[He smiles a little at the kiss, leaning in to try and draw it out for a few extra seconds. It's just a relief to be able to tell him the truth. Hiding things isn't Isaac's strong suit.]
They're not that cool, most of it doesn't affect anyone else. I can make people feel things, a little bit, and that's it. Um, and I'm pretty good with ghosts.
[He seems to be genuinely trying to figure out if he's missing anything for a second. He doesn't actually do anything with most of what he can do, a lot of the time he honestly forgets about it.]
It's more like it changed me. I can tell when people are dying, for one. That's what confused me when you.... [He just lets it trail off, gesturing vaguely towards where the bullet wound is.] I knew you died. I've never seen someone come back before.
[Another brief pause, as he blows out a breath as he considers what else to mention.] My heart and my breathing both got screwed up? I'm pretty hard to hurt. And really hard to poison, but that's probably because of one of the things that bit me while I was there. Most of it's stuff like that.
Feel things? Like what? [Even if it’s not a lot, even if it was nothing, he’s still in awe of everything Isaac can do.
When Isaac mentions him dying again, he gives another apologetic look, his hand releasing Isaac’s arm to reach up, resting against his neck, tracing over his jaw for a moment, he still feels bad.]
Your heart and your breathing are screwed up how? [He also wants to ask about what bit him but he’s trying to just do one thing at a time. He feels like all he has are endless questions.]
Whatever I want, in theory. But it only really happens by accident, so usually it's whatever I'm feeling. Angry, or afraid. It's not very strong, though.
[He doesn't look bothered to bring it up, but he leans into the touch anyway, giving Dagny a little smile, his hand coming up to touch the back of his wrist. He doesn't seem to mind the questions either; it gives him a place to start. He doesn't answer immediately, taking hold of his hand instead, tugging it over so two fingers rest against the pulse in his neck and Dagny can feel for himself. It's a sluggish rhythm, distinct seconds of silence between each beat.]
I can hold my breath for a pretty long time before it starts to do anything. I can go a while without sleep too. It took a while to get that way, I just started... getting used to it, eventually. It might go back? Living people don't usually get back out again, nobody's really sure.
[He looks confused at first when Isaac pulls his fingers to rest against his pulse, then he slowly leans forward as he notices the difference, the pauses in between beats, he smiles before it turns into something cheekier.]
Does anything make it speed up? [It’s like a challenge, see if he can get Isaac’s heart back to normal, to beat faster. He’ll have to think of more ways to test that theory.]
I’m pretty sure all of those qualities just make you hotter. All I got was lousy eternal life. Who wants that? [It’s mostly a joke, realistically everything Isaac does is attractive, it would be hard for him to think of anything he does as otherwise.]
Sometimes. [He quirks a little grin, before admitting:] Pretty sure you would've noticed by now if you weren't so good at that, so.
[He's laughing quietly at the joke, shaking his head.] Right now I wouldn't knock it, you're still here. [It's still light, but he absolutely means it, too. It's hard to be anything but grateful for whatever makes that true, right now.]
[His smile widens at that, proud and a little flattered, now that he knows about Isaac’s heart rate, he’s going to be paying more attention to it, just so that he can note when it goes normal. He presses another kiss to Isaac’s mouth, this time on his lips instead of to the side.]
I never thought I’d say this, but I think the bigger miracle is that you are here. [It seems like whatever happened to Isaac in those years, it was bad. He feels so grateful to everyone involved in getting him back, he can’t even bare the thought of him still being there.]
[He leans into the kiss, fingers stroking softly over Dagny's wrist. Lingering because it's easier to do that now that they're home again, because he's glad everything's out in the open, just because he has the option and he doesn't see why he wouldn't take it.]
I got lucky. A lot. [It's an agreement, not an argument.]
[Also an agreement, just expanding on the luck. It’s not just Isaac but extends to him as well.]
How did you not go crazy? [Said softly, a little sadly. Being stuck in another dimension, plane, existence for seven years, he doesn’t know how Isaac did it.]
I don't know if I didn't. [Matter-of-factly. He shrugs, glancing down.] It was rough. When I came back -- it took a while to remember how things work here. I'm still not great at remembering how you're supposed to deal with people. Didn't really see any while I was there.
You do okay with me. [More a reassurance than an argument against his point. He might not handle everything the way Dagny would but he’s never been put off by that.]
If you need me to help you remember anything, just let me know. I’m happy to help. [He might not always be the best judge of what is normal, but he’ll do the best to make Isaac feel more comfortable around others. ]
[His expression is genuinely grateful, and he shifts in a little closer, nodding.]
You already help. It's easier if I don't have to talk as much. It's not like... [He trails off, just trying to figure out how to explain it. Finally manages:] I don't know how to understand people sometimes, that's all. I get things wrong.
