Except the one just now, [ he says, and corrects with a wince, ] Or, well, it did before I broke it.
[ by smashing in half of the wall, anyway — good, so plan mirror is a go, then. he tugs junpei with him to try the closest house; the door is locked, though, and he grabs his bat and just, hm, smashes the door in. it makes a crash, which causes noise behind them, which is decidedly not great; but if this works, then it'll be fine. they'll be fine. ]
Oh, thank fuck, [ he breathes out as there's a perfectly acceptable mirror mounted above a vanity desk in one of the rooms; better than having to climb over the sink, that. he places his hand on the mirror, searching for the quickest way; and when he finds it, he just turns to junpei. ] Right, ready?
[ for the mirror, yes, but also for charles to crouch down, slide his free hand around his back and, letting go of junpei's hand for this, then hooking his other hand behind his legs and just scooping him up in a princess carry like he weighs exactly nothing. ]
[ by smashing in half of the wall, anyway — good, so plan mirror is a go, then. he tugs junpei with him to try the closest house; the door is locked, though, and he grabs his bat and just, hm, smashes the door in. it makes a crash, which causes noise behind them, which is decidedly not great; but if this works, then it'll be fine. they'll be fine. ]
Oh, thank fuck, [ he breathes out as there's a perfectly acceptable mirror mounted above a vanity desk in one of the rooms; better than having to climb over the sink, that. he places his hand on the mirror, searching for the quickest way; and when he finds it, he just turns to junpei. ] Right, ready?
[ for the mirror, yes, but also for charles to crouch down, slide his free hand around his back and, letting go of junpei's hand for this, then hooking his other hand behind his legs and just scooping him up in a princess carry like he weighs exactly nothing. ]
[ PRESENT AHOY!
some time this week, junpei will find a CUTELY WRAPPED BOX (idk, robots wearing santa hats) delivered to his doorstep ... along with a card written in surprisingly neat cursive.]
[ inside the box, he will find a snood (he thinks this is so cool), and a whole buncha candy!
enjoy!!!! ]
some time this week, junpei will find a CUTELY WRAPPED BOX (idk, robots wearing santa hats) delivered to his doorstep ... along with a card written in surprisingly neat cursive.]
Dear Junpei,
I am so thankful that you are part of my life and that we get to spend this holiday season together.
I hope your Yuletide is as happy as the happiness you bring me! :-)
-Vash
I am so thankful that you are part of my life and that we get to spend this holiday season together.
I hope your Yuletide is as happy as the happiness you bring me! :-)
-Vash
[ inside the box, he will find a snood (he thinks this is so cool), and a whole buncha candy!
enjoy!!!! ]
[Maybe they should start toting a full length mirror around with them at all times, that will help. Junpei has no quips for that, not really, and so he falls silent as Charles leads them to the next house - and, uh, smashes the way inside, at which point he finds his voice long enough again to mumble,]
Should we leave these people a note, or something...?
[Someone lives here, right? Even if they're a local who hates them now or someone who's already been turned into a coffin or whatever, it's— well!
Maybe it's not so important. There's a mirror, and Junpei can only remember the last time he went through the mirrors, frowning at it even as the sound from outside continues to get closer and closer. That's where he is mentally when Charles scoops him up like it's nothing, and, huh.
Give him a minute. He's not thinking about the noise outside anymore, blinking rapidly a few times like he has to aggressively force himself to focus. Faced with this heroic rescue in the midst of terrifying danger, after watching Charles do action movie stuff all over several city blocks, unfortunately(?) the first thing that comes out of his mouth is,]
Sorry, this is the hottest thing that's ever happened to me. [he's focused. he is.] Uh—I'm ready, I— yeah.
Should we leave these people a note, or something...?
[Someone lives here, right? Even if they're a local who hates them now or someone who's already been turned into a coffin or whatever, it's— well!
Maybe it's not so important. There's a mirror, and Junpei can only remember the last time he went through the mirrors, frowning at it even as the sound from outside continues to get closer and closer. That's where he is mentally when Charles scoops him up like it's nothing, and, huh.
Give him a minute. He's not thinking about the noise outside anymore, blinking rapidly a few times like he has to aggressively force himself to focus. Faced with this heroic rescue in the midst of terrifying danger, after watching Charles do action movie stuff all over several city blocks, unfortunately(?) the first thing that comes out of his mouth is,]
Sorry, this is the hottest thing that's ever happened to me. [he's focused. he is.] Uh—I'm ready, I— yeah.
