#decima things

LT: I apologize for neglecting to contact you for so long. But considering current matters, now seemed the perfect time.

BC: That is understandable. I must admit, however, that I do not recognize your tag.

LT: Of course not. We've never spoken, nor have we met. But our interests overlap. Specifically, your interest in prosthetic.

BC: I am glad we have common ground, even if that does not include equivalent knowledge of each other.

LT: Considering what I have to offer you, it hardly matters. I'm offering you the chance to continue your work.

BC: Continuing my work?

LT: I imagine it's quite hard to work on prosthetics and the integration of mechanical parts when your primary manufacturer no longer wishes to work with you.

BC: And you are offering to rectify a supply issue? To what benefit of your own and what cost to me or my patients?

BC: Please forgive if I come across as curt, but ambiguous sources are some of my least favorite things.

LT: At no cost. A few simple limbs are of little concern to me. It's a whim. Everyone wants their work seen after all.

LT: As for my ambiguity, that depends on how well read you are. You do like books, don't you? Have you read "on the replication of organic processes through mechanical mimicry and its implications in the reproduction and enhancement of limbs and organs, with notes on the grafting there of by Glates Doster"?

BC: That sounds almost too good to be truthful.

BC: I have, yes.

LT: Then you can, no doubt, see the benefit of making use of the authors work.

BC: I cannot help but notice your hemotext. Am I correct in assuming that I am communicating with, not the author, but the notist of that work? Are you Ms. Glates Doster?

LT: That would be correct.

BC: Then, while I am flattered that you reached out to me, I must respectfully decline your offer.

LT: Curious. You would turn down the best source of prosthetics you are likely to ever find, at no charge. And why might that be?

BC: Honestly? Because I am well acquainted with your research methods and highly disapprove of the process.

BC: It is a conflict of morals, purely.

LT: You can't hear it but I'm laughing right now. You, as a doctor, would turn down the ability to provide the best care possible, simply because it makes you feel bad? Where is the morality in that?

BC: Because no amount of care should be built from torture and living dissection. I cannot support that process, nor would I impart on those in my charge something created from such sterile cruelty.

LT: In that case, you should quit medicine all together. How many of your cures, treatments, and methods are based off experiments born from the torture and exploitation of lowbloods? Your field is based on the suffering and pain of those who came before. I may have killed many, but thanks to me, I've made advances that would have taken another hundred years.

BC: I cannot unmake history, but I can chose the path I walk and, in doing so, leave as a different alternative for those who follow after me.

BC: So, I thank you for your time, but I am disinterested in forming any collaborative efforts. And do not foresee that changing any time soon, even by royal standards of measure.

LT: A shame. Considering what I've heard of you, I thought you might be open minded enough. It seems I will simply have to find someone else with whom to share my work. You're one of the few of your caste I thought might be worth while. Skilled and open minded enough to make use of what I have to offer. For now, my door will remain open. Perhaps the next time you see a troll suffering, faced with the loss of their quality of life, you will remember that you have the ability to help.

BC: Have a good evening, Ms. Doster.

[11:26] BC: !!s there more to that sentence? Or !s !t actually just good news?

[11:26] AA: For once, just good news.

[11:27] AA: Like clockwork, I ran into Alturo at EtH's.

[11:27] BC: Really? How's he do!ng?

[11:27] AA: He seems to be doing alrigHt

[11:27] AA: Plus, I convinced Him to come over for dinner tomorrow nigHt

[11:27] AA: MigHt be a step in tHe rigHt direction, eH?

[11:28] BC: !!'m pleasantly surpr!sed.

[11:28] BC: Thank you.

[11:28] BC: Though !! have no !dea what to even serve at a d!nner party, even a small one

[11:29] AA: EHHH, don't worrY about it too mucH

[11:29] AA: He wont eat a wHole lot wHen it comes to solids

[11:29] BC: Why? !!s he feel!ng s!ck?

[11:30] BC: !! hope !t's not someth!ng from h!s ordeal... !!'m st!ll worr!ed about what was done to h!m !nternally.

[11:30] AA: WHat? No

[11:30] AA: I tHink He's fine

[11:31] BC: Then he's com!ng to d!nner but won't eat much? That makes l!ttle to no sense, dear.

[11:31] AA: ...

[11:31] AA: OH.

[11:31] AA: oH wow tHis is kind of awkward

[11:31] AA: uH...

[11:31] AA: Will You give me a second, love?

[11:31] BC: Of course. D!d someth!ng happen?

[11:38] AA: UH...

[11:38] AA: OkaY, so

[11:39] BC: Are /you/ ok?

[11:39] AA: Alturo doesn't eat solids all tHat mucH.

[11:40] AA: Becaaaause

[11:40] AA: He prefers blood

[11:40] BC: ...?

[11:40] BC: You aren't mak!ng any log!cal sense, dear.

[11:41] AA: oH god He was rigHt

[11:41] AA: Look, i'm making sense

[11:41] AA: Just not...tHe sense You would believe?

[11:41] AA: He drinks blood

[11:42] BC: !! know some trolls enjoy cann!bal!st!c tendenc!es and d!shes. !!'m a l!ttle surpr!sed Alturo !s !nto that area of cu!s!ne.

[11:42] AA: No, no

[11:42] AA: He doesn't eat people

[11:42] AA: I don't...tHink?

[11:42] AA: He maYbe He does

[11:42] AA: I tHink it's just blood

[11:42] BC: !!t makes prepar!ng d!nner a b!t more akward

[11:43] AA: He Has to drink blood

[11:43] BC: Honey... Th!s !s go!ng to sound !nsens!t!ve, and !!'m sorry, but were you two dr!nk!ng at Ethano's

[11:43] AA: to sustain Himself

[11:43] BC: ?

[11:43] AA: Goddamnit, no!

[11:43] BC: or maybe a f!ght broke out?

[11:43] AA: He's a fuckin' rainbow drinker!

[11:44] BC: and you are suffer!ng a concuss!on.

[11:44] AA: Creature of tHe nigHt!

[11:44] AA: Well, actuallY...

[11:44] AA: But no! No concussion!

[11:45] BC: That's not poss!ble. There !s no b!olog!cal ev!dence to support the ex!stence of such th!ngs.

[11:45] BC: He !s probably play!ng a very elaborate prank on you

[11:45] BC: Some sort of mental revenge for waffles or pancakes or someth!ng.

[11:46] AA: UgH

[11:46] AA: He said You wouldn't believe me

[11:46] AA: I'm serious, dude drinks blood

[11:46] BC: Lots of trolls dr!nk blood. Apparently !t has a un!que flavor.

[11:47] BC: !! do not understand the appeal, but to each the!r own.

[11:47] AA: No, for real! Dude lives on it! He Has to!

[11:47] AA: It's fuckin' weird, but its true!

[11:47] AA: Dude's a fucking anomalY!

[11:47] AA: ...Wait.

[11:47] BC: Babe. !! th!nk he got a good joke over on you.

[11:47] AA: OH mY god, no

[11:47] AA: Decima I

[11:48] AA: OkaY, look

[11:48] AA: I need You to bear witH me

[11:48] AA: Because I seriouslY tHink I just figured sometHing reallY important out

[11:48] AA: SaY, for a moment, rainbow drinkers did exist

[11:48] AA: And someone found out

[11:48] AA: And wanted to know HOW tHeY worked

[11:48] AA: WHat...would tHeY do

[11:49] BC: Theor!et!cally,

[11:49] BC: !! would assume conduct a study.

[11:49] AA: A verY...

[11:49] BC: !!nterv!ews, ect.

[11:49] AA: OkaY, or

[11:50] AA: Someone would go to tHe lengtHs to...

[11:50] AA: Look inside of tHem.

[11:51] BC: Are you suggest!ng...

[11:51] AA: I'm not. CrazY.

[11:51] AA: He can actuallY tell You Himself, if You want

[11:51] BC: !! mean, Alturo !s already an anomoly be!ng h!s gender and caste. Males !n jade are rare enough.

[11:52] AA: Look

[11:52] AA: go to Him

[11:52] AA: He will tell You

[11:52] AA: "OH YeaH, fuck I love blood and sHit"

[11:52] AA: "I glow in tHe dark like a fuckin' glowstick or semen undera blackligHt"

[11:52] AA: And tHen REALLY

[11:52] AA: tHink about it

[11:53] BC: Oh goodness. !!f that !s the case, wh!ch !s log!cally !nsane, but somet!mes when the obv!ous fa!ls, no mater how unl!kely...

