It does take Eiffel maybe twenty minutes to come by Jedao's room, to make sure he's not completely obviously a mess in the hallway, because yes! He's still nervous! But he wants to!!
And he still has to take a moment to catch his breath and like, brace himself for more flirting, before he lets himself into Jedao's room.
And he still has to take a moment to catch his breath and like, brace himself for more flirting, before he lets himself into Jedao's room.
The door opens as soon as he raises his hand to touch it. Jedao is - there's no other word for it - lounging on the couch waiting for him.
After much deliberation, he went with wearing a much more form-fitting, svelte sort of sweater than usual, as a compromise between his normal, familiar level of non-threatening frumpiness and something much more revealing.
He grins, eyes crinkling at the corners, absolutely delighted.
"You came."
After much deliberation, he went with wearing a much more form-fitting, svelte sort of sweater than usual, as a compromise between his normal, familiar level of non-threatening frumpiness and something much more revealing.
He grins, eyes crinkling at the corners, absolutely delighted.
"You came."
Shuos Jedao is asking me how I know you. [Sorry, Jedao Garach: the more recognizable version of your name is the one that he wants to use in this context.]
What and how much are you comfortable with me saying to him?
What and how much are you comfortable with me saying to him?
Fuck.
[It's not an upset fuck, exactly - Shuos Jedao already found him on Iris's post. Jedao knew he was - well, not here, but in contact. He just still hasn't figured out what he wants to do about it.]
I don't know. I don't want to hide from him.
[Even if that's sort of what Jedao is doing. He just doesn't - want to deal with him. Yet.]
[It's not an upset fuck, exactly - Shuos Jedao already found him on Iris's post. Jedao knew he was - well, not here, but in contact. He just still hasn't figured out what he wants to do about it.]
I don't know. I don't want to hide from him.
[Even if that's sort of what Jedao is doing. He just doesn't - want to deal with him. Yet.]
[The letter is written in his best calligraphy. He has the art of it, even when writing in a different language than he's used to.]
Xie Lian lets you know,
Jedao, you no more need my approval than Cho Hakkai need my permission for any match he chooses.
Still, I write to you because your worth is recognized by one who has no need to calculate every inch. I can say that your value speaks for itself, but I can still speak of it.
No matter what time has passed, I know that you would recognize each other. A home built together on firm foundations. You are far beyond a meeting in the mist, even as the bright flowers still bloom at your feet.
With a hand to hold, you have all the reasons needed to live, and to live well. I can see the joy you bring him, and that alone would be enough. Yet it's matched based in wisdom as well as love. Your kindness, thoughtful nature and dedication to those you love shows that whatever choices you make for the future are ones won't let you be torn apart whatever the world may throw at you.
I know that you will be true beyond a rock crumbling to dust or a seed grown into a tree.
You have all the blessings I can offer, and all my joy to call you family.
No paths are bound.
Xie Lian lets you know,
Jedao, you no more need my approval than Cho Hakkai need my permission for any match he chooses.
Still, I write to you because your worth is recognized by one who has no need to calculate every inch. I can say that your value speaks for itself, but I can still speak of it.
No matter what time has passed, I know that you would recognize each other. A home built together on firm foundations. You are far beyond a meeting in the mist, even as the bright flowers still bloom at your feet.
With a hand to hold, you have all the reasons needed to live, and to live well. I can see the joy you bring him, and that alone would be enough. Yet it's matched based in wisdom as well as love. Your kindness, thoughtful nature and dedication to those you love shows that whatever choices you make for the future are ones won't let you be torn apart whatever the world may throw at you.
I know that you will be true beyond a rock crumbling to dust or a seed grown into a tree.
You have all the blessings I can offer, and all my joy to call you family.
No paths are bound.
I know the notebook wasn't yours.
You're a good friend.
You're a good friend.
Certainly I try to be. What makes you say so now?
[In the wake of the incident between Avalon and Will, Malcolm has decided he needs to have a couple people lined up that can come hang out for Kikimora on short or shortish notice, so late morning he calls Jedao on audio and if he agrees to come over for a sort of orientation, then signs over his head be damned.]
Hi. Are you still interested in being in the rotation to watch Kikimora if needed?
Hi. Are you still interested in being in the rotation to watch Kikimora if needed?
