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[ A day and a half or so after Onni's network post, once everything has calmed down: ]
Hey sorry if this is coming way too late but did you ever find your cousin?
[ Ben had been busy dealing with some family drama of his own, what with the robots locking Allison up in the medbay and needing to bust her out, and he'd only just now seen that urgent message from his strange magic quiet library friend. He hadn't seen any kind of all-clear and he needs to know if the search is still going. ]
Hey sorry if this is coming way too late but did you ever find your cousin?
[ Ben had been busy dealing with some family drama of his own, what with the robots locking Allison up in the medbay and needing to bust her out, and he'd only just now seen that urgent message from his strange magic quiet library friend. He hadn't seen any kind of all-clear and he needs to know if the search is still going. ]
[The text is a little surprising, though it shouldn't be. Ben has always been observant, conscientious, and kind. The question still leaves him breathless, just for a moment, the emotions still raw.]
I did, but not without some difficulty. It was a complicated situation.
[To put it lightly.]
I did, but not without some difficulty. It was a complicated situation.
[To put it lightly.]
Oh boy, when isn't it, with family?
Glad to hear you got him back safe though.
[ Then, after a short pause: ]
Is it the kind of complicated you want to talk about or the opposite kind?
Glad to hear you got him back safe though.
[ Then, after a short pause: ]
Is it the kind of complicated you want to talk about or the opposite kind?
Really?
See, that kind of surprises me.
I can't even imagine what non-complicated would feel like
But I come from sort of a strange family situation so I guess that tracks.
What changed recently?
Hey that's cool.
But if you do come down on the wanting to talk about it side, I've got some experience with emotional.
See above.
See, that kind of surprises me.
I can't even imagine what non-complicated would feel like
But I come from sort of a strange family situation so I guess that tracks.
What changed recently?
Hey that's cool.
But if you do come down on the wanting to talk about it side, I've got some experience with emotional.
See above.
We were miscommunicating about something I thought was okay but actually wasn't. It is very complicated.
What is your family situation, if it's okay to ask.
The change is that he made his feelings clear to me. It's hard for us, neither of us had the luxury of being emotional while we grew up, so we aren't good at it.
What is your family situation, if it's okay to ask.
The change is that he made his feelings clear to me. It's hard for us, neither of us had the luxury of being emotional while we grew up, so we aren't good at it.
That does sound complicated.
Communication is fucking difficult.
Thinking something's okay and only finding out afterwards that you were wrong or missing something is rough, dude. Sorry to hear that.
It's okay to ask. Just a little hard for me to summarize.
(Communicating isn't my strong suit either)
I've got six siblings but none of us are related by blood. We were all adopted by the same man who raised us without a lot of contact with the outside world, and our upbringing was sort of majorly fucked up. We're all complete messes just each in our own way none of us learned any healthy ways to deal with conflict.
So: a real powder keg.
I feel that. That's something I'm not good at, too, and trying to get better.
At least in theory.
Though for me it's less the being emotional and more the... not bottling it up.
Communication is fucking difficult.
Thinking something's okay and only finding out afterwards that you were wrong or missing something is rough, dude. Sorry to hear that.
It's okay to ask. Just a little hard for me to summarize.
(Communicating isn't my strong suit either)
I've got six siblings but none of us are related by blood. We were all adopted by the same man who raised us without a lot of contact with the outside world, and our upbringing was sort of majorly fucked up. We're all complete messes just each in our own way none of us learned any healthy ways to deal with conflict.
So: a real powder keg.
I feel that. That's something I'm not good at, too, and trying to get better.
At least in theory.
Though for me it's less the being emotional and more the... not bottling it up.
Edited 2019-12-04 04:31 (UTC)
Onni!
You know that other mage I was telling you about a few days ago.
I was talking to him and he says he's got this plant he grows and it makes it so he doesn't hear spirits.
I told him I wanted to try it and see what impact it has on us.
I figured it was worth investigating and he swears it isn't dangerous if we take it in the right dose.
He showed me how to bake it into brownies and I have some now.
