victory_road | [open] I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions

Entry tags:

[open] I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions

Who: Lorenz Hellman Gloucester.... and anyone willing to deal with him
Where: Mostly Vermillion and... Around?
When: Jan+
Summary: Catchall for arrival and sorting out what the heck is going on here
Rating: R - likely talk of violence, war, possibly blood experiments, genocide, etc. Fun Femblem themes
Log:

Around Town

Lorenz can be found exploring the city in... well just about everywhere, really. There is so much here that is new and novel for him. Electricity, indoor plumbing, never mind the pokémon aspect of it. The technology is so advanced and Lorenz is precisely the type of stuffy no-nonsense person to legitimately sit down and read through instruction manuals.

Whether it's staring at the drink menu of a café in wonder or sitting down somewhere to read through the Breeder's Guide that was in his bag (sometimes even the Gear manual) every other thing seems to have him stopping to watch how things unfold. He tries his best to be polite, to not stare outright, but even at his best there is only so much he can do. when dealing with so many new things. So it's hardly surprising when he eventually catches your eye, looking absolutely flabbergasted.

"Is this.... ah- common here?"

Toge what now?

The arrival of the togepi swarm is his first encounter with wild pokémon intruding on urban spaces and at first he is a bit terrified to move lest he ens up tripping over the little things that seem to be everywhere. "Certainly a new meaning to the phrase walking on eggshells." murmured to himself with a faint smirk of amusement.

But then the skitty he got from the nice lady in New Bark Town is pouncing out from under his chair and onto the nearest little yellow orb and Lorenz is suddenly scrambling after him with a shout of protest.

"Mister Whiskers!!" Oh no. He doesn't want to let this little pink furball hurt the poor thing.

Someone... might want to help him out with this whole "battle" thing.

Femblemtroika House

There's so much to take in that he's reeling with the volume of information very quickly. So many people that he knows but in no meaningful way and the one he does has been here so long and there has been such distance between them that he feels as though he needs to learn him all over again.

It doesn't help him feel any less unmoored than he already does.

He finds himself returning to a seat near a window that overlooks the yard, a cup of tea cradled in his hands, Mister Whiskers slinking up onto the arm or back of the couch, moving with the sun. If left to his own devices Lorenz will spend much of the first few days nursing too much tea, staring into the middle distance, caught up in whatever strange turns his mind is taking. Sometimes a small leatherbound journal will appear from a pocket as well as a delicate glass dip pen. Though his mind seems to wander away from him and there are bold ink spots on both the page and his fingers before long.

Inevitably, when someone passes through the room, he looks up, seeming startled to find someone else nearby every time and though he is always polite, offering a greeting and asking after their wellbeing, there's something distinctly off putting about his response. A tension whenever he sees someone, something almost skittish in the way he holds himself, the way his grip tightens on his pen or his cup trembles ever so slightly.

He can hardly recall the last time he saw so many different people so often and so many of the faces here were far from welcoming when last he saw them.

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Even before Lorenz can go into a full and deep bow, Dimitri sees it coming a mile away. So, patiently, he pulls Tiramisu from his neck as though removing a scarf, and holds her out by the very bottom of her very long body.

Lorenz isn't quite permitted to go into that bow, because there's the sound of dooking right over his head, and then tiny little bean paws gripping it to help prevent him from going any lower.

The full image - Dimitri holding Tiramisu just over her hind legs, the way her long middle almost droops from too much length, and Tiramisu holding onto Lorenz's head - is quite ridiculous. But it's sure what's happening.

"I am no royalty here," Dimitri corrects quietly. "That title does not matter... and this is Claude's home as much as it is mine. Perhaps moreso." Dimitri hasn't been paying on the rent for a while, after all, although he plans on changing that. "There is no need to repay me, with Claude inviting a treasured friend here. Rather... I had hoped to trouble you by inviting you to lunch of some sort."

The first thing he can do to make up for whatever he might have said or done to Lorenz.

For a moment Lorenz is frozen in place, a strangled little noise of distress catching in his throat. What.... the actual...

"Your-" Not Your Highness, but then what in the world is he meant to call him? He just sort of hovers there, caught halfway into a bow, not able to look up at Dimitri with a weasel in (on?) his face but also hesitating just forgoing the bow altogether. Except that Dimitri turns around and calls him one of Claude's treasured friends and it feels as though he's been stabbed in the heart all over again.

He cannot make any such claims to Claude's affections and he well knows it, not after everything he's allowed to happen due to his own cowardice. Craven, just like his father.

Lorenz ends up dropping to one knee so he can better address the living scarf trying to pile itself on top of his head. Oh, his poor hair is going to be so staticky. "I'm sorry... lunch?"

Surely he misheard.

"You... want to take me out to lunch?" What is this madness?

Fortunately, Dimitri has enough mercy in him that he doesn't make things any worse for Lorenz. Carefully, he takes a few steps forward, scrunching Tiramisu up into his arms as he does so until he can reach forward enough to gently pull her up into his arms fully.

That is almost six foot of solid weasel.

He doesn't seem bothered by this at all.

"Yes, I do," he says, slightly muffled by all the Furret that's in his face as he gathers her up into her arms. Tiramisu, from what can be seen of her face, seems quite pleased by the scenario in multiple ways. "Arriving here is often... quite stunning for a person. I thought food may be something to help. Considering when most of us had arrived here, it had been some time, as well, since we had such good food..."

War does not allow for such things very easily, after all... Even for nobility, it can get rather tight.

...and, quite frankly, Lorenz does not look well.

When Lorenz does look up, though, there's a weak smile on his lips. It... is surprisingly difficult to remain morose when one has these darling little creatures wandering about. It takes him a moment to get back to his feet, dusting himself off though there's far more fur on him than any concern of dust or dirt.

"I suppose... I likely am overdue for a meal of some sort." A vague sort of musing that leads to him looking out the window to appraise the sun's location. He hadn't eaten breakfast and, even now, it was getting late for lunch. Strange, he hadn't noticed. But... he hardly ever does.

"While I will admit to being a bit out of sorts it... really isn't necessary for you to take me to lunch, I assure you." He's really not sure what to do with a royal he hardly knows (who he's pretty sure wanted him dead yesterday) wanting to take him out? When he's already been intruding on his space? He's not trying to be difficult but...

He thought this might be the sort of thing that would come up... Lorenz always did seem to be one of those people who held such importance to propriety. No doubt a part of that was why Dimitri never particularly had to deal with him too often, back when they were both schoolboys...

"There are many things that are not necessary in life," Dimitri answers, with the best shrug he can manage when he is balance a worm off her string on his shoulders. They're broad shoulders, but he is alas one man. "That does not make them any less doing." Another pause comes, as he tries to keep Tiramisu from just slinkeying off of his shoulders by accident.

This would be easier if he had her help in the whole affair, but it appears she's made eye contact with Lorenz's Skitty and is making more weird ferret noises. He thinks they're positive?

"Besides... I feel I should do the very least for you, if I am to make any proper apology."

It's a kind sentiment, but he's spent so much of his life not allowing himself to do things other than what is necessary or best for others that it seems frivolous. Especially coming from a prince. He's not entirely sure how to respond to that and thankfully Tiramisu gives him the opportunity to consider that further when she starts chirping at the skitty.

Mister Whiskers is... certainly intrigued by her fussing but seems disinclined to actually leave his sunspot. One leg stretches down along the back of the couch as though just daring her to come closer so he can paw at her face.

"If... she wants to go say hello, she can." Rather than Dimitri struggling with six feet of liquid fur. Ah but then he seems to catch onto the last bit of what Dimitri said and just sort of stares at him for a moment, confused and a bit startled.

"A....pology? You... certainly do not owe me any kind of apology."

Well... If there is no objection from Mister Whiskers himself, nor Lorenz, then Dimitri supposes this is all perfectly fine. Leaning down, he allows Tiramisu to slink down from his arms in true liquid fur fashion. She wastes no time in just going straight up to Mister Whiskers, nose to nose, and getting a good few couple of sniffs in.

