tennal halkana (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} tennalhin) wrote in ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} valloic,@ 2023-01-19 08:09:00 |
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WHO: Surit Yeni and Tennal Halkana
WHAT: Surit comes to check in on Tennal after his arrival to Vallo before they explore.
WHEN: Morning, January 19th
WARNINGS: None
STATUS: Complete!
Surit had faced an endless supply of surprises lately, it seemed. He liked to think he was good at getting back to his feet and focusing on his goal, but you've been sent to an alternate reality and there's no way home wasn't exactly a punch he could easily dodge. On the plus side, it wasn't like he had a crew waiting for orders any more. Or even a boyfriend at home. Tennal would be gone for at least six months. Surit had wanted to keep an eye out for news of his excursion though. And hoped for somewhat frequent messages, to know he was alright.
The strangers in the office had said there might be others from his world here and he'd patiently waited for them to check his very short list of names. Was it terrible that he had so few people he cared about? It certainly wasn't surprising. He'd kept everyone at a careful distance most of his life, to avoid talking about his mother, or his abilities. Now he was standing in front of an apartment door, the piece of paper with Tennal's location in his back pocket. It had felt rude to tell the man he didn't need anything written down.
He knocked and tried not to look hopelessly awkward as he waited. He mostly failed.
Tennal had been doing his due diligence. Asking questions, making lists, preparing for the stupidly hopeful thought that he could bring the people he loved to this strange new world, free of responsibility. There had been that initial panic that suddenly disappearing off the Resolution's radar would cause more problems than it would have solved. But he was assured, more than once actually, that a pocket of time—not unlike the wormholes of space—was carved out and stretched forever while in Vallo.
He just didn't think he could go years without getting off this rock and hoping that Surit and his sister were okay. So Tennal had ordered flatbread from a small shop down the street and something close to sugarmint to soothe that new place jitters and feel close to the ones he was furthest from. It almost worked, Tennal could swear he could feel Surit right outside his apartment—
Like a man possessed, Tennal was up from the sleek sofa, wandering toward the door. He almost felt ridiculous standing there, waiting for something to happen, but then the knocking, real and sudden, had startled him. Tennal hadn't imagined it. A beat later he was flying into motion unlocking the locks and throwing the door wide.
The delight on Tennal's face was palpable. It had only been a few days, but Lights, he had been thinking of Surit so often that the reality of him was better than he imagined. "Hi, boss," Tennal said, leaning against the door jamb. "Took you long enough."
The wait wasn't long, but Surit could admit that he was more tense than he looked on the outside. Every second felt a hundred times longer, so Tennal appearing in the doorway was an immediate relief. Surit smiled crookedly as tension ebbed out of his broad shoulders. His posture had been ramrod straight but now it was loose and curved like a flower turning its petals towards the sun.
"They told me you've only been here a few days." He wouldn't invite himself in, but he did move closer, lowering his voice and locking gazes. "Did they lie? Are you safe here?" He peeked over Tennal's shoulder into the apartment, senses sharp as he looked for any sign that Tennal was being mistreated. He almost missed when they were synced. He could have easily swam into Tennal's chaotic mind to find what he needed to know. If only because Tennal was not always forthcoming about his own discomfort.
Could Tennal say he missed Surit's intensity? Absolutely, especially when it was directed solely at him. Surit had never been a reader, but Tennal felt known in the way Surit stepped closer, making the personal space just theirs. They might not have been synced anymore, but they were making due with sheer proximity. Tennal inhaled and exhaled deeply, as if letting go of some of the tension that had built while he was alone for a few days.
"Not to worry you, because I know you're just going to worry," Tennal said, pointing at Surit as if his concern was something to scold him for. "But you're going to have to be more specific about safe." Tennal then grabbed Surit's elbow and urged him inside, promptly closing and locking the door behind them.
"The apartment, definitely safe. My overall well being, relatively safe. The city, generally speaking, mostly safe. Almost like Exana, if you ignore the—" He wanted to say constant attacks by a plethora of seemingly impossible things but if Surit only just arrived, Tennal didn't want to break his brain. Again. "The other parts."
Surit raised an eyebrow mildly at the finger pointed his way but let himself be pulled inside without any commentary. He was worried. There was plenty to be worried about, in his defense. And he could tell Tennal was relieved to see him so he doubted he had been sitting around without any concern either. Surit listened to Tennal’s report as he moved deeper into the apartment. They’d given him one next door, but he hadn’t bothered to look inside before coming straight here. If his was anything like this, he’d be uncomfortable with all the space. He had a feeling he’d be finding excuses to come over to Tennal’s rooms anyway.
