Hang on. [ Before Leo can get too far with that (unknown to her, faked) messed up knot, she stops him completely, hands tightening a bit around his. ] Watch me closely, Prince Leo.
[ And she does it again, but as she goes through the motions she wonders aloud. ] I don't get it - if not for this knot, you'd have this down perfectly... [ Once she ties the knot twice, for good measure, she undoes it and takes a step back. ]
Would you try it one more time? [ And she's really got her eye on him this time, but on him in general, not just his hands. ]
[He isn't sure what to do now. Leo holds the fabric loosely in his hands and chances a glance up at Oboro before quickly looking back down at his hands.
Oboro's watching him, he can tell. He can feel her eyes on him. So he supposes the gig is up. She'll see right through him if he fakes it again.
He ties the knot proper this time, but doesn't say a word.]
[ Oboro is pretty good at reading people. With Takumi's moods, she has to be - and as a tailor, she trained herself to better understand the difference between a client's actual approval and an unwillingness to take up more of her time than necessary.
So her previous thoughts of something being wrong return to the surface, and instead of heaping a load of (admittedly, still deserved) praise, she folds her arms in front of her and asks point blank. ] Is something the matter, Prince Leo? [ If he were as lost as he seemed, wouldn't he be happier now, to finally understand? ]
[ The realization hits suddenly - the same one Leo had earlier in the morning, before she even arrived to check in on him. If he can get dressed on his own, without her guidance, then-- ... .............
A selfish feeling rises within her, one she feels she has no right to have. Still, she keeps her voice steady. ] What do you mean? [ Is it over? This comfortable space they've been building together, their slowly-growing friendship?
(Does she have to put her hopeless affection to rest?) ]
I can dress myself properly now. You don't need to come check on me in the mornings anymore. [Perhaps it's dramatic to say, but the words feel like acid on his tongue. Vile.]
I'm sure this has taken away from your morning duties, so you must be relieved. [He stops himself there. That may be what he's thinking but it's not what he wants to say.] I... have to admit, though. I'll miss our morning chats.
[ She's almost ready to let him be, without a single protest - because who is she, a retainer, to argue with a prince of another nation? surely he has other things to do in the mornings than this - but then he expresses his remorse and now, more than ever, she wants to stay.
And she'll say just that. ] This may be out of line for me to say, but... I've liked spending time with you, too. And I'll keep making time for you, if you want. So if that's your concern, you don't need to worry. I'm not going anywhere if you don't want me to.
[ Leo's an idiot, because yes, getting her to stay is that easy.
A warm smile returns to Oboro's face. ] Sounds like a plan to me! I've still got some time on my hands, so would you like me to bring you some tea now? [ A little eager? Perhaps. But hopefully it's not something Leo minds. ]
That sounds lovely. [He's just as eager after all.] You needn't bring it, though. I'm awake enough that I'll walk with you. [More time to spend together rather than her running back and forth. And for good measure, he will continue to be honest:]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
[Oboro's hands are on his still but he fights them to do the incorrect motions once more.]
no subject
[ And she does it again, but as she goes through the motions she wonders aloud. ] I don't get it - if not for this knot, you'd have this down perfectly... [ Once she ties the knot twice, for good measure, she undoes it and takes a step back. ]
Would you try it one more time? [ And she's really got her eye on him this time, but on him in general, not just his hands. ]
no subject
Oboro's watching him, he can tell. He can feel her eyes on him. So he supposes the gig is up. She'll see right through him if he fakes it again.
He ties the knot proper this time, but doesn't say a word.]
no subject
So her previous thoughts of something being wrong return to the surface, and instead of heaping a load of (admittedly, still deserved) praise, she folds her arms in front of her and asks point blank. ] Is something the matter, Prince Leo? [ If he were as lost as he seemed, wouldn't he be happier now, to finally understand? ]
no subject
I think I fully understand it now, so that's all there is to it, right? To this? [To them.]
no subject
A selfish feeling rises within her, one she feels she has no right to have. Still, she keeps her voice steady. ] What do you mean? [ Is it over? This comfortable space they've been building together, their slowly-growing friendship?
(Does she have to put her hopeless affection to rest?) ]
no subject
I can dress myself properly now. You don't need to come check on me in the mornings anymore. [Perhaps it's dramatic to say, but the words feel like acid on his tongue. Vile.]
I'm sure this has taken away from your morning duties, so you must be relieved. [He stops himself there. That may be what he's thinking but it's not what he wants to say.] I... have to admit, though. I'll miss our morning chats.
no subject
And she'll say just that. ] This may be out of line for me to say, but... I've liked spending time with you, too. And I'll keep making time for you, if you want. So if that's your concern, you don't need to worry. I'm not going anywhere if you don't want me to.
no subject
Leo straightens.] I... would like that. [He would like for Oboro to make time for him. Gods, how miserable and desperate does that sound.]
Perhaps we could just.. sit down and have some tea in the morning? Together?
[Why does he feel like an idiot now? Because it was this easy?]
no subject
A warm smile returns to Oboro's face. ] Sounds like a plan to me! I've still got some time on my hands, so would you like me to bring you some tea now? [ A little eager? Perhaps. But hopefully it's not something Leo minds. ]
no subject
That sounds lovely. [He's just as eager after all.] You needn't bring it, though. I'm awake enough that I'll walk with you. [More time to spend together rather than her running back and forth. And for good measure, he will continue to be honest:]
I want to.