Shame is for other creatures, it seems.

Dimitri wishes he could only be so fortunate. Instead, he glances back over at Lorenz from slightly behind a messy curtain of hair, hand curled into a loose fist over his stomach. "I feel I must. After all... I know that I was not in the most - ideal of shapes, in the last time that we must have met. I cannot recall the specifics unfortunately. I only know that I was..."

Monstrous. Despicable. Wretched. Bestial.

"...I feel I may have said or done terrible things around you. Perhaps even towards you."

Shame is inflicted on her with a halfhearted pap to her face when she gets all up in Mister Whiskers' space. But he is curious enough about her that he doesn't really discourage her, just that one warning to stay out of his face so much.

Which is good enough for Lorenz, enough to let him refocus on the blond beside him and-

He frowns, confused, shaking his head and looking a touch dumbfounded. "I'm afraid I haven't the faintest idea what you mean. It was surprising to hear news of you at all, given that we'd been lead to believe you had died. I don't think Claude ever really believed it... no more than he did about the Professor." There's a touch of a smile at his lips, recalling discussions in Derdriu that might have gone very differently if either of them had truly been dead. If Claude, and now that he thinks of it like that, or himself really accepted the idea of their absence.

"I... don't believe I even saw you, at the bridge. I-" He frowns again, harder this time, gaze dropping and a faint shudder running through him. Enough that his arms come up to curl around himself in a weak, fearful mockery of the way he used to stand. Not quite hugging himself but certainly not the same kind of haughtiness he used to display.

"I tried my best to stay away from those... things... for all the good it did me." As though just getting to close to the monsters would corrupt him as well, twist him into whatever awful thing the Agarthans wanted him to be.

So Lorenz never managed to see him... Maybe that is for the better. Dimitri knows that Dedue's arrival stunned him for a brief moment, enough to put him off balance and make things a little more numb than overbearing, but still. The battle had demanded nothing less than all his attention... and all of his attention, at that point in time, could only come in the form of overwhelming violence.

"I see," Dimitri says quietly. "Regardless... I would like to treat you - ah." Dimitri steps away slightly, one hand going to Lorenz's arm as Tiramisu falls back only to start wiggling violently herself. He thinks it's... some sort of play gesture.

"If only to get you out, before Tiramisu end up tripping you."

He hadn't really seen much of anyone. The Professor, of course he vaguely recalls a flash of crimson that must have been Sylvain but he'd been so focused on a very different redhead that-

Maybe, when it came to it, he'd only seen what he wanted to see and his mind had filtered out so much of the rest. But he doesn't have time to brood on that, at least, not when Tiramisu nearly tumbles off the couch on top of him and he steps back towards Dimitri, following the hand on his arm surprisingly obediently. Especially because a moment later Mister Whiskers dives off the back of the couch so he's under it instead, the tip of his tail sticking out to flick sharply back and forth like a lure.

"You named her after cake?" Amused and surprised but.... then looking at her, with her chocolate and cream stripes it made rather a lot of sense. He does, finally, relent at least. Cautiously he takes another step back. "Alright, alright... we'll let them get some of their energy out. Do you think we should close the door?"

Lock the idiots in here so they cannot spread their potentially destructive rampage against the rest of the house?

"I did not name her," Dimitri corrects gently, but leave sit at that. The most important thing right now is escorting Lorenz to the door, while Tiramisu flips onto her long stomach. Her attention is absolutely ensnared on the tail flicking out and about from underneath the couch. "And I suppose if they truly wished to get out, it would be a trivial matter, but we can try. I will let Dean know that this is happening so that he can intervene if necessary, as well."

Dean being the enormous bipedal boar that Lorenz may or may not have seen about the residence in the short amount of time he has been about. It would be somewhat understandable if he hadn't, with how much of a state he has been.

It's simply that Dean is actively on fire, even when it is a lower simmer than a blazing inferno, and also he's wearing Hello Skitty glasses with a blue bow on the corner.

Once Dean has been informed of the troublemakers playing in one of the rooms, Dimitri is more than happy to continue escorting Lorenz outside onto the streets proper, and towards a restaurant that he has in mind. He'd not paid too much attention to what other people were eating, when they were all in school, but he feels as though he can remember some comment or another about Lorenz's tastes... Well, if he is wrong, then he can make up for it easily enough.

For now... After staying mostly quietly throughout the trip as the two of them walk, he inclines his head to Lorenz. "The Furret was Lysithea's," he says quietly. "I imagine Claude may have mentioned she was here in this land, for a short while. When she... left, Tiramisu was a creature that I was left to care for."

That... sure is a pig. On fire. This... is happening.

Lorenz, for his part, will..... wait outside while Dimitri gives Dean his instructions, a hand on his head as though willing away a headache or maybe just the memory of some of the strange things he's expected to simply grow accustomed to here. Still, once Dimitri steps outside he is happy enough to fall into step with the other man. It's honestly a little strange, walking beside someone that shares his height when he so often has had to shorten his stride to keep pace with people.

More strange, though, is how unaccustomed he is to being around others now. How he has to keep glancing aside to make sure Dimitri is really there. But perhaps the most surprising part is that... Lorenz is content to simply walk beside him, no crushing need for conversation or polite trivialities. Something he would not have been able to stop himself from prattling on with when he was younger.

Though he does find himself startled by the idea that Lysithea was here. Startled but pleased. He offers Dimitri a smile, shaking his head a little. No, Claude hadn't told him. "I'm sure she would have found this place endearing..."

"That certainly explains why she was named after cake, though." A soft chuckle, a glance at Dimitri to gauge how true he finds the statement, how close he and Lysithea might have become.

"She did seem to enjoy a great deal of it, particularly the sweets," Dimitri agrees, a soft smile flitting across his face as he guides Lorenz through the streets and past all the other people of Vermillion. He can see more than a few Electric types alongside their trainers, a sign of pride towards the city's gym. At one point, he used to stare. Now, it's just a reassuring sight.

This entire place is reassuring. He wonders if Lorenz will feel the same way about it all.

"However, I believe... She did struggle, at times, on what to do in a place lacking war. Understandable..." It was a part of their lives for so long, after all. Dimitri knows Felix feels the same way, restless if he doesn't have something to improve upon, and lacking the feel of battle that was what they had grown up familiar with. "But yes. I believe more than a few of the others left behind share similar names... Ah, here we are."

It is a rather nice building, plain in some ways, but with elegant reading that spells out its name atop its doors - Cut with a decoration of a Tentacruel. Dimitri politely holds open the door for Lorenz; he won't let himself be beaten by manners and deference here.

He imagines the inside must be quite different to what Lorenz is used to. While there are more "modern" enmities, such as the tables, there is still an undeniably traditional "Johto" feel to it, from the small statues of things like Meowth to the type of artwork up against the wall. Taking up the entirety of one wall is an enormous tank full of water, with a couple of Chinchou floating idly through it while glowing gently, and a few Corphis on the ground, observing the diners curiously.

"Do you like fish, Lorenz?" Dimitri asks. "I thought I could recall something akin to that, but it has been a great deal of time. I may be mistaken."

In truth, the fact that it is a bit traditional and plain is probably for the best. Lorenz hasn't been in many places and those that he has have been overwhelmingly modern. There's something simple and soothing about the atmosphere that he appreciates as soon as he walks in, even with the little bit of anxiety that comes with Dimitri holding the door for him.

That is one thing that the two of them are on opposite ends of. Lorenz is always strict about etiquette and propriety, certainly, but in a way it is a means to manage his own nervousness around others. If one abides by proper decorum then, one never has need to question what the correct response is. There is a precision and order to everything that while demanding is comforting in its familiarity.

Which means here, like this, Dimitri is... throwing all of his careful responses out the window and leaving him at a bit of a loss.