“The other parts,” he deadpanned, letting the words sit uncomfortably in the air for a moment. He’d heard the welcome spiel. He’d probably paid more attention than Tennal had. Eventually, he stopped mapping the main living area in his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “You mean things like carnivorous giant mushrooms and Lights knows what else. Have you seen any of it for yourself?”
"They told you about the other things? I only heard about the mushrooms." Tennal sounded partially offended. The welcoming committee hadn't told him about any of this. Or, well, maybe they had. Tennal, admittedly, did not pay attention while he was internally freaking out about where the hell he was, if he was in more trouble, and why he was alone. On the outside, he had feigned interest and waved them off the moment they equipped him with lodging and a communication device that had, unfortunately, not been able to call Surit.
"But no, nope, I haven't seen it. Thought it might have been a hazing situation, pull a fast one on the new guy, but you know—" He gestured at his temple, and then said nothing else. He knew that Surit would understand what he meant. Explaining that he was able to read people's thoughts didn't feel like something he should broadcast on a strange planet.
"I didn't tell them. But from what I could read, I'm pretty positive that they were telling the truth about all of it. That or they all genuinely believe in some mass hallucination," Tennal said, as he watched Surit's initial scan of the apartment. He seemed to reconsider their conversation, and asked, "And you're okay? I have water if you need to sit for a moment or a lot of moments."
Tennal rambling was soothing to Surit and he wasn’t sure when that happened. It hadn’t been the day they met, when Tennal had been bare-assed and verbally pinning Surit to the wall like a bug on display. But somewhere between then and now, he’d moved Tennal’s voice and energy onto the list of things that comforted him when the world around them was chaotic and complicated.
“I don’t need to sit.” He uncrossed his arms and moved towards Tennal. “I wanted to make sure you were okay before I started looking around. I want to get a good look at the city, ways in and out, find out for sure if there’s no transportation off-planet or if that’s just a line they feed the new arrivals to keep them docile. And also…” He took a deep breath, like he was gearing up to say something difficult, but all he did was lean into Tennal’s space and kiss him softly. “…I wanted to say I’m glad you’re not with the Resolution. Whatever all this really is.”
Tennal was trying not to smile. He knew how serious the circumstances were. He knew that his tightly wound former lieutenant would still be on high alert because it wasn't that easy to just drop habits in new places. But Surit being here was better than anything, and the pleasure of having him in his space was sorely missed.
However, all bets were off when Surit kissed him; Tennal couldn't hide his grin, wide, bright, almost eager to continue doing that rather than sort out the situation. But the piece of Surit that was still bouncing around in his mind, that organized and responsible sliver that he had tucked away, told him Surit would never be able to truly relax without getting some of the answers.
"I'm glad I'm not either. Six months was a long time, and I was trying to put on a good front when I left but—" He shrugged with one shoulder, as if the answer was simple. "I missed you, already, like a normal person."
Tennal kissed him back, just as softly, before pulling away, abruptly as though he had just remembered. "But, but, I did find out where most of the ships are docked. Not that I approve of stealing, but if you were intent on confirming no off-planet transportation, we can ask politely."
Surit smiled back, a little more controlled, but only just barely. Tennal’s grin was too infectious with the feel of his lips still on Surit’s mind and that admission - I missed you, already - hanging in the air. He hadn’t been given a chance to miss Tennal for more than a few moments but he had a good mind for calculations and he knew exactly how bad it would’ve gotten over the months. This was better. They could handle this bizarre situation together.
“Like a normal person,” he teased, his gaze overly warm on Tennal’s face. “Normal isn’t a real thing. And if it was, you would be entirely too exceptional to be anywhere near it.” Absentmindedly, he caressed a hand up Tennal’s forearm and curled his fingers possessively around his elbow. He was maybe feeling a bit touch-starved now that they had more solidly established their relationship. Being dumped in a strange world didn’t change that. “Will you show me? What you found? I’m sure you’ve taken note of other things that I’ll miss. People of note. Gossip.”
"Oh, flattery will get you everywhere, Lieutenant," Tennal said. His own hand mirrored the same slow side up Surit's arm, the same gentle possessive grip. It was an unconscious gesture, one that he had inherited from Surit being inside his mind. But the desire, the care, the concern for Surit was all his, underneath his charming banter.
"Although, I can't imagine I can call you that anymore. It would confuse people here, some of the defense members probably. And I haven't gotten much of a read on them. That is gossip you will have to wait on. But the other things, of course, I'll show you. I made a note of them in order of preference, in case you did show up. I admit I didn't think it would be this soon but—" He squeezed Surit's arm reassuringly, "I'm not complaining."
