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[thirtybits]

"This is Judah's voicemail, no need to leave your number, I'll reply as soon as I can."



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[thirtybits]

It's just the grass for a few seconds, it's absolutely fine! It can be washed anyway!

[And after dusting off his hands and knees, he retrieves the container and starts gathering the meat. So long as it's not fallen in mud or anything.]

You don't waste something like meat over touching grass. ...Not when you're used to starving, anyway.

[depicted]

[He can't argue that, but—] There could be pollen on it. [This is a genuine concern.]

[thirtybits]

--oh. [He stops for a moment, worried.] Then not until it's properly washed.

[depicted]

[Dorian sighs, head turning away. No way is he eating it even after it has been washed.] Fine. Come back up.

[thirtybits]

[Judas certainly doesn't expect him to. Floor meat is for peasants. After gathering it, he leaves the container at the base of the tree, so as not to infect anything else. Then he gets to climbing again.]

Oh ye of little faith.

[depicted]

[Dorian shakes his head, but he still smiles.] Don't quote your friend's verse at me, traitor.

[Dorian puts the ful muddamas between them, as well as the wine glasses. And it's as if the cause of the disruption is totally forgotten.]

[thirtybits]

[After the shock of losing valuable food (don't ask him how many denarii, he'd already figured it out by the time he gathered everything), at least he can be convinced to drink more wine. Or rather, doesn't need the convincing.]

They're free for anyone to quote, it's public domain.

[depicted]

[Good. Dorian takes note.]

It's the principle of the matter.

[thirtybits]

Ah, sorry if I'm offending the devout Christian by speaking holy words not meant for heathens.

[depicted]

You're just racking up offences today, aren't you? [Dorian should stop topping up Judas's wine. But he won't.]

[thirtybits]

Don't I every day? [That's it, take advantage of the situation.] I was there when he said it, I think I should be allowed to use it if only for that reason.

[depicted]

\I'm pleased. [Dorian wears the smile of someone about to remove the support in a house of cards.] It's nice to see you standing up for your right to something related to Yeshua.

[thirtybits]

[And it comes crashing down. Judas' wide eyes say it all.] Wh-- no, it's hardly anything to do with him, it just happens to be something he said! And it's such a common phrase, it hardly counts!

[depicted]

[Excuse Dorian for laughing in Judas's face.]

Oh, it's incredible, the things you'll say when you don't realize the implications. You have more spine under that slouch than you want to admit.

[thirtybits]

That's not it at all...! You're just twisting it!

[Judas bites his lip, desperate not to admit to anything.]

[depicted]

It's all right. [He smiles with the same light, clear quality as he speaks with.] I won't judge you for having a fraction of self-respect left.

[thirtybits]

No, I-I wasn't thinking! [His shoulders draw in and he chews the inside of his lip.] It's nothing...

[depicted]

[Much more carefully than last time, Dorian takes Judas's face between his hands and pulls him closer.] Don't chew your lips. I'm using them. [Cue another kiss. Ugh.]

[thirtybits]

[Initially he tenses, but that soon drains away. He shifts closer.] ...That's more most absurd reprimand I've ever received.

[depicted]

[Dorian only barely pulls away.] Probably. Do you disapprove?

[thirtybits]

...Well, no, I can't say I do. [He grows red.] That's not the point.

[depicted]

I think it is. [Dorian is very good at getting what he wants, and he happens to think kissing Judas is the way to do it.]

[thirtybits]

[Judas relents, leaning closer. If what Dorian wants is to shut Judas up, he's done a good job. It's hard to argue when preoccupied with a kiss for more reasons than one.]

[depicted]

[Dorian wants a lot, but mostly, he wants Judas to stay. He wants Judas not to die, not to kill himself, not disappear or get dragged away to anywhere Dorian can't follow. He wants Judas's promise to be true. And every kiss and touch, every careless word that accepts Judas for the self-loathing mess he is, is just another way that Dorian is trying to help him keep his promise.]

[After a minute, Dorian draws back with a self-satisfied smile.] Reprimand well-delivered, I think. Eat your lunch. [He takes a sip from his own wine.]

[thirtybits]

[Keeping his head low, Judas nods. The irony of Dorian being the one to accept the way and things Judas thinks, to offer him that half-death, means he wants those things less when with Dorian. He would feel terribly, breaking that promise and leaving Dorian alone. And besides that, he wants to stay for his own purposes too.]

Underhanded, though.

[He picks at some ful, eating almost thoughtfully.]