I Will Be Ok...

They’ll have to:

Rate on a scale of 1-10 how much they don’t want to answer that question.

Though -- both ain't Neva hurt nothin' neitha~"

"Depending on who you ask, I've been called both, and I'm always up for either,"

He didn't mind it though. In fact he quite appreciated it.

"Why not both?" he considered with a smirk

“That’s true, no one suspects that pretty things have thorns as well,”

Finally someone understood, it felt like someone else was speaking the same language as Stolas for the first time in his entire life, it was more…. incredible…. than he had ever thought it could be, to feel like he was being seen for the first time….

“Striker… what a catching name,” Stolas breathed, nearly falling apart in the imp’s hands, as smooth as melted butter, he had never been showered in compliments like this-… or…. complimented at all really…. and every word was like the world’s most gorgeous opera to his ears

“My goodness…. you certainly know how to make a man feel special, don’t you?” he breathed in return, holding onto Striker’s hand a little tighter than he would have with anyone else, nearly falling into the imp’s arms, like a swooning flamingo

“I….. well…. I wouldn’t really say that,” he confessed softly, it wasn’t like he usually made his failing marriage anyone else’s business- least of all that of a stranger, but it felt like Striker was…. flirting.…. and Stolas was starving for any hint of positive attention, desperate to feed into the first offering of what felt like affection for the first time since Blitz.. years ago.…

“I haven’t had anyone caring for me since I was a child, and even that was only the family butler,” he noted softly, reluctantly pulling away as well and returning his attention to the orchids, even though the only thing he wanted to pay attention to was Striker

He had to take it carefully, be soft and gentle, and not aggressive, knowing even the thirsty man would question why the water was free when nothing truly came without a catch. “Ya prove that pretty flowers can bloom in the harshest environments, sorry to hear ya life haven’t been kind to ya.”

Re-potting the plants into the soil would take no time at all, but he deliberately moved slowly, making it seem like he was doing his best to make it perfect for the plants, the longer he was there, the better his chances were to get them on his side, not that he imagined they needed much persuasion, but anything he could do to keep them from getting suspicious was good in his book, he didn’t mind taking it slow.

“It’s a shame that a lot of royals decide ta’ not care about other folks to the point that they even do it to their kids… Ya butler didn’t happen to be an imp, was he?” He had no idea if this was the case, but he knew well enough a lot of imps would be blessed to have a position like that, with better pay and protection, they were assured better status in the community, even if they were rarely seen from beside the paycheck to their family.

“Ya got a butler these days? Perhaps someone who tends to ya like you do the plants?” He’d make an obvious point in eyeing them up and down with a smile. “Ya look healthy, well taken care of, well rounded and strong, if ya doin’ it all by yourself ah would strongly suggest gettin’ someone to take care of ya, can’t imagine all the work you put into bein’ that pretty.”

"It's alright, I know that I'm luckier than most," Stolas said softly, his face still quite pink, Striker's flattery never failing to make his heart flutter

He knew that, ofcourse, he knew how lucky he was, that people who said things like "money can't buy happiness" were fools.... but also that they were correct

Money couldn't buy happiness, Stolas was proof of that, but it could buy better stability than childish ideals and fairytale dreams could, and it was hell, was anyone really happy here? He had come to terms with that thought long ago, he had made peace with "happiness" being the ability to get by and not much else, but Striker was starting to pull at that very loose, very sloppily held together thread....

And for as much as Stolas loved the compliments and the flirting, it was the care that Striker was taking with the plants that had Stolas's attention the most- the obvious gentleness he used, the fact that he seemed more interested in making sure that they were secure in their new homes than he was about hurrying out onto his next job or errand or way home, that delicate nature was such a rare find, and Stolas very much

"Actually he was yes, how did you know?" Stolas asked in surprise, although he supposed it shouldn't have been that much of a surprise, this was the Pride Ring after all, imps were the most common hellborn species here- he supposed it could have been just as possible that his butler could have been a sinner....

"Sadly no, I mean... technically we have family butlers but I have no one personally, and Stella tends to..... monopolize.... the family butlers for herself...."

That was to say that they were kept near her for ease of becoming a punching bag whenever she wanted one, Stolas despised that fact, but the only thing he could do to protect them was to put himself in the way of her abuse himself and...... he was already doing that enough as it was.....

Stolas gave a soft, chirping laugh, twirling a few of his feathers shyly

"You're so sweet, honestly since having my daughter, I can't remember the last time I really thought about my appearance, beyond the basics... though I do wish that I had someone to... to care for me.... and maybe who I could care for in return..."

Was he giving too much away? Implying too much? Probably, almost certainly, but the words were slipping out without him quite managing to stop them

Though -- both ain't Neva hurt nothin' neitha~"

"Depending on who you ask, I've been called both, and I'm always up for either,"