man I don't even know

[canceller]

[It's been less than 24 hours since he landed back here, and already Jeremiah's finding himself breathing easier. It's drier here, the winter colder, and he welcomes it, in spite of years in Area 11. The mainland will always be his home, after all.

Pendragon sometimes feels less so, and other times more. It still feels like fate brought him here, it just depends on how surreal that particular moment feels to him. Right now, all he can do is keep strolling about the grounds, gaze sweeping the gardens, the sprawling build of the place, the mountains in the distance.

It's good to be back.]

Comments

[explores]

Aw, you know I'd take you in. I'll start a home for unloved exiles and eventually we can secede and be our own independent country, where everybody is treated equally and receives animal-shaped pancakes for breakfast every day.

[canceller]

That's a very radical aspiration you have there, Weinberg. Careful, someone might mistake you for a double agent with such talk.

[explores]

Shhh!

[ Reaching up to touch a finger to his lips. ]

Don't say that kind of thing out loud, you'll give me away.

[canceller]

[The scandalized gasp Jeremiah emits isn't quite as dramatic when he can't make the full face to go with it, but he'l make do with widened eyes and raised brows. Of course, then he just snatches Gino's hand away (and doesn't let go of his wrist, mind you) but. Well.]

Traitor. I should have known.

[explores]

[ Gino might be a better actor ("might"), because he puts on a pretty convincingly plaintive face. It's like he's rehearsed that look before or something. ]

I thought you'd be on my side about this. You're not gonna turn me in, are you?

[canceller]

You've put me in a very difficult position, Gino. How cruel...

[He shakes his head, setting his cold cup of tea aside.]

I may have to think this one over. But know that even if I don't turn you in, you won't go unpunished.

[explores]

[ He feigns concern for his well-being, biting his lip—and then looks up again, twisting his wrist a little in Jeremiah's grasp. Not to get free of it, but rather to remind him he's still holding it. ]

Perhaps we can come to some sort of agreement. After all, I'm sure there's some dirty laundry of yours you wouldn't want getting out, too. I don't have much to lose, with exile hanging over my head, but you... well, I would think twice before I make my next move, if I were you.

[canceller]

You must think yourself a very reputable source to make such statements as those.

[Yeah, he's not letting go any time soon. In fact, he only uses it to draw Gino closer.]

[explores]

[ Oh, he doesn't back down. He leans forward in a very matter-of-fact way. ]

Maybe not. But I do have evidence to support my case.

[canceller]

Do you.

[What do you mean, interested? Stop reading into the tone of his voice so much, gosh.]

[explores]

Lots. And given how distinctive Your Lordship is, I don't think there would be any mistaking you, no matter how compromising, should this evidence of mine get out.

[canceller]

[And that's where his expression abruptly falls flat.]

Gino, are you really trying to blackmail me with a bunch of poorly-lit, blurry pictures on your phone?

[explores]

They're still plenty discernible!

[canceller]

Somehow I really doubt that.

[explores]

Discernible enough, combined with the power of suggestion.

[ Tugging at his wrist in earnest, this time. ]

Either way, you'd be foolish to make an enemy outta me, Orange.

[canceller]

[Yeah, guess who's taking the opportunity to flip Gino this time, wrist pinned against the bed as Jeremiah leans over him.]

Perhaps I'm just a fool, then.

[explores]

[ Somehow he had a feeling it was coming, but that still didn't prepare him for it. Not to mention he's really got nothing on Jeremiah's reflexes, unfortunately. ]

Haaah, what treachery is this? Foul play!

[canceller]

Says the man who tried to blackmail me just now.

[Jeremiah just seeks out Gino's other wrist, pinning both and leaning down to kiss lightly right on his neck.]

[explores]

Hnf—

[ Well, shit.

Except he isn't struggling at all, whatsoever. ]

You're no better, fraternizing with a criminal.

[canceller]

Maybe.

[He's nuzzling up, nudging his head back and kissing the underside of his jaw.]

But I've still got the upper hand, now don't I?

[explores]

Only because I'm letting you.

[ He swallows noticeably, craning his head to the side a little. ]

Don't think you can control an unstoppable force with a bunch of smooth talking and a pretty face.

[canceller]

All right, all right. [After all, he's not going to challenge the younger man and give him some excuse to fight him, because he likes him pliant like this. He can just nip and suck at his skin and breathe in the smell of him and enjoy it.]

[explores]

Long as we understand each other.

[ But by then the sass has gone out of him and he's sprawled out about as pliantly as it gets, neither resistant nor demanding. Just laying there and enjoying the attention. He even lets out an audibly content sigh, shutting his eyes and thinking very little of being 100% on display (and being the only one who is) because he is just so uncomfortable. In general, and with being around Jeremiah, as it were. ]

[canceller]

[The nice thing is too that while they're both certainly willing to go somewhere with this, he's really just not in the hurry to get there. Wherever that may be, even as he presses closer, cloth of his uniform brushing against skin.]

[explores]

[ Gino lets out a low hum, laying still and captive and only shifting a little as he gets closer and grateful that at least what he's pressing against isn't scratchy. Still— ]

Bit overdressed, aren't you?