Seasons: IC Contact/Overflow

[tireurdelite]

"Is it recording...? This is Alcryst. I'm sorry for not being able to answer your call right now, but I'll get back to you as soon as possible. ...So what button do I pr-"

Comments

[tireurdelite]

[Alcryst settles in comfortably beside him and reaches for Fogado's hand again.]

It's much quieter than Brodia Castle - or the Somniel, for that matter. But I do like having a place to myself.

[brightsandstorm]

Plus, you get to see somewhere new, right? And not for an awful reason like a war. All in all, it's not a terrible deal.

[Sure, it's not great when they have so much going on at home, but he wants to make the best of a bad situation. He laces their fingers together and offers him a warm smile.]

[tireurdelite]

[He can tell Fogado is trying to reassure him, and it does help, a great deal actually.]

-I've been thinking it would be good to take the phones they gave us back home and see if we can replicate them. They would revolutionize message carrying.

[It would be useful for war, yes, but also for ordinary things.]

[brightsandstorm]

You know, I was thinking the same thing about airships and stuff. Wouldn't it be cool to fly on one? Or even learn to fly one yourself?

[Crossing the desert would be so much easier in Solm for his people, too.]

[tireurdelite]

If people had airships, the Somniel wouldn't be as secure as it is - but hopefully by the time we get back, that won't matter.

[brightsandstorm]

Yeah... Plus, an airship seems like it'd be super vulnerable to wyverns and stuff. Hopefully there isn't ever another war, but if there were, the Somniel could take that into account.

Bleh, but let's not talk about battles here. [It's depressing, and he doesn't want to kill the mood.]

[tireurdelite]

I'm sorry for bringing it up...

[Why must he always be such a downer! Why is he like this.]

[brightsandstorm]

You're fine, don't worry about it. Can I get comfy? I'm gonna get comfy.

[he did say 'what's mine is yours'... which means Fogado is suddenly changing position to flop down across the couch, his head in Alcryst's lap. Look, even more touching. Does that help with the good vibes? He's going to try it.]

Let's go for some best friend talk. Liiike... a super secret thing you'd never tell anyone else.

[tireurdelite]

Ah-!

[For some reason that makes Alcryst's heart leap into his throat. Which, it shouldn't, should it? Best friends are allowed to be physically close like this.

Where does he put his hands? The most obvious place is Fogado's hair, but... Hesitantly, he pets his hair the tiniest bit.]

I can't think of any juicy secrets... There are a few things I haven't told Diamant, but other people know about them.

[brightsandstorm]

[Fogado half-closes his eyes; Alcryst petting his hair is both unexpected but relaxing.]

Oh yeah? What are you hiding from Diamant?

[He can hazard a guess, but he doesn't want to jump to conclusions.]

[tireurdelite]

...I have nightmares of him dying, regularly. They've only gotten worse after Father...

[Alcryst inhales deeply.]

I'm sorry. That's not a fun kind of secret.

[brightsandstorm]

No, it's okay. I did ask.

[And he knows how it feels, when he worries so much about Timerra, to the point he wound up distancing himself from her without realising.

Sharing as much feels out of the question, though. Instead, he sits up slightly, and reaches to gently touch Alcryst's cheek.]

I won't tell you not to worry about it, especially given the war isn't over yet. We've all been putting our lives on the line. But we're all doing what we can to look out for each other, too.

[tireurdelite]

[Ah... His face feels warm where Fogado's hand is. He thinks he might be a little red.]

I know. I promise - I won't let anything happen to Princess Timerra, either. Or to you.

[It may be too bold to promise to protect Fogado, when he can clearly protect himself.]

[brightsandstorm]

Thanks. I'm really glad I can count on you, and I'm sure my big sis feels the same.

[He lays back down, quirking a playful smile.] Y'know, you're cute when you blush.

[tireurdelite]

[!!! Well now he's bright red.]

I - I'm not - but you're - what??

[brightsandstorm]

[No running away this time, Alcryst, your legs are trapped...!]

Haha, sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to freak you out or anything.

[tireurdelite]

No, I - thank you?

[He doesn't want Fogado to think he's upset he said it or anything.]

It's just, compared to you - you could do so much better than me.

[brightsandstorm]

But it's not a competition, so why are you comparing yourself to anyone? I'm saying you're cute because... you're cute.

[He smiles up at him warmly.]

That's all there is to it.

[tireurdelite]

Well... That's true, but...

[Mrrrr.]

You're still the cuter of the two of us, though.

[brightsandstorm]

What, you think I'm cute too? Then that's yet another thing to add to all the stuff we have in common.

[See? Not a competition.]

[tireurdelite]

[Well. He can't argue with that.]

...Do best friends usually call each other cute?

[brightsandstorm]

Rosado asks me if he's cute all the time, and we're friends.

[Alcryst is a far cry from Rosado's kind of confidence, though, he'll admit. He decides to just go right ahead and spell it out.]

Buuut that's not the full story. I like you, so I'm flirting with you.

[tireurdelite]

--With me??

[Alcryst tries and fails not to gape openly.]

I don't deserve that- You must have dozens of people who are interested in you! At least!

[brightsandstorm]

Maybe I do, but...

[Fogado tugs gently on the front of Alcryst's shirt to bring him closer, his eyes bright with intensity as he leans up to meet him halfway.]

What if you were one of those people?

[tireurdelite]

[Oh. Oh, they're very close. But for some reason Alcryst can't pull away.]

I... thought you already knew I was.

[He hadn't exactly been subtle about it, he thinks.

Even with the clear invitation, he can't make himself cross the last gap between them.]