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 Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:28 pm
Veli clapped his hands and beamed. Yay!
"I never painted a whole room before, though... Never lived in one place long enough to want to..."
"We'll be here for a loooong time, Suga'," Noah smiled.
...and he was suddenly hit with the possibility of a breakup. What would they do then...?
Veli hummed happily, snorgling. Noah was such a good man! Letting him paint their bedroom like the sea... Oh, Happy Veli.
... And such thoughts didn't enter the mind of his partner.
And they landed. And the limo led them to an unusually large home for a free one. Large living room, enormous separate kitchen-slash-dining-room, and two bedrooms on the second floor, not to mention two separate bathrooms, one of which was...dominated by a rather large tub.
Nice.
Veli had babbled happily when he saw the master bedroom, mentally taking calculations on to how much paint it would take to properly do the walls.
And then he saw the bathroom and gave a happy squeak, jumping into the tub just to test how big it was.
"Oooh, Noah, this is amazing! It's better than the tub I had!"
Happy Veli.
"Mmhm. They must think I'm a freak for requesting that," Noah chuckled and leaped in to join him.
"You like it, I take it?"
Veli laughed happily, nuzzling.
"Oh yes yes!"
Noah grinned.
"I'm gonna be working from home," he explained, "Until launches. Gotta figure out how to work a computer."
"Okay, I won't bother you too much. Man, with that big of a bedroom a good mural will take a while... And I have to get paints... And.. And..." At this point Veli just laughed and kissed Noah, so happy he was almost shaking.
Noah grinned and shrugged.
"I don't care what they see on the damn camera-thing."
And the fishman froze.
"Camera thing?"
"Nonono," Noah laughed, "Like...they put it on top of the computer so you can go to movies. I don't give a damn if they see you around or not. Bother me all you want. They can't fire me."
"Oh. As long as it's not going to be in the bathroom." Veli said, grinning and smooching his Noah.
"This house is amazing... I can't wait to start panting it up... We can get more fishes later, too!"
"Sure as Hell will," Noah chuckled, "and we can get them a bigger tank."
Veli clung and purred, so happy and in love.
"You're the best, Noah."
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:31 pm
"Psh," Noah laughed, "I know." He flexed an arm and playfully admired himself.
Veli giggled and threw both his arms around one of Noah's, kissing the muscle.
"You are. And this place is amazing. Will they move you around a lot, or is this home?"
"This?" Noah grinned and pulled Veli's head to him with said flexed arm, "This is home." And he kissed his head.
Making a great show of trying to get loose, Veli laughed.
"Home. I like it." Some place that he was loved, and wouldn't have to run away... A place that he could paint the walls because he knew he'd stay. Amazing.
Noah let him go, but grabbed his head a final time and kissed his forehead hard.
"Now. Whaddya say to some dinner?"
"Sounds good." Oh, yes. Dinner in new home with a Noah... Very happy and excited Veli.
And Noah traveled off to the kitchen, keeping the little fact that there was going to be no meat in this meal to himself. He wanted to see if Veli would like it anyway...
The merman flitted around, first to the kitchen to watch Noah, then back up to the bedroom to figure out how much paint he'd need, then to the bathroom to look at the tub, and so on and so forth.
And then Noah called for him. The entire house smelled amazingly of spices. Mmm, rich...
Veli sniffed the air and came when called, still calculating paints and what he was going to do. Serious Veli!
"Mmm, Smells amazing, No'."
"Thank you~" Noah smiled and turned, kissing Veli's temple. Unlike certain men, he didn't feel the need to wear an apron.
"Can you set the table?"
"Of course." Veli grabbed plates and silverware. "What do you want to drink?"
"Pop's fine," Noah nodded, although he didn't specify what type. He didn't really care.
Veli got Noah his pop, getting himself some water, and sat both down at their respective spots.
"Do you need help with anything, Noah?"
"Nope!" Noah smiled, putting the pot in the dishwasher (ah, a beautiful invention!) and came into the dining room area with two bowls, full to the brim with fragrantly-spiced vegetables.
When you liked good food and didn't want to eat meat, you learned to cool well-made, rich dishes.
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:36 pm
Oooh... Veli sniffed, his nose wiggling slightly.
"That smells amazing." He repeated, eyes large.
"I'm glad you think so," Noah smiled and sat down, beginning in on his own bowl. Mmmm...
Veli hummed as he ate, beaming. Mmm, Noah was a good cook!
"S'good as it smells, Noah." He said happily.
"I'm glad you think so," Noah grinned, "See? You could be a vegetarian if you tried hard enough." He winked and snorted.
"I see one immediate problem," Noah said, brow furrowed as he scrutinized the slowly rotating 3D model on his screen, "The resistance caused by the external command center is liable to rip it off at some point..."
Stupid newbies and their "new" ideas.
"...but it'll simply drag behind the rocket and--" The young man in the video screen looked like his whole world had been crushed.
"And the weight of it will tear it off at such a slow speed."
"..."
