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[ He wasn't sure how long soon would be, but then there's sparks and while Caleb startles, he doesn't react aggressively. Given his recent training as Mistrel, maybe he should have but it's been a day that's gone into a week and he's just tired.

He's told himself that this is normal, or what passes for normal in this place but that doesn't change how much he worries.

Having Nick there, that helps as he leans into that touch, eyes closing for a moment before blinking back up at him. ]

Telling myself this is going to be okay, and reminding myself this could be a month... or longer. We just have to do what we have to do.

[ He wraps his fingers around Nick's wrist, drawing him in closer. ]

What about you?

It better not be a month, he knows I hate the early shifts.

[ the joke doesn't really land, but then nick wasn't trying very hard anyway. he just steps into caleb's space, leans over to wrap an arm around his shoulder and press a kiss to the side of his head. once there, he doesn't pull away right away.

it's been hard. harder than nick is likely to admit, but nate has been one of the few constants in his life since arriving in duplicity. he closes his eyes, sighs for a moment, and when he pulls back there's a sad smile on his face. ]

I just miss him. Everything's...different, without him, you know?

[ Despite it all, Caleb tries to manage a smile for that. ]

We can make Chris take them.

[Because its easier to make jokes about it all than to try and handle the stress of it all.

He aches to wrap himself around Nick and just hold on to him. This place is his home, and that means the four of them that make it a home. The two men he loves, and the one he could fall for without effort. ]

It is. He's the heart of this place.

Chris' energy is way more morning than me, like that's just a fact.

[ there's an empty space where his connection to nate is supposed to be and that's just not going away any time soon. not something he can get used to, just something that nick has to tolerate, because there isn't another option.

but it's a little easier with caleb, with someone that he knows understands. it's easy to find caleb's hand and hold on, squeeze tighter. ]

He's our heart. We just have to...manage until he comes back to us.

It's funny. I used to be a morning person. All my classes were morning classes even.

[ And now here he is living in the Midnight Theatre and loving it. Thriving here even. ]

Chris is always here early. I'll ask him nicely.

[ And make it up to him. He's glad they've come to the place they have, talked about how they feel, and let them have this relationship they have now.

And like Nick, who is always there, and they both know and understand.

He curls his fingers around Nick's, needing to hold on to him in that moment. ]

I know he doesn't need us watching over him all the time, and I know this happens all the time. I just keep thinking about everyone else who has gone.

[ there's not an awful lot that makes nick feel much better right now, but caleb's hand tight and steady around his is something at least. it's a relief, not least of all because caleb is in the same place. he doesn't have to pretend to smile, it can just...be hard. nick steps in close to caleb's side, leans in closer, and there's a little relief in that contact too. ]

Yeah, me too. You know, I went and looked all through the network, I couldn't find anyone saying that someone's gone into one of these comas and not woken up before.

[ Nick is family and he's someone that means a lot to Caleb. And he's not alone. Not in any of this.

That makes him arch a brow though, trying not to look too hopeful, and yet he truly does and he can't hide it. ]

Not once? Even with everything that goes on?

If it's happened, I couldn't find it.

[ nick's no scholar, but he is prone to sleeping particularly poorly at the moment, and there's a lot of hours of the night where no one else in the house is awake, where he has the time to just sit and pour through the network, desperate to find some sort of confirmation that this is going to work out okay for them all.

it helps. it's something. not much, but something at least. ]

You should eat something.

[ That's promising though. He gives Nick's hand a squeeze and then lifts it to his mouth, kissing his knuckles tenderly. Closing his eyes and just keeping his lips there a moment.

It's one thing he hasn't thought about, the need to touch someone, to be near them, and he hadn't realized how much he's gotten used to contact with others until one of the three he is constantly in touch with is not there. Not like this. ]

You know I've probably eaten in the last day.

[ But then his stomach rumbles and he rolls his eyes. ]

Fine. Whatever.

[ the timing on that really couldn't have been more perfect. ]

Yeah, I thought as much. Come on, I brought shit food.

[ he doesn't let go of caleb's hand, naturally. instead he just tugs him in close, leads him towards the little pile of supplies that nick had brought in with him. maybe he should be encouraging something substantial, healthy choices and all that, but honestly all nick wants to do right now is curl up on the couch with a bag of chips and maybe a drink or two.

he figures caleb is probably feeling the same. ]

Come sit with me, I want to cuddle.

[ As stressful as it all feels the one thing that he knows is they have one another.

And that means letting them take care of him like he wants to care for them.

So grabbing some chips and the weird off brand cola they had in Duplicity, he drops down beside Nick and leans into him.]

Who am I to tell you no?

Exactly, it's my way or the highway.

[ nick settles down comfortably, wrapping an arm around caleb and fitting himself against his side. he has to hold his chips out to caleb, because nick isn't willing to let up the hug long enough to open the bag, and when the hug isn't enough he tips his cheek onto caleb's shoulder too.

it's another thing that helps, the closeness, the contact. the physical reminder that he isn't alone in this. ]

I was thinking I could stay over tonight, if you want me to. Keep you company.

Yeah yeah. I know how it goes.

[ And how it goes is wrapping an arm around Nick, drawing him in close as he strokes his hand along the other's arm.

Taking one, nibbling at it and realizing just how hungry he is.

That offer though, he falls quiet because he really wants it, but then Nick has a huge life in this place as well. ]

You sure you're good with that? I mean... I want you too but I don't want you upsetting all your paramours.

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