And I want us to eat them together. As an experiment.
You know that other mage I was telling you about a few days ago.
I was talking to him and he says he's got this plant he grows and it makes it so he doesn't hear spirits.
I told him I wanted to try it and see what impact it has on us.
I figured it was worth investigating and he swears it isn't dangerous if we take it in the right dose.
He showed me how to bake it into brownies and I have some now.
And I want us to eat them together. As an experiment.
It's called a pot!
[ Nailed it. ]
No, of course not.
But this isn't me being impulsive, Onni. I've really thought about it.
What if we could figure out how this plant works and bring it back with us somehow?
Think how it would change mage's lives, to be able to just - get some quiet, when they really need it.
A lot of other people responded to what he posted and they had all heard of this stuff.
None of them were reacting like it was dangerous.
And besides that's why I'm asking you to do this with me.
If anything goes wrong we'll have each other there.
[ Nailed it. ]
No, of course not.
But this isn't me being impulsive, Onni. I've really thought about it.
What if we could figure out how this plant works and bring it back with us somehow?
Think how it would change mage's lives, to be able to just - get some quiet, when they really need it.
A lot of other people responded to what he posted and they had all heard of this stuff.
None of them were reacting like it was dangerous.
And besides that's why I'm asking you to do this with me.
If anything goes wrong we'll have each other there.
A pot? That's a strange name for a plant.
Can you tell me more about it? You said other people mentioned it and had heard of it, did they say anything else about it?
It would make a difference, I think, if it works that way. But I don't want something that will be more dangerous than the voices are in the first place.
Can you tell me more about it? You said other people mentioned it and had heard of it, did they say anything else about it?
It would make a difference, I think, if it works that way. But I don't want something that will be more dangerous than the voices are in the first place.
Yeah, I was really confused for a minute or two there because of the name.
They said it makes you want to eat snacks. And watch dumb movies?
Not sure if that last part was serious or not.
People mostly seemed to be asking if he was intending to share.
No, I agree.
That is why I wanted to test it. So we can know for certain what it does.
And this seems like a safe enough place to try it. There are no immediate threats. There is a medbay.
I guess if you don't want to, I can try on my own.
They said it makes you want to eat snacks. And watch dumb movies?
Not sure if that last part was serious or not.
People mostly seemed to be asking if he was intending to share.
No, I agree.
That is why I wanted to test it. So we can know for certain what it does.
And this seems like a safe enough place to try it. There are no immediate threats. There is a medbay.
I guess if you don't want to, I can try on my own.
So people wanted this plant from him? Did any of them say why? From what I gather, seeing and hearing the spirits isn't exactly common elsewhere. Why else would they want it?
That aside, you're not trying it alone. You're right that this place is one of the safest to try something like that. We should try it in the apartment, though. Your runes add an extra layer of protection and I'd like to have that if I'm not able to hear things approaching.
That aside, you're not trying it alone. You're right that this place is one of the safest to try something like that. We should try it in the apartment, though. Your runes add an extra layer of protection and I'd like to have that if I'm not able to hear things approaching.
Apparently it makes you feel nice in general?
Someone mentioned it being medicinal, too.
Perfect! I can start getting it set up.
I have the brownies and the instructions on how much to eat.
I'll get some other snacks as well and water to have around.
I can even ask a friend to check in on us in a few hours to make sure we're okay.
[ Genji is gonna be getting a weird text today! ]
And I will take Anne and Kisa to stay with Kieran while we do this.
How soon can you be home?
Someone mentioned it being medicinal, too.
Perfect! I can start getting it set up.
I have the brownies and the instructions on how much to eat.
I'll get some other snacks as well and water to have around.
I can even ask a friend to check in on us in a few hours to make sure we're okay.
[ Genji is gonna be getting a weird text today! ]
And I will take Anne and Kisa to stay with Kieran while we do this.
How soon can you be home?
Oh, I see. Well, that sounds a bit like alcohol or some of the mushrooms mages use at times. Though I don't really like those mushrooms much.
