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[Gepard Landau politely raises his eyebrows at that, and then impolitely raises them (it's in the shift of the eyebrows, in the way he goes from polite curiosity to 'bitch, are you kidding me' disbelief) as Sampo talks about jobs and cost and pricing models and being his first customer? His hand clenches for a moment, half-prepared to tackle Sampo to the ground and rattle off some speech about the Silvermane Guard.
Gepard doesn't. He just- he forces his hand to relax, smooth out, still holding Sampo close. Unpleasantly close, for the both of them, probably. Neither moving forward nor moving back. Standing there, like two idiots.]
Should I ask what you would charge me? Or am I better off not knowing?
Gepard doesn't. He just- he forces his hand to relax, smooth out, still holding Sampo close. Unpleasantly close, for the both of them, probably. Neither moving forward nor moving back. Standing there, like two idiots.]
Should I ask what you would charge me? Or am I better off not knowing?
Ah, that’s a good question. You shouldn’t buy anything without knowing what it costs first!
[Especially not from Sampo. Who knows, he might ask for your firstborn child, like goblins did in old Belobog fairytales. And Gepard actually has one of those!]
I could just charge you in cash, but I’m really not hurting for credits right now. For you, it should be something more interesting! Since I’m giving you something you don’t have, you should give me something that I don’t have.
[A novelty for a novelty. The question is, could Gepard ever actually find something to give that Sampo doesn’t already have?]
Right now, though, I might take having my arm back. You’ve still got a strong grip, Gepard.
[He’s pretty well caught, and they’re still standing in the middle of the street.]
[Especially not from Sampo. Who knows, he might ask for your firstborn child, like goblins did in old Belobog fairytales. And Gepard actually has one of those!]
I could just charge you in cash, but I’m really not hurting for credits right now. For you, it should be something more interesting! Since I’m giving you something you don’t have, you should give me something that I don’t have.
[A novelty for a novelty. The question is, could Gepard ever actually find something to give that Sampo doesn’t already have?]
Right now, though, I might take having my arm back. You’ve still got a strong grip, Gepard.
[He’s pretty well caught, and they’re still standing in the middle of the street.]
[A blink, Gepard hesitates, his mouth frowning, and then-]
Right.
[-and he lets go of his grip on Sampo's arm, and, for that matter, makes a half-hearted attempt at shaking his other arm loose. (To be decided if Sampo lets him or not. It's a half-assed attempt anyway.) Regardless of how imprisoned his arm is, he marches forward and onward and then into the cafe.
It's a nice cafe, by Belobogian standards. He gets a look from one of the servers, which, well- he's a regular, and now he's here with a blue-haired nuisance, he supposes he should expect this. He quietly holds up a hand in response to the question: two fingers, two seats, the blue-haired nuisance which may or may not be on his arm is with him, they're sitting together.
His face is grim, his mouth set in a frown, they seem to believe that Sampo's heralding trouble (he is, not in the way they'd probably expect) and they're ushered to a table by the window without too much fanfare. Somewhere where they can sit with a little bit more quiet than the rest of the building. And Gepard has to ask himself just why did he agree to this, again? Why did he challenge Sampo to whatever-this-is? What is the point?
They're given two menus, and Gepard's ready to order, but- ah, he should wait for Sampo to make up his mind, and the girl who seated him- them walks away.]
Right.
[-and he lets go of his grip on Sampo's arm, and, for that matter, makes a half-hearted attempt at shaking his other arm loose. (To be decided if Sampo lets him or not. It's a half-assed attempt anyway.) Regardless of how imprisoned his arm is, he marches forward and onward and then into the cafe.
It's a nice cafe, by Belobogian standards. He gets a look from one of the servers, which, well- he's a regular, and now he's here with a blue-haired nuisance, he supposes he should expect this. He quietly holds up a hand in response to the question: two fingers, two seats, the blue-haired nuisance which may or may not be on his arm is with him, they're sitting together.
His face is grim, his mouth set in a frown, they seem to believe that Sampo's heralding trouble (he is, not in the way they'd probably expect) and they're ushered to a table by the window without too much fanfare. Somewhere where they can sit with a little bit more quiet than the rest of the building. And Gepard has to ask himself just why did he agree to this, again? Why did he challenge Sampo to whatever-this-is? What is the point?
They're given two menus, and Gepard's ready to order, but- ah, he should wait for Sampo to make up his mind, and the girl who seated him- them walks away.]