Ah, work. Noah was starting to love it. Didn't even have to wear pants!
...even though he was.
Veli had spent most of his day in the bedroom, painting perfect little bubbles on the walls. He was probably... A fourth of the way done with his murals, and it looked amazing. Just like home. The smell of paint... That he could do without.
He put down his brush after a while, looking at the walls critically. This was a different side of Veli, serious and composed. He took his painting seriously. Very seriously.
He also, however, took a rumbling stomach seriously. Getting to his feet, covered in splotches of paint, he made his way down to Noah's room, sticking his head in.
"Hey. I'm going to fix myself something to eat. You want anything?" He called in, smiling at the sight of his man. Yaaay, Noah!
Noah looked back.
"Sure, hon. I'll have whatever you're having, minus the things-what-once-had-lungs."
The kid on the screen looked confused. Noah ignored it.
"Well, I have another model..." And something else popped up on Noah's screen. He watched it rotate, and a slow smile spread over his face.
"Now this is good..."
The boy grinned. Oh, how he longed to be praised. Noah was, after all, the third in command. He was the only man of any rank that spoke to the scientists and saw their rough drafts before bringing it to the higher powers himself.
The man nodded, going to the kitchen and humming as he prepared food. He returned to the living room a bit later, putting food and drink on the table beside him, leaning against the table.
Good Lord, Veli, how did you manage to get paint up your nose and in your ears?
"The only problem is we'd need to re-fit the--what the Hell...?" Noah turned to Veli and picked some paint from his ear.
"Weirdo."
The poor kid looked confused.
"Sorry. Uh. Yeah, we'd have to refit the larger equipment," and a bite of food, "It'd take a lot of money, but if the Powers That Be like it, it may jst be the new generation of rockets."
"Thank you, sir!"
"Noah."
"Noah."
"Talk about UFO sightings during the testing phase..."
The model on the screen was a kind of disk with a triangle on one side to cut through air. Yep. Very UFO-like.
"Painting," Veli said, mouth half full of whatever it was he'd thrown on his sandwich, "is serious business. sometimes, it winds up in all kinds of places."
UFO's, huh? Psh, silly NASA. Half of those 'UFO's weren't from outer space. Silly Science, wanting to explain everything.
Well, duh. NASA had to test in secret, didn't they? And Hell, some looked like damn sci-fi props.
"Obviously," Noah snorted. Goodbyes were said and Noah and the boy signed off. The camera was turned off, the "someone-wants-me" alarm turned back on, and Noah leaned back.
"How's the room look?"
"Good. I experimented with a bit of a new technique on the bubbles. They look great, better than my old paintings." Serious Veli, again! "I'm still debating what kind of fish to use. Tropical, probably, because of the variety of colors. I'm pleased with how it's turning out."
And since Noah was done with Work, Veli moved across and flopped down on his lap. Yay!
Noah began petting Veli's hair affectionately.
"Sounds great," he nodded, "I'll pick up some sealant tomorrow, let it sit in the right temperature 'til you're done. Lookin' for shiny or matte?"
"Mmmm, not sure. Probably matte, since I can do any shine needed on the scales of the fish by themselves." Veli leaned against him, smooching his cheek.
"So, UFO's?"
Noah nodded.
"Yeah. UFO sightings go up ninety-four percent when NASA tests its new models," he chuckled, "I gotta say, some of these new ideas are......trippy."
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:59 pm
Veli licked the side of his face, laughing. "Silly humans." He scoffed, nuzzling against him. "Trying to explain thigns."
"Huh?" Noah asked, "Don't tell me you believe in aliens on Earth."
Veli just gave him a look, raising one eyebrow.
"Funny. Most people don't believe in mermen."
"Yeah, but think logically. Underwater creatures can evolve to become humanoid, obviously...but creatures who have found the technology and have the time to travel to other solar systems? Extremely unlikely."
That wasn't saying he didn't believe they COULD be, of course, he just personally knew that NASA crafts were often mistaken for UFOs.
"A good point. However, how would you explain the long life that we have? And how they seem to pop out of nowhere? And, of course, other things that humans don't tend to see about the world?" Veli smiled, kissing his cheekbones and over his nose.
"Turtles live hundreds of years too," Noah snickered, "and I don't pretend to know everything. I just know people mistake aircrafts for alien UFOs. Happens all the time."
"So I'm a turtle, huh?" Veli laughed nibbling his shoulder.
"There's a lot to life that can't be known, Noah. Not little green men, perhaps, but you gotta admit, it'd be impossible for us to be alone in the world, what with all the stars in the sky."
Noah sighed. Durr. Clearly, Veli wasn't getting his point. He grabbed his food and headed for the kitchen.
Hrm? Head moving slightly to one side, Veli watched him with brows furrowed. Huh!
"Noah?" He asked meekly, grabbing his drink and shuffling after.
Noah just leaned against the counter, eyes facing the floor, and shook his head.
Nibbling his lower lip, Veli carefully dumped the rest of his drink down the sink, putting the glass in the dishwasher.
"I'm sorry." He didn't know what he did wrong, but, hey.
Noah just shook his head again. Anything he felt like saying now was an order, and that wasn't cool.
Oh, no...
Veli just gave a sad little sigh, reaching down and grabbing one of Noah's hands, kissing the back of it.
"I'm sorry." He said again. "I'll be in the room painting if you want me."
Finally, Noah nodded.
"Alright."
"I love you." Veli reminded quietly, going back up to the bedroom and immersing himself in the world of painting again.
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:08 pm
"I love you too," Noah murmured, but all too quetly all too late.
Poor Veli had brought back some terrible damned memories. His mother, for one, refusing to just let him believe what he believed. His schools telling him that everything he thought was wrong.
There was a reason he left the goddamned south.
It was no use. Veli just couldn't paint. The few spots he tried he just messed up. So he cleaned his brushes, hopped in the shower, grabbed a shirt upon exiting and went into the unused bedroom. He found a few blankets that had been brought from his home and made himself a little nest on the floor.
He didn't want to bother his Noah.
After some time, Noah mysteriously escaped to the other bathroom, locking the door behind him. His mind cleared as he inhaled, he felt a bit strange, like he was floating. He was forgetting.
...and the hall began to smell like smoke?
Hrm? Veli poked his head up from his little nest, slowly pushing himself up. What an odd smell...
Tugging his shirt down over his behind, he moved out into the hallway, sniffing with furrowed brows. What was that?
And Noah realized the smell was probably carrying upon hearing the footsteps.
"Might wanna open some windows," he said, voice oddly gruff.
Huh. The smell was making him feel kinda funny... Not a good funny, either.
"'Kay." Veli called in, his voice thin. "What're you doin'?"
Oh, s**t. Noah sighed, exhaling a plume of smoke.
"If I open this door, it'll just get worse. You should go open some goddamn windows."
"Okay." Veli mumbled, progressively feeling worse. He moved and popped open a few, leaning out to breathe in. Holy s**t.
Shaking his head, feeling more like he was going to throw up again by the moment, he moved back to the second bedroom, shutting the door tight and popping the windows there, barely making it back to his little nest before he went down on the floor.
Woah. Not good feelings.
Five minutes or so, and Noah was finished. The smoke dissipated when he opened the door and he leaned against the tub, head swimming in utter nothingness, feeling lightheaded and floaty.
Veli didn't seem to be capable of movement himself. He just lay on the ground, eyes closed, eventually moving to hide under his blankets. He didn't move much after that.
Noah figured something was wrong, but at the moment he didn't have the capacity to care...or...move.
Veli wasn't that great himself. Hell, he couldn't lift his head up...
Part of him hoped that if Noah was going to do something like that, he'd warn him before hand so he could get the hell out of the house.
Noah was finally able to stand and stumbled to the extra bedroom, leaning on the doorframe.
"Next time, I'll go outside."
...wow. Something was definitely not right with that man.
No response from the little blanket ball. Perhaps he was hiding from the strange smell!
Noah just heaved a sigh.
"I can't pick you up."
So he stumbled over to the windows and opened them further.
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:19 pm
Which was very nice of him to do, but the hiding Veli didn't seem to be able to respond.
And, again, Noah didn't seem to be able to care. He collapsed to his knees, head against the sill, and cursed the little ******** who'd sold him whatever this s**t was. His head shouldn't hurt like that and, leaning out the window, he realized he probably shouldn't be vomiting like that.
Oh well.
At least he wasn't depressed any more.
A moment or so after slumping to the floor again, he was able to pick up and blanket-covered Veli and placed him outside before stumbling back to the bathroom. Gnrk. Sick.
The outsideness didn't seem to be helping Veli much. The poor b*****d was out.
Hey, it was the best Noah could do. He was now pretty sure he was going to be spending his day worshiping the porcelain throne and shaking violently. Hm. Was this was a seizure was like?
Perhaps it was!
Still no movement from the little blanket ball. Hrm. His toes had a bit of a purpley tint to them.
Alas, it was another few minutes before Noah could even begin to imagine standing. He made it a few steps, gagged, ran down the stairs and out the door, vomited, crawled to Veli, vomited again, peeled the blankets away, wished he would just die.
Under the blanket Veli... Looked to be asleep. If he was breathing, it was very shallow, and he seemed to have a bit of a tint to his face. Hrm.
Not good. CPR, however, would likely not help. Um...having a thought process would probably help right about now.
The best Noah could figure was putting Veli in the truck, rolling the windows down, and starting to drive into town.
Hair flapping in the wind from the road, Veli just leaned against the door, not stirring. His color might have been improving.
And Noah noticed this. Frankly, he'd rather not have to go to someone who would be able to recognize the smell on him.
So he just..drove.
After God knows how long of driving, finally, there was a larger reaction from Veli. One eye flittered open, looking kind of glazed, and then went to being shut. guh. Bright.
Noah drove into a field, parked, and opened the doors. He left Veli in the truck and wandered off to puke again. Ugh.
