driftfleet | (no subject)

Hah... well, it's not like we don't have a lot of time to spare while a certain someone and his squire are sleeping.

[He gives Sorey a little nudge with his elbow. Six to eight hours a night is plenty of time for asking all the important questions, and surely Lailah would indulge him with what she can answer.]

Ah...yeah. Sorry, you guys must get awful bored with us sometimes. [Not that Sorey's beating himself up over it too much. Humans are humans, and humans have to sleep.] Still, you must know each other pretty well by now, huh? Even better than I know them.

Remember who we're talking about, here.

[Sorey's had to deal with them in his head for a while now, he's heard enough of their bickering and teasing. Not that he doesn't love them all in one way or another, but geez.]

Sometimes we stayed up and talked, sometimes we slept. But night is also the only time we can give each other some space, so we spent a lot of time doing our own thing.

[For him- training, mostly. Preferably where the others wouldn't catch him. He knows he's still worlds behind when it comes to experience, and bridging the gap can mean the difference of life or death in battle with hellions. He's as determined as ever not to be a liability to anyone, and the hanger of the Huntress has seen its share of seraphic artes while he keeps up the habit here.]

That's. True. [trying to imagine edna and mikleo getting along for six minutes is impossible, let alone six hours] Let me guess: you went out training, right?

[Got it in one.]

...Yes, but I can't give you any credit for something so obvious.

[He's pretty sure Sorey's noticed here and there, and it became more apparent after he'd used Spectral Cloak the first time.]

Did I ever tell you that I could tell? When you came back from training. I felt it, a little. [He hadn't known it for what it was until Mikleo revealed that he could use a new technique, but Sorey had still felt it.]

You didn't.

[Mikleo glances sidelong at Sorey, shifting slightly on his knees, fingers clenching in the fabric of his pants. He'd wondered often if his progress had been noticeable, if it had made any difference - even he himself wasn't sure sometimes, even though their survival had proven to be dependent on it on a few occasions - but to hear it said aloud is...]

...You did?

[He hadn't meant that to come out as hopeful as it sounds.]

Mm. [Sorey nods and rests his cheek on a drawn up knee.] I didn't know what it was at first, but I could tell. All of you feel different, and I could tell if you were tired, or hurt, or if your power felt weaker or stronger. You were definitely getting stronger.

[Mikleo closes his eyes for a few seconds, quietly exhaling as his shoulders relax. It's just for a moment - he's stubborn about not letting things bother him, stubborn about appearing weak when he's been trying so hard to get stronger - but it's there. There's a weight slipping off his shoulders, and after a moment he lets himself smile.]

Well... good, then. That means it wasn't pointless.

[If he'd worked that hard for that long and accomplished nothing, how pathetic would that have been? This... this is much better. If it pushes them even a little bit closer to success, it's worth every ounce of effort.]

You really were very worried about it, huh. [Sorey knew that Mikleo was determined to get stronger, but he didn't know it weighed so heavily on him. Acquiring new skills was kind of their hobby growing up but this is different.] But you're already so strong, Mikleo. You've always been the stronger of the both of us, anyway.

We had different strengths back then, and things have changed. After we became Shepherd and sub lord, we both had to step up our game.

[There's a lot more riding on them now than when it was just about competing over who would do what chore, or who got to keep a cool artifact they found while exploring.]

The others had years and years to learn their techniques and build their strength. And it's the duty of a sub lord to support you and Lailah. I wasn't going to be the one to slow us down.

[He's not going to admit it, but it was a lot of pressure, though most of it was self-inflicted.]

You've done more to keep me on the path of the Shepard than anybody. Including Lailah. [Sorey stares at the shrine, not really seeing it for the objects.] Not to say that she isn't invaluable as the Prime Lord, or as our friend. Or that nobody else is either, but... you're the one I think about when I feel like I might not be able to do this.

[Sorey looks back over at Mikleo seriously.] I understand that you want strength just as much as we both need it, but don't underestimate the strength you give me just by being with me. That's all.

[Sorey

Sorey

Your sincerity is going to be the death of him one day. Mikleo leans back a bit, quietly taking in Sorey's words, his tone, the expression on his face. It's a comfort, as it so often is, to hear that simple, earnest reassurance that yes, his contribution does matter. And it wouldn't be enough, of course, to just be an emotional pillar- he'd needed the sub lord position in order to achieve his own goals, and strengthening Sorey in his usual way could never be enough. He'd probably have become a hellion and even more of a liability, if he were to be honest. Becoming stronger was only one piece of the puzzle.

This helps, though. It helps a lot. And there's plenty he could say in response.

What he does is reach out and give Sorey's side a little shove, tilting him sideways.]

Your foot's going to fall asleep again.

[do you have ESP because literally he just noticed the pins and needles

Sorey goes ahead and falls onto his hip, grabbing for his foot and rubbing it.] Ow owww... I can make it longer! That's a record. That was what, at least fifteen minutes, right? [try ten buddy]

[he does spend a lot of time in your head, bro]

Not even close. Your old record's what, 11 and a half? I think you need more training.

C'mon! This isn't a necessary skill...I mean, we have more important things to concentrate on, right? [LOOK OKAY JUST LISTEN.......sitting still could even be considered DETRIMENTAL to proper Sheparding...right.....]

Right, right. We have to work on your concentration skills, too. We can double up the training, do both at once.

[He stands up, dusting his pants off absently and offering a hand out to help Sorey up.]

Mikleeooo....... [whining always works

okay no it doesn't but a boy can dream]

[Well.

Mikleo hauls him up, then sets his hands on his hips, brow quirking up.]

Coming? I might just make some ice cream.

[Sometimes whining helps, a little. If only to give Mikleo incentive to make it stop.]

Do I have to kneel for it? [like he wouldn't, look at this face. he'd do anything for it.]

Hmm... I'll decide on the way.

[This could be an implied invitation to convince him one way or another.]

[okay well if you're gonna be like that, how about he kneels right here in the corridor and takes your hand in his like some old timey knight] Oh Lord Mikleo! Ruler of rivers and lakes. Please bestow upon me, a lowly mortal, your blessing of ice cream and cakes!

[Oh my god, what.]

Be advised, mortal Shepherd, a blessing cannot be granted without sufficient offering to the protector seraph of the realm!

[Two can play at this game!!]

[thinks.

springs to his feet and holds out a hand.] One moment, my lord. [rushes back into the prayer room and returns a moment later with the snowglobe in his hands, kneeling and bowing his head, lifting it up in silent offering.]

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