halfcocked | GET OUT OF MY HEAD, CHARLES

[raising an eyebrow at that]

You can't see your Christmas present, Hakuren!! [pretty much entirely innocent there, though whatever the second thing was, it's intensely embarrassing to him; a part of him clearly wants to tell Hakuren, but is too embarrassed]

Ah, I see. [relaxing a little--but catching the thread for the last, and briefly curious] What about the other thing?

[a flush of deep embarrassment, again wrestling with himself: tell him, you tell him everything, he won't care, who else can you talk to, but it's embarrassing, it's weird, right, what if he gets freaked out, I feel freaked out myself]

Uh . . .

[reaching to take his hands gently, lacing their fingers together; I won't laugh, I promise I'll listen, whatever it is.]

[there's an almost palpable rush of pleased embarrassment at that: he's always so nice . . . I love you . . .

then he relaxes enough to crack open the door and share: sometimes I want to catch the girl thing on purpose so I can wear girl clothes . . . Maora got me shoes, girl shoes . . . does she know?!]

[a little surprised, and a little confused at why that would be something anyone would want to do--then shrugging past that, unconcerned; whether she did or not, if you like the present, I think she'll be happy.]

[it doesn't bother you? leaning on him, relaxing a little, though still embarrassed; I just kind of like it, but it's too embarrassing for a guy to dress up like that. girls get better clothes]

[if that's what you like, that's what you like, isn't it? just because I'm not interested doesn't make it bad.]

[the QUICKEST FLASH EVER! of Hakuren in panties and stockings before Devit shoves that away and speaks aloud]

--Right--I wouldn't make you, so, let's change the topic! You have to show me something you like!!

[no, too late, definitely caught that; there is definitely more disapproval now]

... Devit ...

It's not like it's a big thing and I told you I wouldn't even ever ask you to! [this is sincere!]

[sighs a little--would still like to be annoyed, but has no real basis for it, so letting it go]

What else do you want to see--?

[flashes a little with gratitude and affection at that]

Uh . . . I dunno, I like it all.

I'm not sure what else you'd want to see, then ...

Let's just . . . [relaxing against him; we don't have to look, let's just feel it]

[confused, turning the thought over in his head] ... All right?

See . . .

[letting his mind go mostly blank, leaning on Hakuren, just feeling the simple pleasure of the contact: the soft warmth, the feel of his heartbeat]

[leaning back tentatively, considering--then takes a deep breath and nods; his relaxation is less of letting his mind go blank, and very nearly meditative. there is the impression that he is used to doing this, though under different circumstances (there's a flash of mass at the church, with dozens of students in familiar acolyte's robes, listening in respectful silence)]

[responding to that with a muscle memory of his own: being in motion, fighting or maybe dancing, concentrating on nothing but the feel of his body and the environment and how they interact, pleasure and pain and exhaustion; then the strong physical sensation of sinking into a hot bath]

[an image of early morning, right around the time of sunrise, and the way the stained-glass windows of the church change color with the passing hours; there is also a strong sense of wistfulness, remembering all of that, but no actual regret]

[that's nice

there's a stutter of thought, a quick flash of several places as if Devit's trying to think of the right one, and then the memory of walking down a busy street in a market in his world, the stalls and windows full of exotic and good-smelling things, the people speaking a language he doesn't understand, and having Jasdero's hand in his]

[a faint tendril of curiosity, focused more on the surroundings for a moment; where's that?]

[China

the memory's not perfect, a bit soft around the edges and filled in where it's got holes in it, but the feeling is fond, and there's the memory of really good food]

[outright laughs at that, not unkindly] You remember places by the food, huh?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject