[But what if he does? What if he is? LOOK HE IS SORRY it's just so rare to catch you off like this]
I'm going to assume then that they're meaning a floor mat. Of the training variety. Someone beating or besting this person on the mat. Making them eat it, yeah? Figuratively speaking.
There's little interesting context beyond it being a descriptive someone used of another person. When I pressed they said it was to do with martial arts training but didn't give me much more information. I didn't feel like asking twice.
[ Ouch. There's a pause where Laurent actually spends a few minutes looking up both words to make sure he isn't using the wrong one? He thought that was right. Is it wrong? Is the way he's using this old fashioned? Or is Faolan just mocking him. He's not even sure so he tries to stay neutral in his answer: ]
Perhaps I'll ask a tutor then, save flattering you too much.
[Faolan notices the pause in Laurent's response, though he assumes perhaps he is speaking to whoever it was he had been talking to in the first place. Or perhaps the suggestion that he doesn't expect compliments from Laurent is something to do with it? He weighs over his own response for a moment.]
[ Laurent doesn't answer. Instead, he's going to pull out his headphones and begin rapidly obsessively giving himself a quick course in American slang.
This can never happen again and that means he needs to fix the problem as quickly as possible.
He'll just be on the sofa with his laptop ignoring your presence, Faolan. ]
[Faolan realizes that he has not heard from Laurent after a while, and while it doesn't take him that long to locate him, he's a bit puzzled about the brick wall that greets him when he first crosses the room to the younger man.
[ He carries on for a few seconds longer before realising Faolan is still hovering and taking out an earphone, lofting an eyebrow at him. ]
I'm busy.
[ Is all the explanation he gives before turning his attention back to his laptop. He's on some sort of website, for what looks like a course entitled Learn Slang And Speak English Like An American. ]
[Faolan raises his eyebrows slightly, before furrowing his eyebrows in turn. It's pretty clear that he's busy, but he's not usually this busy. It's too early in the semester for that much homework either.
Faolan takes a moment to gather himself before trying again. He hasn't stooped to looking at his desktop over his shoulder just yet, but he just might if Laurent continues to ignore him.]
Yes, well. I. Was going to order in. Did you want anything?
[Which is technically true. But also he's curious to see if he'll get any further response to this or whether even a useful topic will be ignored as well.]
[ Which he isn't, not really. Laurent isn't someone prone to eating a lot to begin with, but he eats even less when he becomes focused on something. Focusing his attention so tightly tends to leave him forgetting to at until he isn't hungry any more.
He might eat something small later, but for now he'd just quite like Faolan to stop hovering. ]
[Faolan's frown does nothing to leave, and neither does Faolan himself. This isn't right. Something isn't right. It's not the first time that Laurent has turned down his offers of food in exchange for whatever he has in mind for himself later, but.]
Are you... [He trails off and starts again.] Is everything okay?
It had been a throwaway comment when he'd used it. A little bite, but the amount of times Laurent had thrown barbs at him, he'd just thought. Well, he hadn't thought that it would come off like that.
But Laurent really is brushing up on his vocabulary, and he really had come to him for help, and now Faolan feels like the worst person there is as it all clicks into place and he fights for how to proceed from there.]
Is this. Look, if this is about anything I said, I didn't. You know I didn't mean any of it, yeah?
[ It really is excessively hard to concentrate on a lesson when someone is standing talking to you. Laurent pauses it again and takes out one of his headphones once more with a slight wince of irritation. ]
Both, thank you. I asked you for help and you rubbed it in my face. Now if you don't mind I'm trying to listen to this.
When you picked apart the choice of wording I used after coming to you for help with what something meant, implied I used the wrong word and told me to brush up on my vocabulary you meant it as a compliment did you? Forgive me my English apparently isn't very good, sometimes things aren't clear to me.
[Faolan moves to perch on the edge of the coffee table. It's either that or kneel beside the couch, he can't keep hovering over him like this, and he needs to settle this.]
