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[He'll find the reaper looking down at him, for the sake of doing so.]
I thought about that. We had quite a developing library back in Riverview and now we've next to nothing. It's awful.
I thought about that. We had quite a developing library back in Riverview and now we've next to nothing. It's awful.
[That gets a giggle out of him in earnest.]
Oh, milord wants to see my brand of penmanship, does he? You might spend the rest of your days trying to decipher it. Sometimes I can hardly read it myself. [He really is joking, but he can make it a Halloween prop if he wants.]
Oh, milord wants to see my brand of penmanship, does he? You might spend the rest of your days trying to decipher it. Sometimes I can hardly read it myself. [He really is joking, but he can make it a Halloween prop if he wants.]
[He's just still relaxed against him but he opens his eye to watch for a moment.]
I'm sure I've read worse. After all, it can't be so bad when you've worked with people so long. [He won't push too hard though. Except maybe to hear some stories. His twin may appreciate that as well.]
I'm sure I've read worse. After all, it can't be so bad when you've worked with people so long. [He won't push too hard though. Except maybe to hear some stories. His twin may appreciate that as well.]
[He could tell stories, if the boys ever wanted to hear any. One of them might. He's almost certain the other just doesn't care.]
Well, what of you? What stories would you write? You're young yet, but that's still enough time to come up with something worth reading.
Well, what of you? What stories would you write? You're young yet, but that's still enough time to come up with something worth reading.
[Well, Astre certainly wouldn't mind the stories.]
What would I-? [Hm...] I don't know, actually. Adventures maybe? Fiction of some sort, probably. I have plenty of inspiration since most people don't believe demons or grin reapers are real. I could bother you for all sorts of inspiration.
What would I-? [Hm...] I don't know, actually. Adventures maybe? Fiction of some sort, probably. I have plenty of inspiration since most people don't believe demons or grin reapers are real. I could bother you for all sorts of inspiration.
[Lots of inspiration indeed.]
I don't know about demons, but you may be right about grim reapers. We tend to lay low and not make a fuss. You'll find demon mythology in just about every culture and religion. I suppose this would make quite an adventure story, wouldn't it?
I don't know about demons, but you may be right about grim reapers. We tend to lay low and not make a fuss. You'll find demon mythology in just about every culture and religion. I suppose this would make quite an adventure story, wouldn't it?
[He lifts a shoulder in a shrug.]
It's a start. Half the fun is figuring out how to say what once you have the story itself planned out. Then there are the details to the plot as it goes, but good penmanship speaks for itself.
It's a start. Half the fun is figuring out how to say what once you have the story itself planned out. Then there are the details to the plot as it goes, but good penmanship speaks for itself.
[He lifts a finger to wiggle it, that having reminded him of something.]
You'll know more than you do, I think. Give it time. Speaking of that though, we haven't had enough of it around the house. Not from everyone.
You'll know more than you do, I think. Give it time. Speaking of that though, we haven't had enough of it around the house. Not from everyone.
[He tilts his head and steps over to settle himself on the couch, leaving more than enough room for Astre to follow him.]
You say that as if we couldn't still have a night of it. [That grin says there are ways. Oh, there are ways.]
You say that as if we couldn't still have a night of it. [That grin says there are ways. Oh, there are ways.]
[Since he had spoken to the horned-woman, he had been careful not to be in the same room as Undertaker whenever he thought about it, lest the reaper find him blushing a hot enough red that, if he came close enough, he could probably feel.
But he couldn't do that forever. And he more or less got his blushing under control after a day, so it wasn't too suspicious of him. He hoped.]
Undertaker?
[Really, he had no idea what he was doing, what he'd say- what could he say? After all, it was just some strangers opinion, right? And second-hand, no less.]
But he couldn't do that forever. And he more or less got his blushing under control after a day, so it wasn't too suspicious of him. He hoped.]
Undertaker?
[Really, he had no idea what he was doing, what he'd say- what could he say? After all, it was just some strangers opinion, right? And second-hand, no less.]
[He isn't a fool, and after having lived for a small handful of years looking after the Earl, so close to the boy, it was impossible not to notice that as soon as he entered one room, Astre would make his excuses and exit soon after. It didn't worry him, not immediately. They'd had their moods and avoided each other for various reasons now and again; he put it to that, thinking perhaps the boy was in a mood or something harsh had been said or done somewhere. Even now, they sometimes would butt heads, but never in an explosive way, contrary to how they once had been.]
[Or how Astre had once been, in any case.]
[So he waited, giving the Earl patience and a chance to come around on his own and open up to what had been bothering him. In the end, that patience won out, and Astre would find him seated on a couch in the living room, reading something upon one of the ridiculous... okay, so the datapads were growing on him, but only out of necessity! Not because he liked them. He lifted his gaze from it, glancing over in the boy's direction.]
Here, milord.
[Or how Astre had once been, in any case.]
[So he waited, giving the Earl patience and a chance to come around on his own and open up to what had been bothering him. In the end, that patience won out, and Astre would find him seated on a couch in the living room, reading something upon one of the ridiculous... okay, so the datapads were growing on him, but only out of necessity! Not because he liked them. He lifted his gaze from it, glancing over in the boy's direction.]
Here, milord.
[Oh, not far to find him and he can feel his heart beating a little harder for it. And he suddenly realizes that he still has no idea what to do, that moment of calling out for him and actually finding him doing nothing to help.
