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[She makes it to the station with a little time to spare, checking her phone as she approaches the turnstile because unless he somehow comes towards her with no cloaking, she won't be able to find him.
It's easy enough for her to look busy on her phone while she waits.]
[She makes it to the station with a little time to spare, checking her phone as she approaches the turnstile because unless he somehow comes towards her with no cloaking, she won't be able to find him.
It's easy enough for her to look busy on her phone while she waits.]
[ He arrives a couple minutes before he said he was going to, spotting her by the turnstiles and grinning before he lowered his hood and deactivated the cloaking spell. ]
Hey, gorgeous. [ a wide grin ]
Good to see you. You all set? I hope you brought running shoes.
Hey, gorgeous. [ a wide grin ]
Good to see you. You all set? I hope you brought running shoes.
There shouldn’t be any patrols up there today, but I’m not exactly a welcome sight, so it’s alwayd best to be prepared.
[ He flashed a grin and then pulled out his metropass - one that he had enchanted years ago to always work without buying a new one, despite the anti-magic enchantments the turnstiles has. ]
And I thought we could have some fun after dinner.
[ He flashed a grin and then pulled out his metropass - one that he had enchanted years ago to always work without buying a new one, despite the anti-magic enchantments the turnstiles has. ]
And I thought we could have some fun after dinner.
.... If someone starts chasing you, I'm not running.
[She follows him through with her own, legitimate pass, but frowns as he mentions 'fun'.]
What kind of 'fun'? Normal fun, or Fox fun? Did you seriously just drag me out because you needed a partner in crime?
[She follows him through with her own, legitimate pass, but frowns as he mentions 'fun'.]
What kind of 'fun'? Normal fun, or Fox fun? Did you seriously just drag me out because you needed a partner in crime?
Crime? Come on, Shushu, I would never get you in trouble like that.
[ Though the way he was grinning might cast doubt on that assertion as he headed down the escalator to the trains. ]
I just thought we could see a few of the sights while it’s quiet! You been to the mount pleasant cemetery lately?
[ Though the way he was grinning might cast doubt on that assertion as he headed down the escalator to the trains. ]
I just thought we could see a few of the sights while it’s quiet! You been to the mount pleasant cemetery lately?
You got me in trouble he very first time we met, but who's counting, right?
[Not her, absolutely not.]
My Clan doesn't do Necromancy and none of our family is buried there, so no, I haven't been. Is that your idea of a fun date night? Taking a girl to a cemetery? Because if it is, your game plan needs work.
[Not her, absolutely not.]
My Clan doesn't do Necromancy and none of our family is buried there, so no, I haven't been. Is that your idea of a fun date night? Taking a girl to a cemetery? Because if it is, your game plan needs work.
Ah, we weren’t friends yet! That doesn’t count.
[ The train rolled in just as they hit the platform, and though it was fairly busy they were able to snag a couple seats. ]
Not just any cemetery. A cemetery that just happens to have some of the best illusion magic in the city. So good that only a few people even know there’s magic at all. You like illusion magic, right?
[ The train rolled in just as they hit the platform, and though it was fairly busy they were able to snag a couple seats. ]
Not just any cemetery. A cemetery that just happens to have some of the best illusion magic in the city. So good that only a few people even know there’s magic at all. You like illusion magic, right?
I do, but that's not the point, Fox!
[She sighs and looks away, actually looking a little mad.]
You told me you were taking me out to dinner because you knew if you'd told me everything, I would have said no. How am I supposed to feel about that, huh?
I knew it was suspicious of you to offer to pay and everything.
[She sighs and looks away, actually looking a little mad.]
You told me you were taking me out to dinner because you knew if you'd told me everything, I would have said no. How am I supposed to feel about that, huh?
I knew it was suspicious of you to offer to pay and everything.
[ He sighs, and rubs the back of his head. ]
Look, I'm not going to force you to go or anything. We can still have dinner. I just wanted to take a look at a few things and I knew it was something you had an interest in, too.
I'm telling you now, aren't I?
Look, I'm not going to force you to go or anything. We can still have dinner. I just wanted to take a look at a few things and I knew it was something you had an interest in, too.
