Drift Fleet // Canon

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[another day in the fleet. another night up in space. everything's been going well. the "situation" with Jove has been handled, Michael isn't moping around like a dejected pet, and Tek isn't bothered by his mere presence any more than he used to be. he's doing good. everyone's doing good.

he snagged the bed (and Tek) a little while ago, on the heels of some bad dreams... he got calm and evened out real fast. he's just been dozing, mostly, and now he's playing with Tek's hair where it meets his neck. absent and a little doting.]

Comments

[heresyandlace]

[even if there had been something wrong, even if there is something wrong somewhere under there, Tek doesn't show it when they're here like this. especially with fingers lazing through his hair, he's content to be nothing but dead, comfortable weight.

it's nice. it's quiet. if they'd been different people, it could have maybe stayed like this forever.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[and they are not different people, so Robin has to go open his big mouth.]

You know... I've got to hand it to you, at least Jove gives good apologies...

[heresyandlace]

[the fact that Robin opens his mouth at all is enough to disturb the peace. just a little bit of the happy, boneless quality leaves Tek's frame, and his eyes slide open.

he's pretty sure that Robin knows him well enough by now that he doesn't actually have to ask for elaboration. he's listening.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[outwardly, he doesn't seem to notice... though his playing does turn more to petting, repetitive motions down the back of Tek's head. he thought it was self-explanatory, so he goes on.]

I finally get why you bother.

[heresyandlace]

Do you.

[it already tells him a few things. he's measuring.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

I... do.

[he had hoped to circumvent Tek's displeasure by steamrolling stubbornly through it... apparently, there are some lessons about talking to Tek that just haven't stuck with him yet. his smile drops, and he pauses in petting his hair.]

I'm sorry, is this a bad time to compliment you?

[heresyandlace]

Oh, is that what you're doing?

[he asks it lightly enough that someone might mistake it for being an entirely weightless question.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[oh, so it's going to be one of these conversations.

okay. he stares dully up at the ceiling for several seconds, before lifting his hand away from Tek and rolling him away with a strong push against his shoulder.]

[heresyandlace]

[he's still for a minute--probably shocked that Robin actually pushed him away. and there is that moment in the quiet where it's maybe believable that he might just decide to lash out right back at him.

but, no. he'll stick to words for now.

they'll still do the trick.]

...You didn't cry, did you?

[birdsbirdsbirds]

What? [disbelief, mostly, in his tone. almost a grimace on his face as he rolls onto his side, facing the person he's apparently offended with his misplaced... something.]

What the fuck...? [why's he digging into this all of a sudden?] No, we painted each other's nails and traded friendship bracelets. Seriously, what did I say?

[heresyandlace]

What did you say?

[same words, but obviously a different question entirely. and he stays right where he's at, where Robin had rolled him onto his back, while the other turns closer.]

You'd been so indignant before.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[well, that gets him to pause. another second or two of disbelief as he realizes where this is leading.]

You were so annoyed with my being indignant. And now you're mad that I'm not?

[go on, Tek. explain this one to him.]

[heresyandlace]

I'm not mad.

[obviously.]

I just want to know what was said.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

Tch'. [he's not mad, he says. he wants to know what Robin told her? fine.

he picks himself up and reaches over for Tek's far shoulder, pushing it against the bed. he pins it there with his shifting weight, hovering with a predatory closeness. he's got that tight smirk on his face, that red glint to his eyes.]

I'm mad. That's what I told her--that I can't stand how you two have moved on without me, like I wasn't there. Like I don't think about that every time I have to see her.

I sounded happy because I'm with you, you obnoxious prick.

[heresyandlace]

[see, that's all he wanted. was that really so much to ask?

Robin looms over him, but now is when the tension finally begins to shift. his closed expression finally begins to open up a little, into a low smile. it's a quiet look, but appreciative nonetheless.]

...And she apologized? To your satisfaction?

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[oh, so now they can have this talk... what a pain in the ass. even with Tek finally appeased, he doesn't really calm down or ease up.]

Oh, yes. She had lovely words for me. I'm a victim here, you know.

[he slides a leg over, straddling him, not letting up on his shoulder at all. at least he can loom a little more comfortably this way.]

She's still dense, though. I'm never taking that back.

[heresyandlace]

[and the more active and threatening Robin appears, the more satisfied Tek seems. this is all much better. he's willing to participate in the give-and-take now.]

And I've never argued it.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

Hmph. [he didn't exactly support it, either. in all his years alive, he doesn't know if he's ever met someone so solely focused on presentation as Tek.

but bitching about Jove makes him feel a little better, at least.] She really thinks she's out of danger just because you two talked it over? Has she met you?

[heresyandlace]

[when you come from an entire bloodline of shapeshifters and actors, actual words spoken mean nothing compared to whatever undercurrent is beneath them. blame his family.

and his smile finally stretches toward a little grin. he can finally have this conversation now.]

She's very... straightforward. [and nothing else.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

"Clueless" is the word you're looking for.

[even if they're talking, he's still annoyed... so he decides to lean down and chew on Tek's neck to get out some of his frustration. it's not enough to really hurt him, but it's certainly distracting.]

[heresyandlace]

[he was going to say something, and it was probably going to be something scathing and clever. but then he's suddenly got something just gnawing on his neck, and his reply comes out as nothing but a throaty little chuckle.

this is his reward for giving Robin such a hard time, is it? it isn't much of a deterrent.

it strikes right into his most restless of recent impulses, and he can't really help but bite him back. after a couple of moments of being chewed on, he leans up a little and goes to push around the side of Robin's jaw, dogging after the side of his neck.

he is looking for somewhere sensitive to dig in. forget gnawing, he wants something to grab onto.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[and he lets Tek hook his little teeth into too-soft skin, lets him do it with nothing but a sharp, wordless complaint and a tense grip. hurts, hurts, still hurts--but the fingers digging into the dragon's shoulder ease up as the moments pass, and the shuddering sigh that eases out with it speaks volumes.

it's been a while. but he still remembers what he's learned; those are the things that stuck with him. he growls deep in his throat and wrenches away, bullying back to Tek's neck instead and biting down on that like he doesn't plan on letting go.

he can't make their noises, his teeth are flat and human--but he's found that intent can go a long way towards making up for it. his unoccupied hand finds some part of the other's arm, pushes down on that too. if Tek wants a "fight", he's going to get one.]