[ This is a silly, unproductive conversation in the way that so many of their others have been. Even when he's joked with Prompto he's never quite had the luxury of something so simple as time, bound to a short arcade session here or a chat between classes there. Even now, when light moods are harder to come by in Eos in spite of his friend's renewed desperation to seek them out, there's always an undercurrent of seriousness and awareness that sleep is more vital than play.
That makes staying up to speak to Kaladin such a precious oddity, and also makes it feel... different.
Recently he's filled in the gaps of their conversations trying to picture his friend's life back on Roshar, a task made easier and easier the more details Kaladin chooses to provide. Most of them rely on events and express themselves in emotions, like the warmth that accompanies imagining Kaladin as a child, or how he interacted with his parents or younger brother once upon a time. Maybe anger, when envisioning how he was treated by a society that should've been organized to protect him.
This, however, is silly trivia that he's given to likely use as ammo in another back and forth verbal sparring match, but something about it stops him.
The picture is formed in his mind like it has been for all his other facts, and in the absence of any emotion to color a mental image his mind finds its own. A reference point. Kaladin's hair is thick and full just like Gladio's, but his shield has long-since sported the beard his new friend is apparently so desperate to avoid. Maybe it would look similar on him. Grow in the same way, have the same texture. Stubble would likely brush against his knuckles in the same hair-raising way it always had when he'd sparred with Gladio and a lucky punch had struck his taller opponent, though it would be that much more satisfying a win against Kaladin.
The warmth in his cheeks startles him as he becomes suddenly aware of the time between Kaladin's response and his own, sitting up straighter like that might drag him away from confusing thoughts and the new oddly pleasant knot in his stomach. ]
[ But Kaladin would look handsome with it, that he's already decided. As handsome as he looks now. And while there's no newfound awareness of that fact there's definitely a newfound appreciation for it, and he doesn't know what to do with that odd feeling. ]
( As he lies there, picking at a strand of hair, he decides he's no longer interested in sleeping. )
I suppose I do It's been this way for a long time I don't really think about it
( He pushes it back out of his face, his fingers snagging on small snarls.
It's not as groomed as Noctis', nor is it as styled. It's not as suitably layered for his face, nor is it as feathery in appearance. It's not as shiny, nor is it—as Kaladin imagines—soft to touch.
His hand stops at the base of his skull and squeezes. )
So yours is long bc you don't think about it and mine is long bc I do
[ It's normal that Kaladin noticed something as obvious as his hair and its varying lengths. That's normal and not really worthy of any special reaction... right... ]
( In fact, it sounds like a lighteyes thing. Baths, skin products, hair products... Some comforts he's grown accustomed to at Urithiru and here on Earth, but others...
Storms, those are just excuses.
Why is he suddenly so nervous? It's just Noctis. )
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[ perhaps more fond than it should be........ ]
That makes it your turn yk
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Let's see
I don't like having facial hair
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That makes staying up to speak to Kaladin such a precious oddity, and also makes it feel... different.
Recently he's filled in the gaps of their conversations trying to picture his friend's life back on Roshar, a task made easier and easier the more details Kaladin chooses to provide. Most of them rely on events and express themselves in emotions, like the warmth that accompanies imagining Kaladin as a child, or how he interacted with his parents or younger brother once upon a time. Maybe anger, when envisioning how he was treated by a society that should've been organized to protect him.
This, however, is silly trivia that he's given to likely use as ammo in another back and forth verbal sparring match, but something about it stops him.
The picture is formed in his mind like it has been for all his other facts, and in the absence of any emotion to color a mental image his mind finds its own. A reference point. Kaladin's hair is thick and full just like Gladio's, but his shield has long-since sported the beard his new friend is apparently so desperate to avoid. Maybe it would look similar on him. Grow in the same way, have the same texture. Stubble would likely brush against his knuckles in the same hair-raising way it always had when he'd sparred with Gladio and a lucky punch had struck his taller opponent, though it would be that much more satisfying a win against Kaladin.
The warmth in his cheeks startles him as he becomes suddenly aware of the time between Kaladin's response and his own, sitting up straighter like that might drag him away from confusing thoughts and the new oddly pleasant knot in his stomach. ]
3/3
[ But Kaladin would look handsome with it, that he's already decided. As handsome as he looks now. And while there's no newfound awareness of that fact there's definitely a newfound appreciation for it, and he doesn't know what to do with that odd feeling. ]
You keep your hair pretty long though
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I suppose I do
It's been this way for a long time
I don't really think about it
( He pushes it back out of his face, his fingers snagging on small snarls.
It's not as groomed as Noctis', nor is it as styled. It's not as suitably layered for his face, nor is it as feathery in appearance. It's not as shiny, nor is it—as Kaladin imagines—soft to touch.
His hand stops at the base of his skull and squeezes. )
So do you
It's longer in the back
Down your neck
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[ It's normal that Kaladin noticed something as obvious as his hair and its varying lengths. That's normal and not really worthy of any special reaction... right... ]
Guess this is your chance
Think about it
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I guess I could cut it all off
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I didn't say that
[ please wait ]
Jw if you actually picked smth you wanted instead of smth easy what that would look like
1/2
I don't know
There's nothing I particularly want to do with it
2/2
Long hair
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Sounds like you particularly want to keep it long
I'm not bad at styling yk, I could show you what to do with it
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I'm trying to come up with reasons because you told me to
Don't make me regret it
What do you mean
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And what I mean is there's way you could take care of it where it would look better
And different ways you could cut parts of it or comb it or w/e
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( In fact, it sounds like a lighteyes thing. Baths, skin products, hair products... Some comforts he's grown accustomed to at Urithiru and here on Earth, but others...
Storms, those are just excuses.
Why is he suddenly so nervous? It's just Noctis. )
I haven't done any of that before
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Does it feel like a lot of steps if you have to learn two new fight stances?
[ Yeah that's right we're going there. ]
All that matters is that you want to or don't
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You practice daily by incorporating them full-time into your training regime
I'll do it but I can't say I'll keep up with it
I don't really want to but that could be because I've never done it before
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[ Low investment, potentially high reward. After all, if Kaladin already has hair that naturally full and healthy, why not do something with it?
It's a simple positive distraction from everything else weighing them down right now... isn't it? ]
You always wear it loose or what
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On the job I tie it back
( Paramedics and surgeons can't go around with hair in their eyes, Kaladin thinks.
Noctis' hairstyle, however, suits the arcade. )
Yours suits you
You look like one of the people who play at the arcade
But polished I guess
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[ Did you just say I look like a grubby gamer but less grubby...... ]
Ik you tie it up at work, I've seen it
I'm talking about braids or smth. Plaits?
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It wasn't an insult
Anyway how was I supposed to know you were asking if I braid or plait my hair
Women braid their hair
I'm not even sure what a plait is
( still on about the gender roles )
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A plait is a braid, idiot
[ i love you ]
And men braid their hair all the time, maybe you'd even like it
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(
What man that you've met braids his hair
I'm not a dandy
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What's a dandy
[ Oh, he fucking knows. But now he wants to hear him explain it in his own words. ]
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You read don't you
Figure it out yourself
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2/2
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