[See, walk nicely with him, Geppie, so that the server who knows you so well can give you strange looks about the blue-haired nuisance with you, walking too close to be acquaintances. And, really, after all the hours that Gepard spent chasing him and gathering evidence and putting said evidence on a cork board like he was trying to solve a murder mystery, could they really be called acquaintances?]
[Sampo smiles at the server when they’re seated, thanks her politely when he’s handed a menu. Just like a regular, upstanding citizen! That’s him, Sampo Koski, pillar of the community. A normal businessman here to do businessman things, legally.]
My, there’s a lot more on the menu these days! [With Belobog back on the galactic map, offworld imports are possible again. The people of this fine city are no longer constructed to dairy and rye based diets.] I don’t know what’s good anymore. Why don’t you order for me, Geppie?
[You know, like how normal people order for their friends.]
[Sampo smiles at the server when they’re seated, thanks her politely when he’s handed a menu. Just like a regular, upstanding citizen! That’s him, Sampo Koski, pillar of the community. A normal businessman here to do businessman things, legally.]
My, there’s a lot more on the menu these days! [With Belobog back on the galactic map, offworld imports are possible again. The people of this fine city are no longer constructed to dairy and rye based diets.] I don’t know what’s good anymore. Why don’t you order for me, Geppie?
[You know, like how normal people order for their friends.]
[He flinches as he's fucking called Geppie and he looks up at Sampo, and his hand clenches around the menu, and his mouth opens to say something sharp, but-
By Qlipoth (for what little that means, for all the oaths he had to forsake for the sake of his daughter), they're in public, he can't pick a fight over Geppie. As much as he wants to. These people know him, kind of. He's a regular. His hand relaxes. Nothing just happened.]
If you don't give me at least some idea of what you like, I'm ordering you one black coffee and you can watch me eat, Koski.
By Qlipoth (for what little that means, for all the oaths he had to forsake for the sake of his daughter), they're in public, he can't pick a fight over Geppie. As much as he wants to. These people know him, kind of. He's a regular. His hand relaxes. Nothing just happened.]
If you don't give me at least some idea of what you like, I'm ordering you one black coffee and you can watch me eat, Koski.
[Gepard’s hand tightens, wrinkling the menu briefly before he relaxes it. It takes effort, ignoring Sampo’s little irritations, but he does an admirable job of it! As stalwart as ever, his Gepard.]
[Well. His only because a man gets a certain sentimentality about someone he used to see day in and day out for years. A constant presence in his life. It sometimes felt like Gepard was his personal captain, whose sole purpose was to pursue him.]
I’ll take the coffee either way. But if you need a little guidance, that’s fine… get me something light! A guy’s got to watch his figure, you know?
[Can’t go gaining weight, not with how his outfits still have those hip cutouts. He has to keep his svelte figure so that he looks good with all that skin showing.]
[Well. His only because a man gets a certain sentimentality about someone he used to see day in and day out for years. A constant presence in his life. It sometimes felt like Gepard was his personal captain, whose sole purpose was to pursue him.]
I’ll take the coffee either way. But if you need a little guidance, that’s fine… get me something light! A guy’s got to watch his figure, you know?
[Can’t go gaining weight, not with how his outfits still have those hip cutouts. He has to keep his svelte figure so that he looks good with all that skin showing.]
[It's immensely tempting to order Sampo a reuben out of spite, but- but Gepard nods, gets the woman's attention.]
Excuse me.
[She heads over to them, ready to take their order with a bright smile for Gepard, and a slightly less bright smile for Sampo: it's less bright and more curious. Gepard tells himself he saw nothing, he understands nothing, nothing is going on, there's nothing for her to be curious about.]
Two coffees. My friend will have the croque crystal lizard. [Welcome back to Belobog, Koski.] And I'll have the reuben.
[There, everything's settled.]
Excuse me.
[She heads over to them, ready to take their order with a bright smile for Gepard, and a slightly less bright smile for Sampo: it's less bright and more curious. Gepard tells himself he saw nothing, he understands nothing, nothing is going on, there's nothing for her to be curious about.]
Two coffees. My friend will have the croque crystal lizard. [Welcome back to Belobog, Koski.] And I'll have the reuben.
[There, everything's settled.]
[A mussel shell comes at his face, and Sampo puts up a hand so that he doesn't get beaned right in the eye with it. Those things are sharp, Gepard, you might ruin his stupid handsome face if you do that!]
Hey, careful! My face is too pretty to get cut up!
[His good looks are a critical part of his brand, Gepard! Sometimes a guy has to flirt his way out of disaster, and it's way easier to do that when you've got a nice face. Pretty people really do have it easier in life, it's a sad truth.]
