highly new, slightly improved open post

[appliances]

assorted morons

☆ @ the muselist

optional prompts/ideas

☆ caught in the rain meme ☆ little steps meme ☆ affectionate physical contact meme ☆ picture prompt also acceptable but link them so it's tidy ☆ AU ideas: soulmates AU, reincarnation AU, Bad End AU, canon divergent/roleswap AU, dorky college AU, crossover AU, super indulgent high fantasy AU ☆ melodrama is ultimate tier ★ SHIPPING AND FUCC: ☆ non-fluffy relationship types I'm down for: codependent, master/servant power imbalance type ships, "we're bad for each other but worse for anyone else," other things I am failing to think of tbh ☆ things I am not into: noncon (includes "dubcon"), incest, tsundere shit if your tsundere is just verbally abusive, gratuitous torture porn, you'll probably have to ask me about harder kinks and they will vary by character ☆ I don't have a kink list so pitch me an idea if u thirsty ☆ if you would prefer a locked post I can also make that happen

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[takeroot]

That it has! Chin up, my marvelous friend, for it could have been worse!

[Which is the rule by which Constantin judges all of his nights out on the town, for the record, but he doesn't have to share that. He does have to put a stopper on his renewed enthusiasm as they approach the side of the manor, though, and hunches over slightly like bending a little at the waist will hide him from any and all guards who come looking for the source of noise on this side of the building.

So here they go, secret stealth mission up to the trellis, which doesn't seem weathered from many a climb, but that's probably a good thing. It will hold. Constantin puts a hand on it, and steps on the lowermost climbable spot a few times to test this, then of course - he kind of poses, since he ought to look impressive before they never see each other again.

He would, again, tip his hat, but his hat is definitely lost in a gutter some distance away. It's the thought that counts.]

I'm off! Good night, and do enjoy the rest of the evening!

[He'd scurry away into the darkness above, but he's definitely too drunk for that, so he starts to climb... slowly. He thinks it looks very dashing, regardless.]

[sterngaze]

[It’s debatable how dashing he really looks, bruised and bloodied and poised to scale his garden trellis as though he were infiltrating a prison tower. He has enthusiasm though, and counts for something. He may have been beaten by thugs and lost his hat, but his spirit is most certainly not broken.

Liem keeps his ears pricked just in case the nearby guards decide to take an interest in the far side of the manor, but his eyes stay on d’Orsay as he makes to begin his climb.]

Good night, governor. [He inclines his head politely one last time, raising one hand to rest it over his chest, where his holy symbol hangs on a chain beneath his clothes. God willing, their farewell will be concluded without incident.

He watches as d’Orsay climbs slowly up the side of the manor, still intent on seeing his escort through to its final conclusion. Good as his night vision is, the trellis doesn’t so much vanish up into the gloom for him as it does simply… climb in full view up the side of the house, the same as it would during the day. There’s no need to concern the governor with that knowledge, though. It'll be impressive enough if he just makes it all the way into the house.]

[takeroot]

[By some miracle, Constantin makes it up to the second story. It's getting from the trellis onto the balcony there that's the real challenge, and while his plan is to artfully swing one leg over and then the other and land soundly on his feet, in practice it's more like—

He drags himself up and finds himself sitting on the balcony, sways, and then stumbles when one foot gets caught as he tries to turn himself around. But he's there! He's alive! And none the worse for it, which is just as good.

He leans then over the balcony's edge, squinting in what little moonlight hits this side of the house down at his fussy companion, who has for some reason decided to stay and see him all the way up into the dark. That's a surprise - one that merits some confirmation that Constantin is in fact up here and alive, he thinks, as he doesn't suspect a thing about anyone having superb night vision.]

Well, brave sir, you have successfully returned one damsel to his palace tower! Take this handkerchief, as a token of my everlasting friendship!

[It's all for the drama, and it's one of his gloves he drops over the side of the balcony, not a handkerchief at all. His prop-based drama can be only so good at this hour, in this state.]

[sterngaze]

[Fussy is an apt descriptor for Liem as he follows the governor’s climb up the trellis, his nerves decidedly on edge despite the man’s confidence about this final step of his journey. He’s not quite fidgeting as he watches from the garden down below, but he certainly doesn’t look relaxed. Somehow, though, d’Orsay makes it all the way to the top and fumbles his way over the balcony railing onto solid ground. Only then does Liem allow himself a small sigh of relief.

