middleofsomewhere | Not with a Bang Start and Ongoing

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Not with a Bang Start and Ongoing

"Good Morning passengers. Today is day seven of the month of Imagination." The voice echoes through the train as passengers wake up in their beds. Not long afterwards their SCA’s glow with the colour of the void and a holographic image will appear.

Preperation

They have about an hour to prepare, a little less than usual but perhaps expected, given the urgency of the task.

The cupboards in the dressing room are open to reveal rows of tents, in all four team colours as well as some basic camp cooking equipment. They are in bags that should be easy enough to carry.

"Shortly arriving on System #6416. All passengers get ready to disembark. Next stop world 6416. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one." The train rocks and lurches, bright colours of the void filling the space and then fading as they fly downwards towards a very green landscape.

Arrival and Initial Task

The train lands in a clearing, curving round in an attempt to fit. Once everyone who wishes to disembark has done it flies back into the air, vanishing from sight.

The air is heavy and humid, though it is not currently raining. The clearing is open to the sky and looking up will reveal a worrying sight. The sky is an angry red colour, colours shifting as if the clouds themselves were on fire. It's an unnerving sight.

Their SCA's show three points, one Orange, One purple and one that is half blue and half red. The three control centres. Each are a few hours treck through the jungle and it certainly feels like there is no time to waste.

Those that don't want to treck through the forest can start setting up camp, though the darkening sky might be a little distracting. As time goes on flecks of fire drift down, though they extinguish before hitting the forest floor.

Orange are to travel to the north, Purple to the south and Blue and Red must travel together to the west. Each route takes them through thick and unrelenting jungle. Flying is difficult here unless you can get up past the canopy layer, which means vision of the ground is severely hampered.

The control stations themselves are half buried in vines and require cutting into. If voidtreckers are unlucky they will meet their first security robots here, firing on the intruders. They might even meet their first giant Armadillos, the creatures are curious and may wish to investigate. They are not helpful or constructive to trying to power up the stations and prevent the destruction of the planet.

The control stations are simple enough to operate, but there's quite a lot that needs to be done in way of repairs and clearing. It will take a team effort to get it in working enough order to activate the shield.

The shield itself, when it is activated, is mostly invisible but there is a loud humming sound. The meteor, which has gotten more visible throughout the five hours, hits the shield and splinters, fire enveloping the whole sky. It is visibly terrifying, but no fire falls to earth, no rocks get through, the planet is safe.

Ongoing

Once the planet is safe the voidtreckers deserve a rest. But once the next morning dawns it is time to start with their next tasks, to make sure that this planet stays safe from future threats.

Red

The robots at the control stations are not the only malfunctioning security robots around. They roam the jungle, or are more often stranded in the jungle, powering up only when faced with a new threat.

Some are benign, terraforming machines whose only crime is using up precious power. These need to be dismantled so that power can be saved for the shield system. Others are security robots that will attack the intruders to the planet.

Though the machines are scattered they are often obvious, emitting warning alarms or flashing lights. Their SCA's will show some areas where there are larger clusters but machines can be found anywhere.

Purple

Their SCA's are filled with hundreds of purple dots, each a solar stations that needs cleared and brought back online. It's not the most glamourous job, the stations are deep in the jungle, the treck is difficult and most of the work needed is weed clearing.

But once the weeds have been cut away they will need to patch up the station, doing basic maintenance to get it back online. In some cases wires need to be patched back together but it shouldn't take any great feats of engineering to get the stations up and running.

They may run into some of the security automatons, needing to fight their way into the stations before they can begin the clean up operations.

Orange

Like the red team their SCA will show areas where there are clusters of the small insectoid automatons that need to be rescued and restored. However they can be found anywhere throughout the jungle, they are not too suited for the terrain outside of the stations and so they have gotten tangled in vines. They can be found powered down, stranded and in dire need of maintenance.

Tools and spare parts can be found in many of the solar stations that purple team have been locating. Actually repairing the robots takes some engineering knowledge but once they are restored they will go about their tasks in the stations. They will need help getting to the further flung stations as well as the main control centres.

