dumbshow | once more with shitposting

once more with shitposting

[Reim is loath to think it's convenient that the city needs to be put back together after everything. There's been so much loss, they've all felt it—but having something to do after Pandora is dissolved keeps everyone's minds off those things, more or less, so. It's a little convenient. It keeps people busy, himself included.

Most people, anyway... Reim has more than enough to do, from ironing out the details of the relief efforts (it's-not-Pandora-but-it's-mostly-the-same-people is not a viable organization name, the struggle) to dealing with people on a much more individual level, including trying to integrate the remaining Baskervilles— he's never been more stressed in his life!!

Unlike some people apparently on a quest to ruin the only peace and quiet he has in his schedule - locking himself in his office to eat meals - in between everything else. It's just after he's been to check up on Duke Barma, who is surprisingly... robust, if bedridden, and he's escaped that harrowing exchange only to find his office invaded and some kind of food out. It smells like food. That's not the lunch he ordered??

He sighs. It must be every day of his life at once. He will address... the office:]

Xerxes, come out of there.

[he doesn't even know where, but he Knows it's somewhere.]

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[Xerxes Break, people are going to see this scandalous display...!! Just kidding, it was already established that Reim literally got rid of everyone for the afternoon, conveniently. No one will see this scandal except Reim. Literally no one else. So he will allow it.]

I need my afternoons, Xerxes. [sigh!!] But after work hours, I'm free.

[Take his evenings, instead? That works out better for everyone.]

But you never stop working... You're depressing me already.

[Is he whining? A little. He's whining while he's wining, because he's definitely just drinking straight from the bottle as they go now.]

You'll have to promise me you'll be done before it's dark out, then. [Hm.] And you can't take advantage of the fact it is always dark for me.

[This guy. Reim considers confiscating the wine bottle, but he doesn't want to start some 5-year-old level keep-away game here on the way outside. But god, ease up a little.

how dare you take his excellent blind joke]

You can still hear the clock chime. But alright, alright, unless there's an emergency, I promise I will be finished before dark. A routine is good for productivity!

[Ha ha he can make anything about work.]

[Stop!! Doing that!! He squeezes his hand in annoyance, but it's mild enough that he'll let it go with just a little pouting. How old is he.]

A routine is good so you can spend time with your best friend. [He'll ease up a little, but he's still taking another sip from this... He has to have some way to keep his nerves down, because he hates asking for things like he's about to now.]

I was hoping... you might read some things for me, when you have the time. That isn't work. All this time to myself now, and I can't catch up on anything...

[Hey, don't squeeze!! Reim hums, acquiescing; yes, alright, he knows. It goes without saying - for now, maybe he'll say it later, dramatically - but it goes without saying that there's just about nothing he wouldn't do for Break, so alright. He can be nice, and schedule his evenings around spending time together, and for once in their lives they can just be normal adults.

Sort of. They're still weird, the both of them.]

Read "some things"...? [ohhhh it's going to be embarrassing, he's thrilled] Of course. I do wonder what adventures those plucky knights are getting up to these days.

[Hey did you know, you're all nerds? Every one of you who reads these books.]

I didn't say it was that! [He makes some effort to look affronted, but it's maybe a few seconds before he just winds up laughing. It's ridiculous- something so silly being something to actually look forward to. He barely remembers a time he wasn't dedicating himself to something serious.]

You know... it's a shame, I can't identify with Edgar any more. I'll have to find a new character...

["Is there a sad old man in the books?" No, he's being nice. He'll avoid the sass and instead consider how nice it is just to hear Break laugh—an actual laugh, not a jerk playing jokes on everyone laugh.]

I'm sure you'll think of someone. Now, about that fresh air...

[They are officially going Outside, now. It's a nice day; after the world almost ended, most days tend to be nice by comparison, but this one is especially pleasant. Reim leads them to his favorite path, because of course he has a favorite path? and now, finally, he may be able to just relax.]

It's not as beautiful as the Rainsworth gardens, but it'll do.

[Can he truly relax when Break says stuff like this? He can't see, and yet... Even on the nicest of days, he has to go out of his way to make an ass out of himself so he doesn't seem so soft. It's cute that Reim has a favorite path, but he can't just say that... who would he think he is?]

I remember taking walks like this... you would always shout at me for my attitude. You were quite annoying, you know.

[It's alright, Reim already knows he's soft. Maybe he was super annoying and shouted a lot when he was younger, but it's not like Break was a real charmer, either!! They're both soft now...

But not so soft that he won't reach over with his free hand and push the side of Break's stupid old head. Shut up.]

You didn't learn! What else was I supposed to do?

[Wow!! He almost swats at his hand, but he still has the bottle and that would mean letting go of the other. He resigns to huffing and taking another drink instead, fingers curling into a tighter hold.]

Let an old man be bitter in peace. You were always fretting over everything I did, even if it was harmless... all while looking very stupid. [He pauses, considering... wait a minute...] You aren't wearing such clothes again, are you?

[Okay, first of all.]

I don't want to hear that from you, the man still in his pajamas. And that's still my coat!

