chivalry isn't dead

“Well… that’s a bit embarrassing for you.”

"Shut up," he said with no heat and a smile, "At least I tried," he added with a laugh.

Cameron lifted his head when he heard the knock on his door but sat up when Asher came in before he'd had a chance to answer. Putting his book on his nightstand, he swung his legs off his bed so he sat on the edge of it. "Is everything ok?" he asked with concern when seeing how the other man seemed to struggle with his words. His expression took on a note of confusion when he continued. "Time for what?"

Asher had gone in with a purpose. An important purpose, but now he stood there dumbly staring at Cameron and his state of undress. "By the angel..." He gulped. Brain now mush. Complete and utter mush. Stupid hormones. At the question, he just blinked at Cameron, thoroughly confused. "Huh? What?" As the haze began to fade and his wits came back to him, he straightened. "Oh! Right. Erm..." He turned bright red. Having rehearsed this conversation so many times in his head, he'd completed forgotten which line he'd decided on. "I think it's time we went on a date. An honest to goodness date."

His look of confusion transformed as Asher's purpose for coming here became apparent. A grin spreading over his features. But he schooled it into mock seriousness before answering. "I think you're right. It's absolutely time," getting up off the bed, he walked over to the other nephilim. "How about right now?"

@cameronscodeofconduct

Cameron lifted his head when he heard the knock on his door but sat up when Asher came in before he'd had a chance to answer. Putting his book on his nightstand, he swung his legs off his bed so he sat on the edge of it. "Is everything ok?" he asked with concern when seeing how the other man seemed to struggle with his words. His expression took on a note of confusion when he continued. "Time for what?"

His lips parted slightly in surprise at the question. But as Asher continued on the look of surprise transformed into a fond smile. "You mean to say, that you like me romantically?" he asked in return for clarification. It was an effort not to hold his breath as he waited for the answer.

Asher puffed out a breath. "Well obviously. And you aren't exactly doing anything to dissuade me. What will your mannerisms and charm. Though I would expect that is all normal for you." He replied, crossing his arms. "I'm hardly immune to a handsome face." Somehow, without realizing it had happened, Asher had gotten to the point of pleasantly buzzed. And it seemed to have loosened his tongue. Which he was going to agonize about later, but right now, not so much. "Well..." He asked expectantly. "What've you got to say for yourself?"

He'd hoped of course that he wasn't falling alone here, that Asher was feeling it too. And hearing that exactly that might well be the case was making him feel pleasantly lightheaded even though he hadn't had a drop of alcohol. "Well..." he started his answer by repeating the start of Asher's question. And as he did he reached for the other boys crossed arms and extracted one of his hands. Lacing his fingers through his. "I do like you romantically. And I know you said no one courts anymore but I'd still like to court you. So I'd like to take you out to dinner the next time we have the same night off. And I'd like to spend more time with you. And right now, I'd like very much to dance with you,"

"You could be right," Cameron agreed. All sorts of dirty. He had to actually bite the inside of his cheek to stop his face giving away the utterly filthy thought that invaded his mind at the comment from Asher. Had to clear his throat to try and clear the imagine that accompanied it. Because his intentions, his hopes, for Asher were far more gentlemanly than that. Well.....most of them anyway. "Of course I'm sure, why wouldn't I be?" he asked, his gaze searching the other mans.

Asher got lost staring at Cameron for a moment. Studying the handsome features of his face. There was a heaviness in the air, like Asher was clearly missing something. Which, wasn't that strange really. Asher missed a lot these days. But, a thought occurred to him and he couldn't help but just blurt it out. "Do you like me, Cameron?" Wincing he laughed a little at himself. "Well...obviously. That came out rather odd, didn't it?" He sighed heavily, and tried again. "I mean...like me in the way that people like you before they court you. Which is really silly actually. No one courts anyone these days. But if that's your intent, you really shouldn't. Because I like you just fine without all that rubbish." Once he'd finished his ramble, Asher felt very small. Like he ought to turn tail and run. Why were things like this always easier for Felix to handle then him?

His lips parted slightly in surprise at the question. But as Asher continued on the look of surprise transformed into a fond smile. "You mean to say, that you like me romantically?" he asked in return for clarification. It was an effort not to hold his breath as he waited for the answer.

His gaze seemed to catch on the other mans eyes. Noticing the different shades that made up his eye colour. The spell was only broken when Asher spoke again. Cameron laughed, "More crouching I'd say. Although I wouldn't be opposed to rolling about on the floor with you. Just maybe not in public," he winked at Asher before standing up. When he'd straightened to his full height he stopped to offer his free hand to the other nephilim. He was a little surprised at himself for making such a comment when he didn't even know if Asher was interested in him like that. Clearly he'd been spending too much time with Odette and Taryn. The same waiter he'd snagged the napkin from had clearly when watching all of this because he now appeared to take the napkin of broken pieces away. "Oh, thank you," Cameron said with a polite smile. When he turned back to Asher he paused a moment before saying, with a far less playful and much more sincere tone than his last comment, "Will you dance with me?"

Asher blinked owlishly at him for a long moment. As if trying to decipher if he'd heard what he'd thought he'd heard. "Well goodness...." He exhaled. "Then we'd be all sorts of dirty wouldn't we?" His cheeks were very, very pink. It was an odd thing. To be flirted with. Asher wasn't usually the one being flirted with. If that was even what was happening here. His throat went dry when Cameron's gaze fell back on him. It wasn't the words exactly that startled him, but the tone behind them. Shivering a little, he gulped. "Me? Are you sure? I'll likely just step all over your toes. And that'll scuff up your boots."

"You could be right," Cameron agreed. All sorts of dirty. He had to actually bite the inside of his cheek to stop his face giving away the utterly filthy thought that invaded his mind at the comment from Asher. Had to clear his throat to try and clear the imagine that accompanied it. Because his intentions, his hopes, for Asher were far more gentlemanly than that. Well.....most of them anyway. "Of course I'm sure, why wouldn't I be?" he asked, his gaze searching the other mans.

"I won't," he insisted, catching Asher's wrist before he could reach for the broken pieces. He couldn't help but smile at the concern the other nephilim was showing for him. "That's what the napkin is for," he let go of Asher's wrist and used the cloth napkin to sweep the pieces into a pile, "See," Cameron added as he scooped the shards up carefully with the napkin. "Perfectly fine," he lift his gaze to look at the other man, only now really realising how close they were. "Your concern is appreciated though,"

At Cameron's touch, Asher deflated a bit. He watched warily as the other nephilim very carefully scooped up the glass. Then feeling sort of foolish for freaking out so badly, he ducked his head to hide his flush. "Erm....right." He mumbled. Asher found himself looking up again, close enough to have a lovely introduction to Cameron's handsome face. He puffed out a breath, but didn't think he could have moved even if he'd wanted to, which he didn't. "Oh bother..." He repeated his earlier sentiment. "Now we're both rolling about on the floor."

His gaze seemed to catch on the other mans eyes. Noticing the different shades that made up his eye colour. The spell was only broken when Asher spoke again. Cameron laughed, "More crouching I'd say. Although I wouldn't be opposed to rolling about on the floor with you. Just maybe not in public," he winked at Asher before standing up. When he'd straightened to his full height he stopped to offer his free hand to the other nephilim. He was a little surprised at himself for making such a comment when he didn't even know if Asher was interested in him like that. Clearly he'd been spending too much time with Odette and Taryn. The same waiter he'd snagged the napkin from had clearly when watching all of this because he now appeared to take the napkin of broken pieces away. "Oh, thank you," Cameron said with a polite smile. When he turned back to Asher he paused a moment before saying, with a far less playful and much more sincere tone than his last comment, "Will you dance with me?"

Cameron, who had been on his way over to Asher anyway, grabbed a cloth napkin from a waiter. "I got it," he said, crouching down and carefully scooping up the broken pieces into the napkin.

At the sight of Cameron, Asher squeaked. "Cameron! Oh no!" He scrambled down to the floor with him to help. "You'll hurt yourself! What are you thinking of?"

"I won't," he insisted, catching Asher's wrist before he could reach for the broken pieces. He couldn't help but smile at the concern the other nephilim was showing for him. "That's what the napkin is for," he let go of Asher's wrist and used the cloth napkin to sweep the pieces into a pile, "See," Cameron added as he scooped the shards up carefully with the napkin. "Perfectly fine," he lift his gaze to look at the other man, only now really realising how close they were. "Your concern is appreciated though,"

He sighed forlornly down at the broken flask at his feet. “Well… this certainly bodes poorly for the rest of the evening.”

Cameron, who had been on his way over to Asher anyway, grabbed a cloth napkin from a waiter. "I got it," he said, crouching down and carefully scooping up the broken pieces into the napkin.

"Well that's a relief," he admitted. Part of him had worried that Asher had picked up on his flirting with him and that he hadn't like it. "Ah," Cameron nodded his understanding. "I have had a lot to do. But getting to know people....getting to know you, was the thing I was most looking forward to,"

"Me?" Asher asked in disbelief. He opened his mouth again to object, but then closed it again. Truthfully, he'd never considered the idea someone would take that much of an interest in him. It brought a rosy sheen to his skin. "Oh...bullocks." He puffed out. "Now I've made myself look like a terribly oblivious sort of person, haven't I?"

Cameron watched the disbelief play on Asher's face. The blush that followed it. A small, amused smile tugged at his lips at his response when it came. "Don't beat yourself up about it," he said with a light shake of his head. "I thought I'd been too obvious but maybe I wasn't obvious enough," Cameron mused, almost half to himself. There was a brief moment where he just stared at Asher. He looked away when he realised what he was doing. There was just something about him that had completely grabbed his attention. And refused to let go. "Just so we're clear - I'd like to spend time with you," he looked back at him, "I'd like to get to know you more Asher. If that's ok with you?"

"No." He replied a little uneasily. "Why would I be avoiding you?"

