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It's [not] your birthday!! libekory
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libekory!You requested something Regal/Zelos-flavored, and here we are, two weeks late.
He had gone to Altamira to drink in peace and be alone, reasoning that with so many other interesting destinations to buy expensive drinks in, the single hunnies would not be lingering at the mellow bar in the basement of the Altamira Hotel. Unfortunately, Zelos had forgotten that Altamira was home to a particularly insightful businessman-cum-duke who seemed all too concerned about Zelos's well-being for some inexplicable reason.
"If you had warned me of your visit, I would have arranged lodgings for you, Chosen," Regal was saying. "There was no need to pay for a suite out of your own pocket -- or assume the name Wilford Zane."
"But you found me out anyway," Zelos told his tumbler. It was still somewhat disorienting to look at Regal and see him in some pose other than his familiar handcuffed penitence, so Zelos elected not to look at him and risk ruining his pleasant buzz.
"There is nothing discreet about telling the wait staff, 'Don't be fooled by appearances, hunny, I'm actually the Chosen.'"
Zelos sighed. His old habits betrayed him -- and it did feel like a betrayal. He knew exactly which girl had ratted on him, he remembered using that line on her quite clearly: brunette and quite sweet in her little hotel uniform, nice eyes, great hips, okay rack, and a saucy smirk. It was ridiculous to hold it against her (she was Regal's employee, and the man had a way of turning even the most fun-loving of girls into stiff soldiers) but he was just drunk enough to feel wounded.
"Oooh," was all he said. "And she told me she was interested in me for my sparkling conversation. So, like, do you have a bounty out for information about me, or what?"
Regal paused a moment, then said with audible disapproval, "She had heard that you were a companion of mine, and she was concerned for your mental state. As she had no authority to inquire, she asked me to see to you."
Wow, that was even worse. If Regal were stalking him, at least he'd had stalkers before, but instead Regal was here as a favor to some strange girl, to visit a companion of his. He hunched his shoulders, feeling his buzz turning sour around the edges, but he said blithely, "I'm honored you took time out of your busy schedule to see little old me, but as you can see, I'm in fine health. Plus, they say a little drinking is good for the body!"
"A little, yes," Regal agreed quietly.
Zelos finally turned to face him -- goddess, he had his arms folded over his chest, just like any non-criminal! -- and eyed his finery with a practiced eye. Tailored, designed to flatter him. Pretty stylish, actually. And current style, that's rare for someone of his age and station.
He was seeing someone.
That only soured Zelos's mood still further. So much for the one remaining bastion of good, old-fashioned love. He drawled, "Well, look at you, all dressed up and nowhere to go. You clean up to be a real lady-killer, you know."
A spark of anger lit in those pale blue eyes, and Regal's jaw set with minute agitation. But he only said mildly, "Let me put you up at my manor, Chosen. This is no place for you."
It was an impressive offer; not only because the Bryant manor was supposed to be a paradise, but also because he could make the offer at all after Zelos had just deliberately gouged open the old wounds. Zelos respected that enough to admit, "This place is why I'm here."
"This-- cheap bar?" Regal sounded like he nearly had to force the words out, as if they were distasteful. "There is a reason why they put it in the hotel basement. It is intended only for the ruined and the wretched, who take no other joy in life than drink."
What makes you think I'm not that? Zelos wondered, and finished off his glass out of spite.
Regal's hand came down on the counter, hard enough to make glasses rattle and Zelos choke on his drink, and when he lifted it again there was a tidy amount of gald left behind. Almost exactly the cost of the last hour of Zelos's drinking -- he must've counted the glasses.
"There is a bar in my manor," Regal said, calm. "And the wines are first-rate."
A shrewd businessman indeed -- he had done his research, if he knew of Zelos's weakness for fine wines.
Regal added, "And the company, I think, a little higher-class." There was just a hint of a smile about his lips.
And if he was, in fact, hitting on him. It was subtle, and mild, and easily overlooked, but Zelos was a master of the pick-up line, and that had the ring of a certain kind of enticement. Zelos eyed the tailoring and considered the possibility that it was for him, and not for some whore, and suddenly it didn't seem quite so depressing.
"Well," Zelos began, mustering a lopsided smile that was just a little sincere. "That sounds like a claim that needs to be challenged to me."
no subject
Jesus, I really am a pervert when I look at businessman-cum-duke and just see cum-duke. D:..but that was sweet, and deliciously subtle, and I laughed, and oh geez. ♥ My favorite ToS pair, and you have to do it like this. I love it so. ;_;
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Ahaha, it was actively weird to write too, you're not alone in your failure!I'm happy you like it~~ The conversation and the one-upping is part of why they're fun. X3 I think she'll enjoy it too, la.no subject
I love the pairing so much. Eee, sort-of-crack-but-not-really. Regal is one of few people in the party that clearly really "gets" Zelos's act, and he doesn't react by drowning the guy in pity, so that's about 8000 points right there, you know?
no subject
I like the end particularly, how it all comes together neatly, and how totally not a big deal any of this is. I like my flailing and spazzing too, don't get me wrong, but there is something so hot about the simplicity of just, "Mm, you're pretty~ Sex?" "...Purr."
Only with a little more tact, since, Regal.
*just, very happy*
*even if it is two weeks late ♥*