[ Saphir had already shrunk back from Hikage's reaction, suddenly feeling guilty and terrified even though he's still hurt and upset and still thinks he's justified in feeling that way. It's the same kind of nauseating panic he'd felt whenever he'd seen a similar look of anger or disapproval in another familiar red eye. Right before he'd gotten left behind, usually.
His heart is pounding in his ears loudly enough that he doesn't even notice what Subete says, and it's probably better that way. He hears Marona, though, as she tries her best to smooth things over, and even though he's very certain that it's not his fault she's in this miserable position, he can admit that he definitely isn't helping things either. ]
Good. Thank you.
[ His voice is much quieter again, and as measured as he can manage, which comes out sounding more mechanical than anything.
He sits back down slowly, sinking into his chair and lowering his head so that his hair falls forward and obscures his face. He's sick of everyone always seeing him cry. ]
There's a rainbow light walkway between some of the concourses there.
[ Spoken tentatively and carefully.
He picks up his napkin to wipe his nose, hoping it's less conspicuous than it feels. ]
[ There's a mix of things fighting for his attention right now: the indulgent lilt he wants to lean into, the quiet kindness that plucks at his heart, and the despair he wants to savor. The colors really aren't harmonious at all.
His eye continues to burn red. ]
Thank you...? Ahh, I see. [ The intonation in his voice really hasn't gotten any better at all, still much too saccharine. A small smile forms to match on his lips and he inclines his head slightly, giving Saphir no quarter. ]
You're too late, I saw it already. I was a bit...mesmerized by it actually. I think Subete had to hold my hand the entire way through.
Well, you'll have to forgive us for being scatterbrained.
[There's something airy and very rote behind that reply; it's not thoughtless, exactly, but it is like Marona hit one of the actually expected dialogue options at last and managed to trip a flag that isn't actually setting the entire table and adjacent room and cage on fire.
Of course, just because you haven't fought fire with fire doesn't mean the curtains aren't still merrily ablaze.
Subete is more than a little scatterbrained now with other flames, though, he's quite distracted where he shouldn't be and it's only gotten worse in the past few minutes -- everything, after all, is tangled together now in an unholy katamari of flights and rainbows and the plans of mice and men and Mario Kart, and if there's something that might be blamed for how ridiculously things are going it might be that no one here except Marona appears to be picking their words properly. It's entertaining to watch, even if his eyes are mostly on Hikage still, having snapped over at the mention of the rainbow feature.
If he continued to watch Saphir, after all, he might have burst out laughing and then possibly gotten tea thrown at him. It's a real danger. It's much easier to watch Hikage, if only so he isn't dearly tempted to join him. Even with his focus, though, there's a brief blink at where he's going with this.]
Ah. I believe the name of that installation was "The Sky's the Limit". [there's a brief softness to his voice in passing, almost subsumed under the knowing smile he aims at his companion but which might just be a note of general amusement given how far they've come now in all the worst ways] Perhaps next time the layover will be long enough to truly appreciate it, but I did get a picture all the same.
[ He hadn't been saying he needed to see it with him, just that he'd hoped he'd had a chance to see it, but he can't get the rest of the words out. They probably would have just found some cruel way to throw them back at him anyway.
He doesn't try to say anything else; he just looks down at the watery, blurred image of a cup of this tea he loved and was excited to share but will probably never be able to stand the taste of again. Which isn't fair; none of this is fair. As much as he desperately hates himself right now, there's no way he deserves this.
He hates that Subete is so much more powerful than he is, so he can't even properly fantasize about murdering him, which is a shame, since with no records of his existence in this world he could probably get away with it. Maybe if he were able to catch him off guard, one of his machines could just cut his stupid spiky head clean off before he had a chance to do anything. Or he could just take a page out of Date's book for some extra irony; it's not like he'd have any trouble constructing a projectile explosive like that. See how "scatterbrained" he is then.
That sounds nice. He'll give it some consideration. ]
[Another round of ribbing and the burning red doesn't fade, not even a little. If she knew the phrase "red eye flight" then perhaps there would be space for an ironic laugh, but she doesn't, so we'll just have to use our imaginations there. No, instead she's quietly at a loss, because you all are trading barbed words around a girl who seldom speaks as is.
As Saphir's words trail off, she shoots him a concerned glance before looking to Hikage and Subete again.]
-Are you sure you don't want to rest before we continue?
[It's posed as a question, but her words are a little too firm to be only that.]
[ That note is becoming one of his favorites, but it's also possible it always was. That smile is as well, in all its bends and curves—absentmindedly he hums a beat or two, familiar to the only one who can hear all its colors. Ahh, he shouldn't get distracted, though his lips have already relaxed to a less plastic smile when he returns the expression in kind.