[But now that he's out of shell-based danger, he can latch on to entirely the wrong part of Gepard's sentence.]
Aww, you would help me? I knew you liked me!
Hey, careful! My face is too pretty to get cut up!
[His good looks are a critical part of his brand, Gepard! Sometimes a guy has to flirt his way out of disaster, and it's way easier to do that when you've got a nice face. Pretty people really do have it easier in life, it's a sad truth.]
[But now that he's out of shell-based danger, he can latch on to entirely the wrong part of Gepard's sentence.]
Aww, you would help me? I knew you liked me!
[When the clock hits five and Gepard isn't there, Sampo doesn't think much of it. Who ever arrives exactly on time, right? Especially with bus schedules how they are, showing up five minutes late is basically the same as being on time. Besides, he'd said five-ish, not exactly at five. Five after, that's nothing to worry about. Ten after, maybe Gepard's just running a bit late. Fifteen and no text, and he's starting to wonder if he's really been stood up.]
[He'd decided to give Gepard until twenty after-- maybe half-past if he's really feeling a little pathetic-- before calling it. Any later than that and it's just sad, you're just that guy who won't admit that he'd been stood up. Thankfully, Sampo is spared this sad fate when Gepard does, in fact, show up, seventeen minutes late.]
Hey, there you are! [Gepard looks a little harried, like he'd been rushing to get here. Slightly out of breath, a little color on his cheeks, it's not a bad look for him.] Want to get some coffee or something real quick? I already got tickets.
[Another reason why he really hoped Gepard wouldn't stand him up. He was able to get the tickets for the conservatory half off through various... means, some of which he's fairly certain Gepard wouldn't approve of. So what Gepard doesn't know about won't make him side-eye his new acquaintance-slash-friend! Easiest way to do it.]
[He'd decided to give Gepard until twenty after-- maybe half-past if he's really feeling a little pathetic-- before calling it. Any later than that and it's just sad, you're just that guy who won't admit that he'd been stood up. Thankfully, Sampo is spared this sad fate when Gepard does, in fact, show up, seventeen minutes late.]
Hey, there you are! [Gepard looks a little harried, like he'd been rushing to get here. Slightly out of breath, a little color on his cheeks, it's not a bad look for him.] Want to get some coffee or something real quick? I already got tickets.
[Another reason why he really hoped Gepard wouldn't stand him up. He was able to get the tickets for the conservatory half off through various... means, some of which he's fairly certain Gepard wouldn't approve of. So what Gepard doesn't know about won't make him side-eye his new acquaintance-slash-friend! Easiest way to do it.]
[That is the entirely wrong part of his sentence to latch onto, and Gepard regrets not throwing enough kelp at Sampo to knock his human into the water and then he'd probably dunk him into the water repeatedly or something along those lines, he hadn't thought too hard about the finer details of what he'd do if he got him in arm's reach.]
That isn't the important part.
[Can't even fucking deny it, although he'll pretend like he did for the sake of the conversation.]
The important part is that you clearly are an idiot. My idiot, evidently. [This isn't said as a pet name, more like tired, tired resignation as Gepard has a vision of a possible future and it is this: Sampo jumping into the ocean and him having to fish him out and bring him back to shore. It's like feeding a seal and suddenly discovering the seal is following you around. It's like that.]
As by the sounds of it, you'd contrive events so that you'd drown if I didn't show up - again. If I knew how much work you'd be, I'd have left the second I threw your body on the sand.
That isn't the important part.
[Can't even fucking deny it, although he'll pretend like he did for the sake of the conversation.]
The important part is that you clearly are an idiot. My idiot, evidently. [This isn't said as a pet name, more like tired, tired resignation as Gepard has a vision of a possible future and it is this: Sampo jumping into the ocean and him having to fish him out and bring him back to shore. It's like feeding a seal and suddenly discovering the seal is following you around. It's like that.]
As by the sounds of it, you'd contrive events so that you'd drown if I didn't show up - again. If I knew how much work you'd be, I'd have left the second I threw your body on the sand.
[Sampo props his elbows on the table and his chin in his hands and lets Gepard do all the talking, ordering lunch for the both of them. How very manly of you, Gepard, taking the lead and doing everything. Sampo's just here to be the pretty entertainment for the next hour or so!]
[Surely the waitress won't be curious about anything.]
Crystal lizard! I haven't had that in a few years. [Really, the fact that people ate lizard around here isn't the worst part of Belobogian cuisine.] Have you tried any of the new imports? I hear people are getting really excited about citrus.