[ he does hear the suggestion, and actually takes it into account — only, junpei's safety is the most important thing right now, and everything else comes second, property damage included.
and he's not really thinking about re-enacting an action movie, here, he's thinking that carrying junpei will be faster, which means it will take them less time inside the mirror, which means less of a headache for him; so when junpei's comment is, hm, that, it throws him for a second or so, just because he really wasn't doing this to woo him —
but then he grins, and despite the fact that the noise is now pretty much at the front door, he leans in to give junpei a kiss best described as searing — and, pulling back after hearing a distinct slithering sound coming from the next room over, ] Now we're ready.
[ and then he's jumping up onto the desk in one swift move (thank you, optional gravity) and ducking his head to step into the mirror just as the snake crashes into the room.
which is why he says, ] Don't worry, I'll leave them an anonymous donation, for the repairs. [ of course he will; the locals may hate them but they did just pretty much destroy that house, so. he's going to fix it.
luckily, this time the trip through the mirror takes only a handful of seconds, and then they're bursting through the mirror in their house. ]
and he's not really thinking about re-enacting an action movie, here, he's thinking that carrying junpei will be faster, which means it will take them less time inside the mirror, which means less of a headache for him; so when junpei's comment is, hm, that, it throws him for a second or so, just because he really wasn't doing this to woo him —
but then he grins, and despite the fact that the noise is now pretty much at the front door, he leans in to give junpei a kiss best described as searing — and, pulling back after hearing a distinct slithering sound coming from the next room over, ] Now we're ready.
[ and then he's jumping up onto the desk in one swift move (thank you, optional gravity) and ducking his head to step into the mirror just as the snake crashes into the room.
which is why he says, ] Don't worry, I'll leave them an anonymous donation, for the repairs. [ of course he will; the locals may hate them but they did just pretty much destroy that house, so. he's going to fix it.
luckily, this time the trip through the mirror takes only a handful of seconds, and then they're bursting through the mirror in their house. ]
[ it is while junpei is out (perhaps he's got the most unfair work shift of all, perhaps he's out walking gab, perhaps on an errand, whatever the reason; perhaps charles even sent him out to get something he claimed to have forgotten to buy for their dinner later) that he sets everything up: gets the cake he's made earlier and stored in the fridge of the apartment he's pretty much given to root and shaw, sets up some candles and christmas decorations.
and then he sends junpei a picture of it all, with, ]
this look right?
[ and yeah, maybe he could have saved it for a surprise when he's home, but... he'd rather make the corrections now. or, on the off chance junpei hates the whole tradition, he can still fix this while he's out. ]
and then he sends junpei a picture of it all, with, ]
this look right?
[ and yeah, maybe he could have saved it for a surprise when he's home, but... he'd rather make the corrections now. or, on the off chance junpei hates the whole tradition, he can still fix this while he's out. ]
[Well, he was ready, but when Charles kisses him like that it knocks the wind out of him more than any of the running from the big snake did. This is action-movie-ready, for sure; he presses into it automatically, wrapping an arm around Charles' shoulders just in time for the desk jump. Is he still ready, actually—]
I dunno, a note's a... gesture.
[A note and also the donation, but never mind it yet. The kiss-dizzy gets momentarily compounded by the mirror-dizzy, until they're out of the chaos and danger and into the comparatively deafening quiet of their house. The darkness makes it feel even more stifling, and Junpei looks over Charles' shoulder to the mirror, just in case - can a snake get through there? Probably not, right, but if it's a snake from Charles' very own ghost adventures, then...?
The noise that interrupts and makes him startle isn't the snake smashing through the glass, though, but the little pads of Gab's steps as he trots over to circle their feet in the dark.]
—Oh, fuck. Shit. Okay. Uh, what do we need to-? We've gotta get Gab, and put Gab in a bag or something, I don't know? Do we even have a duffel bag?
[Gab makes some appreciative yapping noises upon hearing his name. Put him in a backpack!!]
Where do we go?
I dunno, a note's a... gesture.
[A note and also the donation, but never mind it yet. The kiss-dizzy gets momentarily compounded by the mirror-dizzy, until they're out of the chaos and danger and into the comparatively deafening quiet of their house. The darkness makes it feel even more stifling, and Junpei looks over Charles' shoulder to the mirror, just in case - can a snake get through there? Probably not, right, but if it's a snake from Charles' very own ghost adventures, then...?
The noise that interrupts and makes him startle isn't the snake smashing through the glass, though, but the little pads of Gab's steps as he trots over to circle their feet in the dark.]
—Oh, fuck. Shit. Okay. Uh, what do we need to-? We've gotta get Gab, and put Gab in a bag or something, I don't know? Do we even have a duffel bag?
