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[bluescreenwhitedragon]

"This is Intensity. Leave a message."

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[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[If King is allowing himself to be manhandled, he will shift and tug and rearrange limbs until Intensity is leaning up slightly higher against Blue Eyes while King's head is cradled against Intensity's chest.

Blue Eyes's tail will lash slightly back and forth as she watches the two of them get situated]

[puzzlekeeper]

[ The compliance with manhandling does in fact continue. He lets Intensity fuss them into whatever position he wants before relaxing a little.

At some length: ]

I should apologize for losing my temper.

[ Since at least one of them knows how to do that. ]

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Two regrets in barely a week.

Not adjusting well to what happened back in Liar Hell?

[puzzlekeeper]

[ Huffs a little ]

You could just accept the apology.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Words are cheap.

I’d rather address why you felt you needed to apologize in the first place.

[puzzlekeeper]

[ Tilting his head a little... ]

I don't think I was wrong to be angry, at least not about some of it. And it would be dishonest to say I'm not still angry about those things.

But... much of my anger was fueled by things I was mistaken about. They've been clarified now.

That's why.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Normally I goad you with little to no success.

So you can imagine my frustration when I get that kind of reaction and I don’t know why.

[puzzlekeeper]

The idea that you hadn't been viewing me as an equal this entire time was unacceptable to me.

Does that clarify things?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Yes yes. If I had any idea protecting you would have set you off like this, I never would have done so in the first place.

I already told you that you don’t have to worry about that ever happening again.

[puzzlekeeper]

[ He sighs a little ]

Being protected isn't the problem.

But - I at least deserve to know it's happening in the first place, rather than being left in the dark.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Just huffs irritably]

[puzzlekeeper]

I want to make sure I've been perfectly clear on this, so that we never have this argument again.

[ He reaches up to tilt Intensity's head, ensuring he's looking at him properly. ]

If information needs to be withheld from me, for strategic reasons or because there are concerns I'm compromised or - whatever the case may be, I'll accept that. I don't want anything to compromise the end goal, and I won't demand the information.

I just want to know it's being withheld.

Is that acceptable?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[He locks eyes with King. Perhaps unnervingly so but King is probably used to it by now.]

Your terms are acceptable.

[puzzlekeeper]

[ Mismatched eyes meet his stare evenly until he nods, dropping his hand. ]

Good.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Any other demands you’re going to make? Might as well get them all out now.

[puzzlekeeper]

... As I pointed out before, I've asked exceptionally little of you, ever.

[ SO YOU COULD TRY NOT TO BE A MEGADOUCHE NOW!!! ]

But no. Nothing else.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Look. I only have two settings: Douche and Megadouche. What do you want from me?]

Then let me rephrase.

Any other incorrect conclusions that I need to disprove to you?

[puzzlekeeper]

No.

Though I did have a realization of my own.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

...

[Intensity absently runs a hand through King’s hair.

That’s indication to continue. In case he couldn’t tell.]

[puzzlekeeper]

I don't need you. Just like you don't need me, or anyone.

But even so...

[ His fingers curl in that coat again, but gently this time. ]

I don't want to be without you. Even when I want to strangle you, being without you is... unacceptable.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

I told you there's no where you can go that I can't follow.

Do you not trust me on that?

[puzzlekeeper]

[ ... An amused, half-exasperated huff. ]

Believe me, your stubbornness is not something I doubt.

It's the force of my own desires that was a revelation.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Shifts a little obviously uncomfortable.]

...

Good for you.

[puzzlekeeper]

[ Is it good?

That remains to be seen.

He just hums noncommittally before settling back against Intensity's chest. ]

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[It's probably not good. Let's be real.

As if recognzing the tension between them, Blue Eyes unfurls a wing to drape over the both of them like a blanket.

Intensity only makes an slightly annoyed noise is response as he wraps his arm tighter around King]