[It's one part of the importing business that Sampo wants to get into-- getting more of what the galaxy has to offer into Belobog. Not just food and luxury goods, though there's certainly a demand for that, but also the practical things. There's safety equipment that would make geomarrow mining less risky and more efficient, new building materials with better insulation, medicines that could treat what was previously untreatable. Sure, a lot of this could be procured through IPC channels, but Belobog has a few very good reasons to not want the IPC to have a foothold on their planet. And that's where smaller merchants like good ol' Sampo Koski come in.]
It must be exciting! There are so many new things coming in every day.
[Surely the waitress won't be curious about anything.]
Crystal lizard! I haven't had that in a few years. [Really, the fact that people ate lizard around here isn't the worst part of Belobogian cuisine.] Have you tried any of the new imports? I hear people are getting really excited about citrus.
[It's one part of the importing business that Sampo wants to get into-- getting more of what the galaxy has to offer into Belobog. Not just food and luxury goods, though there's certainly a demand for that, but also the practical things. There's safety equipment that would make geomarrow mining less risky and more efficient, new building materials with better insulation, medicines that could treat what was previously untreatable. Sure, a lot of this could be procured through IPC channels, but Belobog has a few very good reasons to not want the IPC to have a foothold on their planet. And that's where smaller merchants like good ol' Sampo Koski come in.]
It must be exciting! There are so many new things coming in every day.
[His idiot. Careful, Gepard, pretty soon it'll be my idiot (affectionate), and you won't know how you got there. Like boiling a frog, small incremental changes until you're boiling in your own stupid affection for a dumbass.]
Is that how all of this works? If I throw myself in the ocean, will you be there to catch me?
[How romantic! And very practical, if he ever takes another ocean voyage, it would be great to know that he's got an on-call rescue. Instant rescue, just add water.]
[And, as though to really prove that he's Gepard's idiot, Sampo gets onto his knees and leans out over the dock, far enough to be precarious. If he throws himself into the water, Gepard, will you catch him? Will you wrap your manly arms around him and bring him back to shore?]
Is that how all of this works? If I throw myself in the ocean, will you be there to catch me?
[How romantic! And very practical, if he ever takes another ocean voyage, it would be great to know that he's got an on-call rescue. Instant rescue, just add water.]
[And, as though to really prove that he's Gepard's idiot, Sampo gets onto his knees and leans out over the dock, far enough to be precarious. If he throws himself into the water, Gepard, will you catch him? Will you wrap your manly arms around him and bring him back to shore?]
[There's nothing to be curious about. No tension, winding as tight as a violin string, threatening to snap. Nothing. Just two men, one of them ever so slightly relaxing as Sampo sounds like he approves of crystal lizard...? They can trade sandwich halves.
It is exciting, but also makes him feel like a relic of the past, sometimes, standing still as the universe moves on without him. Sampo doesn't need to know that. What he needs to know is...]
I don't know how I lived life without lemons. Easily purchasable lemons, no less. It likely seems silly to you. [Someone who walked the stars and is coming back just for a quick visit to Belobog before he saunters off again.] But it made it seem like our efforts were worthwhile just seeing something as simple as that become so common to so many people.
It is exciting, but also makes him feel like a relic of the past, sometimes, standing still as the universe moves on without him. Sampo doesn't need to know that. What he needs to know is...]
I don't know how I lived life without lemons. Easily purchasable lemons, no less. It likely seems silly to you. [Someone who walked the stars and is coming back just for a quick visit to Belobog before he saunters off again.] But it made it seem like our efforts were worthwhile just seeing something as simple as that become so common to so many people.
No.
[His fins are fluttering, agitated, and Gepard's shifting in the water, angling himself better on the off chance Sampo throws himself off of the dock and needs to be caught in some manly arms and be brought back to shore. Gepard knows that he should just dive underwater and leave. Maybe splash Sampo in the face as he goes. Make it clear that no, absolutely not. This far, no further. He saved him once, and only once, and he's not someone who Sampo should, could count on for a rescue.
But also...
...also, he doesn't want to leave, and maybe catching Sampo in his manly arms and taking him gently back to shore does sound nice, actually- even if he shouldn't, and they shouldn't, and he should confess his crimes when he gets home and let them jail him. (But if he does that, something might happen to Sampo.)]
The ocean is a large place. There's no way I can promise to be there all the time. Get back on the dock before someone sees you and wonders what you're doing.
