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Post by KUN SHUI WEI on Dec 9, 2013 13:57:18 GMT -8
tagged: Lucien time: May 17, 2PM speech: kun shui. notes: - - - Giving in wasn’t exactly an excellent feeling, but he had little choice in the matter. Rather, his morality had little choice in the matter. If he had the dove, then Lucien should be allowed to have something to keep him company when he wasn’t around. The maids and servants didn’t interact with him at all, and Kun Shui was definitely unable to constantly visit him whenever he wanted him to.
”Well, it doesn’t really matter what it is, as long as it doesn’t make a mess.” And it doesn’t get into papers or get lost or any of those things that small rodents tended to do. If he opened his files one day to find a little rat’s nest in there, he’d seriously consider tossing it himself.
As for his wrist, he held it up just a little. The whole thing was wrapped tight in a splint to keep it from moving, which meant writing was completely out of the question. Anything he wanted done had to be done with the other hand, which wasn’t much use to him when he was trying to sign papers and documents.
”Sore.” He said simply, putting it back down. ”I can’t do a thing with it.”
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Post by LUCIEN MARGAUX on Dec 10, 2013 8:15:09 GMT -8
There was no need for him to ask if the doctor had checked if it was broken. It went without saying that she had, and it also went without saying that she hadn't found it was broken. If she had, Kun Shui would have told him as much. He didn't think that Kun Shui would keep something like that from him at that point. After all, a broken wrist was a much different beast from one that was in a splint, and it was the sort of information he'd have to know so that he could keep an eye on Kun Shui's wrist. As it was, it was likely bruised and damaged, but nothing was actually broken--much in the way that Lucien's leg was, only Lucien could simply stay off his leg and heal faster that way. Kun Shui didn't have that option, because one couldn't just stay off a whole arm. He could limit it's use, but that was all.
"It won't." He tried to sound confident in that fact, but in truth he was anything but. He'd never had a pet before, and he was unsure how he was going to control it if it got out of hand. How was one supposed to control a little animal like it? It seemed like it was relatively docile, but what if it acted up?
He wrapped his fingers around the creature, and it seemed to go still. He shifted one hand to give it a palm to crawl onto, while caging it with the fingers of his other hand, and after a moment it crawled up to cuddle into his palm. He was already trying to come up with names, and Mò seemed the obvious one. It managed to be both accurate and pleasing to the ear.
He glanced up at Kun Shui as he drew his top hand away slightly, starting to gently pet the creatures back. "Could we... ah, could we still have dinner together?" He'd gotten used to it, and he was hesitant to give up those habits. Losing them would just make it more real, even if there was no way he could make it to the table.
KUN SHUI WEI | MAY 17TH |
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Post by KUN SHUI WEI on Dec 10, 2013 10:40:03 GMT -8
tagged: Lucien time: May 17, 2PM speech: kun shui. notes: - - - With that aside, Kun Shui felt tired, but when was that unusual? It was hardly out of place for what he did every day, and a fucked up wrist was doing nothing to help it, yet he had to soldier on anyways. He’d probably sleep very, very soundly for the next couple of days until he got some decent rest, which his doctor was more or less forcing him to do. The crotchety old woman might as well have been his second mom back at home, and sometimes he was glad to have her for the sake of familiarity.
Kun Shui was just about to get up and go back to stewing in his own misery when Lucien asked him about dinner. It seemed like a strange thing to wonder about at that time. Dinner was actually the last thing on his mind, but that was probably because he had no fancy dinners scheduled for the next few days.
”Well… we can, but I don’t think you’re well enough to go down to the dining room.” Of course he wasn’t. He wasn’t even well enough to get out of bed, let alone traverse a set of rather steep stairs. ”Would you like me to bring dinner up to you?” And they could possibly eat there.
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Post by LUCIEN MARGAUX on Dec 11, 2013 16:24:17 GMT -8
Dinner seemed like an anchor to him, and it was one he was desperate to hold on to. Normality was something he felt like he desperately needed, and he would do anything to cling to it. He smiled at Kun Shui as he offered to bring dinner up, the fingers of his free hand winding themselves into the sheets. His other hand still floated over the little creature, petting it's back. It chirped occasionally, a quiet little mousy sound, seeming to show off it's happiness at the attention it was receiving.
