extent | duplicitynet

Huh.

( he tosses the paper then, taking up a new one and being far more secretive about what is being written down. he's careful with the whole thing this time, neat in the penmanship and neater in scratching out the rune onto the paper.

he stares intently at the folded up note between his fingers until the whole thing goes up in flames. if successful, ragnor will receive the very same note barely a moment later —

Sorry I was an asshole. )

[ he catches it, reads it and can't help the smile that blooms on his lips. ]

I accept your apology. And I am sorry too, I could have been better.

[ he's folding the note and putting it in his breast pocket, for safe-keeping. ]

You're worried, it's not– it makes sense.

( he ducks his head, suddenly fascinated with scrawling the same heart over and over. )

I could...probably stand to listen to your advice, some of the time. If it's something you really think is a mistake.

[ ragnor sits on the bed, leaving space next to him if nick wants to join him. ]

I don't want you to get hurt.

[ it's easier to admit than he thought it would, maybe he's growing sentimental in his old age. ]

( he moves over, sitting on the bed, and after a moment leans until he can knock his shoulder against ragnor's. or, his upper arm area, but it's near enough. )

I'm being careful, I swear.

Something you need to know about me, I am both paranoid and pessimistic.

[ he stops at that because the last thing nick does is for ragnor to dump all of his baggage on me. ]

Okay. So maybe...I can be a little more understanding, when you're concerned. And maybe you can...try to have a little more faith, when I tell you I think I have a situation under control.

( nick is historically not good at compromise, but occasionally it's worth the effort. )

That sounds fair.

[ it's what he expected from the beginning. ]

Better than what I'm used to. Magnus never listens to me.

Well Heavens forbid I'm as stubborn as Magnus is.

( he flips his hand, offers it up palm up between them. )

I'm not good at this. It just feels...weird. People caring about me so- loudly. But I do appreciate it.

[ he accepts nick's hand and squeezes it, maybe a little tighter than he means to. ]

I'm not used to caring. You're the first mortal I let myself grow attached to in centuries, you'll have to deal with some over-protectiveness.

There are probably worse places to have an over-protective warlock as a guard dog.

( he actually smiles then, sneaking a glance over at ragnor as he squeezes his hand right back. )

I don't really think you're annoying.

[ he laughs, very amused. ]

I am annoying. I've been on my best behaviour.

( ragnor laughs, and it means that nick laughs too, and some lasting tension finally unknots in his chest at the sound. )

Oh, so you're telling me it gets worse?

Of course not.

[ it does. ]

I have mellowed out in my old age.

What were you like, 'back in the day'? ( he's always curious to dig out more of ragnor's past, honestly. ) Do you like, remember?

I was a very happy child. My parents thought I was good luck and I tried to live up to that.

[ He says it in a completely deadpan tone, but it is all true. ]

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