Now it’s about time for him to make his exit. He’s spent half the night on this errand, but even if he’s missed his appointment, there will be other nights to attend that particular matter. He watches d’Orsay lean over the balcony’s edge, peering down at him through the thick darkness behind the manor in apparent surprise to see him still there. Hmm. Hopefully his reluctance to leave prematurely doesn’t come off as unsavoury interest―

What?]

Sir, that’s not―

[Before he can even form an objection, something is already dropping off the side of the balcony towards him. Liem catches it reflexively, easily identifying a well-made but somewhat dirt-stained leather glove. He just sort of looks at it for a second, possibly considering whether to just leave it quietly in a bush for d’Orsay’s groundskeepers to return to him later.

The creak of leather and the rattling of footfalls on stone interrupts his thoughts, however. Liem glances at the corner of the manor around which curious guards will be appearing at any moment, drawn by the muffled sound of voices in the dark. Past time to be gone. Casting one final look at the governor’s balcony, he takes off into the night, glove still in hand. By the time the guards round the rear of the manor, he is nowhere to be found.]

i realized i can just start scene 2 here so here it is: scene 2!!!!

[takeroot]

[It's been about a week and a half, which means it's been about a week and a half since Constantin woke up with a hangover strong enough to kill God and a black eye that drove his staff insane trying to cover up with powders and paints until it faded. It's one of the bruises that hasn't faded entirely, actually, but the vaguely greenish tint to the flesh around his eye isn't so overt that he has to be covered in makeup anymore.

Which is great, because he's certainly tired of being housebound. He's usually housebound, as it turns out, because his office and meeting room are just downstairs from his chambers and being the governor is terminally boring on the best of days. It's no exaggeration to say he's spent the greater part of his week and a half - really, the greater part of his time in the city - standing by the big window in his meeting room and desperately wishing he were out on the street. It drives his staff insane, it's definitely given his cousin an ulcer or two, but honestly! It's boring!

So, today he's going out! He'd insisted, his staff had insisted back, and he marched out of the manor anyway to "do inspections."

Or visit his favorite interesting corners of the city, but who's keeping track? He's out and that's what matters. There's only a single pair of guards following him, and at a distance because of his protests that he can take care of himself - like he hadn't just turned up a week and a half ago being recently beaten and supremely hungover. He's fine!

Still, he's having a good day. He stopped for lunch, which was honestly not very good but he pretended it was anyway, and he bought a hat with a feather in it that he fawned over for five minutes, much to the surprise of the shopkeeper... These are his official inspections.

It's as he wanders past a stall with a merchant shouting about their wares that he rounds a corner and his steps stutter to a halt upon seeing a... familiar face. Or at least, there's something familiar about the man coming down the street opposite him, and it takes him a moment, but oh—!]

Sir Talbott, what a surprise! I hadn't expected to see a familiar face out here— do tell me how you've been! I've been thinking about you, after your hasty exit the last time...

[Or he has been as of just now, when the hazy, drunk memory came back to him.]

[sterngaze]

[The middle of the day is never Liem’s favourite time to be up and about. He keeps his own schedule, so most of the time he’s up by sunrise and around this time he’s returned home to take a nice midday nap. Today, however, coffee is substituted for rest so he can meet with the proprietors of a lovely bakery in the process of expanding to a second location partway across town. He’s pleased with his findings―the location seems a good one and the owner of the business a woman of both competence and integrity. It’s important to him that his investments be sound, not just profitable. Personal wealth is all well and good, but coin is the lifeblood of a civilization. He likes to know that his isn’t being diverted into its gangrenous parts.

Still, he’s definitely beginning to flag by about early-afternoon. Even his sixth cup of coffee can’t save him from the cheerful yellow sunshine that floods the street, warming his coat and finding ways to reflect into his eyes despite the wide brim of his hat. He looks tired and wan as usual as he makes his way along the busy street, contemplating finding something to eat before heading home to the dark and quiet. Preferably something that isn’t festooned with fruit and confectioner’s sugar.

A familiar voice raised in greeting stops him in his tracks. Lovely day that it is, he’s wearing sunglasses―newly repaired―beneath the shade of his hat, but even so he squints against the glare to pick out the man standing just a few doors down the road. By all the gods, it really is the governor. What is he doing here?

Well, he’s been spotted now. Raising a hand in greeting, he crosses the remaining distance between them so he can say hello without needing to shout over the surrounding foot-traffic.]

Good afternoon, governor. Indeed, an unexpected pleasure.