"I would like that. If it's not too much to ask." Because it was obvious, even to Lucien, that he was really asking Kun Shui to go out of his way. Rather than eating dinner at the table, or eating in his office, he was instead asking him to take time out of his day to come and eat with him. A part of him said that it was fine, and that it would do Kun Shui good to be away from work, but the part of him that was well aware of just how much work there was told him otherwise.
"I liked having dinner with you." He finally admitted. The dinners seemed to be a glowing light in the solitude he normally endured. Kun Shui had few expectations of him, in contrast to Jun Shi, and even if they didn't talk much, the smalltalk was still pleasant when they engaged in it.
KUN SHUI WEI | MAY 17TH, 2 PM |
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Post by KUN SHUI WEI on Dec 11, 2013 16:39:15 GMT -8
tagged: Lucien time: May 17, 2PM speech: kun shui. notes: - - - He thought of work, but as usual, he had a way of overestimating himself. He’d fulfill his obligations and come out looking a bit more frazzled and a bit more sleep deprived than usual because he took on too much. Getting dinner to Lucien seemed like such a small task, that was, until he actually went to do so and realized an hour for eating was an hour not dedicated to another report that was due the next day and he’d barely touched because of other things. It was a horrible loop.
”Well, I’m glad to hear that.” Was he? He probably was, actually having dinner with someone that wasn’t there for him to impress, or vice versa. Sure, a fancy dinner at some exclusive restaurant was nice when someone was trying to kiss up to him for a business deal, but sometimes eating at home was a lot more relaxing. Not like he got that often; he was usually eating and working at once, anyways.
”Is there anything you’d like?” He’d ask the chef about it. It wasn’t too late to get him to prepare something specific, after all.
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Post by LUCIEN MARGAUX on Dec 11, 2013 16:44:46 GMT -8
It hadn't occurred to Lucien that the very same reasons that he enjoyed dinners with Kun Shui--because there were no expectations--worked both ways. Kun Shui so often had dinners with people who expected things of him, and dinner with Lucien could only have seemed like a relief, considering that Lucien expected nothing at all. Lucien was, in general, low maintenance, and if he wasn't being horribly tortured by Jun Shi, then he could make do on a tiny bit of conversation and a book. He'd gotten used to surviving on nothing, and even the tiniest signs of affection or attention were more then enough to tide him over.
The offer was a good example of it, because even though Kun Shui had done nothing for him and gotten him nothing right then, he was still happy to hear the offer at all--the fact that Lucien's wants and needs were being taken into account. Just the same he shook his head, because he couldn't think of a single thing he actually wanted. He'd never really starved, and the food was always good, so he saw no reason that he would want to request something. "No. Whatever is being made would be fine." He felt sore, but if he sat still he could pretend like things were normal, like nothing had happened at all. It was only when he tried to move that reality came crashing down.
But while Kun Shui was sitting on the bed, there was one thing he could do. Lucien lifted his free hand to point over at the little desk at the side of the room, where a half-read book lay. "Could you pass me that please?" A book would give him plenty to do, and he wasn't expecting Kun Shui to stay much longer.
KUN SHUI WEI | MAY 17TH, 2 PM |
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Post by KUN SHUI WEI on Dec 11, 2013 17:02:01 GMT -8
tagged: Lucien time: May 17, 2PM speech: kun shui. notes: - - - If there was nothing he wanted, then it would be even easier. Kun Shui just nodded, letting himself take a moment of pause before he’d start going about his day again. Make everything seem as normal as possible, he supposed. It’d be quite a trying task, especially if he was constantly looking for signs that something did happen. He was half expecting police to arrive at his door at any moment. Hell, he was surprised that nothing had come yet. Someone should’ve shaken him awake much earlier, considering the extent of the damage to the art gallery. His guards had probably picked up the casings and the gun, but it wasn’t like he was being careful with his exit.