Okay. I'll be home in about 20 minutes. I'm just finishing up some of those cinnamon buns you like, they can cool while we're trying it.
Alright. It shouldn't be a problem if you put those precautions in place. I'll see you soon. Is there anything you need from the kitchen?
Okay. I'll be home in about 20 minutes. I'm just finishing up some of those cinnamon buns you like, they can cool while we're trying it.
Alright. It shouldn't be a problem if you put those precautions in place. I'll see you soon. Is there anything you need from the kitchen?
I think they might be similar, yeah.
Cinnamon buns? Today keeps getting better and better.
Nope, nothing else, just you!
[ Reynir takes the precautions he mentioned - he texts Genji and is clear about what he's doing, and asks for a check-in in a few hours. He takes his fuzzy kids over to fun cowboy daycare (it's three birds with one stone, really, because he won't worry about looking after then while he's on this drug, and Kieran will get to spend some time with very charming company, and it might help Kieran to feel useful in a time when he's really struggling to do so and adapt to being blind).
By the time Onni arrives, Reynir has everything set up all the way down to two little plates, each with a brownie. He had taken advice and put the rest of the browines somewhere difficult to access, so he wasn't tempted to snack on more, and didn't end up eating too much of the drug.
It is a little chilly, so Reynir has also dragged one of the blankets from his bedroom and set it on the couch by him. He looks up when Onni comes in, grinning. ]
Hey, Onni.
Cinnamon buns? Today keeps getting better and better.
Nope, nothing else, just you!
[ Reynir takes the precautions he mentioned - he texts Genji and is clear about what he's doing, and asks for a check-in in a few hours. He takes his fuzzy kids over to fun cowboy daycare (it's three birds with one stone, really, because he won't worry about looking after then while he's on this drug, and Kieran will get to spend some time with very charming company, and it might help Kieran to feel useful in a time when he's really struggling to do so and adapt to being blind).
By the time Onni arrives, Reynir has everything set up all the way down to two little plates, each with a brownie. He had taken advice and put the rest of the browines somewhere difficult to access, so he wasn't tempted to snack on more, and didn't end up eating too much of the drug.
It is a little chilly, so Reynir has also dragged one of the blankets from his bedroom and set it on the couch by him. He looks up when Onni comes in, grinning. ]
Hey, Onni.
I thought you might enjoy them.
I'll see you soon.
[Reynir seems genuinely excited about this whole thing, but Onni is feeling a bit more tentative, personally. Trying something that's likely intoxicating and which shuts him off from the spirits sounds...risky, at best. But Reynir had said several people were commenting on the plant mentioned on the network, so Onni had gone to read through the responses for himself. No one seemed to be saying it was dangerous, a few wanted some. Unless it has some effect on mages that's much more detrimental to them than non-mages, it seems relatively safe, at least by word-of-mouth.
But something seeming relatively safe by word-of-mouth has never stopped Onni from worrying about whether it will turn out horribly. Still, Reynir was right when he said that this place is, in most ways, a lot safer than at home, and he'd drunk alcohol enough times in Keuruu which is, he thinks, about as safe as this place, especially with Reynir's runes in place.
So he packs up the cinnamon buns he'd baked into a basket with a towel over it to keep them warm, and he makes his way back to the apartment. Letting himself inside, he locks the door behind him and puts the basket down on the table. Reynir seems to have everything set up already, and so Onni takes off his boots and goes over to the couch to sit beside him.]
It looks good, at least.
[It's a little skeptical, but is still a genuine comment. Onni moves to take off his fur cloak, but finds the room is a little cold, and so he decides to leave it on. Glancing up at Reynir, he pats the couch beside himself. The worry is there, sitting in the pit of his gut, but there is someone here with him, and someone else who knows what's happening that they can call if there's an emergency. Onni knows for sure, at least, that Genji is reliable and will come if he's needed - the incident with Lalli had proven that much, even if he's still a little guilty over what had happened.]
Is it really just as simple as eating it?
I'll see you soon.