The other words don't hold much purchase, but they are satisfactory enough. Hikage doesn't want to hear it, at least right now. What he wanted what seems like hours ago was to assert himself, no themselves, because how else was he supposed to read "whatever this is" but as a challenge? It's perhaps faulty logic, but it's still logic nonetheless. He lets that incomplete sentence drop on the table, looking and listening in case it's dared picked up again.
And so it takes him a second to redirect when the question floats in, like a dandelion carried by the wind. Flowers are something he'll always be partial to, even now. There's no need for competition in an environment like this one, and the red begins to ebb to a more fitting violet. He doesn't want to burn flowers, nor does he want them to sag under the weight of honeyed dew. ]
...we've come all this way here. But I wouldn't mind taking a bit of a break. [ Leaving just yet is premature, but they can do something much simpler and less dangerous than converse over tea. ]
[His smile widens a fraction at the familiar notes, few as they are -- the melody flows on regardless, fleeting but an almost tangible connection painting their quiet little exchange like the rainbow tunnel they managed to dash through what seems to be eons ago now and the colors of the sky that they absentmindedly watched flow by together.
(He's never been good at not being sentimental, but somehow flying and sleep deprivation together really bring out the worst of it; but at the least it hasn't brought out his own fickle temper, because then they'd really be in a pickle and a half.)
Quite unfortunately or fortunately for Saphir Subete's a bit too distracted to properly pay attention to the vague murderous intent now decorating the table -- it's almost impressive how well they can talk past each other when they put their minds to it, despite who they are; or maybe it's just that Subete has continued to change, for better or for worse, and now somehow he's found himself whole again. Somehow all other things pale under the echo of what's been said; somehow despite the ever-increasing mess here he's in a better mood than ever.
He hums a couple of notes right back, under his breath and even as he stands and stretches, signaling the end of this truly unholy tea party.]
Mmm, a break seems like just the thing. I have a couple of calls to make and things to check in on. [a pause as he slips his cellphone out of his pocket before he claps his hands (and phone) together, quick and ceremonial] Thanks for the tea, though. I'll have to look into getting some next time.
[A quick nod as she gets up. Her poor tea will just have to go undrunk.]
One of you can use my bed if you need to. I can show you the way to my room.
[Or they can just go back to the hotel, which is a perfectly reasonable option. Let's just. Get these men separated and sleeping for a while so we can all try again later.]
[ A yawn and a belated clap later (seconds stolen by the way he smiles at Subete and tilts his head toward the familiar melody), Hikage stands too. There's a quick glance at Saphir, but he says nothing and looks to Marona. ]
We have a hotel room and it's early yet. But if you want to show me your room, I'd like to see it. I have something I want to give you too. [ That's still separating them which is an improvement. There's also way too much food to be had sometime soon as well, because these things happen when you're involved with Subete. Teatime from hell is adjourned, though. ]
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reanimania) wrote2020-06-18 07:45 am
no subject
His heart is pounding in his ears loudly enough that he doesn't even notice what Subete says, and it's probably better that way. He hears Marona, though, as she tries her best to smooth things over, and even though he's very certain that it's not his fault she's in this miserable position, he can admit that he definitely isn't helping things either. ]
Good. Thank you.
[ His voice is much quieter again, and as measured as he can manage, which comes out sounding more mechanical than anything.
He sits back down slowly, sinking into his chair and lowering his head so that his hair falls forward and obscures his face. He's sick of everyone always seeing him cry. ]
There's a rainbow light walkway between some of the concourses there.
[ Spoken tentatively and carefully.
He picks up his napkin to wipe his nose, hoping it's less conspicuous than it feels. ]
I thought it was something you might like.
no subject
His eye continues to burn red. ]
Thank you...? Ahh, I see. [ The intonation in his voice really hasn't gotten any better at all, still much too saccharine. A small smile forms to match on his lips and he inclines his head slightly, giving Saphir no quarter. ]
You're too late, I saw it already. I was a bit...mesmerized by it actually. I think Subete had to hold my hand the entire way through.
no subject
[There's something airy and very rote behind that reply; it's not thoughtless, exactly, but it is like Marona hit one of the actually expected dialogue options at last and managed to trip a flag that isn't actually setting the entire table and adjacent room and cage on fire.
Of course, just because you haven't fought fire with fire doesn't mean the curtains aren't still merrily ablaze.
Subete is more than a little scatterbrained now with other flames, though, he's quite distracted where he shouldn't be and it's only gotten worse in the past few minutes -- everything, after all, is tangled together now in an unholy katamari of flights and rainbows and the plans of mice and men and Mario Kart, and if there's something that might be blamed for how ridiculously things are going it might be that no one here except Marona appears to be picking their words properly. It's entertaining to watch, even if his eyes are mostly on Hikage still, having snapped over at the mention of the rainbow feature.
If he continued to watch Saphir, after all, he might have burst out laughing and then possibly gotten tea thrown at him. It's a real danger. It's much easier to watch Hikage, if only so he isn't dearly tempted to join him. Even with his focus, though, there's a brief blink at where he's going with this.]
Ah. I believe the name of that installation was "The Sky's the Limit". [there's a brief softness to his voice in passing, almost subsumed under the knowing smile he aims at his companion but which might just be a note of general amusement given how far they've come now in all the worst ways] Perhaps next time the layover will be long enough to truly appreciate it, but I did get a picture all the same.
no subject
[ He hadn't been saying he needed to see it with him, just that he'd hoped he'd had a chance to see it, but he can't get the rest of the words out. They probably would have just found some cruel way to throw them back at him anyway.
He doesn't try to say anything else; he just looks down at the watery, blurred image of a cup of this tea he loved and was excited to share but will probably never be able to stand the taste of again. Which isn't fair; none of this is fair. As much as he desperately hates himself right now, there's no way he deserves this.
He hates that Subete is so much more powerful than he is, so he can't even properly fantasize about murdering him, which is a shame, since with no records of his existence in this world he could probably get away with it. Maybe if he were able to catch him off guard, one of his machines could just cut his stupid spiky head clean off before he had a chance to do anything. Or he could just take a page out of Date's book for some extra irony; it's not like he'd have any trouble constructing a projectile explosive like that. See how "scatterbrained" he is then.
That sounds nice. He'll give it some consideration. ]
no subject
As Saphir's words trail off, she shoots him a concerned glance before looking to Hikage and Subete again.]
-Are you sure you don't want to rest before we continue?
[It's posed as a question, but her words are a little too firm to be only that.]
no subject
The other words don't hold much purchase, but they are satisfactory enough. Hikage doesn't want to hear it, at least right now. What he wanted what seems like hours ago was to assert himself, no themselves, because how else was he supposed to read "whatever this is" but as a challenge? It's perhaps faulty logic, but it's still logic nonetheless. He lets that incomplete sentence drop on the table, looking and listening in case it's dared picked up again.
And so it takes him a second to redirect when the question floats in, like a dandelion carried by the wind. Flowers are something he'll always be partial to, even now. There's no need for competition in an environment like this one, and the red begins to ebb to a more fitting violet. He doesn't want to burn flowers, nor does he want them to sag under the weight of honeyed dew. ]
...we've come all this way here. But I wouldn't mind taking a bit of a break. [ Leaving just yet is premature, but they can do something much simpler and less dangerous than converse over tea. ]
no subject
(He's never been good at not being sentimental, but somehow flying and sleep deprivation together really bring out the worst of it; but at the least it hasn't brought out his own fickle temper, because then they'd really be in a pickle and a half.)
Quite unfortunately or fortunately for Saphir Subete's a bit too distracted to properly pay attention to the vague murderous intent now decorating the table -- it's almost impressive how well they can talk past each other when they put their minds to it, despite who they are; or maybe it's just that Subete has continued to change, for better or for worse, and now somehow he's found himself whole again. Somehow all other things pale under the echo of what's been said; somehow despite the ever-increasing mess here he's in a better mood than ever.
He hums a couple of notes right back, under his breath and even as he stands and stretches, signaling the end of this truly unholy tea party.]
Mmm, a break seems like just the thing. I have a couple of calls to make and things to check in on. [a pause as he slips his cellphone out of his pocket before he claps his hands (and phone) together, quick and ceremonial] Thanks for the tea, though. I'll have to look into getting some next time.
[..... I'm sorry that he's just more or less stolen this tea but go figure. Also: get ready for catering invasion via way too much vegetarian food because that's also happening at some point.]
no subject
One of you can use my bed if you need to. I can show you the way to my room.
[Or they can just go back to the hotel, which is a perfectly reasonable option. Let's just. Get these men separated and sleeping for a while so we can all try again later.]
no subject
We have a hotel room and it's early yet. But if you want to show me your room, I'd like to see it. I have something I want to give you too. [ That's still separating them which is an improvement. There's also way too much food to be had sometime soon as well, because these things happen when you're involved with Subete. Teatime from hell is adjourned, though. ]