![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[Sometimes, being a pathetic little guy is actually a viable strategy to getting somebody to stick around and give you a chance. Or, at least, it's working right now, and Sampo's not going to look this gift fish in the gills, or however the saying goes.]
[He ends up in the warm, damp embrace of a hot merman, draped sort of dramatically in his arms like a consumptive Victorian poet. Cradle him, Gepard. Let him lay seductively(?) in your wet, manly lap and ignore the fact that he almost drowned.]
Gepard. [He says his name like he's tasting it, like he's feeling the shape of it on his tongue. He likes it, it suits his handsome savior.]
I could die happy now! [Dramatic, sure, but there are worse ways to die than in the arms of a handsome man. Sampo knows, he nearly died in one of those worse ways. And he's probably still a little bit of a loopy mess from just getting dragged out of the ocean.] Do you have to go? Maybe the rain will never stop.
[He ends up in the warm, damp embrace of a hot merman, draped sort of dramatically in his arms like a consumptive Victorian poet. Cradle him, Gepard. Let him lay seductively(?) in your wet, manly lap and ignore the fact that he almost drowned.]
Gepard. [He says his name like he's tasting it, like he's feeling the shape of it on his tongue. He likes it, it suits his handsome savior.]
I could die happy now! [Dramatic, sure, but there are worse ways to die than in the arms of a handsome man. Sampo knows, he nearly died in one of those worse ways. And he's probably still a little bit of a loopy mess from just getting dragged out of the ocean.] Do you have to go? Maybe the rain will never stop.
[He'd thought that maybe the man- Sampo, that Sampo would take a moment to gather himself and then push away, but no, apparently he's going to drape himself like he's a consumptive Victorian poet, so apparently they're doing this now. Okay. Well. It's not bad, actually, it's kind of nice, if anything Gepard feels like he's weirdly taking advantage of Sampo, somehow. And-
Okay, Sampo's getting a little too close to his- uh. Slit. Clinical and boring. Slit. Indistinguishable from the rest of his tail, still a bit...um, sensitive. Nothing to see there, but Gepard, nevertheless, lies down. Sampo can use his chest as a pillow. There's no way this can go wrong.
...there. Perfectly normal.]
If the rain never stops then I'll never leave. [Obviously. Also, he's gently going to hold one of Sampo's hands and keep it away from sensitive gill areas because the man is obviously delusional and might cause an accident if they're not careful.] But I'm sure you'll get tired of this beach before long. You seem like that sort of man.
Okay, Sampo's getting a little too close to his- uh. Slit. Clinical and boring. Slit. Indistinguishable from the rest of his tail, still a bit...um, sensitive. Nothing to see there, but Gepard, nevertheless, lies down. Sampo can use his chest as a pillow. There's no way this can go wrong.
...there. Perfectly normal.]
If the rain never stops then I'll never leave. [Obviously. Also, he's gently going to hold one of Sampo's hands and keep it away from sensitive gill areas because the man is obviously delusional and might cause an accident if they're not careful.] But I'm sure you'll get tired of this beach before long. You seem like that sort of man.
[Sampo will gladly rest his head upon your ample bosom, Gepard, blissfully unaware of the fact that he had nearly laid it on a much more sensitive area of merman anatomy. But he'd also gladly put his head there, too, if Gepard would only ask.]
[He lays there and looks up at his pretty rescuer, and he really does feel a little better now that he's laying down again. Less dizzy, for one thing. Generally less like he's going to fall over and die. Still pretty bruised and scraped up, but he'll probably survive so long as someone eventually finds him out here and, like, gives him a warm place to sleep for the night and some dry clothes.]
How could I ever get tired of this view? [The one of Gepard's lovely face.] I could look at it all day.
[And he's even getting his hand held, which is very nice and sweet. What a wonderful fishman. He would probably make a great fish-husband. Isn't that an interesting question? Is marriage a thing in the deep blue sea? Are there fish-husbands and fishwives, bound in holy fish matrimony? How would you get fish-married, anyway? That would imply that there are fish priests, too, and Sampo thinks that he might be getting a bit off-track here.]
You're really pretty.
[He lays there and looks up at his pretty rescuer, and he really does feel a little better now that he's laying down again. Less dizzy, for one thing. Generally less like he's going to fall over and die. Still pretty bruised and scraped up, but he'll probably survive so long as someone eventually finds him out here and, like, gives him a warm place to sleep for the night and some dry clothes.]
How could I ever get tired of this view? [The one of Gepard's lovely face.] I could look at it all day.