"I don't know," he shrugged, sitting down a little way away from him, "It just feels like you are and I was worried maybe I'd done something to offend you,"

Asher frowned as Cameron seated himself. “Well no. Of course you didn’t.” He replied a little perplexed. The idea of someone other than Gwaine worrying after him was a little disarming. He slumped a bit. “I don’t mean to. Be aloof I mean. I just sort of figured you’d have a lot to do. With just getting back and all.”

"Well that's a relief," he admitted. Part of him had worried that Asher had picked up on his flirting with him and that he hadn't like it. "Ah," Cameron nodded his understanding. "I have had a lot to do. But getting to know people....getting to know you, was the thing I was most looking forward to,"

"No." He replied a little uneasily. "Why would I be avoiding you?"

"I don't know," he shrugged, sitting down a little way away from him, "It just feels like you are and I was worried maybe I'd done something to offend you,"

"I'm going stir crazy. Hayden won't let me leave the Institute much until I can walk without the cane."

"That's really tough. Have you got any idea how long it will be?"

"You try getting two hours of sleep, going on morning patrol, then training for an hour and not get tired. I promise it's pretty impossible," she retorted from her spot on the floor.

"Sounds like it's time to call it a day then. When are you next on patrol?"

His shoulders slumped a bit. "I do hope you aren't of the troublesome sort...because we've had quite a bit much of that lately." He admitted, though it felt wrong to be saying so.

"So I've heard but rest assured I'm no trouble maker. And I certainly wouldn't want to put any more on Hayden's plate." He considered the other nephilim for a moment, "How have you been finding it all, everything that's been happening?"

Asher appreciated the sentiment, and smiled at him for it. The question though, sort of evened it out. “Me?” He took a breath. “Well… it’s sort of jolting, isn’t it? Though I suppose it really shouldn’t be. Blood and gore and things. We’re demon hunters so that’s all pretty typical. But…” he shrugged a little helplessly. “I’ve never been a particularly good shadowhunter. In most areas of it all. So I suppose I find it all very unsettling.” He settled on. “Yes. Unsettling.”

Cameron nodded his understanding. He could see how it had been. Especially if he hadn't been exposed to that level of things before. Hunting demons was one thing. Dealing with supernaturals could be quite another. And seeing one of your own so gravely injured was yet another thing entirely. "What makes you say you're not a good shadowhunter?" he asked curiously, a light frown creasing his brow.

The second question startled him a bit. Color darkened his cheeks. He’d caught that part it seemed. “Erm..” he swallowed. “Well… I don’t suppose I exactly like it. You know creeping about in the night and killing things. Though, not because I think it’s wrong to kill demons. I really, really don’t care for them but… the downworlders… well if they aren’t doing anything wrong i don’t see why they can’t just be left alone. Why we all can’t just get along.” It was an awful lot to say about a topic he hadn’t intended on speaking about. But still. His flush deepened further. “Please don’t tell Hayden. He’d likely toss me out for saying such things.”

He watched as colour stained the other mans cheeks. Maybe he hadn't been meant to comment on that. But it was the sort of thing he couldn't ignore. "I don't think Hayden would do that," he reassured him. "From what I remember of Ava she's pretty pro downworlder. I don't think he'd be with her if he had an issue with it. So I think you're safe. But all the same I won't tell anyone, promise," putting his hand over his heart as he said it. He considered what he'd said though. Cameron didn't judge him for it. For how he felt. Not in the slightest. But he did want to understand. "Isn't that how it is though? We leave them alone unless we have reason not to. Only go after them if they've broken the law. It's not like the mundane police force is equipped to deal with them," he watched him, genuinely interested in what his reply would be. "I suppose in the grand scheme of things though, things are only just starting to change. Old animosities are bound to take time to fade, given what we've done to them historically,"

Cameron wrapped her up in a big hug in return. He really had missed her. "Well I'm sorry I didn't come back sooner," the original plan had been for just a year away but then he'd met his now parabatai and it had been extended to two. "I would have enjoyed watching you fawning over this Finn I think," he teased.

"Don't be silly, you met Taryn, and that's a good reason to extend your trip. I like her, she seems feisty," Odette noted with a playful wiggle of her shoulders. "Hmm, if his brother is to be believed, we both were fairly obvious to everyone but each other."

He laughed at her assessment of his parabatai. "If you ever need someone to back up up in a bar fight or take someone down a peg or two for you, then she's your girl," he said fondly. And he was glad Odette liked her. He'd been hoping they'd get along. "Really?" he grinned, "I really am sorry to have missed it then," he chuckled. "You really like him, huh?" he said, seeing how happy she seemed to be when she spoke about him.

"I've missed you lot too," Cameron admitted. "And it does feel good to be home. Weird but good. Can't believe how many new people there is,"

"Yeah, quite a lot of new faces to come back to, but only good ones. And Odette and Hayden are even involved with two of them," she said with a cheeky grin. "Although I'm sure she probably told you about Finn."

"I'm glad to hear it," he said of her declaration that it was only good ones. He mirrored her grin as she continued. "Yes she did. The charming Englishman. And Hayden's with his sister right? Must be quite the family,"