"One does not spend as much time in Derdriu as I have and not come to appreciate all manner of seafood." It is, after all, the Aquatic Capital. But catering to his tastes instead of the prince's? What is he meant to do with that? "If it is not something that you favor, however, we could easily... go.... elsewhere?"

But can they? Not now, not really, not when they've already stepped inside. That would be horribly rude for the staff, wouldn't it.

"I am not opposed to fish," Dimitri says simply, nodding politely to one of the hosts and stepping forward. It's clear to him that if he lets Lorenz have his way, then this will turn into something completely stiff and not made for Lorenz at all.

They're lead to one of the pleasant little booths, where Dimitri takes a seat. "Perhaps we should order a variety of dishes," he muses, even as they are handed the menus. "It would be nice if I could give you a pleasant impression of this place... But I suppose I am getting ahead of myself. This place does not serve the type of tea we are used to, Lorenz, but its tea is available... I would like to introduce you to soda, yet that seems to garner mixed reactions."

"I'm certain I will be unfamiliar with... nearly everything so I will take your recommendation in this case." For better or worse. Still the fact that Dimitri was aware that he liked seafood even was far more consideration than Lorenz had expected. Still when Dimitri mentions tea he perks up, clearly interested.

"Oh? Another new type of tea? I had a lovely young lady introduce me to something called... chi? I think it was?" Chai, he means chai. Though the mention of soda has him furrowing his brow. What? But... soda is what you use to make soap isn't it?

"So...da....? What sorts of reactions?" He looks awfully wary.

Frankly, Dimitri can understand that hesitance. Especially with how Dimitri had already given that bit of warning... Well, anyone would be. "Felix found it to be too sweet," Dimitri explains, browsing over the selection. If he could taste, perhaps it would be easier to make proper recommendations to Lorenz... "And it has an interesting texture that I rather enjoy. Ah... I will get it as a drink, and allow you to try some. That way, you do not feel obligated to finish it if it is not to your taste."

That will work just fine, he should think... But in the meanwhile... "While I am familiar with a similar kind of tea to that from Duscur, this restaurant serves something called green tea. Perhaps that will also appeal to you."

It seems like the kind of thing that Lorenz would like, based on what Dimitri has heard about its taste. In the meanwhile, he begins to point out things on the menu. "As a way of going about a proper order, we can start with a soup and some fried vegetables first." Since it's clear Lorenz cares about order, and the like. Maybe that will make him less... unsettled. It has been some time since Dimitri has had to think about such matters, honestly. It almost feels political.

"Miso soup, and hopefully the vegetables are pleasant... After that, we can start with a type of dish called sashimi. It is that kind of dish, right there." Reaching over, Dimitri points out to one of the pictures on the menu. "Raw fish, arranged on top of a small portion of rice."

"Sweet... really? Isn't soda a base?" Like lye but milder. There must certainly be some sort of miscommunication here. But Dimitri begins to go over the menu for him and Lorenz listens intently, fascinated and also rather impressed with Dimitri's pronunciation of some of these dishes.

"Ah just a moment, your Highness, if you don't mind." Hold on, too many new words too quickly. First, mental note, Duscur has chai, or something similar. Duly noted. He'll have to ask if Dedue has tried it, it certainly seems spicy enough to be to his taste.

"Misu soup?" Can this man pronounce anything correctly? Just, give him time. But he points at the line on the menu and... it simply has a price. "What is misu-oh? Wait is it miso?"

Seeing the spelling does wonders rather than trying to pick these things up phonetically. Sorry Dimitri you decided to give him a lesson in traditional cuisine, you have to deal with him asking a million questions now. Which, given his previous attitudes might be surprising, really. He truly does enjoy learning, though, and... perhaps is a bit too thorough when faced with a new topic.

Ah, he supposes it is a rather lot of information. Dimitri holds off for a moment patiently as Lorenz leans over to inspect the menu himself, already full of questions. Perhaps that is a good sign... Dimitr is not sure how much time Lorenz had spent staring out the window, but his dazed response had made Dimitri... wonder.

