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When he comes back this time, he still pads over to the bed and throws himself down, but it's not with the air of desperate misery he'd had the last time. "We were both kind of stupid, Jed'ika," he murmurs, and tips his head a little so he can look at him.
foxy, foxy i had a brilliant terrible idea
i want to put on someone's face and kiss strangers on the network
i mean ask them on the network you know what i mean
only i don't want to do that in someone's face without asking first, so can i use yours?
i want to put on someone's face and kiss strangers on the network
i mean ask them on the network you know what i mean
only i don't want to do that in someone's face without asking first, so can i use yours?
Edited 2018-10-28 11:32 (UTC)
are you busy? i
[The next texts follow immediately after;]
sorry
wasn't anything
[The next texts follow immediately after;]
sorry
wasn't anything
Edited 2018-10-29 02:29 (UTC)
From here
Jed'ika? [Fives is clearly collapsed backwards on one of the bunks in his barracks, a bottom bunk from how dim it is, and he looks frustrated and unhappy.]
Jed'ika? [Fives is clearly collapsed backwards on one of the bunks in his barracks, a bottom bunk from how dim it is, and he looks frustrated and unhappy.]
Jedao laughs into the kiss; the deplorable reply you can get behind me, too going mercifully unspoken, either by luck or because James knows him too well by now to give him the chance to say it. Jedao grips his shoulder a little too hard, but kisses him back easy and eager.
On a scale of one to ten where one is 'I shall show how respectful I am by closing my eyes and sticking my fingers in my ears', and ten is 'I know his blood type, sexual history, and darkest childhood secret,' where are you with Elijah?
Hey could you break into my rooms & take pope for a couple of days?
Hey. You busy right now?
It's not a big deal if you are.
It's not a big deal if you are.
She caught Fives first, and he told her when he expected Jedao back at the cabin so that she could ambush him for a small scolding. Which she does, knocking and then immediately putting hands on her hips before she so much as steps into the cabin.
By this point, she's full of more fond exasperation than anything else. Jedao was right, after all, which is as endearing as it is galling. And she's still delighted about the day's developments with Harry.
By this point, she's full of more fond exasperation than anything else. Jedao was right, after all, which is as endearing as it is galling. And she's still delighted about the day's developments with Harry.
Credence had asked Ray to give him some time, to himself and to tell his friends. But when the post goes up and his former inmate has had time to talk to the people he wants to, Ray figures it's okay.
He held it together pretty good in Credence's cabin, but all he's been thinking about is her.
Who else would he go to but Jedao? He knocks on his door in the evening, a bar of chocolate in his pocket to share, maybe.
He held it together pretty good in Credence's cabin, but all he's been thinking about is her.
Who else would he go to but Jedao? He knocks on his door in the evening, a bar of chocolate in his pocket to share, maybe.
There's not as much clean-up to do after dinner shift these days, not when there's not as much variety to cook, so he's back a little earlier most nights than he used to be. It's still fairly late, because he detours to the deck for his nightly remembrance first, but it's the end of the day, finally, and he lets his shoulders slump with the comfortable weariness of being home and knowing he can relax as the door slides shut behind him.
He's not in armor, because that's not practical in the kitchen, and he pads straight across to Jedao and flops unceremoniously across his lap. "Hi."
He's not in armor, because that's not practical in the kitchen, and he pads straight across to Jedao and flops unceremoniously across his lap. "Hi."
Hey, can you plan on staying over at mine tonight? I've just realized something, I kind of want to do a thing.
It takes Fives longer than he's happy about to find Jedao; he'd checked the Enclosure and the garden first, and failing to find him there he'd started in on the empty rooms on their floor. Maybe he shouldn't, maybe he should let him have more time to himself to sort it out, but-
No. He can't. And eventually he sticks his head into the right room and finds him there. "Jed'ika?" He's quiet but not tentative, and he comes in and closes the door behind him.
No. He can't. And eventually he sticks his head into the right room and finds him there. "Jed'ika?" He's quiet but not tentative, and he comes in and closes the door behind him.
It takes long enough that he has, if not actually worn himself out, at least worn through the first tight knot of adrenaline into his regular stamina, doing all his drills at double-time with no warm-up.
He extinguishes his sword, then simply stands, not looking at Fives.
"I'm here."
He extinguishes his sword, then simply stands, not looking at Fives.
"I'm here."
