Memories [closed]

[brynwieldr]

Who: Leo and Niles
When: June 26
Where: Odin's temple
What: So yesterday, Niles woke up with some interesting items. And memories. Now they need to talk about this.
Warnings: Possible language, possible discussion of terrible things, it's Niles guys.

[Well, aside from the fire when they arrived back, yesterday had been nice. Leo had liked visiting Iceland and the other countries and has plans to go back some time.

But not right now. Right now, he is just going to take some time to recover from breathing in so much damn smoke last night. He's in his study, fiddling with something called a humidifier. It apparently puts cool moisture in the air--maybe it'll help with the smoke inhalation? His temple is largely free from the humidity of the Near Shore, and anyway that's a hot sort of moisture.

He's desperate, okay?]

Comments

he's not that terrible- why are you laughing

[deniles]

[When they went on their mission, Niles woke up and knew exactly who Leo was.

But he didn't say anything. Not wanting to distract them from the day at hand. It had been extraordinarily busy, so to distract his god from the day with these? Not a good idea. So he acted like himself. But straightened out his behavior some what.

Leo was his lord. And his god. And he knew that now.

After they came home, Niles found some outfits in one of the rooms with a ceiling fan. Bizarre. He puts on the one that reminds him of what Leo dressed like, when they first met.

Determined to tell him today, he goes to Leo's study. And watches him.]

...What are you even doing?

[brynwieldr]

Attempting something to maybe help with the ache in my lungs from the smoke last ni--

[He turns around and just sort of stares at Niles]

Where the hells did you get that?

[deniles]

It was on a ceiling fan this morning. Fits nicely, doesn't it?

[He sighs and moves over.]

Honestly, do you just buy things at this point without asking about them?

[brynwieldr]

It does. Doesn't explain where it came from or why you have it, though.

[Leo goes back to fiddling with the humidifier]

This apparently puts cool moisture into the air, which might help. It's worth a shot, at any rate.

[deniles]

I imagine it's something that the world gave us. Much like the new hotsprings.

[He sighs and moves closer.]

Do you want me to do it?

[brynwieldr]

That's possible, though again it doesn't explain why you have it.

[Sure, Niles has some skill in dark magic but he never learned it like Leo had]

Just...tell me if it's plugged in? I'm not nearly so flexible as you and it may have come out when I moved the shelf back to where it was.

[deniles]

From what I remember, you had tried to train me in the dark magic a while ago... hadn't you, Lord Leo.

[He smirks and moves to look.]

Yes. It's plugged in.

[brynwieldr]

[Leo stops dead when Niles says that, just staring at his retainer for a moment]

Come again?

[deniles]

Shall I start from the middle, during that one session where I nearly set a maid on fire? Or from the beginning? That one, lonely night.

[He turns around to look at him, moving to take a book from the shelf.]

When you chose not to kill me. But instead to make me your retainer.

[And he walks closer to him, before raising the book up and lightly smacking him on the head.]

And how you were no better back then than you are today, right now, at talking to people.

[He smirks.]

Yes, to answer your question. I do remember. You.

[brynwieldr]

[Leo winces at the smack before just pulling Niles into a hug. He's not an affectionate person but dammit, it's been a rough few months.]

You remember--and you're not turning into an ayakashi.

[deniles]

It's certainly not painful.

[He sighs, pressing his body against him, and breathing. Leo deserved the smack, certainly, but he's much more thankful for this.]

Yes. I remember... at least, you. I remember who you are.

[brynwieldr]

That's all I can ask for, Niles. I have my closest friend back.

[After a moment, Leo pulls away. His eyes are a little watery.]

Gods, I missed you.

[deniles]

Milord, don't cry.

[He moves a thumb to wipe his eyes.]

I'm just thankful to remember you again.

[brynwieldr]

I didn't think you could--oh, gods, if you can remember me then...remind me to call Hijikata later.

[But that can wait.]

So, be honest with me. How badly did I mess up? Takumi could tell I messed up, but you're the only one who'd know just how bad it was.

