[ just as rufus predicted, tseng stands when rufus sets his glass down (on a napkin, because he's not a classless stooge) so he can refill it, as well as check on the potatoes still roasting in the oven. they're coming along, so tseng pours another finger of whiskey for rufus and then one for himself and this time stays standing in the kitchen.
he watches rufus' gaze go briefly unfocused, the only sign that his mind is anywhere else at all. rufus is well-trained, far too well-trained to allow himself such indulgences as obvious tells of thought or displeasure; it is a private pleasure for tseng to be able to identify this one. every expression rufus makes is one that he's calculated for impact: the smirk, the furrow between his eyebrows, the thoughtful touch of a fingertip to his lips.
(no, tseng's traitorous brain supplies. it's not every expression, is it. tseng knows, now, how to earn a few that rufus can't help.)
he can't think of that right now. instead, another private pleasure: the familiarity of taking a direct order from rufus. tseng nods once. ]
Yes, sir.
[ he swirls his liquor around the glass, then lifts it to take a sip. tseng isn't ordinarily a whiskey drinker, and he relishes the way it burns a little all the way down. ]
no subject
he watches rufus' gaze go briefly unfocused, the only sign that his mind is anywhere else at all. rufus is well-trained, far too well-trained to allow himself such indulgences as obvious tells of thought or displeasure; it is a private pleasure for tseng to be able to identify this one. every expression rufus makes is one that he's calculated for impact: the smirk, the furrow between his eyebrows, the thoughtful touch of a fingertip to his lips.
(no, tseng's traitorous brain supplies. it's not every expression, is it. tseng knows, now, how to earn a few that rufus can't help.)
he can't think of that right now. instead, another private pleasure: the familiarity of taking a direct order from rufus. tseng nods once. ]
Yes, sir.
[ he swirls his liquor around the glass, then lifts it to take a sip. tseng isn't ordinarily a whiskey drinker, and he relishes the way it burns a little all the way down. ]