dumbshow | incredibly indulgent shipping post

[Paolo blinks, looking between Jindosh's face and his collar. He's getting criticized and not even a kiss to make up for it.] I dress my best for our little visits.

[He doesn't know if that makes it any better, given that his best is so bad. If Jindosh is going to touch his face, he's at least going to take the opportunity to steal a kiss.] I don't want to make you relearn your etiquette, so don't be so rude.

[Oh, he's pathetic, that's nice. Jindosh laughs at him, because of course he does, fingers curling against Paolo's cheek as he leans in to kiss him. Jindosh considers leaning away and refusing this little bit of affection, and yet Paolo's lips against his are not so objectionable even now.]

I'm not the one hovering around and interrupting his gracious host's morning bath. [Rude, very rude. Not that Jindosh is putting in too much effort to get on with his bath. He frowns, thinking of something, then tugs Paolo in for another kiss. Then he nudges him away with another wave of his hand, to make him stop interrupting!!]

Did you eat? Go. Downstairs.

Gracious. [Paolo repeats with a laugh, shaking his head. He smooths the shirt to ensure he still looked somewhat presentable... As presentable as he could look with rolled up shirt sleeves.

Speaking of which, he's going to rifle through one of the cupboards to actually somewhat finish getting dressed. There are two problems here: the waist is too loose, easily fixed with a belt, but they're much too long. Ignore the fact he nearly tripped over himself after failing to properly fold it over. It's fine.

At least they cover his striped socks. He's on his way out without interrupting again, but over his shoulder he calls:] Don't leave me waiting like those assholes!

[Hmm—well, Paolo sure is taking more of his clothes. Jindosh makes another vague noise of protest, but this one also has some amusement in it—the shirt he managed to handle, but there's no way he'll be able to make Jindosh's pants look like what he should be wearing.

His only response to Paolo's call is to wave after him dismissively, again, and then he'll actually get to bathing. He's not going to rush, so it's a wait but not an extraordinarily long one before he emerges for breakfast, fully dressed in his usual. He's just tugging on his sleeve cuff when something occurs to him, and his gaze darts over to wherever Paolo has wound up in his weird sliding dining room. He's probably had to wave away at least one servant staring at him without the guts to ask, at this point. Dull.]

You never took off your socks. [what the fuck..... what kind of heathen....]

[Paolo had been having a nice, civil conversation with the guard... No, really. They'd walked away as soon as they saw Jindosh coming, but with grins on their faces unlike any they'd had for the entire time they were stationed there.

Paolo shared their grin, leaning his head in hand at the table. He was eating some equivalent of bacon, but his plate looked untouched. Like he'd been waiting on him.] Hm...? [Oh--] Don't be silly. I took them off to bathe.

[Like the socks, this will take Jindosh maybe twelve hours to process. He doesn't pay enough attention to his guards, but soon he'll learn that he needs to.

Anyway, he's here to eat toast. Maybe even with jam. He sits down at the table, looking at the rest of the breakfast and abandoning it, as usual, for jam and toast. He might have approximately one sip of the tea that's been set out, too.]

You know what I mean. [And now, as he frowns obliviously at Paolo's plate.] Have you been wasting your time chattering away with the guards? Eat.

They've been stationed outside my district before. Good guys. Good stories. [Paolo is gradually furrowing his brows more at his choice of toast. Of all things. He doesn't seem to be getting anything else, what...]

I was waiting on you, anyway. [He says casually, and true enough, he's loading his plate with one of everything they had to offer. There's a bottle off to the side, like it wasn't morning and perfectly acceptable to start off with a full glass.] How's your ass?

[He is truly a treasure.]

[He likes this toast, thank you. He's putting a generous amount of jam on it, at least, before he fumbles over it and spreads jam over his prosthetic thumb. Paolo can't ask that at the table.]

Fine. [Could he sound more clipped and uncomfortable?? No. He stops to wipe jam off his goddamn hand, while he wonders if he should actually talk to this menace now. Ugh.] I suppose I should thank you for running the water.

[Which... is it. That is his thank you.]

[Paolo muffles his laugh behind an apple, his eyes gleaming with amusement. He probably shouldn't say anything with people around, but the look on Jindosh's face was worth it.]

Almost thought you'd fall asleep in there. [He has manners, somewhere, just not when he's deciding to respond while he's chewing.] Didn't think it was so bad last night that you would, but... is that really all you're eating?

