I'll... [What? He can't say he can keep his word, as much as he hates the fact. His business was unpredictable and so far, as much as he'd like to spend the rest of his days this comfortable.
He'll trail off and kissed him again to think, ignoring his stomach growling in protest. What can he promise? He's already falling for him.] ... I'll always come back to you. Late or not. First life or the second. Cross my heart.
[That's a lot more Paolo-in-love than Jindosh expected from just a comment. He blinks down at him, surprised - he was really pissed, okay - then tugs his hands away from Paolo's and tugs the bottom of his vest straight before winding an arm around his waist.]
I should have you give me your word in writing. Let's find you something to eat.
Shouldn't be too hard. [The food and writing both. He likes the arm around him more than he should too much, but he's been craving it after spending so long without these little things. The most intimacy he's had most of the week is patting a face before cut a throat.
So yes, he is as happy as passing staff perceived him. It wasn't much; there was the corner of his lips twitching when they went through the rooms, and a minor lean into Jindosh as they walked. Blink and you miss it. Some didn't blink.] You uh... you ate, right? More than toast.
[Jindosh, naturally, totally ignores the staff as they pass. He seems to be over taking the long way around, especially after it was made completely obvious to him the last five days that everyone working in the mansion knows he's with Paolo in some capacity. But he's still ignoring the way the staff look at the two of them, especially the ones who try to catch his eye and smile.
Not now. For fuck's sake. He'll need to put up a sign about not being the staff's friend.]
If I didn't eat without you around, Paolo, I wouldn't have made it to this age. I ate more than toast, yes. [rolling his eyes......] What would you like? I'll have it prepared.
[Hmmmm... that's satisfactory for now. Jindosh is lucky his staff is so cute, so he doesn't rib him about how little he probably weighed. Paolo will be their friend later, when Jindosh is working and he's skulking around.]
I could eat an entire jellied eel about now. [Ew, gross, no--] But uh... I dunno, ham? Potatoes? Soup? My nan used to make great soup outta that... [his nan,]
Your... hmm. [His nan, goodness, Paolo is a sap, isn't he? Good to know.] I suppose if you tell the cooks what you're looking for, they'll do their best. [He's trying,]
[His grandmother, he tries to correct under his breath. It's too late. He knows. This is terrible.] I'll tell 'em what I remember. It's been so long...
[He will try his best when they do get there. It's hard not to just fill the time with kissing Jindosh when they do get there, but they're already getting displeased looks because he's back. All the ladies hate them and the cold house.
However, he will raise a suggestion,] We should eat out sometime. Nicer side of town.
[Paolo... was expecting a no. He blinked, looking away from the kitchen and back at him.]
S... Sometime in the afternoon. When you're not busy. [Since he has so much work. ] Not far, in Aventa. I can show you some uh... lesser known shops, too. [Black market, romantic.]
[Ooh, shady shops. He's never been to those, but of course he knows which of his materials come from those "lesser known" places sometimes. Maybe it will be a learning experience.]
Alright. [Paolo will even get to ride in the carriage!] Perhaps then you'll even quit badgering me about how I've never gone out.
It's cute that you think I'm gonna stop badgering you. [Paolo smirks, about to lean up and kiss his cheek yet again when there was a bowl of hot soup shoved between them. Paolo blinked, his jaw clenching in annoyance and a glare starting in the maid's direction.
But he shut his eyes before he could look too dangerously mad, taking a deep breath and mustering a smile.] You call that carriage up, right? They don't give me the code down there.
[Paolo, don't murder any staff or he'll have to replace them. Jindosh's gaze slides from Paolo to the maid, waving a hand to dismiss her from the room instead of leaving her standing there looking at them. Now everyone's happy.
Wait a minute.] They don't? Surely I must have... [it's been how long that Paolo's been coming, and he never—did he forget? Oh...]
That code is reset all the time because no one using the carriage can remember where their ass is half the time. I'll put in a spare one for you myself—for private use.
[Paolo could brag about how he's been going there, by long jumps or rat antics. He could also mention that he found one of his missing boys in a tree on the way to the mansion. He could be anything less than grateful, but...]
Thankfully I can remember where my ass is. But I'm sure you can remind me if I forget. [He leaned to successfully kiss his cheek this time, but there's also food now and he will be taking a spoonful of this soup.
He frowned, evidently disappointed, but taking another bite shortly after.] That means you aren't still pissed, right?
[Instead of bragging, Paolo opts for making silly comments about his ass... Alright. Jindosh hums, sitting back and folding his arms and watching Paolo eat his soup. He's thinking about the code now, and how he'll have to set the machines to ignore this new code when the guards have theirs reset every other day. Imbeciles.
He blinks. Oh—] I suppose not. I did miss you, whether you believe it or not.