Veli slowly opened both eyes, having an odd feeling of blankness. Woaaaaaah... Body didn't seem to be responding either.
It took a bit longer, and Veli was slowly out of the truck, leaning against it, ignoring the odd feelings that his feet and legs were screaming at him.
"No'?"
He appeared to be leaning against a nearby tree on his knees.
"G'd'mornin' sunshine." The poor man sounded like death rewarmed.
Veli leaned over and gave the man a kiss on his head before flopping down nearby (In a space that didn't have any sick in it).
"What was that?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:29 pm
"What was what?" Noah asked, looking to Veli a moment, and then he looked away.
"Oh. Cannabis."
Veli nodded, not really knowing what that was.
"You okay?"
"No," Noah replied honestly, but he finally slid down the trunk of the tree and sat. He was pretty sure his stomach was done hating him.
Veli sighed and looked at him, slowly reaching over to pat at his leg. Poor Noah. Throwing up wasn't fun.
Noah shook his head and stood again.
"I don't deserve your affection. I almost killed you," he said angrily.
Veli followed him to his feet, still trying to love.
"You didn't about kill me."
Noah sighed.
"Either way, I shouldn't'a done it. My own unhappiness shouldn't dictate whether or not you end up braindead."
And whatever Veli was going to say was knocked out of the park by a simple word.
"You're unhappy?"
"Mm," Noah nodded, falling back to lean against the tree.
Oh no.
"Why?" Had he done something that bad?
"Because I feel useless," Noah sighed, entirely sobered, "I sit at a desk, talk to some idiots, eat, sleep, go in for 20 minutes during a launch, come home, sleep. Don't have to pay bills or rent. I'm just...I'm nothing any more. Hate my job, hate my house." He shook his head and closed his eyes.
"I chose smoking over killing myself because of you."
There was obviously a very long thought process involved in Veli's head. And from the look on his face, he didn't like the outcome of those thoughts.
"We can leave." He said softly. "We can go anywhere, do anything, as long as it'll make you happy."
Noah shook his head.
"And go back to being broke? Where I am now is best for us. All I want is a good life for us." 'Us'. As if they were already guaranteed to be together forever.
"No, Noah. What's best for us is to be happy. I'm happy by being around you and having your love." Veli stroked the side of his face. "We can.. I dunno, stay here until you find something else, something that'll make you happy."
Noah shook his head.
"I'll get used to it. Really, I will. I just...need you to keep me from doing stupid s**t."
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:32 pm
Poor Noah found himself craweld upon and loved.
"I'll do anything, Noah." He said softly, kissing his cheek. "Anything at all, as long as you don't leave me."
"I'll never leave you," Noah smiled, "Not unless you ask me to."
"I won't." Veli assured him, snuzzling. "The only way I'd leave is if you made me."
"I promise I'll only use my power over you to amuse myself," Noah said, sticking his tongue out. Ah, yes, he was in a much better mood now that he'd gotten all of that off his chest.
Veli's head darted forward, catching the tongue lightly between his teeth. He giggled, letting go and giving him a kiss.
"Whatever you want or need, Noah. I'd even dress up like a tart if you wanted to show me off."
"Or you could dress like a tart to please me," Noah laughed, "I don't think I've ever seen yo done up like a manho'."
Veli purred, nuzzling him.
"Anything for you." Whee, shopping!
Oh, Veli was excited. The man beamed and hopped around and looked happier than... Well, just about anything.
"It's been years since I've seen Dad..." He said, grinning and eying the passenger gate expectantly. He turned to Noah after a moment, giving him a squeeze.
"Just to warn you, Dad's a bit... Out there. He's not stupid like me, just kinda eccentric. He's a good guy, though. Raised me after Mom ran out."
Noah just stood still, watching the gate with narrowed eyes. His arms were crossed and he chewed on an hours-long piece of gum, adjusting his bandanna after a moment.
An imposing figure, most assuredly.
Secretly, though, a very nervous one.
Passengers from the flight slowly started to remove themselves. There were several older gentlemen who got off, but none of them drew Veli's attention.
However, he did start to squeal at the first sight of teal hair. Ah, the man drew odd looks, he did, but he didn't seem to care. He didn't appear to be any older than Noah, certainly didn't look old enough to be Veli's father.
But it was he who Veli screamed at. The man blinked, carefully raising one hand in a wave. Looks like wild hair ran in the family.
"DAD!" Ah, Veli sounded happy. He grinned and waved as his father came towards them.
Still Noah just stood, unmoving and silent. Huh. Weird-a** Mermen. He blew a bubble and snapped it under his tongue. Hmmm.
Veli giggled, throwing his arms around his father once he was close enough. His father smiled and squeezed his son, holding him at arms length for a moment.
"You look well." His voice was soft, calm. Veli just beamed. Ah, Daddy. "It must be because of Noah."
"He treats me real good."
The father turned to Noah after a moment of looking at his son, holding out one hand. "I am pleased to meet you. My name is Taavi." He had somewhat odd eyes... And he didn't seem to blink.
