harderdaddy | (Reply)

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It is smart of Anthony to be afraid. Valentino hasn't gotten where he is by being kind - not exclusively. Being charming and charismatic has helped him gain audiences with people he might not have had a chance to otherwise, but being aggressive and violent has made sure those same people never cross him down the line. Anyone who doesn't fear him at least a little bit just hasn't had the chance to meet the real Valentino, or they just don't respect him, but eventually - eventually, one way or another, they will.

He likes that Anthony nods. Even though Anthony is maybe in one of the safest places he could possibly be outside of his own father's home, Valentino likes that he's wise enough to understand that he's decided to share a roof with a dangerous man. Not that Val has any intention of being violent or cruel to him without reason or provocation, but it soothes something in him to know that the instinct for self-preservation is there.

Valentino slides one of the closet doors open and reaches inside, dropping is shirt into a small, mostly-empty basket tucked into the back corner, meant for dirty clothes. He leaves the closet open when he turns back around, a slow rotation on the heel of his polished shoe. Can Anthony stay?

Sliding both of his hands into the pockets of his slacks, Val just looks at Anthony from across the room for a few long, quiet seconds, almost like he's genuinely thinking about the question posed to him. When he starts moving again, it's a slow saunter toward him, hands still loose in his pockets, and he comes to stand right at the end of his bed in front of Anthony, tall enough that he really has to look down at him.

He cocks his head slightly, dark eyes wandering from his face and down over the rest of him before they drift back up again and settle on brown and blue.

"Right here, amorcito?" he asks, voice low and slightly rough at the edges. He lets the question hang for a second or two, and then pulls one of his hands free of his pockets, and touches one of his knuckles underneath Anthony's chin, continuing in a murmur. "In my bed?"