[And since Paolo was just being an idiot rather than blowing him off, he supposes he forgives him! But he won't share that part, since it's mean. He's a great boyfriend.]
Yeah? [Paolo glanced up from the soup, looking over at Jindosh with a searching gaze. He should be past the skepticism, but... It was Jindosh. He couldn't guess how much things weighed in his mind if he tried.
Maybe he was just ignoring the thought Jindosh could have missed him so he wouldn't feel himself falling so hard again. His answer put him more at enough ease to make up for the days he was on edge, and that was weird.] That's... that's nice to know.
[Feelings are hard. He taps his soup spoon against the bowl instead of taking another bite, lips thin to avoid smiling so much.] I uh... I told them you're our guest, if the Howlers ever find you coming to yell at me. It's no Aventa, but if we're giving codes... you say my name and you're through the door. They'll know.
[Paolo, don't ask him and then not believe him... Jindosh shrugs; a very lukewarm exchange for him actually managing to say something about his feelings without stumbling over them first, but it's probably better that way. He has time to reconcile with his own thoughts, and Paolo can... do whatever he's doing while he eats his soup.
Hmm. He looks at Paolo with no shred of realization for a moment, before what he's trying to say gets through to him. Oh.]
Ah. So half the city knows, as I expected. Perhaps I should come down and make sure my reputation is still intact.
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He'll trail off and kissed him again to think, ignoring his stomach growling in protest. What can he promise? He's already falling for him.] ... I'll always come back to you. Late or not. First life or the second. Cross my heart.
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I should have you give me your word in writing. Let's find you something to eat.
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So yes, he is as happy as passing staff perceived him. It wasn't much; there was the corner of his lips twitching when they went through the rooms, and a minor lean into Jindosh as they walked. Blink and you miss it. Some didn't blink.] You uh... you ate, right? More than toast.
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Not now. For fuck's sake. He'll need to put up a sign about not being the staff's friend.]
If I didn't eat without you around, Paolo, I wouldn't have made it to this age. I ate more than toast, yes. [rolling his eyes......] What would you like? I'll have it prepared.
[No pudding hate this time, babe.]
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I could eat an entire jellied eel about now. [Ew, gross, no--] But uh... I dunno, ham? Potatoes? Soup? My nan used to make great soup outta that... [his nan,]
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Your... hmm. [His nan, goodness, Paolo is a sap, isn't he? Good to know.] I suppose if you tell the cooks what you're looking for, they'll do their best. [He's trying,]
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[He will try his best when they do get there. It's hard not to just fill the time with kissing Jindosh when they do get there, but they're already getting displeased looks because he's back. All the ladies hate them and the cold house.
However, he will raise a suggestion,] We should eat out sometime. Nicer side of town.
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Oh. [HMMMM] When?
[It's not a no,]
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S... Sometime in the afternoon. When you're not busy. [Since he has so much work. ] Not far, in Aventa. I can show you some uh... lesser known shops, too. [Black market, romantic.]
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Alright. [Paolo will even get to ride in the carriage!] Perhaps then you'll even quit badgering me about how I've never gone out.
[whiny bf....]
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But he shut his eyes before he could look too dangerously mad, taking a deep breath and mustering a smile.] You call that carriage up, right? They don't give me the code down there.
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Wait a minute.] They don't? Surely I must have... [it's been how long that Paolo's been coming, and he never—did he forget? Oh...]
That code is reset all the time because no one using the carriage can remember where their ass is half the time. I'll put in a spare one for you myself—for private use.
[Don't tell your friends.]
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Thankfully I can remember where my ass is. But I'm sure you can remind me if I forget. [He leaned to successfully kiss his cheek this time, but there's also food now and he will be taking a spoonful of this soup.
He frowned, evidently disappointed, but taking another bite shortly after.] That means you aren't still pissed, right?
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He blinks. Oh—] I suppose not. I did miss you, whether you believe it or not.
[And since Paolo was just being an idiot rather than blowing him off, he supposes he forgives him! But he won't share that part, since it's mean. He's a great boyfriend.]
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Maybe he was just ignoring the thought Jindosh could have missed him so he wouldn't feel himself falling so hard again. His answer put him more at enough ease to make up for the days he was on edge, and that was weird.] That's... that's nice to know.
[Feelings are hard. He taps his soup spoon against the bowl instead of taking another bite, lips thin to avoid smiling so much.] I uh... I told them you're our guest, if the Howlers ever find you coming to yell at me. It's no Aventa, but if we're giving codes... you say my name and you're through the door. They'll know.
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Hmm. He looks at Paolo with no shred of realization for a moment, before what he's trying to say gets through to him. Oh.]
Ah. So half the city knows, as I expected. Perhaps I should come down and make sure my reputation is still intact.
[yeah, good one]