[ Tseng had been browsing the pantry to see what they needed to get at the grocery, something he doesn't think he'll get used to, when he comes across several bags of snacks tucked away in the back of the pantry. He knows Rufus enjoys that sort of thing, so he checks the bag to see if they need to restock when he sees... rings?
He stares at them for a second, frown on his face, and immediately goes to find his magi-comm. ]
Come see me when you get home from your walk. There's something we need to talk about.
[Rufus had kissed Tseng before setting off to take Dark Nation on her walk as he did now whenever Tseng didn't go with them. They were starting to settle down in routines as if they were just any other couple, which was sometimes surreal.
He's confused when his magi-comm buzzes with a message from Tseng. It must be something important since Tseng knows how Rufus likes to enjoy his time with Dark Nation on walks but when he opens the message the world seems to come to a standstill.
It's so professional, curt, and Rufus feels clammy as a weight settles in his stomach but he manages to type out a message if he doesn't feel woozy.]
[Rufus doesn't respond, focusing on getting Dark Nation turned towards home. He's not sure why Tseng is sending him curt texts like that but he tries not to think of the worst.
As soon as he opens the door he leans down to unsnap the leash from Dark Nation's collar, letting her run into the house. He doesn't rush in, taking time to get his shoes off and leash hung up before he makes his way into the living room to see where Tseng is sitting on the couch but stops right in front of him, not sitting.]
[ Tseng looks up at Rufus as he comes to a stop in front of him, slight frown on his face. He doesn't know how to start this conversation because he honestly doesn't know what to make of the rings he found hidden in a bag of snacks. He thought there weren't any secrets between them, but apparently he was mistaken. ]
You can sit down. [ He places a hand on the cushion next to him ] I'm not going to bite.
[ As he's looking up at Rufus, waiting for him to sit down, Dark Nation comes around to his other side, putting her head on Tseng's knee. He smiles down at her, resting his other hand on top of her head. ]
[Rufus normally knows how to read Tseng well but there are times like this that he can't figure out what Tseng is thinking at the moment. He knows that Tseng wouldn't interrupt his time with Dark Nation for something trivial which only confuses him further.
He sits down when Tseng puts his hand down on the cushion next to him, his posture stiff even though he does glance at Dark Nation fondly for a moment before looking at Tseng once more, waiting for him to continue.]
[ Sitting for a moment, Tseng considers his next words carefully, not really sure how to broach the subject because how does one ask their partner about something they found that was clearly meant to be hidden. Could he have left it alone and pretend he never saw the rings? Sure, but he didn't like the idea of Rufus having hidden a pair of rings in a bag of snacks to keep them away from him. He always thought they were very open in their relationship, Rufus generally never hiding anything from him or censoring himself when they're alone.
He finally makes the decision to simply pull the bag from his pocket, tossing it on to the coffee table in front of them. ]
[Rufus's stomach drops as Tseng tosses the familiar bag on the table. He had hidden them to give himself time to think of a way that he could give Tseng the ring without it seeming like a proposal.
He wasn't going to put the burden that he had carried in the future on him, it wouldn't have been fair.
But now Tseng knew that this was something that wasn't casual, that Rufus had taken the time to hide this. He hadn't wanted to lie but at the same time, he had wanted to protect Tseng.]
The rings are supposed to be able to locate each wearer- I thought it would be practical to have, just in case.
[And now came the most difficult part, explaining why he had hidden it but he knows that now he can't hold this back even though he wants to spare Tseng certain things. He doesn't look away from Tseng but he doesn't reach for his hand as much as he wants to.]
[ Tseng sighs, leaning back into the sofa, attention focused on the rings still sitting on the coffee table. He doesn't look at Rufus, not really wanting to see the look on his face given the defeated tone of his voice. ]
Rufus, do you actually think I believe that?
[ He finally takes his eyes off of the rings and looks at Rufus. ]
Why hide them if they're simply something you think is practical to have?
[This is getting to be difficult to explain and while he wishes that he could have avoided sharing this bit about the future with Tseng, not wanting to bind him to that, he's not going to be able to avoid it.]