"I do not know how they make it, but here, soda simply seems to refer to a kind of drink," Dimitri explains, letting his gaze skim along the menu again. "As for miso - that pronunciation was correct - that is a sort of seasoning native to Johto." He pauses, doing his best to recall the intricacies of what it is, exactly. "They ferment a kind of bean, and the other ingredients added to it define the exact flavor, before they make it into a paste, or seasoning. For the soup itself, many restaurants like this one seem to favor having their menu reflect the seasons, so the exact ingredients are always changing."

Oh, that reminds him - "They used a very soft food called 'tofu' often, however. It is white, often cut into small blocks, and apparently takes in the flavor of its surroundings. It is very easy to easy." And thus hopefully will go down well for Lorenz in particular.

Lorenz is attentive, nodding along as Dimitri explains. He doesn't know the first thing about cooking but fermented bean paste sure sounds complicated.

"Well... I would certainly be interested in trying this soda of yours." It's the one vaguely familiar thing they've discussed so far and it's being used in a completely different context here. "Though, perhaps, some of this green tea as well."

If tea is offered he's, obviously, always going to lean toward tea.

"So, we begin with miso soup and fried vegetables... and from there move to a rice and fish dish?" How many parts are there to this particular style of cuisine? Soup with a side of vegetables sounds quite enough to him but then rice and fish in addition to that? "And you said that is served raw?"

Not unheard of, he's certainly had his share of oyster shooters, but it's rarely fish itself.

"Then we can try both," Dimitri says amiably. For something fresh like fish, what would be good to pair with it...? Maybe something with a more fresh sensation. The Spritezee? He think he'll go with that. He can't say from experience, but that is the impression that he got of its taste. "If you do not care for it, then I will finish it, so that nothing goes to waste."

Dimitri isn't entirely sure if this is as much of a concern to Lorenz as it is for him. Best to mention it just in case he does worry about it - or perhaps just that it was a waste of money. Would that be more likely?

Either way, he supposes it will all work out in the end. Dimitri gives the order to the server when they come over, before his attention returns to Lorenz. "It is not necessary, but I thought perhaps vegetables and soup would be more familiar to you," he explains. "The fish that follows it is cut up into small portions, so it should not be an issue to finish a small bowl." The tempura is for him more than anything; Dimitri feels in the mood to crunch down on something a bit.

"And yes, it is served raw, from what I understand." Probably. It's hard to say when he's never, like... seen an actual fish be fished up and prepared to be eaten. All the fish that are in Johto and Kanto waters are, like... kind of sentient? And it is frowned upon to eat them? He still doesn't know how it all works, really.

Although speaking of eating... Dimitri picks up the small pair of chopsticks that have been left for him. "Oh, this is also a common sight in this manner of eating, you know. Apparently, in Dagda, they use utensils much like this." Carefully, he adjusts his fingers, until he is holding them in the proper form. It's a good thing he's been here a year; he would never have managed to wield them this decently even six months prior, he suspects.

One of the benefits of living in the Alliance is that food scarcity was never really a concern, certainly not in the same way it was in Faerghus. Even during the war if it had been an issue it had been one largely removed from him. Though he suspects as time wore on things would have been getting tighter but... never something that reached him while he was in Derdriu and-

Well he wasn't in a position to learn much about anything going on in the region on a larger scale than the dealings his father had with the Agarthans when he wasn't in Derdriu.

Still the meal is on Dimitri's coin, as it were, and Lorenz would never wish to be intentionally wasteful, especially of another's generosity. He nods, grateful for the assurance. As well as the insistence that the fish is served in a small enough portion that it should not be too excessive.

The chopsticks, however, are... fascinating. "In Dagda? Really?" Lorenz picks up his own pair, scrutinizes Dimitri's hold for a moment, and... well he makes an attempt. Surprisingly not terrible given how badly he butchers the pronunciation of things. His fingers, it seems, are cleverer than his tongue. "How did you discover that?"

