[ he's new - not stupid. he's heard about the rumors going around, about the so-called perks that come with being a fighter, how some of the guys take the rumors at face value and consider it license to do whatever the hell they want.
kuroo had pierced kenma's ear first thing when he got on board, just to be safe. ]
was it with your fighter?
you don't have to tell me anything, but you've been nice to me and if talking about it makes you feel better, i'm here to listen.
We get along well enough. But he has some things he needs to work out.
[ Like aggression and a weird sort of possessiveness that Abel can't seem to escape. He means what he said in the last text though; he doesn't want to discuss it too much. Fighters have a tendency to handle things in a way that others don't, and Abel doesn't want to cause Kuroo any problems when he's been just as nice to him too. ]
you did? kenma didn't mention anything. then again kenma doesn't pay attention to other people in general. please don't think he's rude, he just prefers to keep to himself.
[ it's not a particularly subtle change in subject, but kuroo takes it. ]
he keeps telling me he's working but i think he's just avoiding me, hehe.
We've been so busy that I didn't think anything about it. It's easy to get distracted when there are so many things to do, especially now. There's been a lot of... stress. [ Too much data to go through, too many plans to try to make. War isn't something he thinks he'll ever get used to—no matter how long they've been out in space. ]
If he's avoiding you, you should talk to him. I know I don't mind when we do.
he likes being alone. i can wait for him to get back.
[ it's interesting how people end up finding friends. kuroo hesitates to call abel a friend - they've known each other for all of a few weeks, after all - but up here, in the lonely barren skyscape of space, it's more than enough that they're on good terms with each other.
not everyone's been as genial, or civil. ]
i think he's a little mad at me, too. kind of got into a small fight earlier.
[ He doesn't want to say it's ironic, but he wonders if there's a reason behind why those types of personalities always draw the ones who don't want to be alone. Abel always tries to be polite with everyone, but sometimes... He lets his fingers brush against his lip and the scar there before distracting himself with the conversation. ]
It's easy to argue with each other when there's nowhere to go.
Do you want to talk about it?
i should probably mention i've read starfighter now
i don't have to like it. we're here to fight colterons, not each other.
[ this is why we're losing, kuroo thinks but doesn't say. they don't have a shortage of good fighters, or skilled navigators. they're not even that behind on tech; they shouldn't be losing this badly. ]
it was a case of looking at someone else's paired navigator, so i'm not sure there's anything much to talk about, honestly.
look, i'll be honest. i won't treat you any differently than i would kenma.
that means i'm not touching you without your permission, and you shouldn't expect it from me either.
welcome to the space hell of completely random updates
[ It's the first time he's ever really admitted it aloud to anyone, that lingering feeling of always trying but never getting anywhere no matter how hard everyone works.
And there's just... something about the way Kuroo says those things that makes him flush a little. Still, that doesn't necessarily mean him, and Abel's learned a while ago not to get his hopes up about those things. He's sort of private about that anyway. And it's none of his business, honestly, but he can't help asking: ]
Does looking mean that much to your navigator? I mean... I guess it would depend on a lot of things, wouldn't it? [ Who it was, how he was looking at them. ]
I don't expect it. I think it's nice if you ask, or if I know you want to. That's different.
we don't have that kind of relationship. i mean, we've tried before we came here. didn't work too well.
[ they were too close - too familiar. kuroo knew too much of kenma's needs and kenma knew too much of kuroo's interests for them to find excitement in it. they're too aware of each other. in the end, it's better. they have a higher-than-normal compatibility score, a very stable rate whenever they run sims together.
kuroo doubts kenma would even care if he mentions the reason for the fight; it's that fighting could affect their ranking that's likely pissing kenma off. ]
[ Abel feels like it takes him much too long to answer, reading those words repeatedly as if it'll help calm his racing heart. He says he doesn't have that kind of relationship with his navigator, but that could mean so many things. Maybe he's just overthinking it if Kuroo is telling him this so upfront. ]
I want you to, but I don't want to cause you any trouble either.
