Call me Major

Welcome back, Major Valerian

[ Alex greeted amiably and his shoulders dropped as tension left him in a nearly dizzying rush. He could see the clutter on the ship as evidence that something had happened, but Alex was speaking and didn’t seem overly concerned. ]

– Hey.

[ andrew’s just wandered into the living room to find the newest dark- haired doppelganger curled up on the couch, looking vastly different in loose- fitting modern clothing than he had the day before in his futuristic space suit. andrew’s got a can of mountain dew in one hand and his laptop tucked under his arm, planning on wasting some time gaming. his camera follows closely behind him, floating lazily through the air as he approaches the edge of the couch and looks down at his relaxing double. ]

…Can I join you?

[ Valerian makes an inquisitive sound and turns to look behind himself. He recognizes Andrew and smiles, waving lazily. He notices the camera but his mind doesn’t register that nothing is holding it up the first few moments.< ] 

Hi, Andrew. Morning. Sure, sure, come on over. How did work go? 

[ he sits up so he isn’t taking up the entire couch, even if there are others free, and inspects Andrew very quickly for any injuries that weren’t there yesterday. He finds none and finally turns his eyes on the camera. He tilts his head at it and waves to it as well. ]

{ waiting patiently for valerian to sit comfortably  and extend his arm, julius presses his lips together  and lifts his feet onto the mattress. the suit shifts  in the light from the window, the buttons and  curves and edges going from black to lead.  when he runs his fingertips over it it’s rough  to the touch, and yet it curves around the  bulges of his arm like it was soft. what a  mystery it is.

julius’ hand is wrapped around his shoulder when he gently pokes the buttons at valerian’s neck, and jolts when they light up in yellow and orange. the sounds that accompanies them makes him feel like a rabbit in a forest, a rabbit that just heard a crack. he looks up at valerian, gaze shifting between his. }

I’m sorry, did I break it?

[ Valerian waits patiently and lets himself be handled, smiling softly at Julius apparent wonder. He raises an eyebrow when it turns on but quickly shakes his head at Julius’ concern. ] 

No! No, don’t worry. It’s completely fine. It’s actually working, I’m surprised. 

[ he says with a chuckle and touches another button that turns it off. He presses the one that’s supposed to connect him to Alex and waits a moment for her to speak to him, breath baited. Nothing happens. He sighs and turns to Julius with a smile. ] 

… Like the herb.

[ fine lines appear by jason’s eyes, giving his face a placid look. it is peaceful to hear that valerian seems to feel at reasonable ease. he would not know what it would be like to travel as far as he has. nor he does he know who he is. but valerian’s palm flickers a flight of fancy when it strikes the brimstone of jason’s in a handshake. he keeps looking at him as his imagination for a friendship between them folds a bud of frail hope. when both his eyes and voice points to the sky above them, however, jason’s follow the major’s lead and gazes up at the sky beside him. ]

It is.

[ he presses his lips together in second thought when their silence encourages his heart to tingle with curiosity to ask valerian what he had before his warp happened. he knows that he himself had wished for it to be nightmare; something that would be over with. thus, ( after shrugging his shoulders for his jacket to emulate the duvet in his bedroom ) he decides to better be safe than sorry and shares something about himself that he would not mind valerian to know. ]

Here the stars don’t show up  that often, so I use the chance to read them when they do.

[ Valerian laughs quietly in delight at the words and nods in affirmation. ]

Exactly like the herb! Though I didn’t know for a while. It was a bit shocking when I found out but I like it. I heard the herb is calming. Rather charming, dare I say myself. 

[ he said with a grin, eyes to the sky. He felt a kind of hunger for it, for the stars, for his home, for the peace he imagined being in Alpha would bring him. He nearly got lost in thought again when Jason spoke and Valerian’s eyes flicked to the other briefly. ]

That’s... sad. I could sleep out here if it means seeing them, I think, now that I’m away. Nostalgia. 

[ and then because he couldn’t help his curiosity. ]

{ nodding gently although attentively, julius  gently runs the pad of his thumb over the  soft skin of his cheek. julius, too, would hate  to see his suit break. uncertain of how it would  work ( would the gadgets in it break? would the  metal bend? would the threads rip? ) he doesn’t  dare suggest him keeping it in his closet. he  doesn’t know what kind of wardrobe valerian  has in his room, but as julius has one that’s  built into the wall it would undoubtedly fit in  there. still, he leaves that a suggestion for  valerian to make and he stands and goes  over to him. he sits down beside him. they  bounce a bit from the force, his floral sheets  wrinkling underneath their bodies. }

Can I touch it?

