(Untitled)

[snowymadness]

[Watching TV must be one of the more normal ways to pass the time around here, right? But even something as simple as that, Ivan seems to be making it the opposite

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[freddygetyergun]

[He wants to go in guns-blazing. He would have, probably, a day or two ago.

Even in this crazy wacked-out place (seriously, trying to do a full-on Radar with Soul Sights gave him the biggest headache of his life, with seasickness to boot) he managed to home in on their signal. Ivan's was hard to miss. Toris was like a band-aid on a gaping wound that was Ivan's sanity.

A day ago Alfred would have run in guns blazing. Now he was going to try a different tactic first. Arthur had helped stabilize him... Probably more than he'd ever know.]

Ivan.

[Alfred tried to keep his tone calm, warm even as he moved closer to the couch. It was impossible for him to try to show he was unarmed - he WAS a weapon, being unarmed was impossible. But he could avoid sneaking up on Ivan and startling him.]

[snowymadness]

[He glances over for a moment, unmoving. His attention won't stay with the other, though.]

Trying to watch this.

[It's not that he doesn't realize who's there, but... He's a little too zoned out to be caring about anything like that. It's probably for the best.]

[freddygetyergun]

Ah.

[Alfred moves around the couch and sits down next to Ivan.]

[snowymadness]

[There's still no physical reaction to that. Not even a tighter grip on his weapon.]

You'll watch, too?

[freddygetyergun]

Would you be okay with company?

[snowymadness]

Mhmm.

[He rolls onto his side, letting his legs drop down to the seat, and moving to rest his head on Alfred's lap. Not the slightest break in focus on the screen, though.]

[freddygetyergun]

[Alfred hesitates for a moment before shifting so that Ivan can be a bit more comfortable. Fuck, he hopes Arthur doesn't come in right now, this is going to be a bitch to complain. He reaches out to stroke Ivan's hair. Soothing and shit, yeah.]

[evenburnssouls]

[You called? He just happens to be passing by, when he hears the sound of static. How irresponsible of whomever was last in this room; now he has to turn the telly off. Never mind this place seems to have infinite electricity.

So he enters the room and-

...Well.

This? Is just a little awkward to walk in on. Cue laugh track.]

[snowymadness]

[Snuggling into that contact, now. There's little chance Ivan's still acknowledging Alfred as much other than a moving pillow.

But that's better than Arthur. He hasn't noticed the presence of the meister at all yet.]

[freddygetyergun]

[Yeah, one big, uh, cuddly pillow, stroking Ivan's hair soothingly, fingers massaging his scalp, and it's kind of ironic that there would have been a time that Alfred would have LOVED to be in this position...

He notices something out of the corner of his eye and turns his head and - fuck.

He quickly mouths 'It's not what it looks like!']

[evenburnssouls]

[You know how they talk about the temperature seeming to drop a few degrees when someone is so furious they are calm?

Well, when dealing with someone whose magic is in controlling fire and subsequently heat, that can become a very literal statement. If only because he's pulling every bit of the magic that wants to lash out with anger inside him, and taking the heat out of the air with it.]

Then what, exactly, is it.

[That's not a question; that's a demand.]

[freddygetyergun]

[Oh fuck. Oh fuck. Oh fuck. Alfred knows what that means. Fuck, FUCK! He is trying to 'casually' replace his lap with a pillow for Ivan so he can abort this tactic and get Arthur out of the room and hopefully talk him down. Meanwhile he is frantically mouthing at Arthur - 'THE JOB! THE JOB!']

[evenburnssouls]

[He exhales slowly, breath misting in the air in front of him, curling up and away like smoke. There is no part of the job he can think of that involves... involves getting that close to the enemy. You're mine. Mine mine mine. Not his. Stop touching him! He hasn't even blinked once.]

You'd best have a bloody excellent explanation, Alfred Francis Jones.

[snowymadness]

[... No... He doesn't want a normal pillow instead. While one hand's staying on the sword no matter what, he reaches his other to grab onto Alfred's leg. Stay in place, dammit.]

[freddygetyergun]

[MOTHERFUCKING-

Alfred stills with Ivan's hand on his leg like that, one hand on the back of the couch.]

I'll - I'll be right back Ivan. I just have to... use the bathroom. [Ivan hasn't apparently noticed Arthur yet. Alfred looks back up to Arthur, makes a few frantic hand gestures so quick and elaborate you'd think he was directing a baseball play. Really he's just trying to plead for a few more seconds and wait until they're in private to talk and NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR A FIGHT PLEASE CALM DOWN-]

[evenburnssouls]

[He's perfectly calm. In fact, he's never felt calmer. At least the temperature of the room has finally stabilised, though the air in front of him is still cold enough that his breath is visible. Arthur turns sharply on his heel and leaves the room.]

You have a minute.