[ kuroo doesn't believe in coyness. it's for people who can afford to waste time, is what he thinks, and coyness has never helped him in getting what he wants either.
[ He's just trying to look out for him in the only way he knows how, and if his fighter knew– well, he doesn't want to think about that either. He only wants to be as honest with Kuroo as he can be. ]
well, let's not tell anyone if it makes you worried.
[ what goes on in the privacy of each other's time is no one's business, isn't it? it's a bit naive, sure, but kuroo's not had a reason to think otherwise just yet. ]
[ He's only worried about Kuroo, but that's probably nothing considering how good a fighter he is. It's best to do as he suggests and think about it later. ]
[ and he meant it - kuroo's stepping out of his room as he sends off the text, checking his messages first in case kenma's given a heads-up about coming back from the bridge. no such luck on that front; he sends off a note for his navigator not to wait up, instead.
it takes all of a handful of minutes before kuroo's hailing abel from the other side of his door. ]
[ Abel sends an affirmative back in response and then just... stands in the middle of his room for a handful of seconds trying to process exactly what he's doing. He'd just invited Kuroo here to, what? To touch him? Maybe kiss him? Had he really been thinking about that? It's not as if Abel would readily admit something like that himself, but it's a very real possibility he has to consider now that the fighter is on his way here.
And when he hears his voice from the hall, it kickstarts Abel into actually moving, dropping his data pad somewhere off to the side of his bed and dragging his fingers through his hair before he even makes it to the door. He manages to open it without too much hesitation. ]
Hi. [ Abel also hopes he isn't turning red when he looks at him either, stepping back to make room for Kuroo to enter. ] You can come in. [ So he can probably shut the door again and lock it too. ]
[The hangar's pretty much empty, save for a couple engineers working on another fighter. The open space and view of the stars is a breath of fresh fucking air after the claustrophobia of the mess hall--even off hours there's always someone ready to get in his space and piss him off.
No one's bugging him here. One of the engineers tries to tell him he can't smoke, but responding with a growled Отъеби́сь, fuck off, and a flick of cigarette ash in their direction is enough to provoke a reluctant retreat.
Whenever Abel gets there, he'll find Cain lounging on top of the Reliant, lit cigarette between his fingers and smoke curling from his lips. If he looks pretty blissed out, it's because he is; his ship's the closest thing to a safe space he's got out here.]
[ Abel doesn't really take his time navigating his way to the hangar, and even then, it feels like it takes him too long to get there. He spends a second or two talking to a few of the other workers before excusing himself, finding it strangely comforting to grab onto the ladder and climb his way to the top of the ship. He's probably spent more time than he should with the Reliant, and being here with Cain is... He doesn't know how to describe it beyond the fact it makes him happy, and when he's nearly at the top, he's already starting to speak. ]
You know you're not supposed to smoke in here. [ He doesn't even need to see it; he can smell it. Abel doesn't know how much he'd fought him on not smoking in their room, and even then, it still wasn't enough to get him to stop. ] Someone might report it. What if you get in trouble? [ He'd rather not think about what that would mean, though the question is more curious than annoyed. Really, he's happy to see him, and it shows as he makes his way over to sit next to him. ]
[Cain snorts dismissively, smoke pluming from his nostrils as he bends his knee, resting his forearm on it and tapping ash onto the top of the Reliant. It might seem careless, but it's a lot like coming in the cockpit--a way of marking his territory.]
We've done worse inside the ship. [He stubs the cigarette out, though it's hard to say whether he's listening to Abel or was finished with it anyway. Sliding his hand into the pocket of his civvies, he pulls out a flask and unscrews it, handing it to Abel. Whatever's in there is dark and smells strong.]
[ Abel opens his mouth to reply, but a sharp blush catches him off-guard when his thoughts immediately narrow to the exact thing he's talking about, causing him to trip a little over his words. ]
And we're lucky we didn't get caught. [ It's a quiet hiss, like someone's going to hear them talking about things they really shouldn't be talking about. Abel relaxes regardless of that though, settled beside him and gingerly taking the flask from Cain in an attempt to look inside. He can smell it, and it's putting him off. He's hesitant to drink, but it has more to do with having no idea what it is over the fact he's technically still working. ] ... what is this?
