3 ♕ The latest trend is humbly reaching out

[airshipswank]

[ Hmm, those yukatas were quite fashionable. Almost a shame to let them go. Still, ultimately there's nothing like his own selectionBuckingham's last two transmission were conveniently timed accidents. His current project is a deliberate video message. He holds up the device and eyes it sceptically for a moment before deeming the results

Comments

{Video}

[thestormcomes]

[Athos is a master at this device. Flying ships are beyond his ken, but smaller contraptions are not. He will therefore revel in this minor victory while Buckingham continues to struggle with his doohickey.

But he's keeping any and all information about the last event to himself.]

Don't tell me that your hair has lost its will to defy its own weight without three valets to keep it up.

[So dry, his tone.]

Because that would be a damned shame.

{Video}

[airshipswank]

[ Generously, with the shiniest undertones of benevolent encouragement: ]

Say the word and the position is all yours.

[ Because that is what he meant by his comment, is it not? ♥ ]

{Video}

[thestormcomes]

Very clever.

[Doesn't he sound amused? Hahaha. Ha ha. Ha.]

I pity whoever you con into servitude.

{Video}

[airshipswank]

[ Keyword good, context bad. ]

Quite the pity; you would have made a fine valet...

{Video}

[thestormcomes]

Sorry to disappoint you - I'm afraid that cooking and cleaning isn't my forte. I had a valet of my own for that.

[Ah, well. You learn to get over it.]

You've become spoiled.

{Video}

[airshipswank]

I wouldn't dream of wasting you on cooking and cleaning here, especially now that I know you can in fact look presentable.

[ Isn't that right, tinycake!Athos? ]

{Video}

[thestormcomes]

Had I not been a child, I very much doubt I would have ever put on those clothes.

[Oh, and just so we don't forget...]

I'm surprised that you have such a fatherly side.

{Video}

[airshipswank]

[ Fatherly is hardly the snidest of insults, though Buckingham could certainly do without the reputation in public. As the recipients of that fatherly demeanour were very limited however he is not particularly worried.

Dolefully: ]

I was rather hoping to serve as a good influence, but I see you are back to your old ways. And now I'm afraid not even wine could persuade you to change...

[ Not ordinary wine at any rate and Buckingham has better things to do than drug Athos just to play dress-up with him. For the moment. ]

{Video}

[thestormcomes]

You don't think that black is flattering?

[Athos is amused. Oh-so amused. But at least he's not playing Little Boy Blue again.]

It's easy to charm a youth when they don't know any better, and there is not enough wine in the world that could tempt me to wear a shade as gaudy as yours.

{Video}

[airshipswank]

Anything can be flattering if one knows how to wear it...

[ And instead of moving the conversation along Buckingham will now take the liberty to openly undress scrutinise Athos with his gaze. At great length. ]

{Video}

[thestormcomes]

[There is something incredibly discomforting about that gaze, and it is quick to remind him of the last event in wholly unpleasant ways that are best not described in polite narration.]

...stop looking at me like that.

{Video}

[airshipswank]

[ Predictably enough that was just about the fastest and easiest way to keep him looking. Their somewhat more frequent encounters in Wonderland haven't been going on for very long and before that they hardly met on a regular basis, so the duke couldn't rightly classify Athos' reaction as unusual, but... ]

I expected you were modest, but bashful?

{Video}

[thestormcomes]

[Buckingham can expect a glower for that.]

You are incorrect in mistaking my discomfort for shyness.

[Athos is about as blunt as a hammer to the head of a nail, and his quiet nature is less nervousness and more not-wanting-to-talk-unless-he-has-to.]

{Video}

[airshipswank]

Discomfort? I do apologise, that was not my intention at all.

[ Which is true and only makes it so much better, really. ♥

...Although he does cease the gazing; if he stops while he's ahead then perhaps he can recycle that move again once or twice. ]

Did you enjoy yourself during the last event? I found it was quite a pleasant repose from the usual décor.

{Video}

[thestormcomes]

[They say that Athos is a man of few words.]

It was fair.

[They are entirely correct.

But the narration will not leave it at that, no, because that would be far too cruel. Athos distinctly remembers some things from the event that he would rather keep under wraps forever, because he doesn't know where they came from and the only explanation is whatever "magic" keeps this place going.

It's hard to forget, however, with the sickly sweet scent of perfume roiling in the back of his mind and questions he's not willing to ask that need answering trying to shove their way into the spotlight.]

The clothing was lacking.

{Video}

[airshipswank]

Fine silks... lacking? I apologise again, it seems I was wrong about your modesty as well.

[ So he did miss his fancy pants a little, but really - the exotic alternatives! ]