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[hauntedking]

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[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.

[wolfish]

[ Yuri weathers the reply well enough until that last sentence.

For so long, a part of him has dearly wished that to be true, but the rest of him can't forgive himself enough to believe it. Hearing it from Dimitri, someone he holds in such high regard, is...

His face feels too warm. He's not sure what sort of expresion he's wearing. So he covers his face with his hands. ]

[hauntedking]

Yuri-

[ Dimitri leans forward and reaches out a hand, pausing partway. ]

...I didn't mean to embarrass you. I apologize.

[wolfish]

It...it's fine.

[ I'm fine, he had intended to say.

It's not quite what he manages, muffled behind his hands. ]

Just...you mean all that.

[ Somehow. ]

[hauntedking]

Of course I do. Should... I not?

[ He's a little confused. ]

[wolfish]

[ Ah, now he's giving Dimitri the wrong idea.

Despite his embarrassed reluctance, he pries a hand from his red face to wave the concern away. ]

No, I don't think you've got an insincere bone in your body.

[ And somehow, he wasn't braced for that. Dimitri doesn't know his history or the things he wishes and yearns for despite himself. How would he feel if he did? ]

You just caught me off guard, is all. Hearing such a thing from someone like you...

[ He's trying so hard to say enough, but not too much. ]

[hauntedking]

Someone like me? What do you mean? Certainly not in terms of royalty...

[ He trails off, feeling slightly awkward now. He's put Yuri on the spot and isn't sure how he feels about that. ]

...I would like to hear you elaborate.

[ He feels flushed, but also... anticipatory. He's know this Yuri for months now - and they've become one of his closer companions here in Kenos. There's much about him that he doesn't entirely understand or know yet and for all that, Dimitri... well. What can he say? He's fond of him, after all.]

[wolfish]

[ Yuri supposes that Dimitri is entitled to some sort of explanation. In his effort not to burden the man with too much, it's possible he has said too little.

Puffing out a tense breath, he drags his other hand down, despite his face feeling too warm still yet. His line of sight drifts to his tea and settles there. ]

Someone whose opinion I value. [ For want of something to do with his hands, he links his fingers, denying himself any pensive fidgeting. ] Someone I know to be honest and sincere.

[ More words crowd his mind, but those come easiest. And Dimitri is royalty, but Yuri can safely say he wouldn't give a fig about what Emperor Edelgard thought of him as a person... ]

I've spent much of my life surrounded by people who'd tell me all manner of pretty things because they wanted something from me. Hell, often enough they wanted me — or rather, whatever I represented or replaced in their eyes.

[ But he thinks... Dimitri actually looks at him. Dimitri looks at him and thinks he deserves something genuine from someone? ]

[hauntedking]

[ Dimitri's blush, which had faded somewhat, seems to return as he listens to Yuri. ]

Well - I'm honored that you think so highly of me. Your opinion has... come to matter a great deal in my estimation.

[ He leans forward a little, hands on his knees as he listens and watches intently, trying to feel his way through this. ]

I can safely say that I am being honest - and that you deserve that honestly and regard from everyone.

[wolfish]

[ Perhaps, Yuri thinks fleetingly, some of the things he says around Dimitri make better sense now.

He doesn't quite know what he could have done to earn Dimitri's esteem in turn, but the thought does bring a small smile to his lips. ]

I'm glad you think so.

[ It's a pleasant thought, though he can't quite find himself agreeing that he deserves all of that. Still, he's grateful that Dimitri believes it, and that faint smile is still there when he manages to look him in the eye again.

It's a small thing, so oddly frail compared to his usual confidence, but it's there. ]

Everyone's a bit of a tall order though.

[hauntedking]

Well, I can amend to "most people" if you think that would be better.

[ Dimitri jokes a little, glad that the awkwardness is starting to drain out of the room a little. ]

[wolfish]

[ If nothing else, the humor seems to strengthen his smile. ]

Might be a little more within the realm of possibility. Slightly.

[ Just slightly. ]

[hauntedking]

We'll see about that. I might make it a new goal of mine.

[ The awkwardness has passed, but a part of Dimitri wonders if he should bring it back up. If he should try to clarify what he meant.

Or maybe he needs to think about it because maybe he's not so sure himself, in the end. ]

[wolfish]

[ Emotional vulnerability is like treading water for Yuri. He'll readily latch onto the solid ground that banter represents...

Even as he finds himself unsure why a few choice words from Dimitri had gotten to him so. ]

A goal, huh?

[ He considers that for a beat with a soft hum trapped behind closed lips. ]

It's difficult to picture what that'd be like.

[ But then, he's simply grateful to have such things from Dimitri. ]

[hauntedking]

Clearly all I need to do is elucidate on your positive qualities every chance I get.

[ OK, now he gets to tease a little. ]

[wolfish]

[ Jest though it may be, Yuri grimaces all the same. ]

You wouldn't...

[ His expression eases soon after, because— ]

I think all that'd do is give people funny ideas.

[hauntedking]

Correct ideas, you mean.

[ Look! He can joke! ]

[wolfish]

[ Oh Dimitri... Yuri sees his angle, and he doesn't want to walk them back into the awkward place, but— ]

If you actually went around singing my praises, people might just think you were taken with me.

[ He phrases this carefully, as it is after all just in humor. ]

[hauntedking]

[ He doesn't quite sputter but he does look a bit abashed. ]

Would that be a terrible thing?

[wolfish]

I— [ He pauses, thoughtful frown tugging at his lips. ] You know what "taken with" means, right?

[ Surely Dimitri does, but then shouldn't he agree that it would be troublesome for others to misunderstand him? ]

[hauntedking]

Of course I know what it means.

[ He murmurs, half-laughing, his gaze fixed on his half-empty teacup for a moment. ]

But - that wouldn't offend me. The idea of it.

[wolfish]

[ Yuri doesn't quite know how to respond to that. His first thought is that Dimitri could do better, but he has the presence of mind not to blurt that out. ]

My reptuation may not have followed me here, but... Might cost you a date or two, people thinking that.

[hauntedking]

...I haven't really had any sort of dates or courting, though.

[ Eh? ]

[wolfish]

[ There is only one appropriate response to this and it is dumbfounded staring.

Well, that and— ]

How?

[hauntedking]

I mean - there was Kaeya for a brief time, but... he's gone and I haven't really had any opportunity or... well. Desire? And no one's expressed interest.

[ Well, he did sleep with Link, but he doesn't really count that because, uh, weird aphro shenanigans. ]

Is that strange?