In the meanwhile, Kun Shui reached over and picked up the book that Lucien asked for, taking a glance at the cover and handing it to him. Books were his constant companion, just as paperwork was to Kun Shui. The dove did help just a little, though… Well, he supposed it would. He hadn’t exactly worked except for one day with the dove in the office.
“Is that all you need?”
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Post by LUCIEN MARGAUX on Dec 11, 2013 17:20:58 GMT -8
Lucien tried not to think of the police, or their no doubt soon to arrive visit. It went without saying that they would stop by, and then Kun Shui would pay them off or arrange for it to go away. There was no way the police could investigate. Lucien wasn't in the country legally--for that matter, he wasn't even a person legally. He'd been declared dead, and he had no way to confirm his identity. If the police got involved, they would simply have to go away, or else everything that the Wei's had built would fall apart.
It was all he needed, but as Kun Shui leaned over to pass him the book, a second intrusive thought pressed its way into his mind. It felt strange, as if it wasn't even his own thought, and even if it had felt normal, the bluntness of it would have felt out of place in his own mind.
Kiss him. He was, after all, right there. Kissing didn't have quite the connotations in France that it did elsewhere, and while he was certainly business savvy, few people objected to cheek kisses. It was simply considered to be a part of doing business in France. Elsewhere the connotations were much different, and Lucien was well aware that he had been away from France too long for it to pass as an excuse.
The thought had come so unbidden that his hand had stilled, and Mò shifted under it to rub at his fingers.
So he did nothing, and suddenly began to blush, face turning a deep red as he tried to figure out where the thought had come from. Certainly he liked Kun Shui, but... well, that was something else entirely, wasn't it?
KUN SHUI WEI | MAY 17TH, 2 PM |
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Post by KUN SHUI WEI on Dec 11, 2013 18:09:58 GMT -8
tagged: Lucien time: May 17, 2PM speech: kun shui. notes: - - - There was a pause, but ultimately, there was no answer. Kun Shui looked on in silence as Lucien suddenly looked so started as to still his movement, pausing when he was just petting his mouse a moment earlier. It caused Kun Shui to cast a quick glance over his shoulder, just to make sure nobody was there, though he hadn’t heard anybody come in. Of course, there was nobody and he returned his attention to Lucien.
He was blushing almost as red as his hair.
Kun Shui raised a brow at him, but when there was no answer coming, he spoke. ”What’s wrong?” Had something startled him? He hadn’t ever seen him blush so red, though he supposed he’d only known him for a month or so now. Of course, there was no telling how he might have acted before, during those two years locked up in a tower. He certainly wouldn’t have done a lot of blushing then.
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Post by LUCIEN MARGAUX on Dec 11, 2013 20:50:29 GMT -8
It hadn't occurred to Lucien how bizarre he was acting. He'd sat there, almost perfectly still, not responding in any way to the question that Kun Shui had asked. No doubt he looked like a fool, but the blush only made it worse. How was he supposed to backpedal out of it? He'd never had to deal with any situation that was even remotely similar. Lucien had been the one in control of the situation before. He was the one who made others blush, who made them stutter and squirm. Now the tables had been turned. and Lucien had no idea what to do. How could he talk himself out of it? 'Oh, I just suddenly became sick cough cough'? Somehow he didn't think Kun Shui was going to believe him. He didn't even try either--just flushed even redder then he already was, struggling to come up with an answer.
There didn't seem to be one. It was a stupid, petty trick of his mind, to tell him that there was something he felt for Kun Shui while the man was in the damned room. He'd have hours later to think it over, but at that very second he was balking, stumbling over explanations and coming up short. What could he say? What could he possibly say that would in any way explain the situation?
Nothing. He could say nothing, so he did as much. "It's nothing." Which was an obvious lie that no one on earth was going to believe, least of all Kun Shui. The question was if Kun Shui would press him on the obvious lie, or if he'd let it go.
Somehow, Lucien doubted he'd just let it go.
