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"An overabundance of free time and spite," Mathias said casually, watching the other man as he didn't quite deflect from the question so much as stammer around it.

It'd be an endearing trait, he was certain, if he weren't straight enough to be used as a perfect level for foundation construction. But he was secure enough in his masculinity to recognize little ticks and things that some others might consider "cute."

Maybe he would play matchmaker for Delilah after all... Maybe - man still had a few other tests and trials to pass before that was even remotely on the table.

All the same...

"My father was... is... a military man," he said by way of additional information for context. "Kind of our family's line of work so to speak - I'm one of a handful of people who didn't join up - mainly out of pure spite. But, when I was younger, I'd sneak on and off base with a few rattle cans of paint... Make a nuisance of myself because my father was commander of the base security forces... So if I did get caught I'd get dragged in front of him anyway...." He shrugged.

"So most of my artistic talent I gained and practiced out of pure spite," He chuckled. "Then just as an extra tweak I got my degree in Fine Art as a final... F-U to the old man."

He smirked. "As you can tell, he and I didn't... exactly get along well."

Mathias let out a soft half-pleased sounding snort at the dry critique of his statement. The man enjoyed sarcasm - and Zac had opened the door wide open, even as he tried to backpedal on it, Mathias shook his head.

"I do passably," He said with a shrug. "It helps when I have good models to work with, and The Baron is quite lively in his own way. The two of you were quite engaged."

"You have a good profile, and you played a good foil so," He took a sip of his coffee. "Figured I'd take advantage of the scene while I could."

"So, you in school or you doing the wage-slave thing?" He asked with a chuckle. "I mean you talked about an internship so that implies the former..."

But not always.

"Full time artist, part time fighter, part time other gigs as the need comes up," Mathias offered. "I'm no stranger to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work."

Sometimes those side gigs were... unique. But he could keep some things close to his chest.

"Cello is impressive," He added with a nod. "I can't say I'm very musically inclined - aside from listening anyway. But good on you. Violin is pretty nifty too - but hey, at least you know that if you have to, you can in fact kill a man if you him him with your instrument."

He was joking. Maybe.

"Morning and Night are gym time, otherwise I'm doing art," He added. "Or scouting a wall, or just being a general family nuisance, depending on who you ask."

"Pro tip, one bachelor to another," Mathias offered, making an assumption and letting it ride. "Focus on a few key easy dishes that take minimal effort but maximum return. Pasta dishes, and some one-pot stuff like chowders and stews are good picks - I'm personally fond of the later."

"But, once you get the easy stuff down you can try and experiment," He said with a nod. "Beats living off delivery pizza and takeout all the time. Oh - and invest in a good rice cooker - not one of those stupid little pot steamers. It'll pay for itself in like a month once you figure out how to use it and fried rice is actually surprisingly easy to make if you watch the right tutorials."

Not to mention that it legit had all the proper macros to keep one going if you loaded it up properly.

"Also you can make cakes in them - which is neat."

"What's the saying, cooking is art, baking is science?" Mathias offered. "You've got to trial and error out what works and what doesn't - or invest in a wall of cookbooks and not repeat the mistakes of those who went before. But where is the fun in that, eh?"

He took another long sip of his coffee and once he put the cup down he grinned at the other man.

"I mean, if we didn't blaze new trails, we'd still be eating salted pork, hardtack, and porridge," He wave a hand toward the biscotti on their plates. "We wouldn't have such lovely fare as what lies before us now. Not to mention, someone had to be that bold first person to run up to a wild pregnant cow and steal that milk."

"So don't let your failures discourage you," He said, feeling slightly mentorish in the moment and leaning into it. "Learn from them, use them to keep getting better and maybe someday you'll run your own little shop somewhere slinging all sorts of exotic flavors around."

Well... that was... a more tepid response than he'd been hoping for - but he'd take it.

"Well, if I may be so bold," Mathias said with a chuckle. "Perhaps once I get this painting finished I might be able to stay over for dinner and partake in one of your experiments."

That request totally couldn't be misconstrued or misunderstood in any way right?

Again, the response was unexpected. He was simply asking - one man to another - to come over and try out food... Oh.

Oh right, yeah, no, looking back he could see where this could totally have been misconstrued as... Ah.

Between the drawing, the invitation for coffee, the friendly banter and now the sudden imposition, the fact that the second option hung in the air at all was entirely on Mathias' plate - and he needed to clear up that little misunderstanding and calmly, politely, and reasonably...

"Oh God, no," Mathias blurted. "I mean, don't get me wrong, you're a good looking dude, but you're lacking... certain key pieces of equipment... shall we say - or at least I assume you are, and that's on me."

Ah, yes, totally nailed it. Fingers went to the bridge of his nose to pinch in a tick that rarely ever warded off the headache or annoyance that made him do it.

"God what did that one article call it the other day," He waved a hand as if Zac might offer up the answer but before he could he snapped his fingers quietly. "Super Straight, I think is how the one tweet they were talking about described it. I mean, I know this seems all sorts of like the gentleman doth protest too much, but no, I'm... not of that persuasion. And before you ask - no, I have never had need nor desire to... expand my palate or horizons. I'm quite comfortable as is."

Lowering his hands he looked at the other man.

"Now that misunderstanding out of the way," He said, as if that entire little bit hadn't just happened. "Yes, I mean as a new acquaintance, perhaps even friend."

You know - if he hadn't completely offended the other man by airing his... preferences.

"My friend, what you and whatever human being of your choice and persuasion do the the private confines of your own bedroom is neither my business nor my place to judge," Mathias offered with a chuckle. "That's between you, them, and anyone you broadcast that stuff to on the internet."

Hey, some people were into that sort of thing. He... wasn't particularly inclined but he was also not going to judge.

"I am, thankfully, not allergic to cats as far as I know - not that I am around them often," He admitted with a shrug. "I'll admit I'm more a dog person, but that's more out of a healthy respect for what I know they can do if they're the right breed."

Watching a German Shepard flip a decently sized male onto his back like a ragdoll was something you really had to see once before you understood just why man had domesticated wolves in the first place.