There's a quiet knock at Jedao's door after all the dinner dishes are washed and done. Gonou hadn't entirely meant his little scavenged garlic sprout to be a get-well gift, but...
... things happen on the Barge, it seems. And he's worried about someone he might be hesitantly ready to describe as a friend.
... things happen on the Barge, it seems. And he's worried about someone he might be hesitantly ready to describe as a friend.
The door opens after a moment on the familiar, empty living room.
"In here," Jedao calls, hoarsely. He's in his bedroom, gingerly sitting up from where he'd been curled on top of his covers, wrapped up in one of those hoodies with a drawstring to close off the face. There's almost no skin showing at all - socks still on, hands deep in the front kangaroo pocket, only the tip of his nose visible. A small pile of ration bar wrappers in a heap on the bed next to him.
"In here," Jedao calls, hoarsely. He's in his bedroom, gingerly sitting up from where he'd been curled on top of his covers, wrapped up in one of those hoodies with a drawstring to close off the face. There's almost no skin showing at all - socks still on, hands deep in the front kangaroo pocket, only the tip of his nose visible. A small pile of ration bar wrappers in a heap on the bed next to him.
[in early June, a small package will appear outside Jedao's door: a slightly over-long blue-gray scarf, with one long cable running down the center and the ends folded up and sewn to make pockets for his hands.
The note on top just says, For you.]
The note on top just says, For you.]
It's Andan colors, although the hue is a little off, which makes him laugh a little, but warm and soft when he puts it on. He wonders if it was a deliberate choice, given all his turtlenecks, to help him hide his scars. Either way -
Gonou gets a note back in neat ink calligraphy, tucked under his door.
Thank you. It's beautiful, and I love it.
Gonou gets a note back in neat ink calligraphy, tucked under his door.
Thank you. It's beautiful, and I love it.
[Sometime the second day]
I...found him.
How could you tell? I kept thinking my item was fucked up James got eaten by a weirdly friendly horse-dragon.
I...found him.
How could you tell? I kept thinking my item was fucked up James got eaten by a weirdly friendly horse-dragon.
Are you at home?
May I come over?
May I come over?
[Look just because he's gotten his key revoked doesn't mean he's not checking the door wistfully occasionally. It's why he notices the light so soon.]
Hey, Jedao? [With a slightly strangled casualness.] I think the Authority turned our 'check engine' light on. You been down here to check it out yet, orrr...?
Hey, Jedao? [With a slightly strangled casualness.] I think the Authority turned our 'check engine' light on. You been down here to check it out yet, orrr...?
What?
[Congratulations Eiffel you are looking at the first hangover of Jedao's life. The bedhead is impressive.]
[Congratulations Eiffel you are looking at the first hangover of Jedao's life. The bedhead is impressive.]
Jedao, to be completely candid with you, I needed to tell my warden that the notebook was yours. I haven't told anybody else.
[He's three hours deep in The Tetris Effect, and the Engine Room is LOUD. He does not hear this, and does not reply for several hours.]
sometime between signing on to Flint's mutiny and doing anything violent about it
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
reformedsinner
2022-08-11 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
[Gonou has been scanning the other prisoners' faces at each of his shifts today, looking for Jedao. It's when he's marched up to the oars that he finally spots him, and speeds up to settle himself at the place on the bench beside him, holding his hands out placidly for the manacles before he closes them around the oar and begins to row.]
How are you?
[He keeps his voice to an undertone, hard for any others to overhear past the creak and groan of shifting wood.]
How are you?
[He keeps his voice to an undertone, hard for any others to overhear past the creak and groan of shifting wood.]
Perversely, privately, Jedao likes the Oars better than anywhere else on the ship. He can lose himself in the motion, and the heaviness resisting his arms as he pushes and pushes is reassuringly solid when everything else is suddenly a void of insubstantial whispers to his missing mothsense. Even the ache in his hands and back are - anchoring.
"I'm alright," he promises, after blinking for a moment. "Worried, mostly."
"I'm alright," he promises, after blinking for a moment. "Worried, mostly."
[Very nearly the first thing he's doing, after those few minutes of curling up and pressing his forehead against his knees while he hyperventilates--
--which don't count--
-- is sending Jedao a photo on his communicator. He's smiling tiredly, one-eyed again, and raising his left hand in a wave.
