nerdeology | IC Communication

Mm.

[That's about as noncommittal an answer as it gets, but Mikleo obliges in leaning against Sorey as he pushes himself carefully to his feet. He wobbles at first, pausing while he regains balance, but once that's sorted he starts moving forward, one slow step at a time. He feels like a toddler learning to walk, and it's so backwards- as the elder of the two, he'd been the one doing this for Sorey when they were babies.

Maybe this is some kind of weird, long-term karma. Whatever, at least it isn't Edna or something. That would be unbearable.]

Did you find something good?

[Sorey doesn't remember any of it, but he's heard all the stories. Everyone thought it was so cute the way Mikleo led Sorey around by the hands, still unsteady himself but determined to be the one to teach Sorey how to walk. Since the beginning, he wanted to be the one responsible for Sorey.

Sorey doesn't say a word, but his arm tightens a little.] You bet I did. It's a murder mystery that takes place at an archaeological dig. The summary sounded really neat.

Ah... I'll give it a look, then.

[He's not so sure how he'll feel about reading details on a murder - considering recent events, even that might hit too close to home - but the intrigue he feels about the setting makes it worthwhile. It isn't like murder is what actually happened, anyway.

He wobbles his way over and then wobbles into the chair, until finally he's comfortably seated again (and therefore less wobbly), looking at the collection Sorey brought over. He made it across the room without falling! What a pitiful accomplishment. And yet, he's glad for the progress... ugh.

Shoving aside his misgivings - coming back from the dead is probably not supposed to be convenient anyway - he reaches immediately for the books.]

Anything else?

[Yeah, he'd hesitated at that too, but there are surprisingly few mysteries that don't have people getting killed in them. At least in this one it doesn't have some gruesome murder scene.]

Mmm, a couple of texts, a book of poems; not much that we haven't already read. I think our own personal libraries are going to outgrow the one on Iskaulit soon.

[Sorey grasps the back of Mikleo's chair, leaning over him to peer at the books.] Oh- and I didn't know if you felt up to it, but those are mochi. A friend showed me how to make them...don't worry, these are ones she made. They're really good.

[Honestly, it wouldn't surprise him if they ended up with a room full of books, books, and more books. This is supposed to be a secondary, temporary home, anyway- may as well try to make it as comfortable as one so long as they're stuck here. That's part of why he's been trying to keep himself busy with the things that interested him before they left Elysia in the first place- the sewing, the writing, the research.

The other options don't interest him as much as the novel, so he lifts that first, giving front and back a quick examination before flipping it open. Small text, his favourite.]

What's mochi?

[He tries to keep his tone neutral, but he already knows that it's food. Sorey's been patient, making offers but never pushing the issue, and Mikleo's quietly dodged it each time. He hasn't had anything to eat or drink since he woke up, and it's the longest he's ever gone without food in his life. He doesn't need it, sure, but it probably looks weird.]

It's kind of like a bun, but with mashed up rice instead of flour so it's chewy. [Sorey plucks one from the plate, though he turns his head away to eat it since Mikleo seemed to be bothered by the sounds of chewing the last time he ate with him in the room.] And it's got sweet filling inside. It's reeeeally good.

[Sorey rests his chin lightly atop Mikleo's head as he flips through the mystery. Mikleo's very slowly but very steadily improving. He's not as tired these days, staying awake for longer (though that could be out of sheer stubbornness) and managing to sit up on his own. He still needs help to stand and walk, but that he can do it at all is a vast improvement.

It's just...these visions he keeps having that are the problem.] So? What's the verdict? Does the book mystify and intrigue?

[Mikleo's only response to the mochi comment is another noncommittal hum; it's the best he can really offer right now. He'd rather focus on recovering, and with all of the other issues he's having, the last thing he needs is to give himself some kind of food-induced panic attack. Or... whatever might happen. In truth he's just scared to find out. Just the thought of crunching makes him shudder.

At least Sorey's keeping well fed, with all the food people have been bringing for him. He does feel a little guilty, but at least it isn't going to waste.

At Sorey's question, he finishes the page and tilts the book up so it's more visible. Sorey's already hanging over his shoulder, so might as well share.]

I'm still at the introduction, so there isn't much intrigue yet. It's interesting, though. Should I read out loud?

[Mystery's still a bit of a new genre for them - there hadn't been much of it in Elysia - so he's not sure how Sorey feels about it yet.]

Yeah, if you don't mind. [Sorey circles around to lean against the desk instead, since leaning over Mikleo (while nice) is a little annoying for both of them to tolerate for long.

He's not so much interested in the book anyway, more that he's interested in hearing Mikleo's voice. He can't get enough of it, it seems; the moments when Mikleo's awake are like oasis spots in a desert, and though Sorey wouldn't trade Mikleo sleeping and recovering his strength for anything in the world, he loves being able to talk to him and hear an answer.

When Mikleo turns back to the book Sorey's expression softens as it's often done since he came back; warm and grateful and just that small bit afraid, buried deep. He leans back against the desk and clasps his wrist in front of his legs to listen but keeps his eyes on Mikleo, on the way the light sits in his hair, the way his fingers slip between the pages, elegant and sure.]

[He doesn't mind. Reading is a soothing process, and it takes his mind off of things- his health being one, of course (the fever, the hallucinations, the exhaustion, all of it), but more significantly, the memories. It's far too easy to lose himself in his own mind when he's left alone with nothing to occupy himself with. It's why, even though sometimes he feels a little smothered, he's grateful that Sorey's been hovering around so much since he came back. Someone to keep him updated on the fleet's situation, or to discuss whatever subject they're reading about on any particular day, or even just to be there so he has someone to ground him, to remind him of what's real and what isn't. The recovery is frustrating, but being alone makes it somewhat easier.

