( open ) out of isolation

[motivation]

Who: dutch (motivation) & YOU, thomas nightingale (ettersberg) & YOU
What: a month in the life of a former assassin, a month in the life of the former last sanctioned wizard of the uk
When: may
Where: flona cove and khalo
Warning(s): alcohol and fyrra use, nudity, sex and probably swearing

Comments

[ettersberg]

You're right. It's been a while.

( that's easier to say than to answer the question how he's been. how has he been? fine, of course, because that's the only thing he'll allow, but with some of his composure stripped away, the deflection doesn't come so easily. )

Well enough. ( he finally settles on, and continues: ) And you?

[poolhall_killer]

That's good to hear.

[Venom might be wrong, but Nightingale always came off as sort of a workaholic. He's glad to see the older man loosening up a little.]

I've been doing all right. I made a move to the Sanctuary and learned my first healing spell.

[He'll even demonstrate with a light glow of his hand.]

[ettersberg]

( it's not so much that he's a workaholic, it's that he has nothing but his work, his duty, his sense of responsibility — which, maybe he is a workaholic. but for tonight, there is no duty and no responsibility.

he smiles a little at the spell, the note of excitement he thinks he detects from venom, the glow of magic. )

Congratulations. Is the Sanctuary treating you well?

[poolhall_killer]

[Yeah Venom's a little excited. It's the first type of magic he's learned since he developed his billiard-based magic all those years ago.]

Thank you.

So far, they've been very nice to me. It's far more relaxed than I expected. And what about you and the Guard?

[ettersberg]

Nothing much has changed in that regard.

( he doesn't dislike the guard. he doesn't love it, either. his loyalty is to an institution and a country that no longer exist. it hasn't yet shifted, not entirely. )

[poolhall_killer]

Ah.

[Nightingale seemed content enough during their last encounter, so it's nice that he's still getting along well at his job.]

Anything else going on? New hobbies or friends? Perhaps a significant other?

[The smoke is starting to get to him, and Venom inches a bit closer. No touching as he doesn't want to intrude on personal space.]

[ettersberg]

( nightingale has to swallow before answering, clearing his throat while he's at it. )

Ah. No.

( john had been the closest to a significant other he'd come, and he hadn't come that close, really. there hasn't been anyone he'd call that since david mellenby. )

None of that.

[poolhall_killer]

Sorry. I didn't mean to take you by surprise with that question. I was just curious.

[He feels a bad for springing such a personal question on him out of nowhere.]

Really, I apologize.

[ettersberg]

It's quite all right.

( ordinarily, nightingale might say that and it would be an expression of politeness more than anything, the words not entirely genuine. right now, he finds he doesn't actually mind the question, for all that it had surprised him. the loss and sadness that usually come with thinking of david, the wish he could've had more time to see where things would've gone with john both are notably absent now. )

[poolhall_killer]

[Still, it surprises Venom that no one (to his knowledge) has caught Nightingale. He's such a kind gentleman, and if Venom wasn't in the middle of sorting out his personal affairs with Phoenix and Miles, he'd give the older man a chance.]

Aside from my previous blunder of a question, nothing new is going on with you?

[ettersberg]

( nightingale isn't so sure he's in any state to be someone's significant other. the closest he'd come to even approaching it had been john, and with john it had been friendship and sex before anything else, before dating.

he shakes his head. )

Well. ( not nothing. ) I found an egg that hatched a sugar glider.

[poolhall_killer]

[Oh. Oh that sounds too cute. But now he has a question...]

I suppose all types of animals come out of eggs, here. But what is a sugar glider?

[ettersberg]

( now that is a question nightingale can answer quite easily. in fact, watch him reach a finger into the front pocket of his shirt. when he pulls the finger out again, a little sugar glider is hanging onto it.

he flattens his palm, letting the little animal rest there. )

[poolhall_killer]

[Nightingale keeps his sugar glider in his pocket?? Venom leans in to get a closer look at the tiny creature. It's not even half the size of Pepper, and even he easily fits in Venom's palm.]

Hello there, little one. What's your name?

[He wants to give it a small pet, but he's being good and keeping his hands to himself. What a cute animal!]

[ettersberg]

( nightingale keeps his sugar glider in his pocket. where else is he supposed to keep him? — it may be the case that nightingale is not the most qualified to look after animals other than dogs or horses. oh, or pigs and chicken. they had those back home, when he was young. )

Argus. Her name is Argus.

( at least he thinks it's a she. )

[poolhall_killer]

It's nice to meet you, Argus.

[Until Venom came here, his experience with animals was limited to the occasional stray cat. Now he has his marmoset, has ridden a lion and a pegasus, and he can add meeting a sugar glider.

So naturally he speaks to them like they're people.]

She must be well-behaved if you can carry her in your pocket.

[ettersberg]

She is.

( there's warmth in nightingale's tone now, more so than before, and it isn't only because he's relaxed. )

And I think she enjoys it.

[poolhall_killer]

I think it's a good bonding experience for the both of you.

[Now he's curious if he actually can get away with traveling with Pepper. The monkey could benefit from some fresh air every now and then.]

May I pet her?

[ettersberg]

Of course.

( he holds his hand a little closer to venom. )

[poolhall_killer]

[Venom moves in a bit closer as well, getting a good look at the sugar glider. With two gloved fingers, he gently pets her head.]

I cannot get over how small she is. I wonder if she'll get larger.

[ettersberg]

I don't expect she will. Not very much larger, at least.

( there's a soft smile on nightingale's features that he's not quite aware of. he'd try to hide it if he were. )

[poolhall_killer]

[Venom notices it but doesn't say anything. But Nightingale does have a cute smile. And it's obvious the older gentleman really likes his new companion.]

Let's hope she doesn't. Otherwise she won't fit in your pocket anymore.

[ettersberg]

( dryly: )

I could always ask the tailor for larger pockets.

[poolhall_killer]

[That gets a laugh out of Venom.]

That's true. Then she can go with you no matter got large she gets.

[One more pet and he draws his hand back.]

She is too cute.

[ettersberg]

I've gotten quite used already to having her around. ( nightingale admits after a moment, reaching out with his free hand to run a finger down her back. )