[ He nods mutely, letting go of Faolan finally to begin fumbling open the fastenings of his waistcoat slowly as he moves through toward his bedroom. ]
I should have something in the bathroom that will get it over.
[ Laurent thinks cleansing wipes should do it, since it was all washable. Not that he strictly needs Faolan's help to do that, but neither will he object to the man following and helping. ]
[Faolan nods and silently follows him back through the hallway in that direction. In truth, he hasn't been in Laurent's bedroom all that often himself, save for a few knocks on the door here and there and the one quite memorable time earlier that month when they'd both shared a nightmare together. He pauses on the threshold for a moment before stepping through and following along behind him towards Laurent's bathroom. He'll leave his own costume on for now. It's nowhere near as elaborate as Laurent's anyway.]
What am I looking for? [He asks as he leaves Laurent to the undressing and turns to fetch the necessary items out of Laurent's cabinets. He's there to aid and support him however he needs. He promised he'd stay, after all, and he's intending to do exactly that.]
There should be a packet of face wipes in the cabinet.
[ His voice is still soft, although if it's simply exhaustion or something else is hard to say. Laurent's about halfway through undoing his waistcoat, although after a moment he pauses to shrug off the long coat first and half-fold it, drape it over the back of a chair. ]
[Faolan nods, before ducking into the bathroom to look around for the face wipes that Laurent has indicated. Locating the package of them before too long before shuffling back out into the main bedroom and back to Laurent's side.
He waits until Laurent has settled his jacket and has turned back towards him before he pulls one of the wipes and gestures towards him.]
Here, I. May I...?
[He realizes he's assumed that Laurent will let him help with this, but in truth he doesn't quite know.]
[ Laurent drops his hands from the fastenings of his waistcoat and nods mutely, reaching up a hand to hold curls of hair off his forehead. He has a pumpkin on one cheek and a small bat half hidden under blond hair above one eyebrow, courtesy of Minako and her pens. ]
I thought about asking her to draw something on you. I thought it might make you look funny when you frowned at me.
[ A glowing pumpkin undermines a frown somewhat. Laurent's lips twitch in a hint of amusement, not quite a smile. ]
I'm surprised she didn't find you and do it anyway.
[Faolan pulls out a wipe, stepping forward and reaching a hand out to brace Laurent's chin so that he can work easier. He raises his eyebrows at the thought of it, before he focuses his attention on the task at hand. Eyes focused on Laurent's face as he gently uses the wipe to clean the pumpkin to start.]
We spoke, at the party. About her chosen art for you, for that matter, and how she managed to get you to agree to it. But I managed to escape without anything myself.
[He frowns slightly, perhaps without even realizing he's doing it, concentrating as he attempts to clean the paint off rather than simply smear it around. Despite the expression, however, he continues to say:]
I suppose you'll have to draw on me yourself next time.
[Faolan's eyes flick up to Laurent's for a moment, before he turns them back down to where he's working. Turning the wipe in his fingers to get a cleaner section of it before gently applying it to his cheek once more.]
Quite the statement, that would make. Walking around with your name signed on my face.
[He finishes with Laurent's cheek, moving to the bat on his forehead. Trying not to think about the fact that Laurent may as well have already signed his name across his skin besides.]
[ Faolan hadn't hidden his affections so far, at least not particularly well. He'd attempted to impose a distance, to act with as best an attempt at professionalism as he could manage, but his gaze still lingered on Laurent more than a friend's should. ]
[Faolan's eyes slide down from Laurent's bat to meet his eyes again. Those icy cool eyes of his, that Faolan knows should be blue, and yet...
He shakes his head, after only a moment's hesitation.]
To permanent ink, perhaps. A person does not usually walk about in public with another man's name on their face -- if that is where we are speaking of still. But I would certainly not object such an open statement from you. Were you to offer it.
[He turns back to the bat once more, applying a little more pressure and turning the wipe once more before stepping back and removing his hands.] There. Good as new.