And Noah half-grinned, still chewing his gum. Dirty, nervous habit. He took the man's hand and gave it a good, strong shake.
"Pleased t'meet'cha. Noah James."
Taavi was just as cool to the touch as his son. He smiled at Noah, looking to his son after a moment.
"You spoke true. He is very attractive."
"He is!" Veli blushed, but looked happy. He threw one arm around his father, the other around Noah, and gave both a squeeze. Yaaay!
Noah chuckled and allowed himself to be hugged. Okay, this wasn't so bad.
...a bit chilly, but not bad.
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:39 pm
"Come. I must retrieve my bags. Perhaps then we can look around. It's been quite some time since I've been around the capital city." Taavi carefully threaded one of his arms through one of Noah's and one of Veli's, gently urging them towards baggage claim.
"It's awesome here! There's so much to do and see and lots of stuff happens!"
"He's excitable as ever, I see." Taavi looked up at Noah with a smile.
Noah removed his arm as politely as he could, giving a nervous little laugh.
"Yeah, well."
Taavi just watched him, head slowly cocking to one side. Veli leaned up and whispered something to him, and Tavvi blinked. Ah, yes, Taavi. Humans did that.
His bag was found, and Taavi swung it lightly, tightening his scarf with the other hand. Yes, a scarf in such warm weather. He drew stares. Then again, he had teal facial hair.
Veli looked excited, beaming. "How was your flight, Dad? Are you hungry?"
"Perhaps."
"The answer's either 'yes' or 'no'," Noah smirked and shrugged. He thought to throw his gum out, but didn't.
"Or, 'I could eat', which is 'yes' for the terminally insecure."
"Perhaps 'I would be willing to eat, if it was not an inconvenience' would be more to what I was thinking." Taavi smiled slightly at Noah. "The last thing that I wish to be is a burden."
"Oh, please," Noah snorted, "If you're hungry, we eat. If you're bored, we find amusement. You my boyfriend's old man."
...well. There went a few really bizarre looks. Yeah, boyfriend, go away fangirls.
Taavi smiled slightly and Veli beamed. "In that case, yes, something to eat would be delightful. It was a long flight."
"There're a couple really good places around here..."
Ugh. Veli's 'good' scared Noah. It usually involved bleeding meat and fish that barely stopped flopping before being thrown onto a plate.
Regardless, he grinned and beared it.
Ah, but Veli would surprise his Noah! He lead them to a place down the street, some sushi bar. He murmured something to his father, and Taavi rolled his eyes.
"Sushi sound good, Noah?"
Noah arched a brow at Veli.
"Well, yeah...but I don't think your old man likes it so much."
Taavi smiled. "Oh, no. Veli is just being a worrier." He reached out to muss his son's hair. Veli stuck his tongue out at him.
Noah shrugged.
"Alright, then." Hey, he didn't like being an inconvenience either, but they'd said it twice, so hey.
So they went inside and found their seats, Taavi smiling and chatting with the young waitress. She was cute. Tee hee, the old man was a flirt.
"So, Noah. Veli has told me that you work for... Nasa, is it?" Taavi asked, folding his hands on the table in front of him.
Noah nodded, hands folded together on the table.
"Astrophysics," he shrugged, "I'm a...rocket scientist, in layman's terms."
"How interesting." Taavi leaned forward slightly, unblinking. "I daresay that I find that interesting. Being of my family line, I am, of course, schooled in the sea, but the stars have always been interesting."
"Dad talks too much." Veli smiled. He loved his Dad, even if he did.
Taavi retorted in the most mature way possible: leaning over the table to poke him with a chopstick.
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:42 pm
Noah just flicked the chopstick.
"I really have no interest in the stars," he shrugged, "Aside from teaching pilots to better avoid them and making ships more resilient o the flaming balls of gas. I mean, they're pretty to look at, sure, but from a scientific perspective, they're the most irritating necessities ever to exist."
So Taavi picked up both chopsticks and snapped them at Noah's arm. Veli giggled.
"Perhaps I see it as more of a... Romantic side. To be able to go into space strikes me as being somewhat amazing. Just the fact that we have the technology."
Noah just laughed and dodged.
"Yeah. I always liked the idea. But now I'm sorta...tied-down. Can't rightly go up myself."
Veli beamed, and Taavi shook his head.
"I never thought that either of my children would settle down. I am pleased that you're a good man." Taavi smiled at Noah. "Of course, if you do hurt him, I'll be forced to eat you."
"Dad, don't say stuff like that."
Taavi laughed.
Noah nodded.
"Trust me, it's the last thing on my mind. I love your son, I really do."
"Good." Taavi smiled.
The cute little waitress brought their food. Hooray, whatever Taavi had ordered wasn't alive!
And Noah's had never had a face. All was well!
"Thank you," he smiled, winking to the waitress and turning back to Taavi. Ugh. Smelled of ocean.
Taavi continued watching her, observing just how her bum wiggled. Tee hee.