[Gab makes some appreciative yapping noises upon hearing his name. Put him in a backpack!!]
Where do we go?
[Of course Junpei has the worst shift of all; opening shift at a sandwich shop on Christmas sounds, for all intents and purposes, like intentional torture. But to Junpei it's just a day; Aldrip doesn't seem to... entirely understand any version of what the holiday is supposed to be, by his estimation, and as long as he doesn't get harassed by any frogs or whatever, it's just another weekday at work.
He's on his way home when Charles' message comes through, and his first thought is to wonder whose birthday it is this time. But then the rest of the display actually sinks in, and the type of cake, and somehow this didn't occur to him at all because they were just pretending it was May, like, two months ago? And yet here's Charles, sending him pictures of a Christmas cake in their very own kitchen. He needs a moment; he honest to god has to go sit on a park bench and stare into the nearest pile of shoveled snow and calm down, which is stupid, because it's just cake, but here he is.
Okay. He's feeling fine. And some other emotions. Okay.]
yeah, straight out of a magazine. where'd you get the hot tips?
[Because even if it weren't Julytember by Junpei's estimate, obviously he's not going around dropping hints about Christmas cakes...]
He's on his way home when Charles' message comes through, and his first thought is to wonder whose birthday it is this time. But then the rest of the display actually sinks in, and the type of cake, and somehow this didn't occur to him at all because they were just pretending it was May, like, two months ago? And yet here's Charles, sending him pictures of a Christmas cake in their very own kitchen. He needs a moment; he honest to god has to go sit on a park bench and stare into the nearest pile of shoveled snow and calm down, which is stupid, because it's just cake, but here he is.
Okay. He's feeling fine. And some other emotions. Okay.]
yeah, straight out of a magazine. where'd you get the hot tips?
[Because even if it weren't Julytember by Junpei's estimate, obviously he's not going around dropping hints about Christmas cakes...]
[ did he manage to emulate an action movie scene sufficiently? he may have been missing a snazzy line to say, really, but maybe he'll be forgiven that oversight — regardless, it's a nice, short moment there in the middle of a situation that sucks quite badly, actually, and he has to focus once they're inside the mirror, and even when they're outside of it, too.
he lowers junpei down to his own feet only when he's entirely sure the only other living being in the house is gab — the silence inside the house is oppressive, almost, the darkness now a real danger instead of a mere inconvenience, and the reality that they have to get out of here and fast is what spurs charles into action.
in one swift move, he pulls the bat out of his bag, and holds it out for junpei to take. ] Here, use this. I can come back for other stuff later. [ it's just big enough; luckily, gab isn't a big dog, and charles can make multiple trips to get junpei a change of clothes, gab some of his food, and whatever else they might need. ]
The inn, [ he says then, as he crouches down to pick gab up gently so he can be placed in the backpack. ] Should be our best bet. There's a big mirror in the hall, I put one there just in case. [ thank you richard for asking for his help in redecorating, ] If it's not safe, well, reckon there'll be others, so strength in numbers and whatnot.
he lowers junpei down to his own feet only when he's entirely sure the only other living being in the house is gab — the silence inside the house is oppressive, almost, the darkness now a real danger instead of a mere inconvenience, and the reality that they have to get out of here and fast is what spurs charles into action.
in one swift move, he pulls the bat out of his bag, and holds it out for junpei to take. ] Here, use this. I can come back for other stuff later. [ it's just big enough; luckily, gab isn't a big dog, and charles can make multiple trips to get junpei a change of clothes, gab some of his food, and whatever else they might need. ]
The inn, [ he says then, as he crouches down to pick gab up gently so he can be placed in the backpack. ] Should be our best bet. There's a big mirror in the hall, I put one there just in case. [ thank you richard for asking for his help in redecorating, ] If it's not safe, well, reckon there'll be others, so strength in numbers and whatnot.
this is such low-hanging fruit but don't you mean..... cake jumpyscare--
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incorrigibles
2024-12-23 11:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[ to be entirely fair, charles wouldn't really concern himself with christmas much at all, if it wasn't for this — but the tradition is too nice to pass up on, a sweet little date they can have at home after junpei is done with his shift.
and maybe it's also a kind of a gift... which means he can't quite suppress the anxious buzzing in his soul until junpei responds, like anticipating a negative response despite logically knowing it to be unlikely. ]
root. she told me about the tradition. and i thought that, well, i could learn how to make the cake in time for christmas, and... yeah.