He moves over the the couch, settling beside Undertaker and peeking at his datapad for a moment, nosy, and then leans his head onto the reapers shoulder.]
Anything interesting?
[That's an innocent enough question, right? Even after the days he'd been a bit quiet and awkward. Thinking about that now makes his stomach knot up a bit in guilt.]
He moves over the the couch, settling beside Undertaker and peeking at his datapad for a moment, nosy, and then leans his head onto the reapers shoulder.]
Anything interesting?
[That's an innocent enough question, right? Even after the days he'd been a bit quiet and awkward. Thinking about that now makes his stomach knot up a bit in guilt.]
[By now, the nosiness is to be expected, and he never has made an excuse for the boy not to look at what he's reading. Most of their literary entertainment falls along the same lines sometimes anyway, or close enough that they don't mind swapping books. When Astre gives up reading with him and leans into him, he shifts an arm around to settle about the boy's shoulders in habit.]
Nothing truly. Just some old fiction from a time long past in this place. They had odd thoughts on how to harvest solar energies back then, but I can't really speak to the matter myself, being no expert in the field.
[He turns his head, peers over at the teen leaning against him.]
Care to change the text? I'm sure we can find something we both enjoy.
Nothing truly. Just some old fiction from a time long past in this place. They had odd thoughts on how to harvest solar energies back then, but I can't really speak to the matter myself, being no expert in the field.
[He turns his head, peers over at the teen leaning against him.]
Care to change the text? I'm sure we can find something we both enjoy.
[He's never been able to help himself. Especially since Undertaker got his eyes... fixed, he supposes is the best word for it. Some part of him, that he's given no voice to, is glad they're still that phosphorescent green. It's hard to imagine his eyes any other color, but he's not sure he'd really mind if they had. They would still be Undertaker's eyes, green or otherwise.
There's a soft, pleased, little sigh when the arm wraps around him, and his pounding heart calms. Slightly. It still beats hard in his chest, just slower.]
Hm, I don't mind reading whatever you're reading. I just... want to sit like this for awhile, if you don't mind.
There's a soft, pleased, little sigh when the arm wraps around him, and his pounding heart calms. Slightly. It still beats hard in his chest, just slower.]
Hm, I don't mind reading whatever you're reading. I just... want to sit like this for awhile, if you don't mind.
[There's a soft hum and he turns back to the datapad in his lap to swipe a page - with his fingertip, not his fingernail. He learned that lesson well enough on the Fleet. The hand on Astre's arm rubs a light trail up and down as he's wont to do during their snuggling.]
Take your time. I'm going nowhere.
Take your time. I'm going nowhere.
Mm, good. [He melts against Undertaker when that hands starts to rub along his arm. It's impossible to keep his eyes open at the comfort it provides, but he's far from falling asleep. There's too much on his mind and he's trying to find a way, still, to bring up what he'd spoken to Era about.
It's hard to think of anything beyond an awkward question about love.]
I... wanted to ask something, but I don't know how to start it.
It's hard to think of anything beyond an awkward question about love.]
I... wanted to ask something, but I don't know how to start it.
[For a short time, there is silence between them, and it isn't uncomfortable, at least not on his end. He can sense that there's something bothering the boy, but he won't press. Even after so long, after the comfort that has built between them, he knows not to force a subject, not unless necessary. So he lets Astre come around on his own, and it isn't long after all for that to happen.]
Usually it's best to start a question with a word, don't you think?
Usually it's best to start a question with a word, don't you think?
[He heard that mumble, and it isn't like he doesn't hear it, though he does let it pass without incident. What comes next puts perspective on more than enough to give him his suspicions, and he turns a growing smile on the Earl.]
Oh dear. Never did imagine I'd be the one to have the old birds and bees conversation with you. [That's going to be a fun hurdle when they reach it. For now, he marks his place in the book and sets it aside to give Astre his full focus.]
It's different for everyone. For me, it was the way I felt around her, like I'd just stepped through the door to my home after a long day's work, the way her laugh made me smile and made my heart skip a beat. Silly as it might sound, it was all true, but it only feels like that in love or infatuation. [He tilted his head, giving a shoulder a playful little scritch.] Which is it for you, do you think?
Oh dear. Never did imagine I'd be the one to have the old birds and bees conversation with you. [That's going to be a fun hurdle when they reach it. For now, he marks his place in the book and sets it aside to give Astre his full focus.]
It's different for everyone. For me, it was the way I felt around her, like I'd just stepped through the door to my home after a long day's work, the way her laugh made me smile and made my heart skip a beat. Silly as it might sound, it was all true, but it only feels like that in love or infatuation. [He tilted his head, giving a shoulder a playful little scritch.] Which is it for you, do you think?
[Oh, how his cheeks heat up at that.]
I know about the birds and the bees. [He mumbles. Technically. He understands the mechanics of it, at the very least. It was a necessary part of his general education.
But he listens to Undertaker's description, feeling his heart pounding hard still. His hand clenched slightly, clinging to the reaper for a moment and then swallowing hard.] K-kind of the same, really. Just-
Only ever a woman?
I know about the birds and the bees. [He mumbles. Technically. He understands the mechanics of it, at the very least. It was a necessary part of his general education.
But he listens to Undertaker's description, feeling his heart pounding hard still. His hand clenched slightly, clinging to the reaper for a moment and then swallowing hard.] K-kind of the same, really. Just-
Only ever a woman?
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