[He understands what Isaac is saying but he also wants him to know that he’s doing better than he thinks and that sometimes it’s human nature to do or say the wrong thing, so maybe he’s more human than he knows.]
I think you’re amazing. [Said soft again, pressing a kiss to his jaw.] I can see why I married you.
[It's reassuring, even if it's not always that simple. It's still too easy for him to get jumpy and threatened, there's still things he flat-out forgets other people can't do if he's stressed enough -- but he appreciates it anyway. Needs the reminder that there is something normal about messing up, sometimes.]
I'm glad you did. [Soft and utterly genuine. He closes his eyes, reaching up to settle a hand against the side of Dagny's neck, letting out a little content sigh.]
[When Isaac looks like that, eyes closed, happy, peaceful, he can’t help but kiss him, leaning over, keeping it gentle because he doesn’t want to get too distracted, even if he does indulge himself just slightly, letting it linger, kissing him for a few minutes before he pulls back, staying close.]
Does anyone else know about this? Aside from your sister. [Not that he’s going to run out and share with people, but it’s nice to know who they have in their circle.]
[He's far from about to complain about it, leaning into the kiss, his thumb stroking fondly against the line of Dagny's jaw. He hasn't been nervous exactly, but it still settles anything still jumbled up in him, worry that he won't be able to explain it well or that it's going to be a little too much weird, and he'll linger as long as he's given the chance.]
There's a couple of people who helped her get things worked out, but they're by her, I've never really met them. And there's the professor. He's, uh, actually not human. [A pause as he considers:] And the ghosts, but I don't think that's the kind of thing you mean.
[Realistically, he knows that he should probably be more concerned about some of the things he’s discovering and he’s certainly filled with worry for Isaac, but otherwise, it’s mostly fun. Like another scavenger hunt to discover. The thrill of the mystery is too exciting to think about anything else.]
I don't know if they have some kind of term for themselves. But he's... part of death? Comes from the same place I ended up in.
[A pause, and then he holds up a hand, gesturing as he adds:] It's complicated. But him and the others like him kind of keep an eye out to make sure no one tries to fuck with things the way the people who dragged me in do.
Dirty, handsome, bastard. [Said very much not unkindly.]
He didn’t say anything to me. He agreed with your car accident story! [Whether or not Isaac is aware Dagny talked to the professor about it is another story.] Do you think he knows about me? Do you think he could kill me? [There shouldn’t be as much excitement in his voice when he says that as there is. Not that he has a death wish, it’s just good to know his options.]
I didn't know you had your own stuff going on, nobody was just going to bring it up out of nowhere. --Wait, when did you even talk? [He's just confused now, a little amused, raising an eyebrow at him. It settles a little more at the other questions, though, genuinely giving it consideration.]
I don't know? Maybe. And I don't know if he knows yet, but if you met face to face, I wouldn't be surprised if he could tell.
[A beat, and then he adds, just in case:] But we're not testing that possibility anyway.
I didn’t know if he could just feel it, in the universe. Like Professor X. [He’s getting ahead of himself. It’s like they are their own really weird, rag tag group of superheroes. ]
I —- [Hesitates only slightly, moving his hands back to his own lap, this time slightly nervous. ] I wanted to make sure I wasn’t hurting you. Or messing with your recovery…you just got back, I don’t want it to be too much too quickly.
[Puts his hands up in surrender when Isaac says they aren’t testing the possibility of him getting killed.] I’m not planning on it. I’d just like to know…eventually everyone I know is going to die…it’s just, something to be aware of. I guess…[He’s still coming off the awkwardness of the other admission, so this one feels a little awkward too. But it’s definitely something he worries about sometimes. The possibility of him having to outlive everyone he loves. It’s not an outcome he is looking forward to.]
[He seems to take that in for a moment, before nodding slightly, but he doesn't seem bothered by it. Offers a soft smile.] I don't know you think you'd be messing with anything, I'd have told you if it was bothering me. But I think it'll help not to have to keep stuff from you.
[He shifts in closer to press himself into Dagny's side again at the explanation, wrapping an arm around him. Hesitates before he answers.] He might have some stuff he can explain. Or -- know someone who can. [A pause, and then he adds:] Or at least some vampires you can meet.
I trust you…but if your judgement is messed up from coming back, I don’t know that you’d know if I was doing anything — regardless, the professor seemed to think you are of sound mind.
[He presses a kiss to Isaac’s forehead, wrapping his arm around Isaac as well, holding him tightly to his side. He takes a deep breath, just holding on for a moment before responding.
When he does, he sounds normal, excited even.] Vampires?? Like real ones? Will they suck my blood?
Yeah? News to me. [It's just a joke, but he's also not sure what else to say. He wants to say it's not something to worry about, but the truth is Dagny's probably right to worry. He can't blame him for wanting another opinion.
