Still Not Home [B'jin]

"I'm complementing you," Talian emphasized with flatness. He frowned pointedly at B'jin, as if telling him just how bad he should feel to take the comparison any other way. "In fact," he said, his voice steadying and becoming polished and professional, "were I not to old for such things, I'd be inclined to call you 'dad'," he said. He took a deep breath, somewhat embarrassed by his own clumsy admission, but he continued to look earnestly into B'jin's eyes.

He let the next topic go. He knew whose fault it was, too. The slight hint of sadness lurking behind his otherwise doting gaze was more indication than he cared to give, but Talian was never the master of his own emotions. He would never quite forget that B'jin had taken his life from him, but the greenrider was worth it for everything else he'd given. If nothing else, Tal would forgive but not forget simply because B'jin was so obviously remorseful. The glimmer of recognition was there, but he respected B'jin enough to let it lie.

Of course, then he was daydreaming. His mind wandered to Erisi, thinking about their now multiple encounters and how that was ultimately why he'd come over that day. He was glad he';d helped B'jin through his rough patch, but less proud of his own continued adjustment problems. Still, Eri.

When he snapped back to reality, he saw B'jin laughing. It took less than a moment for Tal to realize why. He bit his lip and let out a soft whimper before discreetly turning away. "I, erm..didn't mean to..I mean...it's not like that..."

B'jin frowned in reply, before sniffing indignantly. His fathering skills being compared to Talerian was like comparing Threadfall to rainfall. You just didn't do it, and expect to be understood. In his heart, B'jin knew Talian was complimenting him. But it was so... back handed! Larrikith swarmed into B'jin's mind with bland amusement. If you want flowery compliments, you run with the wrong crowd. No thanks to you, B'jin returned, but he smiled warmly at Talian. "I know, Tal."

Stepping forward, B'jin wrapped his arms around the younger man, giving him a solid hug before making an odd little sound of surprise. Leaning backwards, he grinned at Talian, eyes sparkling brightly. "That means a lot, Tal!" He gushed, hugging the young Healer tighter and dropped a kiss on the boy's forhead, surrounded by a breathy giggle of delight. Letting Talian go, B'jin snorted, highly amused as the healer attempted to regain whatever dignity he had raining around him in scraps after his little day dreaming session.

"I'm sure it's not," B'jin purred dangerously, his expression pure mischief as he watched Talian wriggle uncomfortably. "Let me guess," he began, his voice as highly amused as his expression of impending doom for Talian, "About my height, sexy blue eyes, gorgeous hair, and a tongue sharp enough to draw blood." Smirking devilishly, B'jin waited, more than convinced that he would get a reaction that would make his day.

The hug was a surprise, but Tal was happy for it. He snaked his arms around B'jin and squeezed. "You're welcome," he said, voice mellow and delicate. "It's just the truth," he assured B'jin, as if the entire thing were no big deal. It was, though. B'jin's little giggle probably succeeded in making him feel better than anything else had all day. Talian just didn't want to talk about it in detail. He flashed a smile at the greenrider and let that be that.

The conversation's next turn was a dangerous one indeed. Talian looked at the floor, hands wrapped tightly around each other before him, and fidgeted as B'jin spoke. Blue eyes? Gorgeous hair? Sharp tongue?

He groaned. "You are talking about Erisi!" he said with dismay. He turned away again, not daring face B'jin's wide, mocking smile or knowing eyes. "There's...really nothing to that. Nothing at all! He knows all about Fiora and how I feel tied to her still, and-"

He stopped himself short, realizing he was ranting. What was it about B'jin that made Talian talk so sharding much? It was a mystery. A deep, dark mystery. B'jin must have been some sort of bizarre mythological being with powers to bewitch unsuspecting healers. Or maybe Tal's drugs were messing with him.

Well, that couldn't be it. He hadn't taken any drugs that morning, hence his little hissy fit.

Unsatisfied, all he could do was pout viciously.

B'jin laughed softly, though not unkindly as Talian appeared to curl in on himself even as he cut his rant off before he even really got started. His defensive nature about the topic amused the greenrider, and told B'jin there was obviously more going on, and probably a lot of it confused the shards out of Talian. He wasn't actually worried about that, however. So long as Tailan was content, preferably happy, B'jin didn't mind how confused the young Harper managed to make the honorary master. Confusion was one of the spices of life, after all!

"Easy, Tal," B'jin murmured, stepping closer to the healer's back and wrapping his arms lightly around Talian's shoulders from behind, intent on soothing the young man's ruffled feathers as he leaned on the boy casually. Peering around to peep sideways at Talian's pout, however, he freed one hand to poke at the bottom lip, biting his own to prevent a laughing smirk as his plans were changed to instead tease the young healer some more. "Pouting makes you look adorable," he said, teasing voice light in Talian's ear, while his chin resting on his arm, still folded around Talian's shoulders, so his face was resting beside Talian's cheek. "Does it help you get your way?" His voice and face were alight with warm affection, though clearly laced with teasing amusement.

Talian jumped a bit as B'jin poked him. Suddenly embarrassed but also endeared, the healer puckered his lips in order to stop the reflexive pouting and took a sweeping step backwards, timidly drawing his thin form away from B'jin.  "You're awful," he said with the mildest of laughs. His eyes lit up for a moment. "I've never tried it," he said. He cleared his throat and laughed weakly.  "Though I suppose it would be too little too late, eh?" The only thing he really wanted was to go home, after all, though that was looking like a dimmer and dimmer prospect. 

"In all seriousness, though.." he said, running his fingers through his hair and straightening his posture. "Thank you for everything. I think  I should go back now, since I haven't eaten anything today..." he said. His face softened a bit. "Are you sure you'll be all right?" He didn't add any embellishments or inflections to his words, since he didn't want to drag up any unnecessary pain in his friend. He just wanted to make sure B'jin would be all right alone before going back...and well, perhaps Talian wanted an excuse to stay. He probably didn't need to be alone. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew it.

He edged towards the door, but kept his alert eyes fixed on the greenrider.