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 Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2023 6:41 pm
Curiosity would always win over; Devyn had inspected the bracelet as soon as it was offered and nodded approvingly. He’d have time to give it a full look-over later, but right now there were other things to keep him busy.
“Oh, that’s cute, Michael. I’m surprised to hear it, your house is so tidy. But it’s very easy to imagine you surrounded by a pile of books. I don’t like the idea of moving often, that sounds stressful. Especially on someone young. I’ve only ever moved once in my life, and all I had was a bag of things. I’ve traveled a lot, but the only roots I ever put down were at the Hall.”
He’d never had to box up and carry around his entire life while he was traveling; he’d always had home to come back to. Even after Percy’s death, when he’d spent months on the road with only a bag, he’d still had home.
With a bit more space to move, and enough not to crowd Michael, he slipped into the room. There were things he thought he recognized, and more that were unknown to him. He couldn’t help but brush his fingers across some of the shelves. Dusty, but if that was the worst of it then it wasn’t anything to complain about.
“This room doesn’t even look all that bad,” he mused, but knowing that it was something that was important to Percy meant that it was important to him, too. “We’ll get it cleaned up and organized for him.”
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Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2023 7:34 pm
“When you found out you were Alastor,” Michael filled in the pieces of the story that Devyn didn’t need to include. He knew he’d been awakened young. He knew he’d lost his family in landslides due to the floods shortly after. A whole village disappearing. But that would have been the only time Devyn had moved, then.
Well, and then when he moved in with him. Although now that he had Alastor back, Michael supposed it only made sense to want to keep his home there. He couldn’t blame him for that. It was familiar. Somewhere he’d been for hundreds of years. Devyn had only been living with him and Atticus for less than a year. Certainly not long enough for roots to grow.
“We’ll probably be able to use this space to clear out some of the other stuff laying around. Once we go through it all I mean. We can bring some boxes back from Earth. That way we can organize things properly,” he suggested, because while he did want to get things cleaned up for Percy, he also wanted to make sure they knew where everything was, just in case.
And it was easier to distract himself with thoughts of dusting and cleaning than trying to figure out how to help Devyn feel like he could have a home with them as well.
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2023 1:23 pm
Devyn nodded absentmindedly as he looked over Percy’s collection; Michael was smart and knew him well enough to piece things together. It wasn't that Devyn wouldn’t have told the story if prompted, it was just that he knew he’d told many stories, and he wanted Michael to have time to speak, too. He had a whole lifetime to catch up on when it came to Michael and his youth.
He was kind, and clever, and well-prepared. A smile returned to his face at the suggestion of bringing boxes up.
“I’d like that, that sounds like a good idea. Maybe we’ll find some other treasures.” He was quiet for a second and then hummed, “If you find any papers, let me flip through them first. I can let you know if they’re anything important. Or just sketches. I’m sure Percy has plenty stashed away here and there.”
He picked up an old tome and ran his thumb over the spine. It was dented and scuffed, clear signs of being carried around. He brushed the dust from the cover but didn’t open it; instead, he just collected a few more so he could stack them neatly together.
“There’s a lot more back here than I thought there would be.” Enough to keep them busy for a while if they were going through it all. He hadn’t forgotten what they were looking for, so he tried not to let himself get too distracted.
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2023 2:37 pm
“You mean you want to make sure there aren’t any scandalous sketches that Percy left laying around,” Michael teased as he shuffled through some more of the shelf. But he did as requested and collected the loose pages so he could pass them over to Devyn.
“You’ll probably think I’m being paranoid or overly cautious, but we should be wearing masks. Who knows what’s in this dust,” he frowned, careful not to knock too much into the air.
Another small box was located, but this one had a pair of Jupiter red gems. They hummed with latent energy, and if they were beneficial at all, Michael was going to make use of them.
