man I don't even know

[canceller]

[It's been less than 24 hours since he landed back here, and already Jeremiah's finding himself breathing easier. It's drier here, the winter colder, and he welcomes it, in spite of years in Area 11. The mainland will always be his home, after all.

Pendragon sometimes feels less so, and other times more. It still feels like fate brought him here, it just depends on how surreal that particular moment feels to him. Right now, all he can do is keep strolling about the grounds, gaze sweeping the gardens, the sprawling build of the place, the mountains in the distance.

It's good to be back.]

Comments

[explores]

[ In contrast, Gino hasn't been anywhere fun in ages (that is, anywhere other than where he always is). A brief stationing in the EU doesn't count, because that was half of a walk in the park and half a forced meeting with the other!middle brother he doesn't really want to see.

That was only a handful of months, anyway, and since then it's been the same old shenanigans. Bugging Anya, bugging Monica, bugging Bismarck, getting bugged by Luciano, bugging the shit out of Suzaku (sigh), putting on a whopping two pounds and then becoming horrified and working it back off plus five more.

Yawn.

But then he hears Jeremiah is coming back and pricks up with interest, asks when. His question goes unanswered for a few minutes until he presses about it (Wheeeeennnnnnnnn?) and they say, oh, he's already here.

So he takes off to go find him, searching high and low until he spots him and reduces his frolicking to loping stride, considerably less excited even if he is still grinning from ear to ear. ]

Finally decided to grace us with your presence again, hah-?

[canceller]

[Jeremiah hears him coming from a ways anyway, the click of boots on the ground sharp on his ears as everything else is to his senses now, and while he can hear the blond slow noticeably, he makes no remark. He already knows well enough.]

I'm afraid you don't have me to thank or to blame, Lord Weinberg. [He turns a bit himself, cape swaying a little about his shoulders as he regards the taller blonde advancing towards him with an even, proud look.] You should know the decision isn't mine to make. Or would you like to commend His Majesty yourself?

[explores]

[ That waving hand flicks its wrist airily, casting off the very idea. He keeps his political opinions to himself, but it's thanks largely in part to his status that he gets away with behaving how he does. ]

Who has the time? Anyway, if I bothered with that, who would be here to serve as your welcoming committee? I don't see any fireworks and champagne. What a travesty.

[ A completely fake snob's affect to his tone, crinkling his nose and then laughing. lmao fuckin nobles ]

[canceller]

That's because you missed them entirely. I arrived around 2 AM last night.

[Aw, he's fake-miffed and everything, poor baby.] Honestly, do you even pay attention to what goes on around here?

[explores]

Huh?! They said you just got here!

[ That isn't what "they" said, it's just how he heard it. After "Lord Gottwald" and "back here" he ceased to process anything else. ]

I've been lied to. This isn't my fault.

[canceller]

That's hardly an excuse. I'll have you know I'm quite offended by your actions in this regard. Don't think I'll forget them so easily.

[Jeremiah turns away, nose upturned slightly. Really, it only seems fair to give Gino just as much grief as he gets in turn.]

[explores]

So file a complaint! I'm sure you'll have plenty of time for paperwork and incident reports now that you're back from your vay-cay.

[ ie im not having your shit sir. He's aware it wasn't much of a vacation, either, in as far as any of them ever get time off like that. Especially not when they're getting stuck in Area 11. ]

[canceller]

Oh, I'll see to it myself that you get your just reward.

[Crossing his arms after a moment, he finally glances back to the other man.]

I would have thought you'd have your fill of punishment by now, though. I can only imagine what kind of trouble you must have gotten yourself into with one less person to inflict your antics on.

[explores]

[ Gino smiles at that, in a "ha ha funny joke" kind of way. Well, at both parts, really. Except one part is a joke and one isn't. ]

Nah, it's been pretty much the same old. Only slightly more boring, and slightly less stuffy. You might even say I was productive without the extra distraction! I lost weight.

[canceller]

[That actually wrings a derisive laugh out of him.]

Well, I'm glad to see your skills are being put to good use around here.

1/2

[explores]

Aren't they always-? Aa—don't answer that! It was rhetorical!

[ Waving his hands. ]

[explores]

Anyway, the point is, I'm the official Knight of Welcoming, and if you don't stop making my job difficult I may have to take drastic measures. So are you going to accept my "welcome back" with dignity, or what?

[canceller]

You're not exactly doing a good job of selling it as something I want to. Am I just supposed to blindly trust in whatever you have planned?

[explores]

[ By the time Gino slips out of his room, pads the short distance down the hall to Jeremiah's, and sneaks in, it's after dark. He didn't give it much time in-between Jeremiah being called away on some errand or another and when he got up, thoroughly ravished and a little sore and completely nude. Maybe five minutes. Five minutes to lay there and catch his breath, to watch the older man get dressed and leave (and smile coyly at him from a mound of blankets as he closed the door behind him), and think a little. Just a little thinking. A little thinking about how he did miss Jeremiah. A lot. And he had sort of hoped to have more time to appreciate his being back.

