driftfleet | Kayanni System Mingle

It must've taken so long to build them like this. How does anybody find anything?

[The carts fly! They don't even have horses! What the heck!!!]

Luck, maybe. Or memoriza- be careful, [Sorey warns, picking Mikleo up quickly out of the way of some quick-moving pedestrians who aren't watching where they're going in their rush to catch a nearby bus.]

Ah-!

[Mikleo flails briefly and grips Sorey's shirt instead, eyes wider than ever as he watches the people go by.]

I don't think anybody has any resonance at all here.

At least enough people to make this a little dangerous. [Sorey adjusts his hold on Mikleo so he's a little more secure.] Might have to carry you just to be safe. I won't bruise your ego too badly with that, will I?

...Mmm...

[Much as he'd love to keep up the brave front, it really does look like they've entered a busy area. The flow of people doesn't appear to be slowing down at all, and it's something of a relief to be off the ground. Getting surrounded by a bunch of strangers who can't even see him is intimidating as heck.]

I guess I can tolerate it for a while. But don't get used to it!

Oh no sir, wouldn't dream of it. [Snorts and just keeps hold of Mikleo, trying to navigate them over to a less busy area of the sidewalk so they can plan their escape. Maybe they should go up a few levels and get a car...though those are kind of expensive and Sorey is low on credits. Possibly because he always buys a buttload of books every single time they stop anywhere.]

Here, help me out. [Hoists Mikleo up over his head to sit on his shoulders.] See anywhere clear for us to go to?

[Mikleo leans forward, hands resting on Sorey's head for balance as he checks the area from his new vantage point.]

It looks like... there's some stores down the street? Over there, to the left- can you see that sign? I dunno if it's a book store, though.

Only one way to find out, [Sorey pipes up cheerfully, holding onto Mikleo's ankles as he heads forward to brave the crowd once again. They manage to squeeze their way over to the other store, Sorey ducking down so Mikleo doesn't smack his head on the doorjamb as they make their way inside.]

[Geez, even the stores are oversized and disorienting. Not that Mikleo has a lot of experience (any, actually) with stores... anyway, it's huge, too. The benefit of which being-]

-Look! Sorey, look at all the books!

Gosh...yeah, there's hundreds of them. Maybe even thousands. [Though the place is big it's much less crowded, so Sorey reaches up to let Mikleo down off his shoulders before he squirms right off.

Seeing huge libraries and bookstores like this will never, ever get old.]

[Mikleo scampers over to the first pile he can reach, standing on his tiptoes to see the books on the table display.]

....Can you read this? I don't understand what it says.

[DAMN YOU ALIEN LANGUAGES]

Ummm...hm. [Sorey leans over. The sign is in one of the more common languages, but...] Uh, I'm pretty sure the sign says that all these books are written in a language I can't read. [YET. He will learn every language ever darn it] C'mon, let's go find the section with the stuff I can read.

[Mikleo huffs, annoyed, but sets the book back in its place, reaching up to give Sorey's hand a tug instead.]

Lead the way? Most of the spines are too high up for me to read.

Well get up here then. [Scoops back up. Jeez, you.] Y'know, you can ask for my help.

I know that.

[Mikleo's voice is somewhat quieter than usual, though, head ducked. The imbalance is really weirding him out.]

I don't like it if all you're doing is helping me.

Who's the one who found this shop? We wouldn't even be in here if it weren't for you. [Carries Mikleo over to some of the shelves with writing he can understand, peering at the titles.] We're partners, right?

...Right...

[Oof. It's hard to feel like equal partners like this, but he'll just have to suck it up and deal with this feeling. Not like it's Sorey's fault.]

...Oh! Hey, what about that one? The top shelf- "Significant Historical Events of the Zaria Galaxy"...?

[Yeah........Sorey is not equipped to take care of small children for extended periods of time. Especially not one as independent as Mikleo, who insist on still mothering Sorey.

Maybe he needs to give Mikleo more opportunities to be independent? So instead of pulling down the book himself like he was going to, Sorey just lifts Mikleo high enough for him to grab it.] This one?

[Mikleo is somewhat mollified by the gesture, tugging the book down off the shelf and holding it upright so they can both see the front cover. It looks like a proper, scholarly book- good and thick, small print, snobby-sounding titles attached to the author's name. A broad smile crosses his lips.]

Yeah, this one! What do you think?

Oooh, that looks really good. [Puts Mikleo down, book and all.] I think there's a reading area over there, you go first! I'm gonna grab something too.

[Mikleo follows his gaze, hesitant for a moment - you want him to go off alone? in this den of strange humanity? - but soon enough he does head over there. They can't see him anyway, so it's probably fine.

When Sorey joins him he'll find Mikleo perched on the arm of the couch, finger running down the page as he examines the titles of the table of contents.]

[lmao they see that floating book tho lil buddy

Still, nothing happens and Sorey joins him shortly after finding something more simple in one of the languages they've been learning, plopping onto the couch beside Mikleo.] Does it have any cool sections?

[shhhh maybe he infused it. (he didn't.)

Mikleo shuffles over and helps himself to Sorey's lap as his new chair, partially for comfort and partially so it doesn't look so weird. Y'know, assuming the book is still floating. (it is.)]

Uh-huh. This story is about a queen who fed an entire traitorous political council to her mutant cows.

[well he thinks it's cool, anyway.]

Psh. [Same old Mikleo...] How come you're always into that dark stuff? You're so twisted. [Draws up a foot to tuck under his other knee and make it easier for Mikleo to stay on his lap]

[because shut up]

I found this one for you, too, because I knew you'd complain.

[He flips to another page, pointing down at the chapter title- "Triumph in Scandal: the love letters of the exiled prince of Zalaria VI".]

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