[Reynir seems genuinely excited about this whole thing, but Onni is feeling a bit more tentative, personally. Trying something that's likely intoxicating and which shuts him off from the spirits sounds...risky, at best. But Reynir had said several people were commenting on the plant mentioned on the network, so Onni had gone to read through the responses for himself. No one seemed to be saying it was dangerous, a few wanted some. Unless it has some effect on mages that's much more detrimental to them than non-mages, it seems relatively safe, at least by word-of-mouth.
But something seeming relatively safe by word-of-mouth has never stopped Onni from worrying about whether it will turn out horribly. Still, Reynir was right when he said that this place is, in most ways, a lot safer than at home, and he'd drunk alcohol enough times in Keuruu which is, he thinks, about as safe as this place, especially with Reynir's runes in place.
So he packs up the cinnamon buns he'd baked into a basket with a towel over it to keep them warm, and he makes his way back to the apartment. Letting himself inside, he locks the door behind him and puts the basket down on the table. Reynir seems to have everything set up already, and so Onni takes off his boots and goes over to the couch to sit beside him.]
It looks good, at least.
[It's a little skeptical, but is still a genuine comment. Onni moves to take off his fur cloak, but finds the room is a little cold, and so he decides to leave it on. Glancing up at Reynir, he pats the couch beside himself. The worry is there, sitting in the pit of his gut, but there is someone here with him, and someone else who knows what's happening that they can call if there's an emergency. Onni knows for sure, at least, that Genji is reliable and will come if he's needed - the incident with Lalli had proven that much, even if he's still a little guilty over what had happened.]
Is it really just as simple as eating it?
Well, apparently there are a whole lot of different ways to take it. Some of them involve lighting it on fire and breathing the smoke and others involve something called a 'bong'... but when he explained the different methods this sounded like the best one. It's slower to take effect but it also lasts longer and as long as you're careful not to have too much, it's easier and less complicated.
[ See, Onni! Reynir was very thorough!
He feels a little twist of happiness when Onni pats the couch beside him, a wordless invitation. Maybe it's stupid to still feel like that, but he does. It's just - good. When Onni wants him near. Reynir doesn't pause to examine just how good or to wonder if maybe there's something to that.
Reynir comes and sits next to him, heels perched on the couch, long legs folded up close to his chest. It's comfy, and a warm way to sit, considering it's kind of chilly in here. Reynir reaches for one of those little plates, with the brownie on it. He picks it up, and looks over to Onni. ]
Ready?
[ See, Onni! Reynir was very thorough!
He feels a little twist of happiness when Onni pats the couch beside him, a wordless invitation. Maybe it's stupid to still feel like that, but he does. It's just - good. When Onni wants him near. Reynir doesn't pause to examine just how good or to wonder if maybe there's something to that.
Reynir comes and sits next to him, heels perched on the couch, long legs folded up close to his chest. It's comfy, and a warm way to sit, considering it's kind of chilly in here. Reynir reaches for one of those little plates, with the brownie on it. He picks it up, and looks over to Onni. ]
Ready?
[When Reynir mentions smoking it, Onni wrinkles his nose a little - that sounds disgusting, and so does whatever a 'bong' is, honestly. This method involves sugar, though, so he thinks that Reynir probably made the wisest choice.]
Mm. Put that way, I probably would've chosen this one too. I do like sweets.
[When he pats the couch, Reynir comes over and settles in beside him, smiling, with his knees up, and then picks up one of the two treats. Onni leans forward and picks up one of his own, turning on the couch slightly, drawing one knee up and folding the foot of one leg under the knee of the other. Lifting his hand holding the brownie, he makes a mock toast with it, and then nods.
They take the first bite at the same time, and Onni chews thoughtfully, watching Reynir's face. It doesn't taste any different from a regular baked good, and so he swallows, after a moment.]
How long is it until it takes effect?
Mm. Put that way, I probably would've chosen this one too. I do like sweets.
