[Closed] Here we are, we're here tonight.

[superfiber]

Who: Nezumi superfiber and Shion survived (+ three mice and cat.)
What: Nezumi and Shion talk to each other about the recent events in Asgard and get emotional and stuff.
When: A little bit after Ragnarok. A couple days or so.
Where: In their room in their apartment.
Rating: PG-13 for mentions of violence and possible swearing. It shouldn't get any higher than that!

[The lighting of the medium sized room is dim and relaxed. The two boys within it are relatively quiet, sleepy and humbled by the events that have transpired within the past days.

At the foot of the bed where Nezumi is sprawled, the mice are chittering quietly, keeping a fair distance from the new, foreign presence in their home; a meek white cat called Romeo. Although the animals have been avoiding each other and not attacking one another, cats and mice will be cats and mice. It's best for all parties involved to be cautious. The feline mentioned is curled up in Shion's lap, who is in turn curled up on a chair near the bed.

There's a heavy, serious atmosphere between the two, filled with words unspoken and a silent understanding between them that despite everything, they survived. The only thing that can be heard is their breathing and sleepy squeaking from somewhere within the blankets.

What can also be felt in the air is that there needs to be a talk.]

Comments

[superfiber]

...

[Brows knitted together, he stands up and moves swiftly across the room.] Shion, look at me. [With a practiced grace, he reaches out and hooks his fingers under Shion's chin, jerking his face up so that their eyes meet.]

Stop it. Now. [He takes a breath here.] I don't want to deal with you having a mental breakdown.

[He's referring to a couple things here. One being that Shion is being so quiet, which has to be unhealthy for him. Second being that Shion is dwelling again. He needs to stop both.]

[survived]

[Shion wants to furrow his eyebrows. He wants to raise his voice. He wants to, but his expression denies his wishes and ultimately falls somewhere close to mild surprise. Though he doesn't say a word, he has stopped dwelling.]

[superfiber]

[He doesn't remove his hand, be his gentles his grip so that it's not so harsh.]

There was nothing you could have done to stop it from happening. Do you understand?

[survived]

I know. I know that as well as anyone else. [....] But that doesn't mean that I can't miss her, does it?

[Another lengthy pause.]

Sorry. I just didn't think that it would happen this suddenly. It was the same with Shu.

[superfiber]

[Nezumi removes his hand and then places it on top of Shion's head instead.]

They're not dead, and they're at home now. And it's not like you were left all on your own here. I don't see any reason to have such an awful expression on your face. [This is Nezumi's way of cheering you up, Shion. No, really.]

Not to mention... [He indicates the cat, perched contently in Shion's lap, with a tilt of the head.] You have him now. Did you get him from her?

[He'll just casually lace his fingers through Shion's hair now.]

[survived]

That's right. This is Romeo. I said it before, but he's in my care now.

[He continues to stroke the meek cat's fur even as he looks up to Nezumi.]

She had lots of cats, but this is the one she named for me. I'll take good care of him in her place.

[superfiber]

[Nezumi brings his hand away from Shion's head and reaches down to pet the cat.] He's pretty relaxed.

[Nezumi's never chosen to keep a dog or a cat because of the troubles that they seem to have with mice, but even then... He knows that his mice would be able to avoid them pretty easily. Mostly, it was because pets like these are harder to care for than mice. He probably would have wound up abandoning it in the middle of West Block if he had ever chosen to keep one.]

Do you know how to take care of a cat?

[survived]

I've read up on it. Cats are easier to care for than dogs so I should be fine.

[The cat, fur the same colour as Shion's hair, continues to purr quietly as it leans into Nezumi's hand. Shion, in turn, can't help but smile at the gesture.]

I didn't think that you would like cats much, being a mouse.

[superfiber]

Animals are easier to be around than humans. Cats aren't an exception.

[He glances at Shion, rubbing the fur behind the cat's ears.] You two have the same color hair.

[Shion's is better, in his opinion. The color on the cat is more dull, while Shion's is shiny and catches the light. Nezumi really isn't sure that he'll ever find someone with better hair than Shion.]

[survived]

That's what Inukashi said too. I don't know why, but animals seem to like me. [Of course, Nezumi should already know that, since his mice had also become attached to Shion abnormally quickly. Romeo, another example, closes his eyes and rubs into Nezumi's hand even more as Shion continues to speak.]

Maybe so, but Romeo's fur is naturally white. My hair thankfully doesn't shed the way his does. [He'll spare Nezumi from a lecture on the differences between hair and fur and simply continue to pet the cat's back. Be thankful!]

[superfiber]

[Nezumi snickers through his teeth at the very idea, then lowers his hand.] Romeo, huh... [He slides his hand down its back.]

Will you be letting him outside?

[survived]

Yozora always kept him inside, so I'll do the same. Indoor cats live longer lives and usually don't have as many health problems.

[It's somehow very comforting to see Nezumi getting along with a cat like this.]

I think he likes you, Nezumi.

[superfiber]

Good. We wouldn't want him to reach the same unfortunate end as his namesake, now would we?

[Nezumi is amused shh]

He probably likes everyone.

[survived]

If you're going to say things like that then he's definitely staying inside.

[It's as simple as that.]

He wasn't attached to you like this earlier today.

[superfiber]

That's because I wasn't approaching him earlier. He just likes the attention.

[survived]

Maybe, but you seem to understand animals well. It's just a feeling that I get.

[superfiber]

They're not that hard to understand. A little food and some attention and they're all over you. It's the same for humans, really.

[Stop complimenting him god.]

[survived]

I don't think it's that simple. Humans also like some people more than others.

[superfiber]

It's pretty easy to manipulate someone into becoming fond of you. [For him.]

[survived]

That doesn't seem right to me.

[He knows that what he's saying sounds stupid; manipulating others is a staple in the West Block, and Nezumi is incredibly talented in that regard. But even still....]

[superfiber]

It's reality.

[survived]

Animals are more genuine than humans. I'm sure that Romeo likes you as a person.

[superfiber]

You're delusional. He just likes the way I pet him behind his ears. You'd probably appreciate it just as much if I did it to you, too.

[With that, he offers the tiniest of smirks.]

[survived]

I could say the same for you. The mice like it when I scratch between their ears.

[superfiber]

Tch. I'd like to see you try.

[He keeps forgetting that Shion is getting better at comebacks. How embarrassing.]

[survived]

Don't underestimate me.

[He doesn't realize it, but Shion hasn't smiled like this since the day before Ragnarok began. It's refreshing.]

[superfiber]

[That smile is infectious.]

I wouldn't dare underestimate you, your majesty. It would be most unwise.