[IC] [Mask or Menace] Contact Post

[dendarii]

"This is Miles. Leave a message and I'll respond to you at my earliest convenience."

The line has gone silent; any messages sent to this name only return an error.

Comments

[overemotionally]

You regret doing it?

[dendarii]

I don't know yet. Maybe. I'm not enjoying myself now, to be sure. And trying to use my powers to keep the change was a mistake.

[overemotionally]

[Geez Miles was taking this a lot harder than Jim thought. He was kind of glad he talked to Gregor before this. He's watching Miles carefully, thinking back to what Gregor had told him. At least if Miles was here and talking to him about it, he couldn't be off doing something stupid. He's vaguely reminded of the first time they played chess together and what kind of a mental state he had been in.]

Hurt yourself trying?

[dendarii]

[ It's really not all that dissimilar. But having Miles where you can see him is a relatively safe proposition. ]

Not too badly, thank goodness. Gregor talked me through it.

[overemotionally]

Yeah, he told me.

[dendarii]

... Ah. Did he.

[overemotionally]

Yeah. Told me who he was too. Your cover makes more sense now.

[dendarii]

I told you we did it for a reason. ... I am sorry we hid it from you, though.

[overemotionally]

I know. I believed you.

[Their link at the time had made that clear enough. He waves off the apology.]

Don't. We're past that.

[dendarii]

[ He nods then. ]

... Why don't you show me how to play, Jim?

[overemotionally]

[He looks at Miles a split second longer. Right. Distraction.


It doesn't take too long for Jim to explain movements and the movable levels.]

...They try to get us to learn it at the Academy. Helps with thinking in 3D.

[dendarii]

[ Miles is definitely intrigued. His eyes light up with genuine interest, taking in the board ... ]

Like space battles, then.

[overemotionally]

Exactly.

[He's glad this caught Miles' eye at least.]

[dendarii]

Well then. I think I could take you. Shall we set another wager?

[overemotionally]

Don't forget, I'm not hungover with a splitting headache. Your call though since I got the last one.

[dendarii]

Of course. It's no fun with no stakes.

[overemotionally]

Okay then. What'll they be?

[dendarii]

[ Miles hesitates. He's not sure wants to kiss Jim right now. Should he? Would it make him feel better? It'd certainly be distracting ... ]

You decide this time.

[overemotionally]

[Jim notices the hesitation and finds it odd, especially considering Miles hands off the decision to him right after. Jim doesn't even try to hide the mild confusion on his face when it falls to him. Time to feel around a bit.]

Winner picks something from that "list" I showed you.

[The one they never really got around to. Most of what he'd shown Miles would be feasible with him as he normally was, if not some modifications needed. The rest were just blatantly out of the question.]

[dendarii]

[ Well it gets him to flush a bit, pink darkening his cheekbones and ears. But he's hesitating again. God, he doesn't know what to do. ]

... I don't know.

[overemotionally]

[Damned if Miles didn't look good like that though.]

What's wrong?

[dendarii]

[ Miles hesitates. Clearly searching for a lie. But it's Jim, dammit ... And Miles feels bad enough for his previous lie to try trusting the other man. Just this once. ]

You can't tell anyone. I want your word.

[overemotionally]

[He waits.

And then the sudden shift in the atmosphere of the conversation is nearly palpable. He has no idea what his word meant to Miles, but he wasn't exactly surrounded by confidantes to blab to anyway. This definitely didn't feel like something to take lightly.]

...Okay. I won't. What is it?

[dendarii]

[ Not at all. Miles has practically gone rigid with tension, every muscle in his small body taut. This is probably a bad idea. This is such a bad idea ... He sucks in a breath, trying to steel himself. ]

I think I'm in love with Gregor.

[ The words come out smaller than he means them too. Half lovelorn, half apologetic. ]

[overemotionally]

[That...Well.

Jim had gotten the feeling that there was more going on than either of them was letting on. Between seeing the two of them together and Gregor's defensiveness the other day...and now that he thought about it, how horrified Miles had been when they'd first kissed and Gregor sensed them--all of it came together in his mind as crystal clear now that Miles said it out loud.

He sits back and folds his arms across his chest--a sign not of irritation, but that he was taking this conversation seriously.]

Okay...how long?

[And this, folks, was the reason he didn't get into relationships. Much less messy, and Jim just has to downgrade Miles from friend-with-benefits back down to friend...that is, unless Miles felt they couldn't be friends anymore. Jim had had that happen far too many times before. He was slowly mentally preparing himself for that possibility as he awaited Miles' answer. He can't help but think Miles might be the toughest one to let go if he did decide they couldn't be friends.]