[He wasn’t expecting to see d’Orsay again for at least another few weeks, when the whims of bureaucracy dictated he could finally meet him for a few brief moments. Really he doesn’t need more than a second to return the man’s “lost” item, but the staff were adamant; no one sees the governor without an appointment.]

I hope I haven't aggrieved you. I wouldn't like you to think I was in haste specifically to rid myself of your company.

[takeroot]

[Ah— so formal! Constantin glances over his shoulder, but his guards are still just out of earshot - lucky! Imagine if he had to act like they'd never met to avoid guard gossip. Not that he will, ultimately, not really - but the thought counts.

So he turns fully to Liem and moves to put a hand on his shoulder and turn him back around the way he just came. Walk with him, specifically away from the people following him around.]

If you want the truth, my dear friend, I doubt I was thinking much at all! But what good fortune that we should meet while out and about like this! You weren't bothered on your way out of my courtyard, I hope.

[The most important thing to take away from this is one thing in particular: the governor is, in fact, always like this. Being drunk just adds to his disorderly conduct, not the bravado.]

Ah!— Did you enjoy the wine? I did have to take a wild swing at what might please your palate...

[sterngaze]

[It’ll be a cold day in hell before Liem greets any city official without at least some degree of formality― especially out on the street. What is he, a cultureless barbarian? Also, he wasn’t expecting to see the governor just now (or ever, really) and formality is his fallback when he doesn’t know what the hell is going on. Such as right now, as d’Orsay puts a hand on his shoulder and turns him back around so the two of them are now walking side-by-side down the street, back the way he had come. Hmm. Okay. This certainly is what’s happening now.]

Ah… Not at all. Actually, I’d say the rest of my night was uneventful compared to the events preceding it.

[As always on sunny days, his peripheral vision is for shit and he has to turn his head fully to glance at his companion without just catching nothing but glare. He looks a fair sight better than on their initial meeting, though his personality is none diminished. That’s good to see―he went to all that trouble to ensure his safe return home, after all.

And yes, about the wine…]

Truthfully, I haven’t had the occasion to dip into it. [He seems only slightly abashed to admit this.] It, ah, seems a lovely vintage, though. Thank you.

[He’s not scorning the gift, of course! But it’s been scarcely more than a week, and he doesn’t often drink alone. Or at all, actually. Perhaps he’ll get around to sampling it the next time there's a festival.]

[takeroot]

[A week alone is enough to try the wine! Constantin is not so much shocked as mildly surprised, but he still puts his free hand over his heart just a touch dramatically, like he can't believe his ears.]

My heart came so close to breaking I can hardly stand it— Sir Talbott, please promise me you'll enjoy my gift sooner rather than later! Even if you hate every drop of it in the end.

[Never before has "Sir" sounded so much like "oh you." He can't help himself, and the issue of the wine going untouched will... well, he's just fragile enough to insist, even if he does it like this.

Either way, it is a lovely day, and if his guards have wondered about the man their esteemed governor has decided is his new favored companion, they've stood back and kept their mouths rightfully shut about it. Constantin has no destination in mind - perhaps he'll pick a shop at random and steer them inside soon enough, but not yet - and for a moment he's content to walk along the cobblestone street and enjoy the way the sunshine seems to wipe away the dust and grime that naturally settles over any city's less affluent districts. Even the alley he banged his head against must look a little better in the sunlight. Truly, it is a wonderful day.

That said. After that nice day appreciation moment, he clears his throat, a touch sheepishly. That said...]

Did I... throw a glove at you, the last time we were together?

[Did that really happen? He's honestly not sure.]

[sterngaze]

[Hmm. Should he perhaps have just lied and said it was good? That probably would have been the easier option, but what a daft thing to lie about. He supposes he’ll just have to… well. Put an evening aside to sample the bottle, especially as he’s rapidly coming to the conclusion that the governor will definitely ask again when he sees him to return his property. Somehow “let me thank you for your time” has turned into “drink this wine I’ve sent you or I will act very aggrieved.” Such persistence― well beyond that which would be expected by convention.]

Very well, governor. [He sighs in reluctant acquiescence, but his heavy tone is belied by the amusement written on his face. He doesn’t mind the insistence as much as he pretends.] I shall be… prompter in giving your gift the attention it deserves.

[And, although he very much doubts that this will happen to be the case, Liem is the kind of man who would still drink it even if the bottle did turn out to be completely unpalatable. The governor wants his gift to be appreciated, so he’s going to appreciate it― and possibly become very emotional alone in his flat if he drinks it all in one night, but that’s neither here nor there.]