you're cool with it? i mean, i wasn't sure you'd be into the whole thing
[ hm, no, anxiety not entirely banished; he has to ask. ]
and maybe it's also a kind of a gift... which means he can't quite suppress the anxious buzzing in his soul until junpei responds, like anticipating a negative response despite logically knowing it to be unlikely. ]
root. she told me about the tradition. and i thought that, well, i could learn how to make the cake in time for christmas, and... yeah.
you're cool with it? i mean, i wasn't sure you'd be into the whole thing
[ hm, no, anxiety not entirely banished; he has to ask. ]
[He learned how to make the cake himself for this, jeez... Junpei is going to need another Feelings Bench. He could be rushing home as quickly as possible, but he can sense that little edge of insecurity in the second message; it's worth slowing to type something out properly, instead of letting Charles wait.]
well i've never had a christmas date before, buuuuut i'm looking forward to this one? it's a good thing you took a picture, cause i'm gonna inhale it.
[No he is not, but not for lack of effort. Maybe he should explain New Years traditions to Charles? But, urgh, thinking about New Years...
Well, he'll think about it.]
did she tell you about the kfc?
well i've never had a christmas date before, buuuuut i'm looking forward to this one? it's a good thing you took a picture, cause i'm gonna inhale it.
[No he is not, but not for lack of effort. Maybe he should explain New Years traditions to Charles? But, urgh, thinking about New Years...
Well, he'll think about it.]
did she tell you about the kfc?
[Junpei takes the bag without looking, already looking down to mumble at Gab that they're going on a trip and he's got to be a good boy and hang out in this backpack for a while, okay? It's a good thing, too, because if he actually said, out loud, that there's nothing else to come back and get, well— maybe he'll hold off on admitting he would willingly sit in the inn and stare, in the same clothes, doing nothing, for however long this takes. As long as Gab is fed and he himself doesn't, like, starve or whatever, who cares...
He'll keep that much to himself. He holds the bag open for Gab, who personally, is having a pretty good time, now that he's not alone in the dark.]
More mirrors. [blegh.....] Yeah, okay. That'll work.
[He puts the backpack on backwards, so it's more like a baby carrier with Gab in it, because he's not going to lose his damn dog in the mirror world or somewhere else. Then he stares down the hallway into the dark, thinking - he's still fairly convinced that snake is going to track them down no matter what, so- so yeah, they have to go, they can't hang around here.
He sighs and turns, shuffling up beside Charles to grip the back of his coat and lean his head on his shoulder, just for a moment. Did he mention blegh? Blegh.]
Let's get out of here. If something wrecks the place... Well, let's go.
He'll keep that much to himself. He holds the bag open for Gab, who personally, is having a pretty good time, now that he's not alone in the dark.]
More mirrors. [blegh.....] Yeah, okay. That'll work.
[He puts the backpack on backwards, so it's more like a baby carrier with Gab in it, because he's not going to lose his damn dog in the mirror world or somewhere else. Then he stares down the hallway into the dark, thinking - he's still fairly convinced that snake is going to track them down no matter what, so- so yeah, they have to go, they can't hang around here.
He sighs and turns, shuffling up beside Charles to grip the back of his coat and lean his head on his shoulder, just for a moment. Did he mention blegh? Blegh.]
Let's get out of here. If something wrecks the place... Well, let's go.
[It's early in the 25th morning. Most people are still sleeping and the sun is only about to send its first rays to break the darkness of the night sky. But then there is a sudden knock on a door. Huh?! Who could it be! Whenever [insert name] gets to the door, be it immediately or hours late they will find a christmas wreath with white roses placed on their doorstep. There might even be snowy (or wet!) small hoof marks leading away from the present. Hm. I wonder, who indeed did deliver this?
On the wreath there is a letter that reads:]
To dearest Junpei,
I hope this letter finds you well. I want to thank you for helping me all these months to get settled in this world and learn my way around with those who come from different culture than me. There will be a feast held at the Inn’s tavern for the next 12 days and I welcome you to enjoy it for free. There will be warm food, treats, games and homemade mead and wine at your disposal.
Merry Christmas.
Signed,
Richard Plantagenet, The Duke of Gloucester
[ooc: There will be no ic mingle log for the feast. But feel free to either handwave or thread it out!]
On the wreath there is a letter that reads:]
To dearest Junpei,
I hope this letter finds you well. I want to thank you for helping me all these months to get settled in this world and learn my way around with those who come from different culture than me. There will be a feast held at the Inn’s tavern for the next 12 days and I welcome you to enjoy it for free. There will be warm food, treats, games and homemade mead and wine at your disposal.
Merry Christmas.
