"They have such restrictive ideas about 'gender'... but you were transformed." Mikodez had been transformed too, and he thinks that the limitations of growing up on Earth make people ignore those changes.
"Being from Earth was the far more dramatic transformation." Mikodez's relationship with being changed isn't the same as Istradez's, but he's not here to drag him into a second argument.
"Then don't think about it." If a warden can't win Mikodez's support to their cause that's on them. Right now, he's as free an agent as he ever can be. "It may have been a waste for you, but I finished a sweater. I can give it to someone without them thinking it's an assassination attempt!" As if he would be that obvious, but for some - mysterious, of course - reason he can make people paranoid. It's very funny.
"Iago? We've played a few board games. They're not from his time, so the cultural references can be strange to both of us. It's much more fun than interrogation. Oh, and apparently there's a character based on him in a drama, but it's very hard to understand. It might be like one of those Andan romantic dramas where people do stupid things because they want to fuck each other." Unlike what he'd proclaimed in his innocent youth, he can't say 'unrealistically stupid'. "As performed by aliens, which makes it even harder to follow."
"I know you do." He is resigned to the fact, and happy to have avoided watching them as much as possible. Which, with his workload, is generally very possible. "I imagine it's much like going to Shandal Yeng's for dinner." He supposes that's truth in fiction for you, though there had been a range in successful seduction. Much like with the dramas, he usually tuned out at least half of it.
"Hush," he grumbles, but all of his malice and venom are gone. They've left him a bit woozy, a little tired, in the aftermath, but he can tough it out.
"You should find a girlfriend here," he points out, though they both know how poorly that would go. But it's a fun little game to play, curled up in his brother's arms, talking about something silly like Mikodez having other lovers.
He laughs. There's a certain level of assurance in a game about something that would never happen. "Try something new?" He supposes he technically did have a girlfriend for a few months when he was at school, but it probably doesn't count if it was for class. "I don't mind hard work, but I wouldn't even get a sweater out of it. I'm too young to decide it's time for speed dating."
"Yes, but then you might say the tea deserved the insult. I could be the charming one if I wanted to." He just enjoys being annoying. Why put aside something so amusing?"
He pretends to consider for a moment. "I suppose so, and someone has to appreciate the soap for the shower." Istradez has said he's not interested in dating on the barge, but even if that changed it has never changed their relationship. He returns Istra's kiss. His active bad mood seems to have mostly drained away, but this has always been a good way to make him happy.
It does make him happy and it makes him forget about Vash and how he felt there on the deck. He deepens the kiss, pushing the tablet to the side, the actors still going about their dramas in the background.
He doesn't want anything else except to have the support and attention of Mikodez in times like these, when his patience is thin and the world doesn't make any fucking sense. But this, his hand on the back of Mikodez's neck and pressed close to him, makes sense. This is always what brings Istradez comfort and stability because he can trust this and he doesn't have to worry about twelve years of change and a ship where his main goal is to graduate and leave his brother again.
Their older mother had once told him that it saved them from having to worry about what sort of person Mikodez might bring home otherwise. Mikodez had conceded that as a fair point. Mikodez likes people who are interesting. Most of the people he finds interesting aren't - or shouldn't - be regarded positively by anyone else.
Istradez hasn't cut a swathe of destruction across the universe, but he's always been interesting to Mikodez. He loves him, and that's been true even as his connections to most people have grown more calculated. He wants to make him happy because he wants to, not just because it makes his life easier. No one else knows him so well (and the only person he could allow to know him).
His attention makes Istra happy, and he can give him that.
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Besides, Mikodez is fine.
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"Being from Earth was the far more dramatic transformation." Mikodez's relationship with being changed isn't the same as Istradez's, but he's not here to drag him into a second argument.
"You're too nice to people."
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Mikodez rarely gets angry at people, which is useful as he would do far worse if ever wanted to.
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"Who did you make it for?! And is it an assassination attempt?"
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"Ashton. See if I make you a sweater, now."
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"You should find a girlfriend here," he points out, though they both know how poorly that would go. But it's a fun little game to play, curled up in his brother's arms, talking about something silly like Mikodez having other lovers.
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As if Istra would let anyone else do such things.
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He leans in to kiss him. "I suppose I'll have to stick around."
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He pretends to consider for a moment. "I suppose so, and someone has to appreciate the soap for the shower." Istradez has said he's not interested in dating on the barge, but even if that changed it has never changed their relationship. He returns Istra's kiss. His active bad mood seems to have mostly drained away, but this has always been a good way to make him happy.
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He doesn't want anything else except to have the support and attention of Mikodez in times like these, when his patience is thin and the world doesn't make any fucking sense. But this, his hand on the back of Mikodez's neck and pressed close to him, makes sense. This is always what brings Istradez comfort and stability because he can trust this and he doesn't have to worry about twelve years of change and a ship where his main goal is to graduate and leave his brother again.
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Istradez hasn't cut a swathe of destruction across the universe, but he's always been interesting to Mikodez. He loves him, and that's been true even as his connections to most people have grown more calculated. He wants to make him happy because he wants to, not just because it makes his life easier. No one else knows him so well (and the only person he could allow to know him).
His attention makes Istra happy, and he can give him that.