[ Valerian watches Julius ponder over the information silently, satisfied with the lack of tension in the room. He even feels his eyes droop, apparently relaxed enough for the exhaustion to catch up with him. He blinks it away and turns to Julius as he moves to sit besides him and smiles indulgently, nodding. ]

Of course you can! I promise it’s not as fancy as it might look. It’s good for going through things that would normally break a lot of bones... but it’s probably rather unnecessary here on Earth. Especially since I’m not working. 

{ laughing weakly and scratching his eyebrow,  julius stands from the chair for a moment to fold  a leg underneath him, returning to his seat shortly  after. wow, it really is getting overwhelming…  maybe a bit too overwhelming. but it seems to  ease down now, so julius leaves it be. he’s just  glad it’ll stay in this room. }

Of course. You would’ve done the same for me.

{ nodding to the attire he’s still wearing, he suddenly perks up. }

Where will you put your suit? Surely you can’t fold it and put it in a drawer. It’s metal, isn’t it?

[ Valerian hums in response and leans back on his arms. He suspects he wouldn’t be able to stop playing with the soft fabric otherwise. He smiles at the notion of their situations reversed, imagined very briefly Julius in Alpha and chuckles. ]

I certainly would. 

[ he replies, eyes still crinkled in delight. He raises an eyebrow at Julius’ question and-- thinks about it. It’s true that the suit was kept in a special case back on Alex’s house. He’d have to take it off and either put it in an large empty drawer or lean it on something. ]

Well, no, I don’t think it can be folded without damage. I’ll probably put it some drawer or chest in my room or lean it against the wall? I’m not dying to wear it any time soon, honestly. 

{ oh. }

Oh.

{ oh goodness me. }

Oh, goodness me.

{ julius’ hands move up to hold his cheeks, the skin warm in his cold palms. this is entirely too overwhelming, a door opening to the outside when you’ve been in a dark room for too long. how kind he is, this boy of another world… the person that he genuinely falls for will be in for a treat, surely. he imagines little love notes and flower petals scattered on the floor when they come home from work. what an idyll it must be. but, thankfully, julius isn’t that person, nor does he want to be someone like that to him. no, he’s fine with being just friends. in fact, that’s the only requirement he has.

he shrugs. somewhere in the middle of his internal monologue he sat down on his desk chair, leaning over the back of it to look at him. }

You’re too kind, Valerian, but there’s only one person that can make me genuinely giddy. I do appreciate the soft spot you have for me, but I sadly can’t return it. Will that not be underwhelming for you?

[ Valerian’s shoulders fall as he sees that Julius isn’t upset at his explanation and he can’t help the amusement that washes over him at the other boy’s reaction. It’s good, he didn’t mess up. He shrugs back, eyes flickering to the clothes in his hands and he runs an absent hand over the soft fabric, smoothing it out. He smiles at how considerate Julius is and shakes his head, affecting playful confidence as he speaks. ]

Nothing is underwhelming for me, Julie, least of all in your presence. I feel pretty lucky as it is! Your special person is very, very blessed. I will bask in the warmth of your--

[ he gestures to Julius as a whole, and then vaguely at the rest of the room. ]

-- loveliness and be happy with it.

[ He glances down at the clothes and his eyes crinkle further with mirth. He brings the sweater to his nose and inhales, laughing. It does smell nice. ]

{ pulling out his oversized shirts, julius feels  his heart flutter in his chest. the compliments  just keep on coming with this one… he thought  it would end by the time introductions were made,  but they just never stop. while julius enjoys hearing  about how pretty he is quite a lot, he also fears the  thought of him just not meaning it. doesn’t one have  to be used to saying such things to say it this easily?  when julius is to compliment someone on the level  that valerian is complimenting him he can’t even  look the other in the eye. he stutters and fumbles  and regrets saying it, but valerian is nothing like  that. he says it with such confidence julius almost  envies him.

once he has a sweater and a pair of pants he hasn’t gotten around to sew in yet, julius walks over and hands him the folded clothes with an averted gaze. once they’re out of his hands, he starts picking at his nails, just like he did before. }

You know, maybe it’s not your intention to sound like you do, but…

{ his breathing hitches for a second. he clears his throat, eyes on the carpet underneath his feet. }

… if you’re flirting to make me giddy I’m already kinda, you know… taken.