[His fins are fluttering, agitated, and Gepard's shifting in the water, angling himself better on the off chance Sampo throws himself off of the dock and needs to be caught in some manly arms and be brought back to shore. Gepard knows that he should just dive underwater and leave. Maybe splash Sampo in the face as he goes. Make it clear that no, absolutely not. This far, no further. He saved him once, and only once, and he's not someone who Sampo should, could count on for a rescue.
But also...
...also, he doesn't want to leave, and maybe catching Sampo in his manly arms and taking him gently back to shore does sound nice, actually- even if he shouldn't, and they shouldn't, and he should confess his crimes when he gets home and let them jail him. (But if he does that, something might happen to Sampo.)]
The ocean is a large place. There's no way I can promise to be there all the time. Get back on the dock before someone sees you and wonders what you're doing.
[Men named Landau have always chased down what they wanted and captured it, but Sampo's always been the one thing that Gepard has never been able to catch, isn't he?]
[Well, now that he's in Gepard's arms, that's kind of like catching him. But Gepard is very sweet when he's holding Sampo, his hands warm and gentle even through the fabric of Sampo's suit, so very accepting of every kiss that he presses to his face and throat. It's a far cry from what Landau men are supposed to be, all strength and unyielding will, supposed paragons of the Preservation.]
[Sampo drops this paragon of the Preservation's silk tie to the ground, then makes short work of the buttons holding up his starched collar. When they yield, there's even more pale skin for him to kiss; he lays a soft trail over an old scar that runs down the side of Gepard's neck, where some nasty thing must have cut him years ago.]
So you didn't even try? [It's not quite as fun if you throw the match, Gepard.] If you'd won anyway, would you have asked for it?
[His hands drop down to Gepard's vest, making short work of those buttons, too. He's very good at undoing buttons without looking, almost as though he's had practice. (He has, partly because of Gepard. It's why he's so good at removing guard uniforms now, too, from getting the good Captain out of his so many times.)]
I'll give it back when we're done. [Away with the vest, to join the tie on the ground. Sampo tugs Gepard's shirt out of the waistband of his trousers, keeps plowing through those buttons. If there wouldn't be a need to get Gepard back into all of this frippery at the end of their tryst, he might have been tempted to just pull the shirt apart and damn the buttons.] It's a nice medal, I like the ribbon. What was it for?
[What great act of heroism got Gepard Landau a medal with a green ribbon?]
[Well, now that he's in Gepard's arms, that's kind of like catching him. But Gepard is very sweet when he's holding Sampo, his hands warm and gentle even through the fabric of Sampo's suit, so very accepting of every kiss that he presses to his face and throat. It's a far cry from what Landau men are supposed to be, all strength and unyielding will, supposed paragons of the Preservation.]
[Sampo drops this paragon of the Preservation's silk tie to the ground, then makes short work of the buttons holding up his starched collar. When they yield, there's even more pale skin for him to kiss; he lays a soft trail over an old scar that runs down the side of Gepard's neck, where some nasty thing must have cut him years ago.]
So you didn't even try? [It's not quite as fun if you throw the match, Gepard.] If you'd won anyway, would you have asked for it?
[His hands drop down to Gepard's vest, making short work of those buttons, too. He's very good at undoing buttons without looking, almost as though he's had practice. (He has, partly because of Gepard. It's why he's so good at removing guard uniforms now, too, from getting the good Captain out of his so many times.)]
I'll give it back when we're done. [Away with the vest, to join the tie on the ground. Sampo tugs Gepard's shirt out of the waistband of his trousers, keeps plowing through those buttons. If there wouldn't be a need to get Gepard back into all of this frippery at the end of their tryst, he might have been tempted to just pull the shirt apart and damn the buttons.] It's a nice medal, I like the ribbon. What was it for?
[What great act of heroism got Gepard Landau a medal with a green ribbon?]
[It's a cute answer, really. Of all the marvelous bounty of the universe, Gepard comments on the accessibility of lemons. Sure, Sampo had brought up citrus to begin with, but there are a lot of new things coming into Belobog these days. Gepard didn't have to comment on yellow fruit, but here they are.]
I don't think it's silly. There hasn't been a lemon on this planet for over seven hundred years, it's exciting to have them back.
[Now that the Stellaron is gone and the planet can recover from its effects, Belobog will be able to flourish. Maybe neither he nor Gepard will be alive long enough to see a real spring return, but they'll know that their actions were the start of it. Planting seeds in a garden that they'll never see in bloom.]
