[This is fine, everything is fine. He adjusts his clothes and dons his hat, offering a pleasant goodbye for the evening to Freminet, and he feels fine. He walks the memorable route to Heizou's home, and he feels fine. He knocks on the door, taking a steadying breath as he does. And when Heizou opens the door, he offers a pleasant and flirty grin, even if it's a little tight with apprehension.]
Good evening, mon amour. I hope you had a good day?
[He's fine. Everything is fine. If he keeps telling himself that, maybe he'll believe it.]
[It's fine. Heizou definitely doesn't spend the time it takes for Lyney to get there going over all the different possibilities of how this might go, because everything is fine. He cleans himself up a little bit because that's just normal, completely normal. And by the time he's answering the door he has a tentative hold on his usual, casual mask, a flirty smile on his face and a playful note in his voice.]
I had a perfectly lovely day, my dear magician. Thank you for asking~
[He steps to one side to let Lyney come in, though not first without clocking that uncharacteristic tightness in the other's grin.]
[Lyney let’s out a small breath he didn’t know he was holding when Heizou uses that nickname again. If Heizou is comfortable enough to use pet names, surely things can’t be too awkward, right?]
Tea would be lovely, my dear detective. Thank you very much~
[He moves to take a seat, attempting to appear casual. However, the stiffness remains in his movements, and he keeps idly fidgeting and shifting a bit; small but subtle tells of his anxiousness.]
[Heizou shuts the door behind Lyney as he steps inside, then immediately heads for his little kitchen where he starts to make some tea. It all seems pretty casual on his end, too. Just normal, mundane things that he's done a million times before. But he does keep glancing over at Lyney, noticing the way he fidgets in his seat, and it makes it just a little harder to ignore the elephant in the room.
He only turns once the tea is steeping in the pot, and... It might be a bit telling that he chooses to lean back against the counter instead of bringing it all over to where Lyney is seated while they wait.]
You seem stressed. Long day?
[His tone is still light, still trying to keep any awkwardness from overwhelming them. But he's mostly asking to see if maybe Lyney wants to talk. If he just needs the opportunity, to have the excuse of "Heizou asked" to fall back on. But honestly, Heizou himself isn't sure what he hopes to hear.]
[Lyney tries to keep himself appearing composed and relaxed, and to those who wouldn't know him well, his act is flawless. He is well versed at keeping his face calm while his mind is buzzing, a skill honed through age and necessity. There are few who can see through the facade he puts up, and he actually thinks he did a good job of hiding the awkwardness he feels as the silence stretches. But then Heizou speaks, and Lyney pauses, briefly surprised, before casually chuckling and waving a hand.]
Ah, you know, just more of the same! The usual, you know?
[He stands then, taking slow, measured steps forward, swishing his hips as he moves to press up against Heizou, resting his hands on the other man's chest.]
But now that we're here, I'm just happy to see you again. Aren't you, mon amour?
[He punctuates his question by leaning in to give a slow, sensual kiss to the detective's lips. This should dispel any awkwardness, right? Pushing things back to the usual, it should work, right?]
[Heizou's head merely tilts to one side as he watches Lyney come closer, watching his every move with a calm, cool gaze. And as warm hands press against his chest, he lets one of his own slip around Lyney's waist, gently pulling him in a little closer. His eyes drop to stare at the other's mouth for a moment, and he'd be lying if he said he hadn't missed the feel of Lyney's lips on his.
So to answer the question he poses, Heizou just kisses him back with a soft, pleased sound in his throat. He's in no real hurry either, perfectly content with holding the magician close while their lips move together. It's familiar and warm and so nice, but-- it's off, somehow.]
I'm happy to see you too, but... [He murmurs the words out, their lips still brushing together as he speaks.] Is that all..?
[Heizou knows what Lyney's doing. And it would be so easy to just leave it at that, let themselves just get lost in sensation and pretend like nothing happened, like nothing's changed. So why does that unsettle him so much??]
[Lyney was hoping he would distract Heizou long enough to make him forget about the awkward air between them, but it seems that Heizou is insistent today. He gives Heizou a searching look, debating if he should answer or just kiss the man silly. Instead, he lets out a sigh, eyes closing briefly.]
Nothing gets past you, does it? It’s as attractive as it is unfortunate at times.
[He doesn’t separate completely, because he was missing that warmth of the other’s body, but he leans back a bit in Heizou’s hold.]
I had been hoping you would have forgotten about what happened, or at least ignored it.
[Heizou searches Lyney's face right back for that brief, tense moment, though he does relax a little when the magician relents. That remark at least earns him a smile that's half apologetic and half amused, and he even lets out a short, soft chuckle.]