Very nearly the second thing he's doing is adding a quick line of text.]
in some vines, not sure where. You?
--which don't count--
-- is sending Jedao a photo on his communicator. He's smiling tiredly, one-eyed again, and raising his left hand in a wave.
Very nearly the second thing he's doing is adding a quick line of text.]
in some vines, not sure where. You?
[Jedao beams tiredly at him.]
James is alive.
There’s some central barracks type quarters now - Raylan and I are going to try to bring him there.
James is alive.
There’s some central barracks type quarters now - Raylan and I are going to try to bring him there.
Gonou settles in at Jedao's side at dinner as soon as he spots him in the crowd, flicking a little smile sidelong towards him. He's wearing clean clothes, not the washed-but-stained sets he's been recycling since getting back from the Galley; this is a crisp pale green shirt without any blood on its cuffs at all, to go with the renewed human appearance of his face and hands, and the three silver cuffs back in place on the curve of his left ear.
"I found my cabin," he says lightly, and bumps Jedao's knee with his own as he reaches for the bowl of soup that's tonight's side dish.
"I found my cabin," he says lightly, and bumps Jedao's knee with his own as he reaches for the bowl of soup that's tonight's side dish.
I hate food, Jedao thinks fervently, which is true but probably weird to blurt out at the moment.
"Hey, beautiful," Jedao replies instead in a low voice, his knee nudging back. He's not quite sure of himself enough yet to kiss Gonou in the Dining Hall in front of everyone, but a little flirting feels okay. And it's nice to see Gonou looking clean and comfortable with himself again, with the version of his face Jedao first fell in love with, even if he feels a little wistful about the claws.
"Hey, beautiful," Jedao replies instead in a low voice, his knee nudging back. He's not quite sure of himself enough yet to kiss Gonou in the Dining Hall in front of everyone, but a little flirting feels okay. And it's nice to see Gonou looking clean and comfortable with himself again, with the version of his face Jedao first fell in love with, even if he feels a little wistful about the claws.
Hey! It's been a while. How are you doing?
[Guess who has no fucking idea she tried to break into your cabin a couple of weeks ago!]
[Guess who has no fucking idea she tried to break into your cabin a couple of weeks ago!]
Some ups, some downs. It's really good to be back.
How about you?
How about you?
I can be.
[His voice is a little muzzy, but warm.]
What's happened?
[His voice is a little muzzy, but warm.]
What's happened?
[He answers with voice, and he sounds - not great.]
I...encountered him. Be careful.
I...encountered him. Be careful.
I'm in my cabin.
I've promised Xie Lian I'll get some sleep, but.
See you soon?
[And a few minutes later, before he can stare at it for long enough to think better of sending it:]
I'm sorry.
I've promised Xie Lian I'll get some sleep, but.
See you soon?
[And a few minutes later, before he can stare at it for long enough to think better of sending it:]
I'm sorry.
I love you. I'll be there soon.
[from here]
"Ah, all right," Gonou manages; the light teasing brush of Jedao's fingertips over his belly has him already half-hard, enough that he welcomes the release of pressure with a nearly-stifled noise at the back of his throat. He lifts his other hand to Jedao's face, cupping it between both palms as he leans in for a slower, deeper kiss.
"Ah, all right," Gonou manages; the light teasing brush of Jedao's fingertips over his belly has him already half-hard, enough that he welcomes the release of pressure with a nearly-stifled noise at the back of his throat. He lifts his other hand to Jedao's face, cupping it between both palms as he leans in for a slower, deeper kiss.
"So." Jedao drawls, voice going warm and rough and deep, eyes bright with playful mischief, as his hand slips inside to palm Gonou's cock. "Who's cute?"
I, ah.
... I should tell you. I believe I've graduated?
[he has the tone of someone who is not fully convinced himself that what he's saying is true. On the other hand, he has acquired a cabin remodel overnight. There's a bathroom opening off it to the left.
Strangely, he doesn't feel any different.]
... I should tell you. I believe I've graduated?
[he has the tone of someone who is not fully convinced himself that what he's saying is true. On the other hand, he has acquired a cabin remodel overnight. There's a bathroom opening off it to the left.
Strangely, he doesn't feel any different.]