Tennal tried to hide the hopefulness in his voice. "Where did they put you? I'm going to need to do my own, not-so subtle perusal of your place. Deem whether or not it's suitable for you. I know the kinds of places you're used to sleeping."
Surit’s fair skin did nothing to hide his flush at the way Tennal said everything. That was a topic for later. When he could give it all of his attention. But he still drifted closer for a brief second, moving his hand from Tennal’s elbow to the base of his spine. He wanted to let it travel further, but the nagging need to get all his ducks in a row was impossible to ignore.
“I don’t see how it’s anyone else’s business what you call me. I have no intention of joining their military operation and I can’t imagine you’re eager to sign up either.” He wasn’t sure how he felt about being called lieutenant when he wasn’t one and never would be again, but Tennal had a habit of making things better than Surit expected them to be. Just by sheer force of will.
“As for where they put me…” He let go of Tennal to gesture in the direction of his assigned quarters. “I think we share a wall. You’re welcome to come inspect it anytime. After I get a look around,” he clarified, glancing towards the door.
Sharing a wall? That information immediately piqued Tennal's interest. They were familiar with mental walls before and verbal walls, but not nearly as many physical ones, despite their efforts to try. Tennal had a sneaking suspicion that the one they shared in their gifted apartments wouldn't pose much of a problem. Or he intended for it not to. Suffocating Surit's earned free space was not on his agenda.
He was trying to be casual, not make assumptions—despite the fact that Tennal had been inside Surit's mind more than his own—but it was easy to pick up on the cues. Reading him really never had been necessary for Tennal to know what he was thinking.
"You are going to be impossible until then, aren't you?" Tennal teased, as he moved away from Surit to grab his device and shrug on the loaner coat he promised he'd eventually return. "All right, Lieutenant," Tennal said, deciding that Surit was right, that he could call him whatever he wanted. It was more affection than actual ranker bullshit.
He held out his hand for Surit to take. "There's a lot to see, and you're going to need me, your esteemed tour guide of four-ish days, to show you the best places." He paused, then added, "And the important ones. There are worse places to be stuck."
The little crinkle between Surit's eyebrows was pronounced but his pout was more obviously good-humored. "Impossible is a strong word."
He threaded their fingers together and lifted their joined hands to kiss one of Tennal's knuckles. "But you're right. There are far worse places to be stuck. Remind me to tell you about the time I got trapped in a barn with four hungry pigs when I was twelve."
With that said, and no further details offered, he pulled Tennal back out into the hallway. He figured if nothing else, the promise of that story would keep his ever-nosy companion hot on his heels.
The strangers in the office had said there might be others from his world here and he'd patiently waited for them to check his very short list of names. Was it terrible that he had so few people he cared about? It certainly wasn't surprising. He'd kept everyone at a careful distance most of his life, to avoid talking about his mother, or his abilities. Now he was standing in front of an apartment door, the piece of paper with Tennal's location in his back pocket. It had felt rude to tell the man he didn't need anything written down.
He knocked and tried not to look hopelessly awkward as he waited. He mostly failed.
Tennal had been doing his due diligence. Asking questions, making lists, preparing for the stupidly hopeful thought that he could bring the people he loved to this strange new world, free of responsibility. There had been that initial panic that suddenly disappearing off the Resolution's radar would cause more problems than it would have solved. But he was assured, more than once actually, that a pocket of time—not unlike the wormholes of space—was carved out and stretched forever while in Vallo.
He just didn't think he could go years without getting off this rock and hoping that Surit and his sister were okay. So Tennal had ordered flatbread from a small shop down the street and something close to sugarmint to soothe that new place jitters and feel close to the ones he was furthest from. It almost worked, Tennal could swear he could feel Surit right outside his apartment—
Like a man possessed, Tennal was up from the sleek sofa, wandering toward the door. He almost felt ridiculous standing there, waiting for something to happen, but then the knocking, real and sudden, had startled him. Tennal hadn't imagined it. A beat later he was flying into motion unlocking the locks and throwing the door wide.
The delight on Tennal's face was palpable. It had only been a few days, but Lights, he had been thinking of Surit so often that the reality of him was better than he imagined. "Hi, boss," Tennal said, leaning against the door jamb. "Took you long enough."
The wait wasn't long, but Surit could admit that he was more tense than he looked on the outside. Every second felt a hundred times longer, so Tennal appearing in the doorway was an immediate relief. Surit smiled crookedly as tension ebbed out of his broad shoulders. His posture had been ramrod straight but now it was loose and curved like a flower turning its petals towards the sun.
