closed | there is no upper hand

[keenly]

WHO: Colin and Detlef
WHAT: Post-execution chat
WHEN: After the Shepherds execute the Profane.
WHERE: The guardhouse
NOTES: post-this.

The poor Profane fellow is dead, and Colin only hopes he will meet his beloved in the afterlife.

After they are gone, Colin waits. When they can no longer see him, he goes to his bakery, grabs a loaf of bread, and ventures toward the guardhouse. The cell Detlef stays in isn't locked; nevertheless, Colin simply pulls the towel back from the basket of bread and slides a loaf through the bars.

Comments

[keenly]

Colin smiles wanly and hesitantly puts an arm around Detlef. After a second, he leans against him, relieved to finally feel affection again after so long.

"It's all right," he says with a gleam in his eye that reveals the pride in that statement. "I love baking, but it doesn't make for especially interesting conversation. You like animals? I have chickens."

[stableman]

Oh, this is where it's at. Detlef closes his eyes and relaxes, warm and comfortable.

"I like that I can help them," he murmurs, "but I really like cats. And horses. Pigs are fairly smart. Cows are sweet. Chickens can be jerks, but they give eggs so I'll give them a pass." His voice is light. "Cats are my favorite."

[keenly]

"Roosters are jerks. Universally." Colin chuckles softly. "Hens are little ladies. Probably more like cats than you think. Once you earn their trust, they're quite sweet. But I do like cats. I'd probably keep one if the chickens wouldn't pester it."

After a few breaths of silence, he says, "Why did you decide to stay here, and not somewhere else?"

[stableman]

"Mmhmm," he says. He could fall asleep here. Then he actually hears Colin's question and pulls back a tiny bit so he can think instead of dozing off.

"I don't... I like it here. I like the people. And there was a place that I could fit into. It seemed like it was meant to be, and it... works. Most of the time. When we're not silently watching murder happen."

[keenly]

"I agree," Colin says. "I should hate these people. I should hate this place. Sometimes I wonder why I haven't left and found somewhere else. Then I keep thinking...things are a lot better now than they were. And before much longer, people won't care what my sister did. Some already don't care. And I love Emery and Pippa and all the people who became my family after my real family died. I'm welcome with them. When the Shepherds turned up, Emery came to see how I was doing. To tell me he'd protect me."

Slowly, he rests his cheek against Detlef's hair. And after a moment, pulls back so he can lay them both down on the bed. Extra lazy, but it's the most comfortable.

[stableman]

Well. That's new. The opening up, which is terrifying and not something Detlef at all intends to reciprocate, but also the position. He scoots close, getting very comfortable indeed.

"Northcliff Pass is a lot more welcoming than many villages. They're kind to have taken you in." And him. Far too personal. Colin already knows something about him that no one should. "And you deserve the kindness. You're kind."

[keenly]

"I'm not kind," Colin says reflexively, as if compliments are nothing but bits of gristle to spit out.

[stableman]

"Says the man who brought me bread," he retorts, shifting up to an elbow so he can meet Colin's gaze. "Who brought me bread when there was a risk because I'd done something stupid."

Detlef reaches over and brushes some of Colin's hair back. "What else would you call that?"

[keenly]

Colin's eyes go wide when they meet Detlef's. He's surprised how his body relaxes as he hovers over, as his hair is touched, and how his eyes close at the sensation. When they open again, he watches those blue eyes carefully. He's never been good at eye contact, but this isn't so bad.

He sees an eyelash on Detlef's cheekbone. One hand reaches up to touch his cheek while a thumb brushes it away. It lingers.

[stableman]

He's tempted to kiss Colin. Very, very tempted. The man's pretty and he's getting touchy-feely... but he'd flinched earlier, and there's been too many emotions today already. Heck, there's still a chance the Shepherds will decide to look for him. Detlef reaches up to gently rest his hand on Colin's. This isn't the time.

"I could use a nap, or a dozen drinks, and one of those is a stupid idea." He smiles. "I'm going to go back to my place. But know that any time you need me, or want me, for anything, I'll be there, all right?"

Detlef pulls Colin's hand down and kisses that. There. Now Colin won't feel like Detlef is ditching him, hopefully.

[keenly]

A faint smile and a flutter of his eyelashes. He nods. And as Detlef walks away, Colin sits up and watches him go.