[Cain snickers, leaning back on his free hand and sliding it just behind Abel on the roof.]
Who was the one who suggested it? [Not him. He doesn't bother lowering his voice, though he's not speaking especially loudly; the likelihood that the engineers would overhear them over their work is low, and he also doesn't really care.] Sometimes I think you wouldn't mind getting caught.
It's whiskey. [A treat from Bering, but he doesn't say as much. Doesn't want to think about what it means that he's sharing it with Abel. Cain nudges Abel's rib with his elbow as he squints dubiously into the flask.] It's smooth, you'll like it. Warms you up.
[ He snaps his head towards him at the insinuation, feeling the blush growing dark in a way he can't stop, and it only gets worse when Abel glances down to look at the Reliant. Sometimes, he'd thought about what it might be like for others to see them, for people to know just how much he likes being with Cain, likes being touched and kissed and fucked by him, but... he's also too jealous to ever really give any of it up that easily. So, he just grips the flask a little tighter. ]
I don't want to get caught. There's just... I like being with you. [ Abel doesn't exactly focus on those words too much, hoping to drown out the sentiment a bit by taking a quick drink, and at first, it is smooth. But there's a sharp burn in the back of his throat once he swallows, the heat of it settling hard in his stomach, and he makes a face, immediately handing it back to Cain so he can wipe at his mouth. He coughs once, sucking in a deep breath. ] Is it supposed to taste like that?
[ Maybe he doesn't like it as much as he should, but he almost wants to take another sip just to see if it'll be as rough as the first time down. Abel doesn't try to take it from him again though, instead content to lean closer to him and tip his head back. ]
[The idea of getting caught definitely has its appeal--everyone seeing beyond a shadow of a doubt that Abel's his and that he wants to be his. How well they fit together, how well Abel takes it.
But that possessiveness is double-edged. The way Abel looks, the way he moves, the things he says when they fuck...the thought of anyone else getting to see him like that makes anger flash hot in Cain's chest.
Abel's blushing prettily and Cain falters, face going slack at those words, I like being with you. He knows how to deal when Abel talks dirty, when he gives him shit or freaks out over something Cain's done, but this... It shouldn't get to him, but it does. Something squirms behind his ribs and he sucks in a breath to reply but thankfully Abel's already moved on, passing him the flask.]
'Course it is. Don't tell me you never had whiskey back on Earth. [Cain slips his arm properly around Abel, hand resting at his hip as he takes a long swig, Adam's apple bobbing.]
[ Of all the things Abel would ever complain about, it's that there's never enough time for more. The world is precarious in its desires, after all, and even if this moment is the last time they might have together, he wants to make the most of it somehow, sucking in a breath and tasting the strange salt of the air. They'd wandered to one of the more private areas of Galdin Quay, still close enough to the resort that the lights scare off any chances of daemons interrupting whatever this is turning into, and the silence is something he feels more than anything else despite the soft rush of the water against the shore. If it could just be the two of them for a while... Abel doesn't know when this dream is going to fade, especially when he's busy with his own missions and Noctis is who he is. It's stolen time, and he feels it in the very depths of his bones.
At some point, he'd pulled himself out of his shoes to feel the cool settling of sand beneath his feet, and he hasn't let go of Noctis' hand since they'd started this adventure along the beach, trying to ignore the way his face heats up or his natural response to pull away the closer they get. Whatever privacy they have is afforded to them because of their circumstances, and the last time they'd met up hadn't been nearly as long as this—or as intimate. He doesn't want to draw attention to the obvious, that there's so much uncertainty to the next chance they might have like this, and he watches the waves for a while, sitting far enough away that the surf only licks lazy at his toes before being pulled back into the sea. It's almost bittersweet that things had turned out this way. ]
Do you know where you're going after this? [ His voice is soft, dragging his gaze away from the water to look at their hands. The warmth of Noctis' touch doesn't escape him, and whether or not it's unconscious, his grip tightens a little more than necessary when he thinks about what will come after. ]
[ he's never really understood not having enough time. blame it on circumstance. even if he chooses to go by a false name on the road, it doesn't change the fact that he is noctis, crown prince of lucis. he has never wanted for anything in the whole of his life and not having enough time has never occurred to him – until now, anyway.
