whose_son_am_i | Labyrinthum IC Inbox

"You can, and that would be the 'correct' answer. Not that there really is one, other than maybe don't be an ass." Loki said while chuckling. "Well, the caring is somewhat easier. Or at least will be for you, considering your blush." Seto you need to get used to being teased affectionately.

"It can be as simple as just doing a nice thing for him. Letting him know, and see, and maybe hear, that you appreciate and care for him. The simplest way is just spending time together, and that's often the most fun too."

Seto scrubbed at his cheek. He hated that his feelings around this particular subject were so obvious. But as he calmed down, he could think.

"...cooking a meal for him, maybe? I'm not the best chef, but I've learned more in my time here."

"I think that's a good start." Loki agreed, then reached out to squeeze Kaiba's shoulder in affection. "I'm proud of you, too. It's not easy."

Seto grinned at him. "Thank you, but we'll be all right. Part of what I love about him is that we're both into challenges. I won't let a simple meal defeat me."

The old confidence was back as he forged ahead. "...I don't know Puck as well as you do, but we work together. I know he likes to flex his mental muscles too. A good game can be an avenue of bonding."

Loki chuckled and grinned. "Oh I know he does and he can. He matches me well." Easy enough to let his fondness for the fae show through. "We challenge each other. Even just to be playful." Loki raised an eyebrow though, with mischief in his smile. "Unless you're suggesting a game for all of us. I'd be careful playing with two Tricksters though."

"Three tricksters," Seto corrected, a little grimace crossing his face. "It's Atem's style too, and he's used magic to his advantage before...but always for a noble reason, where I happened to be the antagonist."

He still had those hints of his past kicking around, but it didn't bother him so much anymore. "So I'd need everyone to agree to play fairly...but I think I'm at the peak of mere mortals in keeping up."

"You might also have to define 'fairly'." Loki said with a soft chuckle. "You do keep up well. You just need a little nudging sometimes to let your imagination and creativity flourish more. You're certainly intelligent enough." All things Loki approved of and valued in the other, in case Kaiba didn't realize.

Seto grinned at him, determined now to play.

"I can do that. I'm used to dealing with contracts. I just..."

His steps quickened a little. He latched an arm around a tree to half-swing around it, leaning on it for a bit. "Can't believe I ever thought I hated him. All the fixation should've been a clue at some point."

"Oh there'll be times you'll hate him still, but love and hate are complicated things." Loki said, honestly smiling at how the other was letting himself be happy. Good. "But so long as, overall, he makes you happy and you have each other's backs and enjoy spending time with each other? I think you'll be alright."

"We...enjoy each other a lot," Seto admitted, still looking sheepish. "And I'll work through it. I already lost him once, I don't want to lose him again."

His conviction was clear. He certainly looked brighter and more confident.

"...Heh. I should probably let you go if I'm not actually going to train today," he added. "I talk about him too much."

"You assume I'm so busy that I'm not enjoying this time spent with you?" Loki said with a grin. "I assure you, if I didn't want to be here, I wouldn't. But I am honored you trust in me to confide this." A pause, and Loki looked at the trees around them. "I am new, when it comes to having the emotions actually mean something. I know how to play the game, the moves and words and motions. But actually having it mean something is..."

Loki wasn't sure still how to frame it all.

Seto nodded. He stepped closer again, looking up thoughtfully.

"...I think I understand. I was trained to view emotion as a weakness, and Gozaburo always hated my love for Mokuba. He did whatever he could to discourage it. And I avoided connections with others for the same reason...the more ties that existed, the more weak points I had. But I didn't exactly perform emotion, I performed...distance."

He shook his head and laughed. "Maybe it's not that similar. But I don't need precise definitions. We're in a mutually agreeable situation, that's enough."

"Were you taught all emotion was weakness, or only certain ones?" Loki was curious. "I've viewed sentimentality as foolish and weak before. I'm still not given to it very much, though I can fake it well. But I've stopped trying to fight that I do have moments of it." He explained, with a wry smile. "I'm used to it not over-ruling me, thankfully. It just means I'm more dangerous."

But the laugh was very good and had Loki brightening. "Then let you and he just be that. Who cares about other definitions but the ones you both use. SO long as those align, you'll be good."

Seto's steps were lighter, like a burden had been lifted from him despite the continued serious subject matter. "Only the positive ones. Anger, hatred, and paranoia were encouraged. Anything that kept me isolated and driven to attack was good for business."

Now that he spoke it aloud, it sounded...pretty bad. But that was the past now.

"I was supposed to keep the family business going, to make the heirs he couldn't. I radically changed everything else about it...so I guess my being gay doesn't add much to my list of crimes."

Edited 2024-04-10 23:03 (UTC)

Loki made a noise of affirmation then, when Kaiba confirmed which emotions he was 'allowed'. Nor was Loki surprised, given all he'd learned. It just made him sad for the other and his lost childhood. Things Loki was trying to help give the other now, so that creativity wouldn't die.

"I doubt they're crimes to others, only to him. And frankly he doesn't sound worthy of merit other than being a greedy warmongering piece of bilgesnipe droppings." A pause. "You're far better than him, and worth far more."

Edited 2024-04-10 23:13 (UTC)

The creative string of insults earned a surprised laugh from Seto. He shuffled closer, gently nudging his shoulder against Loki's in appreciation.

"It's an honor. I'm...really glad we found each other."

"All it took was being effectively kidnapped to a world we never imagined, hmm." Loki mused, but accepted the shoulder nudge. He was smiling though, and glad he could provide guidance and help for the other.

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cw: period-typical homophobia mention

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