workingslacker | (no subject)

[ Then Sylvain should strive to control himself... Yeah that's probably not going to happen. ]

Admiration doesn't mean that they get jealous.

[ Pfffft. Did you find a power that grants you impossible wishes along your journey, Cale? because otherwise, you're gonna need a djinni to grant that one.

Also. How are you this obtuse? Honestly. Especially after all that time in a sex resort. ]

I'm not talking about admiration.

[ Well, he had gotten what he had needed at the Resort. However, it really had been more about raising his rank than, you know. Actually seeking out meaningful connections ~~that was a side effect~~ or pleasure seeking. ]

...You're serious. [ Sylvain... ] You can't possibly think that it's more than admiration or being overly protective.

[ Sylvain just… buries his face in his hands with a strangled groan. ]

I thought you were supposed to be the smart and observant one. How have you not picked up on this? Even the puppy has a crush on you!

[ Does that mean that Cale can maybe try to squirm a bit so Sylvain will pull out? Because nothing holding him now! ]

Puppy? Who is the puppy?

[ His arms are quick enough to wrap back around Cale’s waist and drag him snugly back against his chest, even as he gives a bemused snort. ]

The puppy is the puppy. The one who gives you the longing puppy eyes whenever you’re around and follows you around and practically wags his tail whenever he can do something for you. [ A pause, as he thinks that over. ] Wait, that describes a couple of them actually, never mind. I meant the actual beast-like one

[ That's completely unfair. Cale makes a noise and might reflexively squeeze around Sylvain. ]

Lock? No, no. He wouldn't look at me like that. He's far closer to Choi Han or Rosalyn.

[ A huff. ]

Are you sure it's not your possessive nature just seeing things?

[ That just makes him smirk.

Even if he’s just rolling his eyes a moment later. ]

He treats Choi Han and Rosalyn like siblings. Something I understand you also had a hand in, so that makes sense. You, though? It’s somewhere between longing adoration and absolute puppy hero worship.

Choi Han watches you, too. Constantly. If you’re within his line of sight, you’re his whole world. You might as well be the sun in the midst of all of them, because they gravitate around you. I haven’t been able to get a bead on Rosalyn’s feelings yet - she keeps those pretty close to her chest. I suppose it helps that she, at least, didn’t see me as an immediate threat to your affections.

I only sent Choi Han out in that direction. He found them all on his own.

[ Augh, fine. His hands rest on top of Sylvain's. If he has to stay here... ]

Rosalyn and I are very similar. For her, I imagine it would be like trying to get with one of her brothers. [ A shudder ] As for the rest, maybe it's true. I don't think it's about having me the same way that you do.

[ A groan. ]

Augh. Where did I go wrong with all of this.

[ Sylvain just gives Cale a patient - if somewhat exasperated - look. ]

That might be how things initially started. But you’ve failed to factor in the direction things took after that.

Sometimes I think you look at them, and at the situation you’re all in, and you see it this one specific way, shaped in some way I’m still trying to figure out. But I don’t think it quite matches what they see.

[ Cale frowns at that. ]

Not exactly. I know that they somewhat look at things differently than I do. They all believe I am more heroic and selfless than what I really am. At times I just shut my mouth because it feels like no matter how much I try to tell them otherwise, they find a way to spin it on me.

[ Now there’s outright amusement curving across Sylvain’s face as he - barely - stifles a chuckle in response. ]

You know that old saying about how actions speak louder than words? You can tell them that until you’re blue in the face, but I can take a wild guess why you’ll never be very convincing.

[ Cale makes a sound in his throat upon hearing that. He knows it's true, but he doesn't think that anything will actually change either. The people around him are entirely convinced about their perspective. There is no changing their mind? ]

I don't really want to hear it from you...