[...but! Sugar is sugar, and he does take a small bite; however, he wraps his hand around the cookie, with the expectation that Joseph will let it go.]
It's really good! Thank you. I'll have some more after I finish my wine.
[....now to wait and see if that was related to their discussion, or an attempt to change the subject.]
See! It was not so difficult--he had to act like a child...call me a child! He--I have fucked him several times now, and this is where he draws the line?!
[He drains his glass, perhaps a little too fast, slamming it down as if it were a shot at the bar.]
[Well! Definitely related to the discussion, then! Sycamore starts a bit as Joseph slams his glass down, but he's not too bothered; if anything, this is good! Finally, he thinks he can piece this puzzle together.]
Correct me if I am wrong, Joseph...but it sounds like you went for a dinner date with this friend of yours, tried to be a bit intimate [-that would be where the feeding would slot in-] and he didn't react well?
[He said he 'humiliated' him, and Joseph seemed vindicated when he took a bit of that proffered cookie...
...ah.]
He didn't like it when you tried to feed him, did he?
[There's a number of things running through Sycamore's head, in terms of this particular dilemma, but one thought has currently overridden them all; this sounds like Yashiro. The talk of promiscuity, the lack of shame, the bad reaction when offered emotional intimacy (especially from someone who wasn't Doumeki)...he knows that these two know each other, so should he just...ask?]
That gesture...it's fairly intimate, mon ami. Perhaps your friend simply likes to keep things behind closed doors, no? Or it could be that he's fine with sexually intense encounters, but anything emotionally intense turns him off. Especially since the the pair of you are not romantically - the key being 'romantically' over 'sexually' - involved.
[Sighing, Sycamore takes another sip of his wine - he's talking like this is Yashiro, and honestly - it's not an unfair hypothesis.]
Some people are like that. But surely it was just a misunderstanding; what happened after he turned you down?
[Oh dear...Sycamore is going to end up having to carry Joseph to his bed, at this rate...he won't be walking anywhere...
As for the conversation...perhaps that insult came after Joseph reacted badly to Yashiro (it's. it's Yashiro now, it's just easier) turning down his attempt at feeding him. What a mess!]
This is the person who warned he was bad company, wasn't it...?
[Just a question, not an accusation...]
Do you think...that perhaps you went into this dinner with higher expectations than your friend? He may have felt overwhelmed if you'd obtained a private section, and were trying to have him taste your food. That doesn't excuse him being rude [-if this was Yashiro, he can just imagine how it was delivered-] but can you see what I mean?
I don't care. I'll never speak to him again, he can starve, or spend the evenings in dingy watering holes with his hound, or...
[He folds his arms, chin up, glaring at his half-finished glass.]
He is a waste, only good for a good rut, and he will not be getting that from me, either.
[His eyes are burning--how absurd! How absurd that he should be so frustrated! He has Augustine right here, and Shell, and Bi'an... Bi'an! What did Bi'an ever see in that man!]
yep, it's definitely Yashiro. Oh boy. Reaching out, Sycamore places a comforting (at least, he hopes so) hand on Joseph's shoulder.]
I know you're angry. It's okay to be angry! I'd be upset as well. Give yourself some distance from Y-from this friend [-almost lost it!-] for a little while, okay? You might find he reaches out first, to apologise for being rude.
[Or, you know...Joseph could apologize, but he'll cover that in a moment...]
[There is so, so very much to unpack in that second sentence, so Sycamore will focus on the first.]
Do you think it would help if you apologized, instead...? Sometimes it's easier to admit we were wrong, because we value the friendship, than to turn it into a battle. Especially if it isn't anything super serious.
[Come on, you. Sycamore will wrap a hand around Joseph's shoulders, gently pulling him close.]
But I did nothing wrong. I was only trying to do something kind for him. He... Ugh!
[thats a very frustrated little ugh, and he’s too nicely pressed against Sycamore to get more wine, so he just settles for pouting. Not that he minds. It’s nice to be close to someone, to have someone care for him and talk so sweetly to him.]
I know, mon ami. But sometimes the best of intentions get misunderstood, particularly when the other person is hurt.
[Not that he thinks Yashiro was hurt, so much as just...done with the whole affair, but...well. Same difference, close enough, etc etc! But he seems to be getting through to Joseph, and that's the main thing. The Chroma production is probably helping, of course (bit of a strategic move on his part, hehe...)]
Besides. Perhaps this person doesn't want your kindness, which is fine! Some people just want sex, and that's it. If you enjoyed having sex with him, then that could be a good reason to mend the bridge.
