nightlogs | I Used to Never Wear a Seatbelt Because I Said I Didn't Care [Closed]

Who: Dan and Miguel
What: Dan delivers Miguel's clothing
Where: The Pole
When: (in relation to events/plots if needed)
Warnings/Notes: Typical Dan warnings regarding addiction and mental health; Miguel warnings for Spidey and universe collapse.

Almost as soon as they're back from Project Prometheus, Dan's on the move again, dispatched to Moscow to hunt a babayka, and then to Santiago to track the Dogman, and as such it's about a week before he's back at the Pole and ready to address the unfinished business he left behind.

But first, an offering, a way to try and convey that Dan isn't trying to be defensive; he's only trying to explain himself, to lay it out there why he thinks Miguel is wrong, why he isn't just a fuckup who can't be trusted to make good decisions in life-or-death settings, why Miguel - and everyone else Dan's ever met - aren't wrong to have ever placed their trust in his competence and judgment. He makes Miguel's long coat, undershirt and trousers, like he promised.

Dan doesn't sew any passive-aggression into the garments. He feels strongly that sewing while emotional shows in the finished product, and he doesn't want to punish Miguel or escalate the conflict between them, so instead he's diligent and serene as he embroiders, tacks, trims, laces, so on. Each piece hews closely to the drawings he showed Miguel months ago, masterfully-done but simple, wardrobe daily staples instead of anything flashy.

He knocks on Miguel's bedroom door, having not found him in the lab, hoping he isn't waking him but figuring Miguel's probably as nocturnal as he is, based on their trip to Quebec. He has the clothing on a hanger slung over his shoulder, but even so he has to carry the end of the coat, given how long it is and how much taller Miguel is.

"Delivery," he says, armed to greet with a smile.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"For them, yes. Many of the new arrivals are maybe a year or two into getting their powers. Aside from similar company, some guidance eases the more frightening parts of our work."

It looks like Dan was warming up to the idea of being part of a group, himself. It took a while for solo actors to properly settle into it. At the question, he holds his chin pensively. Sure, he had some things he missed, but asking Dan to build it from scratch made the ask feel rather involved.

"Hm. Nothing specific comes to mind. I suppose we will eventually be encountering some hot weather." he muses, keeping his eyes on Dan to see if that caught his interest at all.

"Most folks get their powers young, right? Teens?" Dan suspects that some teenagers might take to Miguel's brand of do-as-I-say about as well as Dan did, but he's just speculating.

Miguel's next thought does perk Dan up; he takes Miguel's suggestion as evidence that the door isn't closed on their friendship, that they've done a decent job repairing it with this conversation today. "I could put you together something that breathes. Lightweight shirt, pants with some flex to them. It didn't could occur to me to do something for warm weather given, you know."

He gestures with his nose towards the window, where snow is still dumping down, as it seemingly always is.

"Yeah." he sighs, fully aware of the hassle of getting Teenagers to Follow Rules. "They have enough angst about feeling misunderstood by the world before their powers, so..."

A support system of people in similar straits, the core of which could lend their experience and structure. Risky for his more paranoid side, but the kind gesture seemed harmless enough to avoid disturbing the delicate balance of the web.

He doesn't miss the change in Dan's expression, and reacts with an endeared sort of softness. Yes, asking for summer clothes on the North Pole would be absurd, but they'll eventually have to venture somewhere a little warmer.

"I can't give a timeline for your watch, studying this dimension has been slow going without my usual equipment." he adds. "But how would you feel about a proper tour of the lab? The map displays better in there."

If Dan was going to continue to give him nice things, he'll put in the effort to make it reciprocal.

"Teenagers are hard. I got a way with the, but I reckon it won't surprise you that I got my weaknesses at enforcing rules and limitations." He couldn't get his younger siblings to stop drinking themselves to death, for example; they were all cursed to die anyway, and he was the biggest drunk out of any of them, so why would they listen to him?

He's already plotting summer clothing for Miguel, lightweight, breathable, sweat-wicking.

"I'd love that." Dan actually feels daunted and intimidated by Miguel's lab, but he isn't about to turn down a gift. "So long as you don't mind me asking stupid questions the whole way."

"You're welcome to ask whatever comes to mind." he adds, wanting to emphasize that Dan shouldn't feel lesser for not immediately understanding his world. It was a cryptic labyrinth of overly-specific expertise, and even Miguel missed having Lyla to help him wade through it. Plus, he was a scientist. Explaining himself was just part of the job.

"Very few of our recruits came in knowing the ins and outs of the multiverse." he reminds him. "And I don't believe you've met Catalina."

Unless Stacia had mentioned her. He found the presence of the spiderbot made his space a little more welcoming.

I Used to Never Wear a Seatbelt Because I Said I Didn't Care [Closed]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject