©table code and image to jacoby; 1027 words
How could he not feel outcasted when he was so used to things coming easily to him? He was used to having grasped some sort of information or something the first time. He was used to catching and holding interest right off. But that wasn’t happening here and he wasn’t sure how to handle it. He wasn’t exactly used to being alone like Cotl was. Because of that he wasn’t exactly sure how to handle it. Because of that he felt like an outcast. What had happened to him? What had happened to his magnetic personality? Did it wear off on the boat ride? He just didn’t get it. Didn’t understand it. Didn’t understand why things weren’t working out as they had back in Germany. But then again his name wasn’t as widely known or popular here. But still it wasn’t a fun feeling to feel so out of place. Had this been what his brother felt back in Germany? Had he felt this way back home? It wasn’t a fun feeling. No, it was distressing instead. Still, even if Cotl was right and they must likely wouldn’t be heeded, the words were comforting and made him smile. “Everything is just so different here. Nothing is like it was back home. Not even you.” He had certainly noticed the change in his brother. Probably something that no one else would. But then again he had been the closest to his brother, or so it was assumed. He didn’t know of Cotl having friends in Germany. It was always Marik bringing over the company. And just how much his brother had said in front of another. He couldn’t remember his brother really speaking to anyone but him. Though granted, Cotl was usually busy working on someone when Marik brought around friends.
“Well then I am glad I brought it back.” He was glad to have gotten something that his brother liked. Something that his brother enjoyed. Sure, they didn’t get along all the time but he still cared about the other. And what better way to show it than by giving a gift? Especially if it turned out to be one that his brother actually liked. “You will have something to eat later so that you won’t have to go out and hunt.” Or actually Cotl wouldn’t have to rely on his traps for one meal. That worked for him. He was taking care of his brother even though he hadn’t realized that he was doing so at the time he had picked up the ramen. He had just thought it something interesting to show his brother and to give to him. So far, except for the metal bits, everything he had brought back could be used. Or actually the metal bits were giving Marik a reason to meet another of Cotl’s friends. And perhaps the interest would even shift from the metal to other things. The least he could do would be to try. To see how far he could get. But that would have to come later. Right now his brother was working on the pieces he wanted done.
Marik laid still as his brother worked on shaving him down. It was a process that he was used to going through. After all he was highly decorated already. The slightly younger hybrid just relaxed with his eyes closed, trusting Cotl not to mess things up. “Okay, I will.” Whenever he found the time to do so. After all his brother was busy during the mornings and Marik tended to find himself out somewhere else during those time. About the only time they really saw each other was just before they decided to settle down for the night and sleep. But maybe one of those times he could convince his brother to sit up with him long enough to share his bible with his brother. Who knows, Cotl might actually want to convert and join Marik’s religion. It was highly unlikely but still a possibility. Maybe he could get his brother to stop being such a prude. Again, highly unlikely but still a possibility.
His fingers felt at the shaved patch since he didn’t have a mirror to look into to be able to tell how big it actually was. He had to rely on touch and feel out the edges of the square that had been made. “That is fine bruder. Just something simple is fine.” After all the design he wanted was very simple instead. All it was was just some line work and that was it. Just a few connected lines into a certain shape. It was far simpler than all of the other things that Cotl had placed on him. But that was fine. It would be his most cherished of all. Though when he felt his brother take a pause in working the boy cracked open an eye to see what was going on. And what was he met with but a weird look. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?” Marik didn’t really think that he had said anything that was too out of the way. And he hadn’t even been flirting even. So why was his brother looking at him that way? But then when his brother finally did end up speaking he couldn’t help but to laugh. “What’s wrong Cotl? You don’t trust me now?” Sure, he flirted and teased but he would never actually do anything without his brother’s expressed permission. Sure, he touched from time to time but he knew better than to cross that line. After all Cotl had already marked him up for being much too forward and ambitious. He never wanted to hurt his brother so he would walk that fine line but not cross it unless Cotl asked him to. “You don’t really think it will hurt too much do you?” Marik figured that he could handle it though. He had laid still for the large piece on his back. He had a number of piercings already. Plus all of the scars that marked his body. He really didn’t think that one more bit of metal would cause too much harm.