z_jay | Luceti | Appointments

[The smaller details – what ‘cartoony’ and ‘lumberjack’ mean – might be lost on him, but don’t much affect his understanding. Eugene’s tone says enough and Isaac would think on it more if he weren't as amused by where the man's attentions seem to stray for brief moments. He has always craved some manner of attention -- unfortunately, in Valachia, most of what he had received had ill-intent behind it.]

We share the smallest of cages, Eugene; we were bound to meet again whether or not it would be wanted on either side. [His smile thins, eyes glittering knowingly.]

But let us leave sleeping dogs to lie.

[And so he steps back and towards the center of the dance floor, drawing Eugene along with him. Still expecting some measure of resistance as he does.

As relaxed as Isaac may seem, his grip, like Eugene's, is anything but loose and lazy. It's comfortably firm - or meant to be as much.]

The night is young and there is much of it left to be taken.

Edited 2013-11-12 15:58 (UTC)

Cage is a good way of putting it.

[There's a momentary resistance, mainly because he didn't want to be seen in this clothing as much as possible, but he quelled the urge and carried on, facing Isaac once they'd reached a decent spot within the dancing space.]

So I take it you're saving the best for last?

[It was nothing more than a friendly flirt, an attempt to keep this light hearted and keep sleeping dogs where they were]

[Isaac wastes no time sliding an arm loosely around the man’s waist, slowly but with an unhesitating, casual confidence as if they were easing into a routine. This might be about the closest to dancing with the devil in the pale moonlight one might get.]

For last? [He echoes, laughing at the idea.] Oh, no. I will have nothing short of the very best all throughout.

[The fact he tensed wasn't because he was entirely concerned, but that he hadn't expected something so intimate from Isaac. He softly laughed off his insecurity and returned the gesture, grinning softly at the other man. He didn't quite understand the change of heart, but he wasn't entirely in a situation where he could be picky about it, either]

You flatter me, and I'm sure you'll agree. But thanks.

[Still, a dance was a dance and Eugene wasn't going to spoil this, so he stepped in closer, enough to feel Isaac's body warmth]

So what are you supposed to be?

[Though he’s the one to have made things more intimate, he can feel hundreds of infinitesimal things tense under his skin when Eugene draws closer. A pure, instinctual reaction devoid of logic and he knows it. But his smile holds strong and he wills himself to move with the fluid grace of a man in complete control of the situation as he has learned to long ago. A valuable skill, especially at a time when one was near-constantly under scrutiny.

Eugene may find himself slightly disappointed as Isaac is a curious creature when it comes to heat, his body cooler than the average man's would be in a comfortably warm ballroom. Even shirtless.]

'twould seem I am meant to be a raven. [He gradually relaxes into his touch, but never quite fully.] Should that indeed be the case... I will grant that 'tis a fitting choice on the Malnosso’s part.

They say ravens are incredibly intelligent creatures, so I can see how that'd be nice.

[By comparison to his... semi-moose, semi-lumberjack attire, but he was going for being kind, here. Even if he wasn't so keen on being close to Isaac like this, he wasn't about to back down at this juncture.

And also, even if he was kind of creepily not-as-warm as he'd thought he'd be. It was an active effort to not think about corpses, and thankfully people on their way to turning were fever hot.]

Can you fly? Sometimes I wonder, what with all the Malnosso can do.

[He smiles primly. Not quite what he had been getting at, but he’ll take the rare and unexpected compliment as it comes whether or not it was intended.]

Where I am from, 'tis believed that ravens are omens of witchery and death.

[He lets the thought hang in the air as if to invite Eugene to supply his opinion before a scoffing sort of laugh bubbles up from him.]

Does it look like I can fly? I haven’t the plumage to keep very warm, let alone to take the skies. All the same… ‘twould seem I have little trouble turning unto me the eyes of others even bare of feathers as I am. [A smirk of devilish satisfaction quirks his lips. And then a pause.]

...would that be the hilt of your axe pressed to my hip? [Pale eyes glitter with amusement.]