until this – whatever this has become over a short period of time. there is a lot to admire about abel; noct never been especially ( at least outwardly ) dedicated to a particular cause, not like him. but things are prone to changing now that he is outside insomnia city limits. he doesn't know what this is, what exists between them, but he is smart enough not to run in the other direction. out here, en route to altissia, he has begun to feel the weight of crown. with the troubles he and his friends have faced, he wants to enjoy this.
noctis swallows and gives his companion's hand a squeeze in return. the privacy they have been given is something to take advantage of and he chooses to linger close to his side. ]
Not sure, [ he replies almost bashfully. ignis surely gave him a detailed rundown of their itinerary and he had ... not been paying attention. look, the prince still has a long way to go. he looks down at his feet, boots still on though he's considering following suit and letting his bare feet touch the water lapping at the shore. ]
[Cain got back to their shared room, mostly expecting it to be empty. It was early, before dinner but Cain had left the training session all the fighters had been taking part already. He angrily opened and closed the door, shrugging out of his jacket and throwing it violently into the corner.
He hadn't done well, or at least not as well as he would have liked. Encke had told him he'd done fine but Encke could go fuck himself. If that simulation had been a real fight... With an angry, frustrated growl, he punched the metal wall beside their bed.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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I wouldn't say I'm not interested. It's just something that hasn't come up. [ Until now. Good job, Abel. ]
I don't want to talk about that right now. Nothing really happened though.
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[ he's new - not stupid. he's heard about the rumors going around, about the so-called perks that come with being a fighter, how some of the guys take the rumors at face value and consider it license to do whatever the hell they want.
kuroo had pierced kenma's ear first thing when he got on board, just to be safe. ]
was it with your fighter?
you don't have to tell me anything, but you've been nice to me and if talking about it makes you feel better, i'm here to listen.
1/2
[ Like aggression and a weird sort of possessiveness that Abel can't seem to escape. He means what he said in the last text though; he doesn't want to discuss it too much. Fighters have a tendency to handle things in a way that others don't, and Abel doesn't want to cause Kuroo any problems when he's been just as nice to him too. ]
You really don't have to worry about it.
2/2
I saw your navigator yesterday. He seems to be doing okay.
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then again kenma doesn't pay attention to other people in general.
please don't think he's rude, he just prefers to keep to himself.
[ it's not a particularly subtle change in subject, but kuroo takes it. ]
he keeps telling me he's working but i think he's just avoiding me, hehe.
what ARE you guys up to lately?
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We've been so busy that I didn't think anything about it. It's easy to get distracted when there are so many things to do, especially now. There's been a lot of... stress. [ Too much data to go through, too many plans to try to make. War isn't something he thinks he'll ever get used to—no matter how long they've been out in space. ]
If he's avoiding you, you should talk to him. I know I don't mind when we do.
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i can wait for him to get back.
[ it's interesting how people end up finding friends. kuroo hesitates to call abel a friend - they've known each other for all of a few weeks, after all - but up here, in the lonely barren skyscape of space, it's more than enough that they're on good terms with each other.
not everyone's been as genial, or civil. ]
i think he's a little mad at me, too.
kind of got into a small fight earlier.
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It's easy to argue with each other when there's nowhere to go.
Do you want to talk about it?
i should probably mention i've read starfighter now
we're here to fight colterons, not each other.
[ this is why we're losing, kuroo thinks but doesn't say. they don't have a shortage of good fighters, or skilled navigators. they're not even that behind on tech; they shouldn't be losing this badly. ]
it was a case of looking at someone else's paired navigator, so i'm not sure there's anything much to talk about, honestly.
look, i'll be honest.
i won't treat you any differently than i would kenma.
that means i'm not touching you without your permission, and you shouldn't expect it from me either.
welcome to the space hell of completely random updates
[ It's the first time he's ever really admitted it aloud to anyone, that lingering feeling of always trying but never getting anywhere no matter how hard everyone works.
