( Once he's settled, she stops tugging. She doesn't resist the urge to run a hand through his hair -- she'd thought he looked rather nice with it slicked back, but the messy, untamable tendency it had about being perpetual bedhead was more attractive in the long run.
She's pretty sure if she tried, she could get some of it to clump together into tiny horns on either side of his head.
She decides not to share this insight with Caesar. )
It wasn't about it being a surprise, it was about it being an impossible task. They can't really get my ability from my genes away, but they thought they could. And then they couldn't, because my genes are inherently flawed. To get morphing, they'd have to fix me. So he got frustrated! That was the day I got the big shot.
( She grimaces, then snorts. )
Not that I felt it, but it was still an impressively big needle! Not sure what that was supposed to be. Some kind of vitamin booster?
Later, later, tomorrow or the next day, if you really want me to! Anything they put in me went out when I got pulled out of compound. It's one of the upsides, you know? Things that aren't part of your system don't stay there.
( She does her best to look sincere. A large part of it is not wanting to be poked anymore, and being pretty sure that everything is fine. She's been tired, but not even overly tired. Just a little underfed and sloughing off anxiety now that she's back where she feels more comfortable being. )
Come on, what did I say about giving your brain a break?
( She quirks up an eyebrow, giving him a half-smile. )
That means letting the worries be less worrying for a little, too!
[ Let him worry, damnit. It isn't something he does very often and he wants it all out of his own system! The comment on giving his brain a break, though! That garners a roll of his eyes, but he does slump back over to lean against her again. ]
[ The day after tomorrow, huh? That's good enough. He won't fight for sooner. Though, now that he's checked up on her and gotten that promise, he shifts a little so he can eye the door. ]
( "Not when I'm tired" paired with "I should get going" gets a fairly standard reaction out of Collette. She snorts, free hand coming up to poke him gently in the chest. )
I'd prefer if you'd stay. We can nap. ( She adds helpfully. It's not one she usually offers. In fact, last time she was tired, he was still the one convincing her to sleep. )
Let you catch up on all your missing hours of sleep!
( Teasing, even while she figures this is... actually true. )
( Collette frowns, hoping Caesar doesn't see with where he is right now. )
He knocked you down?
( Not disbelieving: digesting. It means her answer to Caesar's question, rhetorical or otherwise, goes a beat longer than usual before she answers. Part of that is in parsing his obvious irritation.
Most people are rightfully irritated with Xerxes Break. )
No, not always, not like that. But... Sometimes. ( She says. ) When he first heard me talking with Jack, he got like that. Before he ran off with Gilbert to the Outlands.
( She leans back, into her built up pillows, and this time really does tug-drag Caesar along. )
And kept telling me to shut up. Can you imagine that? He really doesn't know me well enough to be so judging.
[ Because Caesar? Shutting up? When it isn't vitally important to? That's laughable.
Then he finds himself leaned back with her against pillows. That's going to throw a wrench in his hope of getting back to the Hold, considering how comfortable it is. ]
( No, but Break may or may not know more about Caesar than Caesar believes. It's one of those things she wonders on, how much attention to every element Break pays. More than he lets on, she suspects, but how much more? )
The worst he's ever done is toss Emily at me.
( And it really is; Break's never injured her, and when she'd been scared by his anger, it'd been focused on Jack. She'd timed herself away then, couldn't regret doing so now. Collette preferred his awkward almost-hugs, or actual hugs, or even the way he couldn't seem to learn not to lick other people's fingers when they're slipping him pastries at parties. )
So unless you've got a thing against dolls being tossed around...
( She teases, laughing lightly. ) I've been fine. If anything, I think he gets overprotective, when he's not sulking or getting into mischief. His priority is with Gil and Oz, and probably himself.
( Collette makes no bones about being glad Caesar hasn't up and left yet. It's nicer to rest with him being here. )
'slong as I don't get between him and those things, it should be okay.
[ Depending on the outcome of her laughing it off to Break's face, anyway, but if the worst he's done is throw toys around, that's something Caesar can let slide. There's no harm there. ]
Though if he ever does, you should consider moving in with someone else. I'm sure there'd be space somewhere, with someone a little less insane.
( She snorts again, a prelude to the quiet laughter of someone who doesn't quite manage to make it more than a change in breathing. With where he is, he can likely feel her chest moving. )
Caesar, go to sleep.
( It's like a celebration, as far as she's concerned. )
[ It was always him telling her to go to sleep before, but really, he'll let it slide. It's an idea he'll never turn down, going to sleep. So much for getting back to work, but...!
No matter.
He'll drapes his other arm over her, lacking anywhere else to put it besides leaving it awkwardly on his side, and closes his eyes, waiting for the sound of quiet breathing to lull him to sleep. ]
Had to borrow something. You had the worry part all covered on your own.
( Another almost laugh. She likes the weight of his arm across her, not bothering to stifle the yawn that comes over her.
It takes her a little to figure out that he's not quite sleeping yet, waiting on something from her. Takes her a bleary moment longer to realize it's more like when she'd been refusing to rest. She sets her breathing into a pattern to mimic sleep, something she's perfected since her earliest years, but it's a little too effective today. Before long, the pretense of slumber is indeed slumber itself.
Sweet dreams, kids. You deserve a few of them before the rest of everything hits the fan. )
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She's pretty sure if she tried, she could get some of it to clump together into tiny horns on either side of his head.