The attention does get distracting sometimes, though, so he makes it a handful of pages into the novel before he pauses, tilting his head sideways to glance at Sorey.]

Are you okay?

Eh? [Sorey rubs his nose sheepishly and looks away, plucking up another mochi from the plate and pinching at it a little.] I'm fine, I'm fine. I'm just listening to the story. They'd just hired the tour guide to show them to the dig site, right?

[Yeah, that doesn't really sound right- not with how Sorey had been staring. But okay, Mikleo will play along for now. He thumbs the edge of the page, his eyes drifting over the last paragraph.]

Yeah, I'm not sure how trustworthy that character is. Isn't it suspicious that such an important archeological discovery has already become a tourist attraction? Where's their scientific integrity?

[He questions the legitimacy of this author's research and it's not even the second chapter. This is gonna go great.]

[look it's not a lie, he's fine, he's like even better than fine

Sorey snorts and turns away to eat the mochi, cheek puffed out so he can talk around his food.] Already tearing it apart, huh? Can't even give it one chapter yet...

[A quiet huff.]

I see nothing wrong with being critical of anything I read, no matter how early. Anyway, it's a mystery. Isn't theorizing about the suspects part of the fun?

You're the one asking for mysteries. You can read it however you like. [Sorey scratches his cheek and turns back to face Mikleo, some of the white rice flour dusting the corner of his mouth.] Personally I think they probably just didn't wanna get lost on the way. I mean, the guide gave them a discount! How could he be suspicious if he's so nice?

[Mikleo sighs faintly.]

See, this is why Rose was in charge of this sort of thing back home. What motivation would the man have to limit his profit for no reason if not to lower their guard?

[Also, you're getting mom'd now. Mikleo doesn't even give it a moment's thought before licking his thumb and reaching up to wipe off the flour.

Which he then cleans on Sorey's shirt. Carry your own mess!!]

Mikleo- [what the heck man] ...anyway, your reasoning only works if you think everybody in the world has an ulterior motive. Maybe the tour guide just felt bad that their ship arrived late.

[listen someone has to make sure you look presentable.]

You know that most people don't just do nice things for the sake of doing them, right? It isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's natural to have more than one reason to act.

[It's nice that Sorey still thinks like that - kind of a miracle, to be honest - but he's still an anomaly when it comes to that sort of behaviour.]

[gross]

Sure, more than one reason, but why's it have to be a bad reason? You haven't even read ten lines of dialogue from this guy and you're saying you've already got him pinned as shady. That's not fair.

[Look, just because you lose faith in yourself doesn't mean you lose faith in other people. Sometimes it even has the complete opposite effect.]

Fine, but I'm sticking with my theory. You'll be eating those words when it turns out that he's connected to the killer in some way.

[No one's even died yet...

BUT WHATEVER he's going back to the chapter, practically determined to prove Sorey wrong now. His narration has a decidedly challenging tone to it after that.]

[lmslsjdf mikleo is so shitty about it now, sorey's so happy

He grins and listens to Mikleo read it out, emphasizing the parts where the tour guide is acting suspiciously! To be honest he doesn't have much of an opinion on whether or not the tour guide is a suspect, but bickering with Mikleo is normal and is how they interact comfortably, and both of them need more of that in their lives, especially right now.

It isn't lost on him that Mikleo doesn't so much as even look at the mochi, but at least he doesn't need to eat or anything. As long as he's in Sorey's domain he should be getting plenty of rest, which is enough for now. Everything else can be addressed later.

There's going to be a lot of later conversations happening at this rate, though.]

Ahh, see there? See? He saved James's life! There's no way someone connected to the killer would go to that kind of trouble, he could've just let him fall off the bridge.

[.....

HE

DOES NOT

CONCEDE]

You're still jumping to preemptive conclusions. One good deed doesn't negate all the suspicious behaviour from the earlier chapters! Anyway, there were witnesses on the other side who saw the whole thing. If he'd let James fall, someone would have noticed. He's just trying to get them off his trail.

[He glances around, then gestures to the small book on the edge of the bed.]

Pass me my journal, I'm going to start taking notes. We can compare once the story finally reveals the truth about him.

[This is a Very Serious argument that he is taking Very Seriously. In truth he's just glad to be arguing about something harmless and theoretical again- it's far more fun and familiar than how things have been the past several months leading up to what happened. He may look cynical about it, but he's kind of over the moon right alongside Sorey.]

[Which is absolutely hands-down one of his cutest quirks.] Ahh...Lord Mikleo requests his journal... [Sorey makes a show of shuffling over to the bed to retrieve it, then lowers onto a knee to hold it out for him, head down.] I, a foolish human who requires the wisdom of the seraphim to further my understanding of the intricacies of murder mysteries, can do naught but obey...

[Mikleo shoots Sorey a look of casual disdain, reaching down to flick at Sorey's forehead with a finger before accepting the offered journal.]

No matter how many times you try that joke, it still isn't going to be funny...

[Even if he can appreciate, on some perpetually-unspoken level, the nerdy nature of it.]

I think it's pretty funny. [Which is what really matters here.

Sorey's going to do that thing where he leans over and watches Mikleo write, though.] Should I be taking my own notes?

[Mikleo tilts his head up to lift a brow at Sorey.]

You don't think I'll be neutral about it?

[He says, after a solid hour or so of arguing his bias.]

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