forsakenprince | Noctium Inbox

[ At some point during the early part of the curses happening, Uldren will get a voice message. It's from Crow's ID address but it's not... Crow? It's like someone is piggybacking off his ID. ]

Prince Uldren? This is Glint, Crow's Ghost.

I know you probably don't want to hear from either of us, but I thought I should check in on you, since I've been hearing some strange stories about people becoming cursed. Wanted to make sure you weren't losing your head or anything like that!

Except you can actually lose your head. If you lost your head, please ... make a noise. Any noise will mean yes! If you can reach your phone, that is...

Er. Anyways. Goodbye, I hope you're all in one piece!

[ That the annoying gnat that was a Ghost bothered to call him by his title was not missed. It was probably the only reason Uldren bothered to answer at all. ]

You are correct: I don't wish to hear from any of you, so why you thought a call would be welcome is beyond me. I was doing fine until you called.

[ There was a pause, followed by a huffy sigh. ] But if it will make you leave me alone: I am not afflicted by this so-called curse. I have not lost my head and I am one piece.

Well, we may not need to stick together, but we should definitely keep an eye on each other! This place can get pretty weird if you're not careful... as you've seen.

[ There's a long pause. Probably a bit awkward. Glint can't say he likes Uldren, but he feels a bit responsible for his well being. He did eventually become Crow. ]

Remember to eat and stay hydrated, too!

I hardly need you and your kind breathing down my neck. You and Crow already pointed out that none of you need my help.

[ Not that they would get it anyway. ]

Go hover over Crow. Isn't that your entire job anyway?

I do plenty of things that aren't hovering over Crow! Like... research. I did a lot of research before I found him, you know!

[ Even Glint can admit he spends a lot of time with Crow. He won't be made to feel bad about it, though! Crow needs a lot of attention. ]

I categorized several new varieties of rock formations in the Reef!

It takes Boone a while of staring at his phone in his room, but after his talk with V he figures the least he can do is try. So he finally texts Uldren when he knows the other man is home, too.

Can we talk?

He almost regrets sending it at first, and he fiddles anxiously with his blunt nails as he waits for a reply. He needs to apologise for what happened in Ballymallet- but if Uldren won't accept that then Boone won't push it.

Uldren was trying to sleep when his phone went off. When he wasn't trying desperately to cling to the feeling he kept assuming was his sister and trying to force her to speak to him again. She had grown quiet more often than not, he felt her less with each passing day.

The sound of the phone vibrating startled him. He checked it and hesitated for a moment, then responded.

Yes. Would you prefer to talk over this or would you rather we speak in the common area?

It's called a living room Uldren.

Meet me in the living room.

As much as Boone would like to hide behind a screen, that feels like a cop out and not like a real apology. He needs Uldren to know he means it.

He slides off his bed and pads into the main room, quiet as ever. There, he stands with his arms folded and his lips pursed as he tries to figure out what he's supposed to say.

There was about a minute's delay before Uldren stepped into the living room - he had to find a shirt to pull over his head and he might have taken a moment to make sure his hair wasn't a complete fucking mess.

He did eventually pad out into the living room and, mirroring Boone's body language, crossed his arms. He didn't walk too far into the room because he isn't so sure what to actually do. His expression was very guarded but lacked the dour edge it normally carried. He didn't say anything as he allowed Boone the time he needed to figure out what he wanted to say.

Boone doesn't speak for a good moment, lost in how to phrase what he wants to say. He doesn't like to just plunge headfirst into talking when it's important; he needs time to think it through, after all. Eventually he speaks, voice oddly level despite the fact that he's embarrassed to have to bring what happened back up again.

"About the other night... I'm sorry for springing that on you. Makes sense you'd be confused, and I'm not surprised you pulled back."

He tries not to use words like rejected because he's not trying to guilt trip Uldren into feeling bad for him, he just wants to clear the air.

"And I shouldn't have let you walk off alone, either. Don't doubt that you can take care of yourself but with the way our heads were being messed with... should've called you back."

Or grabbed him. Or something. Anything but letting him leave.

"So... yeah. You don't have to feel good about what happened, I sure as hell don't. But I... you were right. We get along. Would be a shame to lose that.

...That's, uh. All I have to say, I think."

He rubs his forehead tiredly. He isn't good at this but he thinks that was an okay apology. Now to stand around awkwardly and hope Uldren accepts it.

Uldren looked Boone over after he'd finished speaking. For once he didn't speak immediately and took a moment to mull over what he wanted to say himself. He wasn't sure how to really encapsulate what it was he wanted to say - he wasn't about to admit to what really happened and he didn't want to think about Jolyon again. He spoke slowly and quietly.

"I should not have responded the way I did. In truth, my response came from a place of surprise." He was careful not to say that he would have liked to explore it further because he was unsure where Boone was now that they were both free of the potion's effect.

"Don't feel bad about letting me walk away. Even with the potion, I was fine." Of all of the things that happened that evening that was what bothered him the least, truly. He was more bothered that Boone was the one that tried to get up and leave.

"Things have been uncomfortable since then but I still stand by what I said. I would rather not see our relationship ruined over a... Misunderstanding."

Boone nods once, unfolding his arms; perhaps in an attempt to make himself seem less closed-off.

"I don't want us to stop talking or anything, either. Just... wasn't sure how to make it right." Part of him balks at the fact that he tried, though. Something bad will happen, it always does. But he's so tired of being alone, and he can't keep his promise to the Courier if being alive is truly that sad.

Even if he's sure this will only play out one way in the end.

He sighs, wishing he'd kept his arms folded because he feels oddly vulnerable like this. "We're good, then?" He scuffs his foot against the ground awkwardly. "Cause I, uh... got you more wine. Thought maybe we could... hang out. Or something."

He'd had to fish the last bottle Uldren threw away out of the trash to see which one he liked, but he remembers it now.

Uldren's arms remain folded for a little longer - just until Boone admitted that he didn't know how to make things right. When he uncrossed them his hands found their way into his pockets. He went from stiff into that same perfunctory stance he'd had before all of this happened.

"Yes, we're fine." Well, there might be a little lingering awkwardness between them for the next couple of days, but they'd get through it. Most likely. Both of these guys were absolutely worthless at their feelings.

There was something charming about the way Boone was disarming himself and the way he apologized. He'd even found a peace offering based on the little bit that Boone knew of himself. He couldn't recall the last time someone had tried with him. Surely it wasn't since he'd pushed Jol away... He pushed the thought from his mind. He smiled slightly with a hint of amusement at the awkward ask.

"I would like that." More than he wanted to admit out loud, really. He moved whenever Boone did and fell into place on the couch as he did, leaving room for Boone if he wanted to join him.

Boone seems to release a breath as Uldren sits down, and he sits beside him after heading out to grab Uldren's wine, his whiskey, and two glasses. He thinks they could both use a drink after that.

"Wasn't interrupting anything, was I?" He nods towards where Uldren had exited his room. "Were you trying to sleep in there?" It's not particularly late, but they hadn't had much reason to sit together since Boone had briefly screwed everything up. At least, he hopes it was brief. Still feels a little awkward, but not half as much as before.

Unless Boone particularly refused him, Uldren took the wine and opened it, pouring his own glass while Boone poured his whiskey. Regardless, he was relaxing into the moment much more now that the talk was over and they were sitting together again. Uldren was no stranger to friction and confrontation but he would be lying to say that he enjoyed it. He was used to being the bad guy and to being loved only because he was a proxy and some piece of his heart knew just how tired of it he was, so the thought of repairing this relationship - the first time he was here of his own volition and liked because he was just him - meant a lot to him.

"You weren't interrupting anything important. I was resting, yes." But only for lack of anything else to do and to avoid the distance he felt. "Though it was only for lack of anything to do."

He needed to find other ways to fill his time. Searching for a way home was proving a worthless endeavor. He had an obsessive tendency to him, but even he knew when it was time to perhaps step back and reassess. Finding something else to fill his time wasn't a terrible idea.