Signed,
Richard Plantagenet, The Duke of Gloucester
[ooc: There will be no ic mingle log for the feast. But feel free to either handwave or thread it out!]
oh
good
[ very articulate — but this is finally the tension bleeding out of him, a completely unnecessary breath of relief escaping him. because junpei is being honest: he's not just trying to reassure him, but honestly saying he doesn't know if he likes the tradition but he's open to trying it, at least, which. yeah, that's good. charles will take that. ]
uh, she mentioned it? but i wasn't sure she wasn't pulling my leg with that one
good
[ very articulate — but this is finally the tension bleeding out of him, a completely unnecessary breath of relief escaping him. because junpei is being honest: he's not just trying to reassure him, but honestly saying he doesn't know if he likes the tradition but he's open to trying it, at least, which. yeah, that's good. charles will take that. ]
uh, she mentioned it? but i wasn't sure she wasn't pulling my leg with that one
Sorry, [ he says immediately, frowning apologetically — he knows junpei hates the mirrors, and really, he wouldn't be suggesting it if running to the inn was an option... but it's not. not with the snake and god knows what else out there.
he draws junpei into a tight side-hug as he leans against him, there, before leaning over and pressing a kiss to his temple. ]
Yeah. Just — [ with a glance at the door, too; so far no sounds from the outside, so. he looks at the mirror, its surface still for now. ]
I could go ahead, open the way, then it'll just be stepping in and out, for you. [ but it will mean him having to, well, go ahead, literally, leaving junpei and gab waiting there for the ten or twenty seconds it'll take him to get there.
he adds, with a half-shrug, ] Or I could just carry both of you. [ that's an option, too, gab is no added weight at all. but he wants this to be as easy as possible, and junpei hates mirrors, so if there's anything he can do to make it more comfortable... well. of course he'll do it. ]
he draws junpei into a tight side-hug as he leans against him, there, before leaning over and pressing a kiss to his temple. ]
Yeah. Just — [ with a glance at the door, too; so far no sounds from the outside, so. he looks at the mirror, its surface still for now. ]
I could go ahead, open the way, then it'll just be stepping in and out, for you. [ but it will mean him having to, well, go ahead, literally, leaving junpei and gab waiting there for the ten or twenty seconds it'll take him to get there.
he adds, with a half-shrug, ] Or I could just carry both of you. [ that's an option, too, gab is no added weight at all. but he wants this to be as easy as possible, and junpei hates mirrors, so if there's anything he can do to make it more comfortable... well. of course he'll do it. ]
What? I'm not staying behind.
[He just watched Charles get snake-slapped through an entire building, and even if Charles is far too unconcerned with himself, Junpei doesn't want to leave him on his own. Just as much as he doesn't want to be left behind in the dark, even for a minute.
And carrying him was, ahem, quite delightful the first time, but now that they've stopped for a few minutes and the reality of the situation has had time to settle heavy in his stomach, ugh... It's probably the best plan? It is not, however, super hot this time.
(Well, it's normal hot. Anyway.)]
Whatever works, man. You're faster than me, so...
[He extracts himself from this side hug and takes a step back to... stand there. He's ready. Specifically for uppies.]
[He just watched Charles get snake-slapped through an entire building, and even if Charles is far too unconcerned with himself, Junpei doesn't want to leave him on his own. Just as much as he doesn't want to be left behind in the dark, even for a minute.
And carrying him was, ahem, quite delightful the first time, but now that they've stopped for a few minutes and the reality of the situation has had time to settle heavy in his stomach, ugh... It's probably the best plan? It is not, however, super hot this time.
(Well, it's normal hot. Anyway.)]
Whatever works, man. You're faster than me, so...
[He extracts himself from this side hug and takes a step back to... stand there. He's ready. Specifically for uppies.]
the kfc's more of a family thing than a date thing, but... still counts?
[Not that Charles can participate, which is a shame, because it's probably Junpei's actual favorite Christmas thing. For now. He's about to get really invested in Christmas cakes because Charles made him one, went out of his way to learn to make one—!! Still.
Anyway. Not the point.]
that's uh not a chicken request or anything. just saying, it's real. annnnd i'll be home in like 5 minutes.
[Not that Charles can participate, which is a shame, because it's probably Junpei's actual favorite Christmas thing. For now. He's about to get really invested in Christmas cakes because Charles made him one, went out of his way to learn to make one—!! Still.
Anyway. Not the point.]
that's uh not a chicken request or anything. just saying, it's real. annnnd i'll be home in like 5 minutes.