KUN SHUI WEI | MAY 17TH, 2 PM |
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Post by KUN SHUI WEI on Dec 12, 2013 9:52:42 GMT -8
tagged: Lucien time: May 17, 2PM speech: kun shui. notes: - - - Kun Shui was a curious sort, even though that was often supressed by his need to keep marching on and doing things as they were being done. Lucien happened to be an open book, which allowed for a decent amount of poking and prodding. If it was done by Jun Shi, that prodding would be less pleasant. Lucien didn’t seem the sort who’d become embarrassed at anything, which piqued his curiousity a decent amount. He’d been thoroughly examined, exposed, made to jump through hoops and yet he was blushing right now for no apparent reason.
”…nothing?” Oh no, he didn’t believe that. People didn’t come down with outs of embarrassment out of nowhere. People didn’t blush as red as Lucien’s hair out of nothing at all. Perhaps Kun Shui was overanalyzing, but he was desperate for some semblance of control right now, and he was expecting the police to come knocking at any moment.
”If there’s anything wrong, you know you can tell me.” Kun Shui moved to sit a little closer to him, though a minor spark of irritation flew up in his chest. So after all that, he still didn’t trust him? He thought he’d gone over this already, but apparently not.
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Post by LUCIEN MARGAUX on Dec 12, 2013 10:23:43 GMT -8
There could be no question that Kun Shui knew. He was hiding things again, falling back into old habits. It had been his nature to hide things, to bury his real feelings deep, and the idea of being honest with another person was new and strange. It was not his first instinct, not by far, and he was still stumbling through the motions. Was Kun Shui upset that he was hiding things? Or did he understand that Lucien was new to it, even if he was trying hard?
It was impossible to tell, and as much as Lucien was trying to be honest with Kun Shui, he was fairly confident that Kun Shui had not taking any mental oath to be honest with Lucien in turn. He had no reason to be, after all. Lucien was indebted to Kun Shui in a way that was not returned. Kun Shui controlled every aspect of his life, and the fact that he'd spared Lucien at all was something he should be thankful for.
So it stood to reason he would have to be honest with him, even if he knew it wasn't for the best. Hiding it an making an excuse would be for the best, but it wouldn't be honest. It would have to be like ripping off a bandaid--telling Kun Shui the truth so that they could both get over it and move past it. The struggle was that he wasn't even entirely sure of what his own feelings were, and he was forced to clumsily attempt to explain himself as Kun Shui drew closer.
"I think I am developing... feelings for you. And I've never dealt with this before, so I'm not entirely sure how to deal with them." How did one make them go away? There had to be a way. He just didn't know it, and he'd never experienced anything even remotely similar.
KUN SHUI WEI | MAY 17TH, 2 PM |
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Post by KUN SHUI WEI on Dec 12, 2013 11:55:07 GMT -8
tagged: Lucien time: May 17, 2PM speech: kun shui. notes: - - - To be honest, he had no idea what sort of answer he was expecting. Something along the lines of forgetting an item back at the art gallery that could’ve pointed the police towards them? But that wouldn’t be embarrassing, that would be dangerous, and that didn’t warrant a blush. He really had no idea and despite all he was good at, Kun Shui was oblivious of things of a more intimate nature. He hadn’t ever had to practice that, after all; it was always about public affairs.
But what he got was completely and utterly out of left field. For him, at least, it was something he didn’t and couldn’t see coming in a million years.
Kun Shui sat there, a small blush of his own creeping up on his cheeks. It definitely wasn’t as bad as Lucien’s; it happened to be a very pale blush just barely over his nose, but it was there no less. Oh. Oh. Well then. He was at an utter loss for words, and he just sat there for several long seconds.
Feelings? What the hell did he mean by that? If Lucien thought he didn’t know how to deal with feelings, then Kun Shui was at an utter loss as to what he was supposed to be doing. He’d never had to confront something like that before. He just needed to play dumb about it and move along, that was all. But now he couldn’t, because in the two floors, there was only them and nobody else to sort of blend in with.
”Oh… I…” Nothing. He was floundering where he sat. He grasped at words but nothing came out but a sort of blank. He needed some space to breathe.
