he's probably fine.

[nerdeology]

Who: Mikleo
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: On the Huntress!
When: Now, basically

[You know what's great about being a seraph? Never getting sick. You know what's not great about being a seraph? Having zero frame of reference for what being sick is like when you experience it for the first time. And after a month of quietly enduring and/or ignoring it, despite being a water elemental trapped on a planet full of poisonous water, it's finally caught up to him.

It doesn't help that this realization comes hand in hand with the fact that he's been upgraded to captain, apparently, which is as nonsensical a decision as he's ever heard from the Atroma. The one perk - besides the sudden lack of malevolence on the Huntress due to Greed's departure - means that he now has a big bed to curl up and be miserable in.]

I have a few questions.

is there some sort of guide for captain's duties? for those who lack experience.

also:

how do you tell whether you are dying or just sick

[...Those questions should probably have had a completely different priority, but whatever. He's too sick to be bothered.

He makes an attempt at sending this out as an anonymous communication, but he's a bit too light-headed and bleary-eyed to pull it off, so it probably doesn't work too well. He still doesn't show up on camera, so there is that.]

Comments

[nerdeology]

[He can already think of a dozen ways this will go wrong...]

Fair enough. But I'm definitely coming along, just in case.

[monolike]

Oh ho, just to keep an eye on me? Not to have a look around for yourself? [Sorey fetches the cloth and rewets it. He's supposed to be looking after Mikleo, after all.]

[nerdeology]

...Hmph.

[The downside of growing up with someone: they know you too well.]

As long as I'm there, I might as well see what's what. I can't let you take the lead when it comes to discoveries.

[monolike]

Are you sure you should wander so far? You're the Captain now, don't you have a duty to the ship? [mops mikleo's brow] I don't mind taking the lead.

[nerdeology]

[Uuugh, right. He should be annoyed by that, but actually, it reminds him-]

Well then, you won't mind taking on the first mate position, as well as half the work.

[monolike]

Definitely don't mind. I'd be honored, actually. [It'd be neat, to be the one supporting Mikleo for a change.]

[nerdeology]

[....]

Idiot. At least give it some thought, first.

[It's not surprising, though. Sorey's tendency to do something reckless because it'll help others is what set them off on their journey right from the get-go.]

[monolike]

What's there to think about? [hit the nail on the head, mickey] You're always supporting me. I'm happy to have the opportunity to do the same for you.

[nerdeology]

[Wait, he actually thinks like that?]

What are you talking about? We've always supported each other. You're not keeping score, are you?

[monolike]

No, no! Of course not. [kinda] But you have to admit, since all this Shepard business started, it's been a little one-sided...

[nerdeology]

[That's pretty much admitting that he's right, Sorey.]

I told you already- I chose this for myself as much as for you.

[monolike]

No, I know. I'm not saying you've been forced into anything, or you feel obligated or anything like that. But even if this is your choice, it's still supporting me. [Sorey drags a hand through his hair.] If our roles were reversed, how would you feel?

[nerdeology]

I like to think that I wouldn't be so dense that I'd feel the need to even out some nonexistent friendship scale.

[This is dumb and you're being dumb, stop that.]

If you want to do this, then do it. Just don't do it out of some feeling of obligation.

[monolike]

It's not obligation, [Sorey murmurs, wringing out the cloth maybe a little harder than he needs to.] We don't have to share a goal for us to want to support each other. It's not like I feel I owe you, or anything like that. I just want- I want to do something for you that isn't tied directly into something we both want.

[nerdeology]

[Mikleo glances over to scrutinize Sorey's expression, his gaze dropping to the hand holding the cloth, and after a moment he reaches out to grasp that hand lightly, shaking his head.]

Sorey.

[Easy.

It still feels wrong, for Sorey to be worrying so much about something Mikleo thinks about so little, but if he's this bothered by it, it should be taken seriously.]

It's fine. I accept your offer.

[monolike]

[Sorey pokes his tongue against the inside of his cheek before flashing Mikleo a strained smile.] -hey. Your ice melted, let me go get you some more. [gently detaches mikleo and picks up his bowl of melty ice chips]

[nerdeology]

[That was

weird

why is he being so weird?]

I... okay, sure. Thanks...

[It's a testament to how sick he's feeling that he's not sure whether he's reading Sorey properly. He's fine, isn't he? He'd tell Mikleo if something was wrong, right?]

[monolike]

[mikleo would be the first one to know, as soon as sorey did.

maybe.]

Get some rest, Mikleo. [rests a hand on his forehead before heading back out.]