[ charles, of course, lets out an oof as if the nudge was something far more significant, grinning as he does so, before settling back to wait for junpei to get another drink — and then he just starts laughing at the part about the walls and the immediate deadpan of it being a joke.
once he focuses back on the topic, though, it's obvious that he's actually giving this whole thing some real thought, which — ] Hey, [ says charles, with his grin turning into something a touch softer, ] You don't have to solve my boredom issue for me, yeah? It's not your problem.
[ but then he pauses, and, with some hesitation, picks up the notebook again, flipping to some of the first pages. on them, there's some pencil doodles — a nearby park, some flowers, a portrait of this old lady who always gets coffee at 8:20 in the morning in the coffee shop right across from charles' flat.
they're quickly done, that much is obvious, but they're also — well, pretty damn good, even if charles would never describe them as such himself. ] I, uh, draw sometimes, [ he settles on saying. but every time he takes his pencil and prepares to draw there's a voice, rough and angry, at the back of his mind, yelling at him that art's something for girls, that the only really proper hobby is sports so he ought to focus on that, and —
yeah. well. he just doesn't pick up the pen a lot. ]
[One fumble with the bottle opener later,] That's not why.
[Because the reason is as simple as he cares about Charles, and his relationships are all so goddamn weird at this point that he has no frame of reference for how normal people show that they care, and so—the 3am word search tier of ideas.
But then there's art, and instead of continuing that first thought, Junpei says,] Oh shit, you're really good. And you let me draw that tube telescope in there, man...
[Ha. He resists the sudden and powerful urge to ask Can You Draw Me? and instead opts for,]
[ well, it's a good thing charles isn't exactly the paragon of normality when it comes to relationships or showing care, then, either.
the mention of the telescope makes him chuckle and say, ] Oi, I liked the telescope!
[ but then he, well, he'd scratch his cheek in embarrassment if he had a hand free, but his arm hasn't moved from its place and his other hand is holding the notebook, so he settles for glancing to the side and biting his lip.
eventually he just hands junpei the notebook to flip through, with a sigh and a sheepish, almost cautious, ] Here. But, um, don't be mad, yeah?
[ his eyes are very large and pleading. the why isn't immediately obvious — there's more buildings around aldrip, a few sketches of streets or a cool sign over a shop; then there's a few of the same place, seeming to be an office, drawn from memory; and then there's people. a white-haired, japanese girl laughing, bathed in blue light (the only colour found in any of the drawings). then a few pages torn off, and then more people, a few junpei might recognise: scott, arms crossed and looking somewhat righteously angry; richard, sitting down and staring at a croissant like it might jump up and bite him.
and then, well, once he turns the page, he'll see — there's none of the surroundings drawn, there, very clearly on purpose; instead, it's just a sketch of junpei himself, crouched down, head tilted to the side, looking at what one might call the camera if this was a photograph, looking a bit tired but with a small, genuine smile. ]
[But okay, okay, sure. Junpei doesn't need to argue that he sucks at telescope drawings, not when there are more actually quality drawings to look at. He raises an eyebrow - why would he be mad, unless Charles is secretly the worst person ever and all of his drawings are offensive? - and turns his attention to the notebook. The drawings of people really show Charles' talent more than the flowers and stuff, at least to Junpei's non-artist eye; people seem harder to draw? It makes sense!
Then—oh.]
Huh, that's me.
[He doesn't know what else to say besides that, feeling, honestly, kind of choked up for a moment. That feels silly; it's just a drawing, but there's something about the earnestness of it, the attention to detail, the vulnerability in that don't be mad still lingering as he looks at the drawing. Maybe it's been a longer and shittier couple weeks than he thought, if something like a nice little drawing is going to make him get emotional, ah—
But luckily that doesn't last too long, the vaguely overwhelmed feeling giving way to—well. He's blushing, and worse, all the way to his ears. He clears his throat, still looking at the drawing of himself giving him that look back from the page. Jeez.]
Why, uh... why would I be mad? It looks like me, so...
god i hope not no one should subscribe to this absolute trainwreck
[ the apprehension doesn't leave him immediately — he holds himself as if braced for a blow, biting his lip until junpei finally flips to the right page, eyes trained on him until it becomes clear that he's not, in fact, mad at all —
all the tension leaves him with an entirely unnecessary exhale, bleeds away from his shoulders, and gives way to a small smile, almost as if to mirror the drawing. and then, staring at junpei as he is, he notices the red on his face, spreading all the way to his ears, and it's — god, well, it's a little more than endearing, and for a heartbeat charles wonders if he would be able to feel the warmth of his face if he were to touch it.
... and wow, well, that's a totally normal thought to have, innit, he's just, you know, not going to think about that anymore. instead, he says, ] It's not weird, is it? Drawing you without asking. Just, I thought, it's been pretty shitty couple of weeks, yeah? So I wanted to remember the good parts.