[And he's even getting his hand held, which is very nice and sweet. What a wonderful fishman. He would probably make a great fish-husband. Isn't that an interesting question? Is marriage a thing in the deep blue sea? Are there fish-husbands and fishwives, bound in holy fish matrimony? How would you get fish-married, anyway? That would imply that there are fish priests, too, and Sampo thinks that he might be getting a bit off-track here.]
You're really pretty.
...thank you? [He says this in tones of deepest confusion and slight alarm, and Gepard peers down at Sampo. Sampo looks...okay, health-wise, specifically. In terms of health, he looks okay. Gepard's free hand, the one that's not keeping Sampo from grabbing things he shouldn't, runs through his hair, searching for signs of a cut, a bruise, blood...something to explain the delirium. Because he's obviously delirious, given the entire...not getting tired of him pretty face thing. And the flirting. And not wanting to be alone.
He should leave. For Sampo's sake, if nothing else, but how can he leave now?]
You must be cold.
[That's it. Delirium from the cold. He figured it out. He cracked the cold.]
I'm sorry. There's only so much I can do to help, given that I am- you know. A merman. [Nevertheless, his free hand is busy trying to rub what little heat he can into Sampo's back.] My tail's probably not pleasant for you.
He should leave. For Sampo's sake, if nothing else, but how can he leave now?]
You must be cold.
[That's it. Delirium from the cold. He figured it out. He cracked the cold.]
I'm sorry. There's only so much I can do to help, given that I am- you know. A merman. [Nevertheless, his free hand is busy trying to rub what little heat he can into Sampo's back.] My tail's probably not pleasant for you.
[Oh. Oh wow. He takes the rose. Takes a moment to smell it. (It smells perfect. He savors the smell. He has to.) Logically, he knows this is probably some kind of...platonic friendship moment from a skilled salesman who really wants to make a sale. If it means anything, it just means that Sampo Koski is friendly.
Logically, Gepard knows he should smile and move on, but emotionally, he knows that he's going to put the rose in a vase, stare at it a lot, dry it when the time comes, maybe preserve a petal in a bookmark, and some rose-based tattoo flash is going to pop up later.]
I'd like that. [Understatement. He's following Sampo like they're old friends and there's nowhere else he'd rather be, which, well. There isn't.] Honestly, as much as I like flowers, I'm not good at keeping them alive - the closest I can usually get is either a bouquet or drawing them. I think that's one of the reasons why I include them every chance I get.
Logically, Gepard knows he should smile and move on, but emotionally, he knows that he's going to put the rose in a vase, stare at it a lot, dry it when the time comes, maybe preserve a petal in a bookmark, and some rose-based tattoo flash is going to pop up later.]
I'd like that. [Understatement. He's following Sampo like they're old friends and there's nowhere else he'd rather be, which, well. There isn't.] Honestly, as much as I like flowers, I'm not good at keeping them alive - the closest I can usually get is either a bouquet or drawing them. I think that's one of the reasons why I include them every chance I get.
[Sampo peruses his own stock for a moment, determined to make a really nice bouquet for his latest and cutest customer. If you can't date a guy because your first impression makes you seem like a dweeb, the next best thing is to give him a reason to keep coming back to your store so that you can look at his handsome face. It'll kind of be a little bit of torture, having Gepard stop in and knowing that he's out of Sampo's league, but hey. What's life without a little pain?]
[He really did get a nice shipment of hydrangeas in this morning. He drops the roses off in their display, then gets a few bunches of purple hydrangea to start off. Maybe he's onto something with the lilac, he's got some white lilac in stock to go with the purple. It'll be a dramatic bouquet, but that's not always a bad thing.]
I'm lucky, really, that I just have to sell the flowers and I don't have to grow them! [Sampo laughs and considers the rest of his options-- a little feverfew? Some myrtle for greenery?] And, hey, when you tattoo them, that means you've made flowers that last forever, right?
[He really did get a nice shipment of hydrangeas in this morning. He drops the roses off in their display, then gets a few bunches of purple hydrangea to start off. Maybe he's onto something with the lilac, he's got some white lilac in stock to go with the purple. It'll be a dramatic bouquet, but that's not always a bad thing.]
I'm lucky, really, that I just have to sell the flowers and I don't have to grow them! [Sampo laughs and considers the rest of his options-- a little feverfew? Some myrtle for greenery?] And, hey, when you tattoo them, that means you've made flowers that last forever, right?
[He's following like a child on a field trip, making appreciative noises as they pass by various flowers and various displays, and Gepard's having the sinking suspicion that Sampo might've been here for quite some time and he's actually a terrible person for not noticing who his neighbors are. He needs to pay more attention to people and less attention to work. Probably. Maybe. There's still a lot of work. (He can practically hear Serval's exasperation in his head.)
