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The day moved forward as one would expect, barring the different outfit he had on. It was not the worst thing in the world, as it still afforded decent mobility, but it was something Silver was not used to. There were clinking bits of hardware on his person, raised embroidery that was nice to the touch, and a hat ribbon tied quite neatly (by Sebek) and set to his right. He had yet to apply his makeup, hoping to work on it after his classes, and avoid the risk of rubbing it off from his day to day activities. Free period was this afternoon, which would be the time he would set off to Foothill Town.
Silver was prepared for this day. He studied. He completed his homework. He and Sebek scheduled their training after his excursion. Then he would celebrate the end of his birthday at Diasomnia, where his dorm mates so graciously decorated the lounge.
And of course, like stuttering clockwork, he felt drowsiness clamp down.
He pinched the inner flesh of his wrists; bit his lower lip; shook his head violently; anything to fight the pull of sleep.
His curse was better after Malleus' overblot—much lower in frequency.
It was still highly inconvenient when it did come.
The wakefulness he experienced in Malleus' realm was perhaps the one thing he had been grateful for. He had been clearheaded for hours, which was necessary to the peril he and Sebek needed to solve. Being alert helped save Malleus. Being present helped save his classmates. He needed to stay awake, like he had in the dream. It was his birthday, for goodness sakes...
Then someone shook him, quick, sharp, but not unkind.
"Silver," someone said, "Silver, my apologies, but may I borrow you for a moment?"
Silver blinked awake, and saw that it was Jade standing before him.
When he noticed that Silver had been roused, Jade lowered his arm, and folded his hands together in his signature pose. Silver missed the firm grasp, but focused on Jade to ground himself back to wakefulness.
Jade smiled at Silver with his thin lips, the corners upturned and gently rounded. It was a pleasant expression, one that Silver had grown to enjoy in the time he has known Jade.
"Silver. Happy birthday. I am glad to have caught you today."
"Oh, Jade," said Silver. "Hello."
Silver smiled back at him, and he hoped that his face properly showed how he felt.
"Thank you for your well wishes. And thank you for your intervention."
"It is my pleasure. I was passing by, and noticed you dropping off. It was easy to reach you, and was no trouble at all.”
Jade's eyes flicked from right to left, then said, “and is it not your birthday? It would be quite poor form for a friend to simply leave you standing there without greeting you." Jade spoke in his smooth and deliberate way, and Silver heard each syllable quite clearly. They're both quite different people, but it reminded him of Sebek, somehow. Perhaps it was simply because they both read books, and the reading influenced the talking?
Silver had still been pondering this connection, when, without warning, Jade reached out and plucked the hat off of his head. And just as quickly replaced it—ribbon now set to his left.
"Huh-?"
"Silver, would you like to join me on my way to the Mostro Lounge?"
Jade interrupted, reaching out, lightly touching Silver's elbow.
"Me?"
"Yes. I actually feel quite bereft of companionship at this moment. It's quite a sad thing, really. Floyd was supposed to accompany me, but had decided to go see what the students in the greenhouse were doing. Apparently there's a large carnivorous plant on temporary display."
Silver remembered about hearing of such a thing. A fourth year student was interning at some magical plant research institute, and the science club connected with them because they wanted to study their large carnivorous plant that was in bloom. Sebek expressed wanting to see it as well, as his grandfather had told stories about such a thing from his youth before moving to Briar Valley. It seemed like a rare opportunity indeed.
Jade placed the finger tips of his other hand against his cheek, and lightly wiped away at nothing. "Heartbreaking, really. I have done nothing to deserve being abandoned by my own brother."
Silver was not exactly sure what to say. Jade looked rather amused, instead of tearful. But he nodded in acknowledgement, and mirrored Jade by placing a hand on Jade's arm. "Of course. I will gladly walk with you."
"Splendid!" Jade exclaimed, quickly stepped aside, then gestured to his left. Silver strode forward, and they fell into step as they moved toward the Mostro Lounge.
It was a companionable walk, altogether. Not unfamiliar at all—Jade occasionally joined Silver in his patrolling of the campus; Jade also liked to invite Silver on hikes across the school forest toward the base of the mountain on Sage's island.
They talked about the interview that Silver was set to do, as Jade and Floyd had already done the same last November.
"It was quite enjoyable," Jade tittered, "and perhaps a little mortifying. What sort of people will be watching this interview? It can't be that many." He coughs. "Of course, it truly depends if our headmaster had properly arranged the distribution of said interviews!" Jade turned to Silver. "That being said, I would be delighted to hear of your experience later, Silver."