They are very basic in design and follow pre programmed instructions rather than being able to hear and listen to orders. But once in the correct place they are very effective at their job.

Blue

Once the shield is up there is a faint humming that can be heard throughout the jungle if they listen closely and find it among the sound of rain and insects. But once they hear it, it is obvious where it is louder and more prominent.

Their SCA will pin point some of the larger control boxes but there are truthfully too many to show on a map. Not all of them have attracted Violet Pandas, but many of them have.

They are curious creatures, both of the power boxes and the voidtreckers. They are protective of each other but not so much of territory and therefore it is not difficult to move them on. Keeping them away is another matter, the power humming is interesting and they will unearth wires and chew through them. It doesn't seem to do them much harm, there is clearly safety stops in the system for such eventualities. It does however cut power off to entire solar stations and require a lot of patch work.

Good luck voidtreckers!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Sneaky, sneaky, Roland.

The implications aren't lost on Inigo. Honestly, he already figured Roland was just pulling every excuse he could think of out of the book in order to get Inigo to come with him, so it's no surprise that he's just improvising at this point. And Inigo can hardly be mad at Roland for lying to him when Inigo himself was doing the exact same thing at first.

.. nor can he really get mad for Roland not even having paid attention as to what food he was carrying around, let alone having eaten some. They really are too alike in the worst possible ways, aren't they. It's all Inigo thinks about as he opens up one of the lunch boxes.

Maybe not being out there working for a moment isn't so bad when he can at least make sure Roland eats something then, Inigo thinks, trying to justify sitting around for himself so he won't start to feel the intense guilt.

With the lid off the lunch box, Inigo holds it up to his nose, smelling the food. ]

Oh, smells yummy!

[ It's said in a way that's definitely more energetic and cheery than he's actually feeling, but it's easier this way, he thinks, better. It's so obvious that Roland is distracted and worried, and the more normal Inigo acts, the less he'll give the other to worry about. He can't be yet another worry right up there on Roland's plate.

Besides, it's easier to get away with certain things with that kind of attitude. Like scooping up a bite off the food with the cutlery that appears from his Arms Band, and then holding up said bite to the older guy's lips with a sweet smile. ]

Come on, father, you have to try one first! Tell me what it tastes like! [ He is going to make sure you eat, old man, and you better like it!!! ]

[ Ain't that the right way to get him to eat. He knows Inigo is being EXTRA CUTE, but he's also wondering if there was something else Inigo was hiding from him. Both of them had a penchant to shrug off how they really felt unless the timing was right, but...such a face of sincerity. What an act to warm up his heart, even if the last thing he wants to do right now is to put food in his mouth.

Roland's felt like he wants to vomit since the meteor hit, and thankfully, with supplementary sustenance in drinks and potions to do the job for you, no one ever really suspected a thing, too busy with the mission to care.

Inigo will always catch him, though. Such is the bond they've fostered. Inigo will always care. So he'll swallow down the lob of saliva that's pooled in the back of his throat, do it for Inigo who wants him to be okay. ]

Alrighty. Let's see here...

[ He peers at the spoon full of rice and meat in a joking manner, as if that would do anything about its flavor, before crossing his arms and leaning in to take the offered bite without hesitation.

Hold it down. ]

Oh, this is from the previous food run with that passenger who could make ten kilos of food. It's delicious. It's savory.

[ To hide the fact that he's just barely taking in the food, he gestures for the utensils next. Two can play sweet! Son, get ready to be fed right BACK! ]

Okay. My turn. Let's see what yours is.

[ HAH, HE WAS BORN READY.

Or rather, Inigo has a bit less trouble with it under the current circumstances. Really, the whole food issue is more about habit and time than anything else. Too used to going without, too busy to think much about eating food, about actually sitting down and taking the time to consume it. But while he's forced to stay here now by the sheer power Paternal Affection has over him, he might as well indulge in the food.

.. and the cute feeding. Because even though Inigo is playing up the cute act over here, he is very much into this. He hands over his lunch box to Roland without protest, allowing the man to feed him the bite of potatoes from the other lunch.