[Faolan steps back, clutching the now dirty wipe in his hand as he does, watching Laurent turning back to the unbuttoning of his clothes and taking in a deep breath as he does so. Attempting to steady himself, if such a thing is even possible anymore.]
...I suppose that they do. [The words still echo in the back of his mind. The words that Laurent had used against him, to point that out.]
Do you regret that? Me? The fact that I can't...
[Can't turn it off. Can't ignore how he feels. Can't ignore other people's eyes on him, other people's hands. Can't control his jealousy. Can barely control his desires, at times.]
[Why would he regret it? Well, because of everything he said before. Because of the way he said it. It hadn't exactly shed his view of Faolan in a positive light. Laurent's answer is not really an answer, especially when he turns the question on Faolan himself.
Does he regret the way he feels? How his emotions have developed for Laurent? The desire yes, but other feelings as well. How would his work ever have been without it? Who would he be, for that matter?
Faolan shakes his head after another moment's pause.]
[He feels as though he's holding his breath as Laurent touches him, feels as though the whole evening has come to this moment for he supposes in a way it has. He won't ever be able to think, not with Laurent touching him. But forces himself to do his best, nodding in response to Laurent's question as he does.]
Yes. You did.
[He leans his head into Laurent's touch, his dark eyes studying the other man's face as he steps just a half a step closer to him in turn.]
[ Laurent's hand slips from Faolan's face once more, and his eyes drop to his clothing. Turning a little he shrugs off the waistcoat, moves to hang it over the back of the chair along with the coat. Fingers run tiredly through blond curls and Laurent sighs, moves to open his cupboard and fetch a hanger for the clothing. He should try and keep it tidy, after all. ]
[Faolan watches Laurent turn away again. Watches him run his hand through his hair and shrug off his waistcoat, before fetching the hanger for the clothes. He wonders whether Laurent will let him help or whether that is overstepping his boundaries. Whether there is anything left for him to do for him or whether now that they are back at the apartment Laurent has finished with him for the evening.
After a moment longer in hesitation, he moves to pick the clothing up from where it's draped across the back of the chair, stepping across to hold it out to the younger man.]
[ He blinks up at Faolan, then at the clothing he's holding, before finally nodding slightly and putting it onto the hanger. ]
You should take that off too, hang it up.
[ Since it's a rental. Hanging it up means it goes back in an acceptable state. Once the waistcoat and overcoat are hanging up Laurent begins unthreading his belt slowly, eyes half tracking Faolan before he begins pulling at his shirt and loosening the ties on it. ]
You don't have to leave.
[ To take it off, that is. It's fine, Faolan. You promised to stay. You can stay. ]
[He does process Laurent's words as a dismissal up until the moment Laurent specifies otherwise. He raises a questioning eyebrow at the younger man, but he doesn't ask him to repeat himself either.]
Then I'll stay.
[Hesitantly at first, he reaches to unfasten the cloak he's had tied about his shoulders the whole evening. Slinging the cloak over his arm before moving to reach for a hanger for himself and moving to put it in Laurent's closet alongside the other rented costume.
He glances to the other man to be sure he is doing as Laurent wishes, before starting on the fastenings of his tunic as well.]
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I should have something in the bathroom that will get it over.
[ Laurent thinks cleansing wipes should do it, since it was all washable. Not that he strictly needs Faolan's help to do that, but neither will he object to the man following and helping. ]
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What am I looking for? [He asks as he leaves Laurent to the undressing and turns to fetch the necessary items out of Laurent's cabinets. He's there to aid and support him however he needs. He promised he'd stay, after all, and he's intending to do exactly that.]
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[ His voice is still soft, although if it's simply exhaustion or something else is hard to say. Laurent's about halfway through undoing his waistcoat, although after a moment he pauses to shrug off the long coat first and half-fold it, drape it over the back of a chair. ]
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He waits until Laurent has settled his jacket and has turned back towards him before he pulls one of the wipes and gestures towards him.]
