[ Arriving at Chaldea had been... tumultuous, to put it lightly. McGillis knew to be prepared for a whole lot of nonsense that seems not only improbable but straight-up ridiculous to him, but being prepared is not the same as experiencing it for real. From Sunset City, to the innards of a truck far too large for its size, under scrutiny by a large variety of mythological and historical figures who regard him with emotions from curiosity to open suspicion. He's charming enough, certainly knows how to present and introduce himself, but "Hi, I'm Izou's boyfriend that he got from a different dimension nobody even knew existed" is not the greatest introductory segment even here.
But nevertheless, he's here now, and that is an immutable fact nobody can change. His whole life, McGillis has lived by inserting himself into social spheres he does not belong in, faking it until he makes it. This is really no different. He'll shadow people, take notes on how the Shadow Border works, catch up on the lore, make himself useful on benign tasks before being trusted with larger ones--
And he makes it all look effortless, but that doesn't mean it's not exhausting. The only place he feels like he's not under an insane amount of tension is the room he shares with Izou. McGillis is not so childish as to faceplant on the bed, but he certainly feels like it whenever he returns to this singular safe haven.
He's back earlier than Izou today, and he expects the other has gone out to explain some more of their nonsense to the people waiting for explanatory statements. Maybe he's talking to Ryouma. That would be reasonable. (McGillis has greeted Ryouma with perhaps a tiny hint of too much passive aggression, and left him alone ever since - a state of affairs he should rectify as he's coming up on a week in Chaldea.)
When Izou returns to their quarters, he'll find McGillis sitting crosslegged on the bed, reading... well, reading The Life Of Agnika Kaieru. What else did you expect? ]
WELCOME TO THE FREAKSHOW
But nevertheless, he's here now, and that is an immutable fact nobody can change. His whole life, McGillis has lived by inserting himself into social spheres he does not belong in, faking it until he makes it. This is really no different. He'll shadow people, take notes on how the Shadow Border works, catch up on the lore, make himself useful on benign tasks before being trusted with larger ones--
And he makes it all look effortless, but that doesn't mean it's not exhausting. The only place he feels like he's not under an insane amount of tension is the room he shares with Izou. McGillis is not so childish as to faceplant on the bed, but he certainly feels like it whenever he returns to this singular safe haven.
He's back earlier than Izou today, and he expects the other has gone out to explain some more of their nonsense to the people waiting for explanatory statements. Maybe he's talking to Ryouma. That would be reasonable. (McGillis has greeted Ryouma with perhaps a tiny hint of too much passive aggression, and left him alone ever since - a state of affairs he should rectify as he's coming up on a week in Chaldea.)
When Izou returns to their quarters, he'll find McGillis sitting crosslegged on the bed, reading... well, reading The Life Of Agnika Kaieru. What else did you expect? ]
Welcome home.