when the dust settles...

"You really are somethin'..." Boothill would begin, happy to scoot over close enough that their thighs were pressed together and bringing Jing Yuan in by the hand cupped around his face so that their foreheads would do the same with a bright, shark-like grin on his face.

"Can't say I'll be able t'give ya everything an other fella could 'cause some things just ain't in the cards for a guy like me. I ain't warm to the touch, if ya rest your pretty lil' head on my chest it ain't gonna feel like a cushy down pillow, and my hugs ain't all that comfy either, but I'll do everythin' in my fuckin' power t'make ya happy, that much I can promise." The Galaxy Ranger continued, his smile growing softer around the edges as he gradually leaned in that much closer with every word until he ended his declaration with a kiss. It wasn't all that much grander than the peck Jing Yuan had left him, but he tried his damndest to put all of his sincere intention in the press of his lips against the General's.

when boothill pulled back, jing yuan found himself unwilling to let the distance grow too far. his hand came up to rest against the ranger's chest— not warm, no, but solid and real and there. the lack of a heartbeat beneath his palm didn't bother him in the slightest, even when anyone else would find it strange.

' you need not apologize— i'm quite fond of you just as you are. ' his voice carried the very same unguarded quality it had held all evening. the alcohol had long since stopped being an excuse for his honesty, and perhaps had long since left his senses from feeling that pleasant buzz he'd felt earlier. ' flesh and blood or metal and synth... it makes no difference to me. ' his thumb traced an absent pattern against boothill's chest, golden eyes meeting the ranger's to subtly reassure him without saying as much.

his fingers moved from boothill's chest to curl loosely in the fabric of his jacket. ' as for being a proper gentleman... ' there was amusement in his tone now, mixed with something warmer. ' i'm in no great hurry. perhaps in taking things slowly, i'll get to see even more charming sides of you in action. '

Though, before he could say as much, Boothill found himself stunned into silence by a pair of lips on his own. It was simple, and far too quick for his liking, but as the man next to him pulled away looking every bit like the cat that got the cream, a hearty laugh spilled out of the cowboy as he grinned from ear to ear.

"Now what's all this 'bout gettin' even huh? Tryin' t'get one over on me? Well, I'll have ya know the only reason I hadn't beat'cha to the punch is 'cause I felt like bein' a proper fuckin' gentleman." Boothill explained, not a hint of hesitation present as he leaned right back into Jing Yuan's space. "Ain't never had a problem lettin' anyone know what I want, but ya ain't just anyone are ya, Handsome? Now you best take a second t'think real hard 'bout this decision, 'cause we both know takin' this dive'll bring you a lot more heat than me if any motherfuckers who got it out for me catch a whiff o' all this."

Because as much as Boothill wanted- and wanted it so damn bad- he wasn't the type to go turning the life of someone he liked upside down on a whim. He had a lot of enemies, some of which were allies of the Xianzhou, which meant wanting just wasn't enough.

with boothill, every action he took was entirely his own. every leap he took before looking, every subsequent visit to the xianzhou since they'd met, and even the gentle way his fingers arranged his hair so he could see the truth behind his eyes. it was all so incredibly endearing and ultimately refreshing that jing yuan wondered if he could simply take what he wanted for himself in the same way boothill did.

' i'd be damed honored t'be by your side. '

it was so genuine and thoughtful— a way of laying his cards out on the table that jing yuan had never experienced before.

' if i did get one over on you, what would you do, then? '

it's something he couldn't help but ask aloud in the hope that boothill might take the leap of faith and quit being a proper fuckin' gentleman and kiss him like he said he would.

now, all that was left was for the general to lay his cards out, too. the only trouble was that every word lay trapped behind the lump in his throat. how could someone with such little experience with expressing the genuine nature of his feelings hope to convey how much he wanted boothill by his side. even now as he toyed with his hair and touched his face so delicately, how could he tell him that he'd desired to be as wild and free as bootill was in his youth, and that same fire ignited by the desire for freedom still burned brightly, yet remained trapped within the sort of cell that wouldn't allow its escape?