And there's just... something about the way Kuroo says those things that makes him flush a little. Still, that doesn't necessarily mean him, and Abel's learned a while ago not to get his hopes up about those things. He's sort of private about that anyway. And it's none of his business, honestly, but he can't help asking: ]
Does looking mean that much to your navigator? I mean... I guess it would depend on a lot of things, wouldn't it? [ Who it was, how he was looking at them. ]
I don't expect it. I think it's nice if you ask, or if I know you want to. That's different.
not gonna lie i'm stressed over it
i mean, we've tried before we came here. didn't work too well.
[ they were too close - too familiar. kuroo knew too much of kenma's needs and kenma knew too much of kuroo's interests for them to find excitement in it. they're too aware of each other. in the end, it's better. they have a higher-than-normal compatibility score, a very stable rate whenever they run sims together.
kuroo doubts kenma would even care if he mentions the reason for the fight; it's that fighting could affect their ranking that's likely pissing kenma off. ]
do you want me to ask?
it's okay i am too
I want you to, but I don't want to cause you any trouble either.
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i like you.
[ kuroo doesn't believe in coyness. it's for people who can afford to waste time, is what he thinks, and coyness has never helped him in getting what he wants either.
being direct seems better, really. ]
i'm asking you now.
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[ He's just trying to look out for him in the only way he knows how, and if his fighter knew– well, he doesn't want to think about that either. He only wants to be as honest with Kuroo as he can be. ]
It's okay. I want you to.
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[ what goes on in the privacy of each other's time is no one's business, isn't it? it's a bit naive, sure, but kuroo's not had a reason to think otherwise just yet. ]
is now a good time?
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Now's fine. No one is here with me.
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[ and he meant it - kuroo's stepping out of his room as he sends off the text, checking his messages first in case kenma's given a heads-up about coming back from the bridge. no such luck on that front; he sends off a note for his navigator not to wait up, instead.
it takes all of a handful of minutes before kuroo's hailing abel from the other side of his door. ]
Yo, you in there?
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And when he hears his voice from the hall, it kickstarts Abel into actually moving, dropping his data pad somewhere off to the side of his bed and dragging his fingers through his hair before he even makes it to the door. He manages to open it without too much hesitation. ]
Hi. [ Abel also hopes he isn't turning red when he looks at him either, stepping back to make room for Kuroo to enter. ] You can come in. [ So he can probably shut the door again and lock it too. ]
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[The hangar's pretty much empty, save for a couple engineers working on another fighter. The open space and view of the stars is a breath of fresh fucking air after the claustrophobia of the mess hall--even off hours there's always someone ready to get in his space and piss him off.
No one's bugging him here. One of the engineers tries to tell him he can't smoke, but responding with a growled Отъеби́сь, fuck off, and a flick of cigarette ash in their direction is enough to provoke a reluctant retreat.
Whenever Abel gets there, he'll find Cain lounging on top of the Reliant, lit cigarette between his fingers and smoke curling from his lips. If he looks pretty blissed out, it's because he is; his ship's the closest thing to a safe space he's got out here.]
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You know you're not supposed to smoke in here. [ He doesn't even need to see it; he can smell it. Abel doesn't know how much he'd fought him on not smoking in their room, and even then, it still wasn't enough to get him to stop. ] Someone might report it. What if you get in trouble? [ He'd rather not think about what that would mean, though the question is more curious than annoyed. Really, he's happy to see him, and it shows as he makes his way over to sit next to him. ]
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We've done worse inside the ship. [He stubs the cigarette out, though it's hard to say whether he's listening to Abel or was finished with it anyway. Sliding his hand into the pocket of his civvies, he pulls out a flask and unscrews it, handing it to Abel. Whatever's in there is dark and smells strong.]
