sandalphon | inbox / recourt

[Phainon has stopped, at least, in front of the dais with the ledger on it, flipping through the pages and the instructions.

And then he looks at Anaxa. Tilts his head.]

We were married a couple of times. And you'll have me for the rest of your life, anyway. [LIKE THAT'S NOT A COMPLETE, REVELATORY DECLARATION,] You can pick, I don't mind. You can put anything you want on me anywhere. Ah, look, I think we sign here...

[ oh my god?? do not kill him like that. He acts angry but the blush is still there, so all that energy is clearly meant to hide that ]

Didn't I just tell you that I dislike you treating me as if I'm interchangeable with any other Anaxa you met before me? That they've married you does not mean that I intend to do the same.

[ He says that right as he signs his name for this contract. Like that isn't like getting married ]

Even if I will have you for the rest of my life. And yours.

Hehe.

[Beside him, though, Phainon's face is alight with joy as he signs, too.]

That's fine. I'll propose somewhere private. [He squints at the instructions, and at the same time, tries to sneak a hand to settle at the small of Anaxa's back, keeping him close.] An act of bonds-- can I kiss you?

[ He just insisted it's not a marriage, yet it feels like one and he's still wrestling with his emotions just as much as he's still trying to wrap his head around Phainon's confession. But when Phainon asks him if he can kiss him he doesn't even hesitate, he reaches for his shirt and pulls him down to kiss him ]

[Phainon kisses him, sweet, and then with the edge of something filthy, trying to cage him against the altar. Just because he can, now. Just because he could put his hands on Anaxa's hips and not feel like smiting himself.]

Mm, and then a token. [He looks around for the mind-numbingly ugly hi-vis jacket. Listen he sees nothing wrong with it, not until they could get tattoos...] Ah, what if I drew something on you? Until you could tattoo something on me!

[ Oh. He's surprised by the intensity of it right off the bat - but not so surprised that it troubles him. In fact, he's just pulling him close as he kisses him, not at all minding being caged against the altar. ]

If I am taking a token from you, then it will be something I can always wear. And I am not wearing that jacket.

You will gift me—

[ he was about to say a ring, but then he remembers the earlier conversation, and it's a matter of principle now. ]

...

A piece of jewelry. I will do the same for you.

Edited 2025-07-19 07:40 (UTC)

I'd like anything you give me!

[Phainon looks at him like all of his 33550336 birthdays have come at once. No matter what Anaxa says, Phainon's taking it as a marriage - a promise from both of them, to stay, and to be stayed for.]

Even children!

[Unfortunately he is like this.]

[ Why is he like this. He is DYING. The enthusiasm and the way Phainon looks at him are enough to melt his heart a little, forcing him to confront his own feelings. That he cares about Phainon has never been in question. Just like he said, he will always believe in him. Everything else, though he's not sure he can put a name to it yet. All he knows is that he refuses to give up on any version of Phainon and that maybe

he doesn't mind the idea of them belonging to each other all that much.

Fortunately Phainon takes him out of that train of thought with that last part, and he immediately brings his hand to his face to push him away ]

Do not be ridiculous. We are heading to the store, and getting something appropriate to seal this contract.

[Phainon turns his head and tries to

Lick

Anaxa's palm????
Muffled:]

Anything you want, Professor.

[ WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS. He stares at him and then very quickly moves his hand away and starts walking ]

—You will also contract with the Crown Prince.

[ he says that like he's decided it and phainon has no say in his own NOT MARRIAGE]

Edited 2025-07-19 16:00 (UTC)

Absolutely not.

[????????? MIETTE HAS BEEN GOOD AND NICE AND NOT BEING A LITTLE RUNAWAY AND YOU HIT HIM WITH THIS????]

Why?

[ quick think of another distraction Phainon. But he does almost regret letting him go because now he wonders if he's going to RUN AGAIN ]

Because it significantly increases your chances of obtaining the power we need. Ideally, it should be both of them.

You do not have to do so now. But if he hasn't already, he will find you. You cannot hide forever, and you know as well as I do that he will accept you with open arms.

Didn't I tell you to let us choose whether we want to be protected or not? Let him choose as well.

No. I killed him. No.

[Phainon's walking beside him, but he's not present; the wrist in Anaxa's grasp twists to hold his hand. Phainon's shaking.]

It's only a matter of time before I kill both of them.

[ He'll take that hand and this time, it's his turn to lace their fingers together. He should insist, because it's the logical step to take.

But this Phainon is coming off innumerable cycles where he's had to kill or see them die over and over again, and he's not so cold that he would ignore the obvious mental toll that has taken it. If anything, that Phainon accepted him now is already progress he should not waste by pushing him toward something that is clearly scaring him. ]

If you believed in yourself half as much as I do, we would not be having this conversation. But since you do not, I will have to do that enough to fill in for your deficiency.

Have it your way. I am more than capable of carrying you to our goal on my own.

[It's so anathema to him - to have faith in someone else - that it makes him stop in his tracks to realize what Anaxa is saying. Wordlessly, he pulls at Anaxa's hand, and right there in the middle of the street, he tries to pull his teacher into a hug. Tries to hide his face in Anaxa's shoulders, tries to hide in him, really.]

[ Phainon is so much bigger than he is and yet, right now, he feels so small. He lets himself be pulled easily, and as Phainon hugs him he wraps his arms around him, keeps his hand on his head and strokes his hair gently. ]

I am here. And I will not leave you.

[It's too early to say Phainon believes him. Too early to say if it ever will. But it's enough for Phainon to go on, to look towards the future instead of behind him, when it comes to Anaxa.

This time he's the one who draws back first, leaning in to kiss Anaxa (in public) (yessss), a quick, grateful thank you.]

Well, maybe I have really bad taste in jewelry...

That you have bad taste is expected at this point.

[ Is there. Maybe. A slight blush after he kisses him in public?? Maybe. Surely it's Phainon's immagination ]

I will choose for the both of us.

You could be a little nicer to me...

[He sees that blush! And it makes him smile, small and quiet and real as he links their hands together again.]

Any shop you want! I've earned a bit since I got here.

I will not be nicer to you by lying. Do not forget that I had been forced to wait for you while wearing your clothes. And I have seen the pants you've given to Mydeimos. There is no sugarcoating your bad taste.

[ ...but. He gives a little squeeze to his hand, seemingly pretty content with them being linked like that. Is this ... actually ... a marriage, after all? ]

If you truly are giving me freedom to choose anything, I might just get you an entirely new wardrobe.

But I like my clothes? [Says the man who has always been dressed by someone else for billions of years, spending about half of them dressed like he fought a dimensional Hot Topic and lost.]

How are you supposed to find me in a crowd if I'm not wearing something easy to spot? [He gestures at what he's wearing right now???]

Hmpf. I will admit that this terrible taste of yours is ... uniquely you.

[ And charming and endearing in its own way. So despite his earlier words, when they are at the shop he is just looking at the jewelry ]

But it is difficult to take you seriously when you are wearing that monstrosity.

[Starts taking his top off]

[ PHAINON!? Reaching for his hands immediately ]

Think before you act. Do you seriously intend on stripping down here, where anbyone can see you?

[Perhaps it will start to dawn on Anaxa that the braincell is not with Phainon. Or with his Mydei. Or sometimes with Audei. It's just with Anaxa, sorry.]

You need to pick out a shirt for me, then, Professor.

inbox / recourt

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???

Re: Day 33, ???