She decides not to share this insight with Caesar. )
It wasn't about it being a surprise, it was about it being an impossible task. They can't really get my ability from my genes away, but they thought they could. And then they couldn't, because my genes are inherently flawed. To get morphing, they'd have to fix me. So he got frustrated! That was the day I got the big shot.
( She grimaces, then snorts. )
Not that I felt it, but it was still an impressively big needle! Not sure what that was supposed to be. Some kind of vitamin booster?
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[ Just when he was getting comfortable! That has him sitting back upright and eyeing her. ]
Are you sure you shouldn't go get checked out? It wouldn't hurt, you know. I'm sure they've cleared up most of the worst off by now.
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( She does her best to look sincere. A large part of it is not wanting to be poked anymore, and being pretty sure that everything is fine. She's been tired, but not even overly tired. Just a little underfed and sloughing off anxiety now that she's back where she feels more comfortable being. )
Come on, what did I say about giving your brain a break?
( She quirks up an eyebrow, giving him a half-smile. )
That means letting the worries be less worrying for a little, too!
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[ Let him worry, damnit. It isn't something he does very often and he wants it all out of his own system! The comment on giving his brain a break, though! That garners a roll of his eyes, but he does slump back over to lean against her again. ]
You shouldn't ask for the impossible, you know.
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( She says brightly. It's a moment of thought before she sighs, pressing a kiss into his hair and living up to her own word. )
I'll go the day after tomorrow. A few days, and I'll have a better idea if anything's out of wack for me, 'kay? I promise.
( Not a scout's promise. Those she's usually only half serious about. )
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[ The day after tomorrow, huh? That's good enough. He won't fight for sooner. Though, now that he's checked up on her and gotten that promise, he shifts a little so he can eye the door. ]
I should get going...
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I'd prefer if you'd stay. We can nap. ( She adds helpfully. It's not one she usually offers. In fact, last time she was tired, he was still the one convincing her to sleep. )
Let you catch up on all your missing hours of sleep!
( Teasing, even while she figures this is... actually true. )
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[ It's not really a big fear he has, to be honest! Still, that guy... He isn't interested in another run-in so soon. ]
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( She asks, intending for it to be more of a joke. Her next question is not. )
What exactly did Break do?
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[ It's annoying just recalling it and some of that leaks into his tone, not caring at all to be more guarded about his dislike of that man. ]
Is he always like that?
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He knocked you down?
( Not disbelieving: digesting. It means her answer to Caesar's question, rhetorical or otherwise, goes a beat longer than usual before she answers. Part of that is in parsing his obvious irritation.
Most people are rightfully irritated with Xerxes Break. )
No, not always, not like that. But... Sometimes. ( She says. ) When he first heard me talking with Jack, he got like that. Before he ran off with Gilbert to the Outlands.
( She leans back, into her built up pillows, and this time really does tug-drag Caesar along. )
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[ Because Caesar? Shutting up? When it isn't vitally important to? That's laughable.
Then he finds himself leaned back with her against pillows. That's going to throw a wrench in his hope of getting back to the Hold, considering how comfortable it is. ]
He's never hurt you, has he?
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The worst he's ever done is toss Emily at me.
( And it really is; Break's never injured her, and when she'd been scared by his anger, it'd been focused on Jack. She'd timed herself away then, couldn't regret doing so now. Collette preferred his awkward almost-hugs, or actual hugs, or even the way he couldn't seem to learn not to lick other people's fingers when they're slipping him pastries at parties. )
So unless you've got a thing against dolls being tossed around...
( She teases, laughing lightly. ) I've been fine. If anything, I think he gets overprotective, when he's not sulking or getting into mischief. His priority is with Gil and Oz, and probably himself.
( Collette makes no bones about being glad Caesar hasn't up and left yet. It's nicer to rest with him being here. )
'slong as I don't get between him and those things, it should be okay.
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[ Depending on the outcome of her laughing it off to Break's face, anyway, but if the worst he's done is throw toys around, that's something Caesar can let slide. There's no harm there. ]
Though if he ever does, you should consider moving in with someone else. I'm sure there'd be space somewhere, with someone a little less insane.
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[ Seriously. This place must have some sane people around! ]
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( Her rich amusement at that is delivered as she turns her head toward him. Dummy. )
'sides, Dean's gone.
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[ He makes a face at the very mention of 'Dean', the sort that gets across 'oh, that asshole', but if he's gone...! ]
Good. Someone should celebrate that.
[ Today must be Caesar is Tired and Grouchy and Hating Everyone day. ]
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Caesar, go to sleep.
( It's like a celebration, as far as she's concerned. )
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[ It was always him telling her to go to sleep before, but really, he'll let it slide. It's an idea he'll never turn down, going to sleep. So much for getting back to work, but...!
No matter.
He'll drapes his other arm over her, lacking anywhere else to put it besides leaving it awkwardly on his side, and closes his eyes, waiting for the sound of quiet breathing to lull him to sleep. ]
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( Another almost laugh. She likes the weight of his arm across her, not bothering to stifle the yawn that comes over her.
It takes her a little to figure out that he's not quite sleeping yet, waiting on something from her. Takes her a bleary moment longer to realize it's more like when she'd been refusing to rest. She sets her breathing into a pattern to mimic sleep, something she's perfected since her earliest years, but it's a little too effective today. Before long, the pretense of slumber is indeed slumber itself.
Sweet dreams, kids. You deserve a few of them before the rest of everything hits the fan. )