[11:53] BC: The rema!n!ng has to be true.

[11:54] AA: I don't even know wHY I'M trYing to convince You

[11:54] AA: Just go ask Him!

[11:54] BC: Απολύτως κανένα τρόπο .

[11:54] AA: Not like He's reallY-

[11:54] AA: WHat.

[11:54] BC: Sorry. Sl!p of the type.

[11:55] BC: A statement of shock and d!sbel!ef

[11:55] AA: YeaH...

[11:55] AA: Please don't, for future reference

[11:55] BC: Use my f!rst language?

[11:55] AA: I kind of Have a secondHand tHing wHere if I Hear greek sHit I get uncontrollablY angrY

[11:56] AA: And almost want a GYro

[11:56] AA: Well, no I mean

[11:56] AA: Not gonna lie, Half of it waas tHe GYro joke

[11:56] AA: SHit..

[11:56] AA: Now im HungrY

[11:57] AA: AnYwaYs

[11:57] AA: I cant convince You

[11:57] BC: !!t's a we!rd conversat!on to have.

[11:57] AA: Of course it is

[11:57] AA: I'm just surprised You didn't know

[11:58] BC: Let alone the suspens!on of d!sbel!ef for a supposed race of fantast!cal creature that !! have only ever exper!enced !n f!ct!on.

[11:58] BC: !!f th!s !s the case... How d!syou f!nd out?

[11:59] AA: I don't actuallY remember

[11:59] AA: He probablY just told me?

[12:02] BC: !!"ll ask h!m.

[12:02] BC: Somehow.

[12:02] BC: Try and f!t the !nsane !nto casual conversat!on.

[12:02] AA: Orrr

[12:02] AA: You could just ask Him straigHt out

[12:02] AA: I'm literallY talking to Him as we speak

[12:02] BC: My, th!s log went from d!nner plans to crazytown !n a few m!nutes.

[12:03] BC: You are what?

[12:03] AA: YeaH, like

[12:03] AA: He lknows i'm trYing to tell You

[12:03] AA: And finding mY failure kind of funnY, I wager

[12:03] AA: Bastard.

[12:03] AA: No waffles for Him.

[12:03] BC: So e!ther he th!nks !!"m somewhere between close m!nded and !gnorant.

[12:03] BC: or !s laugh!ng at you for buy!ng !nto h!s joke.

[12:04] BC: E!ther way, we look appaul!ng.

[12:04] AA: Still not a joke

[12:04] AA: But He understands How it sounds

[12:04] AA: So He doesn't reallY judge You for not believing me

[12:04] AA: MostlY a mixture of botH

[12:04] BC: Wa!t. What else have you been tell!ng hm?

[12:04] AA: LaugHing at me because i'm trYing to open Your mind to bullsHit

[12:04] AA: OH, relax

[12:04] AA: Your secrets are safe witH me, Decima

[12:05] AA: I'm not a wriggler anYmore

[12:05] BC: You haven't sa!d anyth!ng potent!ally embarrass!ng...

[12:05] AA: Not gonna go up to Him and rock on mY Heels and go "Decima liiiikes Yoooou~~~"

[12:05] BC: Apolog!es, !! had to ask.

[12:05] BC: That does pa!nt an amus!ng p!cture, !f !t was not about me.

[12:05] AA: AltHougH...

[12:06] BC: ...

[12:06] AA: Kidding! OH mY god!

[12:06] BC: Do you blame me?!

[12:06] AA: I could FEEL tHe Heat coming off of tHat stare, jesus

[12:06] AA: Yes!

[12:06] AA: I'm not tHat untrustwortHY!

[12:06] AA: Most times

[12:06] BC: !!t !sn't l!ke !! have had the best of track records !n my pale dec!sc!on mak!ng.

[12:07] AA: OH, and I do?

[12:07] AA: Believe me, You're preacHing to tHe fuckin' cHoir.

[12:07] BC: Last th!ng !! want !s to create another tra!n wreck that leaves scars some how.

[12:07] AA: Decima...

[12:07] BC: We shouldn't talk about th!s, dear. At least not over text where !nflect!on and context are lost.

