I get a little bit Genghis Khan

[vacabdication]

[ There have been continents and decades passed between when Ajay and Pagan knew each other. Happily, Ajay’s time in Kyrat to date has made Pagan very aware of at least one thing they still share; a flair for the dramatic. Such a flair is probably at least partly to blame for why it’s been night on impossible for Pagan to get a message to Ajay about meeting without Ajay dramatically disposing of the messenger. There’s the radio, of course, but Pagan doesn’t quite trust that nobody is listening in, and it wouldn’t do to have any of those delightful little monkeys decide to try and off Ajay for fraternizing with the enemy. So he lays the groundwork, plants the idea – ends one of his rambling calls with I’ll have to have you to dinner, sometime, and leaves it at that.

Then it’s terribly easy to have Ajay scooped up after those awful little tourists send him out on a jaunt on one of their experimental substances – god, a look at the two of them and it’s easy to remember why, accent aside, he is far more likely to present himself as of Hong Kong than of England – and brought back to the palace. Of course, he’s high as a bloody kite, and Pagan is rather proud of the delicacies he’s acquired for their little soiree a deux, so he has Ajay sequestered in a private room to recover. There is a fully stocked ensuite attached, which Pagan prays Ajay will use, and his clothes are filthy so Pagan has them ferreted away to be washed (and in some cases, mended) and a selection more suited to dinner with a King left for Ajay to choose from – a classic black tuxedo, a rather dashing and elaborately embroidered kurta set, several beautiful suits in an array of colours, even a selection of wonderful blazers and (please no) designer jeans, should that prove more within Ajay’s comfort zone. And, most importantly, a gilt invitation to dinner on thick, creamy-coloured card waiting for him on the bedside table when he wakes.

It might be sensible to have Ajay’s weapons removed, too. For maintenance, he could say. It would be a terrible, tragic loss if Ajay Ghale, son of Mohan and great hope of the Golden Path, were to suffer a sticky trigger while facing down a tiger, after all. But Pagan Min is not a sensible man, and so he chooses to give preference to the semi he gets thinking about an immaculately dressed Ajay vaulting the table to hold a pistol to Pagan’s temple rather than common sense.

After all, for Pagan Min to host a dull dinner would be unthinkable. ]

Comments

[vacabdication]

Every word of it.

[ And perhaps he shouldn't - it's too much, too soon, but if everything they've said tonight hasn't already scared Ajay off this feels unlikely to be the straw that breaks the camel's back - but Pagan lets the hand on Ajay's should rise, to cup against the side of his face so Pagan can stroke over his cheek with a thumb. It's tender, so gentle, and the warmth in his eyes bleeds through into his voice. ]


Welcome home, Ajay.

[vaaris]

[ he shudders at the sound of it, those two simple words that burrow under his skin and immediately start to put down roots. and he can't help the urge to close his eyes and lean into that touch, almost afraid of how much he wants it. ]

Just don't lie to me. [ it's unspoken, but there. please. ]

[vacabdication]

Never.

[ And oh, there it is again. Ajay closes his eyes and leans into Pagan's touch, and the attraction so inappropriate that even Pagan can manage to be a little scandalized whenever it raises its head hits him. Forcefully, this time - hard enough that for just half a heartbeat, Pagan finds himself leaning in, that hand pulling Ajay closer by the tiniest degree, preparing to kiss him before Pagan catches himself and avoids setting fire to the tentative bond they've built tonight.

Now he drops his hand, gives the tiniest clearing of his throat. ]

I think something less formal than dinner at the high table may be called for. We could move to a sitting room for tea - or coffee, if you'd prefer - or if you'd like to take that hot shower and sleep now I can assure you of the quality of the breakfasts the kitchen provide.

[vaaris]

[ there's a moment, so fleeting that ajay barely has time to register it as real, where pagan leans in and pulls him closer -- and ajay is hit by a wild, irrational surge of something that knocks him off balance all over again.

but then pagan drops his hand away from ajay's face, straightens up and clears his throat, and the moment is lost as quickly as they stumbled onto it. (and why the fuck is he disappointed?)

well. if what he says next counts as the mistake to end all mistakes, so be it. if pagan is still open to a list of demands... ] ... do you have scotch?