Sampo starts assembling the bouquet and he watches, rapt, like Sampo's some kind of magician, working magic. And Sampo calls his tattoos flowers that last forever, and Gepard startles, because-]
That's a really nice way of thinking about it. [...he's not blushing. He's not blushing. (He is blushing. A slight startled flush.)] Thank you.
[And then, impulsively, Gepard reaches for his phone.] Do you mind if I take some pictures? You've given me a few ideas- oh, if it's alright with you, we could trade numbers? So I can show you what I do with the ideas. Assuming I do anything interesting with the ideas, but it seems like a shame to have ideas and not show the man who inspired me.
[If that's not weird? It's probably weird. It's definitely weird. He probably shouldn't have said it, fuck fuck fuck.]
Sampo starts assembling the bouquet and he watches, rapt, like Sampo's some kind of magician, working magic. And Sampo calls his tattoos flowers that last forever, and Gepard startles, because-]
That's a really nice way of thinking about it. [...he's not blushing. He's not blushing. (He is blushing. A slight startled flush.)] Thank you.
[And then, impulsively, Gepard reaches for his phone.] Do you mind if I take some pictures? You've given me a few ideas- oh, if it's alright with you, we could trade numbers? So I can show you what I do with the ideas. Assuming I do anything interesting with the ideas, but it seems like a shame to have ideas and not show the man who inspired me.
[If that's not weird? It's probably weird. It's definitely weird. He probably shouldn't have said it, fuck fuck fuck.]
Sampo Koski is always prepared!
[Gepard isn’t the only guy here with lube in his pocket. Other things, too, but also lube. There’s the possibility that he might get to be on the other end of their usual arrangement, after all, and he wasn’t going to risk having it called off because no one remembered the lubricant.]
[And he’s absolutely not going in dry for Gepard’s first time. He might want to beat up that fine ass a little, but not like that.]
Why don’t we get this show on the road? [He loops an arm through Gepard’s. What a tame beast you are, Captain Landau.] I don’t want to waste time, now that I have you all to myself!
[No sharing him with pretty ladies, at least not for a while. Maybe that’s an idea for next time— get dolled up as Brughel and see how many turns around the dance floor he can get out of Gepard before he recognizes who he’s dancing with. Maybe he’d even keep dancing after he finds out, just to have a reason to avoid the others.]
[Gepard isn’t the only guy here with lube in his pocket. Other things, too, but also lube. There’s the possibility that he might get to be on the other end of their usual arrangement, after all, and he wasn’t going to risk having it called off because no one remembered the lubricant.]
[And he’s absolutely not going in dry for Gepard’s first time. He might want to beat up that fine ass a little, but not like that.]
Why don’t we get this show on the road? [He loops an arm through Gepard’s. What a tame beast you are, Captain Landau.] I don’t want to waste time, now that I have you all to myself!
[No sharing him with pretty ladies, at least not for a while. Maybe that’s an idea for next time— get dolled up as Brughel and see how many turns around the dance floor he can get out of Gepard before he recognizes who he’s dancing with. Maybe he’d even keep dancing after he finds out, just to have a reason to avoid the others.]
[He tests Sampo's grip on him, but, finding it sufficiently firm, decides to leave things be for now. They can walk, arm in arm. For now.]
You seemed content enough to waste time earlier. [He's not disgruntled! He's fine! Gepard also starts moving forward, because he really doesn't want to be caught down here with Sampo, professional disgrace, a thief and scoundrel, and someone who stands out in pink.]
I half-expected that you'd have me dancing with all of the women in there, just to prove some sort of point. [He's not angry, no, not at all.] Should I be wondering if you're working for my father, Sampo?
You seemed content enough to waste time earlier. [He's not disgruntled! He's fine! Gepard also starts moving forward, because he really doesn't want to be caught down here with Sampo, professional disgrace, a thief and scoundrel, and someone who stands out in pink.]
I half-expected that you'd have me dancing with all of the women in there, just to prove some sort of point. [He's not angry, no, not at all.] Should I be wondering if you're working for my father, Sampo?
[Cute guy blushes pretty cute, too. He'll be a good boyfriend for a lucky someone someday, and Sampo will just have to lament that it's not him. But hey, you win some, you lose some, you sometimes die alone with only your crypto scams to keep you company--]
[Or, cute guy asks for your number. Either Sampo is just that good at making bouquets, or he's underestimated the power of his ass even in old, worn out jeans, but he's not going to look this gift horse in the mouth. He's not even really sure if Gepard is asking for his number like this because he's trying to be less obvious about it (and kind of failing) or if he really actually does just want to send him sketches of flowers because he's also a nerd.]
