"He asked the first time we met. When I threw out the 'I have a super hot very exclusive boyfriend' line to get him to cool it a little."
Rhys answers,
"But I got kind of a-- tell me so I can go harass them, vibe. Which is incidentally one of his three most common vibes, so I'm less worried about being fair than I am about you getting a super explicit opt out of this."
"Okay," Rhys concedes, "Well, if he finds out and it's not fine, tell me, okay? Or-- the other way around, if you decide you want... I don't know, a formal introduction?"
A casual introduction you can do yourself, if you decide that, Elijah.
"No, that's not - that is, I appreciate it," Elijah says, sounding closer
to flustered than he has in their entire acquaintance. "I just wouldn't
know how to identify what you're describing, in myself."
"Oh-- well, it's probably sort of subjective? I mean, to me, I feel like it's-- like a warmth? That doesn't go away even after you're done trying to impress them?"
He smiles a crooked little smile.
"Go read some poetry about it. Other people probably work it out better than me."
"I hate poetry," Elijah murmurs, his chin still hooked over Rhys' shoulder
so he doesn't have to look him in the eye. "I know that I would struggle
to be...without you. At this point. And I expected to begrudge this new
arrangement much more than I actually have, however that might be
interpreted."
"Being open," he admits quietly. "It's...ironic, I suppose. I'm somewhat
aware of Quentin's arrangement and it seemed rational, but practicing
something similar hasn't been...easy."
Wow. It's a little overwhelming how little of this Elijah managed to let on to him. Rhys has honestly interpreted much of the man's reaction to his request to be non-exclusive as absolute, blank unconcern.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realise it was this hard for you." Rhys offers, voice still soft, "Thank you for doing it with me anyway."
It's interesting that Rhys uses the term with me, he thinks vaguely, when
Elijah interprets it more as for me. It's not as if he's really
considered using his own rights as a non-exclusive partner.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2019-12-13 02:15 pm (UTC)Rhys answers,
"But I got kind of a-- tell me so I can go harass them, vibe. Which is incidentally one of his three most common vibes, so I'm less worried about being fair than I am about you getting a super explicit opt out of this."
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Date: 2019-12-13 02:24 pm (UTC)"If he finds out, it's - fine," Elijah decides. "Keeping secrets on this ship is almost impossible regardless."
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Date: 2019-12-13 02:47 pm (UTC)A casual introduction you can do yourself, if you decide that, Elijah.
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Date: 2019-12-13 02:55 pm (UTC)"That won't be necessary, thank you." A pause. "And it continues to be...only him?"
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Date: 2019-12-13 03:02 pm (UTC)Just the grossest guy.
"I mean, I also got a bit starry eyed under the mistletoe with Quentin, but I'm pretty sure that's just because he's tall."
You must feel it too, Elijah? The pull of the unnaturally tall?
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Date: 2019-12-13 03:04 pm (UTC)Elijah considers himself perfectly adequate at six feet, and does not.
"I can't say I've seen the appeal, but our relationship has a different history."
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Date: 2019-12-13 03:11 pm (UTC)"Yeah, that checks out..."
Rhys reaches for one of Elijah's hands.
"Is this helping?"
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Date: 2019-12-13 03:13 pm (UTC)He curls his hand around Rhys'.
"...I think so, yes."
Everything still feels oddly...delicate, but he's dealing with it.
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Date: 2019-12-13 03:21 pm (UTC)Little tug on that hand. Come up here to him please.
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Date: 2019-12-13 03:23 pm (UTC)Elijah stands, and moves closer, willing to draw in.
"...Thank you for understanding."
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Date: 2019-12-13 03:36 pm (UTC)Only when Rhys is safely in the nape of Elijah's neck and neither of them have to look at each other again, does he say:
"You know I love you, right?"
Probably you don't, since Rhys has absolutely never said this out loud, or even thought about it very hard before.
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Date: 2019-12-13 03:38 pm (UTC)If humans could bluescreen.
"I...no. I didn't know that," he says, cautiously.
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Date: 2019-12-13 03:42 pm (UTC)Says Rhys, still determined to be cool. He rubs his hand fondly up the back of Elijah's head, and turns a little to kiss him on the cheek.
"Well, now you do. So don't worry so much."
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Date: 2019-12-13 03:54 pm (UTC)Hey Rhys, this is the opposite of not worrying!
"...I'm aware this doesn't sound emotionally healthy, but I don't think I can identify whether I reciprocate or not."
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Date: 2019-12-13 03:59 pm (UTC)Rhys sounds perfectly calm, perfectly confident about this.
"I'm just telling you, because I want you to know. I love you, and I'm not planning on going anywhere."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-13 04:01 pm (UTC)"No, that's not - that is, I appreciate it," Elijah says, sounding closer to flustered than he has in their entire acquaintance. "I just wouldn't know how to identify what you're describing, in myself."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-13 04:18 pm (UTC)He smiles a crooked little smile.
"Go read some poetry about it. Other people probably work it out better than me."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-13 04:23 pm (UTC)"I hate poetry," Elijah murmurs, his chin still hooked over Rhys' shoulder so he doesn't have to look him in the eye. "I know that I would struggle to be...without you. At this point. And I expected to begrudge this new arrangement much more than I actually have, however that might be interpreted."
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Date: 2019-12-14 12:29 am (UTC)He falls a little quiet then, letting Elijah talk, smoothing fond little circles across his back.
"Which arrangement did you think you were going to begrudge? Being boyfriends? Or being open?"
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Date: 2019-12-14 06:19 am (UTC)"Being open," he admits quietly. "It's...ironic, I suppose. I'm somewhat aware of Quentin's arrangement and it seemed rational, but practicing something similar hasn't been...easy."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-14 09:07 am (UTC)"I'm sorry. I didn't realise it was this hard for you." Rhys offers, voice still soft, "Thank you for doing it with me anyway."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-14 09:33 am (UTC)It's interesting that Rhys uses the term with me, he thinks vaguely, when Elijah interprets it more as for me. It's not as if he's really considered using his own rights as a non-exclusive partner.
"...you're welcome."
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Date: 2019-12-14 09:40 am (UTC)Speaking of which...
"Have you thought about anyone else?"
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Date: 2019-12-14 09:48 am (UTC)Elijah blinks at him.
"That would be purely an intellectual exercise, don't you think?"
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Date: 2019-12-14 09:54 am (UTC)"I don't-- why would it be?"
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