It was all worth it, wasn't it? Even my little role! [Because he'd never told anyone that the whole thing had been according to his plans-- that old Sampo Koski had set everything into motion and made sure that everyone was in the right place at the right time. He was the stage manager for that production, just there to swap the sets and hand out the right costumes and make sure everyone remembered their lines.] Things are better for everyone, now. And hopefully only going to keep getting better!
I don't think it's silly. There hasn't been a lemon on this planet for over seven hundred years, it's exciting to have them back.
[Now that the Stellaron is gone and the planet can recover from its effects, Belobog will be able to flourish. Maybe neither he nor Gepard will be alive long enough to see a real spring return, but they'll know that their actions were the start of it. Planting seeds in a garden that they'll never see in bloom.]
It was all worth it, wasn't it? Even my little role! [Because he'd never told anyone that the whole thing had been according to his plans-- that old Sampo Koski had set everything into motion and made sure that everyone was in the right place at the right time. He was the stage manager for that production, just there to swap the sets and hand out the right costumes and make sure everyone remembered their lines.] Things are better for everyone, now. And hopefully only going to keep getting better!
I hadn't- [A kiss against an old scar. That's distracting, and his hands clench. He wants nothing more than to rip Sampo's clothes off of him, but, well, Sampo needs to leave. (And, not for the first time, Gepard wonders just how it is that Sampo Koski can run around with cut-outs and shirts which are more suggestions than they are anything covering.)]
I didn't intend on not trying. [His fingers- he forces them to still. This isn't his show, it's Sampo's show, and for once he's going to let him- maybe not for once but it's like a trust fall. Putting your life into someone's hands and letting them do what they will with it. It's that. It's not just about his ass and Sampo's dick, it's about more than that. Maybe.
His eyes close, because Sampo's just too close and he's got questions to answer. His vest is coming off. That's fine.]
It's just that- I realized I didn't mind. Once you had it. [Anyway!] I saved a platoon. Nothing special, but I remembered the medal when you needed something to steal.
I didn't intend on not trying. [His fingers- he forces them to still. This isn't his show, it's Sampo's show, and for once he's going to let him- maybe not for once but it's like a trust fall. Putting your life into someone's hands and letting them do what they will with it. It's that. It's not just about his ass and Sampo's dick, it's about more than that. Maybe.
His eyes close, because Sampo's just too close and he's got questions to answer. His vest is coming off. That's fine.]
It's just that- I realized I didn't mind. Once you had it. [Anyway!] I saved a platoon. Nothing special, but I remembered the medal when you needed something to steal.
[That was...very kind of Sampo, very generous, very surprising, and Gepard's saved from the need to blush by them being given two glasses of water and a pot of coffee. He doesn't know if he's thankful for the distraction, or a little bit perturbed by the look he's given by the waitress. Something...
If he had to describe it, knowing. He'd describe it as knowing, but Gepard reminds himself that he's far away from being a Silvermane Guard and wouldn't know how to read people anymore.
But she leaves, and he's left alone again with Sampo, whose presence seems to fill the space more and more. He's like acid, eating away at enamel, revealing...what? Nothing that's worth revealing.]
That's very optimistic of you. [Kind. But he's not going to say that.] And you had more of a role in things than I did. You actually did something. You were...down there. [Even if his role was a small one, it was larger than his own: Sampo was actually where change was happening. It had been a bitter pill to swallow when Gepard first realized that, but- well. Fatherhood has a way of making men accept things.] I just kept the worst from happening. So you really shouldn't sell yourself short.
If he had to describe it, knowing. He'd describe it as knowing, but Gepard reminds himself that he's far away from being a Silvermane Guard and wouldn't know how to read people anymore.
But she leaves, and he's left alone again with Sampo, whose presence seems to fill the space more and more. He's like acid, eating away at enamel, revealing...what? Nothing that's worth revealing.]
That's very optimistic of you. [Kind. But he's not going to say that.] And you had more of a role in things than I did. You actually did something. You were...down there. [Even if his role was a small one, it was larger than his own: Sampo was actually where change was happening. It had been a bitter pill to swallow when Gepard first realized that, but- well. Fatherhood has a way of making men accept things.] I just kept the worst from happening. So you really shouldn't sell yourself short.
[...the fact that Sampo was still waiting for him, for him, is one of the most unintentionally seductive things anyone could do for him, and he just has to take a moment to, well, take in the fact that Sampo's there. Still there. And the blush on Gepard's cheeks is from the exertion in getting there on time, and the fact his brain needs to reboot is because of how he hurried.
...a breath passes, and his brain reboots.]
