Word Games

@Thoth

It surprised him when Nicolas leaned up against his shoulder, curling into his side in a way that he could almost call affectionate if he hadn't known any better. Nicolas had so far never proven to be affectionate in any terms; maybe a little bit of drink brought that out in him. If that was the case, he needed to get him drunk a little more often.

It wasn't long before Nicolas had passed out entirely against him. It wasn't an entirely bad feeling; Ulrich was much more used to the cold than the warmth of a body and it had been a little while (not counting the last time he got Nicolas in bed).

Ulrich put an arm around him, pulling him in closer and just resting his chin on top of his head. He didn't exactly fall asleep, though he did do his usual 'dozing' in and out, where he kind of lingered between awake and unconscious. Every little shift of movement underneath him and every little sound roused him, but he remained mostly relaxed.

@Thoth

Perhaps one would've expected Ulrich to get fed up and move at some point, but he stayed where he was until morning. He did manage to actually slip into 'sleep' at one point or another, then wake up when the sun began to rise again. It washed the whole house with various shades of orange and red, something he rarely saw in the deep. It was nice, and at least he stayed awake to see that.

He was very aware of Nicolas still curled up in the crook of his arm, though.

It wasn't a particularly bad thing. In fact, he didn't mind it so much. Maybe a stiff drink or two made his guard softer around the edges, though obviously this had been more than just a little. He waited until he stirred and woke, looking suddenly groggy and vulnerable.

"You need a new arm."

@Thoth

Ulrich made a vague scoffing sound, feigning offense for a moment before shaking his head. He was still very much named, and he had his arm draped across Nicolas' shoulders, and his bodyguard might've woken up in the crook of his arm but they hadn't done anything. Though if he said that they had, he wasn't sure if Nicolas had his wits about him to remember otherwise.

"I'll find you one, if need be." There were plenty of people on the island. Very strange people, a few with some skills in technology. Why not? He could probably find someone, and he could probably pay them enough to make a very, very nice arm, indeed.

"You were quite drunk. Are you alright now, or is your brain trying to evacuate itself from your skull out your ears?"

@Thoth

Ulrich seemed to think about that for a second before mentally disregarding it. No, he'd find him an arm. A suitable arm that he could move as if it were his own. There were people he could get a hold of on the island. It seemed, to many land dwellers, almost nobody could turn out a bag of jewels and treasure dredged up from the bottom of the sea.

One sea monster's junk was a land dweller's treasure, after all.

The king got up, still naked as the day he was born. At least he eased Nicolas back down onto the couch instead of just sliding out from under him.

"I'll find you one." He sounded sure of it.