He cuddles into Dagny's side, still careful but immediately making himself comfortable next to him. Relaxing, despite the heavy discussion. Fuck, it's nice to be able to get close again. The question gets a laugh out of him, apparently unexpected.] Yeah, real ones. They probably would, if you ask. Don't know why you'd ask though.
[The joke gets a laugh out of him, even if he should probably be more concerned about Isaac’s lack of reassurance. Everything he learned should only make him more concerned, and he certainly still worries, he’s just not going to put that on Isaac, the professor may end up getting a few more stressful texts from him though.]
He also said you seem to like me a lot. So I guess if the first isn’t true, at least we’ve got that…[It wasn’t said that way, but he inferred it. Between the lines.]
Because it’s hot. And it won’t kill me. [He’s not sure about whether it would change him into a vampire, he doesn’t really know the rules on that, he’s more concerned with the attractive aspects of it.]
I do like you a lot. [That comes without hesitation, at least. He can't promise he's entirely sane, or that he knows what he's doing, but he can say that with absolute certainty. He bumps a kiss against Dagny's jaw, like it's punctuating the statement.]
They don't usually kill people for it in general. Not the ones that I talk to, anyway. [There's plenty of more dangerous non-humans out there, but so far he's more than happy to stay away from them. He considers for a moment before offering, while they're on the subject:] I can technically do that, too. Live on blood. But I don't have fangs, so it's more of a pain than it's worth.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2025-02-12 05:49 am (UTC)They're not that cool, most of it doesn't affect anyone else. I can make people feel things, a little bit, and that's it. Um, and I'm pretty good with ghosts.
[He seems to be genuinely trying to figure out if he's missing anything for a second. He doesn't actually do anything with most of what he can do, a lot of the time he honestly forgets about it.]
It's more like it changed me. I can tell when people are dying, for one. That's what confused me when you.... [He just lets it trail off, gesturing vaguely towards where the bullet wound is.] I knew you died. I've never seen someone come back before.
[Another brief pause, as he blows out a breath as he considers what else to mention.] My heart and my breathing both got screwed up? I'm pretty hard to hurt. And really hard to poison, but that's probably because of one of the things that bit me while I was there. Most of it's stuff like that.
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Date: 2025-02-12 06:06 am (UTC)When Isaac mentions him dying again, he gives another apologetic look, his hand releasing Isaac’s arm to reach up, resting against his neck, tracing over his jaw for a moment, he still feels bad.]
Your heart and your breathing are screwed up how? [He also wants to ask about what bit him but he’s trying to just do one thing at a time. He feels like all he has are endless questions.]
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Date: 2025-02-12 06:19 am (UTC)[He doesn't look bothered to bring it up, but he leans into the touch anyway, giving Dagny a little smile, his hand coming up to touch the back of his wrist. He doesn't seem to mind the questions either; it gives him a place to start. He doesn't answer immediately, taking hold of his hand instead, tugging it over so two fingers rest against the pulse in his neck and Dagny can feel for himself. It's a sluggish rhythm, distinct seconds of silence between each beat.]
I can hold my breath for a pretty long time before it starts to do anything. I can go a while without sleep too. It took a while to get that way, I just started... getting used to it, eventually. It might go back? Living people don't usually get back out again, nobody's really sure.
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Date: 2025-02-12 06:28 am (UTC)Does anything make it speed up? [It’s like a challenge, see if he can get Isaac’s heart back to normal, to beat faster. He’ll have to think of more ways to test that theory.]
I’m pretty sure all of those qualities just make you hotter. All I got was lousy eternal life. Who wants that? [It’s mostly a joke, realistically everything Isaac does is attractive, it would be hard for him to think of anything he does as otherwise.]
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Date: 2025-02-12 06:39 am (UTC)[He's laughing quietly at the joke, shaking his head.] Right now I wouldn't knock it, you're still here. [It's still light, but he absolutely means it, too. It's hard to be anything but grateful for whatever makes that true, right now.]
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Date: 2025-02-12 06:49 am (UTC)I never thought I’d say this, but I think the bigger miracle is that you are here. [It seems like whatever happened to Isaac in those years, it was bad. He feels so grateful to everyone involved in getting him back, he can’t even bare the thought of him still being there.]
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Date: 2025-02-12 06:56 am (UTC)I got lucky. A lot. [It's an agreement, not an argument.]
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Date: 2025-02-12 07:02 am (UTC)[Also an agreement, just expanding on the luck. It’s not just Isaac but extends to him as well.]
How did you not go crazy? [Said softly, a little sadly. Being stuck in another dimension, plane, existence for seven years, he doesn’t know how Isaac did it.]
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Date: 2025-02-12 07:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-02-12 07:16 am (UTC)If you need me to help you remember anything, just let me know. I’m happy to help. [He might not always be the best judge of what is normal, but he’ll do the best to make Isaac feel more comfortable around others. ]
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Date: 2025-02-12 07:22 am (UTC)You already help. It's easier if I don't have to talk as much. It's not like... [He trails off, just trying to figure out how to explain it. Finally manages:] I don't know how to understand people sometimes, that's all. I get things wrong.