With that in mind, he wraps himself up in a sheet and sneaks into the Knight of Two's quarters as soon as he gets the chance. He spies a sliver of light coming from a doorway in the opposite direction and glances over his shoulder, smiles innocently at Dorothea's judging stare, and then disappears into the bedroom without a word.

He means to wait up for Jeremiah to return, but ultimately he ends up asleep, draped thinly with the sheet from his room and sprawled out face-down on his bed, facing the door, with his fingers bunched up in the blankets. What can he say, the old guy did a bigger number on him than he'd thought. ]

[canceller]

[Alas, coming home to roost never meant a promise of downtime any more than going to Area 11 as a "vacation" did. Especially not now. While he's not physically stationed anymore, it hasn't meant any less contact with the governor and her knight, and all the more with his fellow Rounds members. He'd gotten called away because Bismarck had wanted to hear for himself, beyond the reports, prior to their conference call abroad. And why wouldn't Jeremiah happily acquiesce, personal respect aside? A direct line to the emperor is nothing to be brushed off, and his words through the Knight of One could ultimately hold more power than any on paper.

It's terrifying, really, that trust placed in him and his position in rare moments like those.

Still, Jeremiah knows the first week back is bound to be hectic, and true, it isn't until late that he finally drags himself back. He already requested tea service, something herbal, something to help him get his sleep back on schedule, because that's roughly all the plans he holds for the evening. So it comes as a bit of a surprise to find a certain someone not only still around, but still nude, now in his bed when Jeremiah steps past the threshold of his door.]

Gino?

[explores]

[ He had hoped to be awake and presentable for when he came back (presentable herein meaning giving him the bedroom eyes and stretched out luxuriously with that sheet covering only what it really (doesn't) need to), but instead Jeremiah gets to discover him drooling into his blankets and snoring quietly.

To his credit, he's a very light sleeper, and wakes with a small start almost immediately, eyes darting toward the light of the hallway and then up at Jeremiah. ]

Oh... welcome back.

[ Oops. Oh well. He sits up, smiling quite doofily and rubbing one eye a little. The sheet slides pretty much off as he props himself up but he doesn't pay it any attention. ]

I meant to be waiting for you, haha.

[canceller]

This isn't a bad alternative. [Yeah, he chuckles all right, leaving his cape as is in favor of making his way to stand before Gino, brows raised, neither blatant nor covert in the way he observes the other man.]

Really though, you haven't gotten dressed all this time, have you?

[explores]

[ He grins a little, still a bit on the dopey side, and settles back down on the bed, leaving the sheet bunched at his hip and resting his head on his arm. ]

Nope. I figured I needn't bother, considering the circumstances.

[canceller]

I should have known better than to think you were done with me already.

[Jeremiah tilts his head.] And? Have you managed to sober up?

[explores]

I think so.

[ He still feels a little loopy, but that could be a result of the intense post-sex power nap he just woke up from. ]

What about you? Did you slur your way through that report, or what?

[canceller]

You underestimate me yet again, Lord Weinberg. I'm not a lightweight, two glasses of wine won't-

[Which is when he's interrupted by a knock on the door. It's tea, presumably, but just in case Jeremiah makes quick work of his cape and carelessly tosses it over Gino's reclining form. And if it lands on his face too, well. He's not really paying attention, he's just heading over to the door now.]

Ah. Timely as ever.

[explores]

[ Gino knows better than to yell about it, just in case it's someone important—not that it's a real huge secret or that he really has to hide, but he does show at least some modicum of tact when he needs to. All he makes is a muffled noise, and then reaches up to pull the cape up over the rest of his head, giving himself a pocket to peek out of.

It covers him pretty well, but if someone were to step in and look at him, it wouldn't be a very good job at hiding. He watches from his cape-hood as the tea is delivered, his eyes and the end of his nose and a big grin visible underneath like a half-invisible Cheshire cat. ]

Teatime? Already?

[canceller]

[If the maid notices, she shows no indication, not looking past Jeremiah as he simply takes the tray from her at the door, nor batting an eyelash when he asks for a second cup, which she procures from her cart. She just smiles politely and bows her way out. As expected.]

Absolutely. It's a good way to end off the night, which is what I had originally been anticipating.

[Jeremiah only sends him a playfully accusatory glance as he sets the tray down on the table not far away, and begins fixing himself a cup.]

[explores]

[ Maturely, Gino makes a face at him, and then pushes the cape off of his head once the maid is gone. He doesn't bother to take it all the way off, though, or to get up. He just goes on lounging there under Jeremiah's cape, stretched out as far as he can get without hanging off the edge of the bed. ]

There are better ways to end off the night, ones that are a lot more fun and don't involve tea.

[canceller]

Oh? Well goodness, I can't imagine what those would be.

[Jeremiah just turns to him, smirking faintly, taking a sip from his cup.]

Besides, this is quite a good chamomile blend. Are you sure you wouldn't like any?