[12:08] AA: You're probablY rigHt

[12:08] AA: But listen

[12:08] AA: Just because sHit COULD go wrong

[12:08] AA: Doesn't mean You sHouldn't take cHances everY once in a wHile

[12:08] AA: SHit, I Had a bad matespritsHip and fell off tHe face of alternia for a sweep or so

[12:08] AA: I was in super bad sHape

[12:09] AA: but I took mY cHances witH You, didn't i?

[12:09] BC: !! understand what you are gett!ng at.

[12:09] BC: !! just don't trust myself.

[12:10] BC: !! made the m!stake of want!ng to help someone before, and !t just became a ser!es of poor cho!ces and l!es and man!pulat!on.

[12:10] BC: And that was just on my end.

[12:10] BC: !! pave my road w!th good !ntent!ons, and !!'m not sure !!'m ready to hurt Alturo along the way.

[12:11] AA: I wisH You werent so Hard on Yourself...

[12:11] BC: !! sa!d we shouldn't talk about !t, and there !! go.

[12:11] AA: We all made mistakes

[12:11] AA: I mean,

[12:11] AA: I cHeated on You, for god's sake.

[12:12] AA: It's not tHe mistakes tHat we make tHat makes us bad people

[12:12] AA: If we learn from 'em, we don't make tHe same mistakes in tHe future

[12:12] AA: And You've put Yourself in enougH pain as punisHment

[12:13] AA: Don;t You tHink it's about time You gave Yourself a break?

[12:13] AA: Please?

[12:13] BC: !!t's not pun!shment !f !t's the truth.

[12:13] BC: And my past relat!onsh!p damaged us both equally, we were both to blame.

[12:14] AA: Of course You were. You botH made mistakes

[12:14] BC: but !!'m not about to subject someone else to my hab!ts, unless !! know !! can not repeat them.

[12:14] AA: How do You know You will?

[12:14] AA: Are You saYing people can't cHange?

[12:14] AA: Because we BOTH know tHats a lie.

[12:16] BC: !!t's not that.

[12:16] BC: !!'m sorry. !! turned th!s around to be about me and that was wrong.

[12:17] AA: No

[12:17] AA: SHusH.

[12:17] AA: If its not tHat

[12:17] AA: tHen give Yourself a cHance

[12:18] BC: Th!s m!ght be a good test.

[12:19] BC: !!f !! can't ask and accept the potent!al of h!m hav!ng an abnormal!ty l!ke be!ng a ra!nbowdr!nker, then !! have other th!ngs to work though.

[12:19] BC: !! can't bel!eve !! just typed that word and not !n reference to fanf!ct!on...

[12:19] AA: Look

[12:19] AA: all i'm saYing is

[12:20] AA: We questioned wHetHer or not dancestors were possible

[12:20] AA: Is it reallY sucH a far crY to believe in rainbow drinkers?

[12:21] BC: That's d!fferent, there was facts and enough of them to make a reasonable conclus!on.

[12:21] BC: !! also do not !ntend on the 'try to bel!eve' method l!ke !! d!d w!th Ancestor ex!stance...

[12:21] AA: And tHere will be one rigHt in front of us tomorrow nigHt

[12:21] AA: And tHere will be proof

[12:22] AA: So, like everYtHing else tHats Hard to believe in tHe world,

[12:22] AA: Of course You're skeptical

[12:22] BC: !! l!ke facts.

[12:22] BC: !!t !s just how !! operate.

[12:23] AA: I know You do.

[12:24] BC: So... just to be prepared...

[12:25] BC: Should we try ro procure dr!nks?

[12:25] AA: I alreadY asked

[12:25] BC: Oh goodness that sounds we!rd.

[12:25] AA: I could get a sHitton of blood from Tovani

[12:25] AA: But no, He refused

[12:26] BC: You asked?

[12:26] AA: Of course

[12:26] AA: I tHougHt You knew about it

[12:26] BC: Apparently not.

[12:27] AA: ApparentlY not

[12:28] BC: !! feel very we!rd r!ght now.

[12:28] AA: I imagine

[12:29] BC: He's troll!ng me...

[12:29] AA: I told Him to

[12:29] AA: Since You don't believe me, I figured You'd believe Him

[12:29] BC: !!t !s not an easy th!ng to bel!eve, adm!ttedly

[12:30] AA: Of course it isn't

[12:30] AA: But, Y'know

[12:30] AA: He can tell You anYtHing You wanna know

[12:31] BC: No, he can't

[12:31] AA: ?

