Virgil woke up a while later wrapped up in Damien's arms. He looked around briefly. It was hard to tell, but the dimmed light cracking out from the curtains looked like it was still the afternoon. He'd rather sleep than freak out, and Damien was really warm and his thoughts were still hazy. He settled back in and held on to Damien's arm flopped over him and went back to sleep.
Something shifted under him, and a groaning noise woke him up this time. Virgil was spooked by being shifted, but quickly recognized Damien's long arm in his hands and breathed a sigh of relief. Damien yanked his arm free and Virgil shifted off of him so he could rub his face.
"V-Virgil?" Damien moaned beneath his hands.
"Present," Virgil said, stretching out his arms and yawning.
"Ah, good," Damien sighed. "I'm… not used to sleeping with someone,"
"I, uh, didn't cross a line or anything, did I?" Virgil asked nervously.
"No, no," Damien groaned. "It was comforting. I appreciate it," He said tiredly, running his hand through his hair. He sighed heavily and Virgil reached to give Damien a hug and ran his fingers along the base of his hair. He exhaled, much less morosely this time.
"I think I'm going to stay up this time. If I sleep too much today, I won't get any tonight. I'm gonna go take an ice shower," Virgil yawned.
"Virgil, the warm water bathing can't be far off from now," Damien groaned and reached for the water skien, drinking thirstily.
"I, uh, um, no," Virgil stammered out. He… it wasn't anybody's business but Virgil's. "Are you going to back to sleep or would you like me to grab that journal you were reading yesterday?" Virgil changed the subject.
"I'd like the journal and some allspice mead," Damien slowly moved to sit up and took another drink from the water skien.
"Sure," Virgil stretched his legs. He headed to the door and peeked his head out. The hall was empty, so he bolted to Damien's quarters to grab his stuff without being caught outside in his pajamas. He wasn't technically allowed to be out of uniform, other than during bathing time and his quarters. He grabbed the bottle and a glass and the journal before quickly bolting back.
Virgil exhaled as he handed Damien the journal and set down the bottle and glass on the nightstand. After pouring Damien a double, he headed to the bathroom to bathe. The witch-tit water was just as harrowing as last time, but he was still not doing the communal thing. The sitting shower with the shower-head thing was new to Virgil. You had to hold a lever on the side to make it spout water, so Virgil assumed it was a water-saving method. The corner was also walled off with tiles instead of a shower door, so it was mostly open on one side, which was kind of unnerving. But it was all better than his other option. Even if they did have a hot bath Virgil could take. Virgil shivered as he pulled on fresh robes. He huffed as he crawled back under the blankets and pressed against Damien for warmth, burying himself in Damien's body heat.
"I thought you were staying up, Virgil?" Damien asked, sounding amused.
"It's cold," Virgil moaned and pulled the blanket over his head, latching on to Damien's leg and putting his head in his lap.
"Do… they know to look for me in here if I'm needed?" Damien asked after a while of quietly reading while Virgil worked on stopping shivering.
"They love you here, I'm sure somebody asked even if Ream didn't mention it. But he's got this. He's very resourceful. It's just making sure people don't argue too much over the shared electronics, right? Remus can be very scary when he wants to. He could just loom menacingly and solve it all without a word," Virgil yawned, feeling exhausted all over again from the shivering. Virgil slowly crawled out of bed to grab the text he was reading and slid back in, leaning against Damien and opening the pages up. He stared at the page blankly for a bit while his brain calibrated, trying to figure out where he was or if he even remembered the last few pages he read.
"Virgil, you were very well acquainted with the acolyte version of texts last week. I watched you read most of them in here after you blew through the initiate's version. I was under the impression Remus was the one who didn't read that much, to be honest. You could read my more advanced copy from my quarters if you desired to read further. I thought you wanted these copies as reference materials since you were talking about rewriting some portions for increased comprehension. Is there a reason you don't want to read advanced copies?" Damien stated plainly.
"You re-read those journals all the time," Virgil deflected.
"Yes, but I am researching, not reading. I know which books contain what and very rarely reread any texts that aren't written in Draconian," Damien said. Virgil sighed and closed his book.
"I-uh- listen. This is really embarrassing," Virgil grumbled, sitting up and rubbing the back of his head. "You're not going to… get mad or kick me out or anything?" Virgil asked quietly.
"I would never kick you out, Virgil, I don't think you're even capable of doing something so heinous you could no longer serve," Damien said, aghast.
"And…?" Virgil asked quietly.
"I will try to be understanding," Damien nodded and slid his bookmark in, closing his book and folding his hands gently on his lap. Man, this guy was poised. Virgil was a bumbling idiot next to him. Virgil opened his mouth a few times to speak, but no noise came out. He huffed and dropped his head, running his hand through his hair. "It's all right Virgil, it was just a question. You don't have to answer it,"
"I, uh, probably should explain. You've been so cool and… I… we probably should have came out and said it in the first place, but I was so scared and I didn't want to get in trouble and it's just so nice here and-" Virgil rambled.
"Virgil, gracious, breathe!" Damien put a hand on Virgil's shoulder and he gasped. "This isn't about the water gun incident, is it? I am fine not knowing if it upsets you!" Damien offered.
