Seeing as how you've all but stepped over my question, I presume I am correct. Luckily for you, I am not here to further your shame. I will send you my room number. [ which he does right away. ]
[ and she does arrive, eventually. if callisto remembers, she had threatened to wear stilletos during practice. but she arrives there with just her regular heels, more sensible than the shoes she'd threatened him with, though she did take pains to clean and make it shiny for the dance practice.
she knocks with purpose, a hand on her waist as she waits on him. ]
[ he doesn't keep her waiting for long, as soon as he hears the knock, he is prepared and is already opening the door. from what she can see of the room already, due to the upgrades, it does mirror what the interior of a palace would look like, albeit within the appropriate size range. outside of it, his room does look impossibly bare, as if it weren't properly lived in. unfortunately, that's how his room had always been, even back in the empire. outside of that, the only thing slightly out of place is...
his sword, which is against the bed stand, and for once callisto seems to be in what would be considered "casual wear" by his standards, in that he isn't wearing his jacket or cape. ] You made it here quickly, can I consider that to mean that you were just that eager? [ to learn, that is.
[ the room is strange. rover hasn't seen anything so impersonal. she imagines that in the real world, the bedroom would be ten times bigger in size, which to her just seems kind of lonely. and impractical. does he have to cross a hallway just to pee? important questions ...
he can get the sense that she's evaluating him again, as she looks around, noting the lack of character anywhere but his sword along the bed, and then says, ] Is this what your palace looks like ...? [ glancing back at his bed - ] It seems like you've decided to live in a museum to be its only permanent staff.
[ well, good enough to practice dancing, she supposes, since he actually has the space. ].
I could hardly forget with how often you remind me.
[ to be fair, they may not have actually exchanged too many words in regards to footwear, but the idea of her potentially stepping on his toes is... a possibility he can't entirely discount. though, whether it would be on accident, or on purpose was another matter entirely.
when he sees the way she passes a glance over his room— ] Is the state of your room so dissimilar? [ he asks, despite the way he could only envision her room to be ... filled with a certain warmth. a contrast against the cold quarters he was accustomed to. ]
My palace is quite similar, yes. I am often told by aide that it appears like all I utilize it for is sleep, and that is not entirely incorrect. [ ... ] But, should a lady be analyzing a man's room so carefully?
[ flowers from home. he supposed even that was likely an attempt to make it feel more familiar. a desire he isn't sure he could relate to. even now, he thinks he's more attached to the spite and his objectives than he had been of the palace itself. but, he doesn't concentrate on that in the present, instead just smiling at the idea of her and her flowers from home. ]
I would like to see those flowers someday. If you think of them so fondly, I can only imagine how sweet its scent. [ poetics for a situation that may not have called for it. ]
Cold, is it? Then, perhaps you should create the change you want to see.
[ though, just having her as his guest seems more than enough for now. ]
I'm not much of a designer, [ rover says, laughing softly. ] but I'd be happy to come and visit you anytime - so long as you do the same for me, if only so you can see the flowers.
[ and she hopes to be able to bring in more flowers in the future, too ... just so her room looks even cozier, prettier. more like home.
rover seats herself on a chair and then adds, ] I would've thought you'd be more attached to your kingdom. But it seems you're more than happy to only carry ... things that are practical, or habitual, with you here.
[ a contrast to how she's seen everyone in jinzhou take pride in everything that's from their home. callisto seems to carry with him ... whatever he's learned and has been ingrained into his consciousness as a prince, or future emperor - all of his ego and mannerisms, which rover is sure is normal from where he's from - and just ... his sword? it seems strange to reconcile with the empty presentation of a palace room that's just a cardboard cut-out of what LILITH considers a palace room, or it's just something he prefers, to think of it as 'his sleeping quarters'. he's very particular about being a future emperor, so she finds it strange his attachments are difficult to discern.
very different from jinhsi. or even jiyan. then again, callisto did say that he doesn't miss a lot of people from home, so .... ]
If the lady permits me, I could hardly deny such a heartfelt invitation. [ per usual, there's an almost teasing undertone to his voice. a touch of wryness his words, but hidden behind it is equal parts sincerity.
considering the role she spoke of to him briefly, it made sense for her to be able to say these words. she spoke with conviction back then, and he can't ewn vision being without memories, but still acting in the best interest for a nation you could barely recall. so perhaps, he understands precisely where this question stems from in that sense. which actually just makes him more curious to her room and all it may represent about the figure of her homeworld. ]
At times, I felt nothing more than an outlier... [ whether this be from the reputation he carried, or whatever misconstrued way in which others seemed to perceive him. ... not that he does himself any favors. ] While it's true that I handled all the stately affairs, it's also true that I didn't have many meaningful relationships. Is that different than what you expected?
