[ el nysa ] tdm carryover(s)

[ofseraphim]

[ some of the best 'na-na'-ing around, friends ]

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mikleo - november tdm

[ofseraphim]

[ carried from beep ]

[ A brighter smile, then. ]

I was about to say!

[ He'll slip the necklace back around Mikleo's neck. ]

Anyway, I've had good finds before, you know! This one was just special, that's all.

[ Eyeing the necklace where it sits. ]

It really does suit you.

[ And with that, he can feel his face heat marginally, eyes still alight with awe. ]

[circulets]

Not often. [ But he's not saying that he hasn't, either. ] ... But, you didn't do half bad this time.

[ Which is a very Mikleo way of saying that he likes it a lot. ]

Though... The stone itself is lovely. There aren't any ruins at home that had anything like this. Not that we found.

[ He pauses. ] ... I have a present for you, too.

[ofseraphim]

Hey! [ He can pretend to take offense, but... not very well at the moment, honestly. It's a thin ruse all-too-quickly belied by a chuckle and a playful jab at Mikleo's shoulder that's nothing more than a tap at best.

All that fades, however, after the pause. ]

Huh? For me?

[circulets]

I didn't think you'd want to miss anything while you were gone, so I wrote everything down as time went on.

[ Which isn't really the Greatest Gift, but it is something he did for Sorey's sake... ]

[ofseraphim]

You kept a journal? Just for me...? [ Not the greatest gift? Sorey begs to differ, given how breathless he sounds.

So Mikleo spent all this time, knowing Sorey would come back. He kept faith; waited patiently...

His chest aches at the thought, but at the same time, feels so impossibly full and warm. He has no more words, for now. Nothing would suffice, anyway. So instead, with one arm, he pulls his best friend into a firm hug.

Head tucked over Mikleo's shoulder, the smile on Sorey's face could light a room. Or an entire township. ]

Thank you, Mikleo.

[circulets]

[ Mikleo gasps lightly in surprise when he's pulled in for a hug, finding himself surprised for the second time that day. Arms slowly find his way around Sorey in return, pulling himself close to his best friend.

It's... warm, to say the least. It's not like he hasn't been hugged before, but their difference in size just makes it moreso than normal. ]

... It wasn't a big deal. [ He just... wanted to do it. ] It's back in our room, when you're ready to head back.

[ofseraphim]

[ Sorey lets the embrace linger just a bit before breaking away at the mention of returning to their room.

Their room.

So... Mikleo had never gone back to sleeping in his own room, then. That dueling sensation of warmth and ache swells within him slightly. ]

I know I've got a lot of catching up to do, being gone this long. So let's head back now, if you're ready. We can talk on the way, since we're a ways out.

[ A pause. Sorey scratches at his cheek idly. ]

Speaking of, if I remember right, Thesa isn't exactly on the way to Olympia. So, why were you here, anyway?

[circulets]

[ UGH LOOK... it's embarrassing to go into now on top of everything else. He crosses his arms. ]

... Don't you have other questions on your mind right now?

[ He just wanted to check on Sorey. But, he knows that right now, there's other things that Sorey would want to know, too... ]

Come on. We can talk as we walk. [ Straightens a little, gesturing towards their destination. ]

[ofseraphim]

[ ...Well that was a quick turnaround! Sorey puts both palms up in a placating fashion, smiling sheepishly. ]

Okay, okay! [ Please let him live, Mikleo. ] You're right, I do.

[ So by that he means he'll ask again later. (Because he probably will.) But for now they'll head toward the transporter to take them both back to Olympia.

Being familiar with the place has its perks, as it turns out -- though that's not the only reason Sorey so readily offers his hand when they step inside, and far from the cause of why that hand lingers even once they're out. Discussion is lively throughout, of course, and it's fascinating to see just how much has and hasn't changed in the town as well. Exploration and re-acclimation will have to come later, however -- for now, he has another priority:

Their home. ]

[circulets]

[ Sorey's hand is warm in his.

It's strange, he thinks - Mikleo's hand is so small, but had he ever noticed how perfectly Sorey's hand fits into his own because of that? For a while while they walk, it's near distracting. Yet, at the same time... he can't help but feel soothed just by hearing Sorey's voice. He hadn't realized that he had missed it up until now.

Still, he tells Sorey about everything -- the bomb, the effects, the cure, and then what had happened after. He's relieved that Sorey had woken up after everything had happened.

When they get back home, Mikleo can't help but feel more at ease. He hasn't let go of Sorey's hand yet, not even when he turns to speak to him. ]

Welcome home.

[ofseraphim]

[ After linking hands for the transporter, they simply... never release. It's soothing; an anchor of sorts that tells him he's really here, and really here to stay, if Sorey has anything to say about it.

It comes in handy, too, providing a means of feedback while Mikleo talks about all the events that have transpired in his best friend's absence. Mention of the disease earns a concerned squeeze, no small amount of relief settling over him at the explanation of the cure.

In this moment, however, he can't help but feel he was away for so much. The sentiment doesn't abate once they're safely inside their home, either, hands still linked for some reason, which Sorey won't question. Here once more, there's another squeeze just for good measure. ]

Thanks. [ Eyes glance around before settling back on Mikleo once more. ] It's good to be back.

