obeir | Deerington Inbox

K! Okay, that's... [Low, mumbling to himself a little bit:] Shorter than what I was thinking of. [Louder once more, he adds:] I'm happy to go to the trouble. You've been so kind to me already. And, um... tea's good for the mind! And that's good for music, right?

Please, sit down.

[He motions to a sofa and some armchairs in the living room.]

I'll just be a moment. How d'you take your tea? And did you want any pie with it? Just-just to make sure you actually like it.

[ Shrugging off his coat, K drapes it over the back of the armchair he settles into and watches Martin as he goes. ]

Straight. And yes, please. [ Milks and creamers aren't exactly a thing in his homeworld anymore, and he doesn't care much for their artificial substitutes. Sugar probably won't be necessary, either. He may or may not regret this later... ]

Out of curiosity, what were you thinking of? [ He wonders. Because of course he has to ask, now. Excluding the various derogatory epithets and slurs for his kind, he's never had any nicknames other than "K". ]

Edited (unfortunate typo) 2020-05-06 06:15 (UTC)

[The kitchen isn't far and it's a relatively open floor plan, so K will be able to see Martin rattling around in the kitchen, pulling out a pie and getting down plates and such. He pauses at the question.]

O-oh, it's... silly. I, um... I couldn't remember your full designation, so I... it's really silly, and I'd never actually call you... Um. [There's a momentary silence as he bites his lip and pours the water for the tea.]

Katydid? Like... like the little grasshoppers? It just sounds sort of like KD6, and I could remember the -3.7, but not the- sorry. I've got it down now!

[ Bringing a hand up as though to absently scratch his nose, K covers his mouth to hide his amused smile. Which isn't a very effective subterfuge with the way he's still smiling when he lowers his hand, but he can't help it. Because what the hell, that's charming. ]

The ones that look like leaves. Yes. [ There's suppressed laughter in his tone. ] Call me what you like. I don't mind. That's... far nicer than what humans usually refer to me by.

[ And he's clearly not referring to "K". ]

People can be jerks. [God does he know that.] Sorry about that. I hope they're nicer here?

Some of the other Sleepers have been. [ The townspeople are another story, as Martin already knows. ] It's... an adjustment.

[ To say the least. And it brings him back to his earlier question about how well Martin's adjusting to the place, himself. ]

Is baking how you usually deal with insomnia?

Um... no? But it's a lot more productive than searching for cute cat and dog videos on the Internet? I usually don't have much of problem with it.

[If anything, he tends to sleep too much... and still can't escape the exhaustion.]

How about you? Um... if you... sleep at all?

[Martin exits the kitchen, carrying two cups of tea and balancing plate with berry pie and a fork. He offers the plate and one of the tea mugs to K before sitting down nearby to sip his own tea.]

[ K accepts both with a nod. ] Thank you.

[ He doesn't immediately answer the question, seeming distracted by — something. An alluringly sweet smell that isn't the pie, though how he's able to discern this, he couldn't say. It's pure instinct. Attempting to mask the awkward pause by taking a bite of the pie, he finally replies after swallowing. ]

I don't require much sleep normally. When I'm injured I need more. [ Still a bit distracted by the smell, he peers toward Martin curiously. Is it... him? And is it weird that he notices?

Now that he has, he's finding it almost impossible to ignore it. ] It's very good. [ He murmurs. Uh. ] —The pie. It's good.

[Leaning in to hand over the pie, Martin had got his first whiff of it. Something like the scent right before a thunderstorm mixed with resin and something else earthy. It tickles at something that he can't entirely name, but he's suddenly feeling just a little more shy than he had before. The compliment to the pie has a warm smile spreading across Martin's lips.]

Glad you think so, if you'll be taking some home.

[He sort of wishes he were wearing something with a little more... something at the moment, he's realizing. Maybe just a bracelet, or maybe a necklace? Something to show off. But those sorts of things have never really been anything he's worn. It had only come up with Helena and that vendor who'd-

Martin's eyes widen slightly.]

Uh, K? A-are you an alpha?

[ ... And that question neatly solves the mystery. There's a look of understanding amid his staring. ] That's what I'm smelling. You. [ Which doubles as an (uncharacteristically proud) affirmation. Alpha. That's right. He feels strangely pleased to be recognised.

The majority of his time has been split between Ben Dearborn's home — with an eclectic group of people he shares an inexplicable bond with, and all of whom he could also identify by scent — and Tech Boy's apartment, so his exposure to this sort of thing has been limited. And it's made more confusing by the presence of another scent mingled with Martin's, one less appealing, that sort of makes him simultaneously envious and wary.