Sure! Give me your phone, I'll add my number in. [Swap him your phone for the bouquet, Gepard.] Maybe one day you'll convince me to get one!
[Is Sampo thirsty enough to get over his needle thing so that the cute guy can tattoo him? Who knows, maybe. He's done stupider shit for a hot piece of ass before.]
[Or, cute guy asks for your number. Either Sampo is just that good at making bouquets, or he's underestimated the power of his ass even in old, worn out jeans, but he's not going to look this gift horse in the mouth. He's not even really sure if Gepard is asking for his number like this because he's trying to be less obvious about it (and kind of failing) or if he really actually does just want to send him sketches of flowers because he's also a nerd.]
Sure! Give me your phone, I'll add my number in. [Swap him your phone for the bouquet, Gepard.] Maybe one day you'll convince me to get one!
[Is Sampo thirsty enough to get over his needle thing so that the cute guy can tattoo him? Who knows, maybe. He's done stupider shit for a hot piece of ass before.]
[Is Sampo cold? He's not sure, he sort of got numb to the feeling after he was in the water for a little while. The ocean in this part of the world does get very cold, enough so that even if he'd managed to avoid drowning, he likely would've just died from hypothermia. It isn't impossible that he's a little delirious from hypothermia, especially since his savior isn't exactly the best at warming him up.]
[There's a hand in his hair and another trying to rub a little warmth into his back, and if he weren't in potential danger, this might have really been a lovely place to be.]
It's okay. I'm sure it's a very nice tail. [Sampo doesn't really know what the metric is for determining the niceness of a tail, but it isn't very warm. Man, being a mammal is a pain sometimes.]
I didn't think that mermaids were real. Or mermen. Merfolk? [The rain might be starting to let up a little. Once it does, people will probably come down to the beach to check on their boats and make sure they hadn't come unmoored in the storm.] I've been on the ocean a lot, and I never saw one before.
[There's a hand in his hair and another trying to rub a little warmth into his back, and if he weren't in potential danger, this might have really been a lovely place to be.]
It's okay. I'm sure it's a very nice tail. [Sampo doesn't really know what the metric is for determining the niceness of a tail, but it isn't very warm. Man, being a mammal is a pain sometimes.]
I didn't think that mermaids were real. Or mermen. Merfolk? [The rain might be starting to let up a little. Once it does, people will probably come down to the beach to check on their boats and make sure they hadn't come unmoored in the storm.] I've been on the ocean a lot, and I never saw one before.
[His hands still for a moment, one hand brushing a lock of hair away from Sampo's face, Gepard gazing at him soberly. It's a nice face, unfortunately. He shouldn't have realized this. He didn't want to realize this.
Holding Sampo had backfired, apparently. It had made him appreciate things that he might not have paid all that much attention to if he had slipped away when he could. Probably. But how could he have left?]
You're not supposed to. [Gepard says this softly. How is he supposed to admit, "Actually, I was supposed to leave you to die?" There's no way he can say that.] There's laws forbidding humans and merfolk from interacting. If all went the way it was supposed to, you never would have known I was here.
[There's probably a few questions to be had, like why did Gepard know this beach was probably safe, why he had stuck around this long, and so on. But those don't matter, right?
Right?]
Of course, some of my kind gets curious, which is where your stories come from. And, sometimes my kind gets careless. [...okay, he can admit this much.] Like I did. But there's no point in me dragging you out of the ocean if you fell back in by accident.
Holding Sampo had backfired, apparently. It had made him appreciate things that he might not have paid all that much attention to if he had slipped away when he could. Probably. But how could he have left?]
You're not supposed to. [Gepard says this softly. How is he supposed to admit, "Actually, I was supposed to leave you to die?" There's no way he can say that.] There's laws forbidding humans and merfolk from interacting. If all went the way it was supposed to, you never would have known I was here.
[There's probably a few questions to be had, like why did Gepard know this beach was probably safe, why he had stuck around this long, and so on. But those don't matter, right?
Right?]
Of course, some of my kind gets curious, which is where your stories come from. And, sometimes my kind gets careless. [...okay, he can admit this much.] Like I did. But there's no point in me dragging you out of the ocean if you fell back in by accident.
[He hesitates, momentarily, because it's one thing to act on some strange impulse Gepard can't quantify or name (and doesn't, in fact, want to give voice to it) and it's another for it to basically work pretty fucking easily.