"The evenings have been dull without our little talks. I admit that I have missed them."

Boone lets Uldren pour his own glass, focusing on his own. He's relaxing more too, glad that the serious stuff is over. He's feeling kind of accomplished for actually talking about something like this, though it doesn't quite reach his expression.

"Yeah... me too." He's not much of a talker usually, but the chats with Uldren have been enjoyable. Even if they were talking about nothing important, it was just nice.

"I don't really, uh. Talk with anyone else. Wasn't great at it back home, not great at it here. But it's... I like talking to you." He quickly takes a drink from his glass, wondering if he explained that well enough. Was it weird? He glances over at Uldren to gauge his reaction, though admittedly he's not great at reading people- he can tell when there's a subtle shift in them, but he doesn't tend to know what it correlates to.

Uldren drank while Boone spoke. He liked that they managed to talk and neither of them dug too far into each other's history. They knew enough about each other to have a mutual understanding that neither wished to really delve deeper into their own pasts.

He was hard to read on a good day: always guarded and wearing a mask of sarcastic ease when around anyone outside of his people. That Boone was somewhat similar and deigned Uldren worth conversing with made Uldren's face soften a little but it was minute. It was not lost on him that part of it may very well be the fact they lived in close quarters are were required to interact on some level. It hardly mattered.

"I don't think you give yourself enough credit." This was definitely the first time he'd paid Boone a compliment. He finally took a drink of his wine before he leaned back and looked at Boone as he let his arm rest on the back of the couch towards Boone. He might be testing the waters; Uldren was left curious after what had happened. How much of it was the potion and how much of it was actually Boone? "You make conversation easy."

Honestly, if Boone doesn't want to talk with someone he won't- whether he lives with them or not. But Uldren is intelligent and charismatic, and has a way of making Boone feel at ease.

He seems surprised at the compliment. Not many people have told him that; Carla had said as much and so had Manny, but that's two people in over twenty years. "You think so?" He considers it, sipping his whiskey.

"I think the only people who've told me that were... people I felt comfortable with." Comfortable enough to socialise with well despite his usual inability to do so. "Guess it's the same with you, too."

He doesn't really react to the arm, but that's more of a good thing than a bad thing. He might have tensed up if it bothered him, or moved away. He's aware of it, though. He vaguely wonders if Uldren is just trying to get comfortable. He can't honestly gauge his own feelings right now on whether or not he'd want it to be anything else.

Uldren wasn't really sure what to say to Uldren's response. He wasn't someone that spoke in platitudes and he tried to mean what it was that he said. Uldren's impenetrable expression shifted when Boone admitted he was comfortable with him though. His features softened slightly, lips parted a little in surprise, brows rose.

People, at best, tolerated Uldren. They didn't like him, they didn't find him pleasant, they sure weren't comfortable with him. Not in recent years, anyway. Only his sister genuinely enjoyed being in his presence and even their relationship was filled with disagreements on a good day. But that was such a relationship between a Queen and her subject, right?

Uldren left his arm to rest there, for now, letting Boone grow used to the idea of it being there. He didn't wish to move too fast and scare Boone or cause what had happened between them in Ballymallet to be reversed.

"Most people don't find me a comforting presence," he said quietly. He drained his glass of wine rather unceremoniously and pulled away to pour himself another glass.

Boone goes silent for a moment, mulling over what to say. Asking after Uldren's friends seems nosy at best and Boone decides to keep it focused on the two of them.

"Well, guess I'm not most people." He's never really thought of himself as the type to stand out but he supposes in this case, he does. He finishes his own drink and pours another, leaning back against the chair.

"If I didn't like having you around I'd have moved. Not like that's hard to do here." He could probably find a house for himself if he wanted. But he enjoys it just being the two of them. Uldren minds his own business, is a pretty decent drinking partner and doesn't push for interaction when he knows Boone doesn't want it.

He considers moving closer, but figures if Uldren wants to sync up he can initiate that. Boone doesn't want to push it after what happened in Ballymallet.