Was Petra or Shamir here at some point as well as Lysithea? A slight adjustment and he holds his hand out for Dimitri to inspect his grip.

"From Felix, if you would believe it," Dimitri says, putting down his own pair of chopsticks so that he can reach over for Lorenz's hands. He wouldn't say he is an expert, but... He knows enough to help make some minor adjustments on his end.

"He has some distant relation to Dagda... and I believe he spoke with Shamir, at least when we attended school all together." Dimitri doesn't know much about that, granted. Why would he? During that time in their lives... Felix made himself hard to get close to, the two of them often drawn to one another, and yet Felix constantly making an effort to push him away.

He pauses for a moment as the server comes back, depositing various glasses. Two of them are just water, as a courtesy clear and with cool ice that helps offset the gentle warmth inside the restaurant that is in turn contrast against the chill outside.

Yet the true stars of the show are of course what they actually ordered: the green tea, brilliantly colored in its simple but beautiful white cup, and the soda, bubbles still suspended amongst the ice cubes.

Gently, Dimitri places a small plastic straw in the soda glass, and nudges it closer to Lorenz. "Here. It may be good to try this first, so that you can enjoy your tea afterwards."

He is certainly surprised to hear it is Felix that passed on that particular bit of knowledge. He found it hard to believe he'd have taken interest in anything that wasn't violence, really, but it's hardly as though he really knows the man, merely his reputation. Judging a person based on hearsay is never a good idea. Something he'd always believed, that one should take the measure of a man themselves rather than rely on gossip, but had never really appreciated until he'd had his own reputation working against him. As with Mercedes, for example. Even moreso once he accepted that his Father's word was just as much hearsay as anyone else's.

Maybe even worse.

No, certainly far worse.

He is a bit startled when Dimitri reaches out to adjust his hold. The casual way the other man touches his hand somehow, after so long kept at a distance from others, surprising him enough that he nearly jerks his hand away. Just a twitch, a slight tensing before he relaxes his hold to let Dimitri move his fingers. He's still focusing on memorizing the way his fingers are placed, the way he's meant to move his hand to grasp things when the drinks are delivered.

"I see... hmm... I may need you to help me adjust these again when the food arrives." Because he's not positive he'll remember precisely how the hold works when it is something so foreign to him.

The fact that Dimitri immediately nudges the soda toward him earns a raised brow, a bit of gentle amusement tugging at his lips. "You're expecting me to hate it."

Not a question, a statement. He wouldn't be telling him to get it over with if he didn't expect the glass to get shoved back towards him in a moment. Lorenz, used to tea and wine, makes the terrible mistake of sniffing the drink to try to get a sense of it before he actually takes a sip. Which, of course, backfires horribly as bubbles go up his nose and he immediately jerks away, wrinkling his nose and turning to press a cough into his sleeve.

"What in the world-?!" A startled, frantic look at Dimitri and then back to the soda, looking for all the world like he expects the glass to bite him.

Given the behavior of his sinistea, not an unreasonable concern.

In some ways, it's almost a relief that Lorenz requests his help again with adjusting the placement of the chopsticks. Dimitri had wondered if he was overstepping his boundaries with the quiet way that Lorenz had jerked. Claude's words still linger in the back of his mind - from when he had first contacted them all about Lorenz's state.

Dimitri cannot say what it is that Lorenz has gone through... He and the man before him have only just met after five years of constant war.

...But he can understand being tentative about the idea of even being touched, even when one is almost ravenous for another's touch.

Depressing thoughts to be sure. That's why, it's almost a delight when Lorenz tries to sniff the soda, only to recoil with a look of alarm on his face and bubbles in his nose. Dimitri raises a hand to his mouth, leaning forward. "Oh- Are you all right, Lorenz? No, it is nothing like tea at all." Or wine, but tea is what Dimitri honestly associates the strongest with his mental image of Lorenz. Then again, that was just how it was back in their school days - tea was easily available, but sneaking in alcohol past the watchful glare of Seteth?

Well. Some certainly tried, he supposes.

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