Well… when you say it like that, it sounds so uncouth. [Is Liem… enjoying this? He absolutely is. As it turns out, he’s concluded that if the governor can hijack him as he’s heading home and dictate how he should enjoy his own wine, he’s allowed to enjoy the fact that the governor drunkenly threw a glove at him from a balcony.] I believe it was right after you referred to yourself as a “damsel returned to his palace tower.”

[takeroot]

[Appreciating his very fine gift earns Liem a handful of points, and Constantin will be asking for a review if he doesn't receive a detailed thank-you note within a reasonable time frame. He's just as amused by this back-and-forth, although his amusement is tinged with an almost giddy kind of delight, despite himself; someone to enjoy his gifts! It's very exciting! Mercifully, he has the self control to keep it to a single bottle of wine for the time being.

But the future has limitless possibilities precisely the way the list of things Constantin has done to embarrass himself while drunk does as well, so. Aha.]

Is that what I said?

[Ahaha... ha. Well, all things considered, he could have done worse.]

It does sound much sillier without the atmosphere of a stealthy return, I'll admit... But! So close to having my insides smeared on a dirty walkway when a mysterious figure swept in to my rescue— It seems like I was only mistaken about the glove!

[Damsel? Confirmed. Glove? Sacrificed for the bit. He's looped back around to being charmed by this dumb thing.]

[sterngaze]

[Liem has to laugh at his rather romantic description of their encounter in the alley. He makes it sound as though he’d been rescued from a pack of bloodthirsty assassins, rather than a few rowdy drunks with an interest in introducing their fists to his face.]

Is that how it happened? I think your penchant for artful exaggeration has perhaps run away with you.

[He certainly hasn’t ever seen any damsel tackle a drunk in the street, nor would he expect to see one brandishing the neck of a bottle only just used to smash someone over the head. Perhaps he hasn’t been spending time in the company of the right kind of damsels.]

But in any case, it was my pleasure to play the role of mysterious rescuer for an evening. [Despite the awkwardness and the inconvenience of the incident, he means it genuinely. There are few events in Liem’s life these days that have unambiguously happy endings.] I still have your glove, actually. I meant to return it promptly, [after having it cleaned, obviously] but, well… your staff have informed me that you have a very busy schedule.

[He would say this with slightly less levity perhaps had the governor not come out of nowhere to have a carefree stroll with him in the middle of the afternoon.]

[takeroot]

[Oh, what's this? Could it be that Constantin's very stern, very fussy knight in shining armor has jokes? He scoffs good-naturedly, shaking his head and wagging a finger in one go. Now, now--]

I exaggerate only the perfect amount, my dear man. It's as true as I'm standing here with you now!

[Very romantic encounter in the alley, indeed! No one need focus on the breaking of bottles or any of that, especially not now, out here in the daylight. No, this is the time for romantic retellings...

Constantin's eyebrows go up curiously at the mention of his glove being returned; that much is... actually a surprise, but then, he wouldn't have expected someone so serious to acknowledge what they did in the alley at all in the first place before he brought it up. This outing is full of surprises.]

I'm in high demand, certainly... You came all that way to give it back to me? Truly?

[Anyone else might have sold it for the handful of coin the materials would get them, he thinks, and so he's genuinely touched. Aw, Sir Talbott...]

[sterngaze]

[Who said anything about volunteering any acknowledgements about the nature of their meeting? In truth, Liem had been intending to return the item with as little conversation as possible, especially given that he’d made an appointment to do so during hours when the governor would be busy working. Doubtless their interaction wouldn’t have been concluded so swiftly or smoothly in practice, but that’s how it went in his head.]

Well it was hardly a grand undertaking, but… yes. Of course.

[His gaze is, at the moment, rather firmly fixed on the street ahead of them. The amount of attention the governor is giving this fact is, once again, disconcerting. If he had been paying more attention a week and a half ago, perhaps he wouldn’t be surprised that this revelation would be greeted with more than just an obligatory “thank you” and a change of subject. Alas, he foolishly attributed at least some of d’Orsay’s previous sentimentality to the drink.]

It’s… your property.

[Not that he was scorning the “token of everlasting friendship” generously (and drunkenly) bestowed upon him, but he assumed that the governor would, in fact, want his glove back once he’d regained his sobriety and sense of discernment. He certainly wasn’t going to pawn it. Even if it was offered frivolously and probably in error, it was still essentially a gift.]

