~The Arcana: Julian Devorak X Listener SFW: Compliments~

Julian somehow always seems to find you when you least expect him to, and he's kind of acting weird today, weirder than normal even.....

Contains: Comfort, Confessions, Compliments

It's another Julian! It really seems like people like the Russian Accent variation of Julian, and he's really fun to do, so I decided to stick with it! I really like the idea of Julian trying to complement the apprentice and being kind of weird about it because he's dropping a bunch of them out of the blue and trying to be sincere and being kind of awkward about it. Also, Julian being nervous and embarrassed about being complimented in return is 👌

~Audio Transcript Below~

Julian: Why hello there.....

Oh you know.....thought I would visit our resident hero and see what they're up to.....

Well, as far as I've heard and as far as I've seen, you been doing some distinctly heroic things as of late. I commend you for that.

*pause*

You're looking particularly fantastic today.....

*chuckles*

I promise you that I'm not up to anything....I sincerely just wanted to wish you well and see how you're doing.....You seem to attract a particular brand of chaos, and yet you always seem to make it out alright. It's utterly fascinating.....and inspiring.

*pause*

Again, sounds pretty heroic to me.

Do you need assistance? I can help you.....unless that is you're going back to the palace then I'm afraid you're on your own *chuckles*

*pause*

Excellent. Do you mind if I join you?

Perfect!

*pause*

Did you.....did you happen to do something different with your hair recently?

*pause*

Oh! Well, ummm *clears throat* It looks.....it looks nice regardless....

Nothing, nothing is the matter. Forgive me, I'm just feeling a little tired lately.....I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off for the last couple of days.

*pause*

Oh you know, trying to clear my name and not get killed by Nadia can make you quite tired.....

Sorry, yes, I'm kidding.....mostly kidding. There were.....just some things I was working on, some loose ends.....

*pause*

It's alright, nothing for you to be concerned about.....you have enough on your plate as is, and as much of a hero I think you are and as much trouble you find yourself miraculously getting out of recently, I don't want to throw any more kindling on the fire, if you get what I mean.

Anyways, here we are, your home sweet home. And what a lovely home you've made it.

*opens door*

*pause*

Go ahead, heroes first.

*door closes*

What do you mean, acting weird?

*pause*

I....I don't know what you're talking about.....

*pause*

Oh.....well....um.....I---

*pause*

I'm.....terribly sorry, I didn't know that how I was acting was agitating you.....I was just.....trying to make you feel nice.....

I can honestly say with one hundred percent accuracy that I wasn't being facetious with what I was saying.....sometimes.....it must seem that way because.....well....I've always been told that my face doesn't lend to honesty.....or something of the sort.

*pause*

Basically I look like a liar......

*pause*

Thank you. That's.....very kind of you to say.....

*clears throat*

I mean, the----well the whole point of this exercise was for me to make you feel better and compliment you.

*pause*

*hands cover his face* Oh gods you can't just say things like that!

If it's not entirely apparent.....I'm not used to people well.....saying nice things about me.....

*pause*

I mean yes, I've heard that the general public still have a fairly good opinion of me even after the whole Count fiasco......but I mean.....people.....saying stuff.....to my face......

*pause*

*groans again* Yes, like that!

*sighs* Seriously, what sort of compliment hellscape have I opened up for myself?

*pause*

But genuinely....it was......supposed to be for you.....not fishing for compliments of my own......you do know that?

I know that.....you don't get thanked or complimented or anything as much as you deserve..... especially considering you’ve kind of become an underling for Nadia…..

I know that she wasn’t as bad as Lucian but…...trust me…..I know what it’s like to have all these responsibilities foisted on you….especially recently…..even some of them involving me……

*pause*

*chuckles ruefully* You trust me? Now I feel like I have to ask if you’re just saying things to make me feel better…..

*pause*

I know it’s simply…..hard to believe sometimes...

Hm? Oh, yes, tea would be lovely….

W-wait….here….I can go ahead and make it, you don’t have to---

*pause*

*with slight wonder* How is it that you always find a way to change the tide in your favor? To turn things around for the better with what looks like no extra effort on your part?

*pause*

I suppose…….maybe I’m just not that nice……

Oh, wait…..I wasn’t fishing for a compliment there I was just…..I….don’t know what I was doing…..

*pause*

*Getting progressively more embarrassed*

I suppose…...that the fact that I thought to compliment you just to make you happy was nice……

*pause*

And the fact that I offered to make tea even though I’m a guest…..

*pause*

And the fact that I genuinely seem to care about you……

*pause*

Ok, ok yes, yes! I suppose there is a small insignificant chance that I’m actually nice! Now could you please stop with the compliments before I explode? Thank you?

Gods, who knew compliment torture was actually a thing? I swear I feel like my face is as red as my hair……

*pause*

*groans* I really have  unleashed a monster, haven’t I?

Well…..if you’re going to relentlessly fling compliments at me, I’m afraid it’s only fair if I do the same to you.

*pause*

Spite is a perfectly sound reason for doing things, especially if the person you’re doing it towards is being kind of a little shit about it.

*chuckles*

Well, everything I say to you can’t be compliments, otherwise it’ll all go to your head. No, I think I’ll save my relentless complimenting for when you least expect it.

*laughs*

But…..in all seriousness…..you do know how much you mean and how much you’re doing for Vesuvia, right? That…..if it were anyone else in your position I wouldn’t be here…...that…..hell probably a lot of things would be different. You’re out there, doing amazing things, finding out what really happened and….well…..doing the right thing, and I can’t tell you truly how much that means to me. You’ve…...become an unexpected…..relationship that I…...don’t think I deserve sometimes---don’t start, I know--and well…..I just want to say that…..you’re appreciated and well…..softly* loved…..

*pause*

Yes?

*gasp into a kiss*

*swallows*

Yes…..right…..of course…..*chuckles* I…..I knew that…..

*laughs in embarrassment*

You are…..you are just…..wonderful…..you know that?