[Achilles not knowing what it is actually... takes a ton of the pressure of it off. Ryuji can't be the official worst date if Achilles has ever had, if it's the only one he's ever had. Silver lining.
But, he wasn't being serious with him when he proposed it the first time. That sort of manipulation just isn't his style at all.]
You're just gonna jump right into it, huh.
It's like... a romantic hang out. Spending some time together to get to know each other, doin' something together- that sorta stuff. People from my time don't just suddenly start messin' around without it.
Well, I mean some do, but I don't really think I'm like that.
HUH? YOU KEEP JUMPIN' TO MARRIAGE AND I'M LIKE OVER HERE ABOUT IT ___ and you're over ___ here
It's just... somethin' people do to find out if they're compatible with each other. And to build trust and a relationship. Seriously. I am the worst person in the world to have to explain this to you.
[Wow. His face feels red hot, and his eyebrows scrunch upward. He... he knows this feeling. This is one that he's felt a bunch of times over, enough to know what a "no" looks like, even when it's worded like this.
It's... okay. He'll stand by his principles, anyway, and try to not take it too hard. A different, more naive Ryuji from a year ago would've probably argued harder, pursued the argument that you can't get to know a person unless you spend time with them, which was the whole purpose of asking the dude out on a date, but. Ah, well. He only wants one thing, right? Aren't most adults like this in the end, anyway?]
Mnn. I got it. I guess when it comes down to it, it wouldn't work out in the end anyway.
Hey, I'm gonna get going. COST assigned me a mission that I'm startin' from tomorrow and I can't mess this up.
[He laughs at himself when he sees the reply. It's not a chuckle that's filled with humor, but just moreso about how damn ironic it is. Sure, whatever.]
That ain't how a date works, but... sure, why not?
[Ryuji closes the private network inbox and starts reading through the files that Command sent over to him the other day. It's hard concentrating on stuff that's so incredibly heavy, but he knows he has to do it or else things are going to put in jeopardy. He sighs and sits up. He should probably open the window if Achilles is going to come crashing through it.]
[ He decides to pick him flowers as a way of cheering him up.
It’s not something he’d normally do for another man, but Ryuji’s sensibilities are a product of their time and he seems more sensitive than your average warrior. So maybe he does wish to be treated like a lady.
He sits on the roof of the bar once he’s done picking various flowers in the royal gardens, fashioning a crown out of the greenery. It’s something he learned during his years with Chiron.
When he’s finished, he hops down to the sill of the window and knocks on the glass. He’s somewhat late. ]
[It's almost like clockwork- just when he's finally settled on moving to unlatch the hinge, there's the soft pitter patter of sound against the window, and Ryuji looks over to see him- there, waiting to be invited into the little abode above the bar. He scratches the back of his head.
He wonders if allowing him in is against better judgment. There's as severe lack of foresight on his part, never knowing if what he's doing is the best idea for himself, or for others, and acts on those impulses from what he thinks is moral, or just. And he knew that he wasn't mad at Achilles for anything he had done, but rather himself, for letting his heart feel as heavy as it already was; for being so reckless and never thinking things through, like he always does.
Hands close around the latch, and he guides the window open from it's crappily built guide rail. He's there, and Ryuji feels dumbstruck, yet again, for thinking of something worth saying. Anything worth saying, really.
Think about what you're pursuing.
I'm here and I exist, but only by magic.
Huh. He looks around the window and at Achilles. All of this reminds him of a story he used to know from when he was a kid.]
'Sup. You're really into this Peter Pan shit, huh?
[ He feels bad okay? At least, he feels burden by whatever this heavy emotion is, which he processes as something like guilt. Had his intentions been unclear? Normally women would have certain expectations in mind whenever he showed interest, as marriage was at least a prospect in the future of a man and a woman. Between men, intimacy was enough.
He really underestimated the barrier between culture and ages. He feels like he can't wrap his head around this kid. Does he really owe it to him to cheer him up or prove to him that he only has good faith for him in mind? ]
Peter Pan shit? [ Slightly confused. The name doesn't register as familiar to him, so whoever this Peter Pan is, they're not worth knowing.
He waits until Ryuji backs up to make room, dropping his feet to the dusty floor. He holds out the makeshift crown wordlessly, gesturing for him to take it.