[ that he refers to himself as an outlier is surprising to her ... it's true, of course, that callisto's personality doesn't help, but then he ... keeps acting like that anyway. so she wonders if, in some way, this is all a defense as well. in which case, is he an outlier at all? that seems to be common with some people here.
(or maybe it's just the terrible friends she'd made.)
rover gives a slight hum, watching him with her golden eyes. ]
No. You mentioned before that you didn't miss anyone in your world; not even your mother.
So far, the only one you've mentioned jovially is your aide. I suppose as an heir, you have a lot of enemies.
.... ah, come to think of it, you also mentioned being uncertain about friendships. [ it's all coming back to her now! but perhaps this also points to how much she keeps track of when it comes to people she becomes close with. ] A lot of things make sense now.
[ but she says it gently. like she's feeling sorry for such a lonely existence; because it does seem like it. ]
[ honestly, he had this impression before, but when her gold eyes focused on him like this, he almost felt as if she were truly assessing him. he was accustomed to being judged, but he feels her gaze doesn't necessarily come across as that. instead, it seemed careful, and at times... was it sympathetic? he doesn't pretend to see things that aren't there, but it's true to some degree while she spoke her mind verbosely, she also had a way of speaking thoughtfully in regards to him or the life he led.
much like now. "a lot of things make sense now." ] ... I am unsure if that is an insult or understanding. [ but, he does seem to give a slight laugh, not exactly because it's funny, but because he's not sure how else to react at being called out. ]
In comparison to a certain lady who misses her homeland, I am having an easier time in that regard. [ then again, she also didn't have all her memories... and he does inevitably wonder what was the fate for such an individual. ]
So if nothing else, you could take this as your opportunity to fill my mind with stories from your home. Surely with all those you left behind, you have quite a few of them. [ he stands in front of her now, momentarily reaching out, his hand out.
[ a silly man... he's really never heard such words come out of anyone's else's mouth. as much as it may have been puzzling, it was likely just as much of a testament to her lack of fear, or sense of reservation with him. as if she could speak her mind clearly, and without the weight of rumors to bog down her perception of him.
which, completely unknown to him seems to get a touch of smile on his lips, all the more paired with the conviction behind her words. her warmth spreads to the palm of his own hands. her hand on his chest, a bit remnant to the time in the infirmary in their proximity. maybe it's because of this, his own voice drops, a bit more muted and quiet as he whispers a soft: ] Only if I occupy the same amount of space in yours.
[ fair is fair...
but, he pulls away just ever so slightly, keeping the professional distance as one does in dance. but, his smile may have given up more than he intends.
"love." a word he evades, and while normally it may have got him to scoff, he seems to just let it pass. just for now. ]
[ it's funny how much easier it is to talk with him about anything. the times when callisto is gentle doesn't happen as often, so it makes her feel special when he does grant it to her. his smile reflects her own; soft, small, her voice a bit more gentle as she talks to him. perhaps it's best to have done this in his room, after all; it's quiet enough that the two of them can speak like this and not have to worry about anything else.
so she does tell him: a general picture of jinzhou and its varied landscapes, the mountains she enjoys climbing so much like a challenge, the sea, the winters in hongzhen that never end, the mysterious ruins left around the country where there is so much to explore and find. the food. the people, always the people. her friends, and maybe just to tease him, extolling the virtues of general jiyan. but she mentions other people too - yangyang and chixia, her first two friends and the ones who found her when she woke up, primarily. so when she says that she loves everything, she truly does have enough warmth and room for it, and unless callisto interrupts her, she would keep going.
with dancing, she can keep up with him enough - and she's careful not to step on him, except for the times when he teases her, and then she doesn't have a problem deliberately stepping on his toes. a mean person! she will live up to it ...
but the two of them fit together well, and she is elegant and lithe enough to keep up with his instruction; studious, almost to a fault, and demanding him to repeat steps where she doesn't quite understand the flow. she is eager to learn from him. ]
[ each and every single one of her experiences are entirely new and novel to callisto. not simply because he had never been to her world, settled on its numerous sights, or tasted the fulsome dishes she describes in such vivid detail— but, that no one had ever intimately shared their lives in this way with him before. just as he described, he had always felt like an outlier; someone who genuinely didn't belong in the world he hailed from, even when it seemed like the land itself was created to act as his personal hellscape. when he hears her speak so candidly, he almost feels like he's just as much a part of it just from the sheer idea that she speaks them into their mutual existence.
