For Garrrr

[hybrid_prince]

They call it a gift when they bring it before the throne. Dorrek VIII, young emperor of the Skrull people, barely even bothered to pay any attention to the cloth covered box that was rolled up before the throne. These particular military leaders weren't much of ones that he cared for, and frankly while he was invested in the eventual journey to Earth and conquering it as was his lofty and prophesied fate from long since before he was born, that didn't mean he cared too much about the recon team he had sent. They annoyed him, and sending them to a planet protected by 'heroes' had been meant as a punishment.

The 'gift' to get back into his good graces didn't seem likely to amuse him in any way. There was nothing intriguing about Earth. So the Emperor had ignored their simpering and scrapping before him. It was unbecoming of a Skrull to be anything other than strong and dominating warriors. Still, he cut off their rambling dialog and waved to one of his royal guard. K'lrt, ever the devoted servant, stepped forward and whipped the cloth off.

And Dorrek considered what was presented to him with a raised eyebrow. This, of course, was not what he'd been expected. He hadn't expected a living being.

"Where did you find it?" he asked in Skrull, continuing the conversation in his native tongue.

"It attempted to attack us," one of the generals, who was kneeling out of reach of the cage spoke. "It is more than it seems. Like Skrull, but not."

Intriguing. Dorrek gestured for the clear tank on wheels (with air holes of course), to be rolled closer. Let him better see this prize.

Comments

[hybrid_prince]

"No," he sighs. It could cause harm to his people, and would cause harm to Earth. But he will do this. But then he's looking at Gar in shock.

"That wasn't me saying it wasn't a very nice kiss. It... was definitely on my top five list of kisses."

The list has a LOT of repeats.

[garrrr]

Gar furrows his brow and he doesn't understand this at all. He's kind of amused at the other though, saying that.

"Why?"

[hybrid_prince]

"Why were they in my top five? Well, they were the only kisses I've ever had."

Come on, that's obvious.

[garrrr]

"Terrible answer," Gar snorts but he smiles again he can't help it.

But he hadn't meant that. "Why send me back to Earth?"

And he doesn't know if he can agree to it... if he goes there's no one to argue against his plans to try and convince him to try another way.

[hybrid_prince]

"Because... you're right. I have been controlling you. Trying to possess you. Out of greed at first. Then in hopes to understand your world. And now... now I realize it's just because I'm lonely. And that isn't fair."

It's not right at all. He shouldn't do that sort of thing to other people. It does make him like a slave. Like Gar things Dorrek wants to do to Earth.

[garrrr]

Gar's quiet and he can't tell Dorrek that he's wrong because he's not wrong.

"I can't go. If I go no one will argue with you about your choices and telling you that there is another way."

[hybrid_prince]

"You aren't likely to win that argument," Dorrek points out. "And you resign yourself to life alone. Away from other humans, away from your world."

Don't be illogical, Gar.

[garrrr]

"But I have to try..." Gar frowns. "No one else has a chance."

And yeah, he'll be alone, away from everyone he loves but he couldn't live with himself if he didn't try.

[hybrid_prince]

"You know... most people don't volunteer for more time with the person they see as their captor."

What? It's just like that.

[garrrr]

"Ever heard of the concept of the greater good?" Gar asks softly, looking up to meet Dorrek's eyes. "I have to try or I'd never be able to be at peace with myself."

[hybrid_prince]

"You would put yourself in that position for others?"

Dorrek shakes his head. Truly he does not understand humans. Perhaps he can even accept that.

"I do not know if your world deserves a man as good as you. I expect Skrullos most definitely does not."

[garrrr]

"Of course. I told you there were people that do that and you just dismissed it..." Gar frowns a little, the whole not being listened to and dismissed as naive is still sore with him.

"There are other people that are better than me. Maybe I'm tempted to stick around and see if you get any better at kissing..."

It's a really bad joke.

[hybrid_prince]

"Or perhaps you seek to kill me from embarrassment," he mumbles. Because wow, things he wasn't expecting to hear said. "And I cannot fathom myself finding more practice."

[garrrr]

"Well, I'll be around..."

Gar says because he's not going to go back to Earth. There's too much to fight for that he can only fight for here.

[hybrid_prince]

Was that an offer? What a strange thing to suggest. He even wants to ask what in the world Gar is thinking. But that isn't very smart. So he nods and rises from the couch, as if in anticipation of something happening. Which is fair, because there is a knock at the door.

"I believe that is our dinner."

[garrrr]

It is. And Gar wouldn’t have had a good answer really. He doesn’t know what he’s thinking.

“Good,” Gar exhaled ready to eat and he may be feeling a little unsure and off kilter with the whirlwind of the past 10-15 minutes.

[hybrid_prince]

Yeah, it's been pretty intense, hasn't it? Dorrek opens the door and helps someone bring in a cart of food, which he unloads on a table. The two speak together very briefly in Skrull, and there it is. The guy is leaving and that's good enough.

"Join me here?"

[garrrr]

Gar takes the moment that Dorrek is dealing with the food to push his hands through his hair and just take a few deep breaths. Had he done completely insane? He guessed so.

Gar let out a heavy breath before he got up with a smile to join the emperor at the table.

[hybrid_prince]

Completely insane? No. Not yet. But he could. He would. GIve them time and they both might.

But he didn't expect a smile. He didn't need it. He just waits for Gar to join him, holding the seat out for the other man.

[garrrr]

It's a definite possibility.

Dorrek gets a smile anyway and settles down into the seat the other held out for him.

"So, let's make a deal. No arguing about anything over dinner?"

And it'd almost be like a date.

[hybrid_prince]

"What, we're not doing a diplomatic dinner? Alright then, no arguing. But... I don't know what to talk about?"

It wouldn't be like a date. Dorrek's never had a date. Emperors don't date.

[garrrr]

Almost, though.

“You don’t do anything else, really? No games, reading? Movies... plays...”

[hybrid_prince]

Almost is more than he's ever had before. But he sits himself and starts filling his plate. No reason to stand on formality here.

"I read reports and evaluations, does that count? And sometimes plays, when they are presented specifically for the enjoyment of the Emperor..."

His life is constant work. And he hates it.

[garrrr]

"No, none of that counts," Gar shakes his head and he's quietly setting about getting food otherwise. He feels a little lost. What do they talk about when they're not arguing? It's really most of what they had ever done even when Dorrek was being kind to him.

[hybrid_prince]

“Tell me about movies in your world then?”

He definitely wants to learn something less... combative.