It is, of course, up to you, though. That, and you don't have to do anything right now! Just take some time to think it through.
[Well...that actually makes Sycamore laugh softly, for two reasons; one, it's frankly adorable to hear such language come out of Joseph's mouth, and secondly, knowing Yashiro, that isn't exactly a fate he'd have a problem with...]
Don't worry about it for now. We have wine and cookies! What more do we need to have a nice night, hmm? Put this friend to the back of your mind and just relax.
[...
he's probably drunk more than enough wine to ensure he relaxes, at this point....]
I still owe you those desserts, too. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten!
[Hmm, could those be faint warning sirens? Surely not! All is well. So well, in fact, that gives Joseph a bit of a squeeze.]
What are friends for, if not for nights like this? Like I said, mon ami, I was free. It was no trouble. Besides, you've been more than generous with the wine!
[...look, at the end of the day, he's fairly easy to please.]
I wouldn't think of it as helping you. Just being a friend.
[Oh, well...admittedly this was something he should have predicted, what with their Iris history and the amount of wine Joseph has drunk, but Sycamore is surprised nonetheless. But...bluntly turning him down would probably feel like a kick in the teeth after what he's gone through with Yashiro tonight, so...
He'll let him kiss him, returning it gently for a little bit - to be fair, it's hardly the first time he's been involved with drunken kissing! - and running a quick hand through his hair as he does it. It probably wouldn't do to encourage this too much, though, what with the alcohol he can taste in Joseph's mouth...after a little while, Sycamore breaks the kiss, running his thumb along Joseph's chin and smiling softly.]
There's no need to be so complimentary - like I said, this has been fun, and I enjoy spending time with you.
[....]
Would you like a cookie? You should probably eat something to balance out the alcohol.
[...unless Sycamore decides to feed it to him, then he might consider...
He shifts, moving to sit in his lap more fully, thinking that he wants to be close to someone... Bi’an has been so distant, Yashiro is a bastard. At least he has Augustine.]
[There's definitely easy positives to Joseph shifting more fully into his lap, namely - of course - the Chroma, and Sycamore places a hand on his back to support him.]
Are you sure? The one you gave me earlier was lovely.
[There's an air of sadness around his friend that he's never really noticed before, and he's not completely sure that it's solely because of his experience with Yashiro tonight. Loneliness, perhaps? He had mentioned how he hated being alone, that time during Iris...]
[...well. Sycamore would be lying if he said there wasn't something cute about the fire in Joseph's eyes; admittedly, it makes him think more of a child than anything else, but...
...he can indulge him. Selecting one of the larger cookies, he gently presses it against Joseph's lips.]
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[It has a hard time coming out...and in the end, he can't say it, for how foolish he sounds. But--
He reaches out and grabs a cookie from the table instead, pressing it against Sycamore's lips, instead.]
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It's really good! Thank you. I'll have some more after I finish my wine.
[....now to wait and see if that was related to their discussion, or an attempt to change the subject.]
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[He drains his glass, perhaps a little too fast, slamming it down as if it were a shot at the bar.]
He had to humiliate me like that!
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Correct me if I am wrong, Joseph...but it sounds like you went for a dinner date with this friend of yours, tried to be a bit intimate [-that would be where the feeding would slot in-] and he didn't react well?
[He said he 'humiliated' him, and Joseph seemed vindicated when he took a bit of that proffered cookie...
...ah.]
He didn't like it when you tried to feed him, did he?
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[Only with Doumeki, and Joseph had respected those--]
It isn't as if he has a sense of shame! [That Joseph can see, at least.] I wasn't offering to feed him, just...offering a taste off my spoon.
[He would have taken it.]
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That gesture...it's fairly intimate, mon ami. Perhaps your friend simply likes to keep things behind closed doors, no? Or it could be that he's fine with sexually intense encounters, but anything emotionally intense turns him off. Especially since the the pair of you are not romantically - the key being 'romantically' over 'sexually' - involved.
[Sighing, Sycamore takes another sip of his wine - he's talking like this is Yashiro, and honestly - it's not an unfair hypothesis.]
Some people are like that. But surely it was just a misunderstanding; what happened after he turned you down?
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[The bottle is drained, and Joseph moves to uncork the next, drinking out of bitterness than love for the flavor now.]
He did not need to be so rude. It was going so well up to there... what a waste! We had a private section and everything...
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As for the conversation...perhaps that insult came after Joseph reacted badly to Yashiro (it's. it's Yashiro now, it's just easier) turning down his attempt at feeding him. What a mess!]
This is the person who warned he was bad company, wasn't it...?