I'm sorry I'm late. [Yes, he's thinking again.] By the time I thought I should text you, I was crowded on a bus and could hardly reach for my phone. Coffee sounds nice. If you already got tickets, let me treat you? As an apology for being late.
[There's more questions he has, like...tickets for what, how did Sampo get them, when, what, wha, but one step at a time. They can take things one step at a time.]
...a breath passes, and his brain reboots.]
I'm sorry I'm late. [Yes, he's thinking again.] By the time I thought I should text you, I was crowded on a bus and could hardly reach for my phone. Coffee sounds nice. If you already got tickets, let me treat you? As an apology for being late.
[There's more questions he has, like...tickets for what, how did Sampo get them, when, what, wha, but one step at a time. They can take things one step at a time.]
Don't worry about it! You made it, right? That's all that matters!
[Gepard didn't stand him up, so he doesn't have to go home in defeat like a sadsack with two wasted tickets for the price of one. And he even graciously offers to pay for coffee, like a gentleman. What a nice guy! Sampo really has great taste in men, except that most good men don't have taste that includes Sampo.]
If you pay, consider your apology accepted! [Sampo will never turn down a free coffee. He pulls the door to the coffee shop open, holding for his generous coffee buyer.] After you! We have plenty of time until it closes, but I want to make sure you have all the time in the world to look around.
[It's for his art block, after all. It might take a little while to get over it.]
[Gepard didn't stand him up, so he doesn't have to go home in defeat like a sadsack with two wasted tickets for the price of one. And he even graciously offers to pay for coffee, like a gentleman. What a nice guy! Sampo really has great taste in men, except that most good men don't have taste that includes Sampo.]
If you pay, consider your apology accepted! [Sampo will never turn down a free coffee. He pulls the door to the coffee shop open, holding for his generous coffee buyer.] After you! We have plenty of time until it closes, but I want to make sure you have all the time in the world to look around.
[It's for his art block, after all. It might take a little while to get over it.]
Please take good care of me, then!
[Sampo follows him inside, closing the door behind him. It's warmer inside Gepard's apartment than out of it, and even blood-sucking creatures of the night prefer to be warm.]
Let's get Cosmo set up somewhere nice and sunny. He needs to have a lot of sunlight, or at least as much as you can get in Belobog!
[Which does leave something to be desired, admittedly. That's why most people on this planet have those UV lights that lets them produce enough vitamin D to stave off the vitamin deficiency depression. Can't let your little cactus get sad and die, Gepard.]
[Sampo follows him inside, closing the door behind him. It's warmer inside Gepard's apartment than out of it, and even blood-sucking creatures of the night prefer to be warm.]
Let's get Cosmo set up somewhere nice and sunny. He needs to have a lot of sunlight, or at least as much as you can get in Belobog!
[Which does leave something to be desired, admittedly. That's why most people on this planet have those UV lights that lets them produce enough vitamin D to stave off the vitamin deficiency depression. Can't let your little cactus get sad and die, Gepard.]
[For all his protestations, Gepard moves in the dark water so that he's just in the right spot to catch him if Sampo did decide to throw himself into the ocean. It's sweet, really, that he really is willing to rescue Sampo even if he says that he won't, even if it would potentially put himself in danger. What a dutiful merman! A real catch, you could say.]
[He sits back on his heels, away from the edge. Calm down, fishman, he won't yeet himself to his death just yet.]
You won't follow me wherever I go? Ah, I suppose I can't ask for that kind of devotion just yet! [Sampo what are you talking about.] Maybe I'll have to follow you. Let me think about it.
[Gepard won't have to turn himself over to the merfolk guard for talking to a human if that human doesn't exist anymore, would he? He'd look silly, trying to turn himself in for talking to a human when that human as a fish tail just like him.]
[He sits back on his heels, away from the edge. Calm down, fishman, he won't yeet himself to his death just yet.]
You won't follow me wherever I go? Ah, I suppose I can't ask for that kind of devotion just yet! [Sampo what are you talking about.] Maybe I'll have to follow you. Let me think about it.
[Gepard won't have to turn himself over to the merfolk guard for talking to a human if that human doesn't exist anymore, would he? He'd look silly, trying to turn himself in for talking to a human when that human as a fish tail just like him.]
[Coffee and waters are brought to their table by their curious waitress-- yet another gossipy person in Belobog, no doubt-- and Sampo takes the pot and pours the coffee into both of their mugs. It's steaming hot and smells good and strong, just the pick-me-up that Sampo needs.]
What can I say, I believe in the people of Belobog!