The meticulously woven greenery comprises of mostly rosemary and lavender, with a few contrasting flowers scattered here and there. Achilles' fingertips smell strongly of the floral fragrances, slightly stained of purple and green. ]
[Ryuji is ready to tell him about the story of a boy who never grows up, who comes to the window of Wendy Darling and takes her away to someplace that can't possibly be real, where pirates and mermaids and lost boys fight- the whole nine yards. But in the end, he lets it slide and doesn't say anything about it at all. After all, a half a second of thinking leads to the realization that it's the embodiment of a situation where a woman falls in love with the impossible, and even as she ages, she clings onto a concept rather than a practicality.
And really, he can't wrap his head around Achilles either. He's not sure he wants to, to begin with, because to think about Achilles is like waiting on a shore at the beginning of a storm. Too much and the waves get higher, and he's confusing breathing with remembering how to swim. It's not fair that someone can come into his life and stir this much up, make everything just... not make sense anymore, and be completely okay with it. He wearily eyes the other as makes his way through properly, holding something in his hand. Nothing is owed to Ryuji, by ways of an apology or even the guilt that rests in Achilles- and yet as he takes the crown into his hands, he looks over it. The warm, earthy smells fill the room of an otherwise sour stagnancy of wine and aged sundries. It's hard for him to pay attention to the other for a few moments, as he brings the circlet up to his nose and lets the soft perfume of the flowers and herbs dance against his senses.
Just what does this mean? Ryuji is lost at the gesture, his mouth opening to say thanks, but closing as the confusion just settles itself straight back into his heart. God, this is so... gay. But it's also oddly calming- and maybe it's the lavender (not that he would know this particular herb is meant to set an air of relaxation and comfort, because it's working), but Ryuji can't help but feel like this peace offering was an apology of sorts. He'll cherish it- he already does, but his voice breaks when he finally lets out a coherent string of words:]
T-the hell's wrong with you... you don't go 'n pick flowers for a guy. Geez, how...
[It doesn't work, there are too many telltale signs that he's obviously not bothered by this gift for the merits of its lack of masculinity but by the fabric of its gesture- and he takes a more breaths inward before... giving up the tougher pretense of the moment.
His face is on fire. If Achilles didn't care, then he wouldn't be here tonight, fingers stained in color and odor, standing in this little attic that was too small for both his presence and height. And it feels so out of place when all he wants to do is reach out and punch him on the shoulder lightly, smile like the spot of sunshine that he could be when he's all excited and can't keep still. But instead, he just places the crown atop his head and looks up at the other.]
[ Like a woman, he's flustered by the gesture. He has to bite back a laugh, smiling fondly as Ryuji goes about processing what he'd just been given. He's pleased by his response, finding the way he inhales the earthy scents to be thoughtful of him.
He hadn't quite thought of it as an apology; he'd thought of the idea on a whim and acted on impulse.
Fortunately, Ryuji doesn't try to draw attention to his apparent guilt. ]
Crooked. [ And he reaches forward to fix this, tugging it down slightly so that it's encircling the top of his head rather than hanging off of it. And now he's nudging at the underside of his chin, forcing him to look up. ] There. Now it's beautiful.
[Whenever the day comes that he finds out Achilles thinks of him as a woman, he's probably going to give him a verbal hell the likes of which he's never seen before. It doesn't exactly help, of course, that he is flustered, but that's just because... well, fuck, he doesn't know WHY he's blushing like this, he just is, ok?
Achilles, on the other hand, has sent impulses all up and down Ryuji's spine just by going and moving the crown to its proper position. Of course he wouldn't know how it's supposed to look, he's never had to wear one of these things before- and it's probably for the best that he's not trying to don it like it's a baseball cap.
It's the touches that set him off, though, the familiarity of going straight for his chin that has his eternal pissed off expression loosening up and softening around all the edges. Ryuji looks happy to hear those words come out of Achilles' mouth, his cues all screwed up at the moment as he's unable to hide any part of himself from the other- and then, just like that, he disengages looking the other in the eyes, instead, averting it towards the corner of the room.]
Yo, uhm... [He tries tilting his head back down again, but it's clear that he looks a little remiss at the way that this exchange was going. Achilles went too far, again.] This sorta stuff... man, it's... uh... it's sending me all sorts of messages...
[ Sorry... he's just going with the flow. He finds satisfaction in pleasing others.
He bows his head out of respect, withdrawing his hand so he can cross his arms absently. He holds back a sigh, wondering if something like that would be offensive. ]
[If he keeps his mind on the mission, then he doesn't need to think about all the other stuff. Like the way his heart rate's up, or the urges to let him touch his chin again. It's... it's easier, this way, right? He starts to rattle off some information that was handed down to him- about a famous artist that he's been tasked with trying to delay the vote to kill the king.]
