dataBURST: IC Inbox

[breakaleginhalf]

Hey, it's Gil. Either I haven't got my phone on me, OR I'm actively ignoring you. Text me if it's important, try harder if you're dying. TEXT | VOICE | VIDEO | ACTION

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[placeheld]

[ Artemis watches the gesture, unable to untangle the mix of emotions it inspires in him - tenderness and longing and just a little bit of jealousy all at once. Nothing that would take him anywhere good, so he focuses on the image Gil's painting with his words. ]

That's powerful. [ Coda probably weighs like ninety-eight pounds soaking wet, and they'd taken on something even bigger and badder than the Gil sitting next to him. Artemis decides: ] Good. All this shit freaks me the fuck out, but this probably won't be the last time there's something to fight in here.

[breakaleginhalf]

Unfortunately, there's the catch. [He doesn't miss that emotional cocktail, but he chooses to ignore it, looking back at Artemis tiredly.] Most Blessings don't have Catches - Coda's does.

[You can practically hear the capital C there.]

Whenever Coda uses it, they get backlash. Whatever they give to someone else, they suffer from a less intense version. Give someone terror, give yourself panic. Give someone a fugue, make yourself dissociate.

[placeheld]

[ Artemis makes a face, wondering why exactly everything seems to have to suck for them. Magic powers? With a catch? Bullshit. Still: ]

-That's okay, here. We'll just have to have their back. [ The same as he's planning to keep an eye on Gil's mental health. Never mind that he's just as unequipped to deal with that as he is a fight. His foot, the one hanging off the mattresses away from the other two, jiggles restlessly. ] If they need it. If they'll let us.

[breakaleginhalf]

And if they don't, we'll lock them in a rubber room with a book until the crisis is averted. [He's taking the piss, though, nestling down slightly lower so he can rest his head back on the couch. The motion makes his knee and part of his thigh press against Artemis's; but if he notices, he certainly doesn't care.]

Feel free to go to sleep too, man. I'm gonna be up for a while.

[placeheld]

[ Artemis snorts and lets his knee press a little more firmly into Gil's, intentional but quick, before he relaxes again. ]

Not sure I'll be able to, but who knows. This turned out pretty cozy, considering.

[breakaleginhalf]

Yeah. [He glances briefly down at Coda with fondness, before turning that onto Artemis; and the fondness doesn't fully dry up, just buried behind amusement.] They're a surprisingly good cuddler, who knew.

[placeheld]

[ There's something surprising in that look, but Artemis isn't going to overthink it. He grins back. ] Starting to think a hug longer than three seconds is all it takes to get them to actually go the fuck to sleep. Might need more than two trials on that one, though.

[breakaleginhalf]

Well, keep bringing them here and we can test that theory some more. Text each other results and shit, it's not proper science without proper note-taking.

[placeheld]

Hmm.

[ Artemis looks down, because looking at someone who is too asleep to witness vulnerability is a lot easier than looking at Gil, who might very well give him shit about it. ]

Maybe we could, uh. Skip a step? I was thinking...

[breakaleginhalf]

[Well that's one way to get Gil's curiosity, and both ears perk towards Artemis. There might be a light tease in his voice, but he's curious more than anything else.]

Like what, letting them move in with us permanently?

[placeheld]

[ Artemis waves his hand in a so-so gesture. ]

A lot of guys would kill to be this up close and personal with me all the time, but I'm thinking you're probably pretty sick of sharing a bedroom. [ That's good, couch it in a joke, that'll work fine. ] We could find a bigger place, take them with us? Maybe?

[breakaleginhalf]

I would not mind someone else picking up your laundry once in a while.

[So yes, he'll give Artie a little shit. But he's glancing away as well now, ears pricking down - not upset, just thinking.]

But, like... yeah, actually. I'm not opposed to that.