Work Text:
It had been a long day for Broglie. First he was worrying all day about the sunken research tower, then that traveler showed up. They were helpful, but so high energy. He could not imagine hearing about a problem and physically jumping to solve it. They just dived into the water! just like that. Returned not long after with the punched tape. And then just went to get the other two. Yes, Broglie could tell they were a little annoyed at him, but only for the reason and not for the task ahead.
And then he had to go to that last research tower and then there was that fatuus, and they were fighting several times and running all over the place and he even had to get into the water himself!
Oh, the things one had to do just to slack off a little. Was it a sin to want comfort in life? Broglie thought it was actually quite normal. It were people like that traveler and their faerie that were strange. Full of energy and running around.
Broglie prefered people like that Fatuus. Laid back, just slacking off, finding any old thing to "do" as to not get some other work.
That's why Broglie approached him. Broglie was, in no way, the kind of person to approach people in public. But when he saw the fatuus, outside of his work uniform, at a cafe alone, he couldn't help but walk over. The incident had been reported and soon, Broglie would be able to slack off again. So he was in a good mood.
He approached the table at which the fatuus was sitting.
"Hey. You waiting for someone?"
He asked, not wanting to intrude in case the man already had company.
The Snezhnayan man looked up. "Ah, no. I'm not."
"Mind if I sit here then?"
The Fatuus looked surprised but gestured to the chair. "Go ahead."
Broglie sat down.
"I think we got off on the wrong foot today. I can tell we are like-minded people. It would be a shame to part ways as enemies... I'm Broglie"
The fatui member laughed. "I don't think we parted ways as enemies. We had a good understanding back there and you even saved my ass back there. You might not know it, but that traveler is known among us Fatui for meddling in our operations. Violently and swiftly. I would have been done for... and I am Malinovskyi, by the way."
"Oh no, I do agree. They are very high energy. They are not... bad people. Just not my crowd. They were basically jumping at the idea to do literally anything for somebody else."
"Unfathomable."
Malinovskyi shook his head in shared disbelief.
"I went to this cafe to calm down. That was quite a stressful day today."
"Oh I agree!" Broglie was quick to add. "This was one of my most active days in a long time. And I don't mean that in a good way. Good riddance, these people. I was actually gonna go home and rest when I saw you and... I don't know. I thought we shouldn't let this just fall off...."
Broglie was actually quite embaressed now. What a weird reason to walk up to someone. What was he thinking? Well, he just laid out his way of thinking, but even so, to walk up to a perfect stranger for just a shared mindset?
"Ah, home. Yes. I can understand the sentiment.
"Ah, apologies. You must be missing Snezhnaya."
"Don't get me wrong..." Malinovskyi said reluctantly.
"This is an amazing chance to see more of the world and... be part of something. But it sucks a little to have no real place to come "home" to. There is no space that is mine. We all just share tents. I think of Snezhnaya and yes, it was cold. Like... really, really cold. But it was home. It's where my parents are, my family. Yet I am out here. It's not even like we have a job. We are just "stationed" here. And while I doprefer that it feels a little useless to be here."
Broglie rubbed his chin.
"I can see the frustration. Sometimes you just need your own space... Actually, you know... I have been looking for a new flatmate..."
"Are you implying I should move in with you?" The Snezhnayan said bewildered.
"I'm not sure that's allowed in out millitary rangs."
"Even in time of piece? You are the captain, no? Why wouldn't you get some extra room?"
Malinovskyi chuckled again.
"Well, when you put it like that... You are a low effort person, like me. I can think that we wouldn't be in each others way too much."
"Well, L-let me just give you the adress.
Broglie's hands were shaking as he wrote dpwn the name of his adress. What was he doing? Inviting a Fatuus into his house and that not just as a guest but as a possible resident?. That traveler must have messed with his mind.
But Broglie cannot deny... Without all that weird Fatui get-up, the man was quite handsome. And Broglie agreed with him. They would not get in each others way. They could even help each other cover up their slacking off by acting like they gotta deal with each other in their proffesional lives.
Broglie gave Malinovskyi the paper.
Well, you can write me about any questions.
The other nodded. "I will. I cannor imagine finally sleeping in a proper bed. I will take it into consideration. Thanks for your help. really."
Help indeed. Broglie had just given a Fatui his home adress. He didn't know what had made him so bold. Something about the Snezhnayan man made him want to get to know him better.
"Yeah, well, we slackers gotta help each other."
Well, This could either go spectacularily badly or surprisingly well and broglie was hoping for the second option. Weirdly, he also kind of looked forward to it.
Heres to hoping researcher instinct did not lead him astray.