Snippets and Stories: (WtI) Nonsensical Days

"So... an Earl Grey and a Chai Latte?" there were simultaneous answers of affirmation and Neiro nodded, "'kay got it, I'll be back in a bit!"

Silas hummed a nonchalant acknowledgement while Esti held up a hand and called out to their short friend before returning to the text.

It was all rather convoluted and difficult to understand, let alone wrap his mind around. 

The two sat in a somewhat uncomfortable silence, save, the nigh constant clicking as Silas tapped away at keyboard. Or maybe it was just him.

Sneaking a glance he noted that the other seemed perfectly at ease, and the redhead reminded himself that Neiro hadn't exactly marked him for an outgoing nor friendly disposition.

In his mind echoed the albino's merry voice, "Siras may seem aloof, but he's a nice guy inside, you'll see! You just gotta get beneath the surface!"

"I doubt it." he gave the man a sidelong glance. It didn't feel like there was much of anything underneath the man's apathetic mask. If it even was a mask.

Somehow Esti doubted that too.

But maybe it was just their lack of shared common ground.

It wasn't all that surprising, the two of them hadn't talked since the athletically inclined redhead had first encroached on Academy grounds after all.

He searched for something to fill the silence since the other didn't seem inclined to speak, and once or twice made as if to talk.

Well, here goes nothing.

In the end he opted for the classics and asked in a drawn out manner, "So... How are things?"

It was very clearly small talk and filler, evidenced by his pointed tone humorously suggesting at the atmosphere of slight discomfort between the two.

The tapping never ceased even as the man spoke, his voice a stiff but bored monotone, "You needn't trouble yourself to make conversation if you find it uncomfortable."

"Right on point.", Esti winced. He was as straightforward as the albino had said he was.

Silas seemed to peer over his obsidian shades at him for just a moment, or so the redhead thought. It was difficult to really tell with those shades of his where the man was truly looking if at all.

"But I digress. How has your first week been?"

"Huh?" Esti blinked. Was the brunette trying to make conversation?

Silas frowned and reiterated, markedly more statement than question, "How are you liking it here."

"O-oh." He mumbled. Despite his composure, or perhaps for it, the older man cut a rather imposing figure. It was rather intimidating and made the difference in years between them all that much more prominent.

"It was fine. Jus' peachy. Can't say I'm liking this whole 'remedial' nonsense and stuff though."

"This is a place of learning. That 'nonsense' is the very essence that both supports and drives this place."

The redhead winced again. Silas hadn't raised his voice any from its bored drawl, but it hadn't sounded any less reprimanding.

Where was Neiro? Esti squinted at the doorway. Nope, no familiar fluff of grey hair.

"This is no place for a Neophyte who doesn't have the impetus to better themselves."

Esti's jaw dropped and he shut it quickly, anger rising with white-hot fury. Now that was rude.

"What makes you think I'm not trying!" He snapped.

This Time the tapping did stop, and for a moment he felt that he may be wading into dangerous territory.

Silas very clearly now, for his head was turned fully, fixed him with a glare, lacing his fingers together and resting his elbows on the table in front of him as he spoke, "I never waved off your efforts, however misguided. Only that those who do not find intrinsic value in gaining and advancing the wealth of knowledge of mankind, have no place here."

"Come off of it." he grit out. A part of him whispered that this was foolishness to continue and to back off, but the other louder and indignant voice stubbornly told him that the brunette was being unnecessarily condescending, "Maybe I can't speak with the same pretty tongue, and I don't have the same academic-driven background as everyone else here, but there's only been one new acceptance and I don't think that when you say 'neophyte', you're referring to anyone else."

"An astute observation." Silas sneered, and Esti didn't miss the sarcasm. He half expected a slow-clap but it never came, "Any other would've understood the significance of that which I would impart, but since the implication has so clearly passed you over I'll speak plainly."

Silas reached across the desk to pluck up a stray pen and began jotting something down, "It is much more difficult to study that of disinterest than it is to pursue a passion. You-" the brunette gestured with the same writing instrument towards the gaping redhead, "-are in the wrong place."

And with that the brunette dropped both the pen and whatever he had been writing, down on his open book and was back to tapping away at the keys, "You wont catch up walking the distance."

Esti stared at the paper. It was a concise, but detailed explanation of the special and general theory of relativity.

The redhead flopped back in his chair with a grimace, but accepted the unusually proffered help. Though it irked him, Silas hadn't been far off the mark. Esti wasn't interested in pushing forth the frontiers of science and expand the lighted path of knowledge or whatever.

All he wanted was to stay by Ken's side and ensure that his twin was alright. His dear twin who had been spirited way some years ago, not a day after waking from a near decade-long coma.

That was enough wasn't it?

But Ken was now in a faraway place, a place he could only hope to reach by this thin thread he had grasped.

Not to mention that man, Professor Lokius, gave him chills. Ken seemed to trust him, but something bout the man set him on edge. 

It had been planned, of that he was certain.

"If you wish to stay then you must contribute to the academy. Every man must earn his keep, there'll be no leeches here."

In order to stay by his side, Esti had agreed, and so began the rigorous course he was now undertaking, and which seemed doomed to fail. 

At least that seemed to be everyone's expectation, if not openly expressed. Esti forced himself to focus on the text, but his heart wasn't in it.

Sure, he didn't have the same academic foundation as most here, and there was no doubt in his mind that it would be a long swim upstream. That he had anticipated, what he hadn't prepared for, was the sheer animosity that had been directed at him. 

Even Ken seemed to hesitate at his proclamation to stay. All except-

As if on queue, there was a door slamming and Neiro came sprinting into the room, "Hey! Sorry it took so long."

"Neiro!" the redhead grinned at the sight of the albino out of breath, cheeks flushed from the exertion, and hair wild with the wind. 

"Neiro. Welcome back." 

Like the crack of a whip Esti spun around, eyes staring with open astonishment at the brunette sitting across from him. 

Sure enough, it had been Silas who had spoken in such fond tones that the redhead didn't think possible for the stoic man. That the tall man had been capable of such affections seemed beyond him and his unapproachable demeanor.

"You wont believe how hard it's snowing!" The brunette allowed a small smile, only further adding to Esti's incredulity, as his flatmate bounded over to the table and passed out their drinks.

"Somehow I can." Silas accepted the cup that the albino had placed before him with a flourish, giving it a tentative sip and finding the temperature bearable, tipped the cup up,

The latte was sweet and creamy, and the redhead was grateful. It was a welcome break.

The albino uncapped his own hot chocolate and piling a ridiculous number of marshmallows on top much to Silas's chagrin. The brunette stared at the bag of marshmallows Neiro had pilfered from the pantry, but ultimately went back to busying himself with his own work.

Neiro paused in his white sugar puff recreation of the pyramids, mulling over something for a moment before brightening and turning to Silas, "Say, Sy think you can make that hot chocolate of your's tonight?"

"Depends on whether you've left me any marshmallows to top them off."

Neiro let out a gleeful cry and whirled around, "Esti, you'll stay wont you? Sy makes the best hot cocoa!"

The redhead laughed, "Of course!" he replied easily. It was hard not to get caught up in Neiro's tempo. Ah, but he'd forgotten. Glancing at the third occupant, he added in, "If you're okay with that."

"As long as you pick up after yourselves."

Esti grimaced, "You make us sound like kids."

Silas gave her a look. Quirking a brow he followed the older man's gaze, settling on Neiro who had gone back to recreating what appeared to be a pyramid of marshmallows in his creamy drink.

The scene tore a laugh from him and he stifled it quickly as Neiro started and looked up, blinking owlishly.