I don't know, guess because some guy choked me out of nowhere?
[ funny enough, at the time, he did chalk it up to the aftermath of what he's been through. but, he can't help but feel kind of wronged the more he thinks about it.
not that he was genuinely worried or anything...
though, it does make him pause to look at sylus for the first time since he's walked in here. ]
[ when he feels sylus' touch, he tries not to flinch. not because of some implicit sense of fear, but mostly because he's still doing his best to hold onto this grudge. even when he knows it's not like there's a reason to hold sylus to any sort of standards to begin with. though, maybe he does and that's kind of frightening in its own way.
but, probably not a frightening at how weird this is all getting.
when sylus draws his hand to his own neck, rafayel can only stare at him. ]
What, and let you feel better? No thanks.
[ his fingers just kind of brush against his neck, and feel around where his pulse would be. ]
[ First of all, he doesn't feel guilty about it. Why should he when Hien was going around eating people? So he had a moment of emotion, Rafayel was barely harmed.
If anything, it's impressive that his attempt was as weak and short-lived as it was. His heartache could've carried him to act beyond the logic that the Rafayel in front of him was guilty of no crime.
It hadn't. There was something in him that didn't want to see him in pain.
His head tilts, letting Rafayel's hand wander as it pleases, and he may see burn marks starting at the underside of his jaw and travelling down under his shirt. ]
[ using hien eating people as a guide of guilt... is probably where sylus is going wrong here. but, sadly rafayel doesn't know any better. as much as sylus may justify it in his head, without knowing it... rafayel himself is making just as many excuses. were his feelings hurt...? he isn't sure.
his trust didn't come easily, but ... did he trust sylus?
these are all questions he feels like he's on the cusp of having an answer to, and yet he may not have wanted to acknowledge any of this at all. it's also why he sort of lets his mind wander. silently letting his fingers trail over scarred skin, and even reach into the gap of his shirt without fully knowing it.
when he does, he looks back up at sylus. ]
Are you even trying to hide them? Instead of assumptions, it's more like you're screaming them out. I'm just having a hard time drowning out the noise.
[ Yes, Sylus has gone wrong, and isn't thinking about it normally at all. It was brief, and he was emotional. Did he expect that Sylus felt too much affection to ever bare his fangs at him?
His self-control is solid, unshakable the majority of time, but occasionally the wild thing that still lingers in his soul eeks out. ]
Isn't the noise from you changing the subject? You want to focus on me to avoid talking about yourself.
[ Tracing over his expression with his gaze, thoughtful. ]
so he does what any mature individual would do in this situation, and he splashes some water over at sylus. ]
You think you understand me, but you don't. [ rafayel's famous line...
normally, he's thinking this about miss bodyguard, but he isn't sure when he started thinking this about sylus too. but, surely there's no correlation... ] When I saw you, I was relieved. That's all. [ but, those emotions feel like a waste now, but he won't say that. ] I'm tired, so I won't spell it out for you.
[ The wetter you make him, the hotter he'll get...
Also, this is so funny. Sylus isn't sure that he understands him at all, actually, he's just making an informed observation. But if Rafayel is saying that... then perhaps he does? He knows that Rafayel is both passionate and moody, roundabout and a little self-sabotaging in the way he goes about getting what he wants—if he can admit that he wants it.
He knows that he's probably more dangerous than he lets on, and reserved with his affection, but in a way that's different from Sylus.
Despite all that, it is surprising when he looks at him, and sees what he thinks might be... hurt? He doesn't understand why he might feel that way, but it does soften the smile he wears into something less teasing and more gentle. ]
You're tired?
[ He also thinks it's funny that Rafayel is acting like this when Sylus is the one that returned beaten up and bleeding. How selfish... But he likes that part of him too. Souls filled to the brim with desire are the most appetizing, after all. ]
So the way I greeted you was disappointing. How should I have done it so that you'd be satisfied? [ Reaching out again, brushing his thumb against his bottom lip. ] Like this?
sylus' amusement is palpable, and so it's hard for rafayel to face him with anything less than annoyance. yet in spite of it, like sylus is thinking, he also realizes it's been a long day. perhaps, even longer for those who've just returned. but, as logical as it all could have been, rafayel was essentially an emotional individual. he felt deeply for what existed within his periphery, and that unfortunately extended to feelings of bitterness too. even if for all intents and purposes— he'd say he considers sylus no different than debris that happened to be brought in with the tides.
... okay, that might not be true, but the idea does make lift his mood just a little.
though, it seems to die out the second he feels sylus' thumb on his lips. there's a moment of deliberation. whether he leans into the touch, or pulls back. he decides to let it sit there. ] No, this is still too weak. Even your other greeting had more impact.
[ going to take sylus' thumb in his mouth for just a second, just enough for his teeth to graze against it. ]
[ OKAY that is a very rude thought, you punk. Calling him debris... Not that he has any clue.
All he knows is that Rafayel has decided to challenge him, but not in a way that lets any accidental honesty spill through. For a second, he contemplates pressing his thumb in further, eager to win this game of chicken.
But instead, he pulls his hand back, letting it rest against the rim of the tub. ]
I see. [ The amusement fades into something more thoughtful, like he's studying him. ] Out of consideration of your fatigue, I won't give you a repeat performance.
