CLOSED | if being strong's your kind,

[murderbaby]

WHO: Vanadi, Athessa, Mhavos.
WHAT: stupid elf drama.
WHEN: post-the post-murderhaus log.
WHERE: Somewhere in Lowtown
NOTES: Emotional and romantic drama is the point of a fantasy wargame.

There is a reason Mhavos generally avoids any communal drinking activity, and it's rather obvious: he doesn't drink, and doesn't commune. He doesn't loathe them. He just doesn't feel comfortable at them, and however well they go, he's happy to be rid of them.

Anyway, he's been nervous all night, because... well, because he doesn't want to hurt anyone. Walking out onto the street, he makes a few quick strides to catch up with Athessa, hoping Vanadi, nearby, is out of earshot.

"I-... need to speak with you. It's of... well, of some import." Yet he's staring directly at Vanadi's back. What an utter master of subtlety.

Comments

[highborn]

Vanadi's grin echoes Athessa's, though of course he pulls the obligatory solemn, almost-embarrassed face and amends, "Oh, did I arrive at the right time?"

No, just kidding, tell away, he has no shame in this regard whatsoever. The grin is back shortly to make this clear, and he nudges at Mhavos with a fond elbow. "It's worth noting that one of the first things Athessa said to me was something about who gives a shit about exclusivity, so I'm not certain there are any toes available for the stepping on."

[murderbaby]

Mhavos throws his hands up. "No! Thank you. The mystery is quite satisfying."

Massaging one temple furiously, Mhavos somehow manages to glare at the ground with his eyes closed. "I am glad, though. Romantic... fuss, gossip and hurt feelings, it's quite beyond me. And I should hate to upset you."

He looks over at Athessa. Vanadi is implied in that sort of 'I've known you for a month and have basic powers of empathy' way.

[sulahnan]

Athessa's teasing grin softens into an affectionate smile, and she hooks her good arm around Mhavos to pull him into a hug and kiss his cheek. If anything it'll give him a reason to be so flustered, one with less embarrassing (for him) origins.

"You know how unsubtle I am, Mhav. If you somehow managed to hurt my feelings, I'd let you know."

[highborn]

Vanadi certainly trusts that he could read hurt in Athessa clearly enough — and also trusts himself to make educated guesses by now about what would do it. Mhavos ... is more of a work in progress. And he supposes there are still boundaries to suss out, on top of that.

He drops to trail a step or two behind them, the better to thoughtfully watch both at once.

[murderbaby]

The fond expression returns to Mhavos' face, if canny, "yes, after I woke from the pummeling you gave me, I'd quickly apologize."

His grin sharpens slightly, with something like fondness and annoyance. "And," he says, "that isn't my name."

[sulahnan]

"Oh, of course, forgive me," she can at least press her right hand over her heart without removing the arm from its sling, so she doesn't have to release Mhavos for her dramatic flair.

"Mhavos Dalat, A Pleasure, how rude of me to leave off your full title."

[highborn]

The two of them are really very charming, and it only increases in each other's presence. Vanadi watches with a fond smile behind them, and decides that the only way to know anything for sure is to ask it.

He pushes forward, slinging an arm around each of their shoulders to drop his face between them. Their heights really do make interruption this easy, how nice.

"Hello. I've a question."

All good topics start that way.

[murderbaby]

"Please," Mhavos says, rubbing at his face. "Anything to distract from what a tit I was last year."

[sulahnan]

She raises an expectant brow. "Go on, then."

[highborn]

He does.

"Now, I'm fairly sure this is permissible in present company—" He frees one of his hands to gently turn Athessa's head to him, capturing her with a kiss. It's no glancing thing, the kiss he opts for, it's head-tippingly involved and takes a good few seconds: plenty of time to make anyone uncomfortable who would grow uncomfortable in the face of such things.

When he pulls away, it's to shift his attention to Mhavos next. He cocks his brows in unspoken but very much implied question.

[murderbaby]

Mhavos rolls his eyes and looks away, not blushing but generally huffing as one does when those crazy kids insist on being all over each other at the food court.

Is he uninterested in PDA, intensely private, or something else? Mhavos opts for ambiguity. "I think of her as a sister, and this is all rather absurd."

[sulahnan]

Athessa laughs, first out of surprise at the kiss, then because she recognizes why Vanadi is doing this.

"I don't think he's trying to make you interested in me, little brother."

[highborn]

Please, as if he could read Mhavos as interested in women — or in Athessa, of all people. Vanadi huffs, but it's amused.

"I think I would know better than to try!" He slides between them, releasing Athessa to set his hands on Mhavos instead for a more direct approach. One at his chest, one cupped light at the side of his neck. "No, I'd very much like to know if I should be pretending that I don't think of kissing you with some frequency. I'm perfectly willing to make the attempt."

[murderbaby]

Mhavos rolls his eyes again, but he recognizes that this is some sort of joke, an expression of familiar humor between friends. His part is to play the stooge, while the others poke at parts of his personality they find endearing.

It's unexpectedly nice to feel included, even if it's technically at his expense.

Still, his expression remains flat, even as it shifts toward Vanadi. "I would prefer you didn't, if it's simply to prove a point. I've already kissed you in public, you lout."

[sulahnan]

Athessa tsks. Poor Vanadi, to be thus rejected.

[highborn]

Hmm, he senses he's not quite being understood here. Thanks for the backup, Athessa. Willing as he is to detach and give the man his space back, he still has to try: "And if it weren't to prove a point?"

[murderbaby]

Almost grimacing, Mhavos quickly spits out, "of course I'm not going to stop you."

[sulahnan]

"Oh, just kiss already. Honestly, you two." She rolls her eyes.

[highborn]

It's not the most solid reassurance he could be given, but it does make him grin, so it will do. Both hands hold either side of Mhavos's face and he does indeed kiss him. It doesn't last so long as Athessa's, which had been to make a point, but it ends with a quick peck to the forehead before Vanadi pulls away entirely.

"Right," Vanadi declares, pocketing his hands and feeling very, very pleased, the kind of pleased he had quite honestly never expected to feel again. "Then it's settled. Expect more of that going forward."

[murderbaby]

Mhavos manages a glare that could only be described as bug-eyed, leveled squarely at Athessa. And then he's being kissed, and it's sweet and soft and unconcerned, and Mhavos follows suit, losing a small percentage of the normal level of tension he perpetually carries with him.

The kiss to his forehead would leave him weak-kneed, if they didn't have company, and thank the Maker they do. How embarrassing.

"I'd never dream of restricting you," he says with something that's not quite displeased enough to count as a sneer, "I'd hate to disappoint the audience."

[sulahnan]

"Some audiences wouldn't mind a little restriction," Athessa points out with a waggle of her brows.

Don't mind her, she's just here for a little comedic relief right now.

[highborn]

"Oh, is that a request? I'll see what can be done," he says, but the grin is still more amused than any kind of seductive. And then, "Ah — where is it we're headed, exactly?"

Damn, he just started walking. But it is most definitely a question of we, he's decided, unwilling to release either of these two any time soon.

[murderbaby]

"Will I receive more coddling disapproval if I mention I have work to be doing?"

But, realizes, he finds he wouldn't mind that so much.

[sulahnan]

"Disapproval?" Athessa pulls a face. "I think being asked for permission to kiss you more often should count as approval, shouldn't it?"

[highborn]

With a smile shot at Athessa that borders on mischievous, Vanadi offers an innocent shrug.

"We could always come and keep you company."

And see what playfully aggrieving nonsense they can get up to in a library for poor Mhavos. There's got to be a lot of it.