more than the touch of their hands, or the way their bodies move i unison to silent beat of the oculars and the occasional way in which he keeps count to their steps, he feels a certain intimacy just from hearing of her life. hence, he doesn't find it in him to interject outside of occasionally sharing his opinion. for once, he strays away from the darker considerations that he's so used to casting out.
if there was one exception to this rule, however, it seems to spark from her bringing up a few names he's already heard in passing. a ruler in which she considered wise, and a man who was the perfect epitome of a 10/10. he seems to bear that grudge and it shows even with the slight quirk of the brow. as if to shake her from the thoughts of this mystery man, he does dip her body, or quicken his pace.
will he actually address it, however? definitely not.
not because callisto was the type to ever hold back, but almost as if he didn't want to break the illusion of the moment. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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I give you my undivided attention, and this is how you repay me?
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[ and she does arrive, eventually. if callisto remembers, she had threatened to wear stilletos during practice. but she arrives there with just her regular heels, more sensible than the shoes she'd threatened him with, though she did take pains to clean and make it shiny for the dance practice.
she knocks with purpose, a hand on her waist as she waits on him. ]
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his sword, which is against the bed stand, and for once callisto seems to be in what would be considered "casual wear" by his standards, in that he isn't wearing his jacket or cape. ] You made it here quickly, can I consider that to mean that you were just that eager? [ to learn, that is.
but, he doesn't make that distinction clear. ]
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[ the room is strange. rover hasn't seen anything so impersonal. she imagines that in the real world, the bedroom would be ten times bigger in size, which to her just seems kind of lonely. and impractical. does he have to cross a hallway just to pee? important questions ...
he can get the sense that she's evaluating him again, as she looks around, noting the lack of character anywhere but his sword along the bed, and then says, ] Is this what your palace looks like ...? [ glancing back at his bed - ] It seems like you've decided to live in a museum to be its only permanent staff.
[ well, good enough to practice dancing, she supposes, since he actually has the space. ].
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[ to be fair, they may not have actually exchanged too many words in regards to footwear, but the idea of her potentially stepping on his toes is... a possibility he can't entirely discount. though, whether it would be on accident, or on purpose was another matter entirely.
when he sees the way she passes a glance over his room— ] Is the state of your room so dissimilar? [ he asks, despite the way he could only envision her room to be ... filled with a certain warmth. a contrast against the cold quarters he was accustomed to. ]
My palace is quite similar, yes. I am often told by aide that it appears like all I utilize it for is sleep, and that is not entirely incorrect. [ ... ] But, should a lady be analyzing a man's room so carefully?
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[ said in disinterest, because quite frankly she doesn't think she's threatened him that often anyway. callisto was likely teasing her about it. ]
... my room is rather simple. I haven't really done much to decorate it, except to add some flowers from home - a request to LILITH.
[ so yes, it's likely more lived-in, even if the general state is rather simple. she intends to make it a bit cozier, a bit homey. ]
You can be as impersonal as you want, I just think it's rather cold for guests to be hosted in. [ let alone a lady! ]
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I would like to see those flowers someday. If you think of them so fondly, I can only imagine how sweet its scent. [ poetics for a situation that may not have called for it. ]
Cold, is it? Then, perhaps you should create the change you want to see.
[ though, just having her as his guest seems more than enough for now. ]
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[ and she hopes to be able to bring in more flowers in the future, too ... just so her room looks even cozier, prettier. more like home.
rover seats herself on a chair and then adds, ] I would've thought you'd be more attached to your kingdom. But it seems you're more than happy to only carry ... things that are practical, or habitual, with you here.
[ a contrast to how she's seen everyone in jinzhou take pride in everything that's from their home. callisto seems to carry with him ... whatever he's learned and has been ingrained into his consciousness as a prince, or future emperor - all of his ego and mannerisms, which rover is sure is normal from where he's from - and just ... his sword? it seems strange to reconcile with the empty presentation of a palace room that's just a cardboard cut-out of what LILITH considers a palace room, or it's just something he prefers, to think of it as 'his sleeping quarters'. he's very particular about being a future emperor, so she finds it strange his attachments are difficult to discern.
very different from jinhsi. or even jiyan. then again, callisto did say that he doesn't miss a lot of people from home, so .... ]
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considering the role she spoke of to him briefly, it made sense for her to be able to say these words. she spoke with conviction back then, and he can't ewn vision being without memories, but still acting in the best interest for a nation you could barely recall. so perhaps, he understands precisely where this question stems from in that sense. which actually just makes him more curious to her room and all it may represent about the figure of her homeworld. ]
At times, I felt nothing more than an outlier... [ whether this be from the reputation he carried, or whatever misconstrued way in which others seemed to perceive him. ... not that he does himself any favors. ] While it's true that I handled all the stately affairs, it's also true that I didn't have many meaningful relationships. Is that different than what you expected?
