bouchonne | contact part deux

if this were modern times byerly would probably make you listen to total eclipse of the heart before you were able to leave a message

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From:

cozen

[ A good sound. A good sight. Bastien kisses him—quick and giddy, made a little sloppy by the fact that he’s laughing too—and settles both arms around him.

He’s quiet for a moment after, and comfortable and content, and then he says, ]

I can’t see inside your head, By. I don’t know if your feelings are something you should worry about or if they’re—if you think there is something wrong about you, so you think there has to be something wrong about whatever you feel. But you won’t hurt me.

—or, I mean, maybe a little. I plan to do a lot of rolling around with you, and you have those pointy elbows.

From:

bouchonne

[ That draws a small huff of laughter out of him - more muted than before, but laughter nevertheless. Then he lapses into silence a moment, tracing the veins of Bastien's hands with one finger. ]

My father and my mother were a love match. That's what I've heard, anyway. And at some point, they turned into that. [ Another moment of quiet. ] And there've been plenty who've loved me, or been infatuated with me, at least - and I made use of their feelings, used them. Please don't trust me with all your heart, eh? Hold something in reserve.

From:

cozen

I will.

[ —is not the romantic answer, and maybe not the reassuring one. He curls his hands to make the veins stand out more for tracing. ]

Not because of you. It is just how I am. It might be a character flaw.

And anyway, if you need something from me, you don’t need my feelings to get it. [ He uncurls his hand to wiggle his fingers instead. ] You only need a budget.

From:

bouchonne

Assuming it's something you want to give.

[ He smiles crookedly. I will, to him, was reassuring, if maybe not exactly what's good for him to hear. ]

That's the business we're in, isn't it? Making that which hasn't been available, available.

From:

cozen

I am made available by a budget.

[ He lifts a finger to touch the lower side of Byerly's crooked smile, considering it for a moment, adding it to a catalog of other moments he's seen it. ]

I'm joking. I hope. [ But while they're on the subject. ] Will you tell your spymaster about this?

From:

bouchonne

I could. How much of an exhibitionist are you?

[ A pretty blatant dodge. Not that he won't answer - he just needs a moment. ]

From:

cozen

[ He hums and wobbles his head. Middling exhibitionism. ]

But if you make my dick look like a turnip, I might have to send them some corrections.

From:

bouchonne

I would never render your dick true to reality. You have my oath.

[ Then - ]

They have been made aware that my judgment, when it comes to certain Orlesians, cannot be fully relied upon.

From:

cozen

[ True to reality gets a look of feigned offense that’s marred by laughter, but it’s quiet, and it’s died off by the time Byerly answers for real. ]

Mm. Are they good to you? I mean—do they respect you and value your work and all of that?

From:

bouchonne

[ A little huff of laughter. ]

Dearest Bastien, who in their right minds would respect me?

From:

cozen

Me, [ primly. ] Is that a no?

From:

bouchonne

[ He lets his head drop against Bastien. ]

My talent is undeniable. Even if most people, at most times, want to deny it.

From:

cozen

[ When his head drops, an encouraging, scalp-skritching hand goes straight to his hair. ]

So they... [ guessing, like it’s a game ] ... are sometimes exasperated and impatient when they talk to you, but they know you do good work?

From:

bouchonne

It's like you've attended our meetings.

[ His voice isn't very bitter, to be fair. A little dry, but their lack of regard isn't a deep wound, evidently. ]

From:

cozen

Maybe I was, ooooo.

[ That’s a spooky ooooo, with his petting fingers briefly rerouted to do a spidery sort of crawl on Byerly’s neck. ]

And you told them your judgment was compromised? Not that you were a brilliant bard-tamer who had us eating out of your palm?

From:

bouchonne

Maker, no. What if they asked me to try to replicate the success? With Bards a little less soft-hearted than you two?

From:

cozen

Say you specialize in a particular breed.

[ Then he settles, comfortable and a touch more serious. ]

I don’t like being a reason anyone might doubt you. That’s all. But I guess there isn’t much of a way around it, given the givens.

From:

bouchonne

[ He hums in acknowledgment. It's a sweet sentiment. Rather unexpectedly so - to have Bastien treating his intelligence career like a serious thing. ]

Well, if it makes you feel better, wine also makes people doubt me, and wine treats me much more cruelly than you ever have.

From:

cozen

If I start giving you headaches and making you vomit, we do have a problem.

From:

bouchonne

Yes, that's a little too kinky for me.

[ Anyway. ]

Thank you.

From:

cozen

[ He’s still in the process of huffy laughter about kinkiness when he asks, ]

For not causing hangovers?

From:

bouchonne

Aside from giving me that skin-crawling sensation that comes after you consume too much sugar?

Thank you for caring about my scandalous exploits down south.

From:

cozen

Oh. [ He needs a moment to decide not to argue with Byerly about whether that's the sort of thing that requires thanks. ] It is my pleasure. Thank you for trusting me enough to allow me to.

—but if your skin is crawling too much I can call your ass bony some more. And I don't know if anyone has ever told you this, but your feet smell like the inside of a boot.