[ while nodd never visited the hot springs during his initial trip aboard the eudora, he understands the concept. there was an area of similar heated pools around the Spires by in the opposite direction of the mushroom forest. they were good for an irregular visit. ]
Why is it always rats?
[ did artemy subtly summon to them to the graveyard?? was that all his fault???
nodd attempts to be unshy as well, although there's a moment of hesitation before he dunks himself into the spring. head underwater, even, for a second, before reemerges next to artemy, settling into a seat beside. ]
Oh. That is nice. Should have come here more. Will come here more.
[ nodd settles in beside him and he leans back, just fine with the proximity. a gentle nudge of the shoulders together and he laughs. also wow he did not, i can't believe this keeps happening. ]
We'll just have to make some kind of "standing appointment" or whatever they call it? Eugh that sounds stiff.
[ he takes a moment to dunk his own head underneath briefly before leaning back and letting out a long sigh. thank you based no-longer fleshy eudora. ]
[ nodd snorts, amused, and then he sinks dooown until his lower lip touches the water's surface. leaving the eudora, he was revived by the hearth mother but then not a moment to himself. right away, they spread para's ashes. right away, they had to escape the city.
nice, now, to become one with the spring. to watch artemy with eyes that faintly glow. ]
Hmmm. Then someone would have to use the I.R.I.S. to coordinate.
[ 'someone' could be either of these ye olde-ish idiots. ]
[ he blurts it out. i'm casting blame mostly on nodd bc artemy had a whole month to learn before things happened but also they have been fucking busy as hell. so really. both ways.
when he looks at him, it's with gray blue eyes that catch the shimmer off of the water from reflective lights. maybe he inches a little closer. curiosity?
he lifts a hand and taps nodd in the forehead with a pair of fingers. ]
[ true to his nature, nodd can't be irritated, whether or not he agrees on where the blame should lie. that artemy cares enough to cast blame--that's of much greater interest.
he means to say something when he's tapped. drops of water rain onto the bridge of his nose, one finds his upper lip. ]
You're a tough read for me.
[ because nodd has been so, so good at figuring out the wants and needs of his crewmates. ]
[ throws nodd into the trash where i keep all of my precious things. but also he huffs as this man really just takes it (it's mostly a joke. artemy does not expect correspondence when there is more chaos than time to breathe. he knows well enough how that goes.) all the time. ]
I'm not a particularly good book.
[ i'm a poor read. a faint smile at that, his hand falling back into the water as he gives his head a small tilt. he doesn't pull away though, hovering within a mutual space that's close enough for the heat off of their skin to share itself between them. very quietly: ]
[ what makes for a good book anymore? is it a story that tugs on the heartstrings or the satisfaction of a clear-cut ending? ]
Is that so?
[ if artemy is actually watching and not simply teasing, he'll see nodd's pulse spike.
nodd's time on the eudora taught him to be more patient, less impulsive. to hold is tongue. that he remains turbulent, despite his training. that he feels less himself with his elven blood cut off. so he should enjoy that the water is warm and he has artemy's attention. not push.
he's so much better at pushing. ]
What is it telling you? [ so close. really, really close. his hand, creeping to brush artemy's knee underwater. ]
[ there's the briefest twitch, but not away from his touch. artemy watches that pulse jump and closes his eyes. it feels good... to have survived, to be alive, to have somehow avoided an unraveling of himself.
he lets his hand trail downwards, brushing the tips of his fingers along nodd's throat. he takes a breath and a moment. ]
It says enough.
[ tapping softly against the pulse. a little lift of the brow. ]
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no subject
Why is it always rats?
[ did artemy subtly summon to them to the graveyard?? was that all his fault???
nodd attempts to be unshy as well, although there's a moment of hesitation before he dunks himself into the spring. head underwater, even, for a second, before reemerges next to artemy, settling into a seat beside. ]
Oh. That is nice. Should have come here more. Will come here more.
no subject
We'll just have to make some kind of "standing appointment" or whatever they call it? Eugh that sounds stiff.
[ he takes a moment to dunk his own head underneath briefly before leaning back and letting out a long sigh. thank you based no-longer fleshy eudora. ]
no subject
nice, now, to become one with the spring. to watch artemy with eyes that faintly glow. ]
Hmmm. Then someone would have to use the I.R.I.S. to coordinate.
[ 'someone' could be either of these ye olde-ish idiots. ]
no subject
[ he blurts it out. i'm casting blame mostly on nodd bc artemy had a whole month to learn before things happened but also they have been fucking busy as hell. so really. both ways.
when he looks at him, it's with gray blue eyes that catch the shimmer off of the water from reflective lights. maybe he inches a little closer. curiosity?
he lifts a hand and taps nodd in the forehead with a pair of fingers. ]
no subject
he means to say something when he's tapped. drops of water rain onto the bridge of his nose, one finds his upper lip. ]
You're a tough read for me.
[ because nodd has been so, so good at figuring out the wants and needs of his crewmates. ]
no subject
I'm not a particularly good book.
[ i'm a poor read. a faint smile at that, his hand falling back into the water as he gives his head a small tilt. he doesn't pull away though, hovering within a mutual space that's close enough for the heat off of their skin to share itself between them. very quietly: ]
I can see the pulse in your throat.
no subject
Is that so?
[ if artemy is actually watching and not simply teasing, he'll see nodd's pulse spike.
nodd's time on the eudora taught him to be more patient, less impulsive. to hold is tongue. that he remains turbulent, despite his training. that he feels less himself with his elven blood cut off. so he should enjoy that the water is warm and he has artemy's attention. not push.
he's so much better at pushing. ]
What is it telling you? [ so close. really, really close. his hand, creeping to brush artemy's knee underwater. ]
no subject
he lets his hand trail downwards, brushing the tips of his fingers along nodd's throat. he takes a breath and a moment. ]
It says enough.
[ tapping softly against the pulse. a little lift of the brow. ]
There's something you want.