[Just a question, not an accusation...]
Do you think...that perhaps you went into this dinner with higher expectations than your friend? He may have felt overwhelmed if you'd obtained a private section, and were trying to have him taste your food. That doesn't excuse him being rude [-if this was Yashiro, he can just imagine how it was delivered-] but can you see what I mean?
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[He folds his arms, chin up, glaring at his half-finished glass.]
He is a waste, only good for a good rut, and he will not be getting that from me, either.
[His eyes are burning--how absurd! How absurd that he should be so frustrated! He has Augustine right here, and Shell, and Bi'an... Bi'an! What did Bi'an ever see in that man!]
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yep, it's definitely Yashiro. Oh boy. Reaching out, Sycamore places a comforting (at least, he hopes so) hand on Joseph's shoulder.]
I know you're angry. It's okay to be angry! I'd be upset as well. Give yourself some distance from Y-from this friend [-almost lost it!-] for a little while, okay? You might find he reaches out first, to apologise for being rude.
[Or, you know...Joseph could apologize, but he'll cover that in a moment...]
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[He snorts, leaning a little against Sycamore’s shoulder, comforted by that hand. ]
If anything, he will come and assault me again for treading on his precious boundaries that I knew nothing of!
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Do you think it would help if you apologized, instead...? Sometimes it's easier to admit we were wrong, because we value the friendship, than to turn it into a battle. Especially if it isn't anything super serious.
[Come on, you. Sycamore will wrap a hand around Joseph's shoulders, gently pulling him close.]
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[thats a very frustrated little ugh, and he’s too nicely pressed against Sycamore to get more wine, so he just settles for pouting.
Not that he minds. It’s nice to be close to someone, to have someone care for him and talk so sweetly to him.]
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[Not that he thinks Yashiro was hurt, so much as just...done with the whole affair, but...well. Same difference, close enough, etc etc! But he seems to be getting through to Joseph, and that's the main thing. The Chroma production is probably helping, of course (bit of a strategic move on his part, hehe...)]
Besides. Perhaps this person doesn't want your kindness, which is fine! Some people just want sex, and that's it. If you enjoyed having sex with him, then that could be a good reason to mend the bridge.
It is, of course, up to you, though. That, and you don't have to do anything right now! Just take some time to think it through.
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[and that’s that, though Joseph accepts the Chroma between them eagerly, and more than thar the touch. ]
Men who only wish to rut... I’ve no use for them. If it’s as you say... then he can choke on whatever prick he finds himself at the end of next.
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Don't worry about it for now. We have wine and cookies! What more do we need to have a nice night, hmm? Put this friend to the back of your mind and just relax.
[...
he's probably drunk more than enough wine to ensure he relaxes, at this point....]
I still owe you those desserts, too. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten!
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[He sighs heavily, shuffling closer to Sycamore now, wanting to feel those arms around him.]
This is twice you've helped me now, come when I called for you.
[Uh oh, watch out Sycamore he's getting attached.]
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What are friends for, if not for nights like this? Like I said, mon ami, I was free. It was no trouble. Besides, you've been more than generous with the wine!
[...look, at the end of the day, he's fairly easy to please.]
I wouldn't think of it as helping you. Just being a friend.
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You are wonderful. I am so fortunate.
[And then he leans up, lips fragrant with good wine, and kisses his mouth.]
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He'll let him kiss him, returning it gently for a little bit - to be fair, it's hardly the first time he's been involved with drunken kissing! - and running a quick hand through his hair as he does it. It probably wouldn't do to encourage this too much, though, what with the alcohol he can taste in Joseph's mouth...after a little while, Sycamore breaks the kiss, running his thumb along Joseph's chin and smiling softly.]
There's no need to be so complimentary - like I said, this has been fun, and I enjoy spending time with you.
[....]
Would you like a cookie? You should probably eat something to balance out the alcohol.
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[...unless Sycamore decides to feed it to him, then he might consider...
He shifts, moving to sit in his lap more fully, thinking that he wants to be close to someone... Bi’an has been so distant, Yashiro is a bastard. At least he has Augustine.]
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Are you sure? The one you gave me earlier was lovely.
[There's an air of sadness around his friend that he's never really noticed before, and he's not completely sure that it's solely because of his experience with Yashiro tonight. Loneliness, perhaps? He had mentioned how he hated being alone, that time during Iris...]
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[It's soft, and tired, but it's a challenge nevertheless, his eyes meeting Sycamore's]
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...he can indulge him. Selecting one of the larger cookies, he gently presses it against Joseph's lips.]
Here you go, mon ami.
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