[ he's steadily ignoring the implications of the good parts, as he puts it, being two very specific occasions (scott, angry at the world at large and showing his good character; and richard, not out of his mind with murder impulses but confused by modern food) and then, quite simply, junpei's smile. ]
[Idly Junpei wonders who exactly has given Charles cause to be nervous like that - even with a comfortable buzz, still admiring the drawing, it's difficult to miss - and what for, when he's obviously talented. Somehow that feels even more out of line to ask about than the myriad deaths, so—instead,]
Unless you draw me, I don't know, kicking puppies or something, I think you're good.
[Although look how totally wiped out he looks there, how unflattering... No, no, the art is great. Junpei's mildly surprised he earned a spot among "the good parts" at all, given what bad company he must have been; it is flattering, actually.
The longer he looks at the drawing the more he's subconsciously sort of - mirroring his own tired little smile back at it, which is definitely embarrassing, please don't perceive him, thank you.]
You'd probably have to burn it afterwards if I tried to draw you.
[Ha ha... he turns his head just slightly, to give Charles a sidelong look. Unless...........?]
well sure hope they like being frustrated by stupid boys being stupid then
[ he gives a light laugh at the quip, mostly because it's such a stupid thing to say, but, ] Nah, as if. Might draw you with puppies, though, if you want.
[ he'd like it, he thinks, doing a proper drawing of him instead of this quick one from memory. and for a moment, he just looks at him, the little smile on his lips, and — well, the sidelong glance and the suggestion come at exactly the right time, charles startling slightly but then laughing as he picks up the pen from where it's fallen, to the little space between them on the floor. ]
Now that you've said it, you gotta do it.
[ then, holding out the pen to him with a grin that sparkles with mischief, ] Promise not to burn it, honest.
i hope they're as embarrassed of junpei as i am rn
[The best kind of puppies, in fact. Especially if he gets to hang out with a real dog, is that implied? Is this a "pose with real puppies" kind of offer, he's not sure, but it might be... nice. Hang out with dogs, watch Charles draw, utterly fail to hold still... Yeah.
But for now, he's going to commit artistic sacrilege on this notebook some more. He takes the pen and raises an eyebrow with an exaggerated faux-grimace, as if perhaps Charles knows not what horrors Junpei is going to put on this page...
He begins as all millennial artistes (tm) do, with the dojob face. Then a generous amount of curls and a shape that is intended to be Charles' earring, finished off with a speech bubble he draws before writing "brills" in it, so he kind of has to cram the "lls" together.
He holds it up. The tube-scope was sooo embarrassing, but this one he's proud of, although with a considerable heaping of irony because he knows he sucks at art. It's a symbolic rendering, obviously.]
[ that is absolutely what it is, and charles is already making a note of it — he's sure he can acquire some puppies somewhere (and this time without being scolded for it, like in the infamous puppy debacle of '94) and seeing as he's definitely a dog person, it sounds like all-around good time: watch them be all cute and soft and silly while bouncing around and over junpei, try and capture the moment —
yeah. all-around good time, definitely.
anyway, time to focus on the artistic masterpiece happening right in front of him; he never stops grinning, from when junpei picks up the pen to when he finally puts it down, and then charles just — well, to say he laughs is putting it a bit mildly. it's more that he collapses in giggles, and this is what finally makes him remove his arm from its place around junpei's shoulders, mostly so he can just hold onto his arm instead, head falling down to thunk on his shoulder as he shakes with the force of his laughter.
he manages to stop it long enough to look at junpei, eyes bright with what can only be reliably described as affection, and answer with, ] Brills, mate, [ and then that sets him off again, until he has to press the back of his hand over his mouth to stop himself.
when he does, though, and looks up again... ] Love it. Seriously, I mean it. [ and from the look on his face, still amused but also just genuinely delighted — yeah, he does mean it. ]
[A flawless victory for the dojob face?! Charles' sudden fit of giggles makes Junpei grin and does nothing at all to temper the color in his face - if he must be red-faced and a touch too warm for the foreseeable future, then so be it. It's worth it for all the smug mugging he gets to do over the dojob giggles.
And that in itself is endearing; the look Charles gives him before he collapses into giggles again is only going to encourage him to ham it up some more, giving the notebook a one-handed flourish and declaring:]
Yeah, I'm like the van Gogh of thirty-second portraits, I know.
[Tada, so artistic, etc. He grins at Charles for an extra long beat, just, you know, remembering this little moment because he's having a good time on his birthday and for no other particular reason— then holds the notebook out to him. He's done committing art crimes... for now.]
Course you are, [ he says, voice still shaking with mirth, and he blames that for the way he just falls silent then for a beat or two or three as junpei grins at him, a smug edge to his smile, and charles just smiles back a tad helplessly until the notebook is back in his hands and he breaks the eye contact to take it and tuck it back into his coat pocket. ]
Thanks. A Junpei Tenmyouji original, yeah? You never know, might be worth millions, some years from now.