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(or maybe it's just the terrible friends she'd made.)
rover gives a slight hum, watching him with her golden eyes. ]
No. You mentioned before that you didn't miss anyone in your world; not even your mother.
So far, the only one you've mentioned jovially is your aide. I suppose as an heir, you have a lot of enemies.
.... ah, come to think of it, you also mentioned being uncertain about friendships. [ it's all coming back to her now! but perhaps this also points to how much she keeps track of when it comes to people she becomes close with. ] A lot of things make sense now.
[ but she says it gently. like she's feeling sorry for such a lonely existence; because it does seem like it. ]
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much like now. "a lot of things make sense now." ] ... I am unsure if that is an insult or understanding. [ but, he does seem to give a slight laugh, not exactly because it's funny, but because he's not sure how else to react at being called out. ]
In comparison to a certain lady who misses her homeland, I am having an easier time in that regard. [ then again, she also didn't have all her memories... and he does inevitably wonder what was the fate for such an individual. ]
So if nothing else, you could take this as your opportunity to fill my mind with stories from your home. Surely with all those you left behind, you have quite a few of them. [ he stands in front of her now, momentarily reaching out, his hand out.
but, for now, didn't they have dance practice? ]
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But the chance to be in your mind, all the time ... a flattering opportunity for your cruel warden.
[ rover grins mischievously as she takes his hand, rises to her feet to start her dance practice with him.
like this, it's easy enough to slip her fingers between his own, a firm clasp together as she stands before him, her other hand over his chest. ]
I will tell you all about the things I love.
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which, completely unknown to him seems to get a touch of smile on his lips, all the more paired with the conviction behind her words. her warmth spreads to the palm of his own hands. her hand on his chest, a bit remnant to the time in the infirmary in their proximity. maybe it's because of this, his own voice drops, a bit more muted and quiet as he whispers a soft: ] Only if I occupy the same amount of space in yours.
[ fair is fair...
but, he pulls away just ever so slightly, keeping the professional distance as one does in dance. but, his smile may have given up more than he intends.
"love." a word he evades, and while normally it may have got him to scoff, he seems to just let it pass. just for now. ]
Do try and not make me too envious.
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so she does tell him: a general picture of jinzhou and its varied landscapes, the mountains she enjoys climbing so much like a challenge, the sea, the winters in hongzhen that never end, the mysterious ruins left around the country where there is so much to explore and find. the food. the people, always the people. her friends, and maybe just to tease him, extolling the virtues of general jiyan. but she mentions other people too - yangyang and chixia, her first two friends and the ones who found her when she woke up, primarily. so when she says that she loves everything, she truly does have enough warmth and room for it, and unless callisto interrupts her, she would keep going.
with dancing, she can keep up with him enough - and she's careful not to step on him, except for the times when he teases her, and then she doesn't have a problem deliberately stepping on his toes. a mean person! she will live up to it ...
but the two of them fit together well, and she is elegant and lithe enough to keep up with his instruction; studious, almost to a fault, and demanding him to repeat steps where she doesn't quite understand the flow. she is eager to learn from him. ]
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more than the touch of their hands, or the way their bodies move i unison to silent beat of the oculars and the occasional way in which he keeps count to their steps, he feels a certain intimacy just from hearing of her life. hence, he doesn't find it in him to interject outside of occasionally sharing his opinion. for once, he strays away from the darker considerations that he's so used to casting out.
if there was one exception to this rule, however, it seems to spark from her bringing up a few names he's already heard in passing. a ruler in which she considered wise, and a man who was the perfect epitome of a 10/10. he seems to bear that grudge and it shows even with the slight quirk of the brow. as if to shake her from the thoughts of this mystery man, he does dip her body, or quicken his pace.
will he actually address it, however? definitely not.
not because callisto was the type to ever hold back, but almost as if he didn't want to break the illusion of the moment. ]