IC Contact for duplicity

[arkfall]

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[endthem]

[Legato can only assume that Knives is out here to inspect the integrity of his property. Asking if he'd like tea is mostly to give himself something to do, getting two mugs ready for when the water finishes heating, before finally having to join Knives at the table.

He's procrastinating. He doesn't feel stable enough to face his master's scrutiny right now.]

A couple of months.

[arkfall]

And they've always driven you into the kitchen to make tea?

[endthem]

...In an effort to avoid waking you, yes.

[arkfall]

You need sleep. Who cares if you wake me? I would prefer that you not break down.

[endthem]

What good would it do anyone if you were just as tired?

[But, he sighs and leans his lower back against the counter while he waits for the water to warm.]

...Though, you're right. I should at least be trying to fall back to sleep on the couch.

[Which he had considered before, but the wish to avoid the nightmares returning had always kept him from trying.]

[arkfall]

What are you dreaming about?

[endthem]

[for all the people he doesn't want to talk about this with, there's no reason to hide it from Knives.]

The day you rescued me... except, in the dream, you never arrive.

[There's more to it, of course, but that's the important part.]

[arkfall]

[Knives feels his eyes narrow.]

Then... waking up to find me near should be enough to reassure you.

[endthem]

[Legato frowns, already beginning to regret admitting anything, but he tries to continue anyway.]

It isn't something that logic can simply dispel. It's... as vivid as if it was actually happening, and yet somehow worse. The suffering simply continues to loop instead of ending, and there are eyes watching every detail...

[Feeling exposed even standing there in their safe little apartment, he can't help but hunch into his shoulders a little bit.]

[arkfall]

And then you come out here and stay awake the rest of the night?

[endthem]

[The shame burns him. He has nothing logical to argue Knives with, so he falls silent.

He doesn't answer as he turns to tend to the heated water, busying himself with making two cups of tea while feeling stupid for having so much trouble dealing with simple dreams.]

[arkfall]

[Knives watches him for a moment before speaking again.]

Wake me on purpose next time.

[endthem]

[Taking another moment to compose himself, he gathers the mugs of tea, along with the containers for milk and sugar, and brings them to the table. Only once he's there and setting things down does he reply.]

For what reason?

[arkfall]

Perhaps I can do something to ensure you go back to sleep.

[endthem]

[...Forgive him if he's a little dubious here.]

Such as what?

[arkfall]

Use our connection to soothe you? [He is pretty sure that's a thing he could do. If his aura can be used to strike fear in humans, surely it can do other emotions too?]

[endthem]

[Legato is quiet for a few long seconds, covering for the delay by methodically adding sugar and milk to his tea. It's not that he would ever doubt his master's abilities... but trying to imagine Knives soothing anything is proving both impossible and uncomfortable to try to do.]

...You don't need to trouble yourself with that. I'm sure I will find some other answer.

[arkfall]

What would trouble me is if you broke down due to sleep deprivation.

[endthem]

I will do a better job of trying to find rest, so that won't happen.

[arkfall]

You don't think I can do it.

Not that I blame you. I'm not sure I can either. [He admits it quietly, glaring at the table as he speaks.]

[endthem]

[While Knives' eyes are glaring down at the table, Legato watches him for a few careful moments, extremely unsure of how to handle this. Rarely is he ever allowed to see Knives unsure about anything, let alone something like this.]

Is it... something you want to be able to do?

[arkfall]

Yes.

[Knives says without really thinking about how that might sound to Legato. His brow narrows and he looks up at Legato.]

I want to be able to master everything that I am. I've spent nearly two centuries trying to be the strongest of my people. [One more thing he's failed at.]

Part of that includes projecting my aura into the minds of those around me. I can cause fear, why not other emotions? I've never tried before.

[endthem]

[At least when Knives phrases it like that, it's more understandable. He can look at it through a lens of simple logic, like this. Flexing the fingers of his left hand, he considers the things he himself can do with the minds of others...]

Even if it doesn't work, I suppose it's worth a try if you want to explore the reaches of your abilities.

[arkfall]

[Knives seems to find that acceptable.]

Let's drink the tea first. It would be a shame for it to go to waste. Then, I'll see what I can do.

[endthem]

[Being done with the containers of milk and sugar himself, he moves them closer to Knives, agreeing to settle with tea before anything else. And maybe it's a continuation of old habits, but any silence that falls between them, Legato feels compelled to fill with reports on his various projects.]

...I should tell you, I've been testing the limitations that this place has put on me, and I think I may have discovered a weak point.