[ not that he'd sell it even then, though. he has little need for money, and honestly, the little, silly drawing means a lot more to him than that. not that he's going to be able to keep it, whenever he goes back home, if he goes back home — and that's a strangely devastating thought, that he might not remember one damn thing of this.
to distract himself from that, he says, smile still firmly in place, ] You think our worlds are the same, or just similar? You're the quantum thing expert, what'd'you think?
Or it'll just be a doodle, but you can keep laughing about it.
[Which is just as good a purpose as selling for millions, maybe, kind of—
Junpei settles back against the wall again, picking up the beer that was definitely not supposed to be a prop and definitely not forgotten about for art club just now, and - considers more quantum mechanics, so it's really any other afternoon of a day ending in -y.]
You mean, when you get to 2029, could you find me being pissed off in the middle of the desert? Dunno.
[Fun thought experiment, almost!! Junpei's understanding of time after all that's happened is that linearity is a matter of perspective and everything else only makes sense after someone else explains it to you a handful of times. And then that's only a "sort of"...]
There's no reason they couldn't be the same. They don't teach you how to find out in quantum school, mostly because quantum school doesn't exist.
[He shrugs, like, unfortunately that's the best he can do, and it comes with it the implication that "no they're not" is just as likely as "yes they are." But why not choose the option that feels a little less lonely, just because? It's harmless.]
Oh, I will, [ he promises easily, because honestly, he's going to look at that drawing every single time he starts to lose his mind about, you know, about being stuck here or being alone or any number of things, because he already knows it's guaranteed to cheer him up. so, yeah, maybe it is worth more than selling for millions.
he nods, then, because that's exactly what he's asking — and, okay, so maybe it's a good thing junpei doesn't try to explain the linearity aspect of it all (or non-linearity, or whatever), because he likely wouldn't get it... but he does get the important part: that if it falls squarely in the middle of "possible" and "impossible", well, he knows what his choice is going to be. ]
So that's five years, then. [ he nods, again, this time almost more to himself than anything else. five years? yeah, he can do five years. ]
Right, that's not bad. I can mirror hop anywhere, you know, I think I could find you just by — [ he gives his hand a little wave, as if to say, knowing you. ] And you've probably had enough near-death experiences that you'd be able to see me. Or if not, I could always just haunt you, leave you notes, that kinda stuff.
[Ah, and it is finding him in a desert somewhere, then? That had been more of an example when Junpei said it than a... suggestion? An assumption? So he's touched that finding him somewhere in five years is an actual, real idea. Like that movie about the time-traveling mailbox at a lake or something, but uh, not a magical romance or anything.
Like a normal time travel—thing. Five years. He's mid-sip when he chokes a little, sputtering and hastily covering his mouth. Enough near-death experiences, christ, that shouldn't make him laugh and yet here he is—]
Do you want another list?
[He can probably remember, buuut maybe later. Yeah, he's pretty sure he can see ghosts whenever he wants, these days.]
Don't, like, not leave me notes, though. I can pretend it's a regular haunting.
[ well, duh, what else would it be, dummy? that was always his intention with the question, instead of a generic hypothetical — and even if it's now just a bit more personal hypothetical, thinking about it makes him feel a bit better, like it's actually possible. like he's not bound to lose this — whatever they have, here — by going back home.
junpei choking next to him over his choice of words is — well, a bit concerning but also quite funny, but charles bites back his chuckle because the words that come next leave him nothing but earnest and serious when he answers, ] Only if you want to tell me. But if you want, then yeah. Course.
[ now, in the future, whenever — it doesn't really matter. junpei's listened to him share the shit that he's been through, of course he wants to return the favour. and more than that... whatever it is about his past that junpei feels like sharing, charles is happy to hear it.
well. maybe not, like, literally happy because he's pretty sure multiple near-death experiences will not make him happy, but, you know.
the comment about notes, though? that does make him happy. he chuckles as he nods. ] Sure. Not sure if that'll make you seem more or less mental when people see you talking to thin air, but it does make for cool party tricks. You know, like scissors walking on their own on the desk, papers flying about... [ his voice takes on an edge of mischief, ] I could probably lift you and you could pretend to know how to levitate.
[First he wants to find him in five years and now he's ready and willing to hear Junpei's list of near-death experiences (once Junpei can figure out how to make "near" do a whole lot more legwork there, probably), and that's a bit much to process at once. Junpei gives him a look that's a bit watery from choking like a dingus but still appreciative, softer than he means to be when they're talking about death. Somehow! Again!
They've really got to talk about different hobbies. And it won't be right now. Still:]
You're going to need diagrams. Give me a little while, okay?
[It's not really a question because he knows Charles will give him the time; just, you know. He'll get there sooner or later.
Here and now and hypothetically five years in the future but only for one of them (this is why he'll need the diagrams to explain everything, eventually), these are some fascinating party tricks being proposed, especially, uh. Picking him up? Like, just carrying him around?