[When he pats the couch, Reynir comes over and settles in beside him, smiling, with his knees up, and then picks up one of the two treats. Onni leans forward and picks up one of his own, turning on the couch slightly, drawing one knee up and folding the foot of one leg under the knee of the other. Lifting his hand holding the brownie, he makes a mock toast with it, and then nods.
They take the first bite at the same time, and Onni chews thoughtfully, watching Reynir's face. It doesn't taste any different from a regular baked good, and so he swallows, after a moment.]
How long is it until it takes effect?
[ Reynir giggles at that mock toast, mirroring it before he takes a bite, himself. It tastes the same as a regular brownie to him, too. It might occur to him that he was being pranked, if it weren't for the fact that he'd been there when Klaus was making these, and he'd seen that there is a little something extra in them. ]
Uhhhh I think he said maybe half an hour? We have to digest it.
[ He glances at the time on his device and makes a mental note of when he ought to start feeling some effects. Then he's taking a second bite, with much less ceremony. Before he is even done chewing he says: ]
Thank you for doing this with me, Onni. You're a really good friend.
[ Reynir notices again that the room is feeling pretty cold. But that's the trouble with this place - he can't do something as simple as add some wood to a fire, or even find a radiator and turn it up. The controls are out of his hands. But he can grab that blanket he'd pulled from his bed and drape it over his lap, wordlessly offering half of it to Onni, a question in his raised eyebrows. ]
Kinda quiet in here with nobody else around, huh?
[ Not that Lalli or even Kisa typically make that much noise, but they do stalk to and fro, and movement is a kind of presence. Anne, well. He's got lots of small lamb opinions he likes to voice, and goes clattering around on his hooves often enough.
It occurs to Reynir that Onni might feel a little uneasy or anxious about Lalli not being here, or that the quiet might in general bother him. He's been sort of down, lately. Reynir has noticed. How could he not notice? So he takes the opportunity before the drug actually has an effect to set up some music playing in the room. It's just low, in the background, ambient and folk-y but energetic, too.
He finishes the brownie off then, waiting for Onni to finish too before taking his plate and tucking them both in the kitchen. Goodness, but it's quite cold. He grabs the puffy, extra-warm comforter from his bed and brings that out, too. When he settles on the couch again, he can't help sitting closer to Onni, who radiates heat so nicely. ]
Guess we just have to wait.
Uhhhh I think he said maybe half an hour? We have to digest it.
[ He glances at the time on his device and makes a mental note of when he ought to start feeling some effects. Then he's taking a second bite, with much less ceremony. Before he is even done chewing he says: ]
Thank you for doing this with me, Onni. You're a really good friend.
[ Reynir notices again that the room is feeling pretty cold. But that's the trouble with this place - he can't do something as simple as add some wood to a fire, or even find a radiator and turn it up. The controls are out of his hands. But he can grab that blanket he'd pulled from his bed and drape it over his lap, wordlessly offering half of it to Onni, a question in his raised eyebrows. ]
Kinda quiet in here with nobody else around, huh?
[ Not that Lalli or even Kisa typically make that much noise, but they do stalk to and fro, and movement is a kind of presence. Anne, well. He's got lots of small lamb opinions he likes to voice, and goes clattering around on his hooves often enough.
It occurs to Reynir that Onni might feel a little uneasy or anxious about Lalli not being here, or that the quiet might in general bother him. He's been sort of down, lately. Reynir has noticed. How could he not notice? So he takes the opportunity before the drug actually has an effect to set up some music playing in the room. It's just low, in the background, ambient and folk-y but energetic, too.
He finishes the brownie off then, waiting for Onni to finish too before taking his plate and tucking them both in the kitchen. Goodness, but it's quite cold. He grabs the puffy, extra-warm comforter from his bed and brings that out, too. When he settles on the couch again, he can't help sitting closer to Onni, who radiates heat so nicely. ]
Guess we just have to wait.
