i'll be happy as long as you're together with me. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
primarina) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
yanderebitchclub2021-06-29 12:13 pm
primarina) wrote in yanderebitchclub2021-06-29 12:13 pm
primarina) wrote in yanderebitchclub2021-06-29 12:13 pm
dating START
It was best to leave Nehan's recovery to his own devices until he stabilized somewhat, and now that he has, Six can finally offer help in his own way.
He arrives as silently as ever, mask carefully affixed to his face even as he feels Quatre glowering at the back of his head the entire time he makes his way up to the clinic. He's gotten yelled at for startling a few of the youngest children with it before, but being here still makes him antsy, and wearing his mask is one of the only things that helps.
...Until he gets to the clinic, that is. He always hesitates here, and this time is no different. Eventually, he decides to take it off—though he keeps one of his eyes covered, as usual. Seeing Nehan with the whole thing on and the whole thing off are equally daunting, in different ways.]
...Nehan. Are you busy?
[...To be honest, Six doesn't have a plan if Nehan says yes. But he, of all people, is the last person entitled to his time, so...he'll let the chips fall where they may.]
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well, maybe it's not all that bad. nehan has since stopped pushing mugen away and is now grateful for his help; maybe not readily all the time, but sometimes he gets too tired from walking and would appreciate a little lift in the bigger draph's arms, for example. the twins are also a great help -- er, rather, esser is nurturing in a way that nehan can never be while quatre... well, maybe he should just stop fuckin giving him the stinkeye every couple of days or so.
so it wasn't like nehan has had any excuse to miss six or anything. in fact, it would've been fine to able to live the rest of his days without seeing that man again.
too bad fate has other plans. it always has.
his ears perk up as the door opens and a familiar voice makes itself heard. he's seated at his workdesk, mashing some herbs together for further study. it's hard to handle the mortar and pestle with one hand, but he doesn't trust mugen's improbable strength for him to start seeking help. ]
...I'm almost done for the day. [ he doesn't turn around to face six. still too awkward to meet him face to face, even after all this time. ] Is there something you need?
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[Six stifles the question before he can even finish asking it. If Nehan wanted his help with his tools, he'd have asked.]
......
[He'd hoped this oppressive atmosphere would have lightened a little after spending some more time on the Grandcypher. But although he's getting accustomed to warm smiles and hearty greetings from people from all walks of life, although he's improving bit by bit, it's different when he comes here. No matter how varied the people of the Grandcypher are, none of them will ever be members of the Karm clan, after all.
...But...that's precisely why Six is here. Because being on the Grandcypher has helped the only other survivor of it. He's not good at speaking, and even worse at conveying his emotions. He has very few practical skills to speak of, and even fewer that don't involve violence. And even so...even so, they've all accepted him.
Surely, they'll do the same for Nehan.]
...I thought I might offer you a change of location. The Grandcypher is docked to deliver some supplies...
[His fingertips twitch with the urge to put his mask back on.]
...I've already asked the captain if they would permit you onboard once that job is complete, if you'd like.
[Seeing Nehan still in this state even after beginning his recovery...he probably hasn't left the island at all.]
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the silence is almost deafening, save for the soft clicks of equipment as he cleans up his workspace and the noises of children playing on the streets. he turns around on his seat, just to reach for his cane. ]
Bold of you to assume that I'd go with you.
[ he says, flatly. now he turns fully around, eye looking up at six as he lets out a sigh. he should at least hear him out. ]
...Where to?
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The crew is getting ready for their yearly vacation to Auguste.
[He's been invited again this year, by both an increasingly-desperate-for-an-Eternals-vacation Siete and the captain, but it goes without saying he won't be there.]
...But the first main stop will be at Golonzo to tune up the ship. Even if you choose not to disembark, there are some quiet places on the ship that you can visit. There's a cafe and a...a bar, of sorts...