🎀 the shortest wrap in history, leaving them to be cute about cake,
incorrigibles
2024-12-28 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)
huh. you gotta tell me more about that, then.
[ does he have cute family memories of that... he wants to know all about it. and he's, hm, a little bit glad it's not a request because he's not sure he can magic up some chicken in five minutes or less — but maybe it's something to keep in mind, regardless. there's people who've been here for years, after all... so he's making a mental note of it just in case. ]
yeah, see you soon, love. merry christmas
[ does he have cute family memories of that... he wants to know all about it. and he's, hm, a little bit glad it's not a request because he's not sure he can magic up some chicken in five minutes or less — but maybe it's something to keep in mind, regardless. there's people who've been here for years, after all... so he's making a mental note of it just in case. ]
yeah, see you soon, love. merry christmas
[ right, so that's out of the question, then — which is fine, really, because charles isn't too keen on leaving junpei by himself here, either. and he's not exactly concerned about anything he's doing being, hm, hot in any way at all; he's all about being pragmatic right now, has been through all too many supernatural chase situations to think of anything else except the best plan to get them through it relatively unharmed.
so he ducks his head, to drop a kiss on gab's little head, then lifts it enough to kiss junpei, too, just because he can, and because it's a nice distraction from what the mirror is going to be like — and then he's just sliding his arms in place and scooping him up just as easily as before. ]
Sorry, buddy, [ he says to gab, ] You're gonna hate this, but I'll be quick. [ which he is; it's clear that it's not the first time he's walked the distance between their mirror and the one at the inn, and it takes perhaps half a minute total for them to be in and out — and as soon as he steps out of the mirror, it's clear something's different: the inn is still brightly lit as usual, and charles can't help but heave a relieved sigh. ]
Fucking hell, [ he says, and sets junpei back down gently. ] Think this'll be fine. They've got the lights on, that's got to mean something.
so he ducks his head, to drop a kiss on gab's little head, then lifts it enough to kiss junpei, too, just because he can, and because it's a nice distraction from what the mirror is going to be like — and then he's just sliding his arms in place and scooping him up just as easily as before. ]
Sorry, buddy, [ he says to gab, ] You're gonna hate this, but I'll be quick. [ which he is; it's clear that it's not the first time he's walked the distance between their mirror and the one at the inn, and it takes perhaps half a minute total for them to be in and out — and as soon as he steps out of the mirror, it's clear something's different: the inn is still brightly lit as usual, and charles can't help but heave a relieved sigh. ]
Fucking hell, [ he says, and sets junpei back down gently. ] Think this'll be fine. They've got the lights on, that's got to mean something.
[Up again and back through the mirror, ugh... At least Junpei has Gab to distract himself with, hugging the dog-in-backpack close to his chest during the brief jaunt through the mirror. Gab has no idea what's going on although not in his usual pleasant old man way, and so whines the entire way through the mirror and is still whining when Charles puts them back down. Junpei crouches immediately to get Gab out of the backpack - and maybe because two mirror trips in a row make him feel extra awful.
He keeps Gab cradled in one arm as he straightens up again, holding the backpack out to Charles and looking at the inn. The lights are on?
Somehow, it kind of makes him angry. The fucking inn has the lights on and nobody said anything? They ran from a big evil snake and the inn was fine the whole time?]
The fuck... [aaaaAAAAAA—] Okay, whatever. Let's go, maybe my old room is empty.
[Angrily, let's go. It's stupid and illogical to be mad about the inn, he knows this, but it's the easiest target for all of his frustrations right now, so: fuck this building in particular, but fine.]
He keeps Gab cradled in one arm as he straightens up again, holding the backpack out to Charles and looking at the inn. The lights are on?
Somehow, it kind of makes him angry. The fucking inn has the lights on and nobody said anything? They ran from a big evil snake and the inn was fine the whole time?]
The fuck... [aaaaAAAAAA—] Okay, whatever. Let's go, maybe my old room is empty.
