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[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

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[atowncalledtreffy]

[Trevor comes knocking at Elias' door one evening, after dinner.

He's brought milk]

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

I-- ah. Trevor.

[ the surprise on elias' face makes it clear he was not expecting to find trevor of all people at his door tonight.

he spots the milk ]

Would you care to come in?

[atowncalledtreffy]

Yeah. Thanks.

[He brings the milk as a kind of peace offering, and opens it up near where Elias keeps his glasses]

Sorry that it's late.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

Not at all.

[ there's an electric kettle and mugs set up on one of the side tables, along with elias' collection of teas. elias gets the kettle and goes to fill it from the small sink in the corner, assuming that's what he's brought it for ]

It's always a pleasure to have company. There's little enough to distract us on this ship.

[atowncalledtreffy]

[He relaxes against the counter, watching Elias go get the tea and kettle. He'd been under the assumption that Elias drinks milk straight, so the tea makes more sense]

Yeah. Maybe ought to have called first, let you know I was coming by.

Doing all right?

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

Oh, I've no complaints. One continues on day to day, as always.

[ trevor will probably notice there's more tension in elias' bearing than usual, even if he's keep it out of his voice. ]

[atowncalledtreffy]

That's a complaint. Day to day is usually awful.

[He smiles, but it's tired and it doesn't meet his eyes]

Seriously, though. If there's something going on, you can tell me. If you want.

No one's beating you up?

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

[ elias is far too british to just agree with that, no matter how he feels about it, but he does pause a second just as he sets the kettle on to begin boiling.

this is not what he was expecting ]

... 'beating me up'?

[atowncalledtreffy]

[A general hand-wave at Elias' whole person]

You're moving around like you're hurt. Or that you expect to be.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

[ it's testament to how tired he is that his primary response to being Seen like this is just feeling resigned to it. ]

It's been. A-- difficult few days, is all. Nothing to get worked up about.

[atowncalledtreffy]

Oh, yeah?

[At least this isn't someone who wants to turn everything around on Trevor. He sits down, settling hands on knees]

Sorry to hear. Anything I can do about it?

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

Let me know what you'd like to drink?

[ the kettle begins to boil, and Elias deliberately focuses on the various teas he has rather than facing Trevor, wanting to keep up some semblance of control and decorum while he adjusts to the new direction his evening has taken ]

[atowncalledtreffy]

Oh. Uh...

[His mind scrounges for anything that he might have seen, and comes up empty]

Anything with alcohol is fine, if you've got it. Otherwise, never mind.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

[ that gets elias looking up at him, flatly. trevor, please. ]

Is it that you don't drink tea, or simply that you've never tried it?

[atowncalledtreffy]

I've tried tea and I don't like it.

[He gives an apologetic semi-shrug]

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

Unfortunately for you, then, you've come to my cabin at this hour and I'm far too British to allow a guest to go without.

[ he actually smiles as he says it, reaching to make trevor a cup of chai rather than tea. ]

[atowncalledtreffy]

[Trevor gives a curious look back at what's being made in front of him. His country never was (and never will be) heavy tea drinkers, but he adores coffee and hopes it's something similar]

I don't know much about British people. Does that mean you're given to guest hospitality?

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

Social obligation rather than hospitality. You might be the man I loathe most in the entire world, but custom dictates that if I can offer you tea and refreshment in my house, I must.

[ He notices trevor watching and so makes sure the man can see what he's doing-- steeping the spice mix in a pot with the boiled water, laying out the cups and bringing them over to the small table by his chairs so he can pour two cups.

he'd never admit it, but the mindless act of simply making tea feels very grounding just at present. ]

And there are all kinds of tea and ways for it to be drunk. There's no need to give up on it entirely just because of a few bad experiences.

[atowncalledtreffy]

Huh. Sounds like guest rites. Old chivalry code.

[He gives a curious look at the spices. It reminds him of the Turkish packages his family would have traded with the Ottomans.]

After a while, when you only drink beer, the taste of anything else just goes away.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

That's why people drink it, I expect.

[ but he'll hold his thoughts on that and lay out the china cups and saucers on the table between them. you're getting the full tea experience, trevor ]

Here. Courtesy of Britain's ruthless pursuit to possess every spare inch of earth they could find around the world. Tea leaves steeped with an assortment of spices from the subcontinent of India.

[atowncalledtreffy]

[Trevor watches this display with a quirk of a grin on his face. Such presentation, for him? Seriously?]

Well. Thanks. I didn't expect all this fanfare.

Maybe one day I'll find a tea I actually like drinking.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

I have several varities, and I'm sure the kitchen can acquire more if we ever set foot in a civilized port again.

[ elias finds, for the briefest moment, that he genuinely regrets not having any biscuits to offer the man.

but it's fine. and his mind comes back around to-- ]

I cannot believe you thought someone might have been beating me.

[atowncalledtreffy]

[Trevor lets out a soft laugh, taking the tea in hand]

Come on, it's not the weirdest thing that's ever happened around here.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

Who, exactly, would have been doing the beating?

[atowncalledtreffy]

Plenty of people. My bet would have been on Envy, but since that's not happening, no need for guesswork.

[He takes a sip...and takes another sip]