[takeroot]

[Some of Constantin's sentimentality is thanks to the drink, sure. Certainly a portion of it, if a small one, all things considered. The novelty of being here, in his own city, away from the oppressive court of his father trying (and failing) to get him to rein it in has yet to wear off, even after all this time. Essentially: he can't help it! So he might get a little starry-eyed over a gesture of good will! That happens!]

It is an undertaking, no matter how small! I appreciate the effort, that's all I mean to say.

[Like, a lot, but who's keeping track. Let him think - does he remember any of the very small appointments he has booked? No, not likely; it's easier on everyone's inevitable scheduling headaches to finalize the days one at a time, so, ah. No one on his staff has mentioned this visit even in passing, which makes him wonder...]

What did you tell them? Who did you tell? Was it Sir de Courcillon? Did his collar ruffle itself into a frenzy upon your request?

[Constantin knows in his heart that "I have to return the governor's glove, thrown at me in a drunken moment of passionate thanks" is not at all what Liem must have said, but let him pretend for this brief moment.]

[sterngaze]

[To be frank, Liem doesn’t quite remember who it was that he spoke to in order to get a meeting with the good governor. People at that level of administration all blend together after long enough, particularly if they’re not anyone he needs to encounter on a regular basis. He’s confident that it was an older man, but that description probably could apply to a majority of people in d’Orsay’s staff. Perhaps he should be remembering the gentleman in question, however― it may be wise to avoid him if he sees him on the street anytime soon.]

Some ruffling may have occurred.

[The amount of effort and stubbornness required to book some of the governor’s valuable time is, unsurprisingly, a fair amount! The staff were all too eager to shuffle his request off to some other channel, which ordinarily he would commend them for― the wheels of bureaucracy, working as intended! In this particular instance, however, it meant some egos needed to be deflated before he was able to make headway. He's navigated similar waters a hundred times before, and in his experience getting the desired result is often just a matter of finding the right person to lean on.]

It will likely be noted down as a meeting to review the terms of a small business permit for possible revision. [He gestures vaguely with one hand as he speaks, waving away the insignificant details.] As you can imagine, the gentleman I spoke to was insistent that I simply submit the documents for review, but I was… persuasive.

[“Persuasive” here meaning “overbearing enough that he decided it was worth a few minutes of the governor's time to make an exception, for the sake of what remained of his sanity.”]

[takeroot]

[Ah! Delightful! Not that poor, tired Sir de Courcillon deserves having his feathers-et-al ruffled, necessarily, but it puts a grin on Constantin's face that carries a decades-old childhood wickedness to it. Bothering his staff, some of whom have known him since he was barely walking... it's traditional! Liem earns himself a point in, perhaps, not the best way, but a way for sure.

Constantin pats him amiably on the shoulder.]

Good man! And did you complete them anyway, the documents? Shall I review your humble service for glove retrieval and return? There are fewer permits when no money changes hands, or so they'd have you believe.

[There are always permits. Permits never end. He hates reviewing permits because only one in a million is at all interesting.

But would be interesting is fully committing to the bit and writing up the plans for a fake business. Excellent use of the governor's time.]

Ah— wait, don't tell me! Save it for our important business meeting! Tell me what brings you out to this part of town, instead!

[Here, the governor forgets that other people just go around town sometimes, because it's normal to do that.]

[sterngaze]

[The documents? Hah… no. Liem hadn’t truly intended to bring any documents for him to review. Not because he doesn’t want to waste the governor’s time with fabricated papers (although that also wasn’t his intent), but rather because there probably are legitimate proposals he could be bringing to the man’s office. He has no intention of taking advantage of their temporary connection and the governor’s good humour to move ahead financially. Just the thought puts a sour taste in his mouth.

But then, he likely should bring something to d’Orsay’s office along with his wayward glove, even if it isn’t paperwork. Half the reason for his fable about business permits was to avoid raising the curiosity of nosy staff. It would be conspicuous to depart just a few minutes after his hard-fought meeting with the governor finally commenced.]

Of course… I’ll not burden you with such talk now.

[Important business matters… he’ll have to think on it later. Now that his visit is no-longer a surprise, it seems the good governor has formed some expectations. And, frivolous though it may be, he finds himself reluctant to disappoint him.]

Actually, I was here on business― concluded now, happily. [Sun still high in the sky and already it’s been a long day. “Just going around town?” Like, recreationally? He’s not familiar with that concept.] I was meeting with the proprietor of the Riqueti Patisserie, just down the street from here. A refreshing change from lurking in the city’s back streets at night.

[He doesn’t only prowl seedy alleys for thugs to vanquish and damsels to rescue, romantic as that might be. He does have a day job as well!]