promuseboxing | Eos 10 open post

You say that like it hasn't already happened before.

[ Not a good day, that.

He shrugs, being careful not to move too much so he doesn't set off his ribs hurting again. The whole trip was a fiasco, he'd almost rather be alone to kick his wounds privately. The lecture wasn't something he wanted. ]

Probably. I don't think I felt anything cracking.

[It's not a lecture, it's fussing. Get it right, man. Still, Ryan can tell a losing battle when he sees one. He's just going to help himself to the kung poa chicken and let this one slide. FOR NOW.]

Eat some food.

Yessir.

[ He's not about to argue with this particular order, not when his stomach has been turning itself inside out for the past couple hours. He takes the chow mein and digs in. With that particular need taken care of he looks at Ryan again. ]

...you don't need to worry about me so much. If I was really in need of medical attention I would'a told you. Barring the whole bomb collar thing this was your average meeting with bad men. I've seen a lot worse.

Has telling someone not to worry every actually worked before?

[Ryan looks up from his own food, giving Akmazian the eyebrow again.]

Look, whatever... this is? This... I dunno trying to overthrow a government conspiracy together or whatever it is? I'm gonna be invested, okay? And that includes worrying when you get the snot kicked out of you. Just, I dunno, deal with it.

It was worth a shot.

[ He shrugs and slouches down as much as his second ribs will allow. He knows a losing fight when he sees one, thankfully this is the sort that won't end with him being blown up. ]

Alright, if you insist. I do appreciate you checking up on me, I just thought I'd remind you that this will probably keep happening 'til we get to the bottom of this. It might save you some heartache.

You're saying you want me to leave you alone or something?

[Not that he... wants to be here all the time. Honestly.]

No that ain't it. I just-

[ He rubs his face, wishing for than anything that he'd gotten more than three hours of sleep in the last twenty-four. His head is all over the place. ]

I'm givin' you an out. I know if it weren't for me your dad would probably still be alive. So... if you don't wanna hear from me, all you gotta do is say the word. And I'll leave you be.

[ No matter how he feels about Ryan, he deserves the choice to say get the hell out of my life. ]

[Oh. well. That... changed the mood. Ryan takes a small breath in, suddenly a lot more interested in his shoes than anything else in the room. When he does speak, he's picking his words very carefully.]

You know I... I never blamed you, about my dad. Right? That was... that was their doing, whoever the hell this whole Galactic Federation thing is.

He... died trying to prove you were innocent, right? Or at least trying to prove I was wrong about you. Either way... I need to see this through.

Still, I'm sorry.

[ There's a level of tired where a man should stop talking and Akmazian is pretty sure he's hit it and then went barreling past it at top speed. He needs a rewind button or something so he can go back and not do this. ]

God, sorry I'm bein' such bad company.

Given the last few months, I think we're both allowed to be.

[Okay he's going to... Ryan feels the need to initiate some physical contact here. That's a thing he can do. Because he is a functioning adult and not an awkward weirdo. Yes.

Touching.

He only hesitates for a few minutes before deciding on a hand on Akmazian's leg. Nothing too forward, just... letting him know he's here. Not weird at all, right?]

[ He takes advantage of the quiet to eat more. If his mouth is full he can't make it any worse. In theory anyways. Quiet can be good after all.

Until there's a hand on his leg.

He can totally handle this like a mature adult. This isn't his first rodeo. No need to make it weird or anything. ]

I hope you ain't thinking about seducing me. I know I'm a catch and all, but I'm a little tired for all that.

[ Nailed it. ]

[So smooth. And okay, Ryan is taking his hand back, and looks down at the floor with a half-smile.]

Jane told me why you got me Morpheus, you know.

[ Of course she did. What happened to the sacred bond of secrecy between smuggler and client? ]

Because she appealed to the goodness of my heart?

[ Or more accurately, to the teenager with a crush part of his heart. ]

Yeah, that. And uh, something about putting in a good word for you or something.

[Yes the ground is so very interesting right now.]

I kinda had to ask after she spent, like, a week trying to drop into conversation what a dashing specimen of man you are. She's, uh, not exactly the most subtle.

I guess I should'a expected something like that after she tried to seduce me into it. The saucier tried, too.

[ He's paying very close attention to the walls, with the occasional glance at Ryan. ]

I was gonna do it anyway, since she said you were feeling so down. But I figured if she was willing to say something nice about me it couldn't hurt anything.

Levi tried to seduce you? That... I'm really glad I wasn't here to see that.

[He's already had to see Levi's weird junk more than he's ever wanted to. He risks glancing at Akmazian again, lets himself study the side of his face a little since the other man isn't looking back.]

Uh, thanks. For that. It really helped. It's nice coming home and, uh, having someone happy to see me.

I wish I didn't have to be there to see it. Both of them need a lesson in negotiation strategy.

[ Especially since seduction techniques only worked when you had something the other party wanted. There wasn't anything under Jane or Levi's jumpsuits he was all that interested in. ]

It wasn't that big a deal. I knew a guy who knew a lady who had a litter she was looking to put into good homes. She said Morpheus was the best of the bunch.

[Jesus, why the hell is he so nervous all of a sudden. It was only a few months ago he hated the guy, and now...

Come on get it together, Dalias, jeez. He leans back with a grown, drags both hands down his face, and fixes Akmazian with the best stare he can manage.]

So what exactly is this... thing? That's going on now? Between, you know, us? I mean? Cause I'm kind of goddamn lost about what you want from me, okay?

[ And now they're back in awkward territory. He sighs and rubs the back of his neck, trying to figure out the right thing to say that won't send Ryan running off in a panic. ]

Frankly, I don't know what it is, 'cause I don't know what you want. I think you're a good man, and good looking.

[ And it's already in the open that he's attracted to Ryan. ]

Right now I'd say we're friends. It doesn't gotta go any further than that if you aren't comfortable.

Eos 10 open post

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