[It occurs to him he doesn't even know if Nehan likes coffee, or what sort of food he likes to eat. But it's already out there.]
...I could...find someone to show you around.
[He wants to do it himself, but he'd understand if Nehan wanted someone else to do it instead.]
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You're asking me to come aboard the ship, only to leave me at the hands of a stranger.
[ for someone who's wearing a mask right now, six isn't that hard to read. the thought is hilarious enough that his mouth quirked for a half-second. ]
I'd only scare the vacationers of Auguste if I arrive there in swimwear. [ what with his scar-riddled body and all. ] Moreover, I've lost the ability to taste food since waking up, so eating out is less than enjoyable.
[ so, you know. it's already looking like a futile effort. nehan may be getting used to the waking world little by little, he hasn't really known how to "live a little", as the kids would say. he's not exactly a fun sort of guy. something something about his robbed childhood.
and yet... he fiddles with the straps of his cane as he fits them over his right wrist as he considers it. ]
...I could use some fresh air, at the very least.
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If anything, the one who's been dealt an unfair hand here is Nehan. He knows, of course, that Nehan isn't without sin himself, but...still, it's cruel.]
......
[Normally, this is where he'd just turn and leave, and let Nehan decide whether or not to follow him. But that, too, would be making things too easy.]
I can personally recommend the view from the deck. The skies are endless, so even if that's all you wish to see, it will never stop being new.
[Six props the door open, holding it there with a foot.]
I'll accompany you.
[He manages to sound a bit more firm this time, partially because going back out in front of the kids means he's putting his mask back on. As soon as his face is covered, a cooling sense of relief courses through his body, and it feels like this might just be possible after all.]
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nehan carefully gets up on his feet and heads to the door. speaking of which: ]
...Let me talk to Mugen first.
[ mugen was playing with some of the kids outside, and he initially wanted to come with when nehan looked for him because of course he does. it's not hard to convince mugen otherwise though, and after telling esser and quatre that he'll be back in a few days, he sets off to the ship alongside six with his careful pace, remaining quiet along the way.
see? easy. but it's now up to six on how he'll accomodate nehan from here, what with his special needs and all. ]
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...It's probably not a good idea to discuss that with Nehan. It might not ever be.]
If we follow this path, it will take a bit more time to get to the ship. But the path is smoother.
[Nehan's reliance on a cane, at least, was something Six had anticipated, and was able to plan around. He walks just slightly ahead, leading the way, but always remaining close enough to be able to catch him should he fall—he's so fragile right now. It's hard to imagine this man putting up the fight he did when he took the Transcensia.]
...I was away at the time, but...I heard that Mugen spent a bit of time on the Grandcypher too. Did he ever tell you about it?
[That was a while ago, now that he thinks about it. He wonders what his answer would be now, if Mugen asked him what he thought was fun, but he doesn't have to think very hard to arrive at his answer.
...It would probably be the same.]
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his ears twitch at the question. ]
He may have. [ mugen has mentioned the captain every now and then, just catching nehan up with the latest developments while he was snoozing away. ] He said he was looking for ways for the two of us to have fun when I wake up.
[ mugen had a lot of suggestions though, half of them somewhat impossible in nehan's poor state. but it's the thought that counts in the end.
more silence, as the ship comes into view up ahead. it wasn't that nehan keeps to himself most of the time - he diligently answers mugen's questions no matter how inane they are - it's just that he doesn't have anything to say to six without making the atmosphere even more suffocating.
but he may as well try. ] What is there to do on that ship?
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[Sandalphon doesn't have anywhere else to go, so Millennia is open more often than Raduga is—Ladiva's got her career as a duelist to keep at, too, though Morphe and Jamil occasionally open it in her stead, and with her blessing.]
...There's no shortage of sparring partners, and no lack of people looking for a challenge.
[It's probably the reason he's approached most often—by people looking to test their mettle against an Eternal, and especially the one who fights mostly just using his own body as a weapon.]