I'm telling you now, aren't I?
We'd better have dinner. I came for the raw fish, not the dead bodies.
[Seriously, though... she's still looking slightly exasperated. And she pushes his foot with hers.]
If you lie to me again i'll fail my next attempt at fire magic under your ass. Is that clear? Just...
If we are actually friends and you're not just stringing me along until you find someone more interesting, don't fucking lie to me.
[Seriously, though... she's still looking slightly exasperated. And she pushes his foot with hers.]
If you lie to me again i'll fail my next attempt at fire magic under your ass. Is that clear? Just...
If we are actually friends and you're not just stringing me along until you find someone more interesting, don't fucking lie to me.
Okay, okay, I’m sorry.
I wasn’t trying to lie to you, I just figured it would be like a... surprise.
[ he leaned back in the red chair, expression wounded like a kicked puppy. ]
And what’s that supposed to mean? Stringing you along? What, you think I pick up friends like trinkets?
[ he turned his head, looking down the subway car. ]
How many friends do you think I have, that I would just ditch one?
I wasn’t trying to lie to you, I just figured it would be like a... surprise.
[ he leaned back in the red chair, expression wounded like a kicked puppy. ]
And what’s that supposed to mean? Stringing you along? What, you think I pick up friends like trinkets?
[ he turned his head, looking down the subway car. ]
How many friends do you think I have, that I would just ditch one?
... Don't make that face and make me look like the bad guy now. You don't spring a cemetery date on someone at unawares. It's kind of not the done thing, you know?
[Ah, but this time, it looks like she's the one who said too much. But really, they haven't know each other that long and...]
... I don't know, Fox. I don't really know that much about you.
[And she gets it. He needs the anonymity to stay safe, and she likes to stay out of trouble so she's never pressed him too much for information. Also, she figures everyone he meets must be trying to get to know more, so since he revealed himself to her, albeit accidentally, she's gone the opposite route, letting him say what he's comfortable with and not asking too much.]
I know what the people around me say about you. I know a lot of it is bullshit you probably planted yourself and the rest is gossip. But I also know that you're a lot better at what you do than most of them can even imagine. So why would you be interested in someone like me, huh? I'm not good at magic. There's nothing I know how to do that you couldn't do in your sleep, and none of the things you can do I can learn because I just don't have the raw power to make it work.
The only thing I do well is cook.
[It's not very often that her insecurities and feelings of inadequacy rear their ugly heads, but when they do, they do it hard.]
[Ah, but this time, it looks like she's the one who said too much. But really, they haven't know each other that long and...]
... I don't know, Fox. I don't really know that much about you.
[And she gets it. He needs the anonymity to stay safe, and she likes to stay out of trouble so she's never pressed him too much for information. Also, she figures everyone he meets must be trying to get to know more, so since he revealed himself to her, albeit accidentally, she's gone the opposite route, letting him say what he's comfortable with and not asking too much.]
I know what the people around me say about you. I know a lot of it is bullshit you probably planted yourself and the rest is gossip. But I also know that you're a lot better at what you do than most of them can even imagine. So why would you be interested in someone like me, huh? I'm not good at magic. There's nothing I know how to do that you couldn't do in your sleep, and none of the things you can do I can learn because I just don't have the raw power to make it work.
The only thing I do well is cook.
[It's not very often that her insecurities and feelings of inadequacy rear their ugly heads, but when they do, they do it hard.]
Edited 2020-06-08 22:02 (UTC)
[ He was quiet for a long moment, a frown slowly pinching at his brow. ]
You were kind. And you were cute. Before you even had any idea of who I was.
[ He looked back at her. ]
Don’t think like that. I’m not here to get something out of you. I don’t care what magic you can or can’t do. I mean I love talking magic don’t get me wrong, but...
[ He let out a breath and dropped his eyes to his feet. ]
Most people don’t like me much. Not for long, anyway. They like what I do and they’re happy to use it, and it’s fine by me because it means I can get a night’s rest or whatever but.. mm. They like the mask, not the man. I guess. So they get disillusioned fast.