Here, I. May I...?
[He realizes he's assumed that Laurent will let him help with this, but in truth he doesn't quite know.]
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I thought about asking her to draw something on you. I thought it might make you look funny when you frowned at me.
[ A glowing pumpkin undermines a frown somewhat. Laurent's lips twitch in a hint of amusement, not quite a smile. ]
I'm surprised she didn't find you and do it anyway.
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We spoke, at the party. About her chosen art for you, for that matter, and how she managed to get you to agree to it. But I managed to escape without anything myself.
[He frowns slightly, perhaps without even realizing he's doing it, concentrating as he attempts to clean the paint off rather than simply smear it around. Despite the expression, however, he continues to say:]
I suppose you'll have to draw on me yourself next time.
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I'm no good at drawing. You wouldn't want me to try. I'd just sign my name on your cheek and leave it at that.
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Quite the statement, that would make. Walking around with your name signed on my face.
[He finishes with Laurent's cheek, moving to the bat on his forehead. Trying not to think about the fact that Laurent may as well have already signed his name across his skin besides.]
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[ Faolan hadn't hidden his affections so far, at least not particularly well. He'd attempted to impose a distance, to act with as best an attempt at professionalism as he could manage, but his gaze still lingered on Laurent more than a friend's should. ]
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He shakes his head, after only a moment's hesitation.]
To permanent ink, perhaps. A person does not usually walk about in public with another man's name on their face -- if that is where we are speaking of still. But I would certainly not object such an open statement from you. Were you to offer it.
[He turns back to the bat once more, applying a little more pressure and turning the wipe once more before stepping back and removing his hands.] There. Good as new.
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I think anyone who watches us already knows where you affections are, Faolan.
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...I suppose that they do. [The words still echo in the back of his mind. The words that Laurent had used against him, to point that out.]
Do you regret that? Me? The fact that I can't...
[Can't turn it off. Can't ignore how he feels. Can't ignore other people's eyes on him, other people's hands. Can't control his jealousy. Can barely control his desires, at times.]
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[ He lets the waistcoat hang loose, lifts his eyes to Faolan and studies him carefully. ]
Do you?
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Does he regret the way he feels? How his emotions have developed for Laurent? The desire yes, but other feelings as well. How would his work ever have been without it? Who would he be, for that matter?
Faolan shakes his head after another moment's pause.]
I made my choice.
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[ Laurent takes a half step closer, reaches up a hand to cup Faolan's face -- thumb running over his stubble slowly. ]
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Yes. You did.
[He leans his head into Laurent's touch, his dark eyes studying the other man's face as he steps just a half a step closer to him in turn.]
And here I am.
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[ Laurent's hand slips from Faolan's face once more, and his eyes drop to his clothing. Turning a little he shrugs off the waistcoat, moves to hang it over the back of the chair along with the coat. Fingers run tiredly through blond curls and Laurent sighs, moves to open his cupboard and fetch a hanger for the clothing. He should try and keep it tidy, after all. ]
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After a moment longer in hesitation, he moves to pick the clothing up from where it's draped across the back of the chair, stepping across to hold it out to the younger man.]
Here.
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You should take that off too, hang it up.
[ Since it's a rental. Hanging it up means it goes back in an acceptable state. Once the waistcoat and overcoat are hanging up Laurent begins unthreading his belt slowly,
eyes half tracking Faolan before he begins pulling at his shirt and loosening the ties on it. ]
You don't have to leave.
[ To take it off, that is. It's fine, Faolan. You promised to stay. You can stay. ]
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Then I'll stay.
[Hesitantly at first, he reaches to unfasten the cloak he's had tied about his shoulders the whole evening. Slinging the cloak over his arm before moving to reach for a hanger for himself and moving to put it in Laurent's closet alongside the other rented costume.
He glances to the other man to be sure he is doing as Laurent wishes, before starting on the fastenings of his tunic as well.]