Kinda weird, right? I mean, I tried to speed up the vote since we were laggin' behind and now, it's like... happening way too damn fast. [There's a twinge of guilt in his voice here, a little bit of disappointment. He's striking out in everything from romance to writing history. What else could happen, right?
God, he was looking forward to this mission being over for some downtime. And a good training facility. He wanted to start lifting weights again.]
So my plan is to try and get an audience with this dude and distract him. My buddy back home had this weird thing with wanting to draw people nude.
[ He listens intently, taking the mission as seriously as he would any other. He's never been very well-versed in the ways of political jargon, but he understands the situation enough that he can appreciate the target's role in the grand scheme of things.
It becomes quite clear that Ryuji isn't... prepared for this at all, or even knows what he's doing. He doesn't look impressed. ]
You think that will be enough to get his attention? [ He refrains from sighing again. It's almost endearing how eager and passionate Ryuji is, but he's bound to get himself in trouble if he doesn't have anyone with experience helping him. ]
He probably has plenty of models to choose from if that's what he wants to paint everyday.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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So explain.
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Fine.
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But, he wasn't being serious with him when he proposed it the first time. That sort of manipulation just isn't his style at all.]
You're just gonna jump right into it, huh.
It's like... a romantic hang out. Spending some time together to get to know each other, doin' something together- that sorta stuff. People from my time don't just suddenly start messin' around without it.
Well, I mean some do, but I don't really think I'm like that.
[HE AIN'T NO DAMN WHORE ACHILLES.]
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You want that with me?
[ Oh shit. ]
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It's just... somethin' people do to find out if they're compatible with each other. And to build trust and a relationship. Seriously. I am the worst person in the world to have to explain this to you.
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With me?
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Think about what you're pursuing. I'm here and I exist, but only by magic.
There is no future that could exist between the two of us. That's why I live in the moment.
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It's... okay. He'll stand by his principles, anyway, and try to not take it too hard. A different, more naive Ryuji from a year ago would've probably argued harder, pursued the argument that you can't get to know a person unless you spend time with them, which was the whole purpose of asking the dude out on a date, but. Ah, well. He only wants one thing, right? Aren't most adults like this in the end, anyway?]
Mnn. I got it. I guess when it comes down to it, it wouldn't work out in the end anyway.
Hey, I'm gonna get going. COST assigned me a mission that I'm startin' from tomorrow and I can't mess this up.
Seeya 'round, Rider?
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Shall we make one out of the mission?
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That ain't how a date works, but... sure, why not?
You can tag along.
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Tell me where you are and explain this mission to me.
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Same place as last time. This one's kinda weird. I don't really know how to tackle it.
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I'll be over soon.
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[Ryuji closes the private network inbox and starts reading through the files that Command sent over to him the other day. It's hard concentrating on stuff that's so incredibly heavy, but he knows he has to do it or else things are going to put in jeopardy. He sighs and sits up. He should probably open the window if Achilles is going to come crashing through it.]
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It’s not something he’d normally do for another man, but Ryuji’s sensibilities are a product of their time and he seems more sensitive than your average warrior. So maybe he does wish to be treated like a lady.
He sits on the roof of the bar once he’s done picking various flowers in the royal gardens, fashioning a crown out of the greenery. It’s something he learned during his years with Chiron.
When he’s finished, he hops down to the sill of the window and knocks on the glass. He’s somewhat late. ]
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He wonders if allowing him in is against better judgment. There's as severe lack of foresight on his part, never knowing if what he's doing is the best idea for himself, or for others, and acts on those impulses from what he thinks is moral, or just. And he knew that he wasn't mad at Achilles for anything he had done, but rather himself, for letting his heart feel as heavy as it already was; for being so reckless and never thinking things through, like he always does.
Hands close around the latch, and he guides the window open from it's crappily built guide rail. He's there, and Ryuji feels dumbstruck, yet again, for thinking of something worth saying. Anything worth saying, really.
Think about what you're pursuing.
I'm here and I exist, but only by magic.
Huh. He looks around the window and at Achilles. All of this reminds him of a story he used to know from when he was a kid.]
'Sup. You're really into this Peter Pan shit, huh?
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He really underestimated the barrier between culture and ages. He feels like he can't wrap his head around this kid. Does he really owe it to him to cheer him up or prove to him that he only has good faith for him in mind? ]
Peter Pan shit? [ Slightly confused. The name doesn't register as familiar to him, so whoever this Peter Pan is, they're not worth knowing.
He waits until Ryuji backs up to make room, dropping his feet to the dusty floor. He holds out the makeshift crown wordlessly, gesturing for him to take it.