"What? No. That's not important. I… Remus shot me with a water gun full of pee after we got blackout drunk. We used to get blackout drunk… a lot. That's kind of what I'm getting at, really," Virgil trailed off and started mumbling.
"I can watch and limit the amount of alcohol you are drinking if it concerns you," Damien offered gently. He touched his hand to Virgil's face and Virgil calmed down a bit, pressing into Damien's palm.
"Um, no, I'm not concerned about it. Uh, maybe I should have been. I don't think it's a problem anymore. I don't… I want a drink sometimes, but I don't feel the need to drink till I forget the world," Virgil mumbled. "That's uh, besides the point," He added quietly.
"I'm completely in the dark, Virgil, light a candle for me, please," Damien implored him. Virgil sighed and took Damien's hand from his face and held it nervously.
"I… we… um…" Virgil stammered. "We remember nothing before waking up after the dragon milk ceremony!" Virgil blurted out and wobbled slightly from the stress. He dropped his eyes to the sheets in shame.
"Anything?" Damien asked very curiously.
"We got blackout drunk and wandered in the woods looking for dragon lines and that's the last thing we remember," Virgil muttered. There was a pregnant pause where Virgil felt the pit in his stomach grow deeper. He slowly dropped his head, feeling very exhausted and strained.
Virgil jumped when Damien broke out violently laughing, chased by heaving chuckles. He stared wide-eyed at Damien clasping his midsection and laughing wildly, not really sure what to do or how to react. Damien clasped his head, and the laughing died out pretty quickly after that with a small moan and he took a long sip of the allspice mead. "Are you okay?" Virgil asked quietly. Damien nodded and smiled.
"Yes, that just hurt my head. You both don't remember anything about getting here or initiation at all?" Damien asked.
"Um, no," Virgil mumbled.
"That… is truly amazing. I can't help but be impressed at your resourcefulness and cunning. And even your intuition for knowing what to say. I never suspected a thing. I don't think a single person ever did. I apologized if I ever made you feel you couldn't just admit it to me," Damien said humorously.
"No, no, it was all me. I… get worried. You… aren't mad?" Virgil asked carefully.
"Of course not, Virgil! I'm entertained, if anything. I believe you that Remus can handle things on his own. If he spent that long only pretending to know what he was doing and managing to do a stellar job, he can figure out the electronics," Damien laughed. "Seriously, no idea at all?" Virgil shook his head mutely, somewhat unsure of this reaction. He… really thought it would upset Damien. And was afraid they'd get kicked out as fakers.
"Honestly, nothing that was said was strange that morning. The request for dragons to be added to the map was a little odd, but I thought it was something familiar to make you more comfortable. And all the days between then and now… you two are very skilled," Damien laughed again. Virgil wrung his hands. Well, now he was even less sure how to handle this and could feel his eyes watering up. "Oh, Virgil," Damien cooed and pulled him in for a hug. Huh. This was the first time Damien has hugged him first. Virgil tentatively hugged him back. Damien always smelled nice, and that relaxed Virgil a little. Damien let go and held Virgil's shoulders.
"I understand that you are naturally afraid and nervous, Virgil. I can see how you would be scared. You woke up in a dark room with no idea where you were, having lost multiple days of memory. I think anyone would be concerned. Perhaps you had very damaged synapses and the Dragon's milk caused your recent memory to be lost while it fixed them. It seems like you and Remus might have killed more brain cells than the average person," Damien laughed and leaned back against the bed frame, letting Virgil go. "Perhaps I should be careful with your alcohol consumption…" Damien added after a moment. Virgil rolled his eyes.
"We're fine, D, and I actually mean it this time. I'm more like likely to pass out from lookin' at something and getting a vision than I am to get drunk these days," Virgil groaned. This he could deal with.
"I don't know, Virgil. I'll get to be present for next month's new moon ceremony, so I'll be capable of monitoring you next time," Damien said, sounding like he was considering it.
"Isn't the equinox next? I'm pretty certain there's drinking at that," Virgil said.
"You're right. You can help me out with the rites and then you'll be too tired for libations," Damien smirked and Virgil buried his face in Damien's shoulder. The door to the quarters opened.
"No," Virgil whined. "I'm not ready,"
"Need me to punch him, V?" Remus laughed, seeing Virgil whine. Damien sputtered.
"You would not punch me," Damien insisted, aghast.
"I'd punch anybody Virgil told me to punch," Remus shrugged and went to sit on the edge of the bed with them. "I'd just go easy on you,"
"Ream, he threatened to make me do the rites so I couldn't get so drunk," Virgil whined and crawled over to Remus to grab him. Remus opened his arms and pulled Virgil in.
"You know his brain's not working that great when the sun's out, don't joke with him like that," Remus chided Damien.
"Virgil just told me that you two lost your memories for 12 days, and I think it's because you were blackout drunks," Damien crossed his arms. Virgil flinched and Remus hugged him a little tighter.