But it's only a moment. The fear of Sampo saying, actually, lol, nvm, sorry was greater than any worries that he's doing the wrong thing. He hands his phone to Sampo; he takes the flowers from the florist, and, while Sampo does whatever he's doing, Gepard closes his eyes, buries his nose in the bouquet, and takes a deep breath.
It smells...
Relaxing. His eyes open again.]
A tattoo? Not everyone wants one. Or, if they want one, can decide on what it should be. Or set aside the time to get one. But if you want me to talk you into it? [And why would he, really, Gepard knows that he's not the sort of artist to move mountains - he's good, sure, his teacher's better, there's world renowned artists and he's not one of them.]
I'll keep drawing until you find something you like. [...heck with it.] And I'll set aside time for you. You won't have to wait a year before I can book you.
[Even if he's not serious, though, it would be fun to pester Sampo with a drawing, day after day, like some 30 day art challenge except the challenge is to, uh. Make a friend.]
But it's only a moment. The fear of Sampo saying, actually, lol, nvm, sorry was greater than any worries that he's doing the wrong thing. He hands his phone to Sampo; he takes the flowers from the florist, and, while Sampo does whatever he's doing, Gepard closes his eyes, buries his nose in the bouquet, and takes a deep breath.
It smells...
Relaxing. His eyes open again.]
A tattoo? Not everyone wants one. Or, if they want one, can decide on what it should be. Or set aside the time to get one. But if you want me to talk you into it? [And why would he, really, Gepard knows that he's not the sort of artist to move mountains - he's good, sure, his teacher's better, there's world renowned artists and he's not one of them.]
I'll keep drawing until you find something you like. [...heck with it.] And I'll set aside time for you. You won't have to wait a year before I can book you.
[Even if he's not serious, though, it would be fun to pester Sampo with a drawing, day after day, like some 30 day art challenge except the challenge is to, uh. Make a friend.]
[Sampo listens politely throughout Vaska's unskippable two minute cutscene about flowers and plants, mostly because it's an unskippable cutscene and he knows his part in it. He's there to be Gepard's mysterious new friend for Vaska to later gossip about to her friends, spreading a rumor about how the good Captain has a new "friend". Sampo can't wait to hear them through the Belobog equivalent of the grapevine.]
[Gepard starts getting a little restless, though-- maybe starting to see what Vaska's attention means-- and just picks out a succulent, apparently based only on appearance alone. A little barrel cactus, a squat little thing and kind of cute for it.]
Well, those are supposed to be easy to grow! So it's probably a good choice, right?
[Vaska seems to agree. And, anyway, the sooner she gets her sale made, the sooner she can gossip or get back to her reading, two things that are probably far more enjoyable than selling prickly plants.]
[Gepard starts getting a little restless, though-- maybe starting to see what Vaska's attention means-- and just picks out a succulent, apparently based only on appearance alone. A little barrel cactus, a squat little thing and kind of cute for it.]
Well, those are supposed to be easy to grow! So it's probably a good choice, right?
[Vaska seems to agree. And, anyway, the sooner she gets her sale made, the sooner she can gossip or get back to her reading, two things that are probably far more enjoyable than selling prickly plants.]
If it's entertaining, it's not a waste of time!
[Sampo was certainly entertained by it, so he considers it a very good use of everyone's time. And those ladies were probably entertained as well, though Sampo cares far less about their amusement than his own. The only person here who wasn't amused is probably Gepard himself, but, well... isn't this a matter of greatest good?]
What, and try to get you married off to some boring woman? I don't think you're in much danger of that, regardless of what I do. You seem as interested in marrying any of them as you do a Fragmentum monster.
[Unless his father figures out a way to finally blackmail Gepard into settling down, Sampo doesn't think he has that much to fear about their little situationship coming to an end.]
But you seem like a decent dancer! I'd have taken a spin with you myself, but that wouldn't have gone over well, would it?
[He'd have been recognized very quickly, and then he'd have half the Silvermane guard after him and he'd never get the chance to play with Gepard. Alas, his own reputation ruins some of his fun.]
[Sampo was certainly entertained by it, so he considers it a very good use of everyone's time. And those ladies were probably entertained as well, though Sampo cares far less about their amusement than his own. The only person here who wasn't amused is probably Gepard himself, but, well... isn't this a matter of greatest good?]
What, and try to get you married off to some boring woman? I don't think you're in much danger of that, regardless of what I do. You seem as interested in marrying any of them as you do a Fragmentum monster.
[Unless his father figures out a way to finally blackmail Gepard into settling down, Sampo doesn't think he has that much to fear about their little situationship coming to an end.]
But you seem like a decent dancer! I'd have taken a spin with you myself, but that wouldn't have gone over well, would it?