[Angrily, let's go. It's stupid and illogical to be mad about the inn, he knows this, but it's the easiest target for all of his frustrations right now, so: fuck this building in particular, but fine.]
don't look now but it's. me back here with more threads, time to have a very bad new years,
incorrigibles
2024-12-28 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[ sorting through items is, perhaps weirdly enough, what charles finds — not soothing, exactly, but an activity both mindless enough that he can do it whenever, and also enough to hold his attention to give him something to focus on when there's really nothing else to do.
and that leaves him here, rearranging the records and other small knick-knacks they've (well, he, let's be honest here, there's only one out of them with a tendency to save the weirdest things just in case) gathered over the months while junpei... well. he's been quieter, the closer they've come to new year, and charles hasn't addressed that fact yet — he'd let him be quiet around his death anniversary, right, so he's returning the favour here, as much as he's glancing at him every now and then with a worried little frown.
still; he's opening a drawer he doesn't actually remember ever opening before, and there's — a watch? of sorts? puzzled, he picks it up, and turns to ask, ]
Junpei? This yours?
and that leaves him here, rearranging the records and other small knick-knacks they've (well, he, let's be honest here, there's only one out of them with a tendency to save the weirdest things just in case) gathered over the months while junpei... well. he's been quieter, the closer they've come to new year, and charles hasn't addressed that fact yet — he'd let him be quiet around his death anniversary, right, so he's returning the favour here, as much as he's glancing at him every now and then with a worried little frown.
still; he's opening a drawer he doesn't actually remember ever opening before, and there's — a watch? of sorts? puzzled, he picks it up, and turns to ask, ]
Junpei? This yours?
[It's stupid, Junpei thinks, that he should be thinking about the time of year at all. How many times now have he and Charles thrown out the actual date in this world and pretended it was some other time of year, like, twice? In maybe six months? That should be enough for the actual calendar to not matter, if only so that Junpei gets another six months before he has to think about New Year's Eve even a little.
Too bad, he supposes. They had a Christmas date - which was fantastic, don't get him wrong - and so there's really no pretending it's still July or whatever, when the end of the year is actually quickly approaching.
So he's been quieter, sure. He knows Charles is fretting silently over it, but all he can really bring himself to do is sit around and pretend to read magazines, while Charles goes back and forth around the house. It's without even thinking that he glances up from the same page he's been looking at for ten minutes and sees what Charles has found, and,]
Uh, yeah. I didn't tell you about the bracelet...? [He can't honestly remember, the same way he can't seem to remember other little anecdotes he's told Charles, and maybe that's a trauma response he should think more about, but—] Wait, give me that.
[A little more urgent, as he gets up to come over with his hand held out. The bracelet is a chunky, blocky thing, and while its watch face doesn't light up anymore, that's not really his concern. Needles aren't made of iron or whatever, right, but still, he very much doesn't want Charles to be holding that thing. It was the only thing in that drawer for a reason.]
Too bad, he supposes. They had a Christmas date - which was fantastic, don't get him wrong - and so there's really no pretending it's still July or whatever, when the end of the year is actually quickly approaching.
So he's been quieter, sure. He knows Charles is fretting silently over it, but all he can really bring himself to do is sit around and pretend to read magazines, while Charles goes back and forth around the house. It's without even thinking that he glances up from the same page he's been looking at for ten minutes and sees what Charles has found, and,]
Uh, yeah. I didn't tell you about the bracelet...? [He can't honestly remember, the same way he can't seem to remember other little anecdotes he's told Charles, and maybe that's a trauma response he should think more about, but—] Wait, give me that.
[A little more urgent, as he gets up to come over with his hand held out. The bracelet is a chunky, blocky thing, and while its watch face doesn't light up anymore, that's not really his concern. Needles aren't made of iron or whatever, right, but still, he very much doesn't want Charles to be holding that thing. It was the only thing in that drawer for a reason.]
[ he turns the thing in his hands at the same time as he's shaking his head — because, well, he's pretty sure he can recall everything junpei has ever told him, right down to his ten-minute tangent rambles about different smoothie flavours, and a bracelet has not featured in anything he's ever said, like, at all. ]
No, you didn't. [ coming from anyone else, the words might be a little pointed; from charles, they're just very soft; and he hands over the bracelet immediately, though with a wary glance at it. ]
What is it? [ is this going to be one of those things he'll end up wishing he didn't really know about — chances are high, and yet. in the end, he knows he'd rather have junpei tell him everything, in bits and pieces over the months, than be deliberately kept in the dark about the facts of everything he's been through. ]
No, you didn't. [ coming from anyone else, the words might be a little pointed; from charles, they're just very soft; and he hands over the bracelet immediately, though with a wary glance at it. ]
What is it? [ is this going to be one of those things he'll end up wishing he didn't really know about — chances are high, and yet. in the end, he knows he'd rather have junpei tell him everything, in bits and pieces over the months, than be deliberately kept in the dark about the facts of everything he's been through. ]
[ he grabs the backpack and swings it over one shoulder, reaching out to junpei, to take his hand — unnecessary, perhaps, given that the inn seems to be a safe place... but you never know, and he feels better like this, like gripping his hand tightly reassures him that he's still there, and safe, and relatively okay.