[vacabdication]

[ Now that's safer territory. Pagan chuckles, gives a nod. ]

My boy, I have scotch that's older than we are. Follow me.

[ In the walk to the library, he's quiet. It feels appropriate, really - though his urge is to bluster, it feels right to give this whole situation some room to breathe. Especially since he's fairly sure he saw a flicker of recognition in Ajay's eyes over that disastrous near-miss, and yet he's still here. The library, though, feels like safe ground. It might seem counterintuitive in a room full of books, but the fireplace is always lit - the North isn't quite cold enough for it to be necessary, but it's not warm enough for the heat to ever become oppressive. Despite what some people might expect the walls are indeed lined with books, from rare texts to pulp novels, all of them read at some point. A huge window, framed by heavy drapes, looks out over lush forest. The furniture is what Pagan likes best, though; ridiculously stuffed armchairs and sofas, all decorated in lavish embroidery and rich jewel-toned silks, but cosy. The kind of things you don't want to get up from once you've sat down.

Pagan crosses to the liquor cabinet first, pouring a healthy measure for each of them of a rather wonderful scotch. The good stuff, for a good moment. ]

Sit wherever you like. This is my favourite room in the palace.

[vaaris]

[ it's... pretty much the room ajay might have expected. kind of like the library you'd expect to find the main villain of a spy thriller in, but he can't deny that it's also pretty damn cozy. the kind of place where someone might want to burrow in and refuse to come back out, where the civil war tearing the country apart outside seems like little more than a distant nightmare.

and instead of sitting, he lets himself linger near one of the bookshelves, fingertips skimming the titles. it's an odd assortment with no rhyme or reason that he can tell, but... he hesitates over one, and then there's a disbelieving little laugh. ]

Is this --? [ handsome sentient food pounds my butt and turns me gay. ] You have Chuck Tingler in your library?

[vacabdication]

I'm surprised to hear you're familiar with the illustrious Doctor's work! He's a riot on twitter. And books are actually surprisingly well-written, once you get past the premise.

[ Says the pink-clad self-appointed king who is having serious thoughts about wooing the handsome young freedom fighter who just happens to be the son of said king's ex-lover. Pagan Min doesn't have a leg to stand on with regards to what constitutes a ridiculous premise. Instead of dwelling on that he shucks his blazer and rolls up the sleeves of his shirt, carries one of the glasses over to Ajay and presses it gently into his hand. ]

Shall we toast?

[vaaris]

[ he isn't, not really. enough to recognize the name and one of the ridiculous titles put together, but honestly? ajay had always sort of assumed the books were nothing more than jokes, and the last thing he was expecting was to stumble across one in the wild. in kyrat.

but he takes the drink when it's pressed into his hand, and pagan actually gets a quick lopsided smile in lieu of a proper thank you. ]

... to clearing up misunderstandings?

[vacabdication]

And rebuilding lost connections.

[ There are some matters in which Pagan is a traditionalist, so it is unthinkable not to drink after a toast. He does, raising his glass to Ajay first, and then settles onto the couch with his legs crossed at the knee. ]

So. Was there anything in particular you wanted to talk about? Or shall I just either pepper you with questions or regale you with stories until we hit on something worthwhile?

[vaaris]

[ he takes his own drink from the glass in his hand, and then... well. drops down into a seat beside pagan on the couch, because what's the point in regaining the distance now? maybe he's not ready to deal with how much he liked it, but he's past the point of hiding on the other side of the room. ]

We can take turns. One question for you, and then one for me. Deal?

[ another drink from his glass, almost like he's sealing the terms. ]

[vacabdication]

Very fair, very fair.

[ And he wasn't consciously aware of the fact that he was hoping Ajay would sit next to him - it's only the pleased feeling that settles in him as he does. It may ultimately make it harder to keep those little impulses in check, but for now? It's delightful. But then... god, what to ask? What to ask a man he hasn't seen since speaking in full sentences was a new and exciting development for him? There's so much Pagan wants to know - everything, really. Everything. He starts slow. ]

What's your favourite place back home?

