[ credence can't imagine why people feel the need to compliment him the way they do now - he hasn't ever expected it of anyone and now it's just... a lot. he doesn't even know how to describe why it's strange to him so he doesn't, just smiles along with it even when he feels almost as though his chest is tightening from the weight of words from people that wouldn't even have looked at him twice before.
(graves looked at him like this from the first day. graves has taken care of him. graves does thing rather than just say them.)
credence startles in surprise at the introduction of another voice but as soon as he notes who it is he relaxes, smiling fondly. you're like a frightened rabbit, credence, the other model says, and credence laughs. ] Not any more. [ a private joke for graves and himself, perhaps. but then he looks at graves and nods. ] Percy, this is Charles. [ just charles, like cher, the man adds in a manner he surely thinks is helpful. credence lofts a brow. ] Only Cher is like Cher, dear. Charles, this is Percival Graves.
[ when charles opens his mouth to speak, credence looks at him. ] I think calling him Mr. Graves would suit best. Or did you forget that I told you I live with the director? [ you know, that director. in any case charles is cowed from his normal habit of being overly familiar first off. even credence calling him percy, which he usually only does when he's playing the spoiled brat, is something graves will recognize as happening at these events when credence wants to stake a claim, to make people aware of their closeness, and signal that someone is getting too close. ] I'm sorry about that man cornering you, I hope he wasn't too insistent. He was at my last appearance, looking for you. It's as though people see us as a package deal.
[ charles still has his hand on credence's arm, but most of credence's attention has immediately shifted to graves. ]
[ graves stifles a smile -- credence can be quick-witted and snarky when he puts his mind to it, and graves is aware of just how credence is positioning them both, his loyalty and faithfulness evident in the way they share that private joke, deflecting the other model's obvious interest.
credence belongs to him; the young man is wholly, undeniably his, and establishes protocol even when calling him by a name credence usually does when he's feeling particularly possessive. they are of one accord, then -- and graves knows in this moment that there is nothing to worry about. he nods, then, a hand coming to rest on the small of his young man's back as he regards charles. graves is staking his own claim, making it clear that credence is unavailable.
the other model is pretty as anything, and obviously someone who's on the up and coming with an eye on credence. ] So they do. [ he muses, before he gestures to charles, who's giving him a once-over. ] But I'm sure he enjoyed watching you as well.
[ anyone would. credence has a gift for modeling; his unconventional beauty turning heads wherever he goes, drawing suitors like moths to a flame. graves is not naturally predisposed to jealousy, but he makes a rare exception in certain circumstances. this is not quite it, yet. charles is charming, of course, leaning forward to flirt -- ah, mr. graves. credence here was telling me all about you. i never knew he could turn a shade of red that lovely! he's very beautiful that way, isn't he? ]
Yes, [ graves tells him pleasantly as he takes a sip from that glass, because graves is rarely ever rude. ] He is very beautiful, isn't he?
[ the hand at his back is grounding and credence smiles, leaning toward graves just a little bit, pointedly. charles has the look of a man that knows what he's being told but somehow doesn't actually care, which says a lot about him. he's shameless about his flirting anyway, and as long as he doesn't try anything he's relatively harmless.
credence raises his eyebrows at graves' first comment but then smiles coyly, nudging him with a hip. ] Just because you like watching me whenever you get the chance doesn't mean everyone does. [ he knows he's popular - it's not about that. it's just another reminder that graves does get to watch credence whenever he likes.
ahem. and then: ] Charles, those moments were in confidence! I'm too old to sound like a schoolboy with a crush. [ sly. ] Percy's just the greatest constant in my life. I'd be lost without him. Surely you know how that feels.
[ credence is, in fact, slightly flushed from being called beautiful by graves in public - more than slightly, having to turn his head away for a moment - and he feels a little like his heart is pounding. you look like a schoolboy with a crush right now, credence, charles teases, and it's just as lovely on you as ever.
laughing, credence tips his head forward to fan his face slightly. ] No, no, I'm just warm.
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(graves looked at him like this from the first day. graves has taken care of him. graves does thing rather than just say them.)
credence startles in surprise at the introduction of another voice but as soon as he notes who it is he relaxes, smiling fondly. you're like a frightened rabbit, credence, the other model says, and credence laughs. ] Not any more. [ a private joke for graves and himself, perhaps. but then he looks at graves and nods. ] Percy, this is Charles. [ just charles, like cher, the man adds in a manner he surely thinks is helpful. credence lofts a brow. ] Only Cher is like Cher, dear. Charles, this is Percival Graves.
[ when charles opens his mouth to speak, credence looks at him. ] I think calling him Mr. Graves would suit best. Or did you forget that I told you I live with the director? [ you know, that director. in any case charles is cowed from his normal habit of being overly familiar first off. even credence calling him percy, which he usually only does when he's playing the spoiled brat, is something graves will recognize as happening at these events when credence wants to stake a claim, to make people aware of their closeness, and signal that someone is getting too close. ] I'm sorry about that man cornering you, I hope he wasn't too insistent. He was at my last appearance, looking for you. It's as though people see us as a package deal.
[ charles still has his hand on credence's arm, but most of credence's attention has immediately shifted to graves. ]
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credence belongs to him; the young man is wholly, undeniably his, and establishes protocol even when calling him by a name credence usually does when he's feeling particularly possessive. they are of one accord, then -- and graves knows in this moment that there is nothing to worry about. he nods, then, a hand coming to rest on the small of his young man's back as he regards charles. graves is staking his own claim, making it clear that credence is unavailable.
the other model is pretty as anything, and obviously someone who's on the up and coming with an eye on credence. ] So they do. [ he muses, before he gestures to charles, who's giving him a once-over. ] But I'm sure he enjoyed watching you as well.
[ anyone would. credence has a gift for modeling; his unconventional beauty turning heads wherever he goes, drawing suitors like moths to a flame. graves is not naturally predisposed to jealousy, but he makes a rare exception in certain circumstances. this is not quite it, yet. charles is charming, of course, leaning forward to flirt -- ah, mr. graves. credence here was telling me all about you. i never knew he could turn a shade of red that lovely! he's very beautiful that way, isn't he? ]
Yes, [ graves tells him pleasantly as he takes a sip from that glass, because graves is rarely ever rude. ] He is very beautiful, isn't he?
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credence raises his eyebrows at graves' first comment but then smiles coyly, nudging him with a hip. ] Just because you like watching me whenever you get the chance doesn't mean everyone does. [ he knows he's popular - it's not about that. it's just another reminder that graves does get to watch credence whenever he likes.
ahem. and then: ] Charles, those moments were in confidence! I'm too old to sound like a schoolboy with a crush. [ sly. ] Percy's just the greatest constant in my life. I'd be lost without him. Surely you know how that feels.
[ credence is, in fact, slightly flushed from being called beautiful by graves in public - more than slightly, having to turn his head away for a moment - and he feels a little like his heart is pounding. you look like a schoolboy with a crush right now, credence, charles teases, and it's just as lovely on you as ever.
laughing, credence tips his head forward to fan his face slightly. ] No, no, I'm just warm.