Edited 2019-12-15 08:32 (UTC)
[Usually, Onni isn't funny, doesn't have a sense of humour or even really try to, but it's still nice to hear Reynir laugh at his gesture. While Reynir explains that they have to wait a while to digest it, Onni shrugs and then takes another bite of the brownie - it's sweet and rich and chocolatey and nothing he ever would've had at home. Even the cake in the dream hadn't been quite like this, even though it had been very good. He resists the urge to scarf the whole thing down in a few bites, and chews thoroughly to help with the digestion part. If he's going to do it, he might as well do it right.
Onni doesn't notice the room getting cold at first, he runs hot and he's more bulky than Reynir, still wearing his fur cloak, but when Reynir drapes the blanket over his lap and offers him half, he finds himself noticing the chill in the air and accepting, draping the other half of the blanket over his legs. Notices his sock-clad feet are a little chilly where they're sitting on the floor, so he pulls them up, shifting to sit cross-legged and tuck his feet under the opposite thighs.]
It is. I didn't notice how much noise Anne made until he was gone. I guess I got used to the bleating. That sheep really is growing up, though.
[The quiet is getting under his skin, just a little. Ever since Lalli had gotten sick, he's had a constant ball of worry in his gut, burning away, and his nerves have been on edge. He's been sleeping too much and eating too much and feeling listless and like he has nothing really to do, no purpose. So it's good when Reynir starts up the music and then comes back out with the large fluffy comforter from his bed. When the younger man scoots closer to him, Onni shifts his position to make room, and leans a little against Reynir's shoulder, tugging at the comforter and pulling it over their laps.]
Mhm.
[A pause, and he looks down at his hands on top of the comforter, mouth pursed a little.]
It's cold.
Onni doesn't notice the room getting cold at first, he runs hot and he's more bulky than Reynir, still wearing his fur cloak, but when Reynir drapes the blanket over his lap and offers him half, he finds himself noticing the chill in the air and accepting, draping the other half of the blanket over his legs. Notices his sock-clad feet are a little chilly where they're sitting on the floor, so he pulls them up, shifting to sit cross-legged and tuck his feet under the opposite thighs.]
It is. I didn't notice how much noise Anne made until he was gone. I guess I got used to the bleating. That sheep really is growing up, though.
[The quiet is getting under his skin, just a little. Ever since Lalli had gotten sick, he's had a constant ball of worry in his gut, burning away, and his nerves have been on edge. He's been sleeping too much and eating too much and feeling listless and like he has nothing really to do, no purpose. So it's good when Reynir starts up the music and then comes back out with the large fluffy comforter from his bed. When the younger man scoots closer to him, Onni shifts his position to make room, and leans a little against Reynir's shoulder, tugging at the comforter and pulling it over their laps.]
Mhm.
[A pause, and he looks down at his hands on top of the comforter, mouth pursed a little.]
It's cold.
He really is. Another week or two and it's going to be time to start weaning him and working on getting him used to staying at the ranch with all the other animals. I'll see him every day, but I'm still gonna miss his gangly, fuzzy butt around the place. At least Kisa's not going anywhere.
[ As soon as Onni brings up the cold Reynir is quick to agree: ]
Right?! It is. That's not a side-effect, either, I noticed it before I ever took a bite. I wonder if something's wrong with the heating.
[ But rather than investigate that, Reynir sighs and cuddles up close to Onni's side. Okay, maybe it's a little rude. But Onni is radiating so much heat and the both of them had gotten closer since they came here and Reynir doesn't think Onni will really mind. Or anyway he hopes not. ]
You're really warm, though.
[ And then, because a half hour is really quite a long time to wait even if some of it has already passed, Reynir fills the silence by talking about the various lambs he'd helped wean back on his family's farm, and other amusing sheep stories, of which he seems to have an endless supply.
He's telling one about accidentally cutting a hole in the knee of a his father's pants in a shearing accident but he can hardly get through it for giggles. Honestly, it hadn't been much of a big deal or much of a story. Now, though? It just seems like the funniest thing that's ever come to pass in the history of the world.
As he's gasping for breath between giggles, Reynir realized something and taps his palm against Onni's arm excitedly. ]
Oh, hang on. Hang on. I think maybe it's happening!
[ As soon as Onni brings up the cold Reynir is quick to agree: ]
Right?! It is. That's not a side-effect, either, I noticed it before I ever took a bite. I wonder if something's wrong with the heating.
[ But rather than investigate that, Reynir sighs and cuddles up close to Onni's side. Okay, maybe it's a little rude. But Onni is radiating so much heat and the both of them had gotten closer since they came here and Reynir doesn't think Onni will really mind. Or anyway he hopes not. ]
You're really warm, though.
[ And then, because a half hour is really quite a long time to wait even if some of it has already passed, Reynir fills the silence by talking about the various lambs he'd helped wean back on his family's farm, and other amusing sheep stories, of which he seems to have an endless supply.
He's telling one about accidentally cutting a hole in the knee of a his father's pants in a shearing accident but he can hardly get through it for giggles. Honestly, it hadn't been much of a big deal or much of a story. Now, though? It just seems like the funniest thing that's ever come to pass in the history of the world.
As he's gasping for breath between giggles, Reynir realized something and taps his palm against Onni's arm excitedly. ]
Oh, hang on. Hang on. I think maybe it's happening!
Mm. I think I'll miss him around too.
[Onni has gotten quite used to having Anne prancing around bleating and asking for food, has gotten used to scooping the little animal into his lap and feeding him from the bottle he'd gotten in the agricultural area.
But he doesn't really say more than that, just shifts a little in the couch to get more comfortable, and readjusts his cloak. It's partly that he's worrying about whether this is going to go horribly, and that that worry is making him too aware of everything happening in his body. Trying to notice any signs of things changing in his body and mind. He makes a soft noise of acknowledgement when Reynir says the cold isn't a side-effect and that Onni is warm. He doesn't mind so much when Reynir leans against his side and starts telling stories about the lambs back home, about his family. It helps him to get his mind off the worry twisting around in his head and gut.
Onni is engrossed enough in the stories and listening to Reynir that he doesn't notice the changes in his body at first, the way his head is spinning slightly, the strange disconnect between his mind and body, the complete lack of ability to understand how much time has passed. It isn't the story so much that ends up making him laugh, but Reynir's helpless giggles. The younger man is leaning against him, his body shaking with them, they keep bubbling up like a spring, leaving Reynir gasping and then giggling again. He can't help the way his own laugh comes out, a low chuckle as he shakes his head a bit.
The laugh peters out when Reynir taps his arm with his hand, says he thinks maybe it's happening, and suddenly Onni is very aware of the changes he hadn't noticed before.]
Ah. I think you're right.
[The movement of his head is almost distracting, and he tilts his head back and forth, the world seeming to sway in an exaggerated sort of way. Blinking a few times, he looks over at Reynir, and smiles.]
[Onni has gotten quite used to having Anne prancing around bleating and asking for food, has gotten used to scooping the little animal into his lap and feeding him from the bottle he'd gotten in the agricultural area.
But he doesn't really say more than that, just shifts a little in the couch to get more comfortable, and readjusts his cloak. It's partly that he's worrying about whether this is going to go horribly, and that that worry is making him too aware of everything happening in his body. Trying to notice any signs of things changing in his body and mind. He makes a soft noise of acknowledgement when Reynir says the cold isn't a side-effect and that Onni is warm. He doesn't mind so much when Reynir leans against his side and starts telling stories about the lambs back home, about his family. It helps him to get his mind off the worry twisting around in his head and gut.
Onni is engrossed enough in the stories and listening to Reynir that he doesn't notice the changes in his body at first, the way his head is spinning slightly, the strange disconnect between his mind and body, the complete lack of ability to understand how much time has passed. It isn't the story so much that ends up making him laugh, but Reynir's helpless giggles. The younger man is leaning against him, his body shaking with them, they keep bubbling up like a spring, leaving Reynir gasping and then giggling again. He can't help the way his own laugh comes out, a low chuckle as he shakes his head a bit.
The laugh peters out when Reynir taps his arm with his hand, says he thinks maybe it's happening, and suddenly Onni is very aware of the changes he hadn't noticed before.]
Ah. I think you're right.
[The movement of his head is almost distracting, and he tilts his head back and forth, the world seeming to sway in an exaggerated sort of way. Blinking a few times, he looks over at Reynir, and smiles.]
[ Reynir is too high to realize the significance right away, but this may be the first time he's actually heard Onni laugh. Usually, when something is funny enough, he'll let out a short little breath through his nose, but it's hard to distinguish whether it is amusement or annoyance. This, though? This is a laugh. Reynir doesn't just hear it, either. He feels it in Onni's chest, the way it makes his shoulders move. That feels super nice. He scoots in even closer, arm coming up to slide around Onni's shoulders so that Reynir is just fully pressed against his side, soaking in the heat.
Then Onni is sort of... testing the effect of the drug, by tilting his head side to side and blinking. Reynir absolutely loses it. He tries to get out the words to explain but he's really struggling, breaking off into helpless giggles now and again. ]
Onni... Onni when you do that- blinking like that you - you look like an owl!
[ Reynir knows that the brownie is effecting him, it must be, he's normally not THIS silly. But also? He is a comedy genius. Reynir reaches around the front of Onni's chest with his other arm, anchoring his hand on Onni's opposite shoulder, so that he's pretty much just hugging him, now, clinging to him. It just feels nice. He doesn't really think about why he's doing it. Onni's so warm and comfortable. ]
It's so nice to pet you when you're an owl. Remember, you let me when we were sick and your feathers are so soft.
Then Onni is sort of... testing the effect of the drug, by tilting his head side to side and blinking. Reynir absolutely loses it. He tries to get out the words to explain but he's really struggling, breaking off into helpless giggles now and again. ]
Onni... Onni when you do that- blinking like that you - you look like an owl!
[ Reynir knows that the brownie is effecting him, it must be, he's normally not THIS silly. But also? He is a comedy genius. Reynir reaches around the front of Onni's chest with his other arm, anchoring his hand on Onni's opposite shoulder, so that he's pretty much just hugging him, now, clinging to him. It just feels nice. He doesn't really think about why he's doing it. Onni's so warm and comfortable. ]
It's so nice to pet you when you're an owl. Remember, you let me when we were sick and your feathers are so soft.
[Normally, if Reynir kept scooting closer like that, Onni would indulge it but not be particularly comfortable. Not so much because he dislikes Reynir himself, but because he's unused to being touched, unused to that sort of contact. It's been a long time since someone was so physical with him, after all, and he's not accustomed to how one responds, how one goes about knowing if he even wants it. But now he's finding it easy to sway his body a little to accommodate Reynir's weight, slouching a little so Reynir's arm can drape around his shoulders more comfortably.
When Reynir tells him he looks like an owl, he just blinks again, a slow sort of groggy blink, one eye closing slightly before the other. He doesn't realize that that makes him look even more like an owl, he just knows that Reynir is laughing and hugging him sideways.]
Well, I suppose it would make sense if I look like an owl. You should look like a sheepdog, shouldn't you? But you look more like Anne.
[He lifts a hand, gesturing vaguely with a wave of it.]
Long and energetic and...fluffy.
[At the mention of Reynir petting him as an owl when they were sick, Onni makes a little huff and glances away.]
You're not supposed to mention it when I let you do things like that.
When Reynir tells him he looks like an owl, he just blinks again, a slow sort of groggy blink, one eye closing slightly before the other. He doesn't realize that that makes him look even more like an owl, he just knows that Reynir is laughing and hugging him sideways.]
Well, I suppose it would make sense if I look like an owl. You should look like a sheepdog, shouldn't you? But you look more like Anne.
[He lifts a hand, gesturing vaguely with a wave of it.]
Long and energetic and...fluffy.
[At the mention of Reynir petting him as an owl when they were sick, Onni makes a little huff and glances away.]
You're not supposed to mention it when I let you do things like that.
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