So that was exactly what he gave himself. Kun Shui did the simplest thing and got up, leaving the room without another word.
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Post by LUCIEN MARGAUX on Dec 12, 2013 20:27:02 GMT -8
In Lucien's wording, he'd built himself an out. He'd said that he had feelings, but he'd never said what those feelings were. They could have been anything, or just simple friendship, which Lucien was largely unaware of. Most people would have assume they were real feelings, but he'd been vague enough that if Kun Shui reacted badly, he could simply say that he'd been unclear and meant friendship.
Lucien wasn't entirely clear what he felt, but at the very least he knew it was beyond friendship. He would have plenty of time to go over it, but for the moment all he could really place was that it was something. He was relatively sure that it was more then simple friendship, but even that was iffy in light of the fact that Lucien had never had a real friend. He could only make rough guesses, and in light of his new realization, what had happened at the gallery abruptly made more sense. He hadn't made a choice to save Kun Shui. If he'd thought about it, he would have, because Kun Shui's well being was tied permanently to his own--but he hadn't. He hadn't thought things through. He'd simply acted on instinct, doing something as profoundly stupid as punching a monster in order to prevent him from coming to harm.
Did friends do that? Was that a friendship thing? Somehow he doubted it. Most people said they would die for each other, but few actually meant it in a literal sense. Lucien was starting to slowly realize that he did. He would die for Kun Shui. Kun Shui's life was worth a thousand of his, and there was no debating that--but on a more personal level, he simply didn't want him hurt.
Which made Kun Shui's rapid retreat somewhat painful. He didn't respond, didn't answer--just flushed slightly and fled the room. Lucien wasn't entirely sure what to make of it, beyond that Kun Shui himself probably wasn't sure what to make of it. Maybe he was just imagining things. Maybe he was trying too hard to understand it.
As if sensing his masters concern, the little sugar glider darted up his arm, nuzzling against the side of his neck as if trying to bring Lucien out of is worried state. KUN SHUI WEI | MAY 17TH, 2 PM |
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Post by KUN SHUI WEI on Dec 13, 2013 21:46:40 GMT -8
tagged: Lucien time: May 17, 2PM speech: kun shui. notes: - - - Kun Shui beat a hasty retreat to his office, closing the door rather gently behind him to avoid drawing attention before letting out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. If any of the staff realized he’d been blushing, they had wisely not mentioned it while he locked himself in. He just needed a second, that was all. He just needed to calm the heck down and get his head back together before he left again to tend to what he could with his dominant arm out of commission.
Reaching over, Kun Shui unlatched the cage to Xue’s cage and let the white pigeon out. She proceeded to coo in appreciation before fluttering to the top of the little whicker cage and stared at her master with those oil drop eyes. Now what was wrong? He seemed frazzled as he sat down on that big chair of his. Without much more hesitation, she flew over and landed neatly on his desk.
”…oh Xue,” Kun Shui reached over, picking up the tame bird in both hands. The pigeon was oddly tame for something that was new to the house, but he wasn’t about to question it right now. ”What should I do, huh?” Yes, he was muttering to his goddamn pigeon like a madman. In response, Xue only cooed again and gave his finger a little nibble.
Lucien, in a sense, was untouchable. Not because he couldn’t do anything to him, because Kun Shui could do anything he wanted, but because he was so outside of his status quo that even thinking about him in a romantic sense would cause his father to spontaneously die just to roll over in his grave. He just couldn’t, as if he was physically unable.
Was he, though? No, he tried to shove that from his mind. No. Totally inappropriate.
He stroked Xue’s head somewhat clumsily with his splinted hand. Perhaps. Maybe.
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Post by MIKE on Dec 15, 2013 9:35:09 GMT -8
| | | Finished Thread
You have been rewarded with ONE RESIDUE as this thread is now complete. It has been placed in the archives under the 'finished' sub-board. You are more than welcome to PM fate if this thread is not finished or if you are unhappy/unsatisfied with the amount of residue that has been rewarded. Keep up the great work and keep posting with other members.
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