[By any means necessary. Right. He just nods faintly, avoiding reacting to that any more than he should have.
Alexander not being on the market -- or maybe just not interested and being polite -- makes Verso relax, somehow. There's so many people here, it's so easy to get entangled, and that's... it's difficult.
But then he stares when Alexander produces a croissant.]
Huh. Where did you get that? [But he holds his hands up, politely declining.] I can hardly steal your snacks when I'm the one who surprised you.
[Alexander seems unmoving with the croissant still in his hand; eyes looking far too dry as he stares at the other man with a flat look. Mask fading in and out as he grows tired of keeping up a charade that, in hindsight, he doesn't need to do while he's here. People know him for who he actually is, but it's hard for old habits to die.]
I own a pop up bakery stall when I have the energy to bake. As of right now, I have been baking for a young lady named, "Maelle". She mentioned that she missed pastries from back home, so I made these for her. Although, these are just left overs.
[He stares down at the small bag, and then at the croissant.
Verso probably thinks these are poisoned, which he would be absolutely in the right for being concerned. He isn't surprised that he doesn't want to take it, so he simply puts it back into paper bag.]
I see. Well, more for her, I suppose.
[Alexander hugs the bag a bit closer to him; giving the man another once over.]
[Getting him to mention Maelle that quickly, huh? This is going better than expected. He hums faintly, contemplatively.]
I'll have to stop by sometime. [He's not hungry right now. Or he doesn't want to deprive Maelle of her treats.] If you're baking for her, you two must be pretty close.
[It's casual how he asks. Light and airy. There'd be no reason to suspect anything.]
Me? Dusk. I don't particularly know why, but... [He shrugs.] And you?
[Alexander can only make a face as he eyes this man quietly. He knows that Verso can see it; he isn't exactly hiding it. Though, it doesn't seem like he's bothered by the other man anymore.]
Close? Perhaps. I don't want to assume what level of closeness I have with any friend.
[Although, he's always been like that. He can't trust his judgement when he's being himself because he knows his own brain clouds his judgement. So, he can only defer that to his friends, rather than himself.]
Dusk? I have met a few people from dusk. Though, I truly don't understand what courts are useful for... But that is because the fae from back home are different from here.
[He pauses in thought, wondering if he should lie.]
Winter, but I don't live in the castle. ... But I figured you gathered as much, if you have been following me.
[Would he feel better or worse if Alex admitted to being close? Even so, if he's looking out for Maelle, it relaxes him a little bit. Maelle does surround herself with older brother types, and adults who will be responsible enough to keep an eye on her. This is probably fine.]
Beats me. These courts seem like silly ways to divide us, but maybe there's some secret meaning I don't understand. [He shrugs. At least he's not like, in spring. That would feel particularly ill fitting.]
True, but I like to hear it from you. [He hums faintly.] Why don't you live in the castle?
I'm not a fan of being part of their theatrics. However, I have mainly stayed far away from everything. An attempt to be boring so they might banish me out of this place.
[He can only hope... But he's with Verso on this one. He doesn't understand either, because these fae are highly different than what he's used to. He doesn't like it. Not knowing anything, even after being here for as long as he has.]
Ah. Well.
[His brow constricts. He should give a diplomatic response, but this question in particular... It always makes him honest. With the lack of support from his usual loved ones back home, he doesn't have anyone to supplement his lies. In some ways, he is truly helpless.]
Because I hate people.
[It's said flatly, but Verso might be able to see beyond the mask.]
I don't trust strangers, nor do I like being around them. Almost everyone who has come into contact with me has some malicious intent, so you can see why it would be rather difficult to sleep in a room with someone I do not know.
[Well. Alexander can be honest, and Verso's a little touched he's pulled that out of him. Or maybe not, because he can still see the masks. Ah, ah, he gets it.]
In your home world, or here? [Paranoia from home he can understand. Still, there's a lightness in his question, like he doesn't actually expect Alexander to answer.] But I get it. Betrayal is a quick way to make one antisocial.
....But you're not entirely antisocial, are you? You're hanging out with that, what was her name, Maelle? And me, now.
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prestigiously) wrote2025-07-30 08:31 pm
no subject
Alexander not being on the market -- or maybe just not interested and being polite -- makes Verso relax, somehow. There's so many people here, it's so easy to get entangled, and that's... it's difficult.
But then he stares when Alexander produces a croissant.]
Huh. Where did you get that? [But he holds his hands up, politely declining.] I can hardly steal your snacks when I'm the one who surprised you.
no subject
I own a pop up bakery stall when I have the energy to bake. As of right now, I have been baking for a young lady named, "Maelle". She mentioned that she missed pastries from back home, so I made these for her. Although, these are just left overs.
[He stares down at the small bag, and then at the croissant.
Verso probably thinks these are poisoned, which he would be absolutely in the right for being concerned. He isn't surprised that he doesn't want to take it, so he simply puts it back into paper bag.]
I see. Well, more for her, I suppose.
[Alexander hugs the bag a bit closer to him; giving the man another once over.]
What court are you in?
no subject
I'll have to stop by sometime. [He's not hungry right now. Or he doesn't want to deprive Maelle of her treats.] If you're baking for her, you two must be pretty close.
[It's casual how he asks. Light and airy. There'd be no reason to suspect anything.]
Me? Dusk. I don't particularly know why, but... [He shrugs.] And you?
no subject
Close? Perhaps. I don't want to assume what level of closeness I have with any friend.
[Although, he's always been like that. He can't trust his judgement when he's being himself because he knows his own brain clouds his judgement. So, he can only defer that to his friends, rather than himself.]
Dusk? I have met a few people from dusk. Though, I truly don't understand what courts are useful for... But that is because the fae from back home are different from here.
[He pauses in thought, wondering if he should lie.]
Winter, but I don't live in the castle. ... But I figured you gathered as much, if you have been following me.
no subject
Beats me. These courts seem like silly ways to divide us, but maybe there's some secret meaning I don't understand. [He shrugs. At least he's not like, in spring. That would feel particularly ill fitting.]
True, but I like to hear it from you. [He hums faintly.] Why don't you live in the castle?
no subject
[He can only hope... But he's with Verso on this one. He doesn't understand either, because these fae are highly different than what he's used to. He doesn't like it. Not knowing anything, even after being here for as long as he has.]
Ah. Well.
[His brow constricts. He should give a diplomatic response, but this question in particular... It always makes him honest. With the lack of support from his usual loved ones back home, he doesn't have anyone to supplement his lies. In some ways, he is truly helpless.]
Because I hate people.
[It's said flatly, but Verso might be able to see beyond the mask.]
I don't trust strangers, nor do I like being around them. Almost everyone who has come into contact with me has some malicious intent, so you can see why it would be rather difficult to sleep in a room with someone I do not know.
no subject
In your home world, or here? [Paranoia from home he can understand. Still, there's a lightness in his question, like he doesn't actually expect Alexander to answer.] But I get it. Betrayal is a quick way to make one antisocial.
....But you're not entirely antisocial, are you? You're hanging out with that, what was her name, Maelle? And me, now.