notevensorey | IC Inbox

Yeah... you're right.

[He takes a deep breath. Straightens. Puts his shoulders back.

They can do this.]

I think—we should ask him about how much he wants to know. Giving him a choice is important.

[He glances at Jun.]

I don't mind helping him find a vessel if it comes to that. He might not want to make a pact. If that's the case, then we can let him dwell in whatever he likes and keep an eye on it. Like how we helped the Lords of the Land in our past lives.

[While you two deliberate, Jun meanwhile was over here typing. Because he had a mission, find out about the vessel situation.

He pauses after he sends a text to Eizen]

...Hey, is it possible to force a pact against the Seraph's will? Eizen just asked me if I did that to Mikleo.

[The question cracks Sorey's calm facade for a brief moment where his expression looks absolutely horrified. He can't help reaching his hand out to rest it on top of Mikleo's hand, an instinctive gesture more than anything. The brunet opens his mouth, then closes it as he looks to his boyfriend in thought.]

I've... never heard of that happening, but much of our world's history was lost in our time. You could think of it as if we were in the Dark Ages.

[Sorey looks down at the floor, trying very hard not to fidget.]

...Theoretically you could coerce a seraph into one? But it's unheard of from my memory of our world.

[Mikleo is similarly horrified, and he's much worse at hiding it. His fingers twitch underneath Sorey's. He turns his hand palm up and twines their fingers together, then squeezes lightly.

Little touches like this are how they have always communicated when words fail. Shoulders resting against one another when they're exhausted, or back to back in the middle of a battlefield.

I'm here. It's okay.]

I don't remember anything like that ever happening. That wasn't taught to us by the elder seraphim, either, even though they warned us about all the other dangers that human society held.

There was a seraph who worked with the Lord of Calamity... but she was adamant about how much she believed in what he was doing.

Edited 2023-07-03 03:00 (UTC)

[he looked between the two and their reactions with confusion. it really was unheard of? Considering how knowledgeable those two were of history, it was surprising they seemed to have no idea.

He pauses, thinking.]

...Seraphim live a long time, so it's possible it was a chapter of history that got erased intentionally. If someone did find a way to control Seraph, I'd imagine Seraphim would take steps to make sure that method didn't get passed on.

[...]

I do recall there was an attempt to do something similar in my past life, but it wasn't successful and backfired.

[Sorey nods at that.]

Mm, I could absolutely see that happening. Humans would worship seraphim as gods, and the knowledge of that dark time in their history would die with them.

[He gently rubs his thumb over Mikleo's knuckles to help comfort the seraph.]

We were also teenagers at the time. Self-taught archaeologists with no idea what evils the world could be like. We wouldn't have ever thought such murals might have depicted something more sinister.

[He's trying to breathe, but fuck is it hard to focus on calming down when it feels like everything he says just makes it worse.]

That does make a lot of sense, when you put it that way.

[All of the wonder he ever felt when they were flying, when they were fighting with all of their strength, even the warmth and comfort of Sorey and Jun's souls when Mikleo was frightened or uncomfortable about something else happening—that it could be so easily turned against him...

A partner-turned-prison. He feels like an idiot for not realizing it sooner. His free hand covers his mouth.]

... This whole thing makes me feel sick.

[Ah. Sorey immediately recognizes the symptoms of a panic attack. He glances at Jun and gives a nod, mostly to let him know that the brunet has this handled. Sorey moves from his seat to stand in front of Mikleo, tightly holding his hand to help him feel grounded.]

Jun-bug, could you brew up a cup of chamomile tea, please? Mikki, I need you to breathe with me, okay?

[His tone is gentle and calm, and he'll lead Mikleo in a deep breathing exercise. Between this and the calming effects chamomile has, hopefully he can break his boyfriend out of a panic attack before it gets worse.]

Mikleo...

[Ah, he recognizes the signs of Mikleo panicking. Luckily, Sorey is jumping into handle it. Jun will give him a nod in response as he gets up]

Understood.

[He'll quickly head to the kitchen to do just that. MISSION]

[Mikleo looks up from the floor to see bright green eyes, soft and warm like always, but also full of concern.]

Br-breathe?

[....... is he having a panic attack? Hell, he's having a panic attack, isn't he. Okay, he's not going to question it, he just... follows Sorey's directions, and tries not to think about being trapped.

He certainly doesn't feel great about what they've learned.]

Sorry. This is just—it's a lot. [He says this like Sorey isn't dealing with it too.] I know you'd never hurt me. Jun wouldn't either.

[He gives a nod to that question. However, there's no judgment. Sorey's concerned, but he's coming at this with compassion and understanding. This is a lot for Mikleo, and it taps into an awful fear for him.]

No, but it's still scary, isn't it?

[Sorey keeps leading him through breathing, but....]

Neither of us would let someone hurt you like that. You have equal power with us, always. You're not trapped, you're just here in our apartment. Describe what you see in the room for me?

[He tries for a small smile to lighten the mood with:] Other than my little, uh, collection.

[It's a hoard, Sorey. With feathers and books.]

[Mikleo's eyes don't leave Sorey's.]

Y-yeah. A bit.

[He's gotten scared before but this is a whole other level. Thinking about the enormity of it, of his whole race being enslaved is... awful. So he tries not to think about it. Only little pieces, like how to breathe right now.]

I see... [boy does he feel awkward now] ... a very cute man who I trust with my life. [MIKLEO STOP FLIRTING AND DO THE ASSIGNMENT.] And... a bed, and a shelf full of books.

[Well, the flirt does get him a chuckle from Sorey.]

And what kind of books does the beautiful man before me see?

[And this is the other reason why Jun got sent to brew some tea!!! Apparently!]

Focus on the book titles, if you can.

[Mikleo squints a little. Then he realizes what he's looking at and... snorts.]

"Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night"... "All Hands On Deck"... "Winds of Whimsy"... "Passion and Petticoats"... Do you need me to continue, or should I pick out a few more questionable titles?

[The fact that Mikleo is judging his taste in books based on their titles means that he's probably fine, now. He grins at him.]

If you feel like you can breathe again, then you can stop there. Any questionable titles will get heard by our dear, sweet, innocent dove, after all.

You say that like I haven't already browsed through your collection before.

[Says the dear, sweet, innocent dove who is now standing in the doorway with a tray carrying their tea. He'll set the tray on the desk, offering a cup of tea to Mikleo. ]

"Passion and Petticoats" is quite the page turner if you can get past the historical inaccuracies.

Ah, yes, of course.

[Mikleo barely stifles a laugh, which is a lot better than almost crying. He takes the tea with a soft word of thanks.]

I know I couldn't. [Yes, he read a few of Sorey's books, too.] If you're going to feature a real royal in your book, don't set it five years after they were executed. Seems obvious to me.

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