Because I know you, even if I told you how practical the rings are you would be bound to ask certain questions about the future but I hoped with time I could figure out how to avoid that.
[This time he has to look away from Tseng for a moment to gather his thoughts, knowing Tseng can see right through him and knows him better than even he knows himself sometimes.
There are more emotions than he could possibly explain to Tseng that he's still working through, that he hasn't had a chance to start to think about but even though he knew that the rings were practical, he knew it was difficult to convince himself of that.
He looks at Tseng finally, his expression sad and regretful.]
I'm sure you can guess what I wanted to avoid telling you, I didn't want you to feel bound by what we did in the future.
[ Tseng pulls a leg up on to the sofa, shifting how he's sitting so he's facing Rufus... because this isn't a conversation he wants to be having while he's facing forward, looking at the rings laying on the table.
There's a lot to take in from what Rufus just said, a lot of implications that Tseng doesn't know if he's ready for. But it looks like he doesn't really have a choice. If they don't talk about this now, it's just putting it off for another day. Nothing is going to change how he feels about Rufus, nothing is going to take away the things they've experienced together and will experience together.
He doesn't move to take Rufus's hand, though. ]
Were we-- [ He pauses, frowning slightly ] Were we married?
[ Finally lifting his head, Tseng looks up at Rufus ]
Why did you not say anything that first night after I arrived?
[There is no denying it. It hadn't really been a joyous occasion to celebrate but circumstances meant that they had to be practical. He hadn't allowed himself to get too sentimental when Tseng had made the suggestion at the time, they had a lot to get through with making arrangements and there was always so little time.
Rufus frowns slightly, reaching out to idly scratch behind Dark Nation's ears when she sat between them.]
I put a lot on you that night. We got married only for legal purposes as it made things easier when it came to my will and other arrangements. You called the company lawyer, we signed the paperwork, and that was it.
[It wasn't a lie. While Tseng showed the lawyer out Rufus had fallen asleep since he had been exhausted so they had never even celebrated.
And then there were more important things Rufus had to finish in the little time he had left, he had put aside any personal business so that he could focus on what he needed to do.]
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[text] un: hotturk
Date: 2022-05-19 03:29 am (UTC)[text]
Date: 2022-05-19 03:31 am (UTC)Does Rude have any specifications?
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Date: 2022-05-19 03:45 am (UTC)[Because he hasn't considered what exercise equipment would look like here. It can't be that bad, right?]
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Date: 2022-05-19 03:52 am (UTC)And no, sex and dick pics do not count as exercise.
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Date: 2022-05-19 04:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-05-19 04:31 am (UTC)You have permission to make those changes. Tseng can't stop us from getting that indoor pool now.
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Date: 2022-05-19 04:50 am (UTC)New Shinra is the best Shinra!
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Date: 2022-05-19 05:04 am (UTC)Make sure to put in a hot tub as well. Old age is catching up to me and the warmth always helps.
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Date: 2022-05-19 05:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-05-19 05:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-05-21 04:16 am (UTC)We need to start making a list of all the stuff we need to get.
[All fun stuff, seemingly.]
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Date: 2022-05-21 04:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-05-21 05:07 am (UTC)(no subject)
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From:[ text ] | un: bossturk
Date: 2022-07-25 01:50 am (UTC)He stares at them for a second, frown on his face, and immediately goes to find his magi-comm. ]
Come see me when you get home from your walk. There's something we need to talk about.
[ text ] | un: justanotherblond
Date: 2022-07-25 02:03 am (UTC)He's confused when his magi-comm buzzes with a message from Tseng. It must be something important since Tseng knows how Rufus likes to enjoy his time with Dark Nation on walks but when he opens the message the world seems to come to a standstill.
It's so professional, curt, and Rufus feels clammy as a weight settles in his stomach but he manages to type out a message if he doesn't feel woozy.]
I'll be home in a few minutes, almost done.
[ text ]
Date: 2022-07-25 02:57 am (UTC)I'll be on the sofa.
