dumbshow | incredibly indulgent shipping post

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.

[Here Jindosh was just trying to say it's alright to make people uncomfortable with personal business, and Paolo had to go and get possessive. On principle he should object, he thinks, but he did tentatively say Paolo could call him his last night... Perhaps he'll get over his kneejerk reaction to tell him no and focus more on the surge of feeling in his chest that makes him amenable to it.

He just wanted to eat toast. Now he chews on another grape, staring at Paolo, searching for words.]

What an absurd privilege, [is what he comes up with, at first. Great, keep that up, Kirin.] If it will get you to put your chair back on the floor, then fine.

One of many privileges. [He just has to add, of course. Because he does, though, he'll put the chair back on four legs with a satisfied hum. He's eating more grapes than his toast, so he'll keep his smugness in check.

He wanted him to eat more than throw things at him.] Sleeping in your bed, using your bath, wearing your clothes... Some might say Kirin Jindosh's heart isn't clockwork. Others might say it isn't his heart talking, but I prefer it.

[He's getting emotional again, and Jindosh keeps frowning at his grapes over it. It feels like he hasn't had a moment to think—he could have while Paolo slept, but he decided to avoid it by working, and he could have while he laid in the bath but it was just so annoying to be awake and sore then, and now he hasn't been out of Paolo's company for more than an hour in the past twelve...

Well, maybe he hasn't had a moment to think he didn't waste on something else. Now Paolo is saying things about his heart and he's at a loss for what to do. Last night Paolo was... upset with him, for getting out of bed. What expression will cross his face if Jindosh tells him the wrong thing now?]

No one says my heart is clockwork. [He says this, but he still adds a mumbled Do they? at his weird breakfast. Who's wasting time talking about his heart? That's not interesting at all.]

My heart is this house, the machines I've created, the discoveries I've made. You, on the other hand... [he needs like, twenty more grapes to handle this while actually looking at Paolo, which he is not doing.] Well, there is space left yet to fill. A small space.

[you're short xoxo]

[Oh, uh... that's more than he thought he'd get out of him. Paolo is unapologetic about the way he stares at Jindosh, the fact that he can't spare a glance in return doing nothing to deter him. There was that feeling again, only fully renewed in the late hours of the previous evening.

The seed of whatever it was was planted before long forgotten visits, out of enjoyment and desperation. It hadn't been watered properly in its growth, roots strangling him in bursts. Reminders he hadn't really come here for what he told himself, and he really just needed to leave the water running for it to bloom.]

You told me to decide in the morning. [He cleared his throat, looking back to the plate he'd been so keen on before. He should comment on filling spaces, be more direct, but Jindosh wasn't the only one to avoid serious contemplation.] Wouldn't get back by sundown if I waited on the wash, so.

[Well, that's... something. Jindosh glances up at Paolo just for a moment before making a face at his toast again, reaching for more jam to keep his hands busy. He had told Paolo to decide in the morning, but he hadn't actually thought he'd stay...]

Your clothes will have more character if they actually look like clothes. [He likes Paolo right now, but will he like him if he's underfoot all day—] Are you going to amuse yourself with the wash for hours?

[Paolo huffs indignantly, but he won't defend his clothes this time. He'll admit to himself that they were more stained than he liked, but only himself.] I'm sure there's more interesting things than that. I would hope so, since you said I'm spending years revealing every gift your home has to offer.

[It's amazing he remembers anything Jindosh said last night but his name. He wanted to continue bugging Jindosh, but he also didn't want to test his patience. Hm.] I know how to entertain myself without disturbing your "natural philosophy" at work. Just so happens I don't lately. [Because he likes kissing him.]

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