[Commentlog] | [closed] - backdated to earlier in the human event

[detectivetroll]

[After talking with Julian and Kagerou on the journals and promising to drop by their rooms with dinner, Nick heads down to the kitchen. Monroe isn't really coming out of his room at the moment, either, which means Nick is pretty much just a food delivery service tonight.

Maybe he should try to get tips.

After grilling up some chicken, potatoes, and bread, and slicing up tomatoes and cheese, Nick brings the lot up to the barracks. He stops by Julian's room first, knocking on the door and announcing his presence.

He picks up some ale before he goes to Kagerou's room, because hell, if Kagerou's human, he might as well have some beer, too. Even if it isn't an Oregon microbrew.]

Comments

[atethecanary]

No one does. There's not much entertainment here.

[Which is why he still doesn't understand why no one else will do anything for him. It's not like they have anything better to do. He glowers for a moment, but the expression clears when he takes a bite of a potato.]

The food is... good.

[Julian pauses, looks down at the plate, and scratches his head awkwardly.]

Nice job.

[detectivetroll]

Yeah. But I've got some things we can do, if you're interested.

[Poor Julian, no one to do things for him. Wait until he finds out Nick is going to teach him to do them for himself.

Nick smiles at that, both the compliment and Julian's awkwardness.]

Thanks. You're welcome to have some, whenever I make it.

[Or whenever Monroe does.]

[atethecanary]

Like what?

[He only sounds a little suspicious. If it wasn't Nick, there would have been much more suspicion in his voice.]

Yeah... I'd like that.

[Julian's tone is neutral and he's still looking down at his plate, but there's a smile on his face.]

[detectivetroll]

[Nick sees that smile, Julian. He won't comment on it, though. Instead, he just grins a bit at the suspicion.]

You did a pretty good job with that ax back there. We wouldn't have been able to get away when we did, if it wasn't for you. But if you want to know how to use it for things other than hacking at chains, I can show you. Or any other kind of self defense, really.

[atethecanary]

[Julian looks up from the plate in wide-eyed confusion at Nick's praise. He... helped? The look of confusion only lasts a second or two and quickly changes into indifference. The suggestion of self defense gets an eyebrow raise.]

That doesn't sound like fun.

[He looks skeptical, but it's not an outright no.]

[detectivetroll]

[Of course Julian helped. Nick's proud of him, man, he did good for a kid who's never used a weapon before.]

What, getting to play with axes and swords and crossbows doesn't sound like fun?

[Come on, who can say no to that.]

[atethecanary]

[Julian snorts and goes back to eating.]

No, weapons don't really sound like fun. They sound like a lot of effort.

[He pauses, considering for a moment, and then shrugs.]

But I'll give it a try.

[detectivetroll]

[Nick laughs.]

Just because it's effort doesn't mean it's not fun.

[He knew he'd win Julian over.]

How about I make you breakfast after we're done?

[atethecanary]

[He tenses when Nick laughs, but when he realizes Nick isn't laughing at him, like most of the people around here do, he relaxes.]

In my experience that's usually the case.

[Julian's eyes light up at the mention of food, but it fades a little when he thinks about the words in that question carefully. He gives Nick another suspicious look.]

Breakfast? Just how early is this going to happen?

[detectivetroll]

[Nick sees that tensing, and his reaction is to reach out and ruffle Julian's hair a bit.]

You just need more experiences.

[...actually, Nick's pleased with that suspicious look. It means Julian clued in on that.]

Caught that, huh? Don't worry, I won't make you get up at a little after dawn like I usually do.

[atethecanary]

[There's that hair ruffling business again. It still confuses Julian a bit, but it puts a grin, teeth showing and all, on his face for a quick moment. And then it's gone and Julian is sighing dramatically and running a hand through his hair.]

Messing up my hair, again.

[Julian looks unimpressed by Nick's answer. Just because he won't be woken up around dawn, doesn't mean he still won't be woken up early.]

That's very comforting.

[detectivetroll]

[Too late for that last bit, Julian, Nick knows he likes it. Apparently Nick is drawn to people who really like affection, but don't want to show it.]

What do you mean? You can't even see the difference.

[He's teasing, playful grin on his face.]

What, don't want breakfast, then?

[atethecanary]

Of course you can. You're just too old to notice it.

[Julian's teasing too. He doesn't wear the same grin as Nick, but his eyebrows are raised and there's a tilt to his lips.]

No... I do.

[He knows he's trapped. If he wants food, he's going to have to wake up early. The thought of it makes him pout, but he really wants more food.]

Wake me up and I'll be there.

[detectivetroll]

Playing the age card again already? Ouch.

[But Nick doesn't really mind. He's glad to get Julian joking like this, he kind of figures it doesn't happen all that often.]

You'll have fun. And breakfast'll be worth it, I'll let you pick what you want.

[And eventually, Nick'll get him helping in that, too.]

[atethecanary]

I'm going to use it every chance I get.

[Julian snickers. He really doesn't get to joke around all that often, especially not here. It puts him in a better mood, and there's no longer a pout on his face.]

It's a deal.

[He eats the last bit of food left on the plate and gives a small, quick nod.]