[He sighs, a bit of relief he didn't know he needed to feel settling all the uneven things in him from the conversation.]
Yes, that is what I want and I appreciate your understanding and patience, far more than humble words may express. [There's a small pause and a smile in his voice as he continues.] For better context, until the last few months, I had not had physical contact with anyone if it could be helped for many decades. Discomfort is expected, but I have found contact to be pleasant when coming from those who I am fond of and trust. Hopefully it will be more...awlward than painful to start, but I will apologize for it now, once, and be done with it.
Now...
[He floats to the door and knocks politely upon it.]
[From where Stephen stands in the room, the soft request makes him smile with a light breath of fondness pressing through his nose before shutting down the audio feed on his device and instead walking to door to open it.]
You'd best do that. Especially if we're planning to have you stay here. Kinda think they'd frown upon me making my Submissive stay in outside in the hallway.
[Compared to previous times when Stephen may have been caught in either his monk-esque robes or the clipped, stylish fashion worn during his week playing at being a local, today he's considerably dressed down--a soft, thin wool jumper, sweat pants, house shoes, definitely an indoor sort of look. Down the hallway, at Stephen's back, the Cloak of Levitation 'peers' around the corner, 'watching' the goings on and floating back and forth with both an air of curiosity and always on notice just in case it needed.
Stephen, however, pays it no mind and instead is quite focused on Essek in the doorway as he offers over a scarred hand.]
[Stephen looks comfortable -at ease- and it puts Essek in the same place with- well, with all of this, really.
From the moment he’s stepped foot out of orientation, he’s had the guise of the Dynasty’s Shadowhand firmly in place, a thing far less easy when it had been so thoroughly and unceremoniously taken apart by the Mighty Nein. He hasn’t been that Essek in some months and not needing to pretend to be had been a surprising relief. One he felt again as he took Stephen’s hand with a smile.
This wasn’t home, but it was safe and a place he might be able to slowly put that guise back down, in time.]
Small or large, we start somewhere, and here seems a good place.
[He gestures to the door behind him with his free hand and pulls it shut with magic, then gives a small wave to the cape lurking by the corner.]
[The hold Stephen offers to Essek is very measured--nothing too tight, nothing too intimate, just a steady hold with the vaguest sense of a tremor that always rolls through Stephen's fingers when he's not very focused on keeping them still.
He lets the moment settle neatly between them, just letting the contact soak up the main focus and energy for a few moments as a slow, small smile crosses his face.]
And it's very good to see you. Here.
['With me' remains firmly unspoken, though potentially implied along with the very mildest tightening of the hold he has on Essek's hand before he carefully loosens the grip and lets go to instead gesture down the hallway.]
How about I show you around and we see if we can't help you to make yourself at home.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
Yes, that is what I want and I appreciate your understanding and patience, far more than humble words may express. [There's a small pause and a smile in his voice as he continues.] For better context, until the last few months, I had not had physical contact with anyone if it could be helped for many decades. Discomfort is expected, but I have found contact to be pleasant when coming from those who I am fond of and trust. Hopefully it will be more...awlward than painful to start, but I will apologize for it now, once, and be done with it.
Now...
[He floats to the door and knocks politely upon it.]
If I may come in...?
no subject
You'd best do that. Especially if we're planning to have you stay here. Kinda think they'd frown upon me making my Submissive stay in outside in the hallway.
[Compared to previous times when Stephen may have been caught in either his monk-esque robes or the clipped, stylish fashion worn during his week playing at being a local, today he's considerably dressed down--a soft, thin wool jumper, sweat pants, house shoes, definitely an indoor sort of look. Down the hallway, at Stephen's back, the Cloak of Levitation 'peers' around the corner, 'watching' the goings on and floating back and forth with both an air of curiosity and always on notice just in case it needed.
Stephen, however, pays it no mind and instead is quite focused on Essek in the doorway as he offers over a scarred hand.]
Better start small, hm?
no subject
From the moment he’s stepped foot out of orientation, he’s had the guise of the Dynasty’s Shadowhand firmly in place, a thing far less easy when it had been so thoroughly and unceremoniously taken apart by the Mighty Nein. He hasn’t been that Essek in some months and not needing to pretend to be had been a surprising relief. One he felt again as he took Stephen’s hand with a smile.
This wasn’t home, but it was safe and a place he might be able to slowly put that guise back down, in time.]
Small or large, we start somewhere, and here seems a good place.
[He gestures to the door behind him with his free hand and pulls it shut with magic, then gives a small wave to the cape lurking by the corner.]
Hello to you as well.
no subject
He lets the moment settle neatly between them, just letting the contact soak up the main focus and energy for a few moments as a slow, small smile crosses his face.]
And it's very good to see you. Here.
['With me' remains firmly unspoken, though potentially implied along with the very mildest tightening of the hold he has on Essek's hand before he carefully loosens the grip and lets go to instead gesture down the hallway.]
How about I show you around and we see if we can't help you to make yourself at home.