I never meant to hurt or offend you. I know it was a jab, but I had thought I'd kept it lighthearted enough. Honestly, Laurent, after some of the things you've said to me. I'd thought we were only messing about, I swear.
When you came back to this apartment injured, did I ever imply it was due to negligence? That when you were bitten by wolves it was somehow your fault?
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[ Do not dare even smile. ]
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I'm going to assume then that they're meaning a floor mat. Of the training variety. Someone beating or besting this person on the mat. Making them eat it, yeah? Figuratively speaking.
Dare I ask?
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I have to say, I'm flattered.
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[ How is that flattering. ]
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Who else were you going to admit to needing occasional help with your English?
So yes. Flattered is probably the best choice of words here.
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Perhaps you should brush up on your vocabulary after all.
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Perhaps I'll ask a tutor then, save flattering you too much.
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It's fine, really. I don't mind.
[???]
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This can never happen again and that means he needs to fix the problem as quickly as possible.
He'll just be on the sofa with his laptop ignoring your presence, Faolan. ]
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So he tries again.]
Laurent...?
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I'm busy.
[ Is all the explanation he gives before turning his attention back to his laptop. He's on some sort of website, for what looks like a course entitled Learn Slang And Speak English Like An American. ]
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Faolan takes a moment to gather himself before trying again. He hasn't stooped to looking at his desktop over his shoulder just yet, but he just might if Laurent continues to ignore him.]
Yes, well. I. Was going to order in. Did you want anything?
[Which is technically true. But also he's curious to see if he'll get any further response to this or whether even a useful topic will be ignored as well.]
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[ Which he isn't, not really. Laurent isn't someone prone to eating a lot to begin with, but he eats even less when he becomes focused on something. Focusing his attention so tightly tends to leave him forgetting to at until he isn't hungry any more.
He might eat something small later, but for now he'd just quite like Faolan to stop hovering. ]
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Are you... [He trails off and starts again.] Is everything okay?
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[ He gives Faolan a flat sideways glance then just. Puts his headphone back in and focuses on his laptop again.
Look he's paid then $10 for this slang course now he is going to listen to it. ]
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It had been a throwaway comment when he'd used it. A little bite, but the amount of times Laurent had thrown barbs at him, he'd just thought. Well, he hadn't thought that it would come off like that.
But Laurent really is brushing up on his vocabulary, and he really had come to him for help, and now Faolan feels like the worst person there is as it all clicks into place and he fights for how to proceed from there.]
Is this. Look, if this is about anything I said, I didn't. You know I didn't mean any of it, yeah?
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[ Vocabulary Laurent learnt about 5 minutes ago and is still settling into. He's trying. ]
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A rain check. On the food? Or the apology?
[What has he inadvertently gotten himself into this time...]
Laurent, I didn't mean to cause any offense. You were teasing at my flattery comment, so I just thought...
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Both, thank you. I asked you for help and you rubbed it in my face. Now if you don't mind I'm trying to listen to this.
[ Honestly. ]
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I didn't -- that wasn't what it was supposed to be. I mean, yes, I teased you a little. But I didn't mean for you to think that--
[He's doing this all wrong and he knows it, but now he's stuck and he can't seem to pull him free from this tailspin.]
Please don't feel like you can't come to me for help. I really did mean it when I said that I was flattered by it. I am.
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[ Really. ]
When you picked apart the choice of wording I used after coming to you for help with what something meant, implied I used the wrong word and told me to brush up on my vocabulary you meant it as a compliment did you? Forgive me my English apparently isn't very good, sometimes things aren't clear to me.
[ Just checking. ]
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I...
[Faolan moves to perch on the edge of the coffee table. It's either that or kneel beside the couch, he can't keep hovering over him like this, and he needs to settle this.]
I never meant to hurt or offend you. I know it was a jab, but I had thought I'd kept it lighthearted enough. Honestly, Laurent, after some of the things you've said to me. I'd thought we were only messing about, I swear.
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[ Really. ]
When you came back to this apartment injured, did I ever imply it was due to negligence? That when you were bitten by wolves it was somehow your fault?
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