#iv token

"Flight 415 has been delayed for 30 minutes." The overhead speaker blared. Mark groaned, slumping on a bench. IV, who was sat next to him, looked over once he finished texting, fidgeting with the cloth mask he wore. "You going to Arcadia too?" he asked. Mark nodded, looking over at IV. "You gonna be able to get through the security with that mask?" IV nodded, "The security lets you get your id checked in a private area if you cover yourself for religious reasons, so I'm covered." "Neat."

There's silence for a moment before IV asked, "What's your name?" "I'm Mark." "I'm IV. Spelled with roman numerals." Mark cocked his head, puzzled. "That's not really a common name." "Oh, I changed it for religious reasons." Mark frowned. Seeing that, IV chuckled warmly. "Don't worry, it was my choice to do so." Mark flushed slightly, looking away. IV's mask shifted as he grinned under his mask. "It's fine, I'm used to people acting like that. I'm not mad."

Mark huffed. "It's not that. I should have known." He turned back to IV, gesturing at the symbol on his mask. "That's obviously Sleep's symbol. I should have realized." He groaned, IV staring at him with wide eyes. "Wha-"

"I'm working on my minor in religious studies, specifically on how ancient religions are revitalizing and on religious cults and their workings. I especially focus on local religious practices."

"Whoa. I've never even gone to college."

Mark shrugged, "It's not for everyone. This will be my second degree, and getting my first was hard enough."

"That's really fucking cool! I've never met anyone besides the other members of my collective that have any interest in Sleep."

Mark's eyes lit up. "There's more of you? That's fascinating! How many people are part of your collective? Which rituals do you do exactly as described in the texts and which have you modernized? How do you handle being masked in day-to-day life? Do you-" Mark cut himself off, flustered. "Shit, I'm so sorry. I forgot my manners." He shrunk into himself, a few people having looked over in curiosity before returning to ignoring him.

IV had frozen before he shook himself slightly and placed a hand on Mark's shoulder. "It's fine, it's actually really neat that someone's interested in our religion. Hey, maybe we could meet up sometime and I could discuss it with you?"

Mark beamed. "Would you mind if I used that information to write a paper? I'll keep you anonymous, of course."

IV hummed, "Sure. Maybe I could get someone else from my collective to join, give you more information."

Mark shook in excitement for a moment before composing himself. "Awesome! Here, put you number in!" He handed IV his phone and IV did just that. "Thanks! Oh, this is going to be so great!" IV nodded, chuckling.

"You have a nice laugh." Mark grinned at IV. "Oh, uh... thank you." IV stammered. Mark grinned wider, then winced as the overhead lights flickered on due to the late hour. IV immediately noticed, concerned. "What's wrong?"

"The lights. They're loud." Mark explained, taking out a portable CD player and plugging in his earbuds. "What you listening to?" IV asked, glancing at the CD player.

"Hits To The Head. It's an album by Franz Ferdinand." Mark put in an earbud, offering the other one to IV. "You want to listen to it?" Then he realized, "Can you do that with the mask?" IV nodded, lifting the side of his mask slightly and maneuvering the earbud under his mask to sit in his ear. After a few minutes, he spoke. "I like the dude's voice."

Mark nodded slowly, his head listing to the side. IV put an arm around him, softly asking, "You tired?" Mark nodded again, resting his head on IV's shoulder. "Yeah. It's been-" A snore cut off Mark's sentence as he fell asleep, and IV chuckled softly, shifting to be in a more comfortable position. An old lady in the seat across from the two men huffed, her face pinched in disproval as she glared at them. IV narrowed his eyes, glaring right back at the lady.

She huffed again and stood up, walking over to the nearest security guard, tugging on his sleeve to get his attention, and pointing back to Mark and IV. She said something that IV didn't catch. The guard snorted and replied before shooing the old lady away. She pointedly marched to the seats farthest away from the two men and took a seat. IV rolled his eyes and settled in to wait, taking out the earbud and putting on his headphones.

About an hour later, it was finally time to board Flight 415. IV shook Mark awake and the two boarded the plane. Unfortunately, their seats weren't that close. And to double the misfortune, that same old lady had the seat next to IV. And she kicked up a fuss.

"I will not sit next to him!" She yowled, pointing a quivering finger at IV. The flight attendant sighed, clearly irritated. "Miss, that is your seat. Please sit." The old lady stubbornly refused. IV spoke up calmly, "Miss, I assure you I harbor no ill will towards you. I'm not going to do anything."

A few rows up, Mark recognized IV's voice, standing up and telling the old lady, "We can switch seats." The old lady glared at him with vitriol and spat, "Of course a fairy like you would." before marching forward and shoving him out of the way to claim his seat. Mark shuddered, walking over to IV and sitting down. The flight attendant smiled apologetically at Mark, thanking him and then continuing on her route through the plane. Mark is trembling slightly, his eyes wide. IV, worried, put a hand on Mark's arm, squeezing slightly. "You good?"

Mark sighed, "I'll be fine in a bit." IV, searching for something to talk about, asked, "You said that religious studies is going to be your second degree? What's your first?"

"Psychology, with a focus on cult psychology."

"Why so much focus on cults?"

Mark shifted uneasily, "I was born in one. You heard of the whole disaster with Dema, right?"

IV stilled, "Shit, I'm sorry."

"Why?"

"Huh?"

"You weren't part of it. Why should you apologize?" Mark queried.

"Uh... because that's what you do? I'm not sure honestly." IV answered.

Mark yawned, quietly muttering, "So many social rules make no sense."

"Isn't that the truth?" IV chuckled, putting an arm around Mark. "You still tired?"

Mark snuggled against IV, sleepily answering, "Haven't slept properly in several days. Homework."

"Dude! Go to sleep!" IV hissed, his eyes widening in alarm. "I'm going, I'm going..." Mark's words trailed off as he slipped into sleep. IV shook his head, chuckling softly. "Guess being an adult doesn't mean you're out of losing sleep over homework. Almost makes me glad I didn't go to college."

IV strapped himself and Mark in before resting his head against Mark's head and dozing off himself. And they remained this way through the pretty uneventful flight.

When it was time to get off after landing, a flight attendant woke them up. They disembarked the plane and gathered their luggage.

"I'll call you tomorrow?" IV offered as they exited the gates. Mark nodded, grinning. "See you later. I'm going to call a cab." Mark headed towards the doors, waving goodbye to IV, while IV headed to the Espera waiting for him.

"Friend of yours?" She teased, smirking.