Junpei looks very studiously at his beer and thinks, huh, maybe he shouldn't dwell too much on that thought right now, so—]
You think you can pick me up? [ah fuck failed step one, welp,] What, just 'cause you're taller than me?
the way i went "oh god" and then immediately segued into "i can make this worse"
Course, [ charles repeats, like it's a foregone conclusion, him just giving junpei as much time as he needs on this.
and then — well, here's the thing: if there's one thing to know about charles rowland, it's that you can never, ever give him a challenge. because he absolutely cannot and will not back down from it, and so when junpei says you think you can pick me up —
charles grins. it's not a particularly reassuring grin.
and really, junpei's right to have doubts: charles, with his build that can only be described as "slight", his wiry, lanky muscles that don't even seem particularly defined, looks for all the world like someone who wouldn't be your first pick for, well, picking someone up. ]
No, [ he says in response, ] Because I'm the brawn part of our agency.
[ he's pushed himself into a squat between one heartbeat and the next, and then he's sliding one arm under junpei's legs and one behind his back and saying, ] Leave the beer, [ before quite simply scooping him up in a full-on bridal carry right there, and then just rising up from his squat to his full height like it's absolutely no effort at all.
once he's fully upright, he just beams at junpei, though it's a tad smug. ]
[Yep, "reassured" would definitely not be the emotion Junpei is feeling when faced with this dreadful threat of picking him up. Not reassured in the slightest. He can only return that grin with a mild sort of boggling, as if he doesn't expect to ever have to reap what he sows, or at least not right this second. He can just say things and Charles will take the bait? Like that?
Not that he's admitting there was bait. He says,] Uh.
[And then, just as smartly,] Wait, what?
[To his credit he does put the beer down, albeit hastily and with an almost disastrous wobble, and then oh yep yeah he's up in the air, alright, this is— Well! This is something! If Junpei wobbles next it's because he's had 2-point-something drinks, and he pinwheels one of his arms for a few seconds before he's certain Charles isn't going to tip them both over.
He's abruptly unsure of what to do with his hands, so he folds his arms and sighs; show off... not impressive at all... stop giving him that look. His traitorous ears are going to catch fire they're so red, he can tell. Jeez.]
[ said in a tone that's also very much not reassuring. and — yeah, actually, it does seem like junpei can just say things and charles will simply do as instructed, or suggested, quite simply, without even thinking about it.
which is why with a shrug (and the movement makes him jostle junpei a bit in his arms), charles bends his knees to let junpei stand on his own feet again, though only for a second; his hand on his back moves to his waist, joined by his other hand, and he just lifts.
holding him up in the air is just as effortless like this, only, they're pretty much eye level with each other like this and it's easier for charles to give him a challenging smirk, raising his brows. ]
[This is not a power Junpei should have, he thinks. Charles moves to put him back down and he feels a weird mixture of relieved and disappointed, not that he's going to unpack that right now. Then, oh, hello—]
Uh, what—
[Hello, being lifted by the waist is a brand new experience that comes with a moment of shocked sputtering and a fresh flush of color in his cheeks. He grabs Charles's shoulders automatically so as not to flip over or something - not that that's possible, but underneath the first response of bwuh??? that's what his brain provides.
So he's handling this deftly. After a beat of mild boggling he looks down with a thoughtful hum, as if he's checking out the viability of this for levitating. Hmm, hmm...]
[ it's not difficult, this — it's not like his muscles can really hurt, so he's capable of being a lot stronger than he used to be in life, and despite being unable to physically change, decades of whacking things really hard with his bat has made his spirit stronger.
that doesn't stop him from briefly worrying about dropping junpei, though, now that he's holding him in a less secure way, and so (instead of, you know, setting him back on the floor like might be the expected move, the smart move) he takes a step back, then another, braces himself by leaning against the wall while keeping their position otherwise the same.
and then he just grins fondly and rolls his eyes, as if to say, well now you're just being difficult on purpose. ]
Yeah? Just technically, is it. All right, what do you suggest, then?
[He is being difficult on purpose, thanks for noticing. Not being dropped immediately makes the worry about being dropped immediately go right out the window (the alcohol may also help with this), and Junpei scoffs. Is Charles not the expert haunter? Must he, some guy, come up with ghostly special effects himself?
It's very specific. He drums his fingers on Charles' shoulders in mock seriousness.]
Wires? [A beat.] No, wait, that's actual amateur theater. Let me think.
[...But is he thinking or is he just looking at Charles, that's the real question. It's a hassle to be difficult on purpose for too long, and yet, Charles keeps giving him that look, the look of letting him get away with it. Another power he should not have.]
Have you ever seen that movie with the, uh, big dance lift? Don't do that in here, I'll whack my head on the ceiling light, but that might work.
[Only the lift part, specifically, as Junpei overestimates his ability to not flop uselessly like a levitating fish in this scenario.]
being pretty only takes you so far and he passed that like twenty tags ago
[ no, wait, that's actual amateur theater, he says, and charles ducks his head and laughs, almost despite himself, before looking up at junpei, due to their changed angle this time and waiting for him to come up with a solution — because, really, despite being a ghost, charles hasn't, you know, actually haunted a lot of places, or people. comes with the whole fact that their cases take them so many different places, and that their clients are themselves ghosts, too —
anyway. he makes a considering hum at the suggestion. ] Huh, yeah, maybe. I mean, might be a stretch for me, that... I don't wanna drop you.
[ said like that's the biggest issue with that particular move. he glances back at junpei, though, and realising that he probably should let him down — well. edwin doesn't call him impetuous for nothing — ]
Could do this, though, [ he says and promptly lifts his arms sharply to get momentum so he can actually throw junpei just a bit in the air, just the right height for it to be impressive but not so high as to risk him actually hitting his head on the ceiling, indeed; and then he simply catches him in a hug as he falls, before setting him back down on his feet. ]
[Junpei makes a face and nods very seriously, like yeah, he doesn't want to be dropped either. He'd probably go face-first into the floor, or worse, desert sand if Charles decides to be funny in their hypothetical future meeting outside of this place.
Leaving aside that the rest of his psychic quantum friends could probably also, well, see Charles, Junpei's had too many drinks to apply that logic to eight more people.
He's also had too many drinks to get thrown in the air with dignity, even a toss this shallow; he swears and scrambles, all but clinging to Charles when he comes back down.
He does not let go when his feet touch the floor; he is owed an apology, nay, groveling.]
What the hell, [he says, into Charles' shoulder,] it's my birthday.
[ charles, in turn, just laughs for a moment, a sort of delighted laugh at the entire situation, at the way junpei is clinging to him still, the way he swears so sharply — and then he simply tightens his hold on him, tilting his head so he can speak close to his ear, voice low and with mirth but also genuinely apologetic, ] Sorry, sorry! Really. Didn't mean to startle you. Just — you're the one who wasn't happy with my party tricks, yeah?
[ and then, as if realising he's overlooked something, ] Oh, bloody hell. I never said happy birthday, did I? Well —
[ he runs his hands up and down his back a few times as if to reassure him still. his voice, low still, is warm. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
my god this thread really is like 50 shades of being messed up
once he focuses back on the topic, though, it's obvious that he's actually giving this whole thing some real thought, which — ] Hey, [ says charles, with his grin turning into something a touch softer, ] You don't have to solve my boredom issue for me, yeah? It's not your problem.
[ but then he pauses, and, with some hesitation, picks up the notebook again, flipping to some of the first pages. on them, there's some pencil doodles — a nearby park, some flowers, a portrait of this old lady who always gets coffee at 8:20 in the morning in the coffee shop right across from charles' flat.
they're quickly done, that much is obvious, but they're also — well, pretty damn good, even if charles would never describe them as such himself. ] I, uh, draw sometimes, [ he settles on saying. but every time he takes his pencil and prepares to draw there's a voice, rough and angry, at the back of his mind, yelling at him that art's something for girls, that the only really proper hobby is sports so he ought to focus on that, and —
yeah. well. he just doesn't pick up the pen a lot. ]
trauma sharing speedrun any%
[Because the reason is as simple as he cares about Charles, and his relationships are all so goddamn weird at this point that he has no frame of reference for how normal people show that they care, and so—the 3am word search tier of ideas.
But then there's art, and instead of continuing that first thought, Junpei says,] Oh shit, you're really good. And you let me draw that tube telescope in there, man...
[Ha. He resists the sudden and powerful urge to ask Can You Draw Me? and instead opts for,]
You have more in there?
remember to donate--
the mention of the telescope makes him chuckle and say, ] Oi, I liked the telescope!
[ but then he, well, he'd scratch his cheek in embarrassment if he had a hand free, but his arm hasn't moved from its place and his other hand is holding the notebook, so he settles for glancing to the side and biting his lip.
eventually he just hands junpei the notebook to flip through, with a sigh and a sheepish, almost cautious, ] Here. But, um, don't be mad, yeah?
[ his eyes are very large and pleading. the why isn't immediately obvious — there's more buildings around aldrip, a few sketches of streets or a cool sign over a shop; then there's a few of the same place, seeming to be an office, drawn from memory; and then there's people. a white-haired, japanese girl laughing, bathed in blue light (the only colour found in any of the drawings). then a few pages torn off, and then more people, a few junpei might recognise: scott, arms crossed and looking somewhat righteously angry; richard, sitting down and staring at a croissant like it might jump up and bite him.
and then, well, once he turns the page, he'll see — there's none of the surroundings drawn, there, very clearly on purpose; instead, it's just a sketch of junpei himself, crouched down, head tilted to the side, looking at what one might call the camera if this was a photograph, looking a bit tired but with a small, genuine smile. ]
100k subscriber giveaway coming soon
[But okay, okay, sure. Junpei doesn't need to argue that he sucks at telescope drawings, not when there are more actually quality drawings to look at. He raises an eyebrow - why would he be mad, unless Charles is secretly the worst person ever and all of his drawings are offensive? - and turns his attention to the notebook. The drawings of people really show Charles' talent more than the flowers and stuff, at least to Junpei's non-artist eye; people seem harder to draw? It makes sense!
Then—oh.]
Huh, that's me.
[He doesn't know what else to say besides that, feeling, honestly, kind of choked up for a moment. That feels silly; it's just a drawing, but there's something about the earnestness of it, the attention to detail, the vulnerability in that don't be mad still lingering as he looks at the drawing. Maybe it's been a longer and shittier couple weeks than he thought, if something like a nice little drawing is going to make him get emotional, ah—
But luckily that doesn't last too long, the vaguely overwhelmed feeling giving way to—well. He's blushing, and worse, all the way to his ears. He clears his throat, still looking at the drawing of himself giving him that look back from the page. Jeez.]
Why, uh... why would I be mad? It looks like me, so...
god i hope not no one should subscribe to this absolute trainwreck
all the tension leaves him with an entirely unnecessary exhale, bleeds away from his shoulders, and gives way to a small smile, almost as if to mirror the drawing. and then, staring at junpei as he is, he notices the red on his face, spreading all the way to his ears, and it's — god, well, it's a little more than endearing, and for a heartbeat charles wonders if he would be able to feel the warmth of his face if he were to touch it.
... and wow, well, that's a totally normal thought to have, innit, he's just, you know, not going to think about that anymore. instead, he says, ] It's not weird, is it? Drawing you without asking. Just, I thought, it's been pretty shitty couple of weeks, yeah? So I wanted to remember the good parts.
[ he's steadily ignoring the implications of the good parts, as he puts it, being two very specific occasions (scott, angry at the world at large and showing his good character; and richard, not out of his mind with murder impulses but confused by modern food) and then, quite simply, junpei's smile. ]
that's exactly why they're subscribing tbh
Unless you draw me, I don't know, kicking puppies or something, I think you're good.
[Although look how totally wiped out he looks there, how unflattering... No, no, the art is great. Junpei's mildly surprised he earned a spot among "the good parts" at all, given what bad company he must have been; it is flattering, actually.
The longer he looks at the drawing the more he's subconsciously sort of - mirroring his own tired little smile back at it, which is definitely embarrassing, please don't perceive him, thank you.]
You'd probably have to burn it afterwards if I tried to draw you.
[Ha ha... he turns his head just slightly, to give Charles a sidelong look. Unless...........?]
well sure hope they like being frustrated by stupid boys being stupid then
[ he'd like it, he thinks, doing a proper drawing of him instead of this quick one from memory. and for a moment, he just looks at him, the little smile on his lips, and — well, the sidelong glance and the suggestion come at exactly the right time, charles startling slightly but then laughing as he picks up the pen from where it's fallen, to the little space between them on the floor. ]
Now that you've said it, you gotta do it.
[ then, holding out the pen to him with a grin that sparkles with mischief, ] Promise not to burn it, honest.
i hope they're as embarrassed of junpei as i am rn
[The best kind of puppies, in fact. Especially if he gets to hang out with a real dog, is that implied? Is this a "pose with real puppies" kind of offer, he's not sure, but it might be... nice. Hang out with dogs, watch Charles draw, utterly fail to hold still... Yeah.
But for now, he's going to commit artistic sacrilege on this notebook some more. He takes the pen and raises an eyebrow with an exaggerated faux-grimace, as if perhaps Charles knows not what horrors Junpei is going to put on this page...
He begins as all millennial artistes (tm) do, with the dojob face. Then a generous amount of curls and a shape that is intended to be Charles' earring, finished off with a speech bubble he draws before writing "brills" in it, so he kind of has to cram the "lls" together.
He holds it up. The tube-scope was sooo embarrassing, but this one he's proud of, although with a considerable heaping of irony because he knows he sucks at art. It's a symbolic rendering, obviously.]
So, how'd I do?
ok but THAT ICON THOUGH
yeah. all-around good time, definitely.
anyway, time to focus on the artistic masterpiece happening right in front of him; he never stops grinning, from when junpei picks up the pen to when he finally puts it down, and then charles just — well, to say he laughs is putting it a bit mildly. it's more that he collapses in giggles, and this is what finally makes him remove his arm from its place around junpei's shoulders, mostly so he can just hold onto his arm instead, head falling down to thunk on his shoulder as he shakes with the force of his laughter.
he manages to stop it long enough to look at junpei, eyes bright with what can only be reliably described as affection, and answer with, ] Brills, mate, [ and then that sets him off again, until he has to press the back of his hand over his mouth to stop himself.
when he does, though, and looks up again... ] Love it. Seriously, I mean it. [ and from the look on his face, still amused but also just genuinely delighted — yeah, he does mean it. ]
it's compensation for his cringe crimes
And that in itself is endearing; the look Charles gives him before he collapses into giggles again is only going to encourage him to ham it up some more, giving the notebook a one-handed flourish and declaring:]
Yeah, I'm like the van Gogh of thirty-second portraits, I know.