[Give him his things back and get dressed and then, maybe, his weird outfit will be fair game. Because, uh, it is weird as all hell. Why is he this way.

More seriously, he adds:] Somebody had to look after you back then. Even if you were acting like you didn't need it.

["back then"......he didn't stop??]

[Um, he gave a coat to him and never asked for it back? Even if it's not the same one, that makes all of them his to use. Clearly that's how this works.

But like, don't tell him that. This is getting too sappy for him.]

You didn't have to do anything, Reim. You just cared too much out of some misplaced sympathy for a stranger... and it was quite naive. Where has it gotten you?

[That's not how any of that works and he'll be sure to outline it in detail later, but for now, don't test him!! He's very good at passionate speeches.

He doesn't have a passionate speech planned for this precise moment, luckily. Instead he just says, simply:] Right here.

[Yeah...!! Suck on that!!!]

You should know better by now; I'll never give up that easily.

[Oh... That shut him up easier than he expected. Is right here really all that good to Reim, after how difficult he's been? Break considers just not answering, but silence on top of the guilt he's been pretending doesn't exist would eat him alive.

He has the decency not to take another drink, at least. He just lets them walk for a minute before he finally replies.] You should have, recently... I went back to how I was, back then. When I woke up here, I thought... I couldn't protect what's dear to me anymore, and so there was no point to a life in this body. I shouldn't have put you through that.

[Oh- honesty. That's a welcome change, despite the dip into these serious subjects.]

That's right, you shouldn't have. [Reim isn't going to baby him about that, because it was awful. His indulgences go only so far. But.]

Let someone else protect what's important for a change. You've already done enough.

[Well, he can deal with not being babied here. That would have been enough to leave it, and he would have gone on to say something superficial to play it off, but then Reim had to go and say something soft like that. How dare he pull on his heartstrings?]

I don't deserve you, Reim. [He sighs, proceeding to lean his head on his shoulder.] ...You can't say things like that when you don't fight, though.

Edited 2017-11-07 12:07 (UTC)

[This sad old man... Reim acts like he's not going to baby him, but he still tugs his hand out of Break's grip to wrap his arm around his shoulders instead, so maybe a little. Sorry, he's not going to agree with anybody not deserving people who care about them!!]

Idiot. I saved your life without fighting! [At least twice? Give him credit or he'll start making a list.] Trying to push me away never works, so don't bother.

[It's unexpected, but this is too nice for him to put up a real fuss. He slows their walk instead, leaning his head back like he's actually appreciating the fresh air. Really, he just wants to drag out being held like this for as long as possible.]

I wish I could still see your face when you take that tone. [He puts the newly freed arm around Reim's waist, poking at his side.] You look so determined... it was more cute than it was threatening!

[This guy... Reim lets him be slow and lazy, but that poking hand isn't getting away without a swat from his other hand. Do not!!]

I was also twelve. [Clearly that statement was about his frenzied youth and not, like, a few months ago. Clearly.] And I'm not anymore, so— so let me protect you without complaining!

[Hmph!!]

[No poking?? Okay, but he's just going to walk his fingers up his side.]

It never got more intimidating to me. [It just stayed cute...] I don't know if I feel very safe... you're holding me like some strong man, but you're yelling like a child again!

[That's also bad and distracting, stop it. Reim lasts about five seconds before he grabs onto that hand and doesn't let go. No!!]

Because you don't listen to me! Whether you like it or not, that's what I'm going to do!

[Endure him, thanks.]

Hmmm? What was that? I wasn't listening.

[This is the man Reim has protected... he's smiling, though, even if he's trying to wiggling his hand free. Let him be annoying!!]

[He should backflip this punk into the sun... He does let go of Break's hand, but moves instead to stop this lazy walk entirely and step in front of him, grabbing him squarely by the shoulders. The only reason Break doesn't get his head boxed like Oz is because he's blind, you're welcome.]

Listen to me now! Stop pretending as if you don't care about anything! Everyone already knows that's a stupid act.

[Spoilers: everyone knows ur soft.]

Before you protect anyone else again, you have to protect yourself. I'll make sure of it!

[His shoulders tense, but unlike previous instances, Break makes no effort to push his way out of this. This is mild on the scale of how much Reim can yell at him, so he can't be irritated at getting manhandled. His smile faltered, but it returns more genuine, if a bit somber.]

I care about you. [He reaches up to pull on his cheek initially, but he stops before he starts. His thumb runs over his scar instead.] ... I'll do better, for you.

[...Well. That's better, although Reim has a few choice lectures about doing better for yourself before somebody else, but those can probably wait. If only because of the expression in front of him now, and the touch against his face—]

I think that's the first time you've actually said that to me. [In... FIFTEEN years... but it's fine, he knew all along. Hearing it aloud has stopped him from yelling, at least; his vice grip on Break's shoulders lessens, but he hasn't let go yet.] Xerxes...

[Nnnh... half a dozen things to say, and he hesitates. Damn it, Xerx!!]

You're a moron... and I don't want to lose you. So get your act together.

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