Not to mention get the cutest possible reaction on top of it. Inigo hums happily with the food in his mouth as he chews, even wiggling a little on the spot he's sitting at. Come on, Roland, how can you think anything even vaguely pessimistic when you're seeing this cute display, huh? ]

Hmm-mm, it's good! [ He smiles, a grain of rice that was still stuck on the spoon from Roland's meal now right there on Inigo's cheek. ] Father, I'm so glad for getting to eat with you!

[ Definitely playing it up now. But Inigo kind of gets away with it since he's so naturally cute that it works. ]

[ The act doesn't go unnoticed, but it's not as if Roland is denying Inigo the chance to be this cute - cuter than he's ever been before. Adorable almost, and something that should have looked quite silly from someone else's perspective...but not to him. He's enjoying it too, in ways he can't describe. As if seeing Inigo react this way is filling gaps in a memory that doesn't exist; the same feeling that washed over him back in his little pretend cafe, where they sat side by side imagining a kinder life. In another world, they would have had this experience, right?

His smile turns warm as his free hand gently lifts to wipe the grain of rice away, barely a feathered touch that just about does the job before he flicks it away. Roland dips his spoon back into Inigo's lunchbox and readies another bite for him. But he hesitates to raise another spoon to his lips, pushing back potatoes and sauce as if thinking, a light flush coloring his cheeks...or maybe it's just a trick of the fire, sat close enough that it could be nothing but a play of shadows. ]

Thank you. For always reminding me. Even on missions like this...

[ Let it be known that Inigo is his official food reminder - and a pang of guilt shoots at his heart, knowing Inigo does it more often than Roland can do for him. He shakes his head, still boring holes into the lunchbox. ]

You take way better care of me than I do you, and isn't that my job? Heh. I...[ Roland clears his throat, the back of his neck rubbed twice before he attempts for a third time, to offer a spoonful back to Inigo. ] I'm just glad you're not embarrassed to do things like this with me.

[ Inigo takes the spoonful back when it's finally not being pulled away - way to jank his chain here, dad! - and thoughtfully chews the food once it's in his mouth, going silent while he listens, while he thinks.

By the time he swallows, he's shaking his head. Something about his demeanour is a little less cute, and a bit more serious, but genuine all the same. ]

Of course I'm not embarrassed. [ Inigo loves all these sorts of gooey things, after all. Maybe more than he ought to. ] I mean.. you're my father.

[ And it just feels so true at this point to make that statement. Even though Inigo already had a father, now dead. Even though it's not like Roland saw him grow up. Even though the two of them, sitting side by side like this, look more like brothers than father and son, just going by their sheer apparent ages. With the way Roland treats him, a natural fit, there's no way Inigo could still see him as anything else. ]

And I know I don't have much experience in what kind of things you're supposed to do with your father. But.. I do know that if mother had still been alive, these are exactly the kind of things I would have wanted to do with her. [ And that is something he does know a lot about, thankfully.

He falls quiet for a moment, and then, with a slight near-eye roll, he scoops some more food out of Roland's lunchbox, urging him to eat again too with the spoon poking at his lips. ]

Besides, this isn't just a one way street, you know? Regardless of how we specifically see each other, people who are important to each other take care of each other. [ Regardless of who's the dad here. Roland needs someone to take care of him too. ]

[ Does Roland know? To what extent of fatherhood has he explored with his own kid before the call of destiny overtook his whole life, before he took on a crown and a mantle that forced him to carry the weight of the world? Probably not. There's a twitch against his mouth, a crinkle in the corners of his eyes as he realizes he was no authority in what constituted a healthy relationship between father and son growing up. By all means, Roland failed Will the same way Chrom might have failed Inigo by giving up too much of his life instead of staying with his children. But these are thoughts he reserves for his own time; it had no place here, with Inigo asking for all of him. He gives it willingly, making up for sins of another life.