[He feels a rush of relief and pride and happiness; Gonou's chances of vanishing on him, which he has staunchly refused to think about, must be slashed now. And of course Gonou deserves it, has worked so hard to be his better self. There's nervousness too, the formless fine anxiety he supposes goes with any big change.]
My hero.
Do you, um, have plans?
My hero.
Do you, um, have plans?
Jedao-san:
[ He screenshots and passes on this conversation. ]
I have no intention of taking up his challenge. Neither does my inmate.
As mentioned, I did speak to Givens-san and Roy-san. I've made arrangements with Roy-san, the only person I feel has been wronged in this, for recompense.
If you take issue with what I said or how I conducted things, I'm willing to take criticism, but I admit that I won't be moved to submit to Flint-san's demands. I hope you can understand.
Thank you for your time, Jedao-san.
[ He screenshots and passes on this conversation. ]
I have no intention of taking up his challenge. Neither does my inmate.
As mentioned, I did speak to Givens-san and Roy-san. I've made arrangements with Roy-san, the only person I feel has been wronged in this, for recompense.
If you take issue with what I said or how I conducted things, I'm willing to take criticism, but I admit that I won't be moved to submit to Flint-san's demands. I hope you can understand.
Thank you for your time, Jedao-san.
[Jedao sighs, but it's a small, contained moment, not shocked.]
No. I don't think your position is unreasonable. Thank you for reading me in.
I do think...demanding a prisoner deal with a guard in good faith is not a trivial request. And he isn't acting like a child. He's acting desperate. There is a difference.
No. I don't think your position is unreasonable. Thank you for reading me in.
I do think...demanding a prisoner deal with a guard in good faith is not a trivial request. And he isn't acting like a child. He's acting desperate. There is a difference.
Hey. You up for some complex hypotheticals?
Sure.
Like this, or in person?
Like this, or in person?
[[Continued from here!]]
[Eiffel feels like he's not getting his nuance through properly in text, time to ramble at top speed before he can think about what he's actually saying.]
So it's not like I'm opposed to you flirting with me because you've made it pretty clear that Gonou's okay with it and I don't want it to be weird between you guys because of me but since you guys both seem like you're being good about that whole thing I guess I'm good with it maybe I dunno it's just weird being flirted with I've never really had it from a guy before and I'm really not very good at it so whatever you I'm not gonna be as impressive or sexy or whatever back and I--
[hold on he needs to breathe]
[Eiffel feels like he's not getting his nuance through properly in text, time to ramble at top speed before he can think about what he's actually saying.]
So it's not like I'm opposed to you flirting with me because you've made it pretty clear that Gonou's okay with it and I don't want it to be weird between you guys because of me but since you guys both seem like you're being good about that whole thing I guess I'm good with it maybe I dunno it's just weird being flirted with I've never really had it from a guy before and I'm really not very good at it so whatever you I'm not gonna be as impressive or sexy or whatever back and I--
[hold on he needs to breathe]
Edited 2023-04-05 06:25 (UTC)
I also don't know how to flirt?
I mean if I were any good at it you would be less freaked out, maybe.
I mean if I were any good at it you would be less freaked out, maybe.
[When one of them eventually wakes up in Jedao's room, there's a memory stick on the table with a sticky note with a familiar chicken-scratch that just says:]
from ur fav comms officer
douggie ;)
[On the stick itself is a single audio file. What, he's old school.]
Hey guys. So, uh. I'm throwing this together same day Flint told the class Jedao got put in consciousness time-out. Gonou, you've been down since like, the twentieth or something, Jedao's been keeping an eye on you since. So that makes it, uhhh... a bit over two weeks now.
Soooo... yeah.
...
[There's a brief sigh, sort of self-deprecating.] I dunno why I'm recording this, to be honest. I guess 'cos it's nice to have a familiar voice when you wake up? I mean- you two have each other, obviously, but who knows if you'll be back at the same time, and I don't want one of you freaking out 'cos the other's still waiting on true love's kiss.
...I dunno. I just miss you guys. It's kinda scary, you know? Being on the outside of a coma. You dunno if they're gonna come back, or poof out of existence. I like you guys, you know? I don't want you to go.
[There's another pause, slightly more contemplative.]
...I really like you guys.
