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[rideme]

"You've got the Iron Bull here. I'm listening.

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.

TEXT | VOICEMAIL | CALLS

Comments

[animated]

[ there is no reply from Charlie for a long moment.

Mostly because he's staring at his communicator like "oh my god what have I gotten myself into", but also because he finally just pads his way over to Bull's room and leans on the door frame. ]

That was terrible.

[rideme]

[Bull just looks up and grins at him. He's sprawled out on his own bed -- and was apparently in the process of gasp reading a newspaper.]

[Because hey, time to stay up to date on this place.]

I know. Great, wasn't it?

[animated]

I'm not really sure what it says about me that it worked, because here I am.

[rideme]

It means...

[He folds up the paper, and sits forward, legs crossed, arms resting casually on his knees.]

... you really want to ride the bull.

[And then the Iron Bull cracks up over his own awful joke.]

Nah, seriously though. It just means you feel like you need a little release. It's not anything to be worried about.

[animated]

[ DAMMIT BULL. He laughs into his hand when he makes that goddamn joke again. ]

That was more of a rhetorical statement. I'm well-aware of what a casual hook-up is for.

[rideme]

Good! Some people get all hung up on it. Get bent out of shape if you go sleep with someone else later.

People, huh?

[animated]

[ he simply shrugs ] Everybody has their own expectations, I suppose.

[rideme]

Guess that's true.

So... why not sit down, and tell old Iron Bull what you're expecting, eh?

[animated]

Hah. No idea, actually.

[ still, he moves to perch on the edge of the bed ] But I'm interested, you're interested- at least I assume you are, by the "doable" comment- and I'm willing to see where this goes.

[rideme]

Hell yeah.

You're a great guy. I like you. Makes sense -- everyone needs to let off a little tension now and then.

[He leans in a bit, arching an eyebrow.]

Especially someone who acts like he's got a lot on his shoulders.

[animated]

[ His own eyebrows go up in surprise ]

Do I really act like that?

[rideme]

Sure do. Don't worry, I won't spread it around.

[animated]

Well, I guess I have been around for eighty years. Maybe I have more baggage than I thought.

[ That's a lie. Charlie knows exactly what kind of baggage he has. He just thought that after four decades, he'd be better at hiding it. ]

[rideme]

You've got a pretty good poker face. I'll give you that. Anyone who doesn't know what they're looking for'd miss it. Easy.

Me? I know stress. Baggage. Nothing I haven't seen before.

[He's meaning that last part to be reassuring. Supportive. It's cool, Charlie, no judgment here. And... he really does know it. Understand it.]

[You don't spend that much time burned out in Seheron without recognizing it.]

[animated]

Still, I'd appreciate if we skipped the psychoanalysis.

[rideme]

[He laughs, and nods.]

Fine by me. Ready?

[animated]

Hah. You don't waste a second, do you?

[rideme]

Hey, you're the one who didn't want any bullshit.

... no pun intended.

[animated]

Oh, you'e hilarious.

[rideme]

Oh, I know.

So... c'mere. Let's put your mouth to better use, hm?