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continues sketching. ]
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but, once sylus walks over, he shuts his book. ]
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[ Looking at him... ]
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[ he gives a shrug. he's stepping into the bath with his clothes on. ]
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[ ARE YOU A TEENAGER ]
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Oh? You were there? I didn't see you.
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Sorry, but this place is off limits. As you can see, this is my studio, so you're going to have to see yourself out.
[ sorry to anyone else who has to use the bathroom. ]
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What's got you in such a terrible mood?
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[ funny enough, at the time, he did chalk it up to the aftermath of what he's been through. but, he can't help but feel kind of wronged the more he thinks about it.
not that he was genuinely worried or anything...
though, it does make him pause to look at sylus for the first time since he's walked in here. ]
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[ Sits on the rim of the tub, looking at him. ]
Even though you found my attempt pathetic, and then complained if I were to kill you, to do it with my hands anyway?
[ Oh yes, he is no longer dirty and is in clean clothes. His eye has a bandage over it. ]
1/2
turning to stare at him. ]
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It was a waste of me running, that's all.
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Running where?
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[ ... ] Where you just happened to be. [ ...
he's feeling awkward, so he corrects himself: ] I said some guy, but I meant a stranger.
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Will hold on even if Rafayel tries to squirrel away, taking his hand and bringing it to Sylus' neck. ]
So. You want to get even?
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but, probably not a frightening at how weird this is all getting.
when sylus draws his hand to his own neck, rafayel can only stare at him. ]
What, and let you feel better? No thanks.
[ his fingers just kind of brush against his neck, and feel around where his pulse would be. ]
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[ First of all, he doesn't feel guilty about it. Why should he when Hien was going around eating people? So he had a moment of emotion, Rafayel was barely harmed.
If anything, it's impressive that his attempt was as weak and short-lived as it was. His heartache could've carried him to act beyond the logic that the Rafayel in front of him was guilty of no crime.
It hadn't. There was something in him that didn't want to see him in pain.
His head tilts, letting Rafayel's hand wander as it pleases, and he may see burn marks starting at the underside of his jaw and travelling down under his shirt. ]
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his trust didn't come easily, but ... did he trust sylus?
these are all questions he feels like he's on the cusp of having an answer to, and yet he may not have wanted to acknowledge any of this at all. it's also why he sort of lets his mind wander. silently letting his fingers trail over scarred skin, and even reach into the gap of his shirt without fully knowing it.
when he does, he looks back up at sylus. ]
Are you even trying to hide them? Instead of assumptions, it's more like you're screaming them out. I'm just having a hard time drowning out the noise.
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His self-control is solid, unshakable the majority of time, but occasionally the wild thing that still lingers in his soul eeks out. ]
Isn't the noise from you changing the subject? You want to focus on me to avoid talking about yourself.
[ Tracing over his expression with his gaze, thoughtful. ]
There's something you don't want to face.
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so he does what any mature individual would do in this situation, and he splashes some water over at sylus. ]
You think you understand me, but you don't. [ rafayel's famous line...
normally, he's thinking this about miss bodyguard, but he isn't sure when he started thinking this about sylus too. but, surely there's no correlation... ] When I saw you, I was relieved. That's all. [ but, those emotions feel like a waste now, but he won't say that. ] I'm tired, so I won't spell it out for you.
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Also, this is so funny. Sylus isn't sure that he understands him at all, actually, he's just making an informed observation. But if Rafayel is saying that... then perhaps he does? He knows that Rafayel is both passionate and moody, roundabout and a little self-sabotaging in the way he goes about getting what he wants—if he can admit that he wants it.
He knows that he's probably more dangerous than he lets on, and reserved with his affection, but in a way that's different from Sylus.
Despite all that, it is surprising when he looks at him, and sees what he thinks might be... hurt? He doesn't understand why he might feel that way, but it does soften the smile he wears into something less teasing and more gentle. ]
You're tired?
[ He also thinks it's funny that Rafayel is acting like this when Sylus is the one that returned beaten up and bleeding. How selfish... But he likes that part of him too. Souls filled to the brim with desire are the most appetizing, after all. ]
So the way I greeted you was disappointing. How should I have done it so that you'd be satisfied? [ Reaching out again, brushing his thumb against his bottom lip. ] Like this?
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sylus' amusement is palpable, and so it's hard for rafayel to face him with anything less than annoyance. yet in spite of it, like sylus is thinking, he also realizes it's been a long day. perhaps, even longer for those who've just returned. but, as logical as it all could have been, rafayel was essentially an emotional individual. he felt deeply for what existed within his periphery, and that unfortunately extended to feelings of bitterness too. even if for all intents and purposes— he'd say he considers sylus no different than debris that happened to be brought in with the tides.
... okay, that might not be true, but the idea does make lift his mood just a little.
though, it seems to die out the second he feels sylus' thumb on his lips. there's a moment of deliberation. whether he leans into the touch, or pulls back. he decides to let it sit there. ] No, this is still too weak. Even your other greeting had more impact.
[ going to take sylus' thumb in his mouth for just a second, just enough for his teeth to graze against it. ]
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All he knows is that Rafayel has decided to challenge him, but not in a way that lets any accidental honesty spill through. For a second, he contemplates pressing his thumb in further, eager to win this game of chicken.
But instead, he pulls his hand back, letting it rest against the rim of the tub. ]
I see. [ The amusement fades into something more thoughtful, like he's studying him. ] Out of consideration of your fatigue, I won't give you a repeat performance.
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