I'm available. Do you want me to pick anything up on the way? Snacks, books, board games...?
Neal isn't a spy. He's not a Shuos, he wasn't raised to espionage or shaped to serve it. But he has been a con man, thief, pickpocket, and cat burglar for more than twenty years.
So when Jedao pulls his laundry out of the dryer, he will find everything in the load freckled with a small--though not as small as the amount left in Malcolm's drawer--amount of glitter. Weirdly, there's very little sticking to the sides of the machine. A sparse amount of investigation will show the source seems to be a drier sheet, one that was lightly dampened and then dipped in glitter before being tossed into the midst of his still-wet clothes.
"You know, John and I do keep an inventory on art supplies," Neal says, from where he's leaning against a nearby wall, a book now tucked under one arm. "And I am absolutely assiduous about accuracy."
So when Jedao pulls his laundry out of the dryer, he will find everything in the load freckled with a small--though not as small as the amount left in Malcolm's drawer--amount of glitter. Weirdly, there's very little sticking to the sides of the machine. A sparse amount of investigation will show the source seems to be a drier sheet, one that was lightly dampened and then dipped in glitter before being tossed into the midst of his still-wet clothes.
"You know, John and I do keep an inventory on art supplies," Neal says, from where he's leaning against a nearby wall, a book now tucked under one arm. "And I am absolutely assiduous about accuracy."
Re: spam - laundry, the day after the Glitter Sprinkles
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
deuceoftears
2023-10-16 03:17 am (UTC)(link)
Jedao - who was on the verge of laughing, because, well, fair enough - feels just a bit offended at the implication that he would be that sloppy. Malcolm might easily have surveillance he didn't mention during the cabin tour, but to be caught at a point of supply -
Besides, it really doesn't add up. Not that he'd taken the glitter over a week ago, and certainly hadn't been observed or logged, and especially not given that Neal and Malcolm's entanglement is exceedingly public knowledge.
No you don't, he thinks, and then gives Neal a bright smile.
"Oh, wonderful! You'll be able to help me find this prankster, then!"
Besides, it really doesn't add up. Not that he'd taken the glitter over a week ago, and certainly hadn't been observed or logged, and especially not given that Neal and Malcolm's entanglement is exceedingly public knowledge.
No you don't, he thinks, and then gives Neal a bright smile.
"Oh, wonderful! You'll be able to help me find this prankster, then!"
[He has a moment to reel; should he have checked in sooner, she's still there? But she's asking, so he'll answer.]
On my way.
[He's there in a minute.]
On my way.
[He's there in a minute.]
Before the agenda items, it feels polite to ask if you're alive and functioning? All things considered.
Tired.
[Hungry. He hates being hungry.]
Basically fine, though. What do you need?
[Hungry. He hates being hungry.]
Basically fine, though. What do you need?
[Continued from here!]
Eiffel would very much like to continue kissing Jedao and see if that knocks the little smile off his face or just makes it worse. Unfortunately, they continue to be in public.
"We said my place, right?" he mumbles, still a bit dazed.
Eiffel would very much like to continue kissing Jedao and see if that knocks the little smile off his face or just makes it worse. Unfortunately, they continue to be in public.
"We said my place, right?" he mumbles, still a bit dazed.
"We did say that. It's also closer," Jedao points out, grinning shamelessly.
I would consider this 'tomorrow', wouldn't you?
No hard feelings if you've had second thoughts, naturally.
No hard feelings if you've had second thoughts, naturally.
I'm feeling shy but I want to.
Back to the Enclosure for space to swing, or did you have somewhere else in mind?
Back to the Enclosure for space to swing, or did you have somewhere else in mind?
Next time, don't get in my way.
[ There is an impulse, from the moment he wakes up, to reach out to Jedao as soon as he can. He's thinking clearly by then, more or less, and so he thinks better of it.
It's on the fourth day, when he can walk without stumbling and his vision has stopped blurring at the edges, that he sends the message. He still hurts...pretty much everywhere, but that's the sort of thing he can focus through fairly easily. ]
Can we talk? Like this or in person, whichever you'd prefer.
[ He'd rather apologise face to face, but it...doesn't feel like that should be up to him. ]
It's on the fourth day, when he can walk without stumbling and his vision has stopped blurring at the edges, that he sends the message. He still hurts...pretty much everywhere, but that's the sort of thing he can focus through fairly easily. ]
Can we talk? Like this or in person, whichever you'd prefer.
