captaincatblock | Get into the van, kiddo.

[Peace is a funny thing. It's been teased and denied for so long that now that it's happening, it's almost weird. He'd missed most of the drama with the princess and her traitorous Terran Knight -- not that he's fully convinced of it, but if it gains them this peace, then he won't question it -- but he had been returned to his kin as Earth's first peace offering.]

[Kuroo hadn't been too happy about that, hadn't even had the time to say good bye to Tsukki after being whisked away by a couple of generals and then thrown into political chaos. But he had endured it, because he knew that eventually, the princess would get to the small issue of Kuroo's kataphrakt and how he intends to spend his time on Earth. He could be a diplomat, he'd offered, or teach his fellow Versians about Terrans, since he's learned a lot. Anything, he had added meaningfully, if he allowed him to keep his landing castle close to Earth if not entirely on its soil.]

[He'd gotten some leeway in the end, after weeks of endless talks, so here he is now striding into the hanger where they kept his mech, in full Count regalia. Oddly enough, he only has Terran escorts with him, and they back away well enough when he reaches his destination.

Tsukki? Oiii, I'm looking for your mechanic, Tsukishima Kei. [first he calls out, and then just outright asks someone to find Tsukki for him]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

captaincatblock

That makes me happy to know. [Sincerely.]

What, the Stygis? It's a newer model that's easier to create, I suppose. It's... [He thinks about it, to choose his words carefully. He likes his staff, he doesn't want to insult them.] It's meant for non-nobility, so they didn't make it too ornate, but what it lacks in armor, it makes up for in speed. Like Arcadia, a lot of its effectiveness relies on pilot skill.

[Makes you wonder about Versian pilots, right? But the Styges are pretty weak, so that's not entirely desirable.]

From:

hellacene

[good. especially since he doesn't bother complaining about kuroo calling himself handsome anymore.

he leans his chin on his hand as he watches them work on the stygis, an arm propped against the railing as he considers his words.] It's good that they have you.

[he's getting quite the picture of this castle. kuroo's not the most warlike count he's encountered, but a lot of his pilots are skilled. he's willing to bet that in an attack, even if he's not the strongest, it'll take a pilot of exceptional ability to take his team down.]

From:

captaincatblock

[Kuroo keeps a hand around Tsukki's hips, like he can't really bear to let him go just yet -- it's been way too long -- and surveys his hangar fondly.]

When we're break into space, we can fly on my Kat. Then I'll show you all the maneuvers she can do. [Maybe bring a few things there, stargaze as they cuddle... He gets sort of excited at the idea.]

[One of his staff comes over with a coat, which Kuroo offers to Tsukki. It's one of his, thick and scarlet.] Here. It's freezing up there.

From:

hellacene

[the coat is so thick he looks like he's drowning in it because he's so lean. but he appreciates it anyway, telling the staff a thank you before they leave as he buttons himself up.] I'd like that.

[but the stygis .... he wonders if he's close enough to kuroo that he'll let him look at blueprints and plans .... ] I can show you the upgrades I made. I hope you like them.

But let's see the rest of the castle first.

From:

captaincatblock

[He nods agreeably, and waves to his staff to continue as they were as he leads the way out. Kuroo's not really sure where to start, though. Well, they're here already, so...]

This is where spare parts, and other military supplies that's not ammunition are kept. [Points as they pass by a large door. It's closed right now, but Tsukki can stop him if he wants to see.] Below the hangar is the hangar for the sky carriers and other vehicles -- remind me to them to you later. Below that is mostly vents for the landing castle, engine parts, the heater... So we're going to go upward, before we come back here to go downward. The level above ours is where most of my staff sleeps. There's a clinic bay somewhere down there, if you ever feel sick, Tsukki.

[The landing castle gives a big jerk; Kuroo braces against the wall, and just pulls Tsukki to his chest.] Whoa, sorry. Getting through that is never smooth.

From:

hellacene

You just want a reason to hold me.

[but he keeps track of the places that kuroo points out to him anyway. although, now that he mentions engine parts and supplies - ]

Do you have a library? [a pause.] I need to learn about Versan technology. [or he can shadow one of his mechanics, that's good too ... ]

From:

captaincatblock

I never need a reason to hold you except because I want to, Tsukki. [kisses him on the cheek as they continue to walk along.]

Books aren't really a thing Versians have except for collectors and hobbyists, but we have all our information as data. I'll lend you my hardware later. [They are totally taking this landing castle's version of an elevator, so they can head a couple of floors up.] For the carriers and the Kataphrakts, you can always ask one of my engineers.

So the floor over the staff room is where we eat, do exercise, train, have some hobbies, what passes for a garden in Mars... [Which is, this floor. Don't laugh, Tsukki, but their garden is mostly bushes in pots arranged together to look okey-ish.]

From:

hellacene

[he's going to laugh, it looks like a bigger version of the herb garden his mom has at home. on the sink.]

What a cute garden for some very tall people.

[but the promise of hardware and being able to ask his engineers later on makes him look a lot more lively, holding on to kuroo's arm as they move through the halls.] I'll have to tell my parents you kidnapped me, by the way, so they can prepare for the ransom.

From:

captaincatblock

[It's the best they can do! There's even a flower in a pot. It looks like a daisy.]

I didn't plant these. I was told that these are authentically from Earth, though.

[Yay hand holding.] I can patch you through later. Then you can tell them that no amount of money on Earth would be enough to make me let you go. [Pouts, but he noses at Tsukki's cheek.] And maybe to send you cake, I suppose. You'd need to remain well-fed so I can have my wicked way with you.