Uldren isn't sure what to say by the time Boone was done speaking. He felt pretty conflicted about everything: he wanted to pursue whatever the hell this mess was, but he also had a strong sense that he shouldn't. It would be a distraction from finding a way home and getting back to his plan to free his sister. To free Mara. He could be with her again...

But what did taking a little time for himself really hurt? everythingobrothermine Why couldn't he enjoy himself a little? havingfundoesntgetyouhomeobrothermine Surely his sister must be okay, right? imtrappedicantgetoutineedyouobrothermind A hero... saviorofthequeenherofotheawokenyouwillbelovedobrothermine

Uldren had to ever so slightly shook his head to press the voices away so that he could think straight about what was going on right now instead of focusing on the whispering. If he didn't enjoy living with Boone he would have moved out as well. Boone kept his nose out of Uldren's business and the conversation was usually pretty surface level, they figured out a way to generate manna in a way that they could agree on, they were good drinking buddies, he helped Uldren keep a clearer head.

"I guess you're not," he said as he moved closer, not quite realizing what he was doing until he'd already done it. He was belatedly worried that Boone might recoil, but it was too late to do anything about it. He wasn't really sure what else to say. "I, uh, admit I probably would be somebody's sculpture by now if not for you."

Did? As in before you took my body? Before Crow?

[ His tone was wry. ]

And after? What do you do other than hover over him now?

He wonders why Uldren shakes his head, and just as Uldren moves closer he reaches out as if to put a steadying hand on his shoulder. He stops himself as Uldren gets closer, but there's still concern in his expression. He wants to ask if he's okay, but he seems to have righted himself, so... maybe Boone was just reading too much into it?

In any case, he realises they're pretty close again, and more shockingly realises he doesn't really mind. This feels different to the times before when they've just held hands, and he'd be a fool not to recognise the lingering memory in his mind of when they'd kissed for that brief second- he still feels Uldren's lips on his if he really focuses on it, but he tries to push that away.

"Yeah... I'd be one too, I bet." He lowers his hand and sets it beside Uldren's. There's a rising guilt in his chest with every move he makes, thinking of Carla, of how it ended for her. But Uldren isn't Carla. Hope mingles with the guilt. "Heh. You'd make a better statue than me. Nicer to look at." There's a rare smile as he looks away, down at their hands. His fingers fiddle with the fabric of the couch as if unsure what to do with them. "Kinda glad we're both still moving, though."

Before I found Crow, yes.

[ Listen, Uldren.. you weren't using it, finders keepers. ]

As his Ghost I do aid him a lot... but I still conduct research into many things! Like pre-Collapse ritual holidays and things like that. I'm one of many Ghosts with a robust Eliksni dictionary as well.

When Boone didn't recoil from the familiarity and closeness it was a relief to Uldren. He knew that Boone could be rather standoffish and touch averse at times and his concern was getting close like this would push him away, especially after so soon an apology for what happened. His fingers brushed against Boone's, and if that seems okay his hand would slowly cover the other man's as he fiddled with the couch. Fingers aligned as if he would lace their fingers together but that didn't come.

The thought of Jolyon crossed his mind as their hands touched. He hurt to think about, centuries of relationship, anyway, gone after their trip to the Garden together. And the Garden was certainly more important, yes, and he didn't know why Jolyon didn't understand that. Maybe they really had just run out of things to say to each other after so long. Maybe Jolyon just grew tired of Uldren's play and curiosity. Maybe it was time they found someone new.

"I think you are, again, selling yourself short." Boone wasn't as unattractive as he seemed to think he was. He was strong and a bit rough and there was certainly something attractive about that. "I much prefer you here with me, though."

A pause.

"I don't think you'd be much for conversation as a statue, I mean," he hastily added. You know, in case the tone of what he said before was a little too comfortable.

Noctium Inbox

voice; un: glint

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27th Nov

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how tf has it been 6 days since you posted this like how tf am i losing time like this

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endwalker prep real

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