[There's like... so much fruit. Right there. This is distracting from teasing him.]

[Get out of here, Paolo... Jindosh busies himself with his toast again, studiously ignoring his teasing in the way that he sure isn't, but he's acting like he is. It's a delicate balance.]

What? [Hm???] What could your problem possibly be now?

I don't have a lot of problems. [Let him finish taking a bite of banana when he hasn't even finished his apple yet,] Supposedly the most important meal of the day, and that's all you're eating?

[This is unacceptable, at least have the bacon he's sliding down the table.] Eat.

[Of all things, Paolo chooses to send bacon down the table at him? No man has ever looked at bacon as scornfully as Kirin Jindosh looks at bacon.

He pushes the plate back with one finger. Ew.]

You want me to eat this? [It's in his house. It came out of his kitchen. He won't eat it.

There is no logic left in the world to explain this.]

[Paolo stares at him, swallowing and lowering his fruit to his own plate.] There's nothing wrong with it! What-- what about--

[There's eggs too!! He's shoving the plate down the table, now, this is important. Some maids are probably staring.]

[Even if he wanted to eat the eggs (he doesn't, they're runny and that makes them gross), Jindosh is pushing that plate back at Paolo too. On principle, see. There are definitely maids staring; soon they'll start whispering behind their hands in wonder that Jindosh hasn't shoved Paolo into a wall of light yet.

Truly amazing.]

I have my breakfast! Eat yours and be quiet!

It's a piece of toast! [Paolo knows this is ridiculous, and yet he's still pushing a bowl of fruit forward in the plate's place. He would even think this could go on forever, but he knows he's easy, so--]

Give me peace of mind here, Kirin. [Oooh, Kirin. The whispers are definitely on now.]

[Whispering!! Paolo did this. Jindosh takes a bunch of grapes as irritably as someone can, brandishes it at Paolo, and shoves one in his mouth with gusto. You know, for grape-eating.

He wouldn't have if Paolo hadn't done that trying-to-take-care-of-him thing again, but never mind that. The whispers are in full tilt already.]

There! Satisfied?

[Paolo looks ready to continue arguing this when Jindosh just shoves grapes in his mouth. He choked, taking up his glass to stop a coughing fit that definitely was not going to be laughter. Just ignore his smile.]

Cute.

[It is at this point that Jindosh finally turns to snap at those whispering maids to get out of here!!!

If only so his next move once they've left can be throwing a grape at Paolo's smug face. It's too early for the C word. Stop.]

[Paolo's set his glass as they make a hasty departure, none the wiser since he's avoiding Jindosh's gaze. He'd start laughing again, maybe he'll let him salvage his image--

His image that throws grapes at Paolo's face. He scrambled to grab it before it fell off the table, staring at Jindosh with raised brows.] You're lucky I don't want to make you take another bath, inventor.

[Jindosh is apparently satisfied by throwing just one grape, because now he's sitting back and eating another one completely calmly, like he didn't just do that stupid thing. He scoffs, too, just to drive home the point that Paolo is losing.

Losing what is anyone's guess.]

What, no more "Kirin"? You were so concerned a moment ago.

[Paolo will sit back and eat this singular grape before he takes up a banana again, but it's not in defeat. Yeah, sure, his jab is embarrassing, but it's not something he can't come back from.]

Didn't think you'd notice, Jindosh. Do you care so much it would bother you if I stopped, Jindosh?

You do not need to say it every sentence. [What an irritating man?? Why is he sharing breakfast with such an irritating person? A question for the ages.]

Just pick one.

[It's bothering him now...]

[There's another Jindosh on his lips, but he holds his tongue. He'll tilt his chair back nd take another bite, like he has to think about it, but really...]

Kirin is reserved for me, yeah? I might as well make people wonder why it sounds so personal.

[Reserved for him, is it? Jindosh thinks about this, and just like with so many things last night, finds himself on the edge of something vast and unknown for how just that can make his heart turn over.

Reserved for him. Hmm.]

I suppose now that the Duke has less keen an interest in me, you are the only one left who prefers Kirin. [Hmm.] A little scandal never hurt anyone.

You uh, misunderstand me, Kirin. [Paolo's on the edge of something, but it's just with how far he's leaning his chair back. He's confident in the way he carries on, focusing off the grapes and other food to look Jindosh in the eye.]

I don't give a shit if they prefer it, it's mine. Lest they wanna give my clothes more character.

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