most precious snowdrop cinnamon bun
Posts: 54
Preferred Name: Chika
Pronouns: she/her
Character Profile: Knight-Prince
Character Name: Polydeuces Chariot
Main Account: Teddy
Status: Active
|
Post by Polydeuces on Aug 13, 2015 4:03:51 GMT -5
Zeke had begun writing shortly after a smile appeared on his lips, which only served to bring a gentler smile on Poly's own face. His heart beat just a little quicker in his chest as he lowered the flower crown back onto the table, watching pen glide across paper - stop - and then continue again. It was easy to pick up on the hesitation in the blond's movement, so he made sure to carefully take the notebook as it was handed over to him. After a pause of looking at Zeke, blue eyes went down to the paper.
And then his heart skipped a beat. The expression fell from his face, only to be replaced by a surprised parting of his lips, widened eyes, and cheeks painted a deeper red than before. "S-soft and gentle, me? I-I--" He'd never really considered that before. It wasn't as if anyone made a habit of complimenting him in that sort of way often. His hand went against the paper, fingers resting gingerly against the words there, glancing from them to Zeke. He took a moment to hide behind the notebook, but, realizing it was too late to hide his rosy cheeks, handed it back after a beat.
"You flatter me," he finally spoke up again with a breathless laugh, lips turning up into a smile again. Oh, no, that little comment would be buzzing in his mind for a few days. It didn't help that he had already been captivated by Zeke's eyes. "I, ah, I like to think all of my arrangements come across as things that could help their recipients relax or calm down so--that was definitely a compliment. Hehe, if you like them, maybe I should make you a flower crown one of these days?" Another amused chuckle escaped him and he brought a hand up to his lips to half-stifle it, closing one eye as he looked up at Zeke again. It didn't even cross his mind that Zeke could very well be gone by the morning if he so wished.
|
|
Posts: 56
Preferred Name: Scotty
Character Name: Zeke
Main Account: Kyne
|
Post by zeke on Aug 13, 2015 4:40:03 GMT -5
The other young man seemed to be a bit taken aback by the compliment but it was wholly true - if there were ever to be someone who seemed to embody the same sort of delicate care and soft, relaxing colors of the pale blue flowers he expertly weaved together, it were Poly. On a more superficial level, it could be said that he was pretty, too; kind bright eyes and a beautiful smile that seemed to light up his whole face. With a flush to his cheeks, he reminded himself that those thoughts should just be swept away and forgotten, not allowed for someone like him.
He wanted.... he wanted to thank Poly again but Zeke figured it was probably best to not keep repeating himself. As he took the notebook back, pen resting in his hand loosely, he scratched a message back to Poly. [[There's no need to do anything more for me than you already have.]]
Of course if he was made one, he'd be incredibly grateful - Zeke was already more than grateful for everything. However, the though reminded him that he couldn't stay much longer, that he shouldn't overstay any sort of welcome, no matter how warm that welcome was. Fingers tight around the notebook at the thought, he loosened his grip and set it down on the table between them, a quiet and sad expression coming over him.
This respite was nice but it was ultimately incredibly temporary. It hurt a bit to know he should leave, that by staying even a second longer he was being selfish and potentially endangering Poly. But... all he wanted was to hold onto the thought that there was someone generous like this, even if it was just one person out of all of Novus.
Zeke tucked one of his legs up on the stead underneath himself, eyes down and lost among the mix of petals and faint leaves that coiled into decorative hoops. Hopefully Poly would keep talking about... something or other - he just didn't know what to ask now.
|
|
most precious snowdrop cinnamon bun
Posts: 54
Preferred Name: Chika
Pronouns: she/her
Character Profile: Knight-Prince
Character Name: Polydeuces Chariot
Main Account: Teddy
Status: Active
|
Post by Polydeuces on Aug 13, 2015 4:57:47 GMT -5
It was really really endearing, watching Zeke's cheeks flush red, but at the same time something felt... regrettable? Poly's own smile faltered just slightly, eyebrows pinching together, before the blond began to write another message. There was something about the air between them that suddenly seemed incredibly bittersweet, so Poly tried to focus his attention more on slowly weaving flowers into a crown until he could read the message Zeke wrote.
Being told he didn't need to do anything more felt like a humble request, but a quick glance at Zeke again froze the florist's heart a bit. Poly chewed on his lower lip for a moment, looking back down at his work, trying to think of what he could say to fill the silence. Everything felt heavy and tense all of a sudden, and he wondered if he maybe shouldn't have implied that Zeke would be here for days. Was that too much?