He glances down, eating more of the pie while puzzling it out. It's not so unlike how Ben and Will smelled like each other more than anyone else. A mate?

In an amused tone: ] I suppose that means you can smell me, too. [ And perhaps the fact he's as of yet unmated, which suddenly makes being invited over for pie seem... vaguely improper? It's confusing. ]

Yeah, you smell really good.

[Those are certainly words that have just come out of Martin's mouth without thinking. His whole face goes red.]

I-I mean- I- That's not- I didn't invite you over to smell you!

[Can he die now? He'd like to die now. Or at least faze through the floor and into the foundations of the townhouse.]

I'm sorry! It's just- Sorry!

[ Eyes widening, K looks only a few degrees less flustered than Martin by that admission, and only because he's accustomed to keeping his emotions from showing. But it certainly takes him by surprise, and he reaches up to rub the back of his neck in a self-conscious gesture. ]

Of course you didn't. You couldn't have known. [ Hell, Martin hadn't even known what he looks like before this. ] And I don't mean to... [ Be smelling him, but he can't exactly help it. Presumably neither can Martin. These things happen in Deerington. ] It's okay. You, uh— smell like someone else, too. [ He notes curiously. Should he be changing the subject? Oops. ]

Uh... [Bella had said the same thing.] Jon. I-I smell like Jon. He's a Beta. We're still looking for an Alpha.

[They are so not.]

We know- a few. Good people. Not that- I mean, he doesn't care, I don't think. I'm not... I mean, it would be nice to- It's fine with just us. Good. It's normal and not some weird pack thing.

[ Huh. So Martin and Sims are evidently more than only good friends. Given Martin's protectiveness and the efforts he went to on Sims's behalf with Arid, it isn't even surprising. Just makes sense.

That other remark, though. It has K wondering whether he could tolerate Sims well enough to have them as his— well, it isn't a weird pack thing to him, either. More of a... strange, pseudo-familial sort of bond. With optional cuddling, because scent-sharing feels so important.

Okay, so it sort of is a weird pack thing. But it doesn't have to be? It might be nice to have an. Alliance. ]

I do need to properly meet him sometime. [ With the way he's eyeing Martin contemplatively, his reasons aren't entirely subtle. ] And I think there are practical reasons for... indulging the instincts. Makes it all less uncomfortable. Or it has for me. [ While occasionally being awkward, like when he'd borrowed Ben's shirt in an effort to smell more like him and Will... Maybe he should've just asked for a hug. But his point stands. When he'd stopped resisting the instincts so much, he'd felt less confused and more calm. ] —What about you?

Hmm!

[Martin's going to sip his tea because there's a handsome man sitting on his sofa encouraging him to give into his instincts. Instincts which, at the moment, tell him he should go and sit next to K, all the better to snuggle against him. Martin's starting to feel just a little faint with the blush.]

I... guess? It's- Um. [Another sip of tea to brace himself.] It's hard to tell, honestly. I mean, Jon and I are already... we were close before and I like being with him. It makes me feel a bit more steady. I'm not sure if that's... the pack thing or just us. Some mix?

Cooking for Helena was nice? She's another Alpha we know. I liked taking care of her. Like-like I like taking care of you. But I just like taking care of other people. That's more a... a me thing? Maybe?

[ Under normal circumstances, that statement would strike K as highly unusual, especially from someone he barely knows — I like taking care of you. But at present, it just encourages him to both sit slightly taller and make himself a bit more comfortable, in the manner of someone owning the space they occupy.

But there's still plenty of room for Martin... and in fact K seems to be deliberately making room for him. ]

Could be that the instincts exaggerate what already exists. [ He agrees with a thoughtful nod. ] A few months back we all had these intangible threads connecting us to other Sleepers. They did the same thing. Something in the town seems to regularly encourage— connections. Bonds. About as often as the town tries to kill us all.

If you're already inclined to be a caretaker, [ and he's smiling as he says it, as though that discovery pleases him ] makes sense that the instincts may be magnifying those feelings.

Y-yeah. I mean, I spent most of my life being one? My mum was... sick growing up, and my father wasn't around. So... just us. Not that I think you're like my mum! You're a lot nicer.

[He blanches, realizing what he's just said.] Oh, god... Sorry, that was rude! I- She had a hard life. It just wasn't always roses, you know? And that's okay. People take all sorts of roads to get where they are.

[ Poor Martin and his foot-in-mouthitis. Not that K appears to mind — and actually looks surprised by the apology. An expression Martin should probably get used to seeing, if he's going to continue being so weirdly considerate with him. ]

That may explain why your baking's so good, if you've had a lot of practise. [ He offers encouragingly, hoping to ease some of Martin's discomfort. It's a rare occurrence indeed when K's the one making a social situation less awkward. ] I can imagine it wasn't easy. Your mother was... difficult? [ He hazards a guess. It could mean a lot of things. ]

No, no. [He holds up a hand, smile apologetic. He caught that compliment, but he's focused more on spinning things back to something less... damaging.] I mean, she was some days. But she was in a lot of pain and had trouble doing things for herself. And I can be forgetful. Terrible memory. It'd make anyone frustrated, right? You shouldn't have to tell someone to remember to do something three or four times. Especially when you've got so much on for yourself.

Most of the time was fine. I loved her, and that was enough to get us through the worst times. [He loved her. That's not even a lie.]

What's it like where you're from? I know you said you had a handler, but... did you have any friends you're missing here?

[ If Martin's trying to convince him that the situation with his absent father and ill mother didn't leave him horribly damaged emotionally, he's rather failing at it. They don't need any sort of empathic bond for that to be obvious. The question causes K to shift a bit uncomfortably, and he seems to find the floor suddenly very interesting. He'll allow the subject change long enough to answer. ]

Humans despised me for being what I am. Other androids despised me for what I was ordered to do. Wasn't really conducive to making friends.

[ An extremely isolating, lonely existence. But he hadn't been completely alone. And he even has his companion AI's emanator here with him, it just... barely functions correctly in Deerington. ]

Did you have anyone other than her? [ It's a gentle sort of prying; he won't press the subject much more if Martin really doesn't want to talk about it. ]

Oh.

[Hellishly awkward is par for the course where Martin's concerned in conversations, but he's not usually this bad. He feels horrible for K, though, and wants so badly to be able to do something for him. To make up for lost time? How old even is he? The man looks like he's in his 30s, but that might just be how he was made? It seems rude to just ask.]

Um... Jon! I have Jon. [He offers a nervous smile at that, knowing K likely doesn't have the best opinion of the other man.] And... other people at the Institute? Once I started working there. Everyone in the Archives took me out for ice cream on my birthday a few years ago. That was... it was really nice.

[Probably the nicest birthday he'd ever had. Martin's aware K probably means to ask if he had anyone else growing up, but that's a depressing 'no,' and he'd rather not deal with it.]

[ If K notices any awkwardness, he politely doesn't show it. And he did in fact mean during Martin's adolescence, but isn't going to correct him now — and a glance down at what's left of the pie and tea Martin made for him is enough to prevent him from giving any static about Sims. ]

Your work colleagues? That's good. They sound kind. [ There's an uncertain pause as he considers whether or not he should ask his next question. ] You were already involved with him before being brought to this place?

[ Not that it's really any of his business, and he knows this, but he sure feels compelled to ask anyway. Those damn instincts. ]

They did their best. [Sasha was kind for the most part. Tim was fun for a while... until things with Jon got... bad.

The second question has Martin examining his tea closely, not entirely sure if there's some sort of censure here.]

We only got together after we left the Institute. He wasn't my boss anymore. And I wasn't his manager. But... yeah? It was only a couple of weeks, but we'd just driven up to Scotland, had a nice little cottage we were staying in. It was lovely. And something we both needed to really, um... get to know each other? Properly, I mean. We'd been disconnected for a while. It was a good chance to make up for lost time. Figure out each other's quirks. Still working on it and nothings- it's not perfect, but it's good. It's really good. Everything I'd ever dreamed about.

[ Irrespective of his own feelings toward Sims, hearing the fondly sentimental way Martin speaks about him makes K feel strangely... glad that they have each other. Glad that Martin has someone who cares for him, since his family life had sounded so lonely and dysfunctional.

And maybe he sort of wants what they have, too? It sounds so — nice. ]

It must be good, for you to smell so much like him. [ That... came out sounding entirely more suggestive than he'd meant for it to, and he isn't sure how to recover from it. ]

If he comes home and can smell that I was here, too, hopefully he doesn't get the wrong idea.

[ Or he could just dig himself deeper. That works too. ]

[Martin's eyes widen and the fond blush colors to something far more mortified.]

That's, uh... we don't- I-I mean he's- we're not-

[Oh, god. Is it his place to even out Jon? Not that there's anything wrong with being asexual, but he's never even heard the man refer to himself that way. Not to mention, that's something personal you don't just go blabbing. Even though he... really wants to tell K everything right at the moment.]

It's great! I don't think that's going to be a problem!

[Don't mind him if he just dies from embarrassment now, thanks.]

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cw: ABO dynamics

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