The meticulously woven greenery comprises of mostly rosemary and lavender, with a few contrasting flowers scattered here and there. Achilles' fingertips smell strongly of the floral fragrances, slightly stained of purple and green. ]
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And really, he can't wrap his head around Achilles either. He's not sure he wants to, to begin with, because to think about Achilles is like waiting on a shore at the beginning of a storm. Too much and the waves get higher, and he's confusing breathing with remembering how to swim. It's not fair that someone can come into his life and stir this much up, make everything just... not make sense anymore, and be completely okay with it. He wearily eyes the other as makes his way through properly, holding something in his hand. Nothing is owed to Ryuji, by ways of an apology or even the guilt that rests in Achilles- and yet as he takes the crown into his hands, he looks over it. The warm, earthy smells fill the room of an otherwise sour stagnancy of wine and aged sundries. It's hard for him to pay attention to the other for a few moments, as he brings the circlet up to his nose and lets the soft perfume of the flowers and herbs dance against his senses.
Just what does this mean? Ryuji is lost at the gesture, his mouth opening to say thanks, but closing as the confusion just settles itself straight back into his heart. God, this is so... gay. But it's also oddly calming- and maybe it's the lavender (not that he would know this particular herb is meant to set an air of relaxation and comfort, because it's working), but Ryuji can't help but feel like this peace offering was an apology of sorts. He'll cherish it- he already does, but his voice breaks when he finally lets out a coherent string of words:]
T-the hell's wrong with you... you don't go 'n pick flowers for a guy. Geez, how...
[It doesn't work, there are too many telltale signs that he's obviously not bothered by this gift for the merits of its lack of masculinity but by the fabric of its gesture- and he takes a more breaths inward before... giving up the tougher pretense of the moment.
His face is on fire. If Achilles didn't care, then he wouldn't be here tonight, fingers stained in color and odor, standing in this little attic that was too small for both his presence and height. And it feels so out of place when all he wants to do is reach out and punch him on the shoulder lightly, smile like the spot of sunshine that he could be when he's all excited and can't keep still. But instead, he just places the crown atop his head and looks up at the other.]
Uhm... how's it look?
[Horrible.
Achilles, what were you thinking?]
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He hadn't quite thought of it as an apology; he'd thought of the idea on a whim and acted on impulse.
Fortunately, Ryuji doesn't try to draw attention to his apparent guilt. ]
Crooked. [ And he reaches forward to fix this, tugging it down slightly so that it's encircling the top of his head rather than hanging off of it. And now he's nudging at the underside of his chin, forcing him to look up. ] There. Now it's beautiful.
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Achilles, on the other hand, has sent impulses all up and down Ryuji's spine just by going and moving the crown to its proper position. Of course he wouldn't know how it's supposed to look, he's never had to wear one of these things before- and it's probably for the best that he's not trying to don it like it's a baseball cap.
It's the touches that set him off, though, the familiarity of going straight for his chin that has his eternal pissed off expression loosening up and softening around all the edges. Ryuji looks happy to hear those words come out of Achilles' mouth, his cues all screwed up at the moment as he's unable to hide any part of himself from the other- and then, just like that, he disengages looking the other in the eyes, instead, averting it towards the corner of the room.]
Yo, uhm... [He tries tilting his head back down again, but it's clear that he looks a little remiss at the way that this exchange was going. Achilles went too far, again.] This sorta stuff... man, it's... uh... it's sending me all sorts of messages...
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He bows his head out of respect, withdrawing his hand so he can cross his arms absently. He holds back a sigh, wondering if something like that would be offensive. ]
Tell me about the mission.
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Kinda weird, right? I mean, I tried to speed up the vote since we were laggin' behind and now, it's like... happening way too damn fast. [There's a twinge of guilt in his voice here, a little bit of disappointment. He's striking out in everything from romance to writing history. What else could happen, right?
God, he was looking forward to this mission being over for some downtime. And a good training facility. He wanted to start lifting weights again.]
So my plan is to try and get an audience with this dude and distract him. My buddy back home had this weird thing with wanting to draw people nude.
Maybe that'll work?
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It becomes quite clear that Ryuji isn't... prepared for this at all, or even knows what he's doing. He doesn't look impressed. ]
You think that will be enough to get his attention? [ He refrains from sighing again. It's almost endearing how eager and passionate Ryuji is, but he's bound to get himself in trouble if he doesn't have anyone with experience helping him. ]
He probably has plenty of models to choose from if that's what he wants to paint everyday.
What's your back-up plan?
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