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]

Well, you would be a lot better off doing that. So yes, you are!

[canceller]

Sounds dangerous.

[His smirk widens as he turns to face the other man dramatically.]

Very well. I'll take your leap of faith.

[explores]

Good man.

[ Grinning, he shifts an arm at his side to toss his cape out as he turns away. ]

You're not gonna regret that. It's a pretty small event I have planned. Not many got an invitation.

[canceller]

[Jeremiah only follows after a moment, watching him closely while following from a safe distance.]

Oh? How exclusive.

[explores]

Well, it's a little last-minute, and I don't quite have Milly's event-planning finesse.

[ Last minute as in he basically only just decided this was happening, like most things he does, ever. ]

Besides, you didn't think just anyone would be allowed to attend your grand welcoming party, did you?

[canceller]

Of course not. Still, your choice on the matter is still worth commending.

[explores]

I thought you might appreciate something a little more low-key.

[ He continues to grin, leading him off the grounds and into the main building. There aren't many people milling around at the moment, which is good—at this hour they're either at school, out working, or catching up on something they're behind on (if they're like Gino, that thing is probably sleep).

A long hallway leads to another courtyard and then into another building, accessible by keycard, which is the Knights' living quarters. They're broken into what Gino thinks of as "cell blocks" even if that makes it sound like a prison, with three in each block, one room per knight. Two, Three, and Four are the first on the left (One gets his own personal, private suite, toward the back of the building), and another keycard swipe is required there, too. He doesn't make any comment on the way to his room (where a third swipe is required, for crying out fucking loud), slipping his keycard into his back pocket. ]

[canceller]

[If Jeremiah had any doubts—which he didn't, but if he did—he doesn't now. Still, he only remains silent as he follows, noting the absence of their third blockmate. As expected.

Not like she'd say a word about anything.]

[explores]

[ Given that she was one of the ones Gino got his insider information from, and how she watched him go running out of the room, she kind of figured it would be better to just. Go do something else.

Once Gino has the door open he slips inside, heading straight to his closet. Despite being in the closet, he tosses his cape off onto the floor and disappears into the wilderness of clothing and god-only-knows-what that he has in there, with a great amount of rustling around. ]

Juuuust a second...

[canceller]

[Well while he's doing that, Jeremiah's going to go ahead and invite himself in, though he mostly just stands where he is and notes the state of his quarters. It's the same as ever, and decidedly more decorated than his own, albeit not quite as tastefully, in his opinion.]

Take your time.

[explores]

[ His latest fascination appears to be the new generation of Monopoly that just recently came out. They took out the iron and added a cat, how awesome is that?! There's a board all set up with a bunch of pieces in various places, paper money sorted just so, and several collections of Deeds cards spread out in a few select places.

He's been playing entirely by himself for days (no one else was interested).

Before long, Gino emerges with a wrapped bottle of something. He pulls a ribbon and the entire packaging comes undone, revealing it to be a decent selection of wine. ]

Ta-da!!! Shhhhh, don't tell anybody. I snuck it in after-hours. But you can hardly party without this kind of thing, right-?

[ "This Kind Of Thing" = "I don't care about it/don't like it, but it's required, from what I understand" ]

[canceller]

[Jeremiah's brows shoot up at that, stepping closer to peer at it more closely.]

Well, not bad. [He gives Gino a slight smirk, straightening.] And to think you had something like that stashed away amongst all that junk.