[ text ] -> action
Date: 2022-07-25 03:06 am (UTC)As soon as he opens the door he leans down to unsnap the leash from Dark Nation's collar, letting her run into the house. He doesn't rush in, taking time to get his shoes off and leash hung up before he makes his way into the living room to see where Tseng is sitting on the couch but stops right in front of him, not sitting.]
What's wrong, Tseng?
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Date: 2022-07-25 03:47 am (UTC)You can sit down. [ He places a hand on the cushion next to him ] I'm not going to bite.
[ As he's looking up at Rufus, waiting for him to sit down, Dark Nation comes around to his other side, putting her head on Tseng's knee. He smiles down at her, resting his other hand on top of her head. ]
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Date: 2022-07-25 03:57 am (UTC)[Rufus normally knows how to read Tseng well but there are times like this that he can't figure out what Tseng is thinking at the moment. He knows that Tseng wouldn't interrupt his time with Dark Nation for something trivial which only confuses him further.
He sits down when Tseng puts his hand down on the cushion next to him, his posture stiff even though he does glance at Dark Nation fondly for a moment before looking at Tseng once more, waiting for him to continue.]
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Date: 2022-07-25 04:09 am (UTC)He finally makes the decision to simply pull the bag from his pocket, tossing it on to the coffee table in front of them. ]
Care to explain?
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Date: 2022-07-25 04:16 am (UTC)He wasn't going to put the burden that he had carried in the future on him, it wouldn't have been fair.
But now Tseng knew that this was something that wasn't casual, that Rufus had taken the time to hide this. He hadn't wanted to lie but at the same time, he had wanted to protect Tseng.]
The rings are supposed to be able to locate each wearer- I thought it would be practical to have, just in case.
[And now came the most difficult part, explaining why he had hidden it but he knows that now he can't hold this back even though he wants to spare Tseng certain things. He doesn't look away from Tseng but he doesn't reach for his hand as much as he wants to.]
I wasn't sure how to give it to you.
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Date: 2022-07-25 05:32 am (UTC)Rufus, do you actually think I believe that?
[ He finally takes his eyes off of the rings and looks at Rufus. ]
Why hide them if they're simply something you think is practical to have?
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Date: 2022-07-25 06:03 am (UTC)Because I know you, even if I told you how practical the rings are you would be bound to ask certain questions about the future but I hoped with time I could figure out how to avoid that.
[This time he has to look away from Tseng for a moment to gather his thoughts, knowing Tseng can see right through him and knows him better than even he knows himself sometimes.
There are more emotions than he could possibly explain to Tseng that he's still working through, that he hasn't had a chance to start to think about but even though he knew that the rings were practical, he knew it was difficult to convince himself of that.
He looks at Tseng finally, his expression sad and regretful.]
I'm sure you can guess what I wanted to avoid telling you, I didn't want you to feel bound by what we did in the future.
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Date: 2022-07-26 04:11 am (UTC)There's a lot to take in from what Rufus just said, a lot of implications that Tseng doesn't know if he's ready for. But it looks like he doesn't really have a choice. If they don't talk about this now, it's just putting it off for another day. Nothing is going to change how he feels about Rufus, nothing is going to take away the things they've experienced together and will experience together.
He doesn't move to take Rufus's hand, though. ]
Were we-- [ He pauses, frowning slightly ] Were we married?
[ Finally lifting his head, Tseng looks up at Rufus ]
Why did you not say anything that first night after I arrived?
no subject
Date: 2022-07-26 04:40 am (UTC)[There is no denying it. It hadn't really been a joyous occasion to celebrate but circumstances meant that they had to be practical. He hadn't allowed himself to get too sentimental when Tseng had made the suggestion at the time, they had a lot to get through with making arrangements and there was always so little time.
Rufus frowns slightly, reaching out to idly scratch behind Dark Nation's ears when she sat between them.]
I put a lot on you that night. We got married only for legal purposes as it made things easier when it came to my will and other arrangements. You called the company lawyer, we signed the paperwork, and that was it.
[It wasn't a lie. While Tseng showed the lawyer out Rufus had fallen asleep since he had been exhausted so they had never even celebrated.
And then there were more important things Rufus had to finish in the little time he had left, he had put aside any personal business so that he could focus on what he needed to do.]
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