[Not a lie-- he does, he wouldn't have spent so much time and energy working towards their happy ending if he didn't have a great fondness for this city and the people in it.]
Praise, from you! Is it Sampo's birthday? [He laughs and brings the steaming mug of coffee to his lips, taking a sip.] I didn't do it for the praise, but it is nice to hear. I was just a minor player, but I hope that I made a difference!
[There's some amusement to be had in knowing the truth, and there's also part of him that almost wants to tell the whole of it to Gepard. Not for recognition, but because even though Sampo had seemed calm and casual during the crisis, it hadn't been all sunshine and roses-- it was hard, and there were moments of real, gut-wrenching fear that he had played his hand wrong, or steered people in the wrong direction. Those moments where he watched the Nameless head off towards their fight with Cocolia, unsure of whether they were really ready to face her and if they weren't, if he'd be able to intervene in time to save them. He'd had to juggle a hundred moving parts all at once, and if he let any of them fall, everything could've ended in ruin.]
[He thinks Gepard might get that. The way that feels, and how those moments can eat a hole in your stomach like acid.]
[But he smiles, instead, and deflects from his true role in all of it. Because even if he has the temptation to spill his guts, Gepard only barely tolerates him. He'll have to rank up higher on the friendship track for Sampo Koski before he gets those kinds of stories!]
Speaking of my bit parts, I think I had more to tell you about the Luofu, didn't I?
What can I say, I believe in the people of Belobog!
[Not a lie-- he does, he wouldn't have spent so much time and energy working towards their happy ending if he didn't have a great fondness for this city and the people in it.]
Praise, from you! Is it Sampo's birthday? [He laughs and brings the steaming mug of coffee to his lips, taking a sip.] I didn't do it for the praise, but it is nice to hear. I was just a minor player, but I hope that I made a difference!
[There's some amusement to be had in knowing the truth, and there's also part of him that almost wants to tell the whole of it to Gepard. Not for recognition, but because even though Sampo had seemed calm and casual during the crisis, it hadn't been all sunshine and roses-- it was hard, and there were moments of real, gut-wrenching fear that he had played his hand wrong, or steered people in the wrong direction. Those moments where he watched the Nameless head off towards their fight with Cocolia, unsure of whether they were really ready to face her and if they weren't, if he'd be able to intervene in time to save them. He'd had to juggle a hundred moving parts all at once, and if he let any of them fall, everything could've ended in ruin.]
[He thinks Gepard might get that. The way that feels, and how those moments can eat a hole in your stomach like acid.]
[But he smiles, instead, and deflects from his true role in all of it. Because even if he has the temptation to spill his guts, Gepard only barely tolerates him. He'll have to rank up higher on the friendship track for Sampo Koski before he gets those kinds of stories!]
Speaking of my bit parts, I think I had more to tell you about the Luofu, didn't I?
You can only do that if you drown, and the point of all of this is to keep you alive.
[He flicks up his tail, flicks a bit of water in Sampo's way...not too much, mere droplets, just the implication of a threat. He can - and will - splash him, he won't hesitate, bitch.]
Now, I really do have to go. I don't know when I can see you again.
[...but, ah, this is his idiot, and he's got a responsibility towards his idiot and he hesitated- hesitating was a mistake. He hesitated on the beach, and he's hesitating now. Gepard's voice softens ever so slightly-]
I'll leave a sign so you know I've found your cove.
[He flicks up his tail, flicks a bit of water in Sampo's way...not too much, mere droplets, just the implication of a threat. He can - and will - splash him, he won't hesitate, bitch.]
Now, I really do have to go. I don't know when I can see you again.
[...but, ah, this is his idiot, and he's got a responsibility towards his idiot and he hesitated- hesitating was a mistake. He hesitated on the beach, and he's hesitating now. Gepard's voice softens ever so slightly-]
I'll leave a sign so you know I've found your cove.
[He rolls his eyes, he makes a face, he's a proper audience to Sampo's exaggerations and half-truths and blatant lies. For one thing, he absolutely did not praise him in any way that matters. It was just a pleasantry.
Gepard takes a sip of the coffee. Warm. Black. Bracing.]
You were telling me about the Luofu. [His voice sounds a bit more eager than he likes. Which doesn't say much, because any degree of enthusiasm is more eager than Gepard would like.] You left your story unfinished.
Gepard takes a sip of the coffee. Warm. Black. Bracing.]
You were telling me about the Luofu. [His voice sounds a bit more eager than he likes. Which doesn't say much, because any degree of enthusiasm is more eager than Gepard would like.] You left your story unfinished.
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