That's what people want from me, so that's what I do.
[The captain has always been encouraging him to find some hobbies of his own, but how can he when there's so much work to be done?]
...If there is something in particular you're seeking to do, I might have some idea of who to point you to. Right now, there are several musicians aboard.
[We're pretending it's Elta and Selfira summer featuring the idols & the orchestra girls because I just think they're groovy.]
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...Just because I can no longer taste food doesn't mean I don't need to eat. [ obviously. ] I guess dinner is in order.
[ they arrive at the landing, where the captain pulls away from overseeing the cargo to bound over the two erunes and give nehan a warm welcome aboard. while nehan understands a captain's hospitality when it comes to his needs, he can't help the way his brows knit together the more they delay this. he'd like a place to sit down first, okay. ]
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So with an apology and a quick wave, the captain departs, and Six sets his sights on the Grandcypher's mess hall. Raduga is open right now, but...to be honest, he's not really sure he has the stamina to endure Ladiva talking about love while Nehan is right here.]
You should sit down.
[It's been a long walk for someone who recently woke from a coma, so Six leads Nehan over to a table in the corner, pointedly ignoring Feather excitedly trying to wave him over from the other side of the dining hall. Randall kicks him under the table and tells him to stop, and that's the end of that.
He hesitates here again. Should he just assume anything is fine to eat, if Nehan can't taste it anyway? Which would make him angrier, to be thought of or to not be thought of...?]
...Is there...anything that you want in particular?
[No, it's best to ask. Just because he doesn't have any preferences himself doesn't mean Nehan won't either...even if he can't taste the things he might have liked anymore.
There's so much he doesn't know about Nehan. Maybe he won't ever know as much as he wants to, but...it's his responsibility to learn everything that he can. Even if it's things as simple as what he liked to eat, when he could taste his food.]
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the thing is though, as he takes a seat and when six asks him of what he would like to eat, is that he... doesn't really know what his preferences are. "food is food," he'd told mugen before when he had served him the simplest of meals he'd scrounged all over that tiny island, and between his traumatizing childhood and his poring over the production of serenity heaven as a pharmaceutical chief, he hadn't really gone out of his way to figure out what he liked and disliked. is this maybe some form of amnesia on top of 28346723563465 things that's wrong with his body upon waking up?
...no, he just doesn't know shit. so now, he turns to look at six. ]
I honestly do not know. [ he actually sounds a bit sheepish this time. how rare. ] What would you recommend? I'll take anything that's easy on the stomach.
[ mentioning that is a little embarrassing, come to think of it. it's as though he's reverted into an infant who can only handle baby food. how pathetic. ]
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...I'll ask if there's any soup or porridge on the stove.
[He absconds perhaps a little too quickly, grateful for the chance to take a quick breather. That doesn't mean he dawdles, though—it's uncomfortable, yes, but he has to see this through without complaint. Without being selfish and giving himself reprieve. Nehan never got any of that, not once in all his life, so—]
......
[Even so, his ears droop as he waits for Lowain to get their food. The trio are too busy to ask what's wrong and wouldn't get an answer even if they did, but Six notes the portions are larger than usual as he takes it back to his corner table with Nehan.
Rice porridge and vegetable soup, coming right up.]
...Here. They had both.
[He's got some of the same for himself, but he waits to eat, just in case Nehan asks him for something else. He doesn't want to go through the emotionally exhausting task of taking his mask off twice, after all.]
I haven't had either of these before. But the cooks are skilled.
[Nehan can't taste it, but he must surely be able to appreciate the texture of a well-done porridge. At least, Six hopes that's the case.]
I...
[He's not even really sure what he wants to say.]
Thank you. For coming with me.
[If it's this awkward for Six, it must be just as bad or worse for Nehan.]
