splitmemory | can you keep a secret

Lilia was not a man who enjoyed being bored, nor was he one that enjoyed doing the same thing day in day out. It's difficult to pin him with a routine, even if he could often be found with any of the boys he was closest to. Whether it be his darling son, his trainee, or his ward, none of them would be safe from Lilia's antics on a day-to-day basis, no matter how hard they tried (which, wasn't much, given how adored he was, just as he adored them).

It was Friday evening, a night that Lilia allowed himself to stay up far too late during on average. He's sure to attract unwanted attention and needless lecture from those sweet boys if he's too loud, if he makes it known that he's still awake. How could he log off now of all times?

There was an event going on in one of his favorite games, he had to grind for all the points he could.

Sitting hunched in his chair, sipping at an energy drink that had far too much caffeine for the time of night, the clicking of his keyboard could be hard from the hallway, if anyone was walking by at this time. He doubts it, allowing himself to fall into a false sense of security.

Edited 2024-04-29 06:54 (UTC)

It is, of course, Malleus' sacred duty as Housewarden to make sure everyone in Diasomnia is where they should be. Or that's what he tells himself, at least, when he goes to check on Lilia, who has not been heard from for a good few... ah. Hours? Days? It's difficult to tell the passage of time, but they had class earlier, so it must have only been a matter of hours. Regardless, he has not been seen.

It's that bothersome rattling noise of keyboard keys that attracts Malleus, that tips him off to exactly what Lilia must be doing, and he exhales a sigh. A little more bothered than he has any right to be, honestly. Malleus doesn't bother knocking, pushes the door open without announcing himself, because he's sure Lilia will know without needing to look.

"You are still awake at this hour?" Not only is he still awake, his posture is abysmal.

As expected of him, Lilia could hear the doorknob turn. Not that he looked up from his game or paid any mind to the intrusion. His eyes are focused on the screen in front of him, even as the other man steps into his room, intrudes on his personal space. Did the two of them even have personal space, after the just under 200 years they knew each other for?

Without lifting his eyes to look at Malleus, he responds easily, "Yes," That shine of the metal can is all too visible as he lifts it up to his mouth, taking a slow sip. "It is a Friday evening. Why should I limit myself to the confines of a 'bedtime' when there's no classes to attend tomorrow?"

At last, he lifts his eyes, shooting a glance towards Malleus. "Besides. Even if I wished to sleep, there's an event taking place that I wish to collect all the items for." He points at the screen, as if that explains it, before pausing.

"Why are you awake, hmmm? Were you lonely? Come, you can sit with me while I play~" Lilia laughs softly, motioning towards the nearby bed as if to suggest that Malleus could sit and keep him company there.

An 'event' taking place? Malleus knows enough to understand Lilia is talking about his silly little game, but as far as he knows, there are no actual 'items' that are given. It's simply a picture on a screen... or maybe there is something in the screen? He won't pretend to understand the technology of man.

Malleus is generally awake at this hour, as well; he goes for his walks, preferring the quiet of the night in comparison to the bustle of the campus during the daytime. Still, it is late, and. Yes, maybe he was lonely. Why would Lilia be doing something like this, when they could be spending time together? It baffles him.

A pause, before Malleus closes the door behind him, and crosses the few steps to where Lilia's bed sits, unoccupied. He looks at it for a moment. Come to think of it, when is the last time he'd seen Lilia sleeping? It feels like ages ago. It probably was.

"I fail to see how you can collect 'items' inside a plastic box." Then again, does Malleus not hold his own piece of technology quite dear? But that's different.

Even if Malleus didn't sit yet, at least he stepped inside and closed the door so the two of them wouldn't bother the other students. Lilia himself was a rather nocturnal creature, but being awake so much during the daytime should mean he slept during the night, not spent that time up doing silly things on his computer.

Shifting, Lilia sits up some, his nails clicking against the keyboard as he types a quick message to his gaming friend; essentially letting him know that he may log off for the night soon. Luckily, they hadn't been actively playing together, only talking about the event.

"They are not literal items," Lilia starts, amused smile on his face, "They are metaphorical, theoretical. Things that do not exist but still hold value within the box, within the images displayed on the box." How many times had Lilia attempted to explain Computers to Malleus, in recent years? At least the boy had a phone... even if he didn't know how to use it.

"I can show you, if you'd like. I don't have a second chair for my desk, but... hm. I could sit in your lap in this one." The suggestion is second nature. Physical affection wasn't something he'd ever shied away from. Not when Malleus was small, not now.

Metaphorical and theoretical? It seems even more absurd. Malleus' brown furrows; he fails to see the merit in collecting something that is merely an image on a screen, that has no use aside from inside the box. Phones are at least useful, taking photos that can be looked back on for years to come... that, Malleus enjoys. The rest of it? He is still not quite sure about. He supposes calling people on it might be useful, but his magic makes that quite unnecessary.

He is brought out of his thoughts by Lilia's voice, by the suggestion to sit on his lap. Malleus, looking uncharacteristically surprised, blinks. It is... an odd request, and one only Lilia - or perhaps Grim - might make. He considers it, but something about the proposal seems embarrassing. He remembers sitting in Lilia's lap when he was small; would it not be much stranger like this?

"I... do not mind standing." There's a clear falter in his words that is not usually there. Others might not give it second thought, but he is sure Lilia will notice.

What was with that look on Malleus' face?? He looked surprised by the offer; it wasn't as if they didn't sit close before. Sure, Malleus had never actually held Lilia in his lap, but Lilia was in the habit of jumping up and demanding physical affection from those he cared about, either in the form of grabbing onto their shoulders while flying behind them, hugging their arm, or flying above them to fix their hair. So why, then, was this suggestion different?

The falter in his words, too. Strange. Lilia stares up at Malleus for a moment longer, before he vanishes from sight, appearing directly behind him, floating up a good few feet in the air so he can push at the man's back.

"Come now, come now, don't be shy~" With the strength he has, he could easily force Malleus to sit down, but that just wouldn't do. It's instead a gentle pressure, coupled with an amused laugh. If Malleus truly didn't want to, he wasn't going to force it. That much is obvious.

Lilia is, of course, right; it is not as though they haven't been this close before. It's just more of a shocking role reversal than usual, enough to throw even Malleus off-

Ah, and this. This is familiar, too, when Lilia is suddenly gone from where he was before, and Malleus is left to wonder just where he will pop up. It's something he does often, but the push at his back is quite surprising for someone who is not at all accustomed to being treated roughly. Lilia is the only one who would dare, honestly, and the only one who would likely get away with it, though it all really depends on Malleus' mood.

He takes a slightly stumbling step forward. Malleus is strong enough that if he truly wanted to resist, he could, but... he isn't exactly opposed to the idea, is the thing. It's just strange.

"I am not being shy," he retorts. Malleus Draconia, shy? Lilia is the only one who would ever use such a word for him. With a heavy sigh, he sits down in the chair. He doesn't really want to fight; he's pleased enough to spend the unexpected one-on-one time with Lilia.

For Lilia, Malleus was never one that he feared, nor did he hold back around him. Why should he? The time they'd spent together, the years upon years, the tantrums that only the two of them could remember, from his youngest days... Lilia was, possibly, the only person who could ever act like such a fool and never earn a lecture from the not-so-serious Housewarden of Diasomnia.

With a laugh, Lilia continues to urge Malleus into the seat, gently, until he begins to move of his own accord, taking a seat.

"Are you not? Hm, I doubt my eyes are failing me... This must be the work of some evil spell taking ahold of me, making me assume untrue things about you!" This sounds so serious coming from Lilia, with that tone of voice, but followed by that laugh... Yes, he's messing with Malleus.

It's an easy position to fall into. It only takes Lilia a second before he's situated in Malleus' lap, his back leaning up against his chest, body flush with Malleus'. His hands move back out, one settling over the keyboard and the other over the mouse. "Now, let's see.... what game would Malleus Draconia enjoy..."

Lilia truly means to use him as a seat? This seems... entirely improper, at his age! Malleus' face is uncharacteristically warm. In fact, all of this is warm, including Lilia, who sits on Malleus' lap like there is nothing at all unusual about this.

He is being teased, too. This is not at all what Malleus had signed up for when he'd come to urge Lilia to go to bed; now here he is, in this computer chair, with Lilia's back against his chest. Malleus sits very, very still, careful not to shift too much. Why? Because- Because that would be rude, obviously. Wait- Is this not rude of Lilia in the first place?!

...He smells rather nice. Familiar, nostalgic. No, Malleus is not sniffing the man who raised him; he simply has a rather sharp sense of smell.

"I do not think you'll find a game I am likely to enjoy." His voice is deadpan, distracted as he is by how soft Lilia's hair looks.

As improper as it may be to use his ward, his Prince as a seat, Lilia doesn't seem to care. No one was around to question it, to wonder what they were doing, to make them act proper. This was comfortable. That was all that mattered.

While Malleus attempted not to shift around at all, trying to keep very still, Lilia was the exact opposite. He squirms and shifts, seeming to do his best to get as comfortable as possible atop Malleus as he could. Glancing up to his face briefly, Lilia flashes a grin up at him.