[It's starting to feel like Fraser is trying to avert an actual disaster. It took him ten minutes to figure out who he could even talk to about this (not Ray, for reasons that Don't Need Exploring at This Juncture; not his warden; someone who has experience in this arena and will keep the laughter to a minimum), and it takes him almost as long to actually go through with it and ask:]
Hi, Jedao. If you have a moment today, do you think I could ask your advice about something, um, personal?
Hi, Jedao. If you have a moment today, do you think I could ask your advice about something, um, personal?
[After this]
Fives has let it sit for a little over a day, not sure exactly what to say or how. How to apologize or how to fix things, because he knows he screwed them up, even if they did mostly even out eventually.
Finally, he just settles himself cross-legged on their bed after he's finished his maintenance shift and lunch and waits for Jedao to come back. This should at least give them plenty of time for whatever needs saying. He absently scratches Tits' ears where she's curled up in his lap, she's almost unnaturally good at telling when he needs a little comfort.
Fives has let it sit for a little over a day, not sure exactly what to say or how. How to apologize or how to fix things, because he knows he screwed them up, even if they did mostly even out eventually.
Finally, he just settles himself cross-legged on their bed after he's finished his maintenance shift and lunch and waits for Jedao to come back. This should at least give them plenty of time for whatever needs saying. He absently scratches Tits' ears where she's curled up in his lap, she's almost unnaturally good at telling when he needs a little comfort.
Jedao slips in, hair damp, fresh from showering after his own shift in the greenhouse, replanting cuttings and grafting rootstock. He smiles when he sees Fives, first bright and reflexive, then gentler as he takes in the meditative position, the comforting cat. He goes to sit next to Fives, draping on his shoulder.
"Alright, darling?"
"Alright, darling?"
He's curled around Jedao, in the warmth and safety of their bed, remembering sex they'd never actually had. Not really. He presses his lips to Jedao's temple, warm and easy, and murmurs, "You made him really happy, Jed'ika. Thank you."
Jedao stuck around long enough after the flood ended that Ray doesn't actively want to avoid him, but it's still-- weirdly apt when the pairing post goes up.
Fuck. It's a temp pairing, but it's still a pairing. Ray doesn't need a deal right now, but he takes the job seriously, and he doesn't want to just pretend nothing is happening. But a week ago a monster with Jedao's body ate part of his soul and now- what?
He's just going to bite the bullet, and after the announcement he goes to knock on Jedao's door. Most inmates hate the temp pairing, so he assumes that when he asks, Jedao will just tell them they're cool, and maybe make him some tea and tease him. He hopes so.
He wants them to be okay. He wants to be okay. And a part of him really doesn't think he could help Jedao. He was out of his depth with Credence, and Jedao is a thousand times more complicated.
Fuck. It's a temp pairing, but it's still a pairing. Ray doesn't need a deal right now, but he takes the job seriously, and he doesn't want to just pretend nothing is happening. But a week ago a monster with Jedao's body ate part of his soul and now- what?
He's just going to bite the bullet, and after the announcement he goes to knock on Jedao's door. Most inmates hate the temp pairing, so he assumes that when he asks, Jedao will just tell them they're cool, and maybe make him some tea and tease him. He hopes so.
He wants them to be okay. He wants to be okay. And a part of him really doesn't think he could help Jedao. He was out of his depth with Credence, and Jedao is a thousand times more complicated.
Edited 2019-06-23 20:48 (UTC)
Jedao, on the other hand, has been - cautious, in the weeks since. Not vanished, but solicitous, less inclined to corner Ray and drag him somewhere, or drape on him, or otherwise impose himself. He smiles crookedly when he answers the door, nervous and hopeful at once, wanting it to be a push to get something back that Desolation stole from them; worried he'll only press salt into the wound.
"Are you okay with this?" he asks, rueful, understanding. "Really."
"Are you okay with this?" he asks, rueful, understanding. "Really."
Edited 2019-06-23 20:56 (UTC)
They've talked, pleasantly, since that last conversation. Just chit-chat over coffee or tea, a passing remark on deck or in the halls. They both know that there's something about the other that's not on the surface; they both know there's something more there. But they're also both very patient, and content in the knowledge that some things don't need to be discussed.
She's had a few friendships like that. Admittedly, the last people she knew like that were killed by their own son, but that wasn't any fault of Elizabeth's.
This time, though, is a little different. Everything that's usually pushed down, all those fierce ideals and opinions and emotions, are threatening to come right to the surface. She bumps into Jedao on her way out of the library, and she's clearly not herself. She'd left the books on their shelves, neatly put away where they belonged, but the words are still echoing through her mind: the fall of the Berlin Wall, the changes in glasnost starting from 1986, the revolutions and changes, the eyewitness accounts of her country changing to become more capitalist.
She feels sick. She feels dizzy. She's telling herself it's just that universe, it doesn't have to happen in mine. She's telling herself that she wasn't in those universes, and there have to be differences that mean this doesn't have to happen in her home. But it's not so easy to rationalize, even for her.
She's had a few friendships like that. Admittedly, the last people she knew like that were killed by their own son, but that wasn't any fault of Elizabeth's.
This time, though, is a little different. Everything that's usually pushed down, all those fierce ideals and opinions and emotions, are threatening to come right to the surface. She bumps into Jedao on her way out of the library, and she's clearly not herself. She'd left the books on their shelves, neatly put away where they belonged, but the words are still echoing through her mind: the fall of the Berlin Wall, the changes in glasnost starting from 1986, the revolutions and changes, the eyewitness accounts of her country changing to become more capitalist.
She feels sick. She feels dizzy. She's telling herself it's just that universe, it doesn't have to happen in mine. She's telling herself that she wasn't in those universes, and there have to be differences that mean this doesn't have to happen in her home. But it's not so easy to rationalize, even for her.
“Elizabeth?” he asks, the moment he sees her; well-trained though she is, her composure is ragged, and his shadow is full of eyes. He doesn’t touch her, doesn’t try to box her in, but he reaches for her, with all the earnestness of his insufferable teenage self, with a concern and consideration of someone at least a little more mature.
“You don’t have to talk. But can I - offer you tea? Or. Anything?”
“You don’t have to talk. But can I - offer you tea? Or. Anything?”
[Hux took a day to read through Jedao's file, take notes, and then read it again. He's annoyed - pissed, really - at the Admiral for this, but he grudgingly sees certain things that might call out to him specifically for this job. What concerns him most is how he and Jedao are going to play this.
He's always been one to take his responsibilities seriously and hadn't come home thinking he'd be in for an easier time. He just wishes...
...Well. Wishing didn't get anyone anything and life hasn't exactly been fair, has it. To either of them.
Hux is direct, honest, and to the point. Because of this, he reaches out just to see what Jedao is feeling too. He's not happy, but now that it's done with, he's going to try to push his feelings back. Maybe this is salvageable. Maybe they could manage to pull off a miracle]
The Admiral is an incompetent moron but he's likely not going to unpair us.
How do you want to proceed?
He's always been one to take his responsibilities seriously and hadn't come home thinking he'd be in for an easier time. He just wishes...
...Well. Wishing didn't get anyone anything and life hasn't exactly been fair, has it. To either of them.
Hux is direct, honest, and to the point. Because of this, he reaches out just to see what Jedao is feeling too. He's not happy, but now that it's done with, he's going to try to push his feelings back. Maybe this is salvageable. Maybe they could manage to pull off a miracle]
The Admiral is an incompetent moron but he's likely not going to unpair us.
How do you want to proceed?
[Immediately after this]
Hux contacted me about your pairing. [Listen to him sounding neutral and bland. He doesn't offer to let him see the conversation, because that goes without saying.]
Hux contacted me about your pairing. [Listen to him sounding neutral and bland. He doesn't offer to let him see the conversation, because that goes without saying.]
Fives has unpacked the little tattoo gun he made so long ago, and all the inks they need are laid out next to it on the bedside table. They have disinfectant and bandages, and the watercolor sketches his original tattoos were based on as well as photos of them after Jedao finished them to go on. These new ones won't be exactly like the originals, but that's all right; they'll be the tattoos Jedao gives him.
He's stripped down to the pants of his bodysuit, his feet bare and gooseflesh pebbling his skin in anticipation as he waits for Jedao to put him where he wants him.
He's stripped down to the pants of his bodysuit, his feet bare and gooseflesh pebbling his skin in anticipation as he waits for Jedao to put him where he wants him.
Quentin sits at the head of the bed, putting his back up against the board and arranging pillows to lean into, spreading his legs and nodding between them, inviting Fives to come settle and lean back against his chest- if it won't foul the positioning up too much.
"Where will you start?"
"Where will you start?"
I'm working on a limited timeframe so please excuse the suddenness of this message.
Are you currently entertaining a warden or several to help you get rid of the Hexarchate?
Also my door has been reset. Rhys was upset; apparently he's taken it on as some kind of challenge.
Are you currently entertaining a warden or several to help you get rid of the Hexarchate?
Also my door has been reset. Rhys was upset; apparently he's taken it on as some kind of challenge.
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