[He'd have been recognized very quickly, and then he'd have half the Silvermane guard after him and he'd never get the chance to play with Gepard. Alas, his own reputation ruins some of his fun.]
[Sampo puts his number into Gepard's phone with an absolutely obnoxious amount of emojis with it-- 💐🌹❤️❤️🔥❤️Sampo Koski❤️❤️🔥❤️🌹💐-- and sends himself a text message so that he has Gepard's number in return. He feels his phone vibrate in his pocket, confirming that he got it. So there's no escape, Cute Blond, he's got your information and there's no escaping his incomprehensible gif memes.]
[He looks up from the screen and hands the phone back.]
Wow, that's a lot of preferential treatment! I feel special. [He puts a hand over his heart, like he might swoon.]
I guess you'll have to try your best, so you can come up with something that'll impress me! Otherwise you'll never get the chance to put some of your flowers on me.
[Isn't that something, Gepard? The idea of putting an eternal mark, flowers that never wither. Something that Sampo will look at and always remember you.]
[He looks up from the screen and hands the phone back.]
Wow, that's a lot of preferential treatment! I feel special. [He puts a hand over his heart, like he might swoon.]
I guess you'll have to try your best, so you can come up with something that'll impress me! Otherwise you'll never get the chance to put some of your flowers on me.
[Isn't that something, Gepard? The idea of putting an eternal mark, flowers that never wither. Something that Sampo will look at and always remember you.]
[...was that a lot of preferential treatment? Was he giving too much preferential treatment? He doesn't know. He thought he'd been giving Sampo a friendly amount of treatment. Gepard just takes the phone and, without looking at it, puts it in his pocket - he's sure that the florist had put in a normal amount of emoji and didn't do anything too excessive with his name. Besides.]
Well, first things first - as much as it's been nice talking to you, I should be getting back to my shop. [It feels like things are slipping and he got more than he ever intended on having, and it's a good way to reestablish control...and also, work. He's got a client coming soonish. Probably. Maybe.] How much do I owe you?
Well, first things first - as much as it's been nice talking to you, I should be getting back to my shop. [It feels like things are slipping and he got more than he ever intended on having, and it's a good way to reestablish control...and also, work. He's got a client coming soonish. Probably. Maybe.] How much do I owe you?
[He makes a face at Sampo, who, frankly speaking, deserves it. It's the sort of rare irritation that the Silvermane Guard barely see, the public hardly ever sees, and his sisters sometimes see - he's not a paragon of the Preservation, he's not a captain, not someone who defies life. He's but a man, and a very kind of annoyed man at that. Not irate, not angry, just fucking irritated and consistently so. Less intensity of anger, and more intensity of how long he's going to be grumpy about this.
Because, ultimately, it's not like Sampo hurt him. It's just-]
I would've wanted to dance with you.
[Grump. Gepard picks up the pace a little, and if Sampo pulls away then that's his problem, otherwise the goal is this: get Sampo somewhere marginally more quiet, shove him against the wall, make out with him. Work off the constant grump through more productive ways. That sort of thing. Because he's a physical person, and understands touch better than feelings, sometimes.]
Because, ultimately, it's not like Sampo hurt him. It's just-]
I would've wanted to dance with you.
[Grump. Gepard picks up the pace a little, and if Sampo pulls away then that's his problem, otherwise the goal is this: get Sampo somewhere marginally more quiet, shove him against the wall, make out with him. Work off the constant grump through more productive ways. That sort of thing. Because he's a physical person, and understands touch better than feelings, sometimes.]
Ah, of course. Business is business! I can't keep you from your clients forever.
[Gepard has to get back to his clients and make that bread, as the kids say. Can't keep somebody waiting for their appointment, that's just bad customer service. And speaking of customer service...]
Let's just say the first one is on the house. But I expect you to come back another time and get something else!
[Let him just tie that bouquet up with a ribbon to keep it all together-- a pretty emerald green color, because he likes it-- and slip one of his business cards in there. Rosemary for Remembrance, like that line from Hamlet.]
There you go. Don't be a stranger!
[Gepard has to get back to his clients and make that bread, as the kids say. Can't keep somebody waiting for their appointment, that's just bad customer service. And speaking of customer service...]
Let's just say the first one is on the house. But I expect you to come back another time and get something else!
[Let him just tie that bouquet up with a ribbon to keep it all together-- a pretty emerald green color, because he likes it-- and slip one of his business cards in there. Rosemary for Remembrance, like that line from Hamlet.]
There you go. Don't be a stranger!