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And we're lucky we didn't get caught. [ It's a quiet hiss, like someone's going to hear them talking about things they really shouldn't be talking about. Abel relaxes regardless of that though, settled beside him and gingerly taking the flask from Cain in an attempt to look inside. He can smell it, and it's putting him off. He's hesitant to drink, but it has more to do with having no idea what it is over the fact he's technically still working. ] ... what is this?
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Who was the one who suggested it? [Not him. He doesn't bother lowering his voice, though he's not speaking especially loudly; the likelihood that the engineers would overhear them over their work is low, and he also doesn't really care.] Sometimes I think you wouldn't mind getting caught.
It's whiskey. [A treat from Bering, but he doesn't say as much. Doesn't want to think about what it means that he's sharing it with Abel. Cain nudges Abel's rib with his elbow as he squints dubiously into the flask.] It's smooth, you'll like it. Warms you up.
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I don't want to get caught. There's just... I like being with you. [ Abel doesn't exactly focus on those words too much, hoping to drown out the sentiment a bit by taking a quick drink, and at first, it is smooth. But there's a sharp burn in the back of his throat once he swallows, the heat of it settling hard in his stomach, and he makes a face, immediately handing it back to Cain so he can wipe at his mouth. He coughs once, sucking in a deep breath. ] Is it supposed to taste like that?
[ Maybe he doesn't like it as much as he should, but he almost wants to take another sip just to see if it'll be as rough as the first time down. Abel doesn't try to take it from him again though, instead content to lean closer to him and tip his head back. ]
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But that possessiveness is double-edged. The way Abel looks, the way he moves, the things he says when they fuck...the thought of anyone else getting to see him like that makes anger flash hot in Cain's chest.
Abel's blushing prettily and Cain falters, face going slack at those words, I like being with you. He knows how to deal when Abel talks dirty, when he gives him shit or freaks out over something Cain's done, but this... It shouldn't get to him, but it does. Something squirms behind his ribs and he sucks in a breath to reply but thankfully Abel's already moved on, passing him the flask.]
'Course it is. Don't tell me you never had whiskey back on Earth. [Cain slips his arm properly around Abel, hand resting at his hip as he takes a long swig, Adam's apple bobbing.]
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At some point, he'd pulled himself out of his shoes to feel the cool settling of sand beneath his feet, and he hasn't let go of Noctis' hand since they'd started this adventure along the beach, trying to ignore the way his face heats up or his natural response to pull away the closer they get. Whatever privacy they have is afforded to them because of their circumstances, and the last time they'd met up hadn't been nearly as long as this—or as intimate. He doesn't want to draw attention to the obvious, that there's so much uncertainty to the next chance they might have like this, and he watches the waves for a while, sitting far enough away that the surf only licks lazy at his toes before being pulled back into the sea. It's almost bittersweet that things had turned out this way. ]
Do you know where you're going after this? [ His voice is soft, dragging his gaze away from the water to look at their hands. The warmth of Noctis' touch doesn't escape him, and whether or not it's unconscious, his grip tightens a little more than necessary when he thinks about what will come after. ]
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until this – whatever this has become over a short period of time. there is a lot to admire about abel; noct never been especially ( at least outwardly ) dedicated to a particular cause, not like him. but things are prone to changing now that he is outside insomnia city limits. he doesn't know what this is, what exists between them, but he is smart enough not to run in the other direction. out here, en route to altissia, he has begun to feel the weight of crown. with the troubles he and his friends have faced, he wants to enjoy this.
noctis swallows and gives his companion's hand a squeeze in return. the privacy they have been given is something to take advantage of and he chooses to linger close to his side. ]
Not sure, [ he replies almost bashfully. ignis surely gave him a detailed rundown of their itinerary and he had ... not been paying attention. look, the prince still has a long way to go. he looks down at his feet, boots still on though he's considering following suit and letting his bare feet touch the water lapping at the shore. ]
What about you? When do you need to leave?
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He hadn't done well, or at least not as well as he would have liked. Encke had told him he'd done fine but Encke could go fuck himself. If that simulation had been a real fight... With an angry, frustrated growl, he punched the metal wall beside their bed.]