relatively, because there's a tightness around his eyes and an undercurrent of anger in his words, but that's fine — he's used to junpei's anger sparking at a variety of different things, some of them more easily explained than others.
so he just nods and says, ] Yeah, [ and then pulls junpei along, hoping that his room is indeed free, that'd be a very dusty silver lining for this whole thing... and maybe their shit luck for the day is finally turning, because his room is empty, and charles lets out an exhale when the door closes behind them, and the light in the room remains on. ]
Right. Guess this is us, then, for however long this thing's going on. [ "this thing" meaning, of course, the darkness and the monsters and whatnot. ]
relatively, because there's a tightness around his eyes and an undercurrent of anger in his words, but that's fine — he's used to junpei's anger sparking at a variety of different things, some of them more easily explained than others.
so he just nods and says, ] Yeah, [ and then pulls junpei along, hoping that his room is indeed free, that'd be a very dusty silver lining for this whole thing... and maybe their shit luck for the day is finally turning, because his room is empty, and charles lets out an exhale when the door closes behind them, and the light in the room remains on. ]
Right. Guess this is us, then, for however long this thing's going on. [ "this thing" meaning, of course, the darkness and the monsters and whatnot. ]
yeah just don't kill him and it'll be way better this time
coolerjunpei
2024-12-29 03:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[Well, at least he hasn't forgotten about it— Not important though, not nearly as important as taking the bracelet away from Charles as soon as possible. Credit him this, he doesn't snatch it away, but he takes it and starts fiddling with it before he answers, hm, poorly,] It's a bracelet.
[Distracted, busily trying to turn the whole band inside out, stretching it to see the solid parts that would sit on the wrist. He can remember a great many things he shouldn't, actually, that fact he knows Charles knows, and right now he has to be sure that this bracelet is from a history where the needles got snapped out of the plastic casing.
Not that he knows how to tell this without popping them out, and that would be stupid, so it's a lot of staring at tiny holes he's doing right now. He squints at it for a long moment before he looks up, and it's probably because he's been thinking about it anyway that it feels better to rip the bandaid off this one, so,]
They put these on us in the bunker to mess with our heads and keep us in line. Mostly it just knocks you out every 90 minutes, but... Fuck up and lose the stupid voting game, this thing doses you with enough muscle relaxant to kill a horse. The watch part didn't even work right.
[Distracted, busily trying to turn the whole band inside out, stretching it to see the solid parts that would sit on the wrist. He can remember a great many things he shouldn't, actually, that fact he knows Charles knows, and right now he has to be sure that this bracelet is from a history where the needles got snapped out of the plastic casing.
Not that he knows how to tell this without popping them out, and that would be stupid, so it's a lot of staring at tiny holes he's doing right now. He squints at it for a long moment before he looks up, and it's probably because he's been thinking about it anyway that it feels better to rip the bandaid off this one, so,]
They put these on us in the bunker to mess with our heads and keep us in line. Mostly it just knocks you out every 90 minutes, but... Fuck up and lose the stupid voting game, this thing doses you with enough muscle relaxant to kill a horse. The watch part didn't even work right.
[Charles' hand in his is a comfort, of course, it always is; still, Junpei remains quiet as they enter the inn and head upstairs. He doesn't want to look around and see who else is here, if there are any familiar faces, who all is accounted for—
(He wants to do that very much, actually, but he can't or he will never sit down.)
So. His old room. Gab is still unsettled, so Junpei takes a moment to mutter to him about how this is totally home away from home, they'll get him some food soon, for sure, while putting the dog down to let him explore the new space. Junpei sits on the floor, because of course he does.]
Hey, [up, to Charles, hi,] Before you go out there and do some big hero thing...
[And he raises an eyebrow briefly, as if to say don't even pretend to deny this, they both know Charles can't resist the pull of good deeds, Junpei loves him immensely for it but right this second, well—] Stay here with me for a while? I won't even ask what the hell happened with the big snake.
(He wants to do that very much, actually, but he can't or he will never sit down.)
So. His old room. Gab is still unsettled, so Junpei takes a moment to mutter to him about how this is totally home away from home, they'll get him some food soon, for sure, while putting the dog down to let him explore the new space. Junpei sits on the floor, because of course he does.]
Hey, [up, to Charles, hi,] Before you go out there and do some big hero thing...
[And he raises an eyebrow briefly, as if to say don't even pretend to deny this, they both know Charles can't resist the pull of good deeds, Junpei loves him immensely for it but right this second, well—] Stay here with me for a while? I won't even ask what the hell happened with the big snake.
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