Yussa keeps his gaze on Caleb's face as the younger man's expression shifts. He brings up the words hanging between them and Yussa's hand falls to rest gently on Caleb's chest.
"It was earnest," he says softly, and with affection. Caleb is being honest with him, and it is the very least Yussa can do to offer him the same. His thumb strokes gently back and forth and he takes a careful breath. "Even if it is not... prudent."
He isn't sure that is the word that he wants, and Yussa is a man who very rarely questions his words. But he is also always very deliberate. He doesn't look away, searching Caleb's face. Everything he says is true, but most of all the fact that Caleb is needed in the Empire. He has work yet to do, and his life will not be easy, but it is work worth doing. Speak truth, Errenis. He does not often take lovers; even more rare are the occasions in which he takes students. Rarer still, at least in the past two centuries, has been his desire to share his life - intimately - with another. But he is not past that desire, apparently.
"As much as I value my solitude... I--" How to say this? How does he say this without leaving either of them exposed? Perhaps it is far too late for that now. He lowers his gaze at last as he tries to collect his thoughts. "It would not be an imposition to have you here every morning, Caleb Widogast. And every night. But even I cannot be quite that selfish."
As much as he would like to be. He peers up again, hoping that what he's said lands the way he hopes it will. Perhaps it was an impulsive thing to say, but the sentiment is not one-sided.
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"It was earnest," he says softly, and with affection. Caleb is being honest with him, and it is the very least Yussa can do to offer him the same. His thumb strokes gently back and forth and he takes a careful breath. "Even if it is not... prudent."
He isn't sure that is the word that he wants, and Yussa is a man who very rarely questions his words. But he is also always very deliberate. He doesn't look away, searching Caleb's face. Everything he says is true, but most of all the fact that Caleb is needed in the Empire. He has work yet to do, and his life will not be easy, but it is work worth doing. Speak truth, Errenis. He does not often take lovers; even more rare are the occasions in which he takes students. Rarer still, at least in the past two centuries, has been his desire to share his life - intimately - with another. But he is not past that desire, apparently.
"As much as I value my solitude... I--" How to say this? How does he say this without leaving either of them exposed? Perhaps it is far too late for that now. He lowers his gaze at last as he tries to collect his thoughts. "It would not be an imposition to have you here every morning, Caleb Widogast. And every night. But even I cannot be quite that selfish."
As much as he would like to be. He peers up again, hoping that what he's said lands the way he hopes it will. Perhaps it was an impulsive thing to say, but the sentiment is not one-sided.