[circulets]

[ He feels his heart jump when Sorey squeezes that hand, looking to him for a moment before he starts moving forward. He immediately wants to start prioritizing getting Sorey back into the way things were - and that's starting with what he needs right now, which is more than likely food. ]

I'll make you some soft serve. I don't doubt that you're hungry.

[ofseraphim]

...Eager to get things back to normal, huh? [ A comment he might regret making in a second, perhaps, but it's a little too late to take it back now. ] You know you don't have to, but I'll also never turn down your soft-serve!

[ Assuming Mikleo's response, Sorey seats himself at the dining room table.

That dream he'd had -- well, he knows it wasn't a dream, it just feels like one, especially now -- makes him even more grateful for moments like this, slightly awed as he watches Mikleo work. ]

At least this place hasn't changed much.

[circulets]

You aren't saying no, are you? [ It already feels like things are back to normal, anyways. ] You've been sleeping all this time, so you shouldn't keep moving around on an empty stomach.

[ He tugs his hand away then, beginning to prepare to make that soft serve - just as he usually does. ]

I've kept it tidy all this time, anyways. [ Even all the books he's been reading - which are more or less medical-type books - are stacked neatly on one of the nearby counters. ]

[ofseraphim]

[ A shake of his head follows. ] Of course not! I've missed your cooking, too.

[ ...that 'too' was unintentional. Whoops.

The books are a new addition, however, and -- much like any book left unattended around Sorey for too long -- he's got to pick it up and crack it open. Just the one at the top of the stack, and just for a second. ] You've done a great job, from what I can see!

[ Idly thumbing through the book, it's not long before Sorey finds himself, well... a little lost, frankly. Mikleo read all this...? He's impressed. ]

Hey, Mikleo?

[ There's something else Sorey should say... ]

[circulets]

[ There's a pause when Sorey says 'too', but he doesn't have a chance to say much more before Sorey speaks again. Cleaning up... wasn't a big deal at all. Not when he didn't need to eat or sleep - and not when he wasn't here all that often to begin with... Those were minor details, though. ]

Yes? [ He stops from casting any artes to make that softserve, his attention on Sorey. ]

[ofseraphim]

[ With as heartfelt and sincere a gaze as Sorey's seemingly ever set upon Mikleo, he waits until they have clear eye contact before speaking. ]

I'm proud of you.

[circulets]

... I just did what anyone else would have done. That's all.

[ Besides, he couldn't just stand by and do nothing. Not when others were suffering and he could do something about it.

Still... He appreciates what Sorey is saying, nonetheless. He's sure that Sorey would have done the same thing in his own shoes. ]

[ofseraphim]

[ True enough, Sorey would have done the same. But to come here with so little to go on, lose his best friend only just after reuniting, and not simply endure but succeed in saving hundred -- maybe thousands -- of people? It's a feat. One he should be proud of.

Yet, he wants to stay humble about it, so Sorey won't push. ]

Still, you had to have learned a lot, and in a short amount of time.

[ But, not wanting to interrupt further, he'll stuff his nose into that book for a moment to let Mikleo finish. ]

[circulets]

What I learned from home came in handy. [ He moves to get a bowl, setting it on the counter. ]

But... you aren't wrong, either. Learning about medical plants in a whole other world isn't something that you can learn about over night.

[ofseraphim]

No kidding. [ A small shake of his head. ] Especially when there was still so much left to be documented whatsoever...

[ His awe over it all isn't decreasing whatsoever. ]

I'm just glad everything turned out. And-- [ should he be saying this? It sounds selfish, but ] --I'm glad you weren't affected, too.

[ What would he have done, if he'd come back and Mikleo had been sick, or dying?

Or just... gone?

The thought gives him a cold chill, jostling his shoulders faintly with a shiver. But he'll shake that off and keep right on reading. ]

[circulets]

[ Mikleo can't help but notice the way that Sorey's expression sinks, a hand moving to his shoulder in comfort. ]

... We were both fortunate. As was everyone who was given a cure. [ He pauses. ] It looks like we were able to inspire a few people, too.

[ofseraphim]

[ Easily and without thought, Sorey slides a hand over Mikleo's and presses it to him briefly as a new wave of gratitude for his best friend's safety sweeps over him.

It takes a moment, but his expression rebounds remarkably as ever. ]

I'll bet! Hey, you've already inspired me and I just got back!

[ A grin, even. ]

Looks like I've got some work ahead of me, if I'm gonna catch up to you!

[circulets]

Just don't overdo it.

[ He knows how Sorey is with books, after all. ]

Though, I do suppose we're equal now. From what I recall, I was gone for just as long as you were.

[ofseraphim]

[ There's a bit of a soft 'heh' from Sorey as his grin widens. Overdoing it might as well be second nature, especially in this department.

Mikleo's change of topic brings about a complete and total shift, however. One area in which he never intended to have a contest was in who could be gone the longest... ]

...You're right, by the way. It really does feel like only a few seconds.