Luceti Appointments

[i_speak_softly]

Need a thread with Don, but don't have a post for it and don't feel like starting one? Stick it here. Please note date, time of day, location, and any relevant circumstances.

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[semper_cogitans]

[There's a few tight seconds of silence, where Robert tries not to outright cry, and then he pulls himself over to Don, throws his arms around him and just clings.]

P-Please do not forget me...

[He knows, logically, Don can't promise anything. Not in this state. But maybe he wants to be lied to, because it's comforting.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don stiffens a moment in startlement, then puts his arms around Robert to hold him, ignoring the tingle of mammalian heat flooding through his skin.]

I won't. I don't know where you're from or how we met, but I know you're important to me. I don't forget things like that.

[semper_cogitans]

[This, at least, is reassuring, but Robert still sobs into Don's plastron a few times, trying to compose himself. It's a moment later that he looks up, eyes bright with tears and a little red.]

... th-thank you...

[His words are almost whispered, through a tight throat.]

... I... I k-kissed Helios, because... because I missed being t-touched... I missed being wanted...

[Perhaps it wasn't fair to Don. Even if he'd asked beforehand...]

... but... in, in the l-long-term, it... means very little... I love you regardless of a-anything else...

[i_speak_softly]

[Don is able to grasp only the general concept, and he knows that the sadness he feels, based as it is on incomplete facts, is not the reaction he would be having at another time of year. Robert's reaction, though, is full and genuine, and requires a careful response if Don wants this relationship to be salvageable in the spring.]

Is there anything I can do...?

[semper_cogitans]

[He has nothing to worry about. Robert isn't going anywhere.]

... wh-when you can - when you want to, again... th-then physical expressions of love would... b-be nice.

Until then, I... I am uncertain. I just... [He shifts almost shamefully against Don.] ... I have no... o-outlet. Other than... fantasy...

[And, well... Helios. Not that that's much better.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Hugging is a physical expression of love, right? Don isn't sure what Robert means by the rest, but it seems like a good idea to keep his confusion to himself.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Yes, it probably is, right now.]

... ... It... is not a s-significant issue... I suppose. I just... h-hope it does not make you upset.

... Or.

... Will not, r-rather.

[Because it obviously doesn't yet.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don withdraws a little, and fidgets nervously.]

I don't know how I'm going to feel about this, but... do what you think is right? I can't make decisions now...

[He looks at Robert anxiously. He can hardly remember who this man is, but he knows he trusts him.]

[semper_cogitans]

[What he thinks is right? Sometimes he doesn't even know what that is.]

Whatever happens, I... I am here. I love you.

I am not leaving...

[If Don will allow it, he'll gently take one of Don's hands and hold it.]

... I just... wish you c-could... remember...

[Just one more month, right? One more month of this.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don pulls away, crossing his arms again.]

Please don't?

[semper_cogitans]

Don't what...?

[Don't leave? Don't forget? Don't touch his hands like that?]

[i_speak_softly]

Talk about it. I don't like to be reminded...

[semper_cogitans]

[... Okay. He can do that.

Although it seems like ignoring the pink elephant in the room, so to speak. It's so glaringly obvious, anyway...]

... A-Alright... my apologies.

[i_speak_softly]

[There was another reason he was here. He traces his way back through the conversation...]

[Oh yes.]

Are you feeling any better?

[semper_cogitans]

A... A little. [Admittedly. Even if the fact that he dumped his feelings out at Don's feet hasn't helped his mood much.]

Th-thank you for... for helping me.

And for... listening.

[i_speak_softly]

[He nods, then looks down at the chessboard. Whose turn was it?]

Do you want to finish this?

[semper_cogitans]

...

... [Awkwardly:] ... I am... not even certain whose turn it is, now.

[Probably because he lost track somewhere in that emo blob back there.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Nope, can't remember.]

Never mind. [He pokes his king, knocking it over.] You were going to win anyway.

[semper_cogitans]

We will... n-need to play again sometime. [Robert manages a gentle smile.] I... always enjoy spending time with you...

[i_speak_softly]

[An uncomfortable pause, then, very softly:] I... think I should go...

[semper_cogitans]

[...

Robert cringes a little, pulling his hands in against his chest as though the words physically pain him.

But... he's never one to deny Don something.]

O-Of... of course.

...

... T-Take care...? If... if you need anything... [He lets it hang. Don probably won't need anything anyway.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don, similarly hunched, gets up and moves out of the room. It will take his winter-slow brain a while to process everything that just happened.]