"You don't know what it is yet." Jacob says, but it's clear from the sound of his voice that he is enjoying the positive attention. The kiss and the gentle hand on his cheek might be chaste but they make his heart flutter in his chest, and he looks at Anduin with a soft and tender expression in his hazel eyes.
"Go on, open it. You have to tell me if I got the right things."
The bamboo is a giveaway, and sure enough. Opening the basket reveals a row of steamed buns, delicately shaped like little peaches, with a familiar scent wafting up from them.
Jacob tries not to make if so completely obvious that he cares so much about Anduin's reaction. He reaches for his tea again, takes a sip as Anduin takes off the lid and recognition makes his eyes all the brighter and all the more lovely.
"I try to remember the things that make my friends happy." He says, although friend is perhaps too light a term for everything Anduin is. A friend and a confidant, a counsel and a lover. They've taught each other a great deal, although Jacob knows he's got far more out of it than poor Anduin.
And luckily enough there's tea already at the ready. A good thing too, as the thick paste and breading of the bun could make it a difficult prospect otherwise. Drawing up a seat beside him, Anduin plucks up one of the buns to take a bite, a satisfied hum following.
"I'm so glad these are easier to find here. Having them imported to Stormwind was never the same as having them fresh."
"They were a devil to find. I thought about trying to get the ingred instead and make them myself, but my cooking isn't good. But I'm surprised you didn't just hire some to make them for you, back home."
Jacob watches him settle, enjoying the easy way which he moves and loves, the way he tries to look after them all and keep them put of trouble.
"It doesn't look great for you when I cause something like that. I'm going to try and take a leaf out of your book. Be useful, even if it hurts."
At that, the smile begins to fade. The tea does make it easier to swallow down the mouthful of bun, however.
"I know it isn't easy. But there are more ways to protect the people we care for than just fighting." His brow furrows lightly. "Did anything come of it?"
Announcing violent intent against the city officials couldn't have come without cost. He knew better.
Jacob knows that other people said something like that, although it's harder to go back now and understand what he'd said in response. Now he's sober, he can appreciate people might feel that way, but that doesn't change the reality. Sometimes fighting is the only way.
It's not something he really wants to get into, here and now, but Anduin he respects, and maybe Anduin has some idea other than maybe if we talk to them, they'll change their minds and think submissive should have rights.
"What ways? Because living like this is not something I like doing."
He knows people hate violence. He knows most don't want innocent people to die. But he's not inciting a mass rebellion. He is just saying a couple of people go cut off the head.
He wasn't planning to talk about his punishment just yet, but as Anduin has asked, and its publically available for anyone to see... well.
"I've got a fine I need to go and pay, and a week of punishment. Nothing terrible."
"...for now, not being noticed by the higher-ups is on the list."
Not that he doesn't trust Jacob with their fledgling plan. But he'd rather present it when it's more than simply potential, things that could fall into place given time to develop. He knows the man's patience doesn't run long.
At the mention of his Realignment sentence, Anduin frowns thoughtfully. "I'll handle the fine. And before you argue, know that it's expected for me to do so, as your Dominant. I should be seen taking some responsibility for what happened, or they may address the matter in another way."
Jacob doesn't need that guilt on top of everything else.
You'd think Jacob would have more experience in not being noticed. And he does, in his way, but he's also very much of the belief that if you are noticed, you should just kill all the witnesses.
He'd be hurt, very hurt, to know that Anduin is planning something and has told him nothing. He'd said no secrets, and plans to overthrow the state aren't exactly little secrets that can slip your mind. But in the here and the now, all he can do is snort.
"More hiding. Great."
He takes a deep breath, because maybe Anduin is right. Not for Jacob's sake, not for his safety, but for Anduin, who needs a rest, to stop worrying. For Gilia, who needs time to heal physically and mentally. He can't go on like a bull in a china shop, disregarding the people he cares about. He's hurt Hellboy already, caused Tim stress and made him panic, and all for what? He's got no where, no one is better off.
"I have the money. Most of it. Let me at least give it to you." He says, setting down his cup. "I'm not exactly using it for anything."
He's not used to spending money on much. Weapon upkeep, supplies, the gang itself. But without that? Without real expenses to pay, there's quite the supply of banknotes tucked away under the bed in Anduin's spare room.
"...I can manage it for you, if you'd like. And it would probably look better if I did so." Much as he disapproves of the system and going along with it, he knows that they have to pick their battles.
Unlike Jacob. Who is busily picking all of them and really ought to put some back.
"It won't always be this way." He sets down the tea, expression more solemn now that the delight of the present has worn off to some degree. "But change on a level like this isn't something that we can just charge through. There are others here in the city who want what we do. With enough of us, organized and prepared, we can make that effort. I don't want you to lose hope of that. Just be patient."
"You don't trust the First National Bank of Mattress?" Jacob asks with a quirk of his lips and the upwards arch of one brow. "If you want to, I guess it's no problem. I don't like this... plastic money. So as long as I have some on hand." A shrug, "Should be fine."
He needs all of them, he's not putting any back Anduin.
There's a sigh. "This isn't the way I'm used to doing it. Doing anything like that en masse, it's dangerous. People die. Especially if they're people not used to doing something like that." At least, that's what he's always been taught to think. That's why Assassins do things alone. They are trained for it, they expect to die in the course of their duty.
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"Go on, open it. You have to tell me if I got the right things."
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The bamboo is a giveaway, and sure enough. Opening the basket reveals a row of steamed buns, delicately shaped like little peaches, with a familiar scent wafting up from them.
Lotus seed. Anduin's smile only brightens.
"You remembered."
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"I try to remember the things that make my friends happy." He says, although friend is perhaps too light a term for everything Anduin is. A friend and a confidant, a counsel and a lover. They've taught each other a great deal, although Jacob knows he's got far more out of it than poor Anduin.
"I thought they'd be a nice treat."
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And luckily enough there's tea already at the ready. A good thing too, as the thick paste and breading of the bun could make it a difficult prospect otherwise. Drawing up a seat beside him, Anduin plucks up one of the buns to take a bite, a satisfied hum following.
"I'm so glad these are easier to find here. Having them imported to Stormwind was never the same as having them fresh."
no subject
Jacob watches him settle, enjoying the easy way which he moves and loves, the way he tries to look after them all and keep them put of trouble.
"It doesn't look great for you when I cause something like that. I'm going to try and take a leaf out of your book. Be useful, even if it hurts."
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"I know it isn't easy. But there are more ways to protect the people we care for than just fighting." His brow furrows lightly. "Did anything come of it?"
Announcing violent intent against the city officials couldn't have come without cost. He knew better.
no subject
It's not something he really wants to get into, here and now, but Anduin he respects, and maybe Anduin has some idea other than maybe if we talk to them, they'll change their minds and think submissive should have rights.
"What ways? Because living like this is not something I like doing."
He knows people hate violence. He knows most don't want innocent people to die. But he's not inciting a mass rebellion. He is just saying a couple of people go cut off the head.
He wasn't planning to talk about his punishment just yet, but as Anduin has asked, and its publically available for anyone to see... well.
"I've got a fine I need to go and pay, and a week of punishment. Nothing terrible."
no subject
Not that he doesn't trust Jacob with their fledgling plan. But he'd rather present it when it's more than simply potential, things that could fall into place given time to develop. He knows the man's patience doesn't run long.
At the mention of his Realignment sentence, Anduin frowns thoughtfully. "I'll handle the fine. And before you argue, know that it's expected for me to do so, as your Dominant. I should be seen taking some responsibility for what happened, or they may address the matter in another way."
Jacob doesn't need that guilt on top of everything else.
no subject
He'd be hurt, very hurt, to know that Anduin is planning something and has told him nothing. He'd said no secrets, and plans to overthrow the state aren't exactly little secrets that can slip your mind. But in the here and the now, all he can do is snort.
"More hiding. Great."
He takes a deep breath, because maybe Anduin is right. Not for Jacob's sake, not for his safety, but for Anduin, who needs a rest, to stop worrying. For Gilia, who needs time to heal physically and mentally. He can't go on like a bull in a china shop, disregarding the people he cares about. He's hurt Hellboy already, caused Tim stress and made him panic, and all for what? He's got no where, no one is better off.
"I have the money. Most of it. Let me at least give it to you." He says, setting down his cup. "I'm not exactly using it for anything."
He's not used to spending money on much. Weapon upkeep, supplies, the gang itself. But without that? Without real expenses to pay, there's quite the supply of banknotes tucked away under the bed in Anduin's spare room.
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Unlike Jacob. Who is busily picking all of them and really ought to put some back.
"It won't always be this way." He sets down the tea, expression more solemn now that the delight of the present has worn off to some degree. "But change on a level like this isn't something that we can just charge through. There are others here in the city who want what we do. With enough of us, organized and prepared, we can make that effort. I don't want you to lose hope of that. Just be patient."
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He needs all of them, he's not putting any back Anduin.
There's a sigh. "This isn't the way I'm used to doing it. Doing anything like that en masse, it's dangerous. People die. Especially if they're people not used to doing something like that." At least, that's what he's always been taught to think. That's why Assassins do things alone. They are trained for it, they expect to die in the course of their duty.
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Light knew that was the last thing anyone needed.
"But you and I are not the only ones here capable of fighting back. None of us need to stand alone."