[ He'd rather apologise face to face, but it...doesn't feel like that should be up to him. ]
[It's... four, maybe five days after the curses broke? Enough number of days for Sebastian to have seen Jedao back around, back on the network, that he sends this audio message:]
Good day, Instructor Jedao. Your pardon, but may I speak with you when you have a moment?
I am going to be dreadfully, tediously predictable, I fear.
Good day, Instructor Jedao. Your pardon, but may I speak with you when you have a moment?
I am going to be dreadfully, tediously predictable, I fear.
Of course.
Would you prefer to meet in person?
Would you prefer to meet in person?
Oh! Does he want to keep it?
The name, I mean.
[Jedao has felt lousy for...a few reasons, since the breach, but if he hasn't misunderstood, this is wonderful news.]
The name, I mean.
[Jedao has felt lousy for...a few reasons, since the breach, but if he hasn't misunderstood, this is wonderful news.]
Why can you want something but also not want the same thing at the same time?
Well, any one thing usually has at least a couple different consequences. You might want some of them but not others. Or you might just not know exactly how it will turn out - so you can want the good outcome you're hoping for, but not want the bad outcome that might also happen. Or if the good outcome is really important to you, you might just...be scared to feel sad and disappointed if it doesn't work. If you never try, you can always tell yourself it would work. But if the thing happens, then you have to know for sure.
Does it feel like any of those?
Does it feel like any of those?
I want to come feel something nice.
...Please.
...Please.
Mr. Eiffel is dying at the bottom of the stairs next to the Enclosure, and there's a weird kid not letting anybody in the infirmary. Can you help him?
[Not more than five minutes later]
Eiffel is fine. Shallow stab wound from a child who panicked and had a pocket knife.
Eiffel is fine. Shallow stab wound from a child who panicked and had a pocket knife.
Hello, darling.
How did the flood treat you?
I was much luckier in my company than in its effects.
[Less diplomatically: it was an extremely shitty time to return to - one that did not even allow him to cheerfully use the line 'it could have been worse', because it couldn't, really - but he managed not to blow up any of his relationships, so. That's good.]
You?
[Less diplomatically: it was an extremely shitty time to return to - one that did not even allow him to cheerfully use the line 'it could have been worse', because it couldn't, really - but he managed not to blow up any of his relationships, so. That's good.]
You?
I didn't see you in the flood. You doing okay?
Lot of old pain. No egregious new disasters. Better than the reverse, really.
How about you?
How about you?
...hey, man. You doing okay?
When Jedao gets home in the evening, he'll find Hakkai on the couch, dwelling over a cup of tea; he's sitting with carefully upright posture, legs crossed above the knee, the cup cradled in both hands as he stares into it. The tea is cold.
Jeep is on one of his shoulders, neck and tail looped casually around Hakkai's neck and wings half-spread for balance.
Hakkai doesn't look up immediately as Jedao comes in; he's been working himself up to this for a while now, but still, he isn't quite ready to voice his concern. It's probably just in his head, after all. Probably more insecurity than perception-- but it aches, deep as a splinter and threatening to fester.
Jeep is on one of his shoulders, neck and tail looped casually around Hakkai's neck and wings half-spread for balance.
Hakkai doesn't look up immediately as Jedao comes in; he's been working himself up to this for a while now, but still, he isn't quite ready to voice his concern. It's probably just in his head, after all. Probably more insecurity than perception-- but it aches, deep as a splinter and threatening to fester.
It's not, precisely, that Hakkai doesn't look at him. If he'd been reading, or knitting, or something else that absorbed more of his focus, Jedao wouldn't think twice.
It's a teacup, though. And not even one of the good ones.
Jedao goes over to him and puts his hand on the cup, their fingers brushing gently. His hand is warmer than the ceramic.
"Would you like me to make you a fresh one?" Jedao asks. While Hakkai works himself around to whatever's on his mind.
It's a teacup, though. And not even one of the good ones.
Jedao goes over to him and puts his hand on the cup, their fingers brushing gently. His hand is warmer than the ceramic.
"Would you like me to make you a fresh one?" Jedao asks. While Hakkai works himself around to whatever's on his mind.
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