nerdeology | IC Communication

[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.]

See, again. Undue suspicion of ulterior motives.

[w o w so untrusting, you cruel man. ~~he's not wrong though~~

With a small shrug Mikleo turns the journal sideways and slides it towards Sorey's designated half of the desk.]

Fine, then you take notes. But you've got your own bias, so I'll be checking them over.

[Writes very clearly 'SAVED JAMES FROM CERTAIN DEATH' and underlines it twice.] Okay, I'm ready. Let's continue.

[Mikleo quietly writes "ALLEGEDLY" in a column beside Sorey's note and returns to reading the novel out loud. Let the games begin.]

[Sorey keeps the notes mostly impartial, though he misses a few key moments where the guide disappears for great lengths of time or seems to know something that might be peculiarly helpful. Whether or not he's doing it on purpose, well...most of it, no. He doesn't like being suspicious of people but he and Mikleo make good foils. It's better for the overall good if they disagree.

Plus, like, maybe he's keeping secrets for their own good? Maybe.]

[At the end of each chapter, Mikleo checks on the notes, adding his own details, scratching out and correcting some of Sorey's, which of course leads to a handful of debates (heated and otherwise) over the validity of certain points. Thankfully it's not a lengthy book - young adult mystery fiction! short but meaty - and Mikleo is an experienced reader, so it isn't too long before they're a good ways into the book. Mikleo's getting tired, but the extended debate session is only serving as fuel for his energy pyre.]

"'What I have yet to deduce,' muttered James, growing increasingly irritable, 'Is how the killer came to know that we had found the location of the secret chamber?'
Sebastian's only response was a quiet hmmm, and it was easy to see the gears working overtime in his head. 'Interesting,' he finally said. 'It occurs to me that we would have discovered it much sooner had you not been spared from your unfortunate fall the other day.'
'You can't possibly mean-'
Abruptly, his words were cut short by a tremendous crash. Sebastian lunged forward, tackling his partner to the ground just in time to miss being shot. They rolled as one behind a crumbling pillar, and James chanced a peek as they heard the sound of a rifle being reloaded. Sure enough, standing in the doorway of the only known exit of the ruins, was-"

[Mikleo stops. Sets the book down. Slides it along the desk towards Sorey. His expression is an unflappable mask of calm.]

Read it.

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