"Ah, our terrible dark secret came out," Remus laughed. "I wasn't sure it was a big deal, but y'all were really easy to fool and it was fun. 12 days, huh? You think you could tell us what happened then sometime? Virgil's been freaking out about it," Remus added, and Virgil whined again.
"Yes, I could tell you. I imagine Virgil is too embarrassed to let anybody else know?" Damien asked somewhat humorously. The jerk. Virgil nodded violently and went back to hugging Remus.
"Shame. The initiates would probably have more interesting stories," Damien mused.
"We can just ask them what their favourite dumb thing we did was, individually. We assuredly did dumb things," Remus laughed and Virgil stiffened slightly. It was true, but he didn't have to say it. "Go on, kiss and makeup," Remus said, pushing Virgil towards Damien. Virgil crawled up the bed and went under the covers and went back to cuddling Damien, still kind of mad. Maybe that was better than sad, though.
"I apologize if I sacred you Virgil," Damien said, patting Virgil's head. Virgil huffed, but he wasn't mad anymore either. He was feeling way too needy to stay mad. And it was nice that Damien was letting Virgil cling to him while he couldn't manage to cling to Remus. There were people out there and he just couldn't take being near anybody else yet.
"I'm just here to check on you. There's still people popping in when they can take a break to sign up. I left it with the Librarian guy," Remus said.
"Masterson," Damien provided.
"Great name for a librarian guy," Virgil mumbled. Damien looked considerate and nodded in agreement.
"Anyway, the worst argument was between Thorn and Morgan on who would get to practice at Mario Kart first. I made them run a lap together between the northern site and the sanctuary, and Thorn conceded when Morgan beat him back," Remus chuckled.
"That was a creative way to make them come to a concord," Damien nodded respectfully.
"If you're running you can't be yellin'," Remus shrugged. "Also, I'm pretty certain Thorn was watching her ass, so that might have helped,"
"Make him take a witch-tit shower," Virgil suggested right away, glowering.
"It was just a glance, he wasn't being a creepazoid about it," Remus said.
"Fine, but if he does it again, he gets a witch-tit shower," Virgil said firmly. Remus nodded with a bright grin.
"A… witch-tit shower?" Damien asked curiously.
"The private shower for when your sight's too beat to be with other people is ice cold," Remus said. "Like a witch's third nipple,"
"That's… such an old phrase," Damien said, sounding both baffled and impressed. "You actually use that shower consistently?" He asked, raising an eyebrow to Virgil.
"He's got issues," Remus shrugged.
"I'm fine, everyone else has issues!" Virgil shot.
"You're projecting, Virge," Remus rolled his eyes.
"I… am at a loss," Damien said, definitely fully baffled now. Remus shrugged.
"It's not my tea to spill," Remus patted Virgil on the legs. "So, need anything? I should probably get back to it,"
"Tea actually would be great," Virgil mumbled. "I'm freezing,"
"I'll make some chamomile. You want some, D?" Remus asked, getting up.
"Yes, and I would take half an apple. Would you like the other half, Virgil?" Damien asked with a soft smile. Virgil nodded.
"Great. If somebody drags me away, I'll send it with one of the interns and have them knock a weird long pattern," Remus laughed.
"We don't have interns, Remus," Damien rolled his eyes.
"The initiates. They do all the intern-y tasks. The tiny girl with the buns who comes by to check our candles is adorable," Remus said. Virgil thought they were like interns, too.
"There's someone that comes to check the candles?" Virgil asked with confusion. He'd never seen her.
"You sleep through her coming by every morning. If I didn't bring you food, I doubt you'd wake up at all until lunch, and then you'd be bored at 4 am in the dark with nothin' to do but talk to yourself about conspiracy theories and cryptids," Remus smirked. Virgil grumbled. They didn't even have the group chat anymore, so it didn't feel fair to be made fun of for how he used to pass his time. "Though we could add 2 am to the sign-up sheet and you could use a laptop in the sanctuary and post your theories to Tumblr or something while season of the wind is still going,"
"Out in the sanctuary? That sounds creepy," Virgil groaned.
"The sanctuary is the only room with electricity and internet cables, Virgil, you don't have a choice. I'm afraid you'll have to be all alone in the dark and very open sanctuary with a laptop and your monster theories," Damien smirked. Virgil huffed and buried his face in Damien's side.
"Quit being mean to me," Virgil grumbled into Damien's side, who giggled slightly.
"We weren't being mean, V, you're just feeling sensitive 'cuz you're worried. Y'know, lit with some candles, you could make a really killer conspiracy theory show out in the sanctuary at 2 am. It's always dead quiet out there, and with the robes and the ambiance, it'd be like a whole set," Remus chuckled.
"Webcams that are built into laptops don't record well in the dark," Virgil grumbled. He might have already tried to do that once with Remus's laptop.
"Well AdSense from Virgil ranting would be a fun way to make money," Remus laughed loudly. "Why don't you pick your book back up and try to rest so your brain turns back on," Remus said, pushing himself off the edge of the bed and standing up. "Me or an intern who will be named Becky regardless of their real name will be back with your tea and apple slices, okay?" Virgil nodded grumpily and buried his face back in Damien's side. Damien pat his shoulder consolingly and went back to reading.