The thought weighed just a bit too much on him, and his fingers slipped. A couple of petals tore by his hand and he halted, eyebrows knotting together in concern. A too-quiet sound of frustration escaped him, and he placed the damaged blue flower on the table... before glancing from it to Zeke. "I want you to know that, I meant it, you're welcome here as long as you like. And you can go or come as you please, too. I actually have a spare key lying around somewhere, shoot, where did I stash that..." His fingers had gone back to work as he mused this, words trailing off as he glanced upward. Shaking his head, he offered a kind smile at the blond again.
"You seem like a good person, you know. Truly. I don't know if you believe that yourself, or not, but I do. Maybe I'm a fool for thinking that, but I don't feel threatened by you. Haha, I wonder what my friends would think?" His expression had considerably relaxed again, and a soft chime of a laugh escaped him. "But really. You aren't burdening me at all; you're fine company so far. And it's nice to not be all alone. I don't know what class you are--and I don't expect you to really tell me--but I bend the rules sometimes, anyway." He winked, and let a pause fill the space between them, curious if Zeke would respond at all.
|
|
Posts: 56
Preferred Name: Scotty
Character Name: Zeke
Main Account: Kyne
|
Post by zeke on Aug 13, 2015 5:11:42 GMT -5
The notebook sat on the table, out of Zeke's line of sight for the moment as Poly spoke. A part of him ached, a cold and cruel feeling that wasn't like the cold hum of his want for magic or the sharper needs like hunger - this was a harder to describe feeling. Zeke wanted so badly for what Poly was saying to be true, to be an option, but he didn't need clear thoughts to know that it couldn't possibly be.
In response, he offered a wounded smile and let the notebook be for a moment.
He... he knew he was nothing but trouble and that Poly couldn't have known better, that he shouldn't push his welcome and his luck much farther but it was just so tempting to want to hold onto that offer, that slight glimmer of hope. Zeke knew he couldn't ever possibly risk taking a key, knew that when he left he couldn't risk leaving any connection between himself and Poly for the other's sake. He just couldn't stand the thought of possibly getting him into trouble.
In the back of his mind, he had decided. He'd rest a little longer, leave while Poly wasn't around, and hopefully never tangle Poly up in trouble. He just... needed a little longer, was all. Reaching over to the table again, he took the notebook to write Poly another message and passed it to him.
[[If I can repay you by being good company for now, then I'm glad.]]
He wished he could somehow do more, wished he hadn't needed the help - but it was what it was and he could only try to hold onto what comfort he had for now.
|
|
most precious snowdrop cinnamon bun
Posts: 54
Preferred Name: Chika
Pronouns: she/her
Character Profile: Knight-Prince
Character Name: Polydeuces Chariot
Main Account: Teddy
Status: Active
|
Post by Polydeuces on Aug 28, 2015 3:50:39 GMT -5
The relaxation could only last so long. There was a heartbreaking feeling that was creeping through his veins, hastened by the wounded smile the blond had offered him. Poly's breath caught, and he had to focus down on the flowers; it was too heavy and he was at a loss for what he could possible do now. This wasn't exactly a situation he had encountered before. Sure, he'd brushed shoulders with vigilantes and he'd done his part in finding specific herbs that could be used for medicines, specifically to help those in the lower classes, but this was harboring a would-be thief who was in such a broken up state that Poly didn't even know how to continue.
He fiddled with a few smaller flowers before the notebook was slid toward him again, lowering his hands as he read the message. For the briefest second, a look of regret touched his eyes, and he glanced to the side before finally offering an unsure, closed-eye smile at Zeke. "If you truly want to repay me, you can focus on getting better. You're in such rough shape--if you ever find yourself in need of something to eat, maybe if you don't feel comfortable here... As I said, I don't know what class you are, but even the Slums have soup kitchens, so...!" He drew in a breath, chewing on his lip at that and going back to focusing on his flowers.
It didn't really make sense. There was this clawed hand of dread at his throat -- he didn't want Zeke to leave. It was two parts genuine concern for the other man, and one part selfishness. But what could be so bad, honestly? What could cause someone to be in such a desperate situation like this? His eyebrows furrowed and he halted his fussing with the floral arranging, letting out a sigh. If I can repay you by being good company for now... "If you ever do leave, just take care of yourself, alright? But please don't be a stranger." One more time, he pushed on a gentle smile, but it was just slightly smaller, not quite reaching his eyes. Worried. Nervous.
|
|
Posts: 56
Preferred Name: Scotty
Character Name: Zeke
Main Account: Kyne
|
Post by zeke on Aug 28, 2015 4:48:03 GMT -5
Zeke leaned further back into the comfortable chair, closing his eyes a little as Poly responded to him. Getting better ... well, he could try all he wanted but it wasn't quite that simple. Still, he nodded, glancing his eyes open for a second to respond before sinking back into the chair again. He wanted to sleep, badly, but the aching need for magic left him horribly restless, tinges of panic brushing at his nerves and telling him to get up and leave right now before something bad happened. He quieted that, knowing he could at least allow himself a little bit more rest somewhere completely safe before going.