[12:32] BC: Because !f the prev!ous l!ne of thought !s true, then my want for understand!ng !s the LAST th!ng !!'m go!ng to do to h!m !n any shape or form.

[12:32] BC: !!f that's why he was hurt so badly.

[12:33] AA: True. True.

[12:33] AA: But, Y'know

[12:33] AA: If You do reallY wanna be in a quad witH Him

[12:33] AA: You sHould reallY get to know wHat He is

[12:34] BC: That's the problem.

[12:34] BC: !! want to understand, but !!'m not go!ng to ask quest!ons or do anyth!ng that could br!ng up those terr!ble memor!es

[12:37] AA: I'm afraid I don't reallY Have solid advice for tHis, babY.

[12:37] AA: It's...a weird situation

[12:38] BC: !!t w!ll be t!me. H!s health and safety are more !mportant than my cl!n!cal know!ngs.

[12:38] BC: Leaps and bounds unquest!onably more mportant

[12:39] AA: YeaH, of course. its not like it makes Him reallY anY different.

[12:39] AA: He's still tHe waffle-lovin' gaY dude we know and love

[12:39] AA: HonestlY?

[12:39] AA: I dunno if He likes waffles as mucH as I like to tHink He does.

[12:40] AA: In anY case, i'm almost Hive.

[12:40] AA: I'll talk to You soon, okaY?

[12:40] BC: !! th!nk !t's more a token of endearment.