"You're too old for her. You're not getting any younger, you know." Veli said, trying to use his chopsticks.
"Not getting any older, either."
Noah snorted.
"That's the spirit."
He began in at his sushi, using his chopsticks rather well. Apparently, he'd been to such establishments before.
Taavi snorted, and snorted again when Veli was unable to use his chopsticks.
"I know I taught you how to use those."
"It's been a while, and it's hard. Can I just get a fork?" Veli huffed, dropping the chopsticks and trying to use his fingers. Taavi rapped his knuckles.
"I didn't raise you to eat with your fingers."
"Yes you did."
"You know what I mean."
Noah reached his arms around Veli, chewing and taking Veli's hands in his own. He swallowed, coughed, and then nodded.
"Let me help."
Veli pouted slightly, nodding.
"Thanks."
Taavi just shook his head and went back to waitress watching.
And Noah began to guide Veli's hands with the chopsticks therein, laughed at the occasional spilled avalanche of food.
It was a touching scene, really.
"There," he said, finally returning to his own food.
Aha, chopsticks, you were owned.
Taavi had been observing occasionally, and ate with a smile on his face. Awww, he was happy for the little one.
After a while, Noah addressed the older man.
"What do you do?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:45 pm
"Oh, I took the easy way out." Taavi smiled. "Marine biology. And, of course, other things that can't be spoke about in polite society."
Veli hummed and nibbled his sushi. "He's the reason I have clear paperwork into the US."
Noah clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"As opposed to...Pacific Ocean paperwork?"
"We don't do paperwork. Too wet." Taavi smiled. "But you have to have a past to do anything now a days."
Noah nodded.
"Yeah, you do. But if it weren't for my past, I'd still be doing what I love." He was happy where he was, honestly, but he still harbored a little bitterness.
Veli looked sad as he nibbled on his sushi. Awww, Noah, he was sorry...
Taavi just nodded, picking up a chunk of wasabi and nibbling on it. "So. How did you two meet?"
Oh, so Veli hadn't mentioned that. Tee hee.
Oh, wow.
"Uh...in a bar," Noah said, sidling a little closer to Veli and wrapping an arm around his waist, "I got my a** kicked at pool."
Veli leaned against Noah and looked happy. Ah, that'd been a good night.
Taavi paused, chopsticks on way to mouth. "He propositioned you, huh?"
Noah colored.
"...well...yeah," he replied honestly, "but let's talk about something else." It wasn't a question, it was an order.
Taavi laughed. Ah, silly human. "As you wish."
"Are you staying stateside for a while, Da?"
"Going to be going to Florida. I'm thinking of relocating there."
Something suddenly clicked in Noah's head.
"Speaking of, what're we gonna do in 40 years when I'm in a wheelchair and you look the same as today?"
Veli's eyes suddenly widened. Oh. Oh my. Thought path he didn't like. He dropped his little sushi roll out of his mouth, one hand resting on his stomach. Urgh. Felt like that throwing up thing again.
"Aah. You haven't done it yet, then." Taavi said, folding his chopsticks by his plate.
Noah grimaced.
"Sorry. Bad time," he apologized, and then turned back to Taavi.
"...done...what, exactly?"
Veli leaned against him, nuzzling.
"Something that... I should not talk about. Especially not in public." Taavi eyed his son, looking worried.
Noah paused, leaning his head against Veli's and playing with his hair.
"...alright. I trust your judgment."
He turned to give Veli a quick kiss on the head, eyes downcast. Ah, way to ******** things up, No.
Veli snuzzled, then pulled away and sat up straight. He didn't want to think about life without Noah. "Sorry."
Taavi folded his hands on the table, looking across at the pair. Undoubtedly, he wanted to tell his son about why love was so damn dangerous... But it would wait. "Perhaps it would be best to leave?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:48 pm
"Mm," Noah nodded and smalled some bills down on the table.
"I do believe I'm owed a discussion."
"You are." Veli murmured.
---
Finally, they were back home. Taavi sighed, patting his son's shoulder. "I am sorry. I should not have mentioned it."
"S'okay, Daddy." Veli was miserable. Didn't wanna think about life without his Noah. There wouldn't be life without his Noah.
Noah sighed and cuddled his Veli from behind. He wasn't sure what was going to be talked-about, but he was pretty sure it was going to be depressing.
"It's better sooner than later...or not at all."
"I don't want to loose you, Noah. I couldn't be without you." Veli murmured, looking at him with large eyes, begging him to understand.
"He is in love with you, which is why I was so surprised he hadn't brought it up at all." Taavi said, slipping off his long coat.
"I'd forgotten... That he'd grow old and leave me." Veli again looked terrified. Taavi sighed, rolling up his sleeves and showing off his arm-fins.
"And from the tone of your voice, that means I'm going to have to explain." He popped his knuckles slightly. "It is the foremost reason why human relationships are not recommended. The difference in lifespan." He had a rather documentary-like tone going on. "
"However, if both partners agree to a set listing of terms, and punishment for breaking of those terms, it is possible for the human's life to be... Extended, by splitting the difference with their partner."
