[ Mydeimos probably did not seem like the type for physical affection back home; but he had a role to uphold as the prince, and frankly he finds physical affection easier than verbal. So he lets his arm fall around her shoulders lightly until they find a place to sit.
There is a booth, tucked away in the back corner, so he guides them to it. He picks up a (somehow slightly sticky) menu to glance over the drink options when she speaks, and he looks up. ]
Because I have spent many years dealing with his brain, and you have not.
[ Arguably she's older than them both in general, but she doesn't often spend time in Okhema. ]
... but I can't go getting annoyed every time he gets all up in his head. [ And that's barely scratching the surface. ] We'll be miserable.
[ She picks at the corner of her own menu, flicking the lamination with her nail until it peels. ] We should stick together. He said as much. You didn't say it in as many words, but I think you agree.
[ When the waitstaff comes by, she orders a Milk Punch. ]
I do. I know you can take care of yourself, but it puts me at ease.
[ Which is as honest as he'll get. When she orders, he follows up by adding a Forbidden Sour, precisely because of the main ingredient. ]
I do not intend to let him run from me for long. Though I have learned he needs his space, I have also learned leaving him in his own head is... a problem.
[ Pettily: ]
He has only been allowed to avoid me so long because I am mad too.
Yeah, you gotta explain what happened with you guys first. You kissed him and he ran off?? You can't be that bad of a kisser, what the hell.
[ His little bit of pettiness has Cipher feeling like she can tease about this now. And it's not like she and Mydei have kissed, so how would she know! ]
We had to share a shower at the local gym. He insisted on washing my hair, and I pointed out that I do not let people do that often. He leaned in, I kissed him, someone in the next stall made a noise, and he startled and ran off.
[ He shrugs, but it's clear the situation bothers him. ]
[ He insisted on washing Mydei's hair. He leaned in. And yet, Phainon was the one so steadfast about there being nothing between them. Just who was he trying to prove - and why even bother being so stubborn about it -
Cipher's lip curls. Pure, unfiltered disdain crossing her features. ]
[ Of course. She can't say she's surprised or doesn't understand. They can tell Phainon they forgive him until they're blue in the face, but words will always just be words. Words can only hold so much weight against the guilt of over 33 million cycles. ]
I think that's what made me so mad when we argued. Like, I get it, I do. [ She starts tearing up a napkin, shredding it into thin, long strips. ] But that stuff doesn't matter here. Not as much.
He has it so good here. He has you here.
[ And that's something she could literally only wish for. ]
It might not 'matter' here, but it still happened.
[ Mydei's voice is gentler when he speaks; not because he's empathizing with Phainon but because he understands, to some degree, what (or rather who) she is missing.
It's hard to imagine being here alone. It's even harder to imagine being here alone while people he knows fight like fools. ]
It is also easy to worry after him and not address others, either.
[ His circuitous way of offering to talk about it, if she wants. ]
[ The server comes at the perfect time, then, bringing them their drinks and giving Cipher time to take a sip (it's tasty. creamy) and think about what she wants to say - or, what she doesn't want to say. ]
I know. [ That it happened, that it's impossible to completely ignore that it happened. Especially for Phainon. And that it's easy to focus on him, the one who's been the center of everything. Their Delivered. The golden child. Aglaea's golden child.
Cipher swallows down another mouthful of the drink. It burns going down this time, too much. ]
And I'm not worrying about him! I offered him some wise ass words of wisdom, and if he doesn't want to listen, then so be it. He has to figure his own shit out, without getting us caught in the crossfire. Especially you!
[ It's still not easy for her to talk about it, that longing ever present in her heart, so she deflects as always. ]
[ He takes a sip of his drink as well as she speaks. It's sour, tart and precisely what he needs right now. He makes at face at her as she tells him to be more mad. ]
I am mad. Just because I know why doesn't mean I'm not angry at him. Until he shows his face around me again, I will remain so.
[ He's been giving Phainon his space, but he'll hunt him down eventually. ]
[ She asked- she told Phainon point-blank that she thought Mydei was blowing his back out and Phainon said no. She knows something happened at the ice rink between the two, but she doesn't know what. Because then he'd started getting all cagey and she'd gotten annoyed. ]
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no subject
Date: 2026-01-28 02:13 am (UTC)There is a booth, tucked away in the back corner, so he guides them to it. He picks up a (somehow slightly sticky) menu to glance over the drink options when she speaks, and he looks up. ]
Because I have spent many years dealing with his brain, and you have not.
[ Arguably she's older than them both in general, but she doesn't often spend time in Okhema. ]
Not that you should have to.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-28 03:02 am (UTC)... but I can't go getting annoyed every time he gets all up in his head. [ And that's barely scratching the surface. ] We'll be miserable.
[ She picks at the corner of her own menu, flicking the lamination with her nail until it peels. ] We should stick together. He said as much. You didn't say it in as many words, but I think you agree.
[ When the waitstaff comes by, she orders a Milk Punch. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-28 03:14 am (UTC)[ Which is as honest as he'll get. When she orders, he follows up by adding a Forbidden Sour, precisely because of the main ingredient. ]
I do not intend to let him run from me for long. Though I have learned he needs his space, I have also learned leaving him in his own head is... a problem.
[ Pettily: ]
He has only been allowed to avoid me so long because I am mad too.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-28 03:53 am (UTC)Yeah, you gotta explain what happened with you guys first. You kissed him and he ran off?? You can't be that bad of a kisser, what the hell.
[ His little bit of pettiness has Cipher feeling like she can tease about this now. And it's not like she and Mydei have kissed, so how would she know! ]
cipher like give me the goss
Date: 2026-01-28 04:04 am (UTC)[ Still, after he says it he grimaces at her. ]
We had to share a shower at the local gym. He insisted on washing my hair, and I pointed out that I do not let people do that often. He leaned in, I kissed him, someone in the next stall made a noise, and he startled and ran off.
[ He shrugs, but it's clear the situation bothers him. ]
I assume it was simply too much at once.
i'm so sorry she's like this
Date: 2026-01-29 12:00 am (UTC)Cipher's lip curls. Pure, unfiltered disdain crossing her features. ]
I think I have to kill that guy.
cipher's the real one
Date: 2026-01-29 05:20 am (UTC)[ Mydeimos does roll his eyes as he says it, but the tone at least seems to lighten him a little. ]
As I said, I think it was too much. Given everything he has been through and remembers, he likely thinks he is unworthy.
the friend who's answer to everything is "kill him"
Date: 2026-01-30 02:17 am (UTC)I think that's what made me so mad when we argued. Like, I get it, I do. [ She starts tearing up a napkin, shredding it into thin, long strips. ] But that stuff doesn't matter here. Not as much.
He has it so good here. He has you here.
[ And that's something she could literally only wish for. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-31 01:52 am (UTC)[ Mydei's voice is gentler when he speaks; not because he's empathizing with Phainon but because he understands, to some degree, what (or rather who) she is missing.
It's hard to imagine being here alone. It's even harder to imagine being here alone while people he knows fight like fools. ]
It is also easy to worry after him and not address others, either.
[ His circuitous way of offering to talk about it, if she wants. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-02-02 02:40 am (UTC)I know. [ That it happened, that it's impossible to completely ignore that it happened. Especially for Phainon. And that it's easy to focus on him, the one who's been the center of everything. Their Delivered. The golden child. Aglaea's golden child.
Cipher swallows down another mouthful of the drink. It burns going down this time, too much. ]
And I'm not worrying about him! I offered him some wise ass words of wisdom, and if he doesn't want to listen, then so be it. He has to figure his own shit out, without getting us caught in the crossfire. Especially you!
[ It's still not easy for her to talk about it, that longing ever present in her heart, so she deflects as always. ]
Be more mad at him!
no subject
Date: 2026-02-02 02:47 am (UTC)I am mad. Just because I know why doesn't mean I'm not angry at him. Until he shows his face around me again, I will remain so.
[ He's been giving Phainon his space, but he'll hunt him down eventually. ]
He is being cowardly.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-02 03:06 am (UTC)[ Show him that he's worthy of this, she doesn't say. It's okay for him to want and feel good. ]
I'm gonna crash out if you two haven't banged by the next time I see you.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-05 08:35 pm (UTC)He could lie, not that he likes to make a habit of it, but settles on: ]
Define "banging".
no subject
Date: 2026-03-06 02:02 am (UTC)Dick in ass.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-06 02:10 am (UTC)[ There's so much unsaid in that. ]