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

[sulahnan]

Athessa doesn't miss the stare, though she isn't certain of what it means just yet. Vanadi mentioned that he could see why Athessa and Mhavos were so close, but that doesn't do much to hint at how Vanadi and Mhavos get on with one another.

Athessa raises her eyebrows, curious.

"What is it?"

[murderbaby]

"I-" Mhavos can't quite keep himself from quickly dragging one hand down his face, embarrassment growing more obvious by the moment. Red ears, red face, ridiculous. He sighs, steels himself, and keeps on with it. "I don't know the extent of your-... relationship with Vanadi, and didn't until tonight. Previously, we had a, uh, dalliance. I care far more for honesty with you than I do... most things, honestly."

[sulahnan]

She blinks. Blinks again.

"Al...right..." If she sounds confused, it's likely due to not really knowing what Mhavos is driving at, specifically. Is he merely telling her that he's slept with Vanadi? Or is there more to unpack here?

Athessa glances at Vanadi briefly, then turns to give Mhavos her full attention, rather than attention in passing.

"I don't know that I would call what me and Vanadi have a relationship," she starts, slowly, muddling through. "But if you're worried that I'd be upset knowing that you and he have been together, you really needn't trouble yourself."

[highborn]

Vanadi is, in fact, almost but not quite out of earshot. The V of his name is difficult to keep to a whisper, in any case, and his attention is well snagged. Eavesdropping is a bit uncouth, though, and he opts for the direct approach.

He hangs back a few steps to drop himself into — whatever this is, all politely curious attention that shifts between the two of them.

"Am I missing anything good?"

[murderbaby]

Mhavos' face is, at this point, bright red. "Clearing something up," he sighs, and then, to Athessa. "Then I'm glad I haven't upset you."

That's, like, the important thing. Mhavos' pride is just a personal project made of popsicle sticks and glue.

[sulahnan]

Athessa's attention lingers on Mhavos' expression before she turns to Vanadi with a somewhat rueful smile.

"Mhavos was just concerning himself over my feelings for you," she explains, all good humor and understanding. (Though perhaps she could have phrased it better.) "And I explained that whatever it is we have, it's not exclusive, but—"

Back to Mhavos, a line of her own concern drawn between her brows.

"Are you upset, Mhav?"

[highborn]

"Hm. I'm just in time, then."

He'd thought it might be something like this — and had admittedly wondered when this might come up, knowing now how close Mhavos and Athessa are. It's a little taste of home, he thinks, smiling faintly. Only, at home, it would be more likely that all involved parties would rely strictly on wild assumptions and hold furious resentments in until everything was at the boiling point, preferably at someone's very fancy gala. A fun time for all involved, but he's not sure he has the energy to really appreciate it anymore.

This approach, he thinks, is a considerable improvement, and he holds his silence as he shifts attention to Mhavos for his answer.

[murderbaby]

"Baise-moi mort," Mhavos murmurs under his breath, face still entirely red. He shifts his expression into something more wry than dour. "I don't know where I'd get the energy."

He clears his throat, straightens his collar, all rather obvious calming gestures for a particularly high strung sort of person. "My major contention is that I've divlulged any information about my undoubtedly fascinating sex life, but I don't regret it if we're all-" a somewhat sarcastic hand motion, "copacetic."

[sulahnan]

"I hardly think saying you've had a dalliance with Vanadi counts as divulging information," She says, battling a grin and losing. Mhavos is just so... precious.

"Would it make you feel better if I divulged more than you did?"

[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?"