"Sure," said Silver. "I'm still thinking about where to go, honestly. I'm not really good at public speaking and what have you."
"I'm sure you will lend a perspective wholly unique to you." Jade said, a hand on his chest. "I myself enjoy listening to you."
"Ah," said Silver, as he blinked up at Jade, flustered. "Thank you. I will do my best to meet your expectations."
Jade grinned back at him, all teeth.
-
When they reached the Mostro Lounge, Floyd was there by the kitchen doors. His sleeves were rolled up, and he was wearing a crisp white apron with the Octavinelle crest emblazoned on the chest.
"Yo Jade, what took you so long?” He noticed Silver, and shifted his posture. “Oh. Jellyfishie's with you."
"Oh my, Floyd! You're back early!" exclaimed Jade, while gently leading Silver into the Mostro Lounge, a hand placed on Silver's upper back. Floyd raised his eyebrows at Jade, and pouted. Silver had not really intended to stay, but he supposed there was no harm in chatting for a little while.
"Sebek had also mentioned wanting to see that carnivorous plant like you had, Floyd. I hope it did not disappoint." Said Silver, to acknowledge his friend.
Floyd squinted for a moment, then said-
"Eh, sure jellyfishie. Stank like hell though, so I left pretty quickly." Floyd shrugged nonchalantly, as he turned from Jade to Silver. He eyed Silver up and down, then reached out and twisted Silver's hat around, ribbon once again set to the right.
“Oh!”
"That's better. It looked stupid before, you should thank me for fixing it."
"Now now Floyd," said Jade, hands leaving Silver. The space between his shoulder blades felt chilly without them. "Don't insult our birthday celebrant."
”I'm fine, Jade, really.”
"It’s jellyfishie's birthday, huh?" said Floyd. He stepped back, pushed open the kitchen doors, grabbed something from inside, and tossed it. "Catch!"
The flying object was wrapped securely in tissue and clingwrap, and soared in an arc between them. Silver caught it in one hand. It was hefty, and smelled delicious.
"Bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich. With other stuff. Azul didn't want to eat his, so have it." Said Floyd. "Now he wants some boring salad bullshit, ugh, what a pain," he grumbled at a lower volume.
Floyd pointed back at the kitchen with his thumb, eyeing Jade. "Your share's back there. Get it yourself."
"How positively cruel," said Jade, folding his hands together. He grinned at his brother, and stayed put.
"Shaddup. You have your five sandwiches. And you're late. We're supposed to start getting things ready" Scoffed Floyd. Sounded like a big appetite, like Sebek's.
They all had eaten at the Mostro Lounge, before Malleus' overblot, often at Jade's invitation. Sebek had complained about having to go 'into enemy territory', but he also ate the most and ended up wanting to praise the chef. Which turned out to be Floyd. They spoke, and Sebek had stormed out for some reason, red in the face. Silver had to apologize to Jade and Floyd for that rudeness. They both laughed and said it was no big deal.
He said, "thank you, Floyd. I'll be sure to savor this." And tucked the sandwich into his messenger bag.
"It's just a sandwich, jellyfishie." he smirked, hand on his hip. Floyd shifted his posture again, and swung forward. He now pressed a bent arm on Silver's shoulder, and Silver could feel Floyd's weight lean against him.
"But maybe you'll learn that other foods exist, eh? So you can stop eating that crap."
"Maybe you need to reacclimate yourself to mushrooms, Floyd."
"Yeeaugh. If I catch you putting those things in my food i'll kill you."
Jade let out a breathy laugh, then delicately lifted, and readjusted Silver's hat.
"My, my, Silver. Forgive me, but I'm not sure that Floyd got it right with this, similar to his distaste of mushrooms."
Floyd gave Jade the middle finger, flipped the hat back to the right, then smacked Silver's butt.
Silver did jolt, letting out a surprised “wuff!”
Floyd snickered, then leaned more heavily against Silver. “Got you good, huh! Lose your cool more often, why doncha. It’s a cute look on ya.” Then Floyd pinched his cheek.
“This is a learning experience,” said Silver, arms crossed. He felt embarrassed, but oddly pleased. It was nice to be included, a surprise slap notwithstanding. “I will better anticipate this.”
“Floyd might simply rise to the challenge,” said Jade, serene. “He’s quite creative, you know.” Then Jade pinched his other cheek. “But I believe in you, Silver.”
Both of them seemed to be having fun, thought Silver. He felt lucky. Silver liked people. He liked being in the company of others. But sometimes, it seemed like he missed the mark on people. He needed to do better—there was still much he had to learn of the world outside of Briar Valley. But the camaraderie he felt at this moment let him know he was on the right track.