“I think this is it,” he said after another moment, reaching over to place a hand on Devyn’s lower back to get his attention. He held out a small bag with the tokens he’d seen the image for in his memory. The symbol of Alastor with oak leaves surrounding it.
“Just so you know, I think Percy was pretty accurate with his drawings. From what I’ve seen,” he teased again, leaning a little closer to Devyn with a bit of a cheeky grin.
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2023 2:49 pm
If Devyn had worn his hair down, he might have spared himself a bit of vulnerability. With his hair tied up as it was, his red-tinted ears were visible, even as he raised a hand to cover it as he feigned combing his fingers through his hair.
The necklace gave him away anyway; it pulsed just a bit faster.
And yet, he laughed. “And here I was, worrying you might wind up with more than you can handle.” He leaned forward and kissed Michael’s cheek. Michael didn’t smile like that often enough, so he treasured the moment already. The hand at his back was welcome, and as he righted himself he leaned back into it just slightly.
Now, it was more difficult to stay focused; he filed the papers away safely and redirected his attention to the bag Michael had found.
“That looks right.” He extended his hand to examine the bag. As with everything in this room, he treated it with care and respect.
Sessrumnir wasn’t a tomb, but it still felt wrong to recklessly disturb what remained. It would have been a shame to be reckless around things that had lasted for this long already; he didn’t want to be responsible for breaking anything in his enthusiasm.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 7:27 am
“More than I can handle?” Michael asked with feigned surprise as he stepped closer to Devyn to examine the contents of the bag. And maybe keep his hand against Devyn’s back. “I’m just saying that Percy was a really good artist. Are his sketches going to end up in that gallery you’re setting up with mom?”
Another tease, of course. He could feel the pulse from the necklace, and see the redness in Devyn’s ears, despite the dim of the room. There always seemed to be a faint green glow, at least. Or at least from what Michael had seen. He wasn’t sure if it was the same for others who visited the Wonder.
He held the bag in a way that hopefully made it obvious that he was going to tip it into Devyn’s hands. He didn’t feel like removing his from Devyn’s back at the moment.
“Maybe I should take up art, if just talking about it gets you flustered. I could probably draw you, too. I’d have to have you model for me. Probably a lot.”
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 8:56 am
Devyn huffed, but the corner of his lips twitched into a smile again. He knew Michael was just teasing him. “If you like. I’ll sit still for you.”
He opened his palms beneath the bag to catch whatever might tumble out.
“Percy was always shy about his art, I don’t think he’d be happy with those sketches getting out. Besides, they’re personal. I don’t want to share them. Oh, but all of his other work, certainly. You have to come see what we’ve done with them. If you’re going to draw, we’ll have to set up a gallery for you, too.”
He gave Michael a look, but he was sorely tempted to kiss his cheek again. Instead, he tried to reign himself in and focus on whatever was in the bag. He wasn’t trying to hide the fact that he was curious and excited; the necklace around Michael’s neck swirled and caught the light a bit more. He didn’t mind; he wasn’t ashamed of any of his emotions.
Even being flustered wasn’t uncomfortable around Michael, and he was more than happy to laugh about it. He’d just been caught off guard! He didn’t know what Michael had found. Or would find.
He wasn’t ashamed about that, either.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 10:33 am
Having something personal and not wanting to share it was understandable. Michael had plenty of poetry that was personal. Written for himself. He didn’t think he was comfortable letting anyone else read it. Maybe Devyn, one day. But it wasn’t easy for him to open up. What he’d allowed himself to share with Devyn so far had been more than anyone in the past.
Out of the bag tumbled a couple of objects the size of large coins. The emblem on them was clear and identical on both of them, except one was black, and the other gold.
They were more than just coins -- it seemed like there was some kind of magic or technology that was preventing them from working fully.
“What do you think?” he asked, trying to keep himself from teasing Devyn any more while they were working on figuring out what they’d actually come there to find. As much as he would like to tease Devyn about how he doubted he’d be able to sit still.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 3:46 pm
When the trinkets tumbled into his hand, Devyn looked at them with softness and reverence. He brushed his thumb across the back of one. It was easy to imagine Percy hunched over, intricately working on them. Falling asleep on papers strewn across his desk. Inkstained, disheveled. Putting his heart into everything he worked on.
They’d both spent too much time working, but he smiled at the memory anyway.
“They’re what I remember. A little heavier.” Percy must have been making more additions to them. “His notes and blueprints should probably be nearby, too. I can feel the magic in them.” There was a familiar glow of energy that was uniquely familiar to him. It reminded him of his Core, but it was faint enough that for a moment he’d suspected he’d only imagined it.
“Have you found the Code Piece here? I don’t know if that would help. Sessrumnir has many points of power, but I should think that if anything was going to have the power to draw you to this world it would have to be strong. My world is easy, of course it would be the Core. I think this technology is well past my skill.” Music boxes, trinkets, small machines–those were within his comfort zone, and he was always willing to learn, but Percy was the inventor. “A Mauvian might be more comfortable with it. Or you, if you think you can decipher what he was doing.”
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 5:23 pm
“I thought it might have been in the atrium, but I’ve never found it,” he said with a frown, but his voice was quiet so as not to disturb the moment for Devyn. He could feel the way the orb pulsed against his chest. It was a bittersweet memory, and one that was shared between Devyn and Percy, he knew. Michael had no place in that.
“Every time I’ve tried looking for it before, I just. I don’t know. I have a memory, or feeling, or something, of trees. But the only real tree I’ve seen is the big oak,” he explained, feeling a little ridiculous for never having found the Code Piece that belonged to Sessrumnir.
And yet, Michael was certain that the Code Piece knew he was there. The Wonder responded to him, glowed with light, and led him when he was lost. He looked at the tokens in Devyn’s hand, and reached out to gently touch them with the tips of his fingers first, but then placed his whole hand over Devyn’s to hold it. Lightly. He didn’t want to make him drop anything. But he did want him to know he was there with him in everything.
“I wouldn’t be against asking for Soleiyu’s help. Or Lucasta, even.” Although Soleiyu has definitely helped them with technology more. Lucasta was capable but seemed more interested in keeping others trained and safe, rather than the tech part.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 5:36 pm
At first, Devyn nodded absentmindedly. Michael’s hand over his own was peaceful, and he smiled again as he looked up to meet his gaze. “Well, I trust Soleiyu, but you know Lucasta better than I do. If you want to ask her,” he nodded. “Soleiyu hasn’t gotten tired of making us things yet, so we could push our luck with him or see if she has any idea.”
Devyn knew the technology existed to travel from one place to another–his phone could bring him back and forth from Earth, and the portal they’d once had was an open door between Sessrumnir and Alastor.
He couldn’t help that he leaned into Michael a bit more. “Perce moved it once that I know of. Sessrumnir has a lot of hidden areas. I can only imagine how many have been lost to time. But Perce knew all of them. I’m not the best with directions, but you’d be right to look to the trees if you’re seeking it out. I can’t imagine a place it would be safer.”
He hummed thoughtfully but found himself shifting his weight to rest against Michael again. “When you find it, would you bring me to it? I’d like to pay my respects.”
Maybe it sounded silly. He knew the Code was a greater, older force than most would ever know. He knew the pieces were connected, but separate. He doubted that any singular person was important to the Code. He didn’t know if any one Wonder was worth remembering, either.
But it didn’t change the fact that this piece of the Code was here. Sessrumnir was important to Devyn. Of course he’d want to make sure the Code had everything it needed to secure a long and healthy Wonder.
And, most certainly, he still had a heart full of guilt and grief for the premature loss of its last Knight.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 5:45 pm
“We’ll keep Lucasta as a backup, just in case Soleiyu has had enough of our requests,” he suggested, giving Devyn’s hand a little squeeze.