[He's 3/4ths of his way to grabbing his wallet, and then Gepard freezes like a deer in headlights, and he stares, and his mouth slightly opens, and he thinks he's blushing again- why is he blushing again, why does it feel like every single time he knows what he's doing Sampo just knocks him back on his ass and he's left floundering. Sampo's a florist, for goodness sake.]
I-
[The flowers? Beautiful. The rose, also beautiful - one's destined for his shop, the other for his bedroom.]
That's very kind, thank you. [What the heck.]
I'll be sure to come back again.
[A sheepish smile, a wave, a glance at his phone - it's that time, he's late, probably - and Gepard pleasantly smells the flowers because it's either that or screaming a little scream (both at whatever's happening here as well as the time), and he leaves just walk, walk, walking out the door, heading towards his shop, fuck fuck fuck.
What just happened, just-
What just happened. Much to process.]
I-
[The flowers? Beautiful. The rose, also beautiful - one's destined for his shop, the other for his bedroom.]
That's very kind, thank you. [What the heck.]
I'll be sure to come back again.
[A sheepish smile, a wave, a glance at his phone - it's that time, he's late, probably - and Gepard pleasantly smells the flowers because it's either that or screaming a little scream (both at whatever's happening here as well as the time), and he leaves just walk, walk, walking out the door, heading towards his shop, fuck fuck fuck.
What just happened, just-
What just happened. Much to process.]
[She chirps out something agreeing, yeah, something cheerful and upbeat, and fixes Gepard with a too-bright stare, and Gepard really kind of wants to squirm and why did he think this was a good idea - heading out with some guy he doesn't even know, a criminal who assaulted countless people because of his unique dietary requirements, and-]
I probably shouldn't overthink it, you're right. [What that stare means or the cactus, Figaro can take his pick.] I'll take it.
[It's overpriced for a cactus, not that Gepard knows it, but that's what happens when you're from a snowy iceball.]
I probably shouldn't overthink it, you're right. [What that stare means or the cactus, Figaro can take his pick.] I'll take it.
[It's overpriced for a cactus, not that Gepard knows it, but that's what happens when you're from a snowy iceball.]
[Sampo sticks one hand in his pocket and waves Gepard out the door with the other. He's, like... seventy percent sure that he'll come back again. Maybe seventy-five. It just depends on whether he's the kind of guy who keeps his promises, or if he'll be too weirded out by Sampo being overly friendly.]
[Well. If all else fails, Sampo still has his number.]
[After he's gone, Sampo's tempted to start texting him, maybe send him a gif or a meme or something, but he should probably let the guy process everything for a minute. Texting him now would totally be coming on too strong, and you can't overplay your hand, right?]
[Play it cool, Koski. Go sort some flowers or something.]
[He waits two days before he sends a text. It should be considered a truly remarkable example of self-restraint on his part. What he sends is this--]
this u?
[Well. If all else fails, Sampo still has his number.]
[After he's gone, Sampo's tempted to start texting him, maybe send him a gif or a meme or something, but he should probably let the guy process everything for a minute. Texting him now would totally be coming on too strong, and you can't overplay your hand, right?]
[Play it cool, Koski. Go sort some flowers or something.]
[He waits two days before he sends a text. It should be considered a truly remarkable example of self-restraint on his part. What he sends is this--]
this u?
Well, I guess you have to be careful. If people knew that someone as good looking as you is hanging out in the ocean, everyone would be tossing themselves in just to have a chance to meet you.
[Or they'd probably try to poach the merfolk, either because of bullshit folk-remedies involving their body parts or to sell them as curiosities or to museums and aquariums. But Sampo's definitely in the group that would be willing to yeet themselves into the watery deep for a shot at a hot fish boyfriend.]
Don't worry, I won't fall back in on accident! I'd do it on purpose.
[The rain lightens more. Whether he likes it or not, the weather is a countdown for how long he gets to bask in Gepard's chilly presence.]
What's it like, living in the ocean? Are there cities?
[He's enamored with the idea. An underwater metropolis full of lovely fishpeople, made of... coral and rock and mother-of-pearl. There were stories, of course, about a merfolk ocean king, which implies the existence of a merfolk kingdom, but Sampo had written all that off as just fairytales, like the rest of merfolk existence. But he's got a real merman in front of him, so maybe the merfolk kingdom really does exist, too.]
[Or they'd probably try to poach the merfolk, either because of bullshit folk-remedies involving their body parts or to sell them as curiosities or to museums and aquariums. But Sampo's definitely in the group that would be willing to yeet themselves into the watery deep for a shot at a hot fish boyfriend.]
Don't worry, I won't fall back in on accident! I'd do it on purpose.
