Snippets and Stories: (WtI) Sweet Tooth

Neiro hummed softly as he trudged through the fresh snow. Reaching deep into a pocket on his quilted coat he pulled out a small drawstring pouch, the white sticks and confectionery visible through the organza fabric.

Truth be told he didn't particularly like sweets. They were pleasing to the palate, yet it wasn't the flavor that drew him to the sweets.

He chuckled to himself.

If the others heard, they would surely balk, or wave it off as a jest. Unlike what his friends believed though, Neiro didn't have a penchant for sweets.

Nay, it was something else that drew him to the confections.

But he was content to let them assume.

There was no reason to tell them otherwise. Besides, it added to his character he thought.

Fumbling with the foil for a moment, he popped a solid round ball of chocolate so pure it was nearly black, into his mouth.

The small petite boy who loved confections.

It was what his dear friend had once been, and more Times than he could count, Neiro found himself revisiting the past just to see the brilliant smile that so matched his scintillating personality.

The memories were bittersweet, just as the taste was predominant in his mouth, did it mirror the like memories.

Courtesy of the luscious dark chocolate and likewise Siras.

That brought a smile to his face. Ironically, in that Time (relatively speaking),  he had more closely resembled Silas, cold, distant, reserved.

Seeing it from another perspective was rather intriguing, and he wondered if his long departed friend too had experienced and thought the same when approaching him.

"If you clutch it like that you'll break it."

Neiro blinked and looked down at the ring he has subconsciously reached for. A twin pair of emerald eyes glittered up at him, the rubies they so zealously guarded grasped tightly in their mouths.

Looking back up he saw Silas beside him. How long had been spacing out, or better yet, how long had the other been standing there?

Not long by the look of things, but he knew better than to assume with Siras.

But he didn't miss a beat.

"Siras!" he grinned and put both arms around his landlord's waist.

"Neiro!" came the warning, but he ignored it and kept himself wrapped tightly around the other.

"Not until we're indoors!" a large hand pushed at his head, receiving a jovial laugh in return and the iron grip constricting his movements loosened.

"Sorry Si." Neiro apologized sheepishly, but still sporting a smile nonetheless. He settled instead for grasping his hand and pulled the tall man in the direction of the facility.

Silas withheld a sigh and followed in behind him.

It wasn't often, if at all, that he concerned himself with others, but for Neiro he would make an exception, perhaps even tentatively so to say that he returned the gesture.

The gold ring formed by the scaly entwined body of a pair of amphisbaena twin dragons was a possession Neiro cherished and guarded closely, and one he tinkered with when troubled.

A rare occurrence given the carefree nature of the one in question, but a telltale idiosyncrasy for the scarce Times when he was indeed bothered.

Though, as Silas observed, the quirk itself seemed to have escaped his roommate's notice.

That and there had been something off with his embrace. Certainly, it was still a crushing hug, but there had been something almost akin to desperation. Like he needed the comfort more than it was a display of affection.

It gave him pause at least, for though Neiro wore his heart on his sleeve, he told little and less of his own. While that may have bothered others, it suited the Invalid just fine.

It wasn't that Silas particularly cared now, but something was clearly on his young companion's mind, and it was the most, and the least, he could do after all that Neiro had done for him.

He was apathetic, not ungrateful, and he knew where concern was due.

"There's a new syrup recipe that I've been working on. I just finished a batch this morning but it's missing something."

As expected, his short flatmate tilted his head back, curious eyes he needn't look to know were on him, and he shrugged to himself, putting on a show for his one-man audience.

After what he determined to be long enough of a pause for mulling it over, he carried on, voice thoughtful as if speaking aloud to himself, "I'll be preparing some hot cocoa for the syrup, along with bredela and jam-filled shortbread. Would you care to join me? I could do with some company over tea, and perhaps your seasoned palate can taste what mine cannot."

Neiro was staring at him, eyes large. For someone like Silas to inadvertently admit to valuing, or perhaps more accurately, caring about the opinion of others was unusual. Quantitative was one thing, qualitative was another.

A cheshire grin spread across his face, "Yes! And we should see if Shyloris, Esti, and Ken are free too!"

"Hm." Silas hummed, but made no objections as the two trudged towards the Academy, the tall building looming over them almost ominously.