There's a lot of deep, dark things about your home. That makes two of us, at-- well, wait... [He had to do a short mental count. Jack, Simon, Sam, himself, and Isaac.] Five of us. But, hey, enjoy the moment when you can, right?

[Small consolation, but that's what Eugene and Jack were doing in their time here. Enjoying the ridiculousness and the oddities that Luceti granted them. And even if Isaac was scoffing in laughter, he at least made his point--

That is until the last comment jostled him out of the train of thought he had, making it a point now, to step their hips away from each other, a laugh on his lips, nervous as it was.]

That's entirely not the reason to use it that I was talking about earlier, I'll have you know.

[To the optimistic suggestion he can only offer a tart little half-smile. One that suggests that he might have been able to savour this moment for what it was without thought of the emptiness that would follow the coming day if he felt a zeal for life bubbling in his veins. But he doesn’t want to be in this cage, much less alive. Some would do anything for the second chance he has been given. But some had something worth living for. Something to return to. Someone to return to.

He’s used to devouring what sweet, hollow little pleasures he can find, surviving on scraps. But a lifetime of this and then some can only wear on a man. And maybe it shows on his face, for the briefest moment.

In the beat of silence that ensues he considers who ‘the five of us’ are but comes up short one person, blinking away the thought when Eugene continues.]

I assure you that it had not even crossed my mind. [He says, slipping back into his distantly pleasant manner easily. He is nothing if not a fine actor.] I had merely thought it might be your cock.

Edited 2013-11-24 15:03 (UTC)

Aha... And my cock, euphemism or not, isn't going to be digging into anything of yours. Rest assured.

[All in good fun, though, he navigated them toward the edge of the dance floor, wanting to get a better look at the food offered than entertaining present company's train of thought]

So what else do you do aside from make interesting dragon squirrel things with odd lemons? I mean, Jack's fond of you but he always has been more open-minded about the company he keeps.

[It is an effort, on Eugene's part, to get to know Isaac better. Neutral terms, bringing in an endearing, mutual individual. Tone still light hearted if a little teasing, is a good sign, and he's hoping that Isaac will be receptive. If not, then he will have tried, at least]

Which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Nor is anything of yours, euphemism or not, welcome to dig into me. [He returns affably enough, though none of the mirth reaches his eyes as he gazes back steadily. The corners of his mouth, curled up, tighten slightly.

He doesn’t care where about the room they end up whirling and drifting in rhythm, but he does sense a shift in attention from him as they pull away from the centre of the dance floor. It comes as little surprise - but what Eugene says next is something he couldn’t have anticipated. There it is, the little lie. Only more wearisome hearing it a second time.]

Is he now? [He drawls blandly, cocking his head.] ...Fond. [The word is repeated, dripping with skepticism as he tests it under his breath and then decides he doesn’t like it much.]

How nice.

[Pulling in a quick breath, he summons something close to a vaguely polite interest.] …Mnyes, I imagine he has amassed quite the collection of curious personalities to surround and amuse himself with... with no small amount of blind faith placed in the goodness within all.

Edited 2013-11-25 13:56 (UTC)

Then... yes, we agree, good, glad we had this discussion?

[It wasn't that he was being told he wasn't welcome, it's that Isaac presumed Eugene had an interest to begin with that had him looking briefly unimpressed.

In fact, the more that Isaac speaks, with the hefty dose of sarcasm, has him less inclined to continue, dancing or conversation. Though he doesn't disengage.]

Yeah, he makes friends very easily.

I find that a word often carelessly tossed about.

[Friend. It has proved, at times, to be the cruelest and most cutting of all f-words.]

'tis only when tested that he shall discover who his friends truly are.

Edited 2013-11-28 01:44 (UTC)

Yeah...

[Truthfully, Eugene wasn't sure how to really go forward with conversation. Isaac was unpredictable, moreso than Eugene felt comfortable associating with. In a world like he's from, unpredictability from friends, or even acquaintances could make a difference in life or death. Luceti hadn't dulled that wariness in him, despite its apparent veneer of safety.]

...Is there anyone you know that's being dishonest with him?