"You think so? We will just have to see about that!"

On the screen, Lilia pulls up a chat that he seemed to have going with his friend 'Gloomurai'. The most recent messages are Lilia (Muscle Red) detailing that he may have to log off early for the night. Quickly typing another message, he hits send, not seeming to mind that Malleus would fully be able to see.

Muscle Red: Gloomurai, I am going to log off for the night after all. Something important came up. Have a good one, my friend.

The application is closed out completely, alongside the games that Lilia already had up. He pulls up a web browser, humming quietly to himself as he pulls up a specific website.

"This one is called 'Netpet'. You can feed them, pet them, play minigames to earn money and buy them fancy items, and more. It's similar to that toy I gave you, except you must log in everyday to check on them instead of carrying it with you. You can also raise multiple and blend their genetics," Lilia logs in, pulling up his collection of pets and showing them off. "This is not my preferred type of game at all. Some of the minigames are enjoyable, I play them on occasion on my phone."

Edited 2024-05-02 23:33 (UTC)

Malleus does wish Lilia would stop squirming. It's rather unbecoming, and also. Well. He'll allow himself to be distracted by the chat on screen. Malleus at least knows enough that this is like these 'messaging apps' on his phone, though he does not know this 'Gloomurai', nor does Malleus believe they are trustworthy. How would they be, if they are some stranger on the other side of the... screen? However these things work.

Hmph. At least Lilia has made it clear he has other things to attend to right now. Malleus will put it out of his mind for the time being, partially because he is actually a little interested in what Lilia is saying, and the bright colors on the screen.

If it's like the little creature Lilia had given him before, then it might be a worthwhile endeavor. On the other hand, his is so much easier to carry around and care for than this computer-thing.

Oh-

"You can play them on your phone?" Malleus thinks he would prefer that, for it to be in his pocket. Finally, something that small rectangle is useful for.

Unlikely that Lilia would ever stop squirming unless he got fully immersed in a game that he ends up showing Malleus, which... he really wouldn't, if they stayed on this game the whole time. Could he even consider Netpets a real game? It was nothing more than a few cutesy arts and little games. Ah, but if this was what he needed to introduce Malleus to for him to understand some of his world, then he'd treat it like any of the games he adored.

"Yes!" Lilia nods, shifting again to reach out and grab his phone from nearby, pulling up the web browser. He holds his phone at an angle so Malleus can watch him as he does, navigating to the web page.

"You simply go to the site here, see, and then I'll log in once more..." He mimics what he'd done on the large computer screen, and soon, he has the same gallery up on his phone as on the screen! "See? It makes it easy to play around with them even when you don't wish to use something like my computer."

Setting his phone back down onto the desk, Lilia focuses back on his screen. "I can help you set it up as an icon on your phone, if you wish."

There's a pause, before he looks up at Malleus again, beaming, "If you end up playing, we can become friends on it. I can send you materials, gifts, and we can have our pets play together. I haven't added anyone on it yet. It would be a great honor to have you as my first ever Netpet friend."

"You really ought to... try to sit still." Malleus' voice is slightly tighter than usual. He is less demanding with Lilia than he might be with other students, but while his personality is rather intimidating and off-putting, it's simply because that is how he's been expected to behave his whole life. Who in Briar Valley would talk back to Malleus? But Lilia, on the other hand. Their relationship is much closer than most. Which is why this feels so utterly inappropriate.

...Still. Malleus is interested enough in this idea of colorful jpeg pets to lean closer, and look at the image mirrored on the phone screen, only smaller. Fascinating. And just anyone can look at this at the same time? How does it get to all the computers and phones at once? Someone is casting powerful magic, indeed.

At the mention of becoming friends, Malleus perks up.

"Hm. I think this is something I can see myself enjoying. Yes, I will become 'friends' with you." First ever, too! An honor, indeed.

Was there a reason that Malleus' voice was tight with him? Lilia isn't used to many demands from the boy -- usually he was the one making the demands, though they weren't real intense ones. Simple, from the guardian to his ward, asking for nothing more than was expected of him.

Lilia's eyes are already on Malleus, so when that tight little statement is offered, his head just tilts to one side. A mischief glints in his eyes. Did he know? Did he realize, why Malleus might not want him to squirm around so much? Or, was he just being Lilia?

It's impossible to tell just from the one look.

"Mm, good," Lilia nods slightly, before grabbing his energy drink, sipping some. "And and and~! Why should I sit still? It isn't like this is that strange, is it?" The can is easily set down, before Lilia turns suddenly in his lap, straddling Malleus and lifting his arm to settle it over one of his shoulders.

"Are you worried that you're too old to cuddle up with me? Should I be worried that I won't ever to be held by you and hold you?" A false pout barely hides the mischief. Stupid little faerie loved to tease - never show even an ounce of weakness, for he'll exploit it.

Well yes, he is quite old for cuddling! Too old for this, for Lilia squirming in his lap. By far. There is nothing weird about it, of course; Lilia is the man who raised him, though, so maybe this is a bit unbecoming? Malleus, for once, finds himself at a loss for words, as he tries to form a thought as to why Lilia should sit still that would make sense other than the feeble it's strange.

At least Lilia chooses that moment to be the embarrassing guardian figure he has been for so long. Malleus' expression turns slightly sour, which would utterly terrify other students, but for someone who knows him well, it is nothing but a pout. Yes, there's a bit more fang than a normal person, but he is not truly angry. Oh, if he were angry, everyone would hear it.

...ah. Why has he turned around like that?!

"You should not concern yourself with holding or being held by me. I am a grown man," Malleus complains, reaching down to clamp his hands around his waist. "It is simply unbecoming of one such as you to use a lap as a seat, and inappropriate for me to be used as a chair."

That's it, of course.

Oh, if he'd said that aloud, declared just how old he was and that he was far, far too old to cuddle close like this, Lilia would have more than a few words for him. To claim that would be to suggest Lilia himself was too old for it, that he was acting childish, and Seven knew that there was nothing that would make Lilia pout and complain more than that suggestion from Malleus. Anyone else, anyone who didn't know how old he was, would get a pass.

At least Malleus was smart enough to conceal his words in a way that wouldn't suggest that. Putting the blame onto Malleus as being grown rather than too old for this. But, that little pout was enough to remind Lilia that this boy was still just that: a boy, still growing and learning about the world around them.

"You are still my ward, still someone who I care so much about. You've never complained in the past when I've asked for attention, when I've all but taken it from you without asking." His words ring as true as they do teasing, taunting, pushing those little buttons. "You might be grown, but that does not change any of the facts."

Tilting his chin up, Lilia practically looks down his nose on Malleus, despite still being so small in comparison to him, even in his lap like this.

"How is this unbecoming or inappropriate? You're not small enough to still sit in my lap, my dear Prince, though I wouldn't complain if you wanted to switch positions. Would that be more comfortable, more familiar?"

Oh. It makes Malleus' face slightly warm when Lilia says it like that, that he cares so much about Malleus, and he would like a moment to simply enjoy the way it sounds, but he is being called out. It's true, Malleus generally does not mind Lilia's antics. This is just- This is different in ways he does not want to try and explain.

Lilia is absolutely the only person who is able to give him such a scolding and such a look and live to tell.

Malleus doesn't break eye contact, far too proud and stubborn to do so - when has he broken eye contact out of embarrassment in his life? But he does inwardly acknowledge that the opposite position would be quite absurd. He is far too tall and heavy to sit on Lilia's lap these days. Which is sort of a pity; Lilia's lap was terribly warm.

"No. While I would suggest a chair is much more normal a seat, I do not wish to switch positions." But the fact of the matter is, Lilia can't keep squirming like that. "Sit still."

So Malleus didn't want to switch positions, but he also didn't want Lilia to be squirming in his lap? What reasoning could there be behind it? What was so different that Malleus would use such a demanding tone with him?

No, Malleus wasn't going to get out of this without Lilia teasing him even further, without Lilia pulling some other antics and making him get even more flustered. The heat to Malleus' face wasn't enough to be obvious, but Lilia could feel the shift in tone, with where his arms were resting.

Lilia has the most mischievous look on his face, with a wide grin to match.

Shifting in his lap, squirming again in the very same manner as before, although this time facing Malleus-- Lilia laughs softly, bringing his hand up and around to grab Malleus' chin. This was, absolutely, inappropriate of him at this point. Lilia knew it was. But... it was fun. He could tease Malleus a little longer before stopping.

"Must I? I'm just trying to get comfortable... besides, you said yourself you don't want to shift positions. Maybe you should help me get more comfortable, then, or make me sit still."

He's playing with fire, literally.

Finally, he lets his hand fall, another small laugh escaping the man as he presses his cheek to Malleus' shoulder. "You're too easy to mess with."

It is most unbecoming for a prince of Briar Valley to get red-faced and flustered, but here Malleus is, flushed, while Lilia grabs his chin. Oh, this is far beyond inappropriate; this would be reason for Malleus to truly lose his temper, but the relationship he has with Lilia is different than that of others. Lilia dares to touch him like this, and Malleus - having looked up to Lilia since he can remember - is simply shocked at the handling.

