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

[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.

[explores]

[ Pushing it out at him. You take it, the fuck am I going to do with it. ]

I have a lot more interesting stuff than some stuffy old wine stashed in there! But what is for me to know, and you to find out. Maybe. If you earn it.

[canceller]

Oh, and what a treat it shall surely be.

[Jeremiah takes the bottle as it's shoved at him, then looks to Gino expectantly.]

[explores]

[ Looking back at him...

...

...

Oh yeah. ]

Right! You wait here while I procure some glasses.

[ And off to the dining hall he goes. They're not supposed to take dishes out of the cafeteria, but Gino gives approximately zero shits about the rules. Besides, they're the Knights of the fucking Rounds, what are they going to do? Punish them? hahahahhahahahahha

no. ]

[canceller]

Don't forget a bottle opener while you're at it.

[It's hard not to shake his head and snicker a little to himself as he watches Gino scramble from the room. While he's gone, Jeremiah glances to the table and considers it for a second before leaving his painstakingly organized board game be. Instead, he heads towards the foot of the bed, reaching up to unfasten his cloak and setting the bottle down gently on the comforter.]

[explores]

[ A wise choice, because Gino has that Monopoly board down to a fucking science. The directions are spread out all over the remaining available surface, with certain passages highlighted to help him remember the rules. He's utilized every single token and managed money for seven imaginary players, and also himself.

It's hard having friends who don't want to do dumb shit with you.

He comes back with two wine glasses, a corkscrew, and some fancy cheese, because from what he understands, fancy cheese is also required. ]

Presto! Instant party.

[canceller]

[Jeremiah stands once again, bringing the bottle over and leaving his cape where it's neatly folded on the foot of the bed. Everything else aside, it seemed rude to leave it on, and well. There's wine. He doesn't particularly feel like going anywhere now.]

It seems you know what I like better than I thought.

[explores]

I know what I need to know.

[ He says it because it sounds cool and ambiguous but the big dorky smile doesn't match, as usual. He offers out the corkscrew and then goes about clearing some space on his table to set the cheese and glasses down. ]

[canceller]

[Experience speaks for itself with the deft way he twists the screw in and eases the cork out with that distinct pop, coming over to pour them both some.]

Well yes, the rest goes without saying.

[Ah yes, the rare flirting Gottwald has been sighted.]

[explores]

[ He doesn't look up, but there is a very slight pause in that cheese knife as he's cutting slices for them. Very slight. And then his lips quirk the same way they always do as he turns and holds out the cheese plate. ]

To be fair, you're not as mysterious as people think you are.

[canceller]

Hah. I never tried to be. That's simply something people decided for themselves.

[Jeremiah takes a slice, placing it on a cracker and taking both it and a wine glass in hand.]

[explores]

Well, there must have been some reason for it. But whatever it is, I don't see it!

[ He sets the plate down once Jeremiah's finished, picking up his glass and giving it a cursory whiff before he sips at it. It's not awful, as far as wines go it even passes for good. But it's so formal, he'd rather have a beer and some nachos even though he doesn't like beer either. ]

[canceller]

Hey, now. I think a toast is in order first, right?

[explores]

We're going to be that formal?

[canceller]

It doesn't have to be anything serious. But it feels wrong not to do with a fine drink like this.

[explores]

Haaaah, alright... then we'll toast to you being back home where you belong.

[ Tipping his glass out. hit me back one time playa clink that shit ]

[canceller]

[Try saying that aloud next time, you're sure to get a hilarious response out of it.]

Much better. [He raises his glass and clinks them together.] To homecoming.

[explores]

[ Taking a proper sip this time, with his fingers curled around the glass just so and his pinky out in an unironic, measured sort of way and everything perfectly exact just like he was taught.

And then after that initial delicate sip he throws his head back and knocks the rest of the glass back like he's taking shots. ]

Haaah! Fantastic. Even if it seems to have suddenly gotten more boring in here, at least we kicked it off properly. So that's enough of that! [ Nudge. ] Welcome home, Orange.

[canceller]

[He simply watches the action mid-sip with faint distaste, swallowing with little hurry before opening his mouth again.]

Properly? If you're going to drink wine like this in such a manner I'm not sure I shouldn't confiscate the entire bottle for myself so it doesn't go to waste.