[ The corner of his mouth twitched up. ]
You knew I can be a fucking idiot from the first moment you met me, and you’re still kind to me. And you never ask me for anything and sigh when I try to do anything for you anyway.
Why wouldn’t I want to be friends?
You were kind. And you were cute. Before you even had any idea of who I was.
[ He looked back at her. ]
Don’t think like that. I’m not here to get something out of you. I don’t care what magic you can or can’t do. I mean I love talking magic don’t get me wrong, but...
[ He let out a breath and dropped his eyes to his feet. ]
Most people don’t like me much. Not for long, anyway. They like what I do and they’re happy to use it, and it’s fine by me because it means I can get a night’s rest or whatever but.. mm. They like the mask, not the man. I guess. So they get disillusioned fast.
[ The corner of his mouth twitched up. ]
You knew I can be a fucking idiot from the first moment you met me, and you’re still kind to me. And you never ask me for anything and sigh when I try to do anything for you anyway.
Why wouldn’t I want to be friends?
Mingyu smiled, quiet and grieved, throat so tight he nearly couldn't breathe.
"I used to think about that all the time," he whispered, gaze distant, half talking to himself. "In the beginning, when I first started learning, when it was all new and... it didn't yet carry all this terrible weight."
Shutting his eyes, he sighed.
"I thought of how excited you'd be at what I picked up. How happy. How proud. Every time I broke through some kind of ceiling, I'd think— 'He'll be so thrilled.'"
Eyes opening once more, he fixed his gaze on Fox again.
"...would you believe I forgot? I forgot all about it. About those feelings. That you'd even be interested in all. I forgot."
He whispered those last words to himself, half in disbelief, struck by the notion all over again as he cast Fox a fragile, horrified look.
"I forgot."
Forgot the very essence of Fox's being.
He forgot.
"God—"
Twisting a hand in his own hair, he hunched over himself, trying to breath, choking on a sudden sob. The loss washed over him and he sank down to his knees right there on the floor.
"It hasn't even— been that long, how did I—"
"I used to think about that all the time," he whispered, gaze distant, half talking to himself. "In the beginning, when I first started learning, when it was all new and... it didn't yet carry all this terrible weight."
Shutting his eyes, he sighed.
"I thought of how excited you'd be at what I picked up. How happy. How proud. Every time I broke through some kind of ceiling, I'd think— 'He'll be so thrilled.'"
Eyes opening once more, he fixed his gaze on Fox again.
"...would you believe I forgot? I forgot all about it. About those feelings. That you'd even be interested in all. I forgot."
He whispered those last words to himself, half in disbelief, struck by the notion all over again as he cast Fox a fragile, horrified look.
"I forgot."
Forgot the very essence of Fox's being.
He forgot.
"God—"
Twisting a hand in his own hair, he hunched over himself, trying to breath, choking on a sudden sob. The loss washed over him and he sank down to his knees right there on the floor.
"It hasn't even— been that long, how did I—"
"Mingyu--" Fox's heart wrenched in his chest and he was moving before he even thought about it. His hands went out, gently grasping Mingyu's shoulders as he knelt down in front of him, holding him steady as if trying to keep him upright.
"Mingyu, it's okay," he whispered quietly. "It's grief. It does fucked up things to people. You and I know that better than anyone, yeah? You didn't forget. You just remembered right now. You would have remembered it again. Don't - you're okay."
He wet his lips, swallowing around the worried lump in his throat.
"We're both here, and we're okay."
"Mingyu, it's okay," he whispered quietly. "It's grief. It does fucked up things to people. You and I know that better than anyone, yeah? You didn't forget. You just remembered right now. You would have remembered it again. Don't - you're okay."
He wet his lips, swallowing around the worried lump in his throat.
"We're both here, and we're okay."
Mingyu was still only half listening, overcome by the notion he could leave this place and remember none of this, go back to his life as he was, searching for a man who was probably dead.
It hadn't even been a year, and he'd already forgotten this much.
How much longer before he lost everything, lost all the parts of Fox in his life beyond recognition? He'd been aware for some time now that he'd been losing Fox in pieces, lost his warmth and his presence and his noisy, boisterous existence, but not the basic fundamental things.
