dumbshow | incredibly indulgent shipping post

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.]

[Ah, but he said so many compromising emotional things last night, don't think too hard about those... He wiggles his half-eaten toast at Paolo, for emphasis, like this is a real adult thing to do.]

Today you will. I can't fall behind thanks to you distracting me. [The implication being that he would stop for kisses, if he didn't have to actually do things today. Baby steps.] Find one of these idiot slacker guards to keep you company if you must.

[Ugh, Jindosh is cute. Paolo snickers at his toast wiggling, pointing a fork at him as if somehow it were more adult.]

You should be careful about who you call idiot slackers, Kirin. Maybe I should go learn more about you, start where we left off...

Oh, please. It isn't as if they're needed around here along with the clockworks. It's essentially charity to keep them employed. [Here, he pauses for his single sip of tea today at breakfast, before going on with another toast wiggle,] Some of them might have potential, but the Duke insisted I give all of these veterans something to keep busy with.

[This is all fair and good to just say out loud because he's definitely said it to them before, and they already question what he needs guards for themselves. See, he's a good boss.

But wait,] What do you mean, where you— [ah] You were talking about me when I walked in!

[He's clearly Offended, sitting back with a huff and not looking at Paolo for a good... twenty seconds. Then, very subtly,] What were you discussing, specifically?

[Jindosh is being rude about his new friends and Paolo opts out of listening to shove egg in his mouth. He knew any lecture about kindness would fall on deaf ears, so he waited for the opportunity to make a jab at him to strike.

Perfect.] Just some... y'know, stories. How the whole place can you hear you when you use that button on accident or not, where it is... [Another casual bite,] How you look coming out of that lab, hair stuck up because you touched a wrong wire. You like pork and... what, cabbage? Weird choice.

[Paolo's new friends have been rude about Jindosh, so it's completely fair. He bristles, looking peeved to hear all of this except for the fact that he's also turned a fetching shade of pink. He looks over his shoulder out of the room, both to hide the color in his cheeks and as if he expects to see that same guard from earlier, so he can glare at them until they realize they're fired.

He won't bother, but in the moment it's terrible to know his guards are telling Paolo these stupid things he does. Betrayal...??]

Be quiet. [dumped.] All of you need something more productive to do, apparently.

[It's so satisfying to see Jindosh be the one who's flushed, especially with Paolo's fluster last night. His smug expression slips into fondness, he isn't entirely aware of giving.]

Uncovering all your secrets is productive. [He'll even wink at him, to make it worse.] I have to report back and all. Should I tell Luca how red you can get...? He's probably not as interested as I am, but...

[Body double or not, there's not a person Jindosh can think of who he'd like to know absolutely nothing about his stupid blushing more than the Duke. No, don't...]

Do that and the whole court will know how you go to pieces when someone puts a single finger against your back. Luca has no business with our business.

[Look, he said "our," does he get points for that??]

[Paolo's about to be a hypocrite, with how his face and ears significantly darken. For every one time Jindosh changes shades, he'll have ten. It's just not fair.]

It was three. Fingers. [He shoves a few grapes into his mouth before rising out of his chair, setting the napkin at his lap aside. He caught his crumbs since the clothes weren't his, how considerate.] I'd have to invite you for their audience anyway.

[He paused. Well, he planned on that already...] Later.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject