[He hates how much he likes them. He doesn't know how he feels about Mikodez's praise or - helpfulness. It was easier to like him when his outlook on Jedao consisted mostly of tense disapproval. Easier to feel safely eccentric and disaffected and uncooperative. Or. Something.]
I know.
[He thinks about Cheris's stupid dueling dramas. That hurts, but at least he understands why.]
[Mastering certain card tricks are practically a requirement for graduating from a Shuos Academy. Mikodez could still pull them off, with various amounts of flourish in his sleep. Or, slightly more impressively, after several days without sleep.
Jedao might know different variations but Mikodez is almost certain it’s the same for him.
Istradez had once not quite joked that Mikodez saw the Shuos as a house of cards. Cheris isn’t quite part of that game, Jedao is. It’s a demarcation of something like feelings that he doesn’t plan on ever sharing with Jedao. He suspects that it wouldn’t be appreciated, anyway.
Still it's why, sometime later, he makes video contact. Both he, and the cat sitting on his lap, look mildly exasperated.]
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I know.
[He thinks about Cheris's stupid dueling dramas. That hurts, but at least he understands why.]
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Jedao might know different variations but Mikodez is almost certain it’s the same for him.
Istradez had once not quite joked that Mikodez saw the Shuos as a house of cards. Cheris isn’t quite part of that game, Jedao is. It’s a demarcation of something like feelings that he doesn’t plan on ever sharing with Jedao. He suspects that it wouldn’t be appreciated, anyway.
Still it's why, sometime later, he makes video contact. Both he, and the cat sitting on his lap, look mildly exasperated.]
Please tell me you said no.
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I appreciate that you're trying to help. I really do.
So please believe I'm being sincere when I say, from the bottom of my withered old heart:
Fuck off.
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You really shouldn't.
[He hopes that Jedao remembers enough of how things work to not appreciate help, perhaps especially not genuine help.]
By the way, if I'm eaten by shadows I've nominated you as the next hexarch. My desire to help is unquenchable.
[And that way, if Jedao ever does save him, it can carefully not be at all about them. Mikodez prefers it that way.]
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And you don't get to nominate anyone. Your Zehun does.
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Or I hope they do, anyway, otherwise I'd need to look for a new personal assistant.
[He would have a list.]
Remember to look after you health.
[Which is, in fact, his way of cheerfully fucking off.]