I'll try to be less attractive next time~
[And even though Lyney hasn't stepped away, Heizou slips his other arm around his waist as well. Not to hold him down or anything like that. It's just meant as a bit of encouragement, to tell Lyney that Heizou doesn't want him to try to run from the conversation. That Heizou is right here.]
Unfortunately, my memory can be pretty sharp. But if I'm overstepping...
[He trails off there, with a little shake of his head. He hopes he isn't. He hopes Lyney will talk to him. He doesn't know where that might ultimately take them, but intuition says it could be worth the leap.]
I guess I'd really just... like to get to know you better, if that's all right. [Outside of the bedroom, anyway.]
[Lyney can appreciate the levity with which Heizou talks, a wry smile forming on his own face as Heizou chuckles. But what he does appreciate is that while they have stepped back, Heizou is still holding him close. Not repelled by Lyney, not wanting to push him away, not wanting to trap him or hold him prisoner. But rather, he feels like Heizou is holding him steady and secure, comforting rather than confining. It helps to ease Lyney a bit, help some of those nerves calm down.]
[This close to Heizou, Lyney can't easily hide the genuine surprise at Heizou's words. Get to know him better? Such words were always loaded and heavy, or misguided and short-sighted. Lyney hesitates, his fingers idly playing with the stray ends of Heizou's hair at the nape of the other man's neck, focusing less on Heizou's eyes and more on the choker on his neck.]
Are you certain about that? I've heard it said before that it's never good to meet your heroes... or those you idolize in some way. And most who arrive at a show aren't terribly interested in what goes on behind the curtains of the stage.
[The words are playful, but his tone is surprisingly serious. People in Fontaine always wanted to know more about their local celebrities, but never on a deep and personal level; they usually wanted to know dirty little secrets, useful information, or hidden tidbits of juicy gossip. Or they wanted to get to know the version of others that they wished to see, get close while still wearing pretty masks and speaking pleasant words. Rarely, if ever, did they want to peek under the mask and see the ugly, vulnerable truth beneath.]
[It's a little bit surprising - or maybe it isn't really surprising at all - to realize that Heizou completely understands where Lyney's hesitance comes from. They're both used to keeping a safe emotional distance from people, to protect others just as much as it is to protect themselves. So maybe that's why it was so easy for them both to come to this silent agreement that this entire fling was just that; a simple fling, a fun time with no real strings attached, just long nights of getting to feel good together. They'd been having fun, it was light and easy, flirting and banter and sex that they could easily pick up or put down at a moment's notice.
Heizou doesn't even know exactly how, but something about what happened on Norhpip changed that. He'd hated seeing Lyney feel haunted by a deep-rooted fear he knew nothing about, that he felt powerless to help him with. Despite all the time they've spent together he knows so little about the magician, and for once that truly bothers him.]
Well... I am a detective. All my best work is done behind the scenes.
[His head tilts slightly then, like he's trying to get Lyney to meet his eyes, just before gently bumping their foreheads together. He realizes vaguely that this is probably asking a lot, but...]
I just want you to know you really can trust me. So if something like that happens again, I can help. You don't have to tell me every little thing, but- [And here he tries for a reassuring smile and a little wink.] -I am great with secrets.
[Genuinely, Lyney almost doesn't look up, doesn't meet Heizou's gaze. Not until their foreheads bump together, and he blinks in surprise as he looks up at Heizou. He... really wanted to hear him out? Even after seeing him panicked and vulnerable, lost in a fit of his own fears fuelled by an island of mistrust? It was hard to believe, and it has Lyney knocked off-kilter.]
I...
[Lyney pauses, frowning, but it's not in anger or frustration. What flickers across his face, ever so briefly flashes in his eyes, is uncertainty and fear. Fear of what Heizou will say if he knows who Lyney truly is, uncertainty of if their relationship will survive it. Heizou is asking for a lot, but what can he really tell him? What could he possibly handle knowing? What could their strange relationship handle knowing, fleeting and casual as it is? Normally, he'd back away, pull the walls up and hide behind his mask. But... hadn't his experience with the Traveller taught him otherwise? That not everyone would leave the auditorium once the audience cleared? Didn't Father herself tell him that he needed to trust others more..? And hadn't Heizou helped pull Lyney back into stability when he was caught in the throes of distrust and trapped in the claws of panic caused by traumas he refuses to acknowledge?]
[Lyney bites his lip, and remains silent for a long time. But eventually, he takes a breath, looking Heizou in the eye as he speaks.]
I... don't know if I can talk about it all at once. It's just...
[Because, truly... there was a lot. A lot he's gone through, a lot of secrets he's keeping, a lot of uncertainty about the whole thing.]
[Heizou just waits patiently for him to come to his decision, one hand moving to rub slow, soothing circles into the small of his back just to reassure him that he's still listening. There's another moment where he worries he's overstepped, and he's so tempted to take it all back just for the sake of Lyney's comfort. He falls quiet and contemplative for so long that it further confirms a suspicion Heizou's had about him for a while now; that there's so much more going on behind his smile than he's willing to let on. Somehow it's appropriate that he's chosen to become a magician, where shrouding himself in mystery and theatrics is simply par for the course.
But when Lyney finally meets his gaze, Heizou feels an instant wave of relief. He knows it's not much, just opening a window where a door can't be opened yet, and honestly he's still not quite sure what this turns their strange situationship into... but it's enough.]
It's a lot, I know... And that's okay. I'm not asking you to tell me everything right away. Just... Maybe we can be a little more open with each other from now on?
[The look he gives Lyney is... a bit hopeful. Anxious and vulnerable, but hopeful. Maybe we can actually be proper friends.] Does that sound doable..?
[There's some relief that Lyney feels as well, knowing that Heizou is willing to hear him out. That the other man wants to know more. He's not sure just how much Heizou wants to know, not sure how much he could say... but he's willing to try. Baby steps, right?]
[He takes a breath, slowly letting it out as he leans more into Heizou's hold. After a brief pause, he nods.]
Well... what would you like to know..?
[Maybe if Heizou sets the stage, he can go from there.]
[That's deeply encouraging, and it prompts Heizou to smile again. He frees up one hand so that he can reach up to tuck some stray hair behind Lyney's ear, so he can better gaze right into those beautiful amethyst eyes. They've locked eyes like this many times before, usually while deep in the throes of passion, but this... This is different somehow. Heizou's trying to find so much more than how to make him come undone with pleasure. It's a kind of curiosity that almost seems much more intimate.]
For now, how about we start with an apology...
[His fingers brush over Lyney's cheek, his touch soft as he idly traces the outline of his jaw.]
I'm sorry I upset you back on Norhpip. I really don't know what came over me.
[Lyney holds still as Heizou brushes his hair away to look at his eyes, his own wide and surprised. Sure this isn't the first time they've stared into each other's eyes, but this time it feels... more vulnerable. Softer. It draws a pink flush to his face, one that is usually absent when they're together for their casual hookups. How is it that a simple, soft touch has his heart skipping more than having Heizou buried deep within him?]
[He glances down a bit sheepishly, but forces himself to look back up at Heizou when those fingers run across his jaw.]
I'm sorry as well. I just... I kept doubting everyone, and everything... and then when we fought, I just...
[He bites his lip, needing a moment to collect himself before he continues.]
[Heizou's watching him so carefully, so much more attentively than he ever has before, wanting to capture every little detail of what Lyney says and how he says it. Because he remembers all too well how the other's anger had started to melt into terror, and that's something Heizou doesn't ever want to be the cause of again.]
What kind of...?
[No. He stops himself from finishing that question with a little shake of his head. It might be too much for Lyney to share right now, and he may have an inkling or two about what kind of bad memory it might have been to cause that kind of reaction.]
Was it just because we were fighting, or... Was it something specific that I did?
[If it was the latter, he wants to know what it was. So he can avoid ever doing it to Lyney again.]
[There's a brief moment of wariness and nervousness as Heizou begins to ask that question. But then he lets out a small sigh as Heizou pivots, asking a question he can answer more comfortably. And honestly, he's grateful for that. He's grateful for the care Heizou is offering. It's something that others in the rumour-hungry Fontaine would probably not offer.]
Well...
[He pauses, frowning as he looks to the side again. Then he looks over to the living room, before back to Heizou.]
[That's all Heizou needs to see to know he made the right call. And when Lyney looks over to the living room, he understands immediately. So he nods, offering a little smile.]
Of course. Let's-- Oh, the tea!
[He straightens up a little as he remembers it, finally pulling himself away from Lyney so he can look around the kitchen for where he'd left the teapot. It's probably been steeping for too long now, and it's definitely cooled down quite a bit...]
Ah... You can go ahead and sit down, I'll just reheat this a bit first. Okay?
[Honestly, Lyney all but forgot about the tea as well, but right now it sounds delightful. He nods and retreats to the couch, settling down on the plush cushions comfortably. He probably should sit more respectfully, act more like the guest he is. But by the time Heizou returns with the tea he's all but curled up on the couch, even going so far as to tug a nearby blanket closer to him. It's not really wrapped around him, but more... held close, like a comfort object.]
[Not unlike a cat seeking a security object, but don't let him hear you say that.]
[He makes himself busy with the tea again, removing the bag and letting the pot heat back up. It doesn't take very long, and soon enough he's bringing the pot and two cups over to the living room where Lyney is waiting. Something about seeing the magician settled in on the couch fills Heizou with a funny warm feeling, a kind of amused affection, and it makes him smile a bit as he hands Lyney a filled teacup.
Heizou takes the spot next to Lyney on the couch, his own cup of tea in his hands. