26. LOL

[heisrisen]

[Public]

[The Emperor stands the hallway of Level One, awkwardly clutching a beehive shaped like a small griffon, with soot smudges on his face, dirt on his clothes, a few drowsy bees bumbling around him, and the door of his room, smoke billowing gently through the sliver of open door behind him.]

No need to be - alarmed.

[His breath catches wrong, and he coughs hard for a few seconds.]

Planned incineration. Perfectly contained.

If nobody claims the bees they're going to the greenhouse.



[Private to Barbara]

I'm going to need a new room.



[Spam - deliveries for Bush, Morgana, Hannibal, and Sylvanas.]

[Hours earlier, but not many- On the morning of the 10th, each of them will open their doors to find neatly potted plants. Bush recieves one elegant apple bonsai, less than two feet high. Morgana gets several pots of pansies, in different colors, arranged so as not to block the door, Sylvanas gets catnip, and Hannibal gets herbs - basil, sage, rosemary, and thyme.]

Comments

Private

[bodilesswarrior]

[No.] It matters if it gets infected. I'll get a burn kit out.

Private

[heisrisen]

Oh, don't be so terrestrial. I'll do a scour and skinweave when I go on shift. It'll be like it never happened.

Private

[bodilesswarrior]

If you promise not to forget about it.

Private

[heisrisen]

I wouldn't. Pain is still...new.

[Strange. Fascinating.]

I promise.

[Which is to say - in a moment of nervy sincerity - he'll heal it as soon as he goes on shift anyway. Since she asked.]

Private

[bodilesswarrior]

Thank you.

...You know - there are ways to experiment with that kind of thing that aren't harmful. And other sensations, too.

Private

[heisrisen]

I know.

[He glances away.]

Other sensations aren't really different. Pain is just - it's very there.

I don't really. Trust myself to pursue it right now.

Private

[bodilesswarrior]

[Her voice softens, just slightly.] Understood. You ever do - I'm here.

I'm always here.

Re: Private

[heisrisen]

[His mouth twists, a smile, if only just,]

I'm impulsive these days.

Private

[bodilesswarrior]

That doesn't surprise me.

Any takers on the bees?

Private

[heisrisen]

[The symbiant was his stop signal for so long, it's like he forgot how to do it. He's overcompensating for a barrier that isn't there anymore, and he's spinning out, a little. But he doesn't, selfishly, want to talk about it, not yet anyway. He doesn't regret this and he doesn't want to sound like he does. And he has his pride, in spite of everything. Maybe later.]

None so far. Interested?

Private

[bodilesswarrior]

It would definitely be a new experience. [She knows enough facts about bees, but actually keeping them is something else.] Can't say I don't like the idea of fresh honey.

Private

[heisrisen]

It's very good.

We'd have to synthesize a nectar replacement.

[Not really a con.]

Private

[bodilesswarrior]

Well, that just sounds fun.

Private

[heisrisen]

A bit. It's not terribly complicated.

Private

[bodilesswarrior]

And that sounds refreshing.

Private

[heisrisen]

[He sticks his tongue out at her, because he has no impulse control, and also because he's five.]

Private

[bodilesswarrior]

[Well, it's not like anyone can see her doing it back.]

Private

[heisrisen]

I'll bring the bees over before they wake up too much.

Private

[bodilesswarrior]

Good plan.

...I don't exactly have an apiary in here.