to ask for. He's shown far too much of himself already. He must shake this strange, desperate feeling. It's ridiculous.]
Good. Let me know how I can make you more comfortable. You still have some clothing here. If you're hungry, I'm sure I can find something for you.
no subject
Or... are they? Memories of their proximity, the intensity of intimacy that passed between them that they have all but buried by not bringing up, flash-flood his mind because of that remark. A strange, floaty warmth thrums in his chest with that combined with how he gets to stay the night and have his needs met by him now, and he tries very hard to abandon the thought of their LIEs-mandated rendezvous meaning anything for how they feel about each other now. At any rate, he can't look at Hubert for a moment, so he takes the excuse of wanting another long drink of tea to hide his face and let it cool over.]
Jests aside, I appreciate you accommodating me.
no subject
But Ferdinand confirms that what he said is, in fact, a joke, and Hubert mentally takes his offer to share a bed completely off the table.
He nods.]
Of course.
no subject