Roland opens his mouth and chews thoughtfully. ]

You're right. That goes for everyone we care about, doesn't it? You always know what to say, pup. [ The nudge of the serving spoon is a playful one, but he means what he says regardless of how Inigo will take it - and if he knows Inigo well enough, Roland anticipates a straight up denial. ] I guess what I'm really trying to tell you is how much I...enjoy spending time with you like this. [ And this isn't an easy admission to make, if it were anyone else. The dusting of color against his cheeks continues to glow against the light of the fire. He's well-practiced with speeches and filibusters, but at opening up, it's always like he has to be careful with what he says. ]

...Can I ask you something? [ He clears his throat, offering him another spoonful of food. At least, he can meet Inigo's eye now, intense as it might be. ]

[ Roland does know Inigo too well. Of course there's the immediate instinct to deny what the other is saying, especially since this is about something Inigo just knows he's bad at. He knows he often says dumb stuff, that he tries to speak from the heart, but that it often fails since his brain isn't always as involved.

But how can he speak that denial out loud when Roland continues, when he says what he says after? The soft admission that makes Inigo's heart feel like it's glowing, despite all the worries still running through his mind. Mostly since he knows it's honest, that it isn't just something Roland is saying to try and get Inigo to go out to work by himself less. ]

Of course. [ It's the first thing he ends up answering. Inigo opens his mouth, taking the food offered to him, chewing on it as he thinks, rather curious what exactly Roland would want to ask him at a moment like this. ]

[ He lowers the lunchbox and spoon to his lap and suddenly, the red in his face disappears. Roland turns to stare at the hearth, crackling fire and warming up others by their periphery. It was a big bonfire at the middle of a battle-worn camp, and everything around them has certainly seen better days. He runs out of distractions though, and it wouldn't do to keep Inigo waiting.

It's hard for him even if he only has positive feelings to express. The words always seem so heavy no matter what he has to say; so long as it came from the depths of his heart, there was a struggle that stopped him from coming out with it upfront. Always had to be a ceremony in his mind, thinking and thinking some more.

But Inigo was waiting on him, and he wanted him to know, he wants to say this. Roland keeps his gaze trained on the orange glow of the fire as he finally ends the silence. ]

If you and I could have a day to ourselves anywhere in the world, in whatever universe you could dream of...What would you like to do? Just us two? [ A beat passes. Then, he breaks his staring contest with the fire to turn back to Inigo. The smile on his face is just as warm. Gentle. ] Father and son?

Just us two?

[ The overthinking comes naturally to Inigo too. So much so that he almost falls into it right now. It's an easy trap, after all. Wanting to make sure he has the perfect answer, not realising that Roland would probably enjoy hearing just about any old regular answer from him - just because it's coming from him in the first place.

And right now, Inigo realises he doesn't have the ideal answer at ready. He doesn't even have a good answer at the ready. But rather than going quiet, thinking about it for too long, he tries his best to be brave. To be honest, even if he's worried about sounding lame while he's looking at Roland. ]

I.. I'm not sure. [ His cheeks colour a little. ] I just.. I feel that there are so many things out there in the world that I still don't know.

[ Because other worlds are so different from his own, for one, and he could never guess what may pass for father-son activities in Roland's world.

But even his own world. Inigo was so young when everything went to ruin. What would he know about the full extent of available activities before then? ]

So much so that I don't even know what to suggest. I'm sorry. It must sound rather strange, huh..? [ He admits. ] I just know that doing anything with you would be fun. Even trying new things that I've never done before.

Heh. Don't apologize. It's not strange at all. Maybe I don't need to hear an answer right now. I just...

[ It's a rare occasion where both of them are afflicted with a similar wave of nervousness, such that Roland chuckles and sets down the lunchbox in his hands for a moment just to stare back at the crackle of fire before them, warming them from a neat distance. What did he want Inigo to say? What was he expecting? Did he think fatherhood would come from asking questions like this...?

He hopes his inexperience does not deter Inigo from his affections. Roland fears that, most of all. It's happened already, and he's barely recovered from that. Still trying to fight his way back to a life that might have long passed him now, just to make amends. ]

Thanks. [ For wanting to do anything with him. The smile on Roland's face feels like his mind is going somewhere else again, lost in the daze, a glow painting his skin in orange light. That was an answer too, wasn't it? ] Maybe we can discover things to try together, instead. Like...Like seeing a play for the first time.

[ Roland turns, the suggestion brightening him up. Remembering a shared interest of theirs, anchoring it close. But also, watching Inigo to see if he would approve, watching for that spark that meant he wanted to do it with him. Make a memory with him. ]

Would you like that kind of stuff?

[ Rather than verbally answering right away, Inigo lets out a light laugh, leaning over so his head can briefly rest on the other man's shoulder before moving to sit upright again. ]

Of course I'd like that.

[ It's a question that doesn't even have to be asked. Inigo would like anything with Roland, would do anything together with him. Roland could ask him to jump straight into the deepest pit of hell with him, and Inigo wouldn't hesitate. ]

I just wish I knew more about your world! You know, so I'd be able to suggest things. [ It's something he doesn't blame on Roland though. Even if they spent all day, every day, speaking about the other's world, Inigo still knows there's no way he'd know all about it. Knowledge of a world is just too hard to pass on. It's something you need to experience, instead.

But Inigo knows his time to do so will come. Eventually. ]

But even the simple things may be nice.

[ He pokes his eating utensils at the food left in his lunchbox. ]

You know, like being able to wake up from a cuddling nap together and still being in the same bed, whenever we want. I'd like that. Just doing the things the train won't let us do as easily right now.

[ That answer is the most Inigo he's ever heard thus far, and it draws his lips into a wider smile, his own lunchbox forgotten as it's lowered totally to the side. Roland doesn't often admit it, but he feels the same way; it gets rather strange, even lonely, when you fall asleep with the comfort of someone else's arms to lull you close, then waking up to an empty space.

Not that he's not used to that anyway, from back home. His own bed has always been too big or too small. When Inigo settles by his side though, and it's something they've begun doing more often than not now, Roland isn't a stranger to the fact that he's getting used to the presence. Likes it. Enjoys that contact even if it doesn't come as naturally to him as it does to his adopted.

It's nice. The image of waking up in the morning with a son curled up in his arms, is nice. ]

Whenever we want, huh? [ He sustains that smile as his head tilts in the direction Inigo mounts for a moment, as if the imagining could jump out of his head and into the fire, breathing life into his thoughts. A normal life. With all of them. Nice. ] I'd like that too.

[ Roland could very easily go on about how he thinks the train is using them for battery packs, transferring passengers to designated beds like routine, but underneath Nion's violent skies and after everything he and Inigo have seen so far, it seemed inappropriate. There was a comfort here that he did not expect when he stopped Inigo from going on to work even in the thick of night. Roland would rather not waste the moment, if he can. ]

You know...We're not on the train at the moment.

[ He turns his head towards the boy, almost sheepish; an implication underlying innocently beneath the surface. It may also be his ploy to get Inigo to stay, a tactic he learned from the guy himself, when he sandwiches Roland against the wall of his cot so it would be impossible to move without waking the other.

It's too dark here. It's always too dark when they're alone in places like this, reminding them of homes they have lost. Yes, he had to do this. They must stick together. He playfully chuckles and shakes his head, eyes closed in teasing, arms crossed back against his chest. ]

I mean, I don't think the train can actually do what it does on planets like this. That's all.

[ See that face he's throwing your way from the side, Inigo? He wonders if maybe he should lay it on a bit thicker. ]

[ There are definitely moments when Inigo is being dumb. When he misses obvious clues, or when he says things without thinking. But the implication in what Roland is saying is so thick here - in just about everything, from his words to his tone to his expression - that even Inigo couldn't miss it.

Especially when the implication is something so near and dear to his heart. Something that's enough for him to momentarily forget about the food he was both trying to eat and trying to feed Roland with. ]

Yeah, it.. it can't.

[ Look, Inigo may be an expert on this from the sheer amount of times he's dragged people into sleeping curled up with him while off the train. Yuki on earlier missions, then Gerome back when the other was around. So he knows for a fact that it doesn't work here the way it does on the train. That you can wake up in the arms of the same person you fell asleep with.

And.. of course he wants that. He always desperately wants it. Even though Inigo is used to being by himself, forced himself to adapt to it back home, it's not as if he prefers it. Not when it's so much harder for his usual anxious thoughts to hit him when he's right next to someone he cares about. ]

.. are you sure though?

[ Maybe it's a tad more vulnerable than it has to be. Shy. It's not as if Roland has ever really denied him anything before. And maybe it'd be good for the other too, considering how this mission started - Roland's initial reaction to the sky, to this planet's situation.

But he just doesn't want to be pushy or too selfish when Roland has been having a harder time than usually too.

(And at least the vulnerability is making any assumption that this is a ploy slip right past him. Inigo isn't even thinking anymore about how Roland dragged him back here to keep him from working by himself at night to begin with..) ]

I mean, I.. I'd love to if you want to..

[ Roland meets that hesitation, that shyness he's come to expect from Inigo, with endearment. He chuckles again, a low vibration in his chest, and the inclination to poke at him is not something he ignores. Not when he's gotten closer to Inigo now, and he knows it's the perfect way to get him to relax a little despite the offer made with his honest heart.

Roland heaves his shoulders up, play-acting, pretending quite clearly with how emphasized he moves. A subtle, slight pout of his lips as his eyes look up at the sky, in contemplation. There's a sigh that doesn't quite make it, too hammy to be anything but a joke.

Inigo can inspire moments like this in him too easily. He's long assessed that fighting the urge is futile. ]

Well, if you'd rather stay here and eat some more...

[ He shrugs again, looking at Inigo from the corner of his eye. ]

I guess I could go...Look for a panda to nap with instead.

[ Roland closes his eyes, nodding as if that was truly the answer. It is though, an answer of the different sort - that of course this was a joke and of course Roland would never go out and hug a panda. It's enough to crack a genuine laugh out of him, lasting only a few seconds before he shows teeth, eyes meeting Inigo again as if to say, Of course I'd love to. He leans to the side, nudging his shoulder against his. ]

It's either a panda or my pup, after all. Heh.

[ Thankfully even Inigo of all people can catch on to the fact that Roland is joking here. So there's no nerves, no getting upset, no dramatic tears. Nothing of the sort. Even before the other bursts out in laughter like that, Inigo already knows the words that are about to follow. ]

.. Thank you, father.

[ It's quiet, but a quiet, very genuine gratitude. One that's only made stronger by Roland's specific use of the words 'my pup'. It feels so important, so sweet. To think that Roland would feel strongly enough about him to say 'my'.

How could Inigo even think about sneaking out to go work in the face of that? ]

I've already told you before, but.. I really do sleep a lot better when I'm near someone else. So.. thank you. [ Especially since Roland may just be the best possible person to sleep near to. No one makes him feel as safe, as cared for. It comes natural, as if Roland has been his father for his entire life now.

Inigo glances at the lunchboxes. Not empty yet, but then again, he's not sure how much more he can eat right now. ]

.. do you want to go sleep now?

I remember.

[ That's all he offers, but it's all the affirmation either of them need. It's a fact that extends to every mission, every lull in the train; that Roland would indeed be there by his side, watching over him in sleep or in wake.

He nods to him with a hum, his hands already working to close the half-eaten lunchboxes and storing them in his Arms Band with a flourish and a sparkle. Roland stands first, but he offers to help lift Inigo up, even if it's really just an excuse to hold his hand. ]

Come on. I'll wake you up in an hour. Just rest. I'll keep watch. You've been working so hard.

[ An excuse to hold hands?

Consider Inigo to be there. Anytime, anywhere. And it's somewhat nice to see a tactic that he usually employs being used like this. So of course he grabs that hand, allowing Roland to help him up, and then easily keeping it there - allowing the man to hold his hand as long as he wants, to guide him over towards the tents.

And while this isn't a real protest, per se, Inigo can't help but ask: ]

When are you going to sleep then? [ He gets Roland wanting to watch over him and all, and it's not like he's going to deny the other that.. But you can't blame Inigo for worrying a little when Inigo himself isn't the only overworker present here. ]

[ Roland doesn't miss a beat, walking over to his tent in particular, flap already half-opened when they reach it. ]

...When you do. I'll wait for you to fall asleep first. [ He reassures him with a firmer hand in his, if only for a moment. A small smile, barely there but not lacking in affection despite it. ] I promise.

[ He'll do his best to fall asleep, in any case. ]

[ Inigo really doesn't want to be suspicious of his father. He doesn't want to doubt his words, but at the same time he can't help but have a small spark of hesitation in his heart. There's no way to lie in such a way here that Roland wouldn't be able to just sneak out while he was sleeping, after all.

.. but then the man continues speaking, and adds those two little words. I promise. Wouldn't it be unfair of Inigo to doubt his own father when he promises him something?

So he finally slightly nods, his head dipping. ]

Okay.

[ He moves ahead of Roland into the tent, scooting off to the side a little so there's still plenty of space for the other man. But at least Inigo doesn't waste any time in already moving to lie down, his head on the pillow, looking as natural as if this is the spot he's been sleeping at all along, despite it not being his own tent.

His eyes aren't closed yet, but.. ]

I.. guess I am a little tired.

[ .. he finally admits. It's just easier to notice your own exhaustion when you're finally lying down, like it all starts to catch up with you so much more quickly. ]

[ He knows what that feeling is like. When you keep going for as long as possible, work until the only reminder you've got left is the rumble that keels in your belly and the breaths you forget to take in the midst of the job. So Roland also knows all too well how quickly the fatigue can take over the moment your back hits the mattress; as soon as your body is reminded of just how much rest it needs to actually function properly.

He lingers by the corner of the cot and plants himself down nearest to Inigo's head, his fingers already brushing away the bangs from his forehead to cool him. He does this for a little while, forgetting that he might want to ask Inigo for some space to actually nap himself. ]

Hm. Close your eyes. Like we said, I'll still be here when you wake. So there's nothing to worry about. Right?

[ It's unfair. It's too comfortable. Just lying here, having Roland's hand against his head, moving his hair. It's not as if Inigo doesn't always think of the other man as his father, as natural as if they have always been this way, but it's at these sorts of moments that Roland always feels the most like a father.

The moment where Inigo closes his eyes, and the worries suddenly disappear. Where he isn't thinking about the work left to do, the situation in this world, their own circumstances on the train, everything that usually goes through his head. All he can think about is how nice and warm Roland's hand feels against his head. ]

Right..

[ It's mumbled so softly that it almost seems like the boy drifted off to sleep already. But apparently it's not the case, since a moment later he's still mumbling. ]

Father, come lie down too..

All right, son. Incoming.

[ He halts the hand in caress and doesn't hesitate join Inigo in whatever space is granted of him on the cot. It's a snug fit, but that might be perfect for the nap he intends for the boy. This way, with Roland by the edge, Inigo would have to crawl over him if he were to sneak out, and Roland was nothing if not a very light sleeper too. When his own body is at rest, he immediately positions himself so he's turned over to one side, a guardian shielding Inigo from anyone and anything that might barge into his tent. As soon as he finds a more comfortable angle, Roland resumes brushing the hair away from Inigo's face, this time drifting to the sides of his cheek, and everywhere else that might tickle his skin in sleep.

Once upon a time...Oh, what memories this stirs. Once upon a time... ]

Come on. Enough chatting. I'm here now. Rest, pup.

[ There's a sleepy huff.

It's not a protest about the sleeping. He's going to sleep! It's more a protest about the chatting, like Inigo is trying to actively stall things here, when that's not what he's doing.

.. for once, anyway.

No, instead this is just about making sure his father is comfortable too, even though Inigo - in his sleepy state - forgets to leave more room for the other. Thankfully Roland seems to fit in all the same through a little effort of his own, because Inigo never would have noticed it with his eyes closed like this already.

And the moment he finds that warm body next to his own, there's no more chatter. No more words. There's just Inigo moving even a bit closer to him, cuddling up as close to Roland as possible, like he's instinctively seeking out the safety and comfort of his father's presence.

But considering the amount of times Roland has watched Inigo fall asleep already, he'll be able to tell that's what's going on here too. It only takes a few moments longer for Inigo to completely have drifted off into dreamland - probably for far longer than the initially intended nap time, judging by how soundly he seems to be sleeping. ]

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Not with a Bang Start and Ongoing

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