From:

hellacene

[that's right, kuroo normally complains about martian food.] Maybe I should just ask them to send the whole pantry. I might starve in here otherwise.

[they really have very odd plants though. imagining a group of very buff soldiers taking care of plants is so funny.] Do you get along with your staff?

From:

captaincatblock

I sent for supplies on Earth while I was down there, so everyone's eating Terran food now. I'm not sure how well our resident cook's taken to the new ingredients, though, but it's still better than what we used to have. [sheepish]

And of course I do. I'm pretty well-loved, if I do say so myself. [He wraps his arms loosely around Tsukki's waist from behind, chin on his shoulder, and glances around their silly garden.] We dance here, too.

From:

hellacene

[tsukki makes a note to himself that as much as possible he's not going to dance in public in this tiny garden, that's ridiculous.

and kuroo does seem like the kind of guy who'd be loved by his people, as well.] They must've missed you while you were in Earth.

From:

captaincatblock

[Do you feel that, Tsukki? Kuroo is swaying you by the hips. And he's humming.]

They were in good hands. My vassal was here, and none of the Counts would have dared taken over unless they wanted Bokuto to turn on them.

From:

hellacene

He's quite dependable, then, this Count Bokuto.

[no. he's not dancing. there are people watching, kuroo.] Who is your vassal?

From:

captaincatblock

He's loyal to people, and transparent as hell. It'd be worrisome, but very few people can beat him in a duel, so...

[settles for just a hug then.]

I have two. Nobuyuki and Kenma. Nobuyuki handles the day to day operations of the landing castle and all things I don't really like to deal with, and Kenma leads the other pilots. He liked the video game thingy that you lent me so much, he's bought all kinds of them all from Earth. [So maybe Kuroo accidentally took off with some of the things you've lent him.]

From:

hellacene

For a person like that, someone must be taking care of them as well.

[he lets him hug him. he'll even hold his hand while hugging.]

Oh. Is that where my game went? I thought I'd lost it in my room somehow.

[accidentally, huh.]

From:

captaincatblock

Of course. [he snickers] You'd think his vassal can rain divine wrath on him, with the way he can make Bokuto sit down and behave.

[Totally an accident. Kuroo kept the player you gave him on that first day, too. But that one, he didn't lend out. No, you can't have it back.] I can give it back to you later, once I convince Kenma to let it go.

[He tugs Tsukki away from the garden now. The floor above them has a hole in the middle that overlooks the garden, sort of like an indoor balcony. There doesn't seem to be anything there but metal walls, but that's where Kuroo wants to take him.

From:

hellacene

[he shakes his head.] It's alright, my brother got me a new one. He can keep it if he wants.

[the perks of being the youngest. he follows kuroo as he takes him up the floors, thinking about the idea of vassals. would he be a good vassal? probably not, he hates taking care of people who can't be bothered to take care of themselves. he thinks about the terran vassal kuroo told him about, and wonders where he is now .....

but then he realizes there's all just metal walls going up, and he asks,] How come there's nothing here?

From:

captaincatblock

[That vassal's kind of been declared the instigator of the war, Tsukki... Kuroo's in disbelief as well, but he's practical: he'll take the peace anyway he can get it.]

[Kuroo checks a pocket watch -- one of those archaic snooty kinds -- and looks up the ceiling with a little frown. There's another big jerk of the landing castle, so he automatically pulls Tsukki to himself, and then shrugs.]

Let's stay here a little until we clear your planet's atmospheric influence.

From:

hellacene

[ah, yes ....

he laughs at kuroo's watch, though.] You're so ridiculous. Nobody uses that back home anymore. There are better watches, you know.

[but he guesses it fits the image and all.]

From:

captaincatblock

Are there? [grins, because he's the king of ridiculous] I noticed a lot of people had watches around their wrists. This one's a family heirloom, though. My grandfather was the one who came from Earth to Mars and established our line there. I bet I have some distant Terran cousins somewhere.

[He looks down at it again, then up at the walls, before shrugging and just leaning down to give Tsukki a deep kiss. Distraction techniques!]

From:

hellacene

[so you're saying you're the weasley of counts ....

and yes, he's distracted enough for that kiss. distracted enough that he doesn't see the stars around them as they come up, only realizing what he's seeing when he lets kuroo press him against one of the walls and he sees it from the corner of his eye. and for a moment, breaking his kiss from him, he doesn't really say anything, just stands there and watches it in amazement.]

From:

captaincatblock

[Thankfully, Kuroo's an only child! But... yes.]

[He grins as Tsukki finally realizes that the metal shielding the glass has finally gone up, and that the landing castle is now peacefully floating in space.]

Surprise. [He's tempted to hug Tsukki from behind again, but he figures he had better give the blond space to wander about and look.] Welcome to the observation deck.

From:

hellacene

[it's so nice out here. the entirety of space laid out right before his eyes, and it's so overwhelming he actually gets a bit teary-eyed because he's that much of a nerd.

it's different from collecting dinosaurs and being so fascinated with them and ... actually really seeing the real deal up close. home is probably the farthest thing in his mind as he watches everything from the windows.]

Kuroo - [his voice wavers, but just barely.] I want to stay here.

From:

captaincatblock

[Kuroo is pleased that Tsukki likes it. For all the things that Tsukki taught and gave him during his stay on Earth, this is really the only thing Kuroo could think to give back. He gives in to the urge to put an arm around Tsukki's waist and nuzzles his neck. Tsukki looks pretty good in his coat, if Kuroo says so.]

Like I said, princess, you can stay for as long as you want.