Derek Souza (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sociopathicwolf) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thecapitol2016-02-04 09:41 pm
sociopathicwolf) wrote in thecapitol2016-02-04 09:41 pm
Entry tags:
the secret side of me [closed]
Who| Derek Souza & Kurloz Makara
What| birthday presents and wedding stuff
Where| D4 house and maybe out ring shopping?
When| after the propaganda films, before D8 and D9 liberation battles, around Kurloz's birthday
Warnings/Notes| probably mention of violence and brainwashing and other dark things, will update as needed
Derek doesn’t really remember how he knows when Kurloz’s birthday is - it’s probably something he learned when he was a child, and held on to for all these years, and he doesn’t read anything into that - but he does know it. And he knows that Kurloz might not be expecting anything for it - but what if he is? That’s what you do, get people you care about presents for their birthdays. And it’s stupid, to pretend like Derek doesn’t care about Kurloz, when he does.
So he gets him something.
It’s not exactly wrapped, but it is in a box with pretty ribbon and beads piled on top of it in an artful way that may be purposeful or may be accidental, though it’s clear that it was done with care not to ruin the ribbon or beads, so they can be used again.
When he runs into Kurloz next, he shoves the box into his hands without ceremony.
“Here.”
If Kurloz opens it, he’ll find a taser and a beautifully crafted knife, with shimmering purple fish swimming through grinning golden skulls gilded on the sheath - but despite the decoration, it’s clearly fully functional.
What| birthday presents and wedding stuff
Where| D4 house and maybe out ring shopping?
When| after the propaganda films, before D8 and D9 liberation battles, around Kurloz's birthday
Warnings/Notes| probably mention of violence and brainwashing and other dark things, will update as needed
Derek doesn’t really remember how he knows when Kurloz’s birthday is - it’s probably something he learned when he was a child, and held on to for all these years, and he doesn’t read anything into that - but he does know it. And he knows that Kurloz might not be expecting anything for it - but what if he is? That’s what you do, get people you care about presents for their birthdays. And it’s stupid, to pretend like Derek doesn’t care about Kurloz, when he does.
So he gets him something.
It’s not exactly wrapped, but it is in a box with pretty ribbon and beads piled on top of it in an artful way that may be purposeful or may be accidental, though it’s clear that it was done with care not to ruin the ribbon or beads, so they can be used again.
When he runs into Kurloz next, he shoves the box into his hands without ceremony.
“Here.”
If Kurloz opens it, he’ll find a taser and a beautifully crafted knife, with shimmering purple fish swimming through grinning golden skulls gilded on the sheath - but despite the decoration, it’s clearly fully functional.
no subject
So far, he has already been surprised by Meulin today. Yet, foolishly, he assumes she will be the last to do so for him. This is when he runs into Derek, or rather, Derek's exented arms and the gift held in his hands.
He skirts to a stop, takes it automatically, and blinks up at Derek even as he suggests clear as day that it is for him. But why? He thinks as though Derek's kindness must surely have an ulterior motive.
Glancing between Derek and the gift, he slowly comes to terms with the fact that it's for him. He is careful with the box, wanting to show the same care with it as it was previously shown. He's not sure what he was expecting. It almost definitely wasn't this.
He sees the taser and for a moment his stomach flops, and not in any way good. Like the sort of way it feels when he has something close to solid in years of liquids. He thinks is must be a cruel joke, then something deserved, before finally rationalizing it as something he ought to be grateful for as its Derek's gift to him. Though not all of it.
He walks to a table and sets the box down, pulling the knife out without once taking his eyes from it. He cradles the weapon in both his hands like its something delicate and not deadly. The fear he felt with the taser isn't all absent with this, but this feels... more. Special. Terribly breathless, he traces the fishes and the skulls, done in his favorite colors. His manicured hands curl around the sheath and blade hilt. He swallows hard and pulls them apart, letting the blade see open air. It's beautiful... and terrifying. His eyes find Derek's then, the same indigo color as the blade.
no subject
"Want you to be safe." He doesn't look away from Kurloz's gaze, even if he kind of wants to. Derek isn't used to making these kinds of gestures, not with anyone who isn't Chuck.
He isn't used to not only telling someone that they mean something to him, but doing something to show it. But it's Kurloz. Derek has already played his hand when it comes to him - he's already demonstrated that he cares, or he wouldn't have stopped Kurloz from going after their former Tribute. Or he wouldn't have asked Kurloz to move in with them.
"Can teach you, if you want. If you need."
no subject
To be wanted safe... that was big. To be told so and told so from Derek, that's even more so. But further, it meant there was some level of lack in the safety had now. He wants to believe it ain't so. Derek's a victor, one who's been crushed down in some way even he is aware of it, it could just be paranoia. He's not sure. That's a problem.
The scariest thing of all is that its harder to quantify that bit than it is the surprise and uncertainty of affection. He sheaths the knife and carefully places it back in the box. He turns to Derek then, reaches out to touch a shoulder and, glad for his height, leans in to kiss that of Derek's cheek with threaded lips. A very Capitol thank you perhaps but he's sure Derek will understand that it's no false affection from him.
He steps back, takes up the knife and goes that step further. He wonders... he wonders if can call up the memory... if the feel of a Baton in his hand will match that of the blade. Without unsheathing it, he dares a test. He lets it twirl in his fingers, picking up speed in the air to catch it again, then break down in a slice through the open space before him. His eyes open. They find Derek's again.
no subject
He's vaguely aware that a Capitolite wouldn't understand that - more than vaguely, that's one of the things that makes him more than bitter towards Capitolites, that they've always been able to feel safe - but Kurloz isn't a normal Capitolite. If nothing else, he thinks enough of Kurloz to believe he'll appreciate the sentiment, and the elaborate care that'd gone into the knife's decoration.
Derek ducks his head a little when Kurloz kisses his cheek, but he, too, can appreciate the sentiment for what it is, because it's from Kurloz.
His head tilts as he watches Kurloz twirl the knife, and the corners of his lips twitch upwards in a small smirk. "Don't need." He gives a little shrug. "Happy birthday."
no subject
But he notices the way Derek ducks his head, a little show of not-quite shyness. A show of understanding. Less always means more because Derek shows so little where he can get away with it.
He admires that. And it's funny, because he doesn't think Derek realises just how restrained he really is. While he can give little slips of something, Derek can keep everything, all of it inside, and he doesn't need stitches to do it. He's jealous for one burning moment. He doubts it will be the last time he feels so.
It doesn't overshadow the good he feels when Derek almost gets to smiling. He smiles back and it comes easy. He makes a sort of face and bobs his head to say, Maybe you could teach me things anyway, mostly to tease and make him happy both. But then he looks back to the kinfe in hand, sheathing, and he breathes deep. He meets Derek's eyes again to say, Thank you.