"They told me you've only been here a few days." He wouldn't invite himself in, but he did move closer, lowering his voice and locking gazes. "Did they lie? Are you safe here?" He peeked over Tennal's shoulder into the apartment, senses sharp as he looked for any sign that Tennal was being mistreated. He almost missed when they were synced. He could have easily swam into Tennal's chaotic mind to find what he needed to know. If only because Tennal was not always forthcoming about his own discomfort.
Could Tennal say he missed Surit's intensity? Absolutely, especially when it was directed solely at him. Surit had never been a reader, but Tennal felt known in the way Surit stepped closer, making the personal space just theirs. They might not have been synced anymore, but they were making due with sheer proximity. Tennal inhaled and exhaled deeply, as if letting go of some of the tension that had built while he was alone for a few days.
"Not to worry you, because I know you're just going to worry," Tennal said, pointing at Surit as if his concern was something to scold him for. "But you're going to have to be more specific about safe." Tennal then grabbed Surit's elbow and urged him inside, promptly closing and locking the door behind them.
"The apartment, definitely safe. My overall well being, relatively safe. The city, generally speaking, mostly safe. Almost like Exana, if you ignore the—" He wanted to say constant attacks by a plethora of seemingly impossible things but if Surit only just arrived, Tennal didn't want to break his brain. Again. "The other parts."
Surit raised an eyebrow mildly at the finger pointed his way but let himself be pulled inside without any commentary. He was worried. There was plenty to be worried about, in his defense. And he could tell Tennal was relieved to see him so he doubted he had been sitting around without any concern either. Surit listened to Tennal’s report as he moved deeper into the apartment. They’d given him one next door, but he hadn’t bothered to look inside before coming straight here. If his was anything like this, he’d be uncomfortable with all the space. He had a feeling he’d be finding excuses to come over to Tennal’s rooms anyway.
“The other parts,” he deadpanned, letting the words sit uncomfortably in the air for a moment. He’d heard the welcome spiel. He’d probably paid more attention than Tennal had. Eventually, he stopped mapping the main living area in his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “You mean things like carnivorous giant mushrooms and Lights knows what else. Have you seen any of it for yourself?”
"They told you about the other things? I only heard about the mushrooms." Tennal sounded partially offended. The welcoming committee hadn't told him about any of this. Or, well, maybe they had. Tennal, admittedly, did not pay attention while he was internally freaking out about where the hell he was, if he was in more trouble, and why he was alone. On the outside, he had feigned interest and waved them off the moment they equipped him with lodging and a communication device that had, unfortunately, not been able to call Surit.
"But no, nope, I haven't seen it. Thought it might have been a hazing situation, pull a fast one on the new guy, but you know—" He gestured at his temple, and then said nothing else. He knew that Surit would understand what he meant. Explaining that he was able to read people's thoughts didn't feel like something he should broadcast on a strange planet.
"I didn't tell them. But from what I could read, I'm pretty positive that they were telling the truth about all of it. That or they all genuinely believe in some mass hallucination," Tennal said, as he watched Surit's initial scan of the apartment. He seemed to reconsider their conversation, and asked, "And you're okay? I have water if you need to sit for a moment or a lot of moments."
Tennal rambling was soothing to Surit and he wasn’t sure when that happened. It hadn’t been the day they met, when Tennal had been bare-assed and verbally pinning Surit to the wall like a bug on display. But somewhere between then and now, he’d moved Tennal’s voice and energy onto the list of things that comforted him when the world around them was chaotic and complicated.
“I don’t need to sit.” He uncrossed his arms and moved towards Tennal. “I wanted to make sure you were okay before I started looking around. I want to get a good look at the city, ways in and out, find out for sure if there’s no transportation off-planet or if that’s just a line they feed the new arrivals to keep them docile. And also…” He took a deep breath, like he was gearing up to say something difficult, but all he did was lean into Tennal’s space and kiss him softly. “…I wanted to say I’m glad you’re not with the Resolution. Whatever all this really is.”
Tennal was trying not to smile. He knew how serious the circumstances were. He knew that his tightly wound former lieutenant would still be on high alert because it wasn't that easy to just drop habits in new places. But Surit being here was better than anything, and the pleasure of having him in his space was sorely missed.
However, all bets were off when Surit kissed him; Tennal couldn't hide his grin, wide, bright, almost eager to continue doing that rather than sort out the situation. But the piece of Surit that was still bouncing around in his mind, that organized and responsible sliver that he had tucked away, told him Surit would never be able to truly relax without getting some of the answers.
