abraxaslogs | [ CLOSED ] the dawn is opening

[ Well. He's mostly resisted enough that giving into an eye roll where Sylvain can now see it feels correct, even if it also feels a bit like giving into that teasing. Claude's not trying all that hard to resist it regardless which is likely apparent in the appreciative flick of his gaze over those arms. Whether Sylvain intended for that to happen or not, it certainly worked, though it'll take more than that alone to distract him. ]

Please, I never surrender to anything. Maybe I'm simply waiting for the right opportunity to strike to throw you off. Is it working?

[ Though it wouldn't be properly teasing if it wasn't for a follow up to that even if he might be slightly losing the point of whatever he'd started here, and so - ]

It must be. Otherwise you wouldn't be trying to use your arms against me right now.

[ Sylvain blinks at him a moment before glancing down at his arms, because he really hadn’t been doing that on purpose, but hey. He’ll take any advantage he can get. ]

Is that what you think I was doing? Please. I’m pretty sure we’d both be very aware of it if were actually using my arms against you right now.

[ They both knew what that looked like. Vividly. And in great detail. ]

Besides. Pretty sure that’s one of the things Mags would definitely kick us out over.

[ The blink tells him all he needs to know, and Claude's already put two and two together before Sylvain confirms it. That's all the more cause for a reason to hide a smile in his drink - something else that's become a habit more often than not over the past year - before responding. ]

Hey now, I didn't say I didn't appreciate what little I get to see here. Should I be thinking of this as a preview for later, then?

[ Is there an innocent way to ask that? Not really, but Claude's aiming for it anyway simply because he knows it'll entertain Sylvain in return. ]

Wouldn't want to anger Mags, after all, but maybe I can hang in there from knowing whether that's a promise or a threat.

[ Or whatever - since it goes without saying whatever 'threat' there is in arms behind used against him when it comes to this is something he'll enjoy. ]

What if it’s a promise and a threat?

[ Offered playfully enough, because Claude would never take any threat from him seriously at this point and time. Or if Sylvain intended it as a threat, it would only be for something they both thoroughly enjoyed. ]

Although I don’t know why you’re asking me about a preview. This whole night is your setup, after all. Don’t you have “later” planned out already?

Oh, you're right.

[ Said like this has just occurred to him with that supposed reminder from Sylvain, and that 'remembering' wipes any other expression from his face. It's a practiced move of Claude's, what with shifting between one look to another in an instant to project whatever feeling he wanted.

This particular one is something like innocence that someone who was just lightly corrected might put on like there's some element of chagrin here, all because - ]

I planned this to be just like that very first night, so guess that means you'll be sleeping in a bed by yourself with your clothes on after all.

[ He leans back in his chair, fingertips tapping at his chin, as if he’s thinking backwards to recall something. ]

Actually. I’m not sure there were many clothes involved. Unless you were speaking of yourself, of course. But you know I don’t like to wear all that much to bed. Even if it was your bed at the time…

That's even worse that you made me sleep on the floor if that was the case.

[ Because now it's morphing into Sylvain's fault with that revelation, even if Claude was perfectly happy occupying himself with any number of his equally high numbered books while the other man slept off that confusing first handful of days. Given what he knows now, though, he'd pretend to be mock offended, but that also just opens the door for something else. ]

So what you're really saying is that's going to be part of tonight's reenactment then, right? Given that you don't like to wear much whether it's summer or otherwise, for consistency's sake.

‘Make you’, as if we hadn’t already established that all was your stubbornness and none of my non-existent prudishness. If you didn’t want to take me up on my very obvious invitations, it was hardly my fault.

[ He waves his hand around to accompany the flippant comment, shaking his head. ]

It was clearly your loss, don’t try and pawn that off on me. One can only hope you’ve learned better in the year since and won’t leave me so lonely up there this time around.

I hardly think it was stubborn. But if you're saying you want to see stubborn, I can arrange for that.

[ It's not at all what Sylvain meant and the grin on his face is proof he knows it since that's something he doesn't bother to hide. That doesn't even qualify as a threat even in the name of playfulness considering it's difficult for him to think of reasons that might even happen. Or, well - reasons it legitimately might happen instead of something like this. ]

And I suppose my answer to that depends on what it is, exactly, you plan on trying this time around. Something more elaborate than before? You've had a year to think about it, after all.

Do you ever stop being stubborn?

[ That might have sounded a little more taunting… if Sylvain’s tone hadn’t been so full of fond affection. But there’s playful humor still dancing in his gaze as he props his chin in his palm and grins at the man across from him. ]

Oh, trust me. I’ve thought up a lot over the past year. So much so that sometimes I’m not even sure where to start first.

Wouldn't you like to know?

[ Is that showcasing the stubbornness with an entirely unserious question fired right back? Maybe. But Sylvain likely doesn't expect anything less by having asked in the first place, so that's all the more reason to hide yet another smile by taking a drink before following that with a raised eyebrow as he sets it back down onto the tabletop. Because that is intriguing - something else he knows Sylvain meant it to be in an ever familiar way with which they tease each other with details of future plans not fully shared now and then all for the fun of it. ]

I think the saying goes something like taking one step at a time. [ Claude's making a point to say this loftily as if imparting great wisdom rather than yet another form of kidding - minus the part where he's not taking it seriously since 'a lot over the past year' is still holding his interest quite clearly. ] That's the best way to take on a plan since it certainly sounds like you have plenty.

Mmm, but some of them would go so well together, though.

[ Sylvain muses this aloud, tapping a fingertip against his chin as he appears to be considering a great number of options at his disposal right now. ]

Besides. You know I tend to be greedy. Why take one step when I can take three?

