slipped along the way

[unmarred]

(from here)

So... up the stairs they go, mostly side by side. Mark lags by a step or two.

There is a persistent silence.



"I... didn't think you'd react the way you did," he says finally. "I mean, I thought you might—that there might be something there, but not that you'd actually."

Comments

[unmarred]

"I mean, it's not common. And there's obviously safety concerns. But yes. I - hm, no, I won't apologize, you're starting to get it, aren't you?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"Convenient yet unnerving. A little," he admits. "I'm not sure it's my thing exactly, but... I do like to fight."

And he is generating some interesting mental images, which he is trying not to dwell on in case Mark notices them somehow.

[unmarred]

Judging by Mark's slow grin, he has noticed them.

"Oh, I'm so tempted to say I'd fight you. But you're probably better at the not-trying-to-kill-each-other approach than I am."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Yes, let's... leave that one alone for now," says Stalas. "...Immediately disregarding my own advice: I'm not sure exactly where I'm getting the impression that you'd like to lose, but I'm definitely getting it. Is it a correct impression?"

[unmarred]

"Uh. Very," says Mark. "I mean, maybe not exclusively, but I'm pretty sure you were on the right track when you were looking at me just now and thinking whatever you were thinking that seemed to involve winning fights with me."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Wow," snorts Stalas. "So you can't actually pick my thoughts right out of my head, good to know. I'm happy to keep those to myself for a little while longer."

[unmarred]

"You could also," Mark suggests slyly, "tell me about them."

[thisvorlunatic]

Now Stalas is blushing.

[unmarred]

"Ha."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Hush, you."

And there's his room. He opens the door, and in they go. Miraculously, it doesn't smell at all of darkspawn.



It's a bit lacking in places to sit that aren't the bed.

[unmarred]

...Mark grins.

"You know what," he says recklessly, "I might as well find out—" and he strides forward and takes Stalas's hand.

His face transforms instantly, all the laughter dropping away to leave awe and terror in its place.

[thisvorlunatic]

"Mark...? Are you all right? I don't know what - " He tentatively tries to draw his hand back.

[unmarred]

Mark is unwilling to let go.

"I don't know how you people do it," he says breathlessly. "You make it look so simple. Doesn't it hurt?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"Besides how you're crushing my hand, I mean? Not usually," he says. "...But sometimes. Look, I don't—just tell me how to make it better. Please. If you even know."

[unmarred]

He hesitates, forcing his grip to relax—and then lets go, only to fling his arms around Stalas and start sobbing hysterically into his chest.

[thisvorlunatic]

That... is not the kind of communication Stalas was looking for, but it's clear enough to be going on with. He hugs back.

"I don't know the half of what your life's been like," he murmurs, "but for what it's worth, I'm sorry."

[unmarred]

Yep. Crying. So very much crying.

[thisvorlunatic]

"By the Stone..."

He feels intensely compassionate and a little overwhelmed. And bruised, that too, but hardly enough to be worth mentioning. Mark seems to be in more pain out of the two of them.

[unmarred]

Mark mumbles something unintelligible.

[thisvorlunatic]

"Um... what was that?"

[unmarred]

He mumbles again, then turns his face sideways to he's not speaking directly into Stalas's much-wept-on shirt.

"I said - it hurts me that you care. But it's a good hurt. I cannot remotely handle it but I don't for a second want it to stop."

[thisvorlunatic]

"I... all right. Good. Because I don't plan on stopping."

Very tentatively, he runs a hand down Mark's shaking back.

"I still don't understand... anything about you, almost. But I'd like to. I feel like we have some things in common."

[unmarred]

"Like hilariously shitty lives? Yeah," says Mark. "I think so too." He nestles his head against Stalas's chest and sighs.

[thisvorlunatic]

"I bet nobody's tried to eat you recently."

[unmarred]

"I'll give you that," says Mark. "Bet nobody's - hmm - I'm not sure nobody's had you tortured, actually. Have they?"