IC Communication

[nerdeology]

Use this to get in contact with Mikleo outside of the community posts.


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"This is Mikleo. I'll get back to you when I can."

Comments

[nerdeology]

[.....

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.]

[monolike]

[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...

[nerdeology]

[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.]

[monolike]

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?

[nerdeology]

[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.]

[monolike]

See, again. Undue suspicion of ulterior motives.

[nerdeology]

[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.

[monolike]

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

[nerdeology]

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

[monolike]

[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.]

[nerdeology]

[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.

[monolike]

Uuuuugh, Mikleoooo. [He doesn't want to read it but Mikleo won't let it go. They've done this before.

Sorey rolls his eyes and pulls the book closer, reading out in a bored tone,] "-was the tour guide, Domingo. 'You could have lived if you'd only left when I advised you to,' shouts Domingo. Stone flecks from the pillar as the shot strikes above their heads. He-" Okay, okay, fine. [Sorey slides the book back.] You were right. This time.

[nerdeology]

I was right.

[Mikleo smiles, visibly pleased with himself, and reaches over to draw a little check next to his column in the journal.]

I'd call that a mystery successfully solved. It's not a bad genre, after all.

[monolike]

So if you successfully called a mystery-romance, would you think that's a good genre too? [Mystery-romance has to exist. Sorey will wean Mikleo onto the sappy shit.]

[nerdeology]

I can't give an opinion on something that only theoretically exists, Sorey. What if the two genres don't mesh together well?

[Romance novels are still rubbish, okay, and none of Sorey's examples have convinced him otherwise. One mystery book cannot save them.]

[monolike]

Wha-? They mesh. [there is no reason for him to be so hurt over such a silly question] They could totally mesh.

[nerdeology]

[he has so many doubts right now.]

Well, find me a romance-mystery and I guess we'll see.

[monolike]

I'll definitely find you one, no problem! And you'll love it.

[nerdeology]

Don't preemptively jump to conclusions.

[He hates it when you do that.]

[monolike]

Have a little faith in how well I know your tastes! I won't pick something I know you'll dislike.

[nerdeology]

It's less about you and more about the romance aspect of the equation.

[He's not so sure he can believe in Sorey's ability to find one he can tolerate, mostly because he's not sure one exists. Sorey's opinions on the genre differ... a lot.]

[monolike]

Mikleo, you are just as much a romantic as I am.

[nerdeology]

What?!

[He's so affronted.]

Just how am I a romantic?!

[monolike]

You're romantic about other stuff! You like, y'know, like ambiance and so-and-so beget such-and-such. And designs. You're romantic about atmosphere.

[nerdeology]

Isn't that more or less implying that I'm shallow?

[It's- it's not all about aesthetic...!]