[12:40] BC: Ok. See you soon, Love <3

[12:40] AA: See 'Ya <3

BE: Construction coming along ωell? BC: !!t's f!n!shed, actually. We just moved !n a few n!ghts ago. !!t's a b!t spartan st!ll, but !t's n!ce. BC: Thank you for ask!ng, BE: Λh, I see. BE: Undoubtably, it ωill fill out. BC: Of course. BC: The bless!ng !s the qu!et, more than anyth!ng. BC: Ethano's hosp!tal!ty was wonderful, but the constant foot traff!c was t!resome. BE: That goes ωithout saying. BC: !! enjoy say!ng !t. BC: Perhaps, !! w!ll see more of you then? BE: Perhaps so. BC: We should. BE: Λctually, I might I come over sometime soon? BC: You aren't horr!bly uncultured. !!'m sure there !s a museum or.. BC: Pardon? BC: Of course. BE: Λlright then. BC: !! should l!ke enough not!ce to let Hybr!s know. BC: We had enough surpr!se v!s!tors at Ethano's. BE: Fair enough. Though, I should probably ask. Is he there currently? BC: No. Are you nearby? BE: I could be easily. BC: !! someth!ng the matter? BC: !! am just not used to you be!ng eager to see me on short not!ce. BE: Πot really. Granted, talking to you if never the most pleasing of tasks. BC: And there !t !s. BC: !! was beg!nn!ng to worry for your mental health, spademate. BE: Should I start making appointments noω? Mark up my calender the set dates of our meetings in the future, plan perigees in advance? BC: !!'ll see !f !! can't deem a worthy place !n my n!ghtplanner for you. BE: Seems fair. BE: You'll have to squeeze me in betωeen your numerous friend, the cadavers you enjoy spending so much time ωith. BE: I understand. BC: At least the cadavers are are capable of more pleasant conversat!on. BE: Well, at least there's that. BC: That there !s. :) BC: How close are you, perchance? BE: It may be tωenty minutes or so before I get there. BE: Why? That anxious to have me around? BC: S!mply count!ng the m!nutes before my even!ng !s potent!ally ru!ned by your company. BC: !!f you don't have somewhere else to be, !! could start a fresh pot of coffee. BC: !! prom!se you won't wear any th!s t!me. BE: I believe I'll pass on that offer. BC: Alr!ght then. BE: If that's all, then I'll be on my ωay. BC: !! guess so. !!'ll see you soon. BE: That you ωill. -- bellicoseEminence [BE] gave up trolling blackCaricature [BC] at 22:27 -- Demitr: --SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE BUT NOT TOO FAR-- Demitr approached the shared hive that Decima and Hybris now inhabited, though only one was present in at the time. Stopping outside the hive, he glanced around the general surroundings before he turned to the door. To knock or not to knock... That is the question. He opted for knocking. Decima: It was a simple enough hive, about size and a half, and plot relevent in location to Ethano's. the city, and the coast. I looked nice, better than average but not too opulant. Decima answered the door, giving her kismesis a genuinely nice smile. "Good evening, Demitr. Please, do come in. Demitr: It figured that the two would settle on something that was both above the average midblood standards but still remained modest by the terms of seadwellers. When Decima answered the door, he didn't quite return her smile. "Hello Decima." Taking a few steps inside, he stopped not far into the front room to glance around. Decima was right, it was fairly bare from what he could see. Decima: "It isn't really ready for company but..." She closed the door. "I can make an exception for you. So, welcome." Demitr: "Glad you find me acceptable enough to see the new hive before anyone else." His head tilted, turning back to face her. "Speaking of, I actually brought you something. Hivewarming gift, you could say." Decima: She just smirked, then tilted her head to match his. "Really?" She was genuinely surprised, not actually expecting hivewarming from anyone, let alone him. Demitr: He merely nodded once, producing from his sylladex a single pack of cards. "Figured you could just put it on a table somewhere. Small thing." He held up the pack of cards, a felled anchor depicted on the box. There would be the same picture on each card as well. He just held it out to her, straightfaced. Decima: Decima didn't move at first, but then reached out and took the deck. She slid the cards out of the box and shuffled through them, feeling for newness or worn edges. "Interesting choice. What was your inspiration?" She noticed the felled anchor, taking note. Demitr: The deck wasn't new by any means but it was still good to play with regardless. Watching her shuffle through them, he responded with a shrug. "I didn't need them anymore." Decima: She straightened the deck and slid it back into the sleeve, the glint in her eye betraying how her mind was spinning. There had to be something more to this... but what? Still, where were her manners. "Thank you." Demitr: Watching while she slid the deck away into its sleeve, his eyes raised to her again and offered a nod. "Not a problem." She was thinking on it, he could tell, but that didn't really matter to him all that much. Decima: "So, What plans do you have this evening?" Decima thought she would try a little polite conversation. It was worth a try. Demitr: "This evening?" He raised one eyebrow at the inquiry, then offered a slight shrug of his shoulders. "I was probably going to spend time alone and listen to organ music as I scheme unnecessarily evil plans. Obviously." Decima: "I know a shop where you can get a lovely mask, dramatic half cut, to complete the ensemble." She chuckled warmly. Demitr: "Somehow that doesn't surprise me at all." He paused for a moment. "Though, in reality, I was probably going to go somewhere this evening." Decima: "I didn't think I would warrant a special trip from the briny depths is all." She smirked. "Though I would like us to strive to find occasions to annoy each other in person, more often." Demitr: "Apologies if your previous accommodations were less than favorable for a visit." He was, of course, referring to Ethano's hive. Not his favorite place to go, by far, but that seemed to be the only place they would see each other in person before now. "Fair enough." Decima: "Life happens, just let it be known it is somethind I'd like to change, given the amendment of my address." she didn't fault him for his assessment of Ethano's in the least, but Alturo had been right. She needed less work and more play in her life. Demitr: "Alright then, I wouldn't be opposed to it. I'm as much a bane to you as you are to me anyways." He offered her a slight smile to accompany what was very clearly a wonderful sentiment before turning towards the door. "See you some other time then." Decima: "Actually," she raised her voice slightly, stopping his retreat. "Out of curiosity, how is Salina doing? I haven't seen her since I treated her, and while I usually make it a point to follow up with trolls I tend, I doubt she'd care to hear from me." Her sarcasm is gone, so all that is left is professionalism and inquiry. Demitr: He paused by the door, turning to look back at her for a moment. "She's doing well, recovering swiftly. Nothing is infected, surprisingly enough." He nodded to Decima before opening the door to take a step outside. Decima: "Good. That's good to hear." She nodded. As he went back for the door, she stepped in closer, reaching out to stop him by a fistful of his hair in her grip if possible. She was grinning. Demitr: He stopped mid-step as soon as he felt her slender fingers wrap around some of his hair, face devoid of emotion for the moment. He remained silent for a moment, eyes sliding back to look at her, one eyebrow raised. Decima: "I'm not done with you yet." She said through a devious smile, something between a growl and purr in her voice. She held her place, instead intending on forcing his face closer to hers to take what was going to obviously be a spade-powered kiss. Demitr: He lips curled downwards in a slightly scowl, reaching up to wrap one hand around her forearm, stalling her effort to reel him in rather than make the effort to press forward herself. "Perhaps you should ask for such things then." He gave a slight scoff, using his free hand to wrap around Decima's waist, pulling her closer instead, scowl turning to an obvious smirk. Decima: Even digging her heels in, his strength was superior and won out, forcing her to shufflestep the small gap that had been between them. "Quaint notion." She changed tactic, leaning in to steal the kiss she wanted instead. Demitr: At this point, he didn't actually care how the kiss was acheived. Tilting his head, he merely accepted the inevitable spade kiss she wanted, pressing back to also reciprocate it as well. Golly. Gee. Decima: Decima hummed through the kiss, dragging her teeth lightly, just enough to add a touch of sting, as she pulled back towards the end. "There. Now you may go." She grinned, softening the dismissve tone with playfulness. Demitr: Demitr, letting the arm around the tealblood's side slide back, opened the door behind himself quietly, freeing his other hand as well. Smirk still subtly present on his face, he gave a slight inclination of the head to Decima. "Was planning on it." With that, he slipped out the door, his mod too distracted to continue. Fin. ---------------------------------------------- Decima: ::Decima was sitting in bed, her legs under a warm blanket. She had a book cradled in her knees, which were pulled up closer to her chest. It was nice and quiet in the new hive. She had an obligatory cup of coffee on the nightstand, and was indulging in one of her few true vices.... trashy alternian romance novels.:: Hybris: -Hybris stepped back from the stove, a triumphant grin on his face. The smell of eggs and bacon wafted through the hive as he looked on in pride at the actually edible-looking breakfast he just put together. Fuck yeah. He even went out and bought a few of those little bed table things that have small little metal legs for just such an occasion. He lifted the food out of the pan and placed it on two seperate plates, placing those plates on the tray and picking up the tray as a whole, carrying it to their bedroom. He pushed through the door with his back and turned around, still grinning.- "Guess who finally learned how to not burn breakfast." Decima: The smell preceded him, and she put a hand down to mark her page, looking over as he walked in, beaming. "The pride on your face is adorable. You didn't have to bring breakfast up, I would have come to the kitchen." She smiled back at him. "Though I'm not complaining. It smells amazing." Hybris: "It's not everyday I can treat you to breakfast in bed. Now that we're in the new place..." He took a glance around for a moment, his grin only getting wider. "...It HAD to happen." He took a seat on the bed and carefully threw his legs over to lay down. He stayed like that for a moment, realizing how awkward the placing of the table was gonna be. Fuck it. He just, kind of, gave the tray to her. Hybris: "Sorry if I interrupted your book. What're you reading?" Decima: "Nothing really, just something for fun. Not work related for a change, I know, shocking." Decima smiled, dropping the leg away from him and closing the book just out of his sight, hiding the cover casually. She leaned over and slipped the book in the sidetable drawer, turning back to take the tray and wait for him to get situated. "Perhaps you have a future in culinary arts. Who knows." Hybris: "Oh yeah, I could work for a Denny's or some shit." He chuckled. "I really don't think eggs and bacon are that special. Anyways, what's the book called? Maybe i've heard of it." He asked idly, getting settled into bed. Decima: "If you enjoy it and keep studying, I think it would be safe to set your sights higher than Denny's." She chuckled, setting the tray down once neither of them were shifting anymore. "Its... historical fiction, and I haven't had enough coffee to prattle off the whole title." Was that a tint of embarassed teal on her ears? Almost, but not quite. Hybris: "Well, what's it about?" He asked, thinking over the idea of cooking more. He did enjoy it. Hm. Decima: "Uhm.." Plot? Those things are meant to have plot, right... crap. "I'm not too far into it, so it's still in the exposition and character introduction part." And there is the teal. "Are you reading recipe books? Or learning technique from troll-tube? Hybris: Mun is the definition of evil, so of course Hybris noticed the teal. He chose to brush off her question now to playfully pry a bit. "Think I could borrow it when you're done? It sounds interesting." Decima: "Since when do you read for entertainment?" She raised an eyebrow. "And... its part if a series. I could get the first in the chronology from the library on my way back from work." Nice save... maybe. Decima: Total tinkerbullshit, but nice save. Hybris: "Well, can I read the back of your copy? See if it's even interesting enough for me to pick up?" Grin. That was a grin. Decima: That grin. He knew. Or at least he wasn't taking the distraction. "I'm not getting out of this, am I?" She asked, smiling through a sigh. Hybris: "Nope." He laughed. "Come on, i'm not gonna judge you if you're reading some, like, rainbow drinker romance books like that once series that was big for a while." Hybris: "Okay, actually, that particular series? Maybe a little." "But, I mean, I heard it was horribly written, so it probably wouldn't be up your alley." Decima: The look on her face was adorable nervous disbelief. "Set your coffee aside..." She took out the book and handed it to him. It wasn't the rainbow drinker novel, but it was a horribly trashy quadrant smut novel thinly veiled as literature. Her cheeks burned in her hue, waiting for the inevitable reaction Hybris: His coffee set aside, he took the book and grinned wider, obviously holding back laughter. "This is...-snrk-...pretty sophisticated stuff, hon." He looked to her, still holding in the laughter that is dying to escape. "You know, most trolls just watch their porn. If you're worried about computer viruses or whatever, i'm sure I can get something for you from Ec." Decima: She quickly tried to snatch the book back. "Such maturity." Even the bridge of her nose was a muted teal at this point. "Everyone has their vices. You said you wouldn't judge." Tries again, because I'm sure there is no way Hybris is handing that gem back easily. "My imagination is better, anyway." Hybris: He held the book above his head, just out of her reach. "I don't suppose you're gonna try to have me re-enact anything outta this, right?" Decima: "Hybris!" Her voice cracked, that's the kind of embarrassed duress she was under, but it was him, so she couldn't help but smile some. She was exposed, but safe. Decima's tray jiggled, and she immediately stopped moving so she didn't spill anything. "I'm glad you are finding this amusing." Hybris: He laughed aloud, holding the book back out to her. "I'm kidding, i'm kidding. I got no problem with whatever way you get your rocks off. Well, I mean, as long as it only involves yourself. Or me. But even with those two, the possibilities are endless." He gave her a wink and reached over, snagging a piece of bacon from his plate and munching on it. Decima: "So I like reading my... ya know, we can drop this topic and never speak of it again. I'm sure I'm a lovely shade of teal." She took the book, dropping it in the drawer. When it landed askew, she reached in a took out the smaller offending object, a deck of playing cards, and set the on the nightstand, more focused on getting the book out of sight for now. "Though if you are interested, I could recommend a couple of titles." Hybris: He eyed the object she pulled out, his grin disappearing. "What's that?" Decima: "That?" She glanced back to the deck and shrugged. "A gift from my kismesis. Unexpected hivewarming. Hadn't thought much of it." She was being honest, until she looked at Hybris and saw how fast his humor had faded. "What's the matter?" Hybris: "Well...nothing, I guess. It's just..that's his playing deck." He smiled a bit. A sad smile. "Me and him used to play with that deck all the time when we were younger..." Decima: Her mental stars aligned, and her face immediately went kindly neutral. Safe mode. She brushed the deck into the drawer and closed it. "Hmm." She put the sound in the air, not knowing what else to say. Inside, She was seething. That asshole. Hybris: "Well, that was...nice of him to give you a housewarming gift." He looked back down at his plate and picked up another piece of bacon Decima: "And wholly unanticipated." Decima added, watching her matesprit a moment longer. A few different responses ran through her mind, but she decided to let the topic fade in obscurity. She took the first bite of her breakfast, spooning a small bite if eggs on her toast and eating it. "Wow." She said after a moment, "this is beyond not burning the meal, love. This is... wow, really good!" She was being genuine. Hybris: "Thanks, hon." He said, looking at her with a smile, before looking to the foot of the bed, kind of staring off into space. Decima: She let them eat in silence a little while, before trying to brooch conversation again. "What does the day look like for you today?" Hybris: "Same as every other day, really. I don't really have anything lined up." He didn't look at her. He was sad, because of the memories the deck dug up, and angered that Demitr didn't even bother to give it to him. Did the memories not even mean anything to him?!

He stopped chewing.