And he is still squirming!

The way Lilia suggests Malleus make him sit still has even the tips of his ears hot, but that shocked expression turns into something more sour, a glare if there ever was one. Being glared at by Malleus would have anyone else utterly terrified, but he knows Lilia won't care a bit. After all, he's been through enough of Malleus' tantrums.

...he's being teased. Of course he is.

"This is unbecoming," Malleus scolds, but his hands are firm only Lilia's waist, unwilling to move. Malleus will have him sit still. "Imagine if others saw you acting this way. What would they think?"

Who was here to see them? Anyone else wouldn't walk into his room unannounced, as if the very room belonged to them. Even Silver wouldn't come in without knocking, without first asking if he could enter, unless he'd heard something like a scream or shout for help come from this very room.

As it was, Lilia wasn't worried. When was he, really?

Comfortable where he is, Lilia only lifts his head back up at the scolding, with the firm hands on his waist. Smiling at Malleus with an air of innocence, he pretends not to know what Malleus was talking about, as he asks the question that's most prevalent in his mind.

"They would assume it's simply me being me," He starts, bringing one hand up. This time, instead of grabbing at his face, Lilia pokes his cheek lightly. It's a tactic to try and get Malleus to relax, by being even more foolish while speaking logically. "This is my room. No one will enter without my express permission aside from you. I can lock the door, cast a spell to keep sound from escaping... if I wish it, no one would ever see."

"It is only us here, Malleus. Just what are you worried about? Since when did you begin to worry about what others might think about the way I act with you, hm?"

That's... true. This sort of behavior is not shocking from Lilia, who delights in mischief. It's just that Malleus is not usually the one on the receiving end of things like... this. Never before has Lilia sat in his lap. Surely he must understand that Malleus is- he's a 'young' man, and as cold as he may seem, Malleus is not beyond certain physical... reactions.

But he can't explain that! Not to Lilia! It's less of what others might think, and what Malleus might think with all that movement, and the hand on his chin. He exhales when Lilia pokes him, and tries to look unbothered. Unconcerned. The same way he always does.

-Ah. Why in the world is Lilia speaking of locking doors and sound-proofing spells?!

"I am not worried about the way you act with me, rather-" No, how does he explain this. "...Show me more of this pet game."

"Right! The game!" Lilia gasps, as if he'd completely forgotten the game among their conversation. This was probably the more genuine of reactions he'd had, among all the teasing and taunting he'd been doing of poor Malleus.

He shifts again, this time to turn himself back around in his lap. He wakes up the computer with a small shake of the mouse. Almost immediately, as if nothing had even happened, Lilia was right back on track.

There's still some obvious squirming. Now, at least, it wasn't being done on purpose as he pulls up something on the website.

The hand not on the mouse grabs the can he'd left on the desk, shaking it lightly from side to side to see how much of his drink he had left. About half. That'd do just fine. "Mm, okay, so, you can see the little creatures on screen, right? That bar there shows how much hunger they have. That means I need to feed them. To do that, I collect supplies..." Lilia begins his ramble, before taking a small sip of his drink.

"Hmm... would it be better if I simply show you and don't explain?"

Edited 2024-05-11 05:12 (UTC)

Malleus relaxes slightly, trusting that he has thrown Lilia off the scent, though he is still a bit bothered that he is so reliant on these silly modern games that he would forget their conversation. Ah well; Malleus will just deal with the squirming, and try his very best to focus on the colorful pictures on the screen. Some of the pets are rather cute-

What is that unpleasant liquid noise? Malleus can smell the chemicals in it when Lilia shakes the can, and his nose wrinkles. Are these the things Lilia is ingesting these days? Malleus watches him sip the drink, and then reaches out and plucks it from Lilia's hand. The explanation is, for the meanwhile, forgotten.

"I see these around campus. What is this? It smells foul." He understands the other students consuming such garbage, but Lilia?

The drink is taken from his hand easily. He hadn't expected Malleus to pluck it from his hand like that. Making a face, Lilia looks back up to Malleus, reaching out his hand in an attempt to grab the can back from him.

"It is called an Energy Drink. They are, essentially, filled with caffeine, vitamins, sugar, and other ingredients to help someone stay awake for longer periods of time. This particular one is called 'Creature', in my favorite flavor," There he goes, squirming and shifting again, this time due to the drink being taken from him.

"Give it back, Malleus." It's his turn to scold, to lecture, if Malleus decides to mess with his drink.

can you keep a secret

first time.......? or just vibes we will see

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