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Date: 2025-02-12 07:40 am (UTC)[He understands what Isaac is saying but he also wants him to know that he’s doing better than he thinks and that sometimes it’s human nature to do or say the wrong thing, so maybe he’s more human than he knows.]
I think you’re amazing. [Said soft again, pressing a kiss to his jaw.] I can see why I married you.
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Date: 2025-02-12 07:50 am (UTC)I'm glad you did. [Soft and utterly genuine. He closes his eyes, reaching up to settle a hand against the side of Dagny's neck, letting out a little content sigh.]
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Date: 2025-02-12 04:20 pm (UTC)Does anyone else know about this? Aside from your sister. [Not that he’s going to run out and share with people, but it’s nice to know who they have in their circle.]
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Date: 2025-02-12 04:27 pm (UTC)There's a couple of people who helped her get things worked out, but they're by her, I've never really met them. And there's the professor. He's, uh, actually not human. [A pause as he considers:] And the ghosts, but I don't think that's the kind of thing you mean.
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Date: 2025-02-12 04:58 pm (UTC)[Realistically, he knows that he should probably be more concerned about some of the things he’s discovering and he’s certainly filled with worry for Isaac, but otherwise, it’s mostly fun. Like another scavenger hunt to discover. The thrill of the mystery is too exciting to think about anything else.]
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Date: 2025-02-12 05:12 pm (UTC)[A pause, and then he holds up a hand, gesturing as he adds:] It's complicated. But him and the others like him kind of keep an eye out to make sure no one tries to fuck with things the way the people who dragged me in do.
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Date: 2025-02-12 05:52 pm (UTC)He didn’t say anything to me. He agreed with your car accident story! [Whether or not Isaac is aware Dagny talked to the professor about it is another story.] Do you think he knows about me? Do you think he could kill me? [There shouldn’t be as much excitement in his voice when he says that as there is. Not that he has a death wish, it’s just good to know his options.]
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Date: 2025-02-12 06:03 pm (UTC)I don't know? Maybe. And I don't know if he knows yet, but if you met face to face, I wouldn't be surprised if he could tell.
[A beat, and then he adds, just in case:] But we're not testing that possibility anyway.
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Date: 2025-02-12 06:24 pm (UTC)I —- [Hesitates only slightly, moving his hands back to his own lap, this time slightly nervous. ] I wanted to make sure I wasn’t hurting you. Or messing with your recovery…you just got back, I don’t want it to be too much too quickly.
[Puts his hands up in surrender when Isaac says they aren’t testing the possibility of him getting killed.] I’m not planning on it. I’d just like to know…eventually everyone I know is going to die…it’s just, something to be aware of. I guess…[He’s still coming off the awkwardness of the other admission, so this one feels a little awkward too. But it’s definitely something he worries about sometimes. The possibility of him having to outlive everyone he loves. It’s not an outcome he is looking forward to.]
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Date: 2025-02-12 06:33 pm (UTC)[He shifts in closer to press himself into Dagny's side again at the explanation, wrapping an arm around him. Hesitates before he answers.] He might have some stuff he can explain. Or -- know someone who can. [A pause, and then he adds:] Or at least some vampires you can meet.
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Date: 2025-02-12 07:44 pm (UTC)[He presses a kiss to Isaac’s forehead, wrapping his arm around Isaac as well, holding him tightly to his side. He takes a deep breath, just holding on for a moment before responding.
When he does, he sounds normal, excited even.] Vampires?? Like real ones? Will they suck my blood?
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Date: 2025-02-13 03:22 am (UTC)He cuddles into Dagny's side, still careful but immediately making himself comfortable next to him. Relaxing, despite the heavy discussion. Fuck, it's nice to be able to get close again. The question gets a laugh out of him, apparently unexpected.] Yeah, real ones. They probably would, if you ask. Don't know why you'd ask though.
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Date: 2025-02-13 04:35 am (UTC)He also said you seem to like me a lot. So I guess if the first isn’t true, at least we’ve got that…[It wasn’t said that way, but he inferred it. Between the lines.]
Because it’s hot. And it won’t kill me. [He’s not sure about whether it would change him into a vampire, he doesn’t really know the rules on that, he’s more concerned with the attractive aspects of it.]
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Date: 2025-02-13 04:47 am (UTC)They don't usually kill people for it in general. Not the ones that I talk to, anyway. [There's plenty of more dangerous non-humans out there, but so far he's more than happy to stay away from them. He considers for a moment before offering, while they're on the subject:] I can technically do that, too. Live on blood. But I don't have fangs, so it's more of a pain than it's worth.
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