[closed] I'm so still

[onlyhymns]

WHO: Myrobalan Shivana, Gabriel Reyes, Cade Harimann
WHAT: a pair of rowdy fever boys make an office terrible
WHEN: during The Thing
WHERE: Myr's office
NOTES: warning for sick stunts

Tap.
Tap tap tap.
Tap tap. Tap tap tap. Taptap. Ta-ta-ta-tap ta-tap.

This is the sound of Cade's quill nib against the parchment he's trying to write on, or was trying, before he forgot what he was going to say and started doing this instead. Both his knees are bouncing and he looks like he's about to erupt out of his chair, but is forcing himself to miserably sit there and stare at his work because he knows that's what he should be doing.
He can't help the noise. But it sure is there.

Comments

[shotgunsakimbo]

It's not that Cade's tapping isn't distracting, but Reaper's had enough focus writing, making sure that all his spelling is right and all the words are in correct order. Myr's pause and question breaks that focus, and without a thing to do he starts drumming his fingers against the table top, agitation starting to show on his face.

[onlyhymns]

The tapping stops when Myr addresses him, and Cade sits up alert as a rabbit. "No, ser," he says automatically, ascribing the title to the mage because that's just what you do, when you work for someone.
Because the rabbit analogy wasn't complete enough, his foot starts to tap faintly.

[faithlikeaseed]

"All right." Myr's tone is if-you-say-so mild; there's no point pursuing the issue past the first denial if nothing's going to come of it.

He flips to the next completed form, feeling the corner to remind himself of whose it is. "This one is Lady Vauquelin's, done on a later version--" Another pause, as the tapping intrudes on his awareness. "...Cade. You're vibrating."

And it isn't only Cade; he turns his head toward the tapping from his other side, one brow arching over his blindfold. "And you, Serah Reyes--do I need to let you both out early to run a lap around the courtyard?"

It worked for him when he was incurably fidgety, years ago.

[shotgunsakimbo]

Reaper immediately stops drumming his fingers, laying his hand down flat, and trying to school his expression back into neutrality.

"I think I'll be okay." His hand clenches into a fist to prevent himself from fidgeting that way. "You can continue."

The table might start to vibrate slightly as one of his legs starts bouncing.

[onlyhymns]

"Sorry," comes the muttered reply, and Cade stands, sighing out quickly and pushing his hand through his hair as he walks in a quick, agitated circle. He stops, only to say "sorry, I--" and look toward the window, clenching and unclenching his hands. "...is... is it warm in here?"

[faithlikeaseed]

...This is strange enough to warrant Myr's full attention. He sets the survey down on the gently vibrating table, sparing Reaper's direction a puzzled expression. Definitely not what he's used to in the office. "--Not so as I'd noticed," he ventures in response to Cade's question. "But I'm not suited to southern weather. You don't need to apologize if you're not feeling well, you know."

[shotgunsakimbo]

Reaper tries to stop bounce his leg, causing only a momentary pause after which it starts back up again.

"It might be?" Reaper frowns slightly in thought, tapping his quill on the paper. "I thought I may have finally acclimatized to winter here."

[onlyhymns]

"...I..." Cade stammers again, and, going to the window, presses his hands on the sill. He holds himself still there for a moment, then straightens again, pushing his hair out of his face in a motion that nearly becomes compulsive as he does it several times more.
"I need... I should.... I need to go outside." He's aware that he's being rude, but the desire to leave has become so overwhelming that he's not sure how much longer he can fight it.

[faithlikeaseed]

Myr's enough experience with Cade by now to recognize what passes as "rude" with the former templar. Given his own time in the office is often spotty and interrupted by spontaneous naps, it's hardly something he can criticize. "Go ahead." The words are gentle enough. "Take the time you need--serah Reyes and I can finish up here."

It occurs to him to wonder, though, if that's...actually the case, and he's quick to add, "Unless you're coming down with cabin fever as well, serah Reyes. In which case we might as well make it a field trip." Wherein no work whatsoever will get done but at least he can keep a lack-of-an-eye on the pair of them if it goes from fidgeting to anything stranger.