[His tone is a quiet revelation, followed by a
long
silence.]
Wake up soon, alright? I've still got way too many movies to show you. 'cos if you don't I'm gonna have to kick your ass, and you know how bad I am at that.
douggie ;)
[On the stick itself is a single audio file. What, he's old school.]
Hey guys. So, uh. I'm throwing this together same day Flint told the class Jedao got put in consciousness time-out. Gonou, you've been down since like, the twentieth or something, Jedao's been keeping an eye on you since. So that makes it, uhhh... a bit over two weeks now.
Soooo... yeah.
...
[There's a brief sigh, sort of self-deprecating.] I dunno why I'm recording this, to be honest. I guess 'cos it's nice to have a familiar voice when you wake up? I mean- you two have each other, obviously, but who knows if you'll be back at the same time, and I don't want one of you freaking out 'cos the other's still waiting on true love's kiss.
...I dunno. I just miss you guys. It's kinda scary, you know? Being on the outside of a coma. You dunno if they're gonna come back, or poof out of existence. I like you guys, you know? I don't want you to go.
[There's another pause, slightly more contemplative.]
...I really like you guys.
[His tone is a quiet revelation, followed by a
long
silence.]
Wake up soon, alright? I've still got way too many movies to show you. 'cos if you don't I'm gonna have to kick your ass, and you know how bad I am at that.
Hey, you.
It was nice to wake up to.
It was nice to wake up to.
[Gonou makes a soft noise from the bed. It's not much, it's not loud, but it's the first in almost a month.]
Ah...
[He's a little uncoordinated as he raises his hand; he has to try twice to brush his hair away from his eye, and he blinks up at the ceiling. Jedao's room has a very distinctive ceiling. It's the right place for him to be waking up, as often as not, but he feels strangely stiff, like a porcelain doll ill-strung, joints too loose or grinding tight by turns.
His blink at the ceiling is turning, slowly, into a frown as he catalogs the sensation.]
Ah...
[He's a little uncoordinated as he raises his hand; he has to try twice to brush his hair away from his eye, and he blinks up at the ceiling. Jedao's room has a very distinctive ceiling. It's the right place for him to be waking up, as often as not, but he feels strangely stiff, like a porcelain doll ill-strung, joints too loose or grinding tight by turns.
His blink at the ceiling is turning, slowly, into a frown as he catalogs the sensation.]
Jedao is sitting up against the headboard next to him, slate over his bent knees, so that his ankle is just brushing Gonou's hip.
"Good morning, beautiful."
"Good morning, beautiful."
after his conversation with Nathaniel and Arthur, voice
reformedsinner
2023-07-18 06:51 am (UTC)(link)
[Gonou sounds very tired.]
I told John he was officially not invited into my house anymore. I'm -- fine with leaving him on the automatic door list, if there's an emergency and he needs to hide.
But I don't want him visiting here.
I told John he was officially not invited into my house anymore. I'm -- fine with leaving him on the automatic door list, if there's an emergency and he needs to hide.
But I don't want him visiting here.
I'll set it so it only triggers if he's running or bleeding.
Do you want me to review the conversation?
Do you want me to review the conversation?
Hey.
I heard about what happened. Obviously.
...anything I can do to help? You, I mean.
I heard about what happened. Obviously.
...anything I can do to help? You, I mean.
Edited 2023-07-21 00:55 (UTC)
We really appreciate the soup, thank you.
[....processing...]
...me?
[....processing...]
...me?
[Continued from here.]
Arthur's hands find purchase on Jedao's waist, knotting fistfuls of shirt in a desperate grip as he kisses back with determined, slightly drunken hunger, letting Jedao set the pace with pleasure. The hand in his hair and the sting of his scalp make him gasp, and he keens at the sensation of teeth on his throat.
Arthur's hands find purchase on Jedao's waist, knotting fistfuls of shirt in a desperate grip as he kisses back with determined, slightly drunken hunger, letting Jedao set the pace with pleasure. The hand in his hair and the sting of his scalp make him gasp, and he keens at the sensation of teeth on his throat.
The sound fizzes through Jedao like sparks along a fuse; he gasps and bites a little harder. He uses the hand in Arthur's hair and a nudge against his hip to start walking him back toward the couch, without ever taking his mouth off of him.
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