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[ his smile is squeezed. is he already handsome, he thinks? he'd like to look his best for who he thinks may be his bride one day. but his sheepish, hidden grin is fleeting in favor of incoming entertainment: one more thing is added to the array of things falco already busies himself with; he stops in his name-writing on small loose sheets to shuffle about for a notebook with at least its back pages still clean of writing.

he gets to work on jotting down the details perle speaks to him of a caladan wedding. it's imperative information related to romance. he had to have this too. he had to know more about it and wonders— did he grab anything about ceremonies? he had to— ]

What does a man of honor do?

[ The restraint Paul is showing in not bringing up a certain special someone he knows means a great deal to Falco is something he thinks he ought to be lauded for, if that wouldn't give the whole thing away. ]

He attends to the groom. He looks after the well-being of the rest of the entourage and arranges for the particulars that the officiator and the planners might not have accounted for on the days leading up to the wedding, and he also is responsible for guarding the groom on the day of the wedding itself, in case anyone attempts to disrupt the ceremony. He also supports the groom if he's unsettled, and of course, he organizes the groom's going away party. I will expect sour candy as well.

[ this felt like something straight out a noble’s ceremony. something so grand it was beyond his reach, but for once— it’s right there. even years away from it, falco latches on and doesn’t ever want to let go. ]

A whole lot of it! Being the man of honor is what it says! I want to do all of those things and I’ll do a good job. The best job. I’ll guard you and your union with my life! I’ve served at parties! I know what to do!

Please also be my man of honor!

There's no one I trust to be more dedicated to the defense of love than you.

[ Paul means that. This is no idly offered symbolic gesture. There are other roles that other people will be drafted into, in time, but Falco is diligent and reliable enough even at his age that Paul knows he could count on him. In a few years, when he's a man himself, he'll be even more ready. ]

It would be a privilege to accept that role for you in turn. I do so gladly. Whichever of us goes first will have to give the other one advice. Are you up for that as well?

Aaaaaaaa dedicated to the defense of love, he said that? Thank you!!

[ falco, the love defender . . . perle didn't have to put in the noise he made, but she did anyway, terrorizing her poor sap. imagine him giving advice to the big brother— what a thought! even though falco childishly has his sights on the first crush of his life dimensions from here and that is that. he has much growing to do, and plenty of people to meet. who knew, as he grew here— ]

Of course I would be! You already have so much insight!

[ Paul is glad Falco can't hear him laughing; he'd hate to give him the wrong impression. ]

I don't have insight, not really. I had good teachers, and I think about it. I think it's important to treat love seriously, that's all. If you're going to do anything, you should think about it, and try to know what you're doing.

There're people who don't know what they're doing?

[ he's always taken this seriously— but someone having no idea how to navigate almost comes off as . . . strange! maybe he's thinking too literally. ]

[ Falco's faith in others is touching, if a little concerning. Surely, he's seen some of the people around here? ]

Not everyone knows how to be with another person, or other people, in a way that makes them all happy. I think it's good of you to be thinking about it already, before you start courting.

[ with rosy lenses, it's always been hard to see . . . but, if anything, this does spark something. it's a click. an innocent little click that makes him go through his books and neglect an answer for some time. start courting. start courting—

he may have just realized there may be a good chance he was always one of those people. ]

Paul,
I think I made a huge mistake.

[ Oh no. ]

What kind of mistake do you think you've made?

I've never courted someone! And the first person I ever liked I just told her I wanted us to get married! Without courting! I never got her flowers or gave her a gift, or asked to dance! I've never even held hands before! No one does that!

No wonder she never said anything about it! I don't know what I'm doing!

Deep breaths, Falco. There are much worse things you could have done.

[ It's still...not the best, but Falco doesn't need kicking while he's down. ]

At least she knows that you're interested in her and what your ultimate intentions for a courtship would be. That way, she knows right from the beginning that you're not toying with her affections. It was decisive. Girls like that.

[ Or so he's been told. ]

[ his face is still hot and the chilly draping of a damp towel all over him with those words was palpable. he breathes in and looks at nowhere in particular. maybe at one of the paintings he's swiped, already in the attic, of a couple sitting by a riverside, one of them fishing while the other watched. the colors were warm. it makes him feel warm.

it makes him feel a pang of inevitable loneliness. ]

What would you say would be the best thing to say first to show that
If or when
I like someone

[ he's saddened to think about it, but he's been far from his heart's first "love" bordering almost three years, now. he wants to adore that girl for the rest of his life, and perhaps he will.

just, maybe, differently from what it first started as, the more he grew. ]

[ Falco would be better off asking any other point on Paul's triangle this question. Midoriya, gentle and sweet - Kaworu, flirtatious and assertive - either of them would do better.

But that's it, isn't it? Everything he's learned about the kind of courtship Falco is interested in, he did learn from them. So Paul remembers the things they've said to him with a warmth he hopes he can transmit to the younger, fretful boy. ]

To let them know that you like them? Tell themselves something about themselves that you've noticed and admire. Not about their appearance, but about who they are. Their kindness, or their courage, or their diligence, anything like that. Then tell them how that makes you feel. That you're happy to be in their company, and that you like spending time around them, and you hope to see more of them in the future.

[ kaworu is bringing havoc into falco's future and we all know it. this is definitely soft enough. he's taking mental notes. he doesn't seem . . . too far off? well, now that he's self-analyzing—

maybe the place didn't help, either. not even with his other flustered attempts that would go right over her head. he prays he could be direct and to the point, whenever that might be. no dying involved. like first, not love. get to know them, not straight-up marry. ]

I hope I'll make you proud.

I'm always proud of you.

[ A simple fact. There are more complicated elements to the whole thing, as he's more than aware (see again: Kaworu), but Paul has nothing but faith in Falco's judgment when it comes to matters of the heart.

(This proves, as much as anything, that Paul still has a lot to learn.) ]

And whenever you meet a person you like, I'll try not to be too embarrassing.

[ —okay, that eases him up. he ends up reading it with a growing smile. ]

How embarrassing could you be?

Terribly. I could forget how old you are, and bring up all your awkward moments, and make them look at pictures of you with your hair stuck up.

Edited 2022-09-02 20:48 (UTC)

I can’t let you do that. Then I’d need to embarrass you somewhere.

[ this means war!!! ]

I'd like to see you try it.

[ As Gideon would say: bring it, Falco. ]

Is there anything else you want to talk about?

[ hmmm—! ]

Not right now. I've got some work to do.
Thanks for answering everything Brother.

[ he even ties off all the questioning with a sweet little heart melter, the same way he opened it :') regret about to burst thru paul's door in three— ]

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