"I'm glad I'm not either. Six months was a long time, and I was trying to put on a good front when I left but—" He shrugged with one shoulder, as if the answer was simple. "I missed you, already, like a normal person."
Tennal kissed him back, just as softly, before pulling away, abruptly as though he had just remembered. "But, but, I did find out where most of the ships are docked. Not that I approve of stealing, but if you were intent on confirming no off-planet transportation, we can ask politely."
Surit smiled back, a little more controlled, but only just barely. Tennal’s grin was too infectious with the feel of his lips still on Surit’s mind and that admission - I missed you, already - hanging in the air. He hadn’t been given a chance to miss Tennal for more than a few moments but he had a good mind for calculations and he knew exactly how bad it would’ve gotten over the months. This was better. They could handle this bizarre situation together.
“Like a normal person,” he teased, his gaze overly warm on Tennal’s face. “Normal isn’t a real thing. And if it was, you would be entirely too exceptional to be anywhere near it.” Absentmindedly, he caressed a hand up Tennal’s forearm and curled his fingers possessively around his elbow. He was maybe feeling a bit touch-starved now that they had more solidly established their relationship. Being dumped in a strange world didn’t change that. “Will you show me? What you found? I’m sure you’ve taken note of other things that I’ll miss. People of note. Gossip.”
"Oh, flattery will get you everywhere, Lieutenant," Tennal said. His own hand mirrored the same slow side up Surit's arm, the same gentle possessive grip. It was an unconscious gesture, one that he had inherited from Surit being inside his mind. But the desire, the care, the concern for Surit was all his, underneath his charming banter.
"Although, I can't imagine I can call you that anymore. It would confuse people here, some of the defense members probably. And I haven't gotten much of a read on them. That is gossip you will have to wait on. But the other things, of course, I'll show you. I made a note of them in order of preference, in case you did show up. I admit I didn't think it would be this soon but—" He squeezed Surit's arm reassuringly, "I'm not complaining."
Tennal tried to hide the hopefulness in his voice. "Where did they put you? I'm going to need to do my own, not-so subtle perusal of your place. Deem whether or not it's suitable for you. I know the kinds of places you're used to sleeping."
Surit’s fair skin did nothing to hide his flush at the way Tennal said everything. That was a topic for later. When he could give it all of his attention. But he still drifted closer for a brief second, moving his hand from Tennal’s elbow to the base of his spine. He wanted to let it travel further, but the nagging need to get all his ducks in a row was impossible to ignore.
“I don’t see how it’s anyone else’s business what you call me. I have no intention of joining their military operation and I can’t imagine you’re eager to sign up either.” He wasn’t sure how he felt about being called lieutenant when he wasn’t one and never would be again, but Tennal had a habit of making things better than Surit expected them to be. Just by sheer force of will.
“As for where they put me…” He let go of Tennal to gesture in the direction of his assigned quarters. “I think we share a wall. You’re welcome to come inspect it anytime. After I get a look around,” he clarified, glancing towards the door.
Sharing a wall? That information immediately piqued Tennal's interest. They were familiar with mental walls before and verbal walls, but not nearly as many physical ones, despite their efforts to try. Tennal had a sneaking suspicion that the one they shared in their gifted apartments wouldn't pose much of a problem. Or he intended for it not to. Suffocating Surit's earned free space was not on his agenda.
He was trying to be casual, not make assumptions—despite the fact that Tennal had been inside Surit's mind more than his own—but it was easy to pick up on the cues. Reading him really never had been necessary for Tennal to know what he was thinking.
"You are going to be impossible until then, aren't you?" Tennal teased, as he moved away from Surit to grab his device and shrug on the loaner coat he promised he'd eventually return. "All right, Lieutenant," Tennal said, deciding that Surit was right, that he could call him whatever he wanted. It was more affection than actual ranker bullshit.
He held out his hand for Surit to take. "There's a lot to see, and you're going to need me, your esteemed tour guide of four-ish days, to show you the best places." He paused, then added, "And the important ones. There are worse places to be stuck."
The little crinkle between Surit's eyebrows was pronounced but his pout was more obviously good-humored. "Impossible is a strong word."
He threaded their fingers together and lifted their joined hands to kiss one of Tennal's knuckles. "But you're right. There are far worse places to be stuck. Remind me to tell you about the time I got trapped in a barn with four hungry pigs when I was twelve."
With that said, and no further details offered, he pulled Tennal back out into the hallway. He figured if nothing else, the promise of that story would keep his ever-nosy companion hot on his heels.