Just Keeping Swimming | March Planet Mingle

[thespaceopera]

Who: Everyone!
Broadcast: If you want!
Action: Anywhere on Mafik
When: The month of March



[Welcome to Mafik, the water world! Hope you brought your best swimming gear and don't have a paralyzing fear of water, because that's all that's here! So get out those wet suits and enjoy life under the sea!

In other words, it's a mingle! ]

> System Information

Comments

[monolike]

[Feeling Mikleo's embarrassment is almost as good as hearing Mikleo's reaction. It kind of doubles down Sorey's giddiness until he's hugging their arms again, spinning lazily in the water.] I like the taste too! It's really good Mikleo, it's just. Y'know, isn't it special when someone you care about makes you anything?

[nerdeology]

[That statement conjures up the mental image of numerous platters of black messes over the years, failed cooking attempts, and Sorey's dismay of how did this happen? But the sentiment is genuinely sweet, and food disasters isn't the only thing he remembers. There's been plenty of other instances where Sorey's offered him up a skewer of freshly barbecued prickleboar, proud to have gotten it right, or when he delivered a full set of skillfully sewn belts for his outfits, since Mikleo's never been fond of leather-working. There'd been something extra meaningful about receiving them from Sorey instead of just having them brought in from the outside world.

Yeah, he gets it.]

...you're making this harder, you know. You're supposed to convince me why I should bother trying.

[He's not annoyed, though - his tone is all playful exasperation. At the very least, this is helping him to relax.]

[monolike]

[Which is honestly the most important thing. It's not as if Sorey needs Mikleo to eat, or even wants him to; just as he suspects Mikleo wants him back to his former self, that's what Sorey wants for him. They'll never quite make it back, but this here is close enough that Sorey might be able to live with that.

As long as Mikleo is happy.]

Is that a barb against my baking skills, Mikleo? [Or his lack thereof.] You know, I bet if I tried with you watching everything I do, I could absolutely get it right! Remember that one time I made those cookies and they were only a little bit burnt?

[nerdeology]

Hah... of course I remember that. Once we added some frosting I could barely taste the burns. I don't think I'd seen you that proud since the first time you got a sentence right in the ancient tongue.

[So much of their lives can be measured in contests and challenges, overcoming problems both personal and world-changing. It isn't as if this is any different, and just like always, they're working through it together.

He's... considering it. Maybe it won't be so bad.]

[monolike]

Of course I was proud! That was even more momentous than when I got my first sentence right. [Considering how much longer he had to work on his baking skills than he did his mastery of ancient grammar.] You even ate the whole thing. That's a big accomplishment.

[nerdeology]

I did. Didn't even have to fake it.

[Not that he does that, generally. He's never been shy about telling Sorey his food is rubbish when it is. How will anyone improve if you coddle them?]

You know, if you focused more you might actually improve.

[monolike]

I focus! ...there's just a bunch of waiting around, sometimes. [He reads while it bakes, which is Not Wise]

[nerdeology]

Which is when you get distracted, therefore losing focus.

[punk don't try to dodge this, he knows exactly how you function.]

[monolike]

[Grumbles and uncurls their body a little further, letting them drift through the ocean as if cradled in a hammock. Mikleo's not wrong, but it's not as if Sorey does it on purpose. Besides, Mikleo knows how to bake just fine! And Sorey can make like, roasted boar and stuff, he doesn't have to know how to make sweets.] I'd rather just eat your cooking than struggle through it myself, honestly.

[nerdeology]

I see... so this conversation has an ulterior motive after all.

[His tone is playful enough to not sound accusatory, and after a pause just long enough to let that sink in but not long enough for Sorey to protest, he adds, more quietly,]

Okay. Go try some.

[monolike]

[Sorey is nothing if not honest. Though he's surprised by Mikleo giving in, especially with his apprehension still thrumming tightly through them both.] We don't have to. I wasn't trying to change your mind or anything.

[nerdeology]

I know. That's why I'm okay with it.

[If Sorey had tried to force him, he'd have resisted far more vehemently. The fact that he'd been so gentle about dismantling the issue made it less frightening, over time.]

[monolike]

...okay. [Sorey isn't scared for him so much as he is wary to push him on this, but what Mikleo needs right now isn't his protectiveness but his support. So without further debate, he steers them back into town, back over to that confused stall owner.

He takes their purchase back away from prying eyes just in case, curling up near a reef and clutching the clamshell box to his chest before opening it- and his stomach gurgles. Okay yeah, he's kind of hungry anyway. Maybe that'll be helpful.] You ready?

[nerdeology]

[There's a long moment's pause, as Mikleo stares down at the contents within the box through Sorey's eyes. He can feel that hunger passing through them, urging him forward, and it helps a bit, too. It shouldn't be such a huge step, but after so long...

It's hard. It's still really hard. But Sorey's right here with him, so... no more hiding.]

Ready.

[monolike]

[Sorey's not about to insult Mikleo's resolve by dragging this out, so at Mikleo's agreement he pops open the container and plucks up the treat to bite it.

It's both salty and sweet, and gelatinous in a way he's not sure he likes. Sorey seeks out Mikleo in his mind, not paying their surroundings much attention as they float there together.] Mm...it's okay, I guess. Your ice cream is much better.

[nerdeology]

[Mikleo's not sure any amount of bracing himself would help, so ultimately he'd opted to relax completely, giving Sorey full control, keeping only the sensations their shared body experiences so he's not too numb to be affected. It's so strange at first- they've never eaten together using the armatus before, and with a body not technically his own he'd expected it to taste... well, for a long time he'd expected anything to taste like blood or worse, hence his avoidance. And with Sorey's thoughts on the flavour and texture not entirely favourable, he'd thought he might share the opinion if it did taste the way it should.

But... no. The flavour hits him as if it were in his own body, with his own tastes and preferences. It pokes at his nostalgia, the sea-salt of that first ocean mixed with some unknown sugary taste, soft and squishy like curative gels.

A wave of emotion passes through him to Sorey - relief, surprise, a quiet joy - and tentatively he shifts back to share control just enough to lift their hands to take another bite, chewing more slowly this time, savoring the sensation.

It tastes like it should. It tastes like food. He's so grateful he could weep.]

...If you wanted me to make ice cream that badly, you should have asked.

[He's not sure how to address this feeling yet, but at the very least, he can acknowledge that it's a positive change. He did need this, it seems.]