Work Text:
"Yes..." the Bachelor starts. He's smaller than the Haruspex was expecting, though the realisation might be just surprise at his own height. "Far be it from me to call myself a person of mystical inclinations. However, when I look at you, I get the feeling that nature is playing jokes on us." The Bachelor tilts his head and narrows his eyes in thought. "It's as if both the left and the right hand have clutched the head to realize for the first time that they are two parts of a single whole."
Their eyes meet. The Haruspex forgets his line.
"W-why?" is what he comes up with, voice cracking. That's not it, it was something about them being alike – The word sounds strange coming from his yet unused vocal chords, feels ticklish in his throat. The Bachelor's eyes are dark and piercing.
"Again!" the Director commands. "Do try to remember your lines this time."
The Haruspex unfolds his copy of the script and mouths the correct words. Right.
"Yes..." the Bachelor begins again. He shoots a quick look from under his brow, the upstage side of his mouth twitching up slightly, as if he's amused by the Haruspex's slip. "Far be it from me to call myself a person of mystical inclinations. However, when I look at you, I get the feeling that nature is playing jokes on us," the Bachelor looks at him, then glances at his own hands, then back at him. It's a good setup for his next line, the Haruspex thinks. "It's as if both the left and the right hand have clutched the head to realize for the first time that they are two parts of a single whole."
"I get that feeling too," the Haruspex recites, feeling the corners of his own mouth curl up. "Does this mean that we are alike?"
"I don't know. We can become enemies so easily, Artemy Burakh, that it would be best for us to make every possible effort to stay friends until our points of view diverge irreparably," the Bachelor tries to sound serious, but the Haruspex can see the tension in his mouth as he tries to hold it even. "I am Bachelor Dankovsky. Do you agree with me?"
The Haruspex blanks on his line again. He tries to play it off cool – and to be truthful, he wants to nudge at the Bachelor, see if he can't make him break. "With the fact that you're a bachelor? Sure."
The Bachelor barks out a short laugh.
"Again!"
"Yes..." the Bachelor starts, voice deeper than before, all faux serious, and the Haruspex breaks into an unattractive snort. The Bachelor shoots him another one of those low glances, amusement creasing up the corners of his eyes.
"Again!"
"Yes..." the Bachelor says, slipping back into a serious facade, though he looks much more relaxed now than when they started. "Far be it from me to call myself a person of mystical inclinations. However, when I look at you, I get the feeling that nature is playing jokes on us." There is still that slight tinge of amusement in his eyes. "It's as if both the left and the right hand have clutched the head to realize for the first time that they are two parts of a single whole."
"I get that feeling too," the Haruspex continues. "Does this mean that we are alike?"
"I don't know," the Bachelor goes on. "We can become enemies so easily, Artemy Burakh, that it would be best for us to make every possible effort to stay friends until our points of view diverge irreparably. I am Bachelor Dankovsky. Do you agree with me?"
I'm on my own. I don't need anyone.
The Haruspex knows the next line, feels it burning in his throat. He doesn't want to say it – if the past few minutes of his existence have taught him anything, it's that he isn't on his own and he needs a Bachelor. He thinks quick on his feet.
"Better a bad peace – " the Haruspex says, trying for a middle road. "Than a good quarrel."
"Again!"