Noah's brow furrowed, and he suddenly released Veli.
"No. I mean...I mean we'd...I'd never..." Oh my. The man's poor brain was breaking.
Veli looked up at him, his eyes wide, before looking back down at the ground and folding his hands between his legs. Wasn't... He good enough to make Noah want to be with him more?
Taavi just sighed. His son, the idiot. "This bothers you quite a bit."
Noah ran a hand backward through his hair-that-wasn't.
"I mean...I...I." And he sighed.
"I've done my time. I'm already halfway through. I can't even imagine my next 30 or so years...let alone a...a hundred!" He began to pace. Poor Noah was beginning to lose his mind.
"Let the future be the kids' problems. This world's already gone t's**t. I can't...I mean...God, Veli, I love you, and if I could make it so we could...be together for some...normal span of time...I mean...God..."
Veli nodded, still looking at the floor, crying silent little tears. Oh, Noah, he wanted to be normal for you, expecially for you of all people. But if he couldn't be normal by his own people's standards, how could he be normal for a human?!
"It's very hard to comprehend the space of time." Taavi said quietly, nodding. Ah, it was why they were warned not to fall in love...
"No, the time's what I get," Noah said, hand still resting atop his head, "Normally, I'd just say no and get it over with...but...leaving you...you said leaving! Like I had a choice in the matter!"
"I'm sorry..." Veli whispered, shoulders hunching up. "I didn't mean it.. I didn't mean it like that..." Oh, even though he probably did. It was hard for him to understand sometimes.
Taavi stayed silent, watching the pair.
Noah just paced. Faster, faster. ...and then he just collapsed to the couch.
"God, Vel, it's gonna take some thinkin'."
Veli nodded, his hair obscuring his face. One hand moved to his mouth. Oh.. Oh God-! And he was up, and dashing for the bathroom.
Huh! Apparently getting worked up enough could make you vomit as well!
"...I apologize for bringing this up." Taavi sighed.
Noah just shook his head, leaning his elbows on his knees and resting his forehead thereon. Oh, God, he'd made Veli vomit. And he was scared witless, and his throat was closed, and his heart felt heavy.
He would give anything to be anywhere else.
Taavi sighed again, going to visit his son in the bathroom. Veli was washing out his mouth and looked up at his father, tears in his eyes.
"...If I could make you human, my pearl, I would." Taavi said. Veli sniffled and nodded, pulling his hair back again. "Though it would be just as much a curse."
"I know, Dad." Veli washed his face. "I should just... Learn. Understand. Love my Noah, because he's here now." He smiled shakily, and his father wrapped him in his arms. "Sorry the visit turned so serious."
Taavi just tipped his chin up and gave his nose a kiss. Veli laughed, giving him another squeeze before going to Noah. Oh, he hoped he wouldn't be mad...
Noah stood immediately. His eyes were wet. He'd been crying. He rushed to Veli, throwing his arms around him and whispering in his ear.
"If it's what you really want, I'll do it."
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:52 pm
Oh, Noah... Veli held him and kissed him, his eyes closing, wanting to scream 'Yes!' because Noah wouldn't leave...
"...There's more to it that just saying yes." He forced himself to say. "We have to talk about it, think about it more. It's not something to rush into."
Noah shook his head.
"If I think any more, I'll go mad." He held Veli hard, starting to cry again, clutching at him as if he might lose him somehow.
"Okay... Okay..." Veli kissed and hugged, pulling him backwards towards the couch. "Sit, No'. C'mon, baby..."
And Noah sat, although reluctantly and hard.
"Whatever it takes, we have to do it soon," he whimpered, swallowing hard. Now he felt sick.
"We have to get it over with before I change my mind."
"All right, Noah." Veli stroked his cheeks, blinking fast. Ohgod, tears... Go away...! "All right, Noah."
And Noah sniffled, grew more composed, started gagging, swallowed the feeling away.
"I love you," he whispered, "I really do love you. My only regret is agreeing to half your life."
"I love you too, No." Veli murmured. "And... Without you, I just... Couldn't survive. I'd rather share my life with you and have you."
And Noah bean to rock...almost violently. Again, he was clutching at Veli. He said nothing. He had to keep his mind blank. He had to love his Veli, know what he would have done under opposite circumstances.
"Just tell me what I have to do," he said after a moment.
"All right." Veli lay against him, eyes closed. "I'll make the calls tomorrow. It's a ceremony."
Noah nodded. Oh, he wasn't going to be able to think of anything else until this all went down...
Poor Noah.
Veli just rubbed his cheek against him, eyes closed. "Wanna go lay down?"
Noah shook his head. Laying down would just give him time to think, and work himself up, and drive himself insane.
"No, no. I need to keep busy. Your father's here, we're not s'posta be sobbing like little girls. C'mon. Let's just...do somethin'.
JVeli stroked his head. Do something... Like what?