' i don't want uncomplicated. i don't want to try this out. '

in fact, he'd given perhaps a bit too much thought as to how they'd work out. someone would see him happy with boothill and tell someone. that someone would assuredly tell someone else more important. that someone else with greater rank would no doubt make it their business to either intervene in his affairs or try to leverage the situation to their favor. in all the ways he attempted to move the pieces around the board, jing yuan could not find a single strategy where his was the victory. for once, he was okay with that. taking the heat for someone he selfishly desired was well worth the sacrifice.

jing yuan took the hand that carefully traced the line of his jaw and held it so he could lean in, resting his face into the palm of his hand so he could say what no drink could ever truly help him say;

i will make more angry jing yuan

"Hm. It seems Ms. Lauma is headed in the direction of the Curatorium of Secrets. I wonder why that could be. Thoughts, Sir Varka?" To any outside observer that wasn't familiar with the Lantern Fae such words would seem like a mere observation, but with the gentle nudge of his elbow against Varka's own and how careful assessment could catch the hint of mirth in yellow eyes as well as the barest hint of a smile, it would be apparent Flins was absolutely teasing him. For all that Flins could and would acknowledge that the Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius was a highly intelligent and capable man, it was an endless source of amusement to the Lightkeepter that some social cues and matters of the heart seemed to elude him entirely.

' the curatorium? ' he muttered thoughtfully, genuinely trying to parse out what significance flins was drawing his attention to. ' perhaps she has business there. research, maybe. or… '

' ahh— ' suddenly, understanding flooded the depths of his confusion.

his hand came up to rub at the back of his neck, a sheepish gesture that all but confirmed his previous lack of understanding. ' you're talking about— right. ' although the second comment about companionship landed with more clarity, varka found himself uncertain of how to respond. was he making an observation, or comparison? in truth, the grandmaster quite enjoyed the time they'd been able to spend together.. so perhaps the comparison was fair enough.

"No problems findin' my way around, but if risin' early's a fault then I'm guessin' you're the type that likes t' take yer time gettin' up. I can respect it as long as ya get done what needs t'be done, but truth be told I don't really sleep all that much. No real point when most o' my parts ain't needin' what they used to back when they were flesh n' bone." The Galaxy Ranger responded with a shrug, making a vague gesture toward his cybernetic body. A lot of cons came with the decision to augment his body to this degree, but it's not like he would've ever made a different decision.

' taking my time in the morning is.. an accurate assessment. ' there was a hint of amusement in his tone as he lifted his glass, examining the amber liquid within before his gaze returned to boothill. ' though in my defense, i trust that my subordinates can manage without me for an hour or two. '

the comment about boothill's body— the lack of need for sleep and the casual mention of flesh and bone lost to augmentation settled between them with weight the ranger himself seemed unbothered by. jing yuan filed the information away carefully, as he did with all things that might prove relevant later.

' your directness is far more refreshing than offensive, ' he assured, his smile taking on a quality that was perhaps more genuine than the carefully constructed pleasantries he usually wore. ' in fact, i find it rather.. appealing. the xianzhou is full of those who speak in circles and bury their meaning beneath layers of courtesy and implication. it grows tiresome after the first few centuries. '

"Perhaps." Boothill couldn't help but think he'd found himself in the company of a rather strange fella, but that's what made life so interesting sometimes in his line of work. You never knew what kind of people you were gonna run across, both friend and foe alike, and sometimes it was fun figuring out all the nitty gritty of it: like how this guy looked about as worn out as they come but still had that spark of something special in his eyes that had the cowboy wanting to find out more as he found himself following him who knows where.

' we've not shared one drink together yet and you've already begun dissecting my possible faults? ' though the general may have put up a good front, brows raised in question inlaid with a hint of teasing that was his trademark, he could only watch with fleeting golden eyes as boothill continued to analyze him in search of anything might make him less than perfect in his eyes.

while the bar bustled with people coming in and out, drinks spilling out of the cups of more rambunctious patrons, jing yuan lead boothill to a booth with a glance of his typical bartender— a pleasant nod cast his way to get their first round started after they were seated.

& back to the topic at hand; ' hm.. i suppose the part about snoring wouldn't be too much of a stretch. ' the general's smile only grew more playful as the words were spoken.