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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.

[That's right, Jindosh is still in the game. He smirks and then smirks again at the napkin, like Paolo trying to be a person with table manners is the funniest thing. It kind of is, it's cute.

Still, while he could take the opportunity to rib Paolo about going to pieces some more, he's uncovered the flaw in his own plan: he really hates nobles and being around them. Oh yeah. He waves a hand, now that he's finished his toast.]

I'm not your decorative arm piece, Paolo.

[For such a smart guy he really is a goddamn idiot.]

[Paolo had plans to lean over him and say something sweet, be on his way, but he stops short. He stares at Jindosh for a moment, then approaches to put his hands down on either side of the chair arms, boxing him in.]

I don't come here so I get to show you off, Kirin. I'd think you of all people should know that. [He's awful close for someone so serious, and not seeming to want to kiss him.] I would invite you to get in on the conversation, and you can decline. Understand?

[Jindosh blinks when Paolo leans in so close, so—aggressively close. It's a surprised blink, like he doesn't know what he's apparently done wrong and he's taken aback by the sudden seriousness enough that he isn't immediately snapping at Paolo to back off. His gaze drops down to one of Paolo's hands, brow furrowing, bothered by it.]

I'm not interested in conversation besides yours. You should already know that.

[Parties... terrible.] Step back. Trying to loom over me like this makes you look ridiculous.

Or maybe you just aren't used to it. [Is he unsettling you, Jindosh. Let him lean in closer, taking a hand off the arm of the chair to take his jaw instead.] If you change your mind, I might even get your funding back into the mix.

[Does he kiss him to make up for this man handling? Nah, he'll pat his cheek and stand back.] It's not like I'm calling anyone else Grand Inventor.

[He doesn't like being manhandled at all. That's not a surprise, so the way he frowns sharply shouldn't be either. But he doesn't move until Paolo pats his cheek, at which point the hand that had been balled into a fist in his lap opens to swat Paolo's arm away from his face.

He shoves his chair back with an angry scrape (someone will have to buff this floor again), standing and abandoning the rest of his breakfast rather than answer Paolo's bad attitude. A hundred irate things he could say to Paolo but instead he just looks down at him, displeasure etched into his features, before he turns to shoulder past him and out of the room. Maybe he'll gesture at a maid to come clean up the table, but that's all.

Anyway, bye, see you later babe.]

[Oh. Paolo blinks, staring after Jindosh with a frown across his face. He meant to reassert himself, but with the way he looked at him... maybe he should have just kept agreeing.

The guards are certainly staring, likely wondering what he'd done and how he wasn't thrown out the door. Jindosh has been throwing grapes!!] Shut up.

[It didn't make them agreeable company, so maybe he'll go buy that lube like they'd need it... Or he could get distrcted getting behind walls after getting under Jindosh's skin. It hadn't been on purpose, but after seeing a window indoors, how is he not supposed to open it?]

[Paolo deserves to be judged by guards because he's a dumb prick, thanks much. Jindosh can take teasing and stupid, inconsequential little jabs, but standing over him and handling him like that, implying he ought to get used to it—nobody gets the better of Kirin Jindosh in his own home. Not anymore. Not even Paolo trying to do something stupid.

So he's still mad when he marches off to his lab and seals himself in, and he's still mad when the sensors in the floors tell him where Paolo is going and when he returns, and he's still mad when Paolo abruptly disappears. His hand is halfway toward the intercom button before he remembers he's mad, and he thinks better of calling Paolo out for everyone to hear and continues to work angrily instead.

This will go on until Jindosh wonders why Paolo isn't just coming out from behind the walls. Is he truly that stupid? Did he get himself crushed? Ugh. Jindosh resents having to go climb into the recesses of his house himself, but he's doing it. And he's still doing it without the intercom, because he hates whispering maids.

Where is the rat man.] Paolo? Are you dead back here?

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