[A demure, conspiratorial smile comes first, then a lift of one shoulder.] ...Perhaps. [He answers after a beat and it may not be wrong for all he knows.] Of course, were I to know of who in fact he calls his friends, I would be better fit to answer.

I have been in this village long before you and have met many in this time, enough of whom are still among us. As you no doubt can attest, I have a talent for stripping a man of his gentility before long. Or a woman. [He adds after a moment.] I find that in anger, one is often the most honest.

[He chuckles throatily.]

I take it that Simon is a friend of Jack's?

Edited 2013-11-28 23:55 (UTC)

[Anger, he would argue, often provides the most basic honesty, but in his case, after reflection and not gut reaction, he recognized how using that as a base for judgment was a bad idea. Limiting. It explained a lot about Isaac to him, and he gave a thoughtful sound to that.]

[Mention of Simon had him giving Isaac a direct look again, but his face was expressionless. So Isaac knew Simon... It wasn't entirely unexpected, but he wasn't going to reveal anything he thought about that.]

Yes, they get along. You're correct. Sam's also Jack's friend. And as far as I know there's plenty more that I can't name off the top of my head.

‘Getting along’— [The expressionless look he earns piques some interest] -- can mean a number of things… and as you are no doubt aware, true friendship may have very little to do with it. [He smile stretches thinner.] But what would I know of that?

[A beat.]

He is a charming fellow... [he muses] ...for a human.

[Whether he speaks of Sam or Simon, he is in no hurry to make clear.]

Edited 2013-11-30 03:12 (UTC)

What would you know of that? Even you can make friendships, Isaac, you've just got to meet with people that share interests.

[It wasn't some marvelous secret to getting friends. In fact, Eugene had to admit that Isaac had upkept his side of the bargain not to harm Jack's body when he inhabited it. Respect was a part of a relationship, not necessarily toward friendship, but it was better than the alternative of abject hatred on his part.]>/small>

Interests and possibly some history of similar experiences. It helps them to understand you on a fundamental level.

[The presumption being that Isaac was speaking about Simon, because Eugene was fairly certain Isaac would label Sam as weak, or possibly manipulative. Charming was more Simon's forté, but he nodded in agreement]

Charming's a good word to describe him. I didn't realize you knew him.

[It’s hard to know where to begin picking at a sentence that thoroughly frustrates him, so he doesn’t at all, letting his eyes fall shut and drawing a breath before easing instead into an anecdote.]

In all the time I have spent trapped here, I have come to know but one man who could listen and who would understand. We laughed and drank and fucked, sharing stories long into the night of the shadowy corners of the worlds from whence we came. We were the unloved and the unwanted, bred to deal death under masters who regarded us a little more than tools to be cast aside the moment they outlived their usefulness. Ah, but in one another we found a sense of belonging. [He snorts faintly.] At least, for a time.

[He shifts his focus.]

How disappointing it is that Simon hasn't spoken a word of me... and after I fashioned him such a fine corset. [Giggling.] That ungrateful creature~!

Edited 2013-12-01 01:38 (UTC)

Don't worry, Simon and I don't talk on a regular basis. I'm sure he enjoys it in his own way.

[A polite smile followed, and he wasn't going to go into details about Simon. Letting him in on details like their own personal dislike of one another seemed like adding fuel to a fire he'd rather not instigate. In fact, the song had ended, so he slowed to a stop and disengaged. He can't really say he knows what this was all about, but he's at least certain that he's no where near qualified or clever enough to keep this up for very long]

Thanks for the dance. But I'd better go find Jack now. Have a good night!

[There's nothing left to say, but in its own way, his lopsided smile and polite, nodding dismissal of the ‘thank you’ says enough. Looking for Jack is a mere pretext to leave as soon as possible, he's certain, but that Eugene mustered the will to bear with him this long is almost admirable.

He laughs to himself while watching him merge with the crowd.

The last few remarks left hanging in the air will give him something to consider for the remainder of the evening, at least.]

Luceti | Appointments

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forgot the TW warning for language

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