He really did wish it was possible to stay.
A heavy exhale and he opened his eyes a bit to watch Poly work. The room had felt for a moment like it was beginning to spin and there was a horrible familiar soreness becoming all too noticeable between his shoulders, a wooziness settling in his stomach that wasn't from being horribly hungry this time. He... really, really was pushing it by going this long without a fix. He didn't want to feel like he was just using Poly, though - even more than he didn't want to go back to Zwei for help. He just... he wanted to sleep and forget for a little while and then leave and at least not have to worry about ruining things for someone else.
Leaning forward in the seat, his eyes went from the flowers in Poly's hands to the notebook lying on the table. The other man spoke up again, saying to take care and not to be a stranger and Zeke found himself unable to look up and notice the way his smile didn't quite fit, that he looked troubled. He just nodded again, trying to keep his mind occupied and calm. It... it would probably start to be a little harder to ignore in a while, he knew from experience, and with a thought he decided that there was probably something that could get his mind off it a little.
Zeke reached for the notebook, pulling it onto his lap and writing before sliding forward off the couch to get up. He did wobble a little, body still feeling weak and dizzy and hurting for more Magic, but once up he shuffled around the table to the couch where Poly sat. Hesitantly, still wary by reflex without even realizing it, he took a seat with a little space between himself and the other before holding out the notebook to be read.
[[ Do you think you could show me how to make those? I'd like to try if it's ok. ]]
|
|
most precious snowdrop cinnamon bun
Posts: 54
Preferred Name: Chika
Pronouns: she/her
Character Profile: Knight-Prince
Character Name: Polydeuces Chariot
Main Account: Teddy
Status: Active
|
Post by Polydeuces on Aug 28, 2015 5:55:12 GMT -5
There was another brief portion of silence between them, a heaviness that made him lower his gaze back to his flowers. He wondered, briefly, if he would get over this encounter quickly, or if he'd be stuck on Zeke for a while to come. Part of him hoped, if the blond made a point to disappear without a trace, that he could just will the intense desire to help away, pretend the fondness that had grown rather quickly wasn't there.
But a sudden shuffling caught his attention, and when he looked up, Zeke had moved from the chair, settling onto the couch next to him and holding out the notebook again. The florist's breath caught in his throat and he flushed a little, mostly out of surprise that Zeke had gotten so close on his own terms. Slowly regaining his composure, he nodded once, expression shifting back into a gentle set.
No, he wouldn't be forgetting about Zeke for a long time, even if he never saw him again.
"Of course I can." Setting down the one he was working on for the moment, he picked up a small spindle of green wire. "I start with this stuff. You want to make a decent sized loop, and it would act as the base. Then you take some un-flowered greenery to fluff up your base a bit, like this..." Stretching out the wire, he reached for a few sprigs to fasten to the base with smaller lengths of the wire.
Then he gestured the a pair of stem clippers. "From here you just kind of cut the stems off to about--two inches, give or take. And you spiral the wire around liiike... this... to hook the flower onto the base! Oh, and be sure the wire isn't on the inner part of the loop, or else it'll poke the wearer when they put on the crown." After successfully attaching one of the flowers, he looked up at Zeke, gaze still soft. "Does that make sense? Do you want to try? Don't worry, I have an overabundance of this stuff, so it's fine if we do a bit of trial and error!"
|
|
Posts: 56
Preferred Name: Scotty
Character Name: Zeke
Main Account: Kyne
|
Post by zeke on Aug 29, 2015 0:29:33 GMT -5
Poly hadn't seemed to have expected the shift in seats from Zeke, but the sort of look of surprise was kind of... comforting? to him. It was... nice to know that he wasn't expected to do anything not on his own terms. Strange, but welcome. He still felt a bit unsure about being near someone, near enough that if the other young man he could reach out and touch him but there really was nothing to fear from Poly himself and so he made himself stay there, not shuffling over to the opposite end of the couch. Anxious thoughts stirred like muddy water in the back of his mind but he covered it up by concentrating on the directions.
Pale brows furrowed as he watched, eyes following the way Poly's fingers skillfully curled the greens and flowers into the base. He did it with the practice of someone who had done this thousands of times, and Zeke leaned forward a bit to watch intently. As the other young man finished and then asked if he understood, Zeke's gaze lifted to meet bright blue eyes and he was reminded that this was easily the closest he'd (consciously) been to Poly so far - but he didn't... really want to pull away now. It sort of caught him off guard and there was a small pause before he nodded in response.
Giving it a try would be nice. Giving it a try would hopefully be enough to stop himself from getting sucked into aggressive thoughts and driving himself into a panic, though briefly he thought that even just having Poly speak to him and fill the silence might help with that enough. There was just... something soothing about him, even if that didn't make much sense.
A bit hesitantly at first, Zeke reached for the wire and began to try and recreate the hoop that Poly had made. It was kind of rough and bent out of shape but it was still hoop-ish, and once he had it formed and was convinced that it was hoop enough, reached for a few greens and vaguely tried to recreate the way that Poly had attached them. It wasn't.... quite working and he glanced up from his horribly concentrated look at the hoop to Poly, hoping for help.
|
|
most precious snowdrop cinnamon bun
Posts: 54
Preferred Name: Chika
Pronouns: she/her
Character Profile: Knight-Prince
Character Name: Polydeuces Chariot
Main Account: Teddy
Status: Active
|
Post by Polydeuces on Aug 29, 2015 1:13:23 GMT -5
When Zeke had finally lifted his gaze after Poly's instructions, the florist's heart practically stopped. It was one thing to take note of Zeke's eyes from afar, but those pale blues were much closer now. It made him all sorts of flustered and -- really, honestly -- captivated. A breath passed through his lips and he only realized how awestruck he'd been when the blond finally reached for the wire and the gaze was completely broken. He briefly glanced to the side, reaching a hand up to press against his chest as his cheeks warmed.
Finally though, he turned his attention to watch Zeke work at making a flower crown. The movements reminded him of the little kids he'd tried to instruct once, with a hoop not perfectly round and the greens weren't laying as neatly. A small smile touched his lips as he noticed the concentrated look on Zeke's face, although when the other man looked up for help, he found his heart fluttering all over again.
"You're, ah, twisting the wire around the greens a bit too high -- you only want to fasten the bottom twenty-five percent-ish of each piece." He paused before breaking the gaze again, reaching for another sprig, some wires, and the instructional crown he'd started. Leaning just slightly closer and holding the arrangement a bit higher for easier viewing, he wound the wire around the greenery a bit slower than he had the first time before attaching it snugly to the crown. "Like so, see?" Blue eyes flickered onto the other, full of patience.
|
|
Posts: 56
Preferred Name: Scotty
Character Name: Zeke
Main Account: Kyne
|
Post by zeke on Aug 29, 2015 2:03:23 GMT -5
This was such a silly, strange thing to be doing; he tried not to think on it as he nodded to Poly, watching him do it correctly and slower this time. He... thought he got what he was doing wrong now, and tried again. As he glanced back to his own badly constructed hoop-with-greenery-on-it, a wave of dizziness hit him and he squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, releasing a heavy sigh. He could probably sleep some but not with how tense he was feeling, not with everything else that was lurking over his shoulders.
Distraction. Back to a distraction. Zeke unwound some of the loose pieces from his hoop and tried to put them back properly - he was a little more successful this time, and after he had those old ones reattached properly he went to add a little bit more. He certainly wasn't putting it together as quickly as Poly was, but once he had enough greens on there (or what seemed ? like enough ? It looked like a decent enough number even if it wasn't likely the most perfect work).
That done, it was flowers next he assumed and he leaned forward to reach for a few flowers, some darker ones than the pale blues Poly had been working with earlier. He didn't think on the anxious buzzing that peppered his thoughts at the moment, and though it made his motions still a little tense, it wasn't as difficult to ignore while doing this. When he'd leaned to grab the flowers, it'd put him a little nearer to Poly and he thought he smelled... mint? Maybe he imagined it but - strange? Maybe there were plants that had the smell or something but it was a really soothing scent, that was for sure. Was everything about Poly just... inherently soothing?
Probably. All the more reason not to stick around beyond today.
Without letting that thought settle long and trying to force himself to come somewhere near relaxed, he reached for the clippers and cut one of the blossoms off to try and attach. Not really thinking on anything as he did this, absorbed for now in concentration, he worked to get one on properly. It took him a try or two, but once he'd corrected it once he figured he had at least one flower on there. That... wasn't too hard. A small smile crept onto his face without him knowing and he clipped off another flower to try and place it on the crown, wanting to try and make it at least not terrible looking for a first try.
|
|