He tried to picture it. The entire rest of his life, losing Fox again and again, remembering him in snatches, in jagged pieces, only to lose them again.
Breathing hard, he forced down the urge to sob, to scream, and tried instead to focus on Fox's voice.
'We're both here, and we're okay.'
Were they?
They had to be. He had to be. This was all they had, and Mingyu couldn't waste it.
So he took in a few shaky breaths, nodding, trying not to cling as tightly to Fox as he wanted to.
"...yeah," he managed, burying his face in Fox's shoulder as he had grown into the habit of doing, centering himself breathing Fox in. "Yeah. We're here. We'll be okay. I'll find my way back. Just... just bear with me."
It hadn't even been a year, and he'd already forgotten this much.
How much longer before he lost everything, lost all the parts of Fox in his life beyond recognition? He'd been aware for some time now that he'd been losing Fox in pieces, lost his warmth and his presence and his noisy, boisterous existence, but not the basic fundamental things.
He tried to picture it. The entire rest of his life, losing Fox again and again, remembering him in snatches, in jagged pieces, only to lose them again.
Breathing hard, he forced down the urge to sob, to scream, and tried instead to focus on Fox's voice.
'We're both here, and we're okay.'
Were they?
They had to be. He had to be. This was all they had, and Mingyu couldn't waste it.
So he took in a few shaky breaths, nodding, trying not to cling as tightly to Fox as he wanted to.
"...yeah," he managed, burying his face in Fox's shoulder as he had grown into the habit of doing, centering himself breathing Fox in. "Yeah. We're here. We'll be okay. I'll find my way back. Just... just bear with me."
“Have I given you any indication I wouldn’t?” He asked softly, his heart still hammering painfully in his chest. He wrapped his arms tightly around the other man, pulling him closer.
“You won’t need to find your way back,” he whispered quietly. “Because I’ll have your hand in mine the whole way. We both have to— it’s a different grief, but it’s something I have to deal with, too. We can be there for each other.”
He clung a little tighter and swallowed.
“I never want to leave you like this. I never want to push you like this. I’ll fix it somehow.”
“You won’t need to find your way back,” he whispered quietly. “Because I’ll have your hand in mine the whole way. We both have to— it’s a different grief, but it’s something I have to deal with, too. We can be there for each other.”
He clung a little tighter and swallowed.
“I never want to leave you like this. I never want to push you like this. I’ll fix it somehow.”
[She's looking down at her hands in her lap, holding her phone, as she listens to him talk.
It's weird, it's like they're strangely similar all of a sudden, used to people approaching them not for themselves, but what they represent. Liushu has lost count of how many people cozied up to her to try and get an in with the Zhang Clan. She's become more closed off with the years as a result, always bright and cheery and happy on the outside, but difficult to really approach.
Except, it seems, by this gremlin here who decided he liked the fire runes her aunties use for cooking, apparently.
She grimaces half a smile and then moves to bump shoulders with him.]
... I guess it's good that I was barely paying attention when people used to talk about everything you supposedly did, then.
And I'm always cute. Always.
It's weird, it's like they're strangely similar all of a sudden, used to people approaching them not for themselves, but what they represent. Liushu has lost count of how many people cozied up to her to try and get an in with the Zhang Clan. She's become more closed off with the years as a result, always bright and cheery and happy on the outside, but difficult to really approach.
Except, it seems, by this gremlin here who decided he liked the fire runes her aunties use for cooking, apparently.
She grimaces half a smile and then moves to bump shoulders with him.]
... I guess it's good that I was barely paying attention when people used to talk about everything you supposedly did, then.
And I'm always cute. Always.
[ He smiled - not his usual cheeky grin but something small and soft and warm. He bumped her shoulder back. ]
Well that’s definitely true. And you don’t even need glamour magic to do it.
[ He paused, feeling a little awkward suddenly, not used to being quite so honest about how he was feeling and not really sure what to do with himself now. But after a couple seconds he looked back at her, the smile turning mischievous again. ]
Now go on and tell me that you don’t want to see a mausoleum that has been illusioned to look like a tree that somehow manages to avoid every magic detection spell yet developed, huh? Tell me that you’re not at least a little curious.
Well that’s definitely true. And you don’t even need glamour magic to do it.
[ He paused, feeling a little awkward suddenly, not used to being quite so honest about how he was feeling and not really sure what to do with himself now. But after a couple seconds he looked back at her, the smile turning mischievous again. ]
Now go on and tell me that you don’t want to see a mausoleum that has been illusioned to look like a tree that somehow manages to avoid every magic detection spell yet developed, huh? Tell me that you’re not at least a little curious.
The glamour enhances it only. The source material has to be great for it to work.
[But then he gives her the smile again. She knows the smile.]
Fox. I'm...
[He looks very curious himself, and she knows he'll be disappointed that she isn't, really.]
... I'd lie if I said that was my idea of a fun evening outing. And I have to guess the reason why you want to go at night is because it's in a restricted area, too.
[But then he gives her the smile again. She knows the smile.]
Fox. I'm...
[He looks very curious himself, and she knows he'll be disappointed that she isn't, really.]
... I'd lie if I said that was my idea of a fun evening outing. And I have to guess the reason why you want to go at night is because it's in a restricted area, too.
[ The smile was replaced by a pout. ]
A-aw, come on. All the fun places are restricted areas!
[ He sigh and sank into his seat a little. ]
Alright, alright, cemetery clearly isn’t a winner. I’ll think of something better while we stuff our faces with sushi. I’d suggest a movie if I thought I could sit still the whole time. Maybe just go dancing?
[ A slight beat. ]
... a lot of the forest hill houses supposedly have some really complex warding magic—
A-aw, come on. All the fun places are restricted areas!
[ He sigh and sank into his seat a little. ]
Alright, alright, cemetery clearly isn’t a winner. I’ll think of something better while we stuff our faces with sushi. I’d suggest a movie if I thought I could sit still the whole time. Maybe just go dancing?
[ A slight beat. ]
... a lot of the forest hill houses supposedly have some really complex warding magic—
[She rolls her eyes at the pout, but she won't actually make him sit through a movie, because that would be torture for her too to have to sit through a movie with him in the next seat.
She's about to agree with the dancing when he starts again with the warding spells and she elbows him.]
Going from cemetery to breaking into private properties is not the upgrade you think it is, Fox!
Let's have food first, and if you feel like you need to move, there are some nice clubs int he area that I'd offer to help you get in, but I'm pretty sure you can go in even without my help.
She's about to agree with the dancing when he starts again with the warding spells and she elbows him.]
Going from cemetery to breaking into private properties is not the upgrade you think it is, Fox!
Let's have food first, and if you feel like you need to move, there are some nice clubs int he area that I'd offer to help you get in, but I'm pretty sure you can go in even without my help.
It’s a great upgrade!! You should see those yards!!
[ But he laughs, so he must not be too put out. ]
Well, might be nice to go to one without sneaking in for once. [ He hummed and then grinned. ] Though wouldn’t you be worried about your uncle catching wind of you hanging out with a guy like me?
[ But he laughs, so he must not be too put out. ]
Well, might be nice to go to one without sneaking in for once. [ He hummed and then grinned. ] Though wouldn’t you be worried about your uncle catching wind of you hanging out with a guy like me?
He knows I hang out with guys. He just pretends he doesn't know for his own sanity. Besides, who would even recognize you? They don't even know what your face looks like.
[Which is a damn shame, because Fox is very pretty, but anyway....]
Besides, no one would question anyone I go in with. I might not be Instagram famous, but these people still know who I am.
[Liushu rarely uses her social status to get ahead anywhere most of the time, bit getting into a club is a legitimate use of it.]
I hope the sushi is good at least.
[Which is a damn shame, because Fox is very pretty, but anyway....]
Besides, no one would question anyone I go in with. I might not be Instagram famous, but these people still know who I am.
[Liushu rarely uses her social status to get ahead anywhere most of the time, bit getting into a club is a legitimate use of it.]
I hope the sushi is good at least.
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