[vaaris]

The kitchen in our apartment.

[ it was tiny, barely big enough for the two of them, with aging appliances and never enough counter space. but some of his best memories are of sitting at the counter and doing his homework while his mom cooked them dinner -- she always had time to ask him about his day, always remembered the friends and the enemies from his stories, always beamed over every accomplishment like he'd done something great. even when she'd been in the hospital, it'd still smelled like her cooking, and ajay hadn't been able to bring himself to use it once she'd gone. ]

But, uh... I guess that sounds pretty lame.

[ chewing on the inside of his cheek for a moment, before: ] Why'd you come to Kyrat?

[vacabdication]

[ The answer makes Pagan smile. He's sure he can imagine why - reminding Ishwari that she was practically the queen and didn't need to do her own cooking had only ever resulted in her tossing her long braid over her shoulder and responding that a queen should be able to do as she pleases. He opens his mouth to reassure Ajay that it's not lame, to ask more about it -

and then it's his turn. Perhaps he should have laid out ground rules. Or perhaps, given how fresh the wound of Ishwari's death is, how wracked with it Ajay so clearly remains, it's better this way. ]

I'd made myself unwelcome in Hong Kong. I took over my father's cartel after his... unfortunate passing, and it seems I was just too damn good at it. It didn't take long for my so-called allies to realize that if they eliminated me there was more for them to share between them, so I removed myself from the equation before they could do the removing for me. Kyrat was distant enough for it not to be worth following me, and just ripe for the picking. So here I am.

Did you leave anyone behind in America? Girlfriend? Boyfriend? ... Both? I'm certain with those cheekbones, you could have pulled that off.

[vaaris]

[ hong kong. cartel. it's not... a surprise, not exactly, but it does add another layer to what little about pagan that ajay knows. hell, if he hadn't seen the thing with the pen and the other thing with darpan, it'd be easy enough to write the guy off as a flamboyant blowhard, but...

he's about to ask how long, approximately, it takes before the residents of any country start trying to kill pagan after his arrival --

and then pagan hits him with that.

was that -- did pagan just hit on him?

... no, no way. it's gotta be the scotch talking, and ajay takes another drink like that's supposed to help. ]

Nah. It's been awhile since there was anyone serious. [ and then a short exhale of a laugh, just shy of self-deprecating. ] Didn't even leave behind that many friends.

[ his turn. and maybe it'd be better to steer the conversation back towards safer waters, but... hell, pagan started it. ] You really meant what you said about not batting for the other team?

[vacabdication]

Never have I ever been with a man. Or is that a different game?

[ It's not quite an answer to the question Ajay asked. Here's the thing: he'd meant it when he said it. Now, in very close quarters with Ajay like this -

well, perhaps it's only that it's been a very long time indeed since he had sex with anyone, but that attraction is floating around again and Pagan can't quite bring himself to blow any chance of it out of the water, just yet. Emboldened in a way he would have thought it would take far more alcohol to achieve, he smiles, and declines to elaborate. ]

And you?

[vaaris]

[ well. he'd call pagan out for hedging like that, but...

two can play at that game. he looks pagan dead in the eyes, and then takes a very deliberate sip of his drink.

but. there's something else that's been nagging at him. ] Why didn't you have me picked up earlier? Your guys aren't that bad at their jobs.

[vacabdication]

How rude! At least I pretended to answer.

[ He's going to take it as and indication that there may be hope for him yet. Why burst this bubble before it's completely necessary? ]

Part of me was hoping you'd see the light and come back of your own accord. I didn't think you'd take well to being abducted. Eventually, I got desperate. It started to seem as if further dilly-dallying would result in you actually managing to kill me. And I thought, well, since there's really only two possible outcomes here, why not skip to the end? Lay my cards on the table. The worst outcome was that you'd shoot me in the face, and you were on track to do that anyway.