Are you expecting me to protest something that's going to benefit us both?

[ That's how that works, Claude's assuming, what with the mention of one step growing into something more exponential. Something he certainly doesn't mind considering they're rather good at that; there's certainly been any number of months which prove it on top of that.

Of course, that won't stop Claude from tapping a finger against his drink as if contemplating something to borrow that motion from Sylvain with a poorly suppressed smirk. ]

Because I think, by now, you know the answer to that is I won't.

Actually.

[ A finger gets waved in Claude’s general direction as Sylvain smirks across the table at him. ]

I expect you to protest everything. Just on principle. Whether it benefits anyone or not.

I wouldn't protest something that benefits me.

[ Whatever mirth had been on his face is quickly wiped away to look Very Serious and with eyes wide in a complete projection of innocence like he hasn't the faintest idea of what Sylvain's talking about. (He does.) ]

Really now, that doesn't sound like me at all! [ Just ignore that he's doing another form of it right now. It's fine. And in case that thought crosses Sylvain's mind, Claude also follows that up by leaning forward slightly over the table like he's about to impart a great secret. ] But maybe I'd protest less if you told me what any combination of the three things were. Still wishing you'd made me wear those boots much sooner than you did?

Hmm, the boots were a nice touch, that’s for sure. [ He grins at that, because Claude knows exactly how much Sylvain appreciated those boots.

The retort that Claude was protesting the very thing Sylvain had been saying was on the tip of his tongue, but Claude successfully distracted him with the boots. Good job, Claude. ]

Honestly, I wish we’d done a lot of things a lot sooner, but I’ll remain content that we’ve done them at all, because I really didn’t think you’d take any of my offers seriously.

[ His tone is joking and his grin easy as he leans back in his chair, propping his ankle atop his knee in a slouch. But there’s an underlying truth beneath those words all the same, even if he disguises it as teasing. ]

[ There's a smirk quickly replacing the expression that'd been there before in his act of complete and total blamelessness for anything happening. Yes, he's well aware about the boots and they've certainly paid off and then some by now.

Before he can continue to mention them, completely just because without anything attached whatsoever, Sylvain says something unexpected. Something almost sentimental even with the voiced disbelief of sorts, if he's reading between the lines correctly even though there's that grin he knows too well. It's the grin which gives him pause, makes Claude move it aside to mere teasing. They're rather good at that, and it's easy to ignore the tiny pang of wistfulness and fall back into it. ]

Maybe you should've bribed me via bribing yourself thanks to the boots a little bit sooner. [ Now it's his turn to grin, as if that's how that really worked, but as Sylvain knows well that won't stop Claude from continuing on - especially when he thinks he has something else to point out. ] Or there was always the near miss in Nocwich. Though really, I think things have worked out pretty well the way they have since.

I certainly don’t have any complaints.

[ He’d almost forgotten that ‘near miss’ in Nocwich, actually, although now he adopts a faint pout over it. Leaning back in his chair, he casts his gaze towards the rafters as he gives a thoughtful hum, recalling. ]

I suppose Nocwich can be blamed on me, however. I chickened out at the last moment. Like four times.

Four times, huh.

[ The grin's disappeared but left a smile behind playing about the corners of his mouth as he considers that pout. He could tease Sylvain about it much as he always would, and the temptation's certainly there, but - a sliver of honesty might not be the worst thing to substitute in instead. ]

I suppose it probably helps we were evenly matched in that, then. Even if it means we're responsible for making it not one but multiple near misses after all, but close enough.

[ Sylvain arches an eyebrow at this unexpected honesty and then grins impishly as he props his chin in his palm and regards Claude with intense speculation. ]

So just how long were you pining for me, then?

[ Claude's immediate response is to arch one eyebrow and then after a pause of a couple seconds, to arch the other right after. All the better for his supposed scandalization going on here, minus that it's completely undermined by also looking entirely too entertained by that question, that propped chin, and the supposed speculation. ]

You can't possibly expect me to answer such a thing just like that. Better yet, how about this: you name a number, and I'll consider telling you if it's close.

[ No promises on anything, after all. ]

[ He just gives an indulgent-sounding sigh, wiggling his fingers at Claude’s put-on scandalized expression. ]

It’s okay. You can admit it was love at first sight. I promise I won’t tell anyone.

That's not a number, Gautier.

[ He'll match that sigh as well like there's Some Disappointment here (there isn't) and that he's put out by Sylvain choosing to play along in a different way (he's not). Along with it Claude lets go of his drink to twirl a couple of fingers as if to say, go on. ]

I bet you can name one if you wanted to. C'mon, entertain us both.

[ His lower lip juts out slightly in a faint hint of a sulky pout at the denial. ]

The number was implied, since I assume you do know how to count. Besides. That number is different for you than it is for me anyway. They’re not going to match.

[ You’ve still got a year on him, Riegan.

That’s also very much implying Claude’s been pining since before Abraxas as well. ]

[ A flash of a smirk crosses his face despite the acts they're both putting on here before it fades out to looking pensive. Claude lets more than a few beats go by just to further the illusion he's giving something deep thought. ]

I have always struggled with numbers.

[ A deeply facetious proclamation for the sole purpose of entertaining Sylvain since there's nothing believable about any of that combination of words coming out of his mouth, what with multitudes of evidence to prove otherwise. All of it helps serve as a cover for contemplating whether to pull upon the thread of something else offered to see what, if anything, it might unravel. After a sip of his drink, Claude decides to do just that. ]

Sounds a lot like you're expecting them not to match. Which makes me all the more curious about what it is you have in mind since you clearly have something leading up to four near misses.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject