[ He’s aware—or he assumes—that the darling is impersonal, but every time someone directs a term of endearment his way he shaves off some of the words he’s willing to say back. Eventually he’ll be reduced to grunts and points. ]
[ But most of his friends are gone, or else he isn’t speaking to them, and even introverts have limits, so after a pause he relents, sort of, in a tone that’s a little defensive, like he thinks people might think he doesn’t have hobbies. ]
[ At lovely Kostos makes a noise that is not quite ugh, more like a scoff that would be ugh if it had any voice behind it—the point, regardless, is ugh. ]
I don't paint, I—
[ He decorates. If Thedas has bedazzlers the yet-unadorned bear skull sitting on his shelf at the moment would be in trouble. But it all feels very stupid, even more stupid that when he actually gives someone an inked and stone-dotted bone as a gift, and he would like to talk about something else. ]
I'm not confined to bed, nor contagious, or anything like that... but I've not played since Nevarra. You might have to teach me the rules again—actually, while we're at it, would you mind helping me brush up on my Nevarran? It's been too long.
Edited (hours later, i had an IDEA) 2019-07-01 01:13 (UTC)
[ Maybe an immediate switch to Nevarran, without any speed or pronunciation adjustments, isn't what Lea meant, but it's what he's getting, because Kostos prefers it anyway, a stubborn attachment that may be unique to the sorts of exiles and expatriates who continue celebrating national holidays alone in their rooms. ]
Do you want me to come down there?
[ Directly beneath him. If the floors weren't thick stone, he'd stomp on them more. ]
[ Not exactly a correction—it’s inflected as a second-person command—but it contains the correct colloquialism, at least, with a touch of impatience. Difficult is his middle name. ]
[ He might have come down the way he was—shirtless—if not for the commentary drawing attention to it. But he's contrary, and he's interested neither in being told what to do nor in encouraging Leander, so he puts on a shirt first, and feeds the bird, and finds his set of cards, and then eventually wanders down to knock on the door. ]
[It's been nearly a month since anyone's seen Leander in public, and when he comes to open the door, Kostos will see the reason why: sickly pallor, bruised eyelids, all his angles a touch pronounced. The sleeves of his loose-fitting shirt are long, not rolled to his elbows, and the collar less relaxed than usual. Bloodless, barefoot, bone-tired.
Pleasant, all the same. Not that a smile has ever promised good health. (He laughed in surprise after Kostos broke his nose, too, when he saw there was blood.)]
I was beginning to think you'd changed your mind. [No he wasn't. Back to Nevarran, as he makes room in the doorway,] Come in, make yourself comfortable. Anywhere you like. But do not touch the painting supplies, please and thank you.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ He’s aware—or he assumes—that the darling is impersonal, but every time someone directs a term of endearment his way he shaves off some of the words he’s willing to say back. Eventually he’ll be reduced to grunts and points. ]
no subject
What do you do for fun?
no subject
[ Obviously not. ]
Why? Are you bored?
no subject
As a cleric in a brothel. Plus, we haven't spoken in a while—thought I might pester you into continued friendship.
no subject
[ But most of his friends are gone, or else he isn’t speaking to them, and even introverts have limits, so after a pause he relents, sort of, in a tone that’s a little defensive, like he thinks people might think he doesn’t have hobbies. ]
I play cards. I paint bones. I have a bird.
no subject
[After one muffled cough, a wince lingers for the next few words before it smooths out again.]
Don't answer that, it's not up for discussion. I didn't know you painted—how lovely. What a lovely picture that makes. Bones, you said?
no subject
I don't paint, I—
[ He decorates. If Thedas has bedazzlers the yet-unadorned bear skull sitting on his shelf at the moment would be in trouble. But it all feels very stupid, even more stupid that when he actually gives someone an inked and stone-dotted bone as a gift, and he would like to talk about something else. ]
Are you ill?
no subject
Indeed I am, which means you've got to be nice to me. Will you show me some of the bones you've painted? Not now, but some time.
no subject
no subject
no subject
Fine.
[ It's not really a big ask. He doesn't hide them. Some of them are on his shelves. ]
What's wrong with you?
no subject
Just a flare-up of an old complaint. It's more bothersome than anything.
[Technically not a lie.]
no subject
no subject
I'm not confined to bed, nor contagious, or anything like that... but I've not played since Nevarra. You might have to teach me the rules again—actually, while we're at it, would you mind helping me brush up on my Nevarran? It's been too long.
no subject
Do you want me to come down there?
[ Directly beneath him. If the floors weren't thick stone, he'd stomp on them more. ]
no subject
Yes. If you want to. When?
[His Fereldan accent isn't bad. Unless you're a snob, or being difficult, which—for once, for the sake of his own learning—he hopes Kostos will be.]
If now, I need time to wear— [Nope, that's wrong.] I must dress myself.
no subject
[ Not exactly a correction—it’s inflected as a second-person command—but it contains the correct colloquialism, at least, with a touch of impatience. Difficult is his middle name. ]
no subject
I mean, [Nevarran again, after a little cough away from the stone, cheerfully strained—] Give me just a minute. I will be quick.
no subject
[ He might have come down the way he was—shirtless—if not for the commentary drawing attention to it. But he's contrary, and he's interested neither in being told what to do nor in encouraging Leander, so he puts on a shirt first, and feeds the bird, and finds his set of cards, and then eventually wanders down to knock on the door. ]
no subject
Pleasant, all the same. Not that a smile has ever promised good health. (He laughed in surprise after Kostos broke his nose, too, when he saw there was blood.)]
I was beginning to think you'd changed your mind. [No he wasn't. Back to Nevarran, as he makes room in the doorway,] Come in, make yourself comfortable. Anywhere you like. But do not touch the painting supplies, please and thank you.