[With Niles when they got here, he means]

[deniles]

You may as well do it right now.

[Get it out of the way.]

...You could have been a lot less... you.

[He's not sure how to describe it.]

[brynwieldr]

No, it can wait.

[Leo sighs]

It's been years since I had to be anything but myself with you, Niles, and it's hard to revert to my behavior as a teenager.

[deniles]

I'm well aware of that, milord. ...At least, now.

[He sighs.]

But you did ask for my opinion.

[brynwieldr]

I know, that was just a proper explanation for it. No excuse, I know.

[Moving on:]

When did you start remembering?

[deniles]

No, it's not an excuse or explanation, really. It's more of a reason.

[He rubs his chin.]

Yesterday morning.

[brynwieldr]

Functionally the same--yesterday? And you didn't say anything?

[Why?!]

[deniles]

I had my reasons, Milord.

[brynwieldr]

And you of course won't tell me.

[Oh Niles]

....still, why a dark mage's attire? You never took to the lessons.

[deniles]

You haven't asked.

[And that's your own fault.]

Not sure. There's a sorcerer's outfit in my size as well.

[brynwieldr]

Because you won't tell me--a sorcerer's outfit?

[Leo gapes]

Are you sure it's your size and not mine?

[deniles]

Because you don't ask.

[Honestly.]

Yes, I tried it on first. You're a size smaller than me.

[brynwieldr]

Because when I do, you refuse to tell me.

[Honestly]

That's odd. [Leo smirks] I imagine the person you wish to introduce me to will appreciate them, however.

[deniles]

Ah, you know me too well. But for the sake of not being secretive, I will tell you today.

[He chuckles.]

First of all, I wanted to make sure the memories were not fake. As in, they would stay around for more than a day. Secondly, I had someone to talk to, someone who says they experienced the same thing as me. And third of all, yesterday was quite busy. As you are well aware by busy days, it's not always easy to tell someone something.

[However, he seems less upset about that now. More just chuckling.]

I think I should visit him later today.

[brynwieldr]

[Oh Niles. He missed you]

Someone else? Interesting...and when do I get to meet him, hm? It's not every day you find someone you like, after all.

[deniles]

[He knows.]

Oh, when the time comes.

[brynwieldr]

You know, I forgot how impossibly vague you can be.

[Leo laughs and goes back to poking at his humidifier as his laugh turns into a cough]

Please don't wear that around Sora. He might have a fit.

[deniles]

You know I have to save it for when you have something important coming up.

[Because it's fun. He moves over towards it.]

It's this or the sorcerer's outfit.

[brynwieldr]

[The coughing gets worse, so he steps away from it]

Ugh--no, it isn't, because I will pay Forrest to make you new pants.

[deniles]

[He sighs and just works on it.]

Good, I could use another pair of stripped pants.

[Honestly.]

[brynwieldr]

Niles. You need solid pants, too.

[deniles]

What rules say that?

[brynwieldr]

My rules?

[deniles]

Funny, considering I remember wearing nothing but stripped pants working as your retainer.

[He has his memories now, you can't win.]

[brynwieldr]

Because that was uniform of sorts. And you did wear other pants, don't pretend you didn't.

[deniles]

...If I did, it was rare. And anyways, I like them.

[brynwieldr]

Yes, but you need more pants. You have one pair, Niles, and they will be ragged if you don't get others. I swore years ago that you would never have to do that again and I am keeping that promise, memories or not.

[deniles]

Fine. I accept. But I want to decide what they look like.

[He does have to wear them, after all.]

[brynwieldr]

Provided that two pairs are solid and nothing is eye-searing, I don't care what they look like.

[deniles]

[He just sighs, crossing his arms over his chest.]

Are you sure you're glad to have me back?

[Because he's going to continue to fight you on this.]

[brynwieldr]

[Leo smiles and elbows Niles gently out of the way to get the humidifer working]

More than you know.

[deniles]

[He flips the switch, and the humidifier starts running.]

I would expect nothing less.