[vaaris]

[ that gets met with a scrunch of his nose. ]

You thought I'd come back willingly? To what, get killed or handed over for some fun with De Pleur? [ even if he knows that's not what pagan had planned now (probably? hopefully?), it doesn't change what he was thinking then. ] And what was I supposed to do, cross the country with all three of your generals trying to kill me, waltz up to the palace gate, then knock and ask nicely if you'd come out and play?

[ a little snort of laughter, and then he's finishing off his drink. ] Or I could have called you up over the radio and told you that I wanted to be friends, and then Sabal and Amita could have fought over who gets to shoot me for betraying them.

[vacabdication]

[ Well, put like that it is rather funny, and Pagan starts laughing too - something that starts as a swift exhale through his nose, and builds into a full, shoulder-shaking chuckle, and he raises his glass to Ajay before knocking it back. ]

Well, when you put it like that. You know, I thought our little radio chats were nice. A lovely little thread of human connection in this terrible world. And all this time you thought I was trying to lull you into a false sense of security, awaiting the day I could have my henchman electrify your nipples. Christ, it's been too long since I had a friend. Top up?

[vaaris]

They weren’t… the worst.

[ which is as much as pagan is getting. in reality, sometimes they’d been the only friendly voice in a world that felt like it was trying to bite off as many pieces as it could, and there was a not-so-insignificant part of ajay that looked forward to them, questions about pagan’s attentions aside. ]

And I didn’t know that’s where you’d have De Pleur start. [ a little grimace. ] Pretty sure that mental image is gonna follow me into my nightmares, thanks.

[ holding out his glass, because he’s going to need alcohol to get through thoughts of nipple torture with de pleur. ]

[vacabdication]

Point of order, it is not where I was going to have De Pleur start. I wasn't going to have him start at all.

[ He's still smiling as he says it, but there's a part of him that feels it's necessary to make that extremely clear. Rationally he realizes it must already be - Ajay wouldn't be sitting here with him having a drink if it wasn't - but still. In any case, he refills Ajay's glass and then his own before setting comfortably back onto the couch, sitting half-sideways this time so he can face Ajay more easily. ]

He asked to be there, you know. Said he had to see the person I was so excited about first-hand. And I wouldn't have let him come at all if we hadn't got word that the Golden Path was going to try and take you. Do you know I initially thought they were going to hold you hostage? I fear I've become terribly unimaginative these past few years.

[vaaris]

Still. [ taking his glass back, tipping it towards pagan in a little gesture of thanks before taking another drink. ] I know the guy would enjoy it. Way too much.

[ and then a little snort. ] Pretty sure Amita considered it. She wasn’t exactly fired up about an American tourist hanging around.

[vacabdication]

Ah, lovely Amita. She's terrifying, that one. It's funny how alike they are, given all their bickering. Both feeding you the same shit, only Sabal rolls it in sugar first and Amita tells you you'll be setting women's rights back a hundred years if you don't just hold your nose and eat it as-is.

[ He twists around a little more so he's facing Ajay fully, one arm propped up on the back of the couch, one leg now just fully up there, ankle resting over his opposite knee. ]

It is a shame you didn't really get to see Kyrat properly before you got caught up in all of this. I've grown complacent over the years, obviously, but planning the things I wanted to show you made me just a little excited to see it all again. She really is a beautiful country, underneath it all.

[vaaris]

Sabal isn’t —

[ but no, what’s the point of defending the guy to pagan min? it’s not like sabal would appreciate the gesture.

so a little shake of his head. ] How do you know them? It’s not like you guys exchange Christmas cards.

[ and then… well. it kind of comes out before he can stop it: ] Then why’d you let the place go to shit?

[vacabdication]

I have spies, my dear boy. And before you get offended, so do they. Theirs just keep defecting because I offer a living wage and dental.

[ The second question, though - that's harder. Not hard to answer, just hard to dig into. Like an infected wound with a piece of shrapnel still in it. ]

There were... circumstances around your mother's departure that made things rather more complicated than a dramatic breakup. I fell into a cesspool of self-pity and didn't come out for quite some time. It's astonishing the amount of damage one man with almost unlimited power can do, when he's bent on self-destruction but too much of a coward to address the matter directly. Enough damage that it seems impossible to fix once he comes out of it, certainly.