Though, sadly, it was time to go to his interview.
He shifted, and they both let go of him. Silver turned to face them, and said, “Truly, thank you Jade, Floyd, for your kind regards-”
“And sandwich.”
“And sandwich. But I have to ready myself to head to town. May I use the washroom at Octavinelle?”
“Aw, that blows. Do you really have to go,” Floyd groused, batting the back of his hand against Silver’s chest. “Why not ditch that boring shit and sit around the lounge before it opens. You can even boss around the sardines coming in to work.”
“It is a little shortsighted to have students work on their birthday, no?” said Jade, smiling coolly. “Would they notice if a student played truant, and enjoyed their special day on their own terms?”
Silver shook his head.
“Really, it’s alright. I don’t mind doing this. It is an opportunity to practice presenting oneself. If I know how to speak well, then there would be less chances to embarrass Lord Malleus.”
Floyd huffed, and Jade nodded, and they both gestured vaguely to the left.
“I guess I should go back to work,” said Floyd, straightening up. “Holler if you need anything, jellyfishie,” and he disappeared behind the swinging doors.
“Our washroom is open to you,” said Jade. “And I suppose Floyd is right. I should take care of our opening preparations. If you will excuse me.”
Jade fixed Silver's hat one last time, his slender fingers running down the ribbon, then lightly grazing Silver's cheek to his jaw. He bowed, then walked the opposite way, into Azul’s office.
‘They’re nice,’ thought Silver, and moved to clean his face and apply his make-up.
-
They should return to Mostro Lounge together, at some point, thought Silver, washing his face. He then pulled out some face powder, and tried to remember his father’s advice, ‘on an appealing and cute look.’
Lord Malleus would like to try new ice cream flavors, and his father might want to order the most esoteric dish Floyd could cook up. Sebek would complain, but the food at the Mostro Lounge was good. One bite, and Silver was sure Sebek will keep eating until he was satisfied.
Warming up to Jade and Floyd was another story, but Silver knew that Sebek could find them engaging, if he gave them the chance. Jade had already joined them on a few of their survival training camp outs to do his own thing, and Sebek could get on with him just fine. But there were odd arguments here and there. It was hard to know what caused them or why Sebek had gotten upset. Silver felt like he knew Sebek. He understood why Sebek acted that way, or why Sebek was so stubborn. But Sebek’s strange beef with Jade was a bit beyond Silver.
Silver had spent less time with Floyd prior to Malleus’ overblot, but he had not tried hard enough, thought Silver. He liked hanging out with Floyd, so, surely he should make a better effort…
Silver startled awake. Floyd was shaking him by the shoulders going, “Uuuughh, wake up already, jellyfishie. I have things to do.”
“Floyd,” wobbled Silver, and Floyd stopped.
“Hello,” said Silver. “Thank you.”
“Yeah yeah. I was just bringing over Jade's food, and I hadn't heard you leave. Figured you were still in here.”
“Sorry-”
“Nah, shut up,” said Floyd, and replaced Silver's hat that had since fallen off during the shaking. Floyd tugged at the ribbon, looking smug.
“You haven't even finished up your face. Let me do it,” Floyd insisted, and Silver let him.
Floyd held firm Silver's jaw with one hand, and picked something out at random from Silver's open bag. He knocked it open against the sink, and quickly applied the color on Silver's lids. Silver did not want to close his eyes, so he watched Floyd from between his lashes. Floyd's tongue stuck out, and his movements were easygoing. He held Silver with long thin fingers that had nice and soft skin. Silver wondered if that was because he only had had his human form for 2 years.
Sebeks hands in comparison were broad and work worn—though Sebek used hand cream to keep his skin supple.
Floyd picked up something else, worked it all over Silver's face (he had to close his eyes for that), then turned Silver toward the mirror with a confident, “Ta-daaa!”
The look was subtle, but presentable, thought Silver. It did not seem out of place on him.
“I like it,” he said. “It looks good,” he added, even if he didn't really know much about looks. He really was grateful for Floyd's efforts.
“Eh, don't look so confused,” Floyd chuffed, then threw Silver's things into his arms, and started pushing him out the washroom door. “I'm kicking you out now, byeeee. See you laterrrr”
“See you later,” said Silver, then he was caught off guard again because Floyd smacked his butt much harder this time, before shoving him out of Octavinelle.
He really should anticipate that, Silver mused, before running off to his interview at Foothill Town.