But when he was told of hidden areas with trees, Michael couldn’t help but laugh. He shifted a bit so he could wrap his other arm over Devyn’s shoulders and pull him closer. He pressed a kiss to his temple.
“You want me to find it on my own?” he laughed again. He knew he probably should find it, but Devyn probably knew Sessrumnir more than Michael. Whether or not he was the best with directions.
“I only know where one tree is in this place, and that’s the atrium. Should I start looking outside? Might get washed away with the rain. Or electrocuted. But of course I’ll bring you. Sessrumnir is as much yours as it is mine,” he reminded him, and pressed another kiss to his temple. Even in a small area, Michael didn’t feel crowded. Not when he was with Devyn.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 6:33 pm
Even if Devyn had known, it still brought him great relief to hear. Michael was attentive in ways he didn’t know he needed. Little kisses, little squeezes, little laughs and smiles. They were all perfect. Whatever tenseness was welling in his stomach faded and he laughed, too.
“Well, if you don’t mind getting lost with me, I’ll take you to what I remember.”
A part of him was confident he knew where to find it–Percy wouldn’t have moved it without telling him. Another part of him was worried someone else might have. He didn’t like the idea of change, and any disruption in Sessrumnir immediately felt personal.
He knew he didn’t have a right to feel that way, even if Sessrumnir was as much his as it was Michael’s.
“You don’t have to go anywhere on your own. Especially not outside, don’t leave here. It’s here inside where it’s safe, I promise. Percy wouldn’t have taken his Code piece out there! He’s much more careful than that. We can go find it, together. Or bribe Princess to show us. If my feet don’t know the way, she certainly must.”
He felt light. He felt good. Hopeful. Percy had left so many loose ends, so many things he’d wanted to finish but never got the chance.
Maybe they could take care of this one.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 7:12 pm
“I’m never lost when I’m with you,” Michael hummed as he rubbed Devyn’s back before finally pulling away so he could look at him.
Michael was aware that there was a whole lifetime between them. Devyn found love, was happy, and then it was taken away from him, before everything else was taken away from him. In comparison, Michael had very little that he felt like he had the right to complain about.
He kept his hand over Devyn’s and the tokens for a little while longer, but when he was certain Devyn wouldn’t drop him if he moved away, he let go.
“Thank you, Dev. I don’t feel quite as overwhelmed when I’m here with you. I didn’t realize before how heavy the emotions were here. Ah, or maybe I’m just imagining it. I don’t know if you can feel it too,” he hummed. He certainly didn’t hear any complaints whenever he brought Caspian there.
“What do you think? Should we try and find it now, or come back after we’ve prepared and eaten something more substantial ahead of time?” he asked, and although he was not trying to crowd Devy, he hadn’t moved far. “We can have Princess help us of course just…” He paused to look around the small closet. “Not in here.”
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 7:29 pm
Devyn laughed and nodded. “With her tail, I doubt anything would survive. We got what we came for. Were those papers there with it? If not, that’s fine. I was thinking Soleiyu might be able to make something of where Perce was going with it if he had the blueprints. But if they’re not here,” he paused and shrugged. He wasn’t too worried. Soleiyu was smart, he could probably figure it out even if he couldn’t see what Percy had been planning.
“You’re sweet, you know. Never lost when you’re with me, I like that. Very romantic.” Worth a kiss, even, so he shared that with Michael and then stepped towards the door to make room for them to head out. He held the tokens in his hand but seemed ready to return them to the bag.
“There are many emotions here. Heavy ones. But they’re not so bad when I’m with you, so I understand. I think it would be different if I was alone.” Although, he still wanted to come back so he could work on getting things cleaned up, but it was different when he knew he could just go home to Michael and Atticus.
“I think this place will cheer up some when we get it cleaned up. We should go find the Code. I’ve got snacks if you’re hungry. Enough that we could probably make a decent lunch out of it.”
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