[For a moment, as Phil talks, Alfred places his face in one hand, shoulders taut with shame, with confusion, with frustration...but then the conversation shifts. Phil's tone shifts. The squeeze of his shoulder makes him look up, brushing tears out of his own eyes as he watches the man talk.
He's quiet, for a moment, turning it all over in his head. He feels...understood, and the hollow cast to his expression shifts a little more towards sympathy.
His hand moves up to rest over Phil's. Gentle, as is his voice.]
...I did meet him. He was very nice, but...you are...also nicer than you think you are.
You didn't have to come to see me. But here you are. You are...a good friend, Phil. I'm not angry with you, for what you did. I just...it's hard to know what to think, yet.
And...I like you better, as you are.
[His brows knit a little bit together, and he sputters a weak little laugh, looking away.]
For what that is worth. I know I'm - I'm embarrassing, I'm sorry.
[Phil listens, genuinely shocked that Alfred was saying this about him. He supposed he cared about this poor kid a little, considering that he came over and brought food for him. But to say that this kid likes him better, better than a man who saved him?
He didn't know what to think about that.
Eventually, he's brought back at Alfred's final comment, and Phil starts to laugh himself.]
Yeah, you're kind of embarrassing, but hey, you're in good company. I still sometimes forget that I have to wear pants in public.
[It's honestly a miracle he even showed up with pants here.]
[Maybe, just a little bit - this sudden burst of sweetness is coming from a place of evasion. It's easier for him to step outside himself again to comfort someone else than it is to confront some of the deeper truths of the matter.
But even he doesn't fully realize that now, as he loosens up, by degrees, laughing with Phil.]
I think, with all we have been going through, a lack of pants isn't the worst thing you could do. You...you saw what I was wearing, when I got here.
[That frilly, stolen coat is still hanging in his closet, actually.]
...But this is what I mean. I like...this you. The other one didn't feel quite...real, to me.
[Phil bursts into laughing thinking about Alfred's shirt.]
Oh man I thought that was some weird shit people in your time actually worse! Glad you thought it was a stupid shirt too.
[His laugh dies down again as he pulls Alfred slightly closer to him. Ugh, this kid was too nice, too sweet to him. He doesn't know why Alfred would look at him and think he was the better one of the two.]
...You know what I think?
I think I like you better than that other you too. That guy was absolutely full of himself.
No, I - I stole that, from a vampire at the ball. It was...a stupid plan.
[It feels...nice, to laugh. But then he's being pulled closer, and he reddens a little. Phil is...nice looking, and now Alfred knows his touch in a different context.
But the words are very kind, and unconsciously, his tail slithers up and around the other man, very lightly curling about him. He smiles, sheepishly, his voice small and sweet.]
[He feels Alfred's tail curl around him and he can't help but grin smugly. When this kid is feeling less down on himself he's going to confront the demon about his feelings towards him to see how he reacts. He already gets the feeling he's going to enjoy his answer.
In the meantime, he laughs and moves to ruffle his hair lightly.]
Of course I do. That other you was all talk, like he was trying to prove something with me. You... you're nice, genuinely. You don't know how long I've had to deal with bullshit fake kindness where I'm from.
[Pause.]
But I'll like you even more if you drink that tea I graciously bought for you before it gets cold.
[He will also take the donuts if Alfred doesn't eat them, that is a threat.]
Edited (html pensive) Date: 2022-03-01 02:27 am (UTC)
[Alfred is oblivious to why he's grinning - he's already a touch flustered, though, and Phil has a nice smile, he thinks. He giggles a little under the ruffling of his hair, almost leaning catlike into the touch.]
...I...I haven't had a lot of kindness aimed in my direction. So I try to give it to others, where I can, because...well, as you just said. I like giving others something genuine. I'm...I'm glad, to hear that you like - ah - like who I am.
[It takes him a second to process the comment - and the he blinks, chuckling sheepishly.]
I'm - you're right, I'm sorry, I've been a little rude. Actually can I - if you have a little time, can I get you anything?
[He pauses a little, glancing to his kitchen and back.]
I...still have a bottle of Scotch that my double didn't drink.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2022-02-09 10:19 am (UTC)He's quiet, for a moment, turning it all over in his head. He feels...understood, and the hollow cast to his expression shifts a little more towards sympathy.
His hand moves up to rest over Phil's. Gentle, as is his voice.]
...I did meet him. He was very nice, but...you are...also nicer than you think you are.
You didn't have to come to see me. But here you are. You are...a good friend, Phil. I'm not angry with you, for what you did. I just...it's hard to know what to think, yet.
And...I like you better, as you are.
[His brows knit a little bit together, and he sputters a weak little laugh, looking away.]
For what that is worth. I know I'm - I'm embarrassing, I'm sorry.
no subject
Date: 2022-02-13 03:08 am (UTC)He didn't know what to think about that.
Eventually, he's brought back at Alfred's final comment, and Phil starts to laugh himself.]
Yeah, you're kind of embarrassing, but hey, you're in good company. I still sometimes forget that I have to wear pants in public.
[It's honestly a miracle he even showed up with pants here.]
no subject
Date: 2022-02-13 09:22 am (UTC)But even he doesn't fully realize that now, as he loosens up, by degrees, laughing with Phil.]
I think, with all we have been going through, a lack of pants isn't the worst thing you could do. You...you saw what I was wearing, when I got here.
[That frilly, stolen coat is still hanging in his closet, actually.]
...But this is what I mean. I like...this you. The other one didn't feel quite...real, to me.
no subject
Date: 2022-02-21 03:07 am (UTC)Oh man I thought that was some weird shit people in your time actually worse! Glad you thought it was a stupid shirt too.
[His laugh dies down again as he pulls Alfred slightly closer to him. Ugh, this kid was too nice, too sweet to him. He doesn't know why Alfred would look at him and think he was the better one of the two.]
...You know what I think?
I think I like you better than that other you too. That guy was absolutely full of himself.
no subject
Date: 2022-02-21 04:45 am (UTC)[It feels...nice, to laugh. But then he's being pulled closer, and he reddens a little. Phil is...nice looking, and now Alfred knows his touch in a different context.
But the words are very kind, and unconsciously, his tail slithers up and around the other man, very lightly curling about him. He smiles, sheepishly, his voice small and sweet.]
...You...do? Really?
no subject
Date: 2022-03-01 02:27 am (UTC)In the meantime, he laughs and moves to ruffle his hair lightly.]
Of course I do. That other you was all talk, like he was trying to prove something with me. You... you're nice, genuinely. You don't know how long I've had to deal with bullshit fake kindness where I'm from.
[Pause.]
But I'll like you even more if you drink that tea I graciously bought for you before it gets cold.
[He will also take the donuts if Alfred doesn't eat them, that is a threat.]
no subject
Date: 2022-03-02 02:33 am (UTC)...I...I haven't had a lot of kindness aimed in my direction. So I try to give it to others, where I can, because...well, as you just said. I like giving others something genuine. I'm...I'm glad, to hear that you like - ah - like who I am.
[It takes him a second to process the comment - and the he blinks, chuckling sheepishly.]
I'm - you're right, I'm sorry, I've been a little rude. Actually can I - if you have a little time, can I get you anything?
[He pauses a little, glancing to his kitchen and back.]
I...still have a bottle of Scotch that my double didn't drink.