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thankfully six has returned with their meals before his usual self-hatred seeps in. the food is... well, it sure is edible. if this were a normal dinner he'd mention that it's delicious and maybe he'd ask six to send his regards to the chef if he's feeling so kind - but it's not a normal dinner and he can't even say that it's delicious and it goes on and on and on...
ahhhhhh. it doesn't even help that six is still antsy around him - something that nehan can't blame him for either, but jeez. he takes a couple more sips of his food and exhales from his nose in exasperation. ]
...I don't see how you're still walking on eggshells around me when you're the one who asked me out on this on the first place. [ that mask of his did little in hiding his nervously, just so six knows. ] I'm not going to lash out at you for every little thing. Not that I'd be able to do even that anymore.
[ he's just... so tired of this. of everything. isn't that the whole point of why he's here? to make him un-tired? ]
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In many ways, it would be easier if Nehan could simply lash out at Six forever. And though that may be what Six thinks he deserves, and while that may be coloring how he's acting...well, he can't expect this to go on forever.]
...I was so preoccupied with not making your first visit to the Grandcypher unpleasant that I hadn't considered...I should have approached this outing from the prospect of making it pleasant, instead.
[...Granted, he doesn't know how to do that, but it certainly would have impacted a couple of his choices thus far.
He takes a sip of his soup, his ears perking up at the taste.]
...It's truly delicious. When you're able to taste it someday, I'll recommend this wholeheartedly.
[He has no idea what natural conversation is, really, so he may as well just say whatever comes to mind.]
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That's an optimistic way of looking at it.
[ still, the edge of his mouth quirks up a little as he takes another sip. ]
...I'll take your word for it, then.
[ maybe after he's made some significant process on treating the kids of stardust town, he'll take a look at some treatments on ageusia. can't be too hard to handle with his medical prowess.
he'll eat in silence after that, shoulders relaxing the more he eats and settles in the environment some more. ]
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...And, he supposes, it's an optimistic, wishful impulse to hope that was the result of the charm to begin with. But it seems to be working out so far. If he keeps looking toward the future and trying to find the joy in it, rather than the potential pain...it's a lesson he's still learning a little more about every day, with the help of people who support him.
The best thing for Nehan right now is to have people who support him, too. Even if it's in optimistic, wishful ways.]
There are herbalists and doctors onboard occasionally. It's possible one of them has encountered that kind of condition before. I'll keep my ears open.
[Nehan could join them, if he wants...though Six wouldn't ask until after his work is done in Stardust Town. Much like he's is seeking redemption for his own sins, Nehan is working on his as well, and it wouldn't be right to take him from that for too long.
Six lets Nehan eat quietly for a bit while he finishes his own soup, and the silence already seems a little more comfortable. Not enough to get complacent, of course. But...a little bit better than it was. He glances over at him a few times, noting some of the tension in Nehan's shoulders melting away, and he's pleased to see that so far, taking him to the Grandcypher has been overall a good idea.]
I thought you might like a tour once you've finished eating. You seemed a bit interested in how the crew works. We may as well find a room for you to stay in, too.
[Though now that he thinks about it...isn't every bedroom accounted for right now? There are a lot of musicians aboard. Practically an entire symphony's worth.
...He's got his own bedroom for his remaining stay, of course...but...well, they'll burn that bridge when they get there.]
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he grunts in agreement nonetheless, taking a sip of water now that he's done eating. ]
I might as well. [ he takes his cane again and straps it to his more mobile hand. ] I'd like to see the ones who you call family.
[ ah, that might be too much-- ]
And also, it's been a while since I'd had alcohol. Obviously you can't get it within the walls of Stardust town, so I may as well indulge for a little bit before I return.
[ indulgence is something he's not used to at all, but it's just alcohol. there's nothing too special about it.
as for their bedding arrangements... well, he's not too exhausted yet. he can sleep on the floor if there's really no space in this ship, but he doubts that the grandcypher has absolutely no room for a malnourished erune like him. ]
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...Most of the people on this ship know me only by reputation, or through discussion with our fists.