[The rain lightens more. Whether he likes it or not, the weather is a countdown for how long he gets to bask in Gepard's chilly presence.]
What's it like, living in the ocean? Are there cities?
[He's enamored with the idea. An underwater metropolis full of lovely fishpeople, made of... coral and rock and mother-of-pearl. There were stories, of course, about a merfolk ocean king, which implies the existence of a merfolk kingdom, but Sampo had written all that off as just fairytales, like the rest of merfolk existence. But he's got a real merman in front of him, so maybe the merfolk kingdom really does exist, too.]
[What a thing for Gepard to say-- that he would've liked to dance with him. The good Captain's sentimental streak rearing its pretty little head again. But Sampo doesn't get much of a chance to say anything in response to that, because Gepard pulls him along, tugging him like he's a child that won't keep up, then pushes him against a wall to kiss him.]
[Well, Sampo can understand that well enough. And he's all right with Gepard getting him up against a wall, with his eager mouth and roaming hands. It'll probably wrinkle his jacket, which is a little bit of an annoyance-- this is a nice suit, thank you very much-- but he can iron out a few wrinkles. Ten minutes of necking with Gepard is priceless.]
Hey. [His hands are cupping Gepard's face, because it's really just too pretty not to touch.] Don't forget about that balcony that you promised me. We deserve a view!
[A pretty view of Belobog for someone to get railed to. Who is still up for debate, it depends on whether Gepard will find that medal of his.]
[Well, Sampo can understand that well enough. And he's all right with Gepard getting him up against a wall, with his eager mouth and roaming hands. It'll probably wrinkle his jacket, which is a little bit of an annoyance-- this is a nice suit, thank you very much-- but he can iron out a few wrinkles. Ten minutes of necking with Gepard is priceless.]
Hey. [His hands are cupping Gepard's face, because it's really just too pretty not to touch.] Don't forget about that balcony that you promised me. We deserve a view!
[A pretty view of Belobog for someone to get railed to. Who is still up for debate, it depends on whether Gepard will find that medal of his.]
[Let it never be said that Sampo isn't a busy man!]
[Being a Fool is a full-time job on its own, what with all of the political upheavals and general tomfoolery that he has to get up to, and then there was that whole thing with the Trailblazer and the Astral Express that Sampo obviously had to tag along for. A man gets a little caught up in his work sometimes, and sometimes that means that he's away from home for a while. An extended business trip! That's basically what this has been, just an extended business trip away from his pretty little iceball of a planet.]
[But now Sampo's done with his business and gets to go back home. Back to Belobog, back to his Winterland, back to the planet that he'd worked so hard to secure a better future for. Back to the city that has Gepard Landau in it. Since Sampo's been off-world, Gepard must have been so bored and lonely! There's been no one for him to chase after, no blue-haired scoundrel running petty scams and fleecing relics. But now that Sampo's back, they'll be able to pick right back up with their games of cat-and-mouse.]
[Or they would, if the person who had chased Sampo through the streets for his old arrest warrants wasn't very much not Gepard Landau. And when Sampo had asked him where the good Captain was, he'd gotten an answer that he very much didn't like.]
[Sampo had smoke-bombed the not-Captain Landau into unconsciousness and ended the chase. If it isn't Gepard, it's just not worth the trouble.]
[But if Gepard isn't Captain Landau anymore, where is he?]
[Being a Fool is a full-time job on its own, what with all of the political upheavals and general tomfoolery that he has to get up to, and then there was that whole thing with the Trailblazer and the Astral Express that Sampo obviously had to tag along for. A man gets a little caught up in his work sometimes, and sometimes that means that he's away from home for a while. An extended business trip! That's basically what this has been, just an extended business trip away from his pretty little iceball of a planet.]
[But now Sampo's done with his business and gets to go back home. Back to Belobog, back to his Winterland, back to the planet that he'd worked so hard to secure a better future for. Back to the city that has Gepard Landau in it. Since Sampo's been off-world, Gepard must have been so bored and lonely! There's been no one for him to chase after, no blue-haired scoundrel running petty scams and fleecing relics. But now that Sampo's back, they'll be able to pick right back up with their games of cat-and-mouse.]
[Or they would, if the person who had chased Sampo through the streets for his old arrest warrants wasn't very much not Gepard Landau. And when Sampo had asked him where the good Captain was, he'd gotten an answer that he very much didn't like.]
[Sampo had smoke-bombed the not-Captain Landau into unconsciousness and ended the chase. If it isn't Gepard, it's just not worth the trouble.]
[But if Gepard isn't Captain Landau anymore, where is he?]
Page 14 of 26