makingmyway | IC Inbox

Dorian laughs with a shrug, patting Ashton’s shoulder. “It’s fine. I won’t say I wasn’t surprised, but I am flattered that you’d come to me to talk about it. I’m sorry I wasn’t much help though.”

The comment sends a flush to his cheeks, and he glances away with a sheepish chuckle. “I-I mean… just because I don’t know what love is doesn’t mean I can’t share tokens of affection.” Then, playing with his hands a bit, he adds almost shyly, “Plus I just thought he might like them.”

"Yeah well," Ashton isnt' sure what to say. That it felt weird going to Orym about something like this because of his own feelings? Nope, definitely not going there. He was still telling himself that there was nothing that would happen with them. Orym was way too good for Ashton and he had Dorian. So no, instead he goes to the only other person he felt like he could trust with something like this.

"Heh, I'm just teasin' I get it. I am the guy who basically gave someone I liked a chuck of my hair. I have no room to talk." Reaching out, Ashton put a hand over Dorians. "Pretty sure he'll love it. You know how he is with flowers. I'm surprised more people haven't gotten them from him here. We've been in the middle of planning to take shit out and he has just...handed me a flower for no reason. From someone he likes? Definitely gonna like seeing it, I'm sure."

A bit surprised as he glances at Ashton, his expression softens into a smile. “Oh, he gave you a flower too?” He chuckles softly. “I was thinking that too. Do you remember the flower he gave me when I was dueling your friend Anni? I still have that… somewhere.” He didn’t have most of his things here right now, but back home he had a book where he’d pressed the flower between. “He’s always giving flowers to others, so when I saw these I wanted to give him some too.”

"Yeah, I remember that. I still got mine too...idiot gave it to me while we were in the feywilds. All of us arguing about how to take care of the key that was there and he just turns to me and hands me this flower." Rolling his eyes with a fond sort of smile, Ashton reaches back to pull out a small book in his pocket. It opens perfectly to a pressed flower.

"I just sorta tossed it in the book and tossed the book in the hole...forgot about it for a while." At least until he didn't. "Bet he'll like it, your flowers. He's always doin' shit for everyone else."

Dorian nods. “I know. It’s why, more than anything, I want to be able to take care of him too.”

Orym more than deserves to be taken care of. And while Dorian feels that he lacks in a lot of things, he can do that at least.

Ashton can only really nod. He can see it, how much maybe they needed this break. This time to breath. "I'm glad he's got you, and if you need anything I'm here. Can't promise shit but..." He trails off, waving his hands at himself for a moment before shrugging again.

With a smile, Dorian places his hand on Ashton’s shoulder. “Hey… we’re both really lucky to have you here too. You’ve done a lot for us, and… well, I didn’t get a chance to before, but I’ve actually been meaning you thank you.”

"Thank me?" Ashton scoffs a bit. "What do you need to thank me for?"

“For being there with Orym this whole time. I know you think he was taking care of you more than anything, but I’m just glad he wasn’t alone.”

"Wha-oh...I mean...I mean of course I was. You don't....you don't hafta thank me for that." No the tip of his non-mangled ear is not turning a ruddy brown. What are you talking about. He is not flushing a bit at the genuine sentiment.

Shut up.

"We were all tryin' to look out for each other."

Dorian nods. “I know. But I’m still grateful for it. I’m glad you were all there for each other.”

That they all had one another to turn to.

"Yeah," Ashton nods. "I'm glad to know you come back...I'm kinda looking forward to it...even...even knowing what I know now..."

Right, he hadn't told Dorian that he'd seen FCG's death thanks to the hot springs showing them Orym's memory.

Dorian frowns, the way Ashton trails off worrying him a bit.

“What… you know now…?” He draws a breath. “Did… Orym tell you?”

They’d both been uncertain about how to break the news to Ashton, or whether they should at all. But it had felt wrong to keep such a thing from them, knowing what the automaton meant to them.

At first all Ashton does is nod, his eyes go a little glassy at remembering what they'd seen in the waters, but they close their eyes and compose themself before continuing.

"He didn't really tell me, I saw him at the springs and the water showed me. It...it was pretty bad. But I mean...we talked. I'm...I'll be okay. I doubt it'll lessen the blow any when it happens but it's...it's nice to know either way."

Finally looking back at Dorian again they offer him a softer smile that is their usual. Just an upturn of lips, no teeth.

"I get you guys were tryin' t' protect me." That's it, no 'but' or anything. "Thanks."

Oh right, the hot springs. Even knowing that any memory could be shown for anyone to see, he hadn’t even really considered that. Not that he could have shown Ashton that specific memory, but something else could have come up like that.

Dorian’s lips press into a thin frown, and he shakes his head a little and, hesitantly, places a hand on Ashton’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. Even if it was for your protection it… it was a pretty big thing to keep from you. We just never knew how to bring it up.”

Then he manages a faint smile. “But, as much as I don’t want to speak for them, I think that if they could see you here, now… I feel they’d be proud of you.”

"Hey look," Ashton started, shaking their head with a deep sigh. "I mean it, it's okay. I get why you did it. It...I mean no I don't like it but I'd probably have done the same if it were me in your place. That sorta shit...it's hard to bring up."

They had managed to keep their tears back this time, or at least they did until Dorian said that.

'I feel they'd be proud of you.'

Ashton can practically see the smiling metal face, hear the words in their voice. He doesn't even realize it when the tears start to flow freely down his face, it's only after a tear drips onto their hand that they realize what's happening and have to take a deep breath. Scrubbing at his face Ashton lets out a sigh and a short grunt. "Fuck...okay...yeah."

Dorian sighs softly. “It is. And there’s never a good way to break that kind of news. I don’t think it’ll be any better when you experience yourself but… we’ll be here for you, now and after you do.”

That’s all he can really offer right at the moment.

With a soft smile, he gently squeezes Ashton’s shoulder. He doesn’t say anything, just letting the other get the feelings out however they needed to, and providing a quiet support as they do.

The words and gentle squeeze on his shoulder helps Ashton bring himself down, but mostly because of the pain that radiates. There's a huff before Ashton puts one hand over Dorian's and does what he has done with Orym in the past, he adds pressure. Silently showing the other genasi what doesn't hurt him as much.

"Little harder, makes it more grounding or some shit." He mutters before nodding and looking at Dorian. "Thanks."

A bit surprised, Dorian feels the way Ashton grips his shoulder and does his best to mimic the pressure of it.

"You're welcome. I'm here anytime you need me, for anything."

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