[ A pause settles. Off guard, and then thoughtful. He imagines the wealth of poison he might attempt to purge, given the excuse, endless words and far too much information. He imagines his empty room, the lengthy evening ahead.
The ease of Bull's offer is almost too transparent to need to navigate. When his chest twinges deeply, he makes a decision-- ]
No need, [ breezily, and decides it's the wrong answer immediately after, even if there is a quality in Bull's voice that implies there is no wrong answer. ] I have every intention on being poor company.
Yeah. I know how you get when you got your mind set to something.
[ It's fair. After all, he wouldn't have to deal with this latest diatribe from his father if not for their association. It makes more sense than anything that a couple of fun tumbles wouldn't be worth this sort of drama.
He's not writing him off, no, but it's better to prepare for a blow that doesn't come than let it take you by surprise. ]
Your old man's full of it, though. Just for the record.
[ His laugh, mild and low, has affection in it. Not for his father. ]
Believe me, this little bit of correspondence is as good as things have been for years. I haven't had a decent duty lecture since I was made an Enchanter, which, by the way, is usually code for marriage.
I suppose dancing with a Ben-Hassrath spy decreases my prospects. [ Musically, sweetly optimistic in affect; ] We should do it again sometime.
Don't know about that. We had plenty of people eying us for other reasons during that little dance of ours, too. I know the difference.
[ Looks that surveyed, imagined, and coveted. Looks of those who thought they knew what this was and who they were. Fantasies are all well and good, until someone feels the need to start imposing those ideas on someone else.
Dorian's father could learn a lesson or two, in that regard. ]
Probably not interested in the marriage part, though. So.
[ Wrong kind of riled, really, but the semi-laugh in reply is knowing, and a little fond. ]
Of course, [ he says, easily, as if he hadn't been indecisive after the fact. But it would be too easy, to drag in all the bullshit the letter implies. It's good for a laugh -- although Bull hadn't really laughed -- but they were, the two of them, meant to be having fun. There was a lot of that that Bull could find elsewhere.
Still, he opts not to leave it at dismissal as he adds; ] You might find me on the training grounds tomorrow morning, if you'd care to go a few rounds.
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no subject
The ease of Bull's offer is almost too transparent to need to navigate. When his chest twinges deeply, he makes a decision-- ]
No need, [ breezily, and decides it's the wrong answer immediately after, even if there is a quality in Bull's voice that implies there is no wrong answer. ] I have every intention on being poor company.
no subject
Yeah. I know how you get when you got your mind set to something.
[ It's fair. After all, he wouldn't have to deal with this latest diatribe from his father if not for their association. It makes more sense than anything that a couple of fun tumbles wouldn't be worth this sort of drama.
He's not writing him off, no, but it's better to prepare for a blow that doesn't come than let it take you by surprise. ]
Your old man's full of it, though. Just for the record.
no subject
Believe me, this little bit of correspondence is as good as things have been for years. I haven't had a decent duty lecture since I was made an Enchanter, which, by the way, is usually code for marriage.
I suppose dancing with a Ben-Hassrath spy decreases my prospects. [ Musically, sweetly optimistic in affect; ] We should do it again sometime.
no subject
[ Looks that surveyed, imagined, and coveted. Looks of those who thought they knew what this was and who they were. Fantasies are all well and good, until someone feels the need to start imposing those ideas on someone else.
Dorian's father could learn a lesson or two, in that regard. ]
Probably not interested in the marriage part, though. So.
no subject
[ Glass clink, self-awareness setting back in. Stop flirting with qunaris after refusing invitation from them, Dorian. ]
Anyway. I suppose I ought to let you go, before I really get started.
no subject
[ Shameless to the last. Bull eyes the crystal for a moment before adding: ]
You change your mind, just let me know.
no subject
Of course, [ he says, easily, as if he hadn't been indecisive after the fact. But it would be too easy, to drag in all the bullshit the letter implies. It's good for a laugh -- although Bull hadn't really laughed -- but they were, the two of them, meant to be having fun. There was a lot of that that Bull could find elsewhere.
Still, he opts not to leave it at dismissal as he adds; ] You might find me on the training grounds tomorrow morning, if you'd care to go a few rounds.