[Tada, so artistic, etc. He grins at Charles for an extra long beat, just, you know, remembering this little moment because he's having a good time on his birthday and for no other particular reason— then holds the notebook out to him. He's done committing art crimes... for now.]
Here. Consider it a donation to your collection.
mmhm i think u mean cute crimes
Thanks. A Junpei Tenmyouji original, yeah? You never know, might be worth millions, some years from now.
[ not that he'd sell it even then, though. he has little need for money, and honestly, the little, silly drawing means a lot more to him than that. not that he's going to be able to keep it, whenever he goes back home, if he goes back home — and that's a strangely devastating thought, that he might not remember one damn thing of this.
to distract himself from that, he says, smile still firmly in place, ] You think our worlds are the same, or just similar? You're the quantum thing expert, what'd'you think?
he can be two things
[Which is just as good a purpose as selling for millions, maybe, kind of—
Junpei settles back against the wall again, picking up the beer that was definitely not supposed to be a prop and definitely not forgotten about for art club just now, and - considers more quantum mechanics, so it's really any other afternoon of a day ending in -y.]
You mean, when you get to 2029, could you find me being pissed off in the middle of the desert? Dunno.
[Fun thought experiment, almost!! Junpei's understanding of time after all that's happened is that linearity is a matter of perspective and everything else only makes sense after someone else explains it to you a handful of times. And then that's only a "sort of"...]
There's no reason they couldn't be the same. They don't teach you how to find out in quantum school, mostly because quantum school doesn't exist.
[He shrugs, like, unfortunately that's the best he can do, and it comes with it the implication that "no they're not" is just as likely as "yes they are." But why not choose the option that feels a little less lonely, just because? It's harmless.]
cute and cringe is the new black
he nods, then, because that's exactly what he's asking — and, okay, so maybe it's a good thing junpei doesn't try to explain the linearity aspect of it all (or non-linearity, or whatever), because he likely wouldn't get it... but he does get the important part: that if it falls squarely in the middle of "possible" and "impossible", well, he knows what his choice is going to be. ]
So that's five years, then. [ he nods, again, this time almost more to himself than anything else. five years? yeah, he can do five years. ]
Right, that's not bad. I can mirror hop anywhere, you know, I think I could find you just by — [ he gives his hand a little wave, as if to say, knowing you. ] And you've probably had enough near-death experiences that you'd be able to see me. Or if not, I could always just haunt you, leave you notes, that kinda stuff.
trendsetting.....
Like a normal time travel—thing. Five years. He's mid-sip when he chokes a little, sputtering and hastily covering his mouth. Enough near-death experiences, christ, that shouldn't make him laugh and yet here he is—]
Do you want another list?
[He can probably remember, buuut maybe later. Yeah, he's pretty sure he can see ghosts whenever he wants, these days.]
Don't, like, not leave me notes, though. I can pretend it's a regular haunting.
he's the moment he's the movement
junpei choking next to him over his choice of words is — well, a bit concerning but also quite funny, but charles bites back his chuckle because the words that come next leave him nothing but earnest and serious when he answers, ] Only if you want to tell me. But if you want, then yeah. Course.
[ now, in the future, whenever — it doesn't really matter. junpei's listened to him share the shit that he's been through, of course he wants to return the favour. and more than that... whatever it is about his past that junpei feels like sharing, charles is happy to hear it.
well. maybe not, like, literally happy because he's pretty sure multiple near-death experiences will not make him happy, but, you know.
the comment about notes, though? that does make him happy. he chuckles as he nods. ] Sure. Not sure if that'll make you seem more or less mental when people see you talking to thin air, but it does make for cool party tricks. You know, like scissors walking on their own on the desk, papers flying about... [ his voice takes on an edge of mischief, ] I could probably lift you and you could pretend to know how to levitate.
i'm burying myself at sea
They've really got to talk about different hobbies. And it won't be right now. Still:]
You're going to need diagrams. Give me a little while, okay?
[It's not really a question because he knows Charles will give him the time; just, you know. He'll get there sooner or later.
Here and now and hypothetically five years in the future but only for one of them (this is why he'll need the diagrams to explain everything, eventually), these are some fascinating party tricks being proposed, especially, uh. Picking him up? Like, just carrying him around?
Junpei looks very studiously at his beer and thinks, huh, maybe he shouldn't dwell too much on that thought right now, so—]
You think you can pick me up? [ah fuck failed step one, welp,] What, just 'cause you're taller than me?
the way i went "oh god" and then immediately segued into "i can make this worse"
and then — well, here's the thing: if there's one thing to know about charles rowland, it's that you can never, ever give him a challenge. because he absolutely cannot and will not back down from it, and so when junpei says you think you can pick me up —
charles grins. it's not a particularly reassuring grin.
and really, junpei's right to have doubts: charles, with his build that can only be described as "slight", his wiry, lanky muscles that don't even seem particularly defined, looks for all the world like someone who wouldn't be your first pick for, well, picking someone up. ]
No, [ he says in response, ] Because I'm the brawn part of our agency.
[ he's pushed himself into a squat between one heartbeat and the next, and then he's sliding one arm under junpei's legs and one behind his back and saying, ] Leave the beer, [ before quite simply scooping him up in a full-on bridal carry right there, and then just rising up from his squat to his full height like it's absolutely no effort at all.
once he's fully upright, he just beams at junpei, though it's a tad smug. ]
oh good!! i'm burying us both at sea!!
Not that he's admitting there was bait. He says,] Uh.
[And then, just as smartly,] Wait, what?
[To his credit he does put the beer down, albeit hastily and with an almost disastrous wobble, and then oh yep yeah he's up in the air, alright, this is— Well! This is something! If Junpei wobbles next it's because he's had 2-point-something drinks, and he pinwheels one of his arms for a few seconds before he's certain Charles isn't going to tip them both over.
He's abruptly unsure of what to do with his hands, so he folds his arms and sighs; show off... not impressive at all... stop giving him that look. His traitorous ears are going to catch fire they're so red, he can tell. Jeez.]
Well, it's not going to pass for levitating.
yep yep yep
[ said in a tone that's also very much not reassuring. and — yeah, actually, it does seem like junpei can just say things and charles will simply do as instructed, or suggested, quite simply, without even thinking about it.
which is why with a shrug (and the movement makes him jostle junpei a bit in his arms), charles bends his knees to let junpei stand on his own feet again, though only for a second; his hand on his back moves to his waist, joined by his other hand, and he just lifts.
holding him up in the air is just as effortless like this, only, they're pretty much eye level with each other like this and it's easier for charles to give him a challenging smirk, raising his brows. ]
Better? [ you know, to imitate levitating. ]
my eyes are shut in shame
Uh, what—
[Hello, being lifted by the waist is a brand new experience that comes with a moment of shocked sputtering and a fresh flush of color in his cheeks. He grabs Charles's shoulders automatically so as not to flip over or something - not that that's possible, but underneath the first response of bwuh??? that's what his brain provides.
So he's handling this deftly. After a beat of mild boggling he looks down with a thoughtful hum, as if he's checking out the viability of this for levitating. Hmm, hmm...]
It's like... amateur theater special effects level levitating, now. Technically better.
at least junpei has the excuse of being, like, somewhat drunk - charles has none. smh
that doesn't stop him from briefly worrying about dropping junpei, though, now that he's holding him in a less secure way, and so (instead of, you know, setting him back on the floor like might be the expected move, the smart move) he takes a step back, then another, braces himself by leaning against the wall while keeping their position otherwise the same.
and then he just grins fondly and rolls his eyes, as if to say, well now you're just being difficult on purpose. ]
Yeah? Just technically, is it. All right, what do you suggest, then?
he's pretty, he doesn't need an excuse
It's very specific. He drums his fingers on Charles' shoulders in mock seriousness.]
Wires? [A beat.] No, wait, that's actual amateur theater. Let me think.
[...But is he thinking or is he just looking at Charles, that's the real question. It's a hassle to be difficult on purpose for too long, and yet, Charles keeps giving him that look, the look of letting him get away with it. Another power he should not have.]
Have you ever seen that movie with the, uh, big dance lift? Don't do that in here, I'll whack my head on the ceiling light, but that might work.
[Only the lift part, specifically, as Junpei overestimates his ability to not flop uselessly like a levitating fish in this scenario.]
being pretty only takes you so far and he passed that like twenty tags ago
anyway. he makes a considering hum at the suggestion. ] Huh, yeah, maybe. I mean, might be a stretch for me, that... I don't wanna drop you.
[ said like that's the biggest issue with that particular move. he glances back at junpei, though, and realising that he probably should let him down — well. edwin doesn't call him impetuous for nothing — ]
Could do this, though, [ he says and promptly lifts his arms sharply to get momentum so he can actually throw junpei just a bit in the air, just the right height for it to be impressive but not so high as to risk him actually hitting his head on the ceiling, indeed; and then he simply catches him in a hug as he falls, before setting him back down on his feet. ]
damn, arrested for pretty boy crimes
Leaving aside that the rest of his psychic quantum friends could probably also, well, see Charles, Junpei's had too many drinks to apply that logic to eight more people.
He's also had too many drinks to get thrown in the air with dignity, even a toss this shallow; he swears and scrambles, all but clinging to Charles when he comes back down.
He does not let go when his feet touch the floor; he is owed an apology, nay, groveling.]
What the hell, [he says, into Charles' shoulder,] it's my birthday.
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[ and then, as if realising he's overlooked something, ] Oh, bloody hell. I never said happy birthday, did I? Well —
[ he runs his hands up and down his back a few times as if to reassure him still. his voice, low still, is warm. ]
Happy birthday, Junpei. And sorry, honest.
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i'm closing my eyes
see no evil hear no evil--
what's gayer, being gay or whatever they're doing now
theyre the "homosexuality doesn't even begin to explain the behaviour these men are exhibiting" meme
that & clown to clown communication... 🎀