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[hauntedking]

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[wolfish]

Perhaps, if you were a host I wasn't on familiar terms with, that would be true.

[ He couldn't care less about the woes of many a noble in the past, but Dimitri? Dimitri is another matter entirely. ]

But we're— [ Yuri pauses, evidently second-guessing himself, before venturing: ] friends, aren't we?

[ The word tastes strange, when used in earnest. ]

[hauntedking]

...yes.

[ Dimitri almost laughs, his face splitting in a smile. ]

Yes, we are, aren't we?

[wolfish]

[ Yuri smiles in turn, his relief tugging at his lips.

...He'll wonder why that feeling impresses upon him later. ]

So long as we're in agreement, I think so. Not that I'm any expert on how it works.

[ He can poke a little fun at himself. ]

[hauntedking]

Not an expert in friends? Don't sell yourself short, Yuri.

[ There's a low laugh from him. ]

[wolfish]

[ His smile turns wry around the edges. ]

It's true, in this case.

[ Dimitri's probably heard something from the rumor mill by now, so— ]

Not even giving my actual name makes me something of a cold man, doesn't it?

[hauntedking]

Well... you have your reasons. I can't say they're the wrong reasons, after all.

[wolfish]

[ Yuri stares at him for a good, long moment.

Then he can't help it, puffing out an amused breath. Dimitri's a determined man, he'll give him that. ]

Guess I can't complain if you see me that way.

[ Just another reason no one will ever convince him Dimitri isn't kindhearted. ]

And I wouldn't complain about discussing whatever's on your mind, so you don't need to go worrying about being a poor host. That's just not possible.

[hauntedking]

Then I suppose we're agreed. And we'll have to find something to discuss!

[ He leans back in his seat, smiling. ]

I... suppose I still worry about all of it. About whether or not I'll be able to support who I can or whether I really am good at heart. But the person I discuss this with - that therapist - they're helpful.

[wolfish]

I'm game for anything.

[ When Dimitri eases back into his seat, Yuri mirrors that body language, though not before he grabs one of those snacks he'd left sitting on the table.

He'll not have Dimitri think he doesn't like what he set out for them. ]

I'm glad they do — help, I mean. [ A pause as he samples the snack be picked up, followed by a low, appreciative hum. ] I suspect I know how you feel, but for what it's worth, I know you're a good man. Good men can do bad things, when faced with rough circumstances.

[ It's a logic he doesn't extend to himself, but he believes in Dimitri. This one that he's gotten to know in the months since his arrival. ]

[hauntedking]

True, I suppose. But we should strive to avoid this bad things when we can... or else we may find ourselves turning into something altogether alien to us. It does weigh on me... it always does. But I do my best not to let it consume me anymore. That... well. It doesn't help anyone, does it?

[wolfish]

That's true, it doesn't avail us any. Acknowledging that it's not the way you want to be isn't wrong... Just don't punish yourself too much or for too long over it, yeah?

[ Pot, kettle. ]

So long as you keep doing the best you can, you'll get there.

[hauntedking]

...and you as well. I don't think I'd want to get there without you.

[ He is utterly sincere and also incredibly unaware of how that sounds. ]

[wolfish]

[ Will some owlish staring clue Dimitri in?

Stay tuned. ]

[hauntedking]

...Yuri? Did I say something wrong?

[ Uh.

Help? ]

[wolfish]

[ Yuri recovers after a delay, hastily waving the concern away. ]

No, no, it's—

[ How to explain? ]

If I didn't know better, I'd think you were implying something there.

[ Surely not... ]

[hauntedking]

Implying...?

[ It takes a moment and then Yuri gets a chance to see his cheeks and ears start to turn red. ]

Oh.

[wolfish]

[ He can't help smiling at the sight. Dimitri's adorable when he's flustered. ]

I'm almost envious — you really could charm someone without so much as trying.

[ Yuri can no more resist teasing than he could smiling, though "charm" is decidedly one of the softest words he could use. Dimitri's already red as it is. ]

[hauntedking]

I - well.

[ He clears his throat. ]

That - wasn't my intent.

[ He stumbles over his words. ]

Not that I think you're not handsome or unattractive or anything like that-!

[wolfish]

[ Oh, poor Dimitri. Perhaps he should be merciful.

...Soon. ]

Oh, so you'd say I'm attractive?

[ He'll bat his long, dark lashes just for the bit. ]

[hauntedking]

Ah - that is-

[ Oh no. He stammers for a moment. ]

...I - yes. Yes, I would. To say otherwise would be doing you a grave disservice.

[wolfish]

[ Yuri knows he's beautiful, of course he does. He'd been made aware of it so many times... But typically not by people with no ulterior motives.

So he discovers, in this moment, that it's entirely different to hear from someone so earnest. Different to hear it from Dimitri himself. ]

Ah.

[ His lips twitch, finding himself conflicted as to how he wants to react to the realization he'd walked himself into this. Here, he'd thought he'd laid it on thick enough that Dimitri could call him out on it, rather than give him such a very sincere reply. ]

...You're sweet, Dimitri.

[hauntedking]

I-

[ He's still red-faced, trying to think after everything started happening so quickly. ]

...I'm just being honest. That's all. You - anyone would be quite fortunate to count you as their partner. Whether romantic or otherwise.

[ Although in this context it's pretty clearly romantic. ]

[wolfish]

[ The urge to hide is rising, and it's a strange impulse for him. New.

He settles for pressing his hand over his mouth in a way he hopes looks thoughtful. ]

What makes you say that?

[ His curiosity beats his better sense for speed in the moment, oops. ]

surprise 2/2

[wolfish]

[ Then of course he realizes he's blundering further, color tinting his cheeks. What would Dimitri even say to that? ]

...Actually, no need to answer that. It wasn't my intention to put you on the spot.

[ He just meant to tease the man, and now here he is, caught in an awkward momentum of his own making. ]

[hauntedking]

I-

[ He doesn't need to answer that. But he does. ]

You're loyal. You're hard-working. You're kind to others. You're intelligent. There's much about you that I don't know, but... I truly think you're worthy of affection.