[ Valerian is studying a painting on the wall when Julius speaks up and he turns towards him immediately, humming softly in acknowledgement. He notices Julius’ anxious hands as he takes the clothes from him, buries his hands in the fabric over his lap, and feels a pang of guilt at having caused that.  Is he intimidating? Too familiar? He doesn’t want to cause any grief to Julius, it’s unthinkable, should be illegal. He nods as he listens, swallowing and trying to formulate a response that won’t.... worry Julius more. His mind traitorously flashed Laureline and he grits his teeth minutely, for a painful heartbeat, before dispelling the notion. He cannot talk about her, cannot think about her yet. She does not exist and if he let the thought sink, he’d probably laugh hysterically. To tears. He looks back at Julius and smiles as gently as he knows how. ]

I do want to make you giddy. I want to make you smile and happy and maybe a bit more aware of the fact that you’re beautiful and lovely and a shining sun anywhere you step into. 

[ he speaks without pretense, looking up at Julius. ]

Yeah, that’s usually what happens. Whenever  someone moves out they take their things with  them.

{ the only piece of clothing that lingers from someone else, as far as julius knows, is the t-shirt that kjell gave him on his first day here. as he never returned to retrieve it, it just ended up being classified as his. kjell was, what, 6’1”? the shirt would undoubtedly fit valerian, but then again, would he really want to walk around in the shirt that julius has slept in for a whole year? no, he’ll find something else. he starts walking down the corridor and waits for valerian to join him, his cheeks the color of peonies when he looks up at him. soon they’re both bee lining for his room, julius in the front and valerian in the back. sweet? yeah, he supposes his clothes could be described like that… flowers and pink aren’t really portrayed as very masculine nowadays, nor is velvet. and soft? sure. aside from his jeans, which haven’t softened up at all yet as they’re so new. julius puts his hair behind his ears when they’ve reached his door. he opens it with a small shrug. }

I don’t dress like this all the time. Sometimes I dress in full black and sometimes I just throw on whatever smells okay. It’s a mood thing.

{ well inside the room, he approaches his dresser and pulls out one of the drawers. he throws a quick glance at valerian in the mirror above it. }

Make yourself at home while I find you something to wear.

I’m sure you look wonderful in black too. It’d look good on you. Anything would.

[ Valerian chuckles, speaking his thoughts out loud. ]

I usually wear a uniform so throwing on whatever smells nice sounds pretty good to me. I’m definitely trying it in the near future.

[ He follows Julius with a stupid grin on his face, curious to see what a room that’s actively been lived in looks like. He thinks that Julius’ room in particular would be very beautiful.

Valerian himself has never indulged in decorating his space because there never was time or point to it, with him barely staying in the City. So when they enter the room he takes in everything with delight, drinking in the gentle colors and trinkets that make the room look so inviting and cozy. His eyes get stuck on the flowers on the walls and in the vases. How wonderful would it be if he could get a flower or two? ]

Thank you, Julie! You’re an angel!

Maybe if you get a telescope you can  see something that feels familiar to you.

{ but although it in theory seems like a good idea, julius fears that valerian might become saddened, longing for the adventure he once upon a time had by having it so close and yet so far away. if julius had access to a train ticket to michigan he would’ve gotten on it right away, but would weep for his home that no longer would be there. all he’d find would be grass and trees. it doesn’t stop his mind from thinking about it, though. to see his yard again would undoubtedly make him feel at peace with his past, knowing it’s not gone.

suddenly realizing he’s biting his nails, julius takes a step towards the door that leads to the corridor of rooms. he hasn’t seen valerian’s yet, but he doubts it reflects the impeccability of him. }

Have you got any contemporary clothes yet? I might have something that’ll fit… Unless you want to walk around in that suit for a while longer.

[ Valerian hums at the suggestion and resolves to understand what Earth does have in relation to space. He thinks that even a glimpse of stars might help him, though not necessarily make him feel better. More real, perhaps. ]

I will definitely look into it! Thank you, Julie. 

[ His voice is nearly sunny in its cheeriness. Looking at Julius awakens every protective urge in him, along with the ones about making others smile and laugh. He sees him biting his nails and is about to say something to distract him when Julius does it first. He blinks and laughs at notion of staying in his suit for longer than needed. ]

No, no, I don’t want to wear it for much longer. Andrew...gave me a room but I didn’t find any clothes there so I guess I don’t have anything. 

[ His eyes crinkle with the smile he levels at Julius. ]