Noah dodged away.
"Just let me clean myself up, and we can just...go out. Do something. Anything." He gave a weak smile and a little bow as he stood, again showing hints of his gentile Southern roots.
The bow brought a little smile to Veli's face. He watched Noah go and then shuffled off to talk to Taavi.
Daddy would, undoubtedly, know what to do.
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:54 pm
Noah returned not so very long later looking like he had never been upset at all. He perched atop the back of the couch and tilted his head.
Veli and Taavi were talking to one another, heads close. Taavi's unblinking gaze turned to Noah, and Veli turned around to see him. He smiled, standing and going to hug him.
"So, what do you have planned."
Noah shrugged, hoogling his Veli.
"I dunno. Show your dad around town?"
"That does sound interesting." Taavi stood carefully, rolling his sleeves down again and going for his coat.
Veli made a little humming noise, rubbing his cheek against his Noah.
Noah heaved a deep sigh and pet Veli's hair as he usually did.
"Come on. It'll be alright."
Veli looked up at him, not looking too worried. Good for him. He gave Noah a kiss on the cheek.
"Mmm... Let's do some scenic stuff. Be tourists."
"I am a tourist."
"We know, Dad."
Noah chuckled.
"Alright, that's fine with me."
So they did the whole tourist thing, seeing the monuments. Taavi seemed to like the reflecting pool the best, and Lincoln's monument. It made him smile, looking up at the giant statue.
"Things have changed a lot since I've been here last."
Noah stared up at the statue, giving a smiling sigh.
"Old man."
Taavi looked over at him and smiled. "Indeed." He said, reaching out to trace the rock with his fingers. Hell, even Veli didn't know how old his father was. One of those things that didn't come up. "It's changed, but I like it. I always have enjoyed more urban areas."
"Ah, I'm more of a country boy," Noah shrugged, "but I really don't mind any of it."
"Mmm." Taavi nodded. "I've been out in the wilderness for a while. I prefer the hustle and bustle. It's easier to be in the wild, sometimes."
"That's reasonable," Noah reasoned, shrugging. He'd grown up on a farm, himself.
Taavi smiled at him after a bit, patting him lightly with his fingertips. He looked up at the statue for another minute before turning around. Such an odd way to remember the dead.
"Perhaps it is time to head to some place else?"
"Anywhere you like," Noah nodded. Today was for the father, to take his mind off of much more complicated things.
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:58 pm
Ah, but the day soon passed into night, and they had to return back home. Veli at least looked calmer. Now, if he could only give his peace to his beloved... then they'd be getting somewhere.
But poor Noah looked horrendously drawn, so thin and pale and awful. He was frightened out of his mind.
Veli reached up and kissed his temple, nuzzling at him. "It'll be okay." Oh, Noah. You didn't have to do this...
Noah inhaled deeply; exhaled slowly.
"I know."
Veli nuzzled, his eyes closed. He leaned up and softly kissed Noah's cheek.
"I love you, My Noah. You know that, right?"
Noah put a hand to Veli's opposite cheek and kissed the other. His voice had a sad, quiet tone.
"I know. I love you too."
So the night passed, and so the did the next day. Taavi left, no doubt going south to Florida. Veli was puttering around the house when he stopped, head up and nose wiggling. Huh!
He went looking for Noah, hoping he wouldn't be busy.
Noah as sitting on their bed with his laptop. He hadn't left. He was morphing a bizarre model on his screen, gnawing a knuckle and not blinking.
"Um... Noah?" Veli said quietly, looking kind of nervous. "Um... Someone's... Coming. For... The ceremony."
Oh, Nervous Veli was Nervous.
The knuckle left Noah's mouth for only a moment to speak.
"Who."
Veli shrugged, and there was a knock at the door. Hard, one of the 'Hey, pay attention to me!' sort of knocks. Nice. He scampered away to open the door.
And Noah closed his laptop without saving any of his work. Oh, God. Tears started to fall silently, and he bit his skin to bleeding.
"I'm sorry for being late."
"Really, you came sooner than expected..."
Veli lead a woman into the house, talking quietly. She looked to be about the same age as Taavi. At least she looked friendly enough. Not as visibly hating as the past merfolk they'd delt with.
"So, where're you planning on doing this?"
"Um..."
"..." The woman looked at him and snorted, holding a large bag. "We can do it either outside, which isn't recommended in such an urban area, or inside, if you have like a tile floor. No carpets."
...no carpets? Noah didn't like the sound of that. He emerged from the bedroom, hugging himself.
"Everything's carpet or unfinished wood," he explained, "But we have a huge bath tub."
Awww, Poor man. "Okay, I'll have to look at it." Veli nodded, starting for the bathroom.
"Thank you." She said, following him. She sat her bag down inside the bathroom and looked in. "Yeah... Should be big enough. This'll be an interesting first, though. Don't think I've heard of it being performed in a bathtub." She leaned down, taking various odds and ends out of the bag.
Huh. She seemed friendly. New, but friendly.
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