[But...it is true that this ship seems like home.]
But I'm sure the captain would view us all as one large family, so in that sense...
[Not to mention the captain and their father are the closest things Six has to a family, too. He doesn't mind thinking of it that way.
...More pressingly, Nehan might be able to see Six doing math in his head and arriving at the inevitable conclusion that Nehan was definitely drinking underage. It checks out given his upbringing, but...]
...I don't drink alcohol myself. But there are plenty of places to acquire it. Shall I take you to Raduga after all?
[Mind altering substances, historically, have not worked out great for him, but Ladiva knows what he likes to drink already. Now that the atmosphere has loosened up a bit, it might not be such a bad prospect to have her there to ease them into conversation if it lulls, too.]
Make use of me if you need to steady yourself.
[And off they go, Six pointing out rooms of interest along the way.
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nehan keeps up with six well enough, taking a peek at the various rooms when introduced to him. the ship does resemble a small town in a way, complete with room and board, and while he expected to see even cafes aboard, he didn't know what to expect when six leads him down to the lower hull, where raduga lies in wait.
interesting, that they even have a bar here. ladiva's at the counter tonight, waving at six as nehan's lead to another corner booth, where they can get some more privacy. it's tempting to take a counter seat, but he isn't too interested in mingling with the others right now.
which, you know, means that he finds six's company decent enough. so far, so good. ]
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There's also a smaller glass of something vibrantly red ("liquid courage," Ladiva called it, "since you seem a little more on edge than usual") and a small bowl of assorted nuts and small rice crackers.]
...Ah.
[A thought occurs to Six as he sits down, and he takes a quick look over at the rest of the establishment. Finally, he sees what he's been looking for—a petite girl with a bow in her hair.]
That one—she's a primal beast. If you order something else and she happens to be the one who helps you with it, speak to her like an adult.
[Nehan's been on an island full of kids the whole time, and Phoebe certainly looks the part, so it seems like a reasonable warning to offer.]
...Shall we toast to your improving health?
[Such as it is, anyway. It's a pretty mild improvement all things considered, but it's an improvement nonetheless.]
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his gaze lands on the food provided and he... barely chokes down a chuckle at the cutesy bendy straw. amazing how this place has softened the mass murderer. he looks up at six again at the proposal of the toast, raising a brow. ]
I guess you could say that.
[ he didn't mean to sound so deadpan but. well. he's not exactly the image of perfect health here. regardless, he takes the glass of beer and raises it slightly. ]
Cheers.
[ and down the hatch it goes. he didn't think he'd miss the cheap stuff, but here he is. ]
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[Six raises his glass as well—it seems overly familiar to actually clink it against Nehan's, so this much is fine. While there's nothing stopping him from just taking the straw out of the drink, he does actually use it to sip from the cup, another sight that Nehan might find some amusement in.
When the glass is around half empty, Six tentatively takes a sip from the red drink, too, before pouring it in with the blue one. Ladiva had gone easy on the booze so it doesn't really taste like alcohol to begin with, but watering it down helps even more.
He's a little hesitant about it, but if he drinks this slowly he'll be able to stop if he starts feeling strange. That's certainly more than he can say than the last times he was dosed with something.]
...Has your work been proceeding smoothly in Stardust Town?
[He doesn't want to start asking specific questions lest someone overhear and get a bad impression of Nehan, but couching it in vague terms is probably fine.]
As for me, I've...
[He trails off, deciding to switch gears mid-sentence. Saying he's trying to put more good into the world than he's taken out of it is fine in a vacuum but maybe not to the person who he took all that good away from to begin with.]
...Mostly, I've been doing odd jobs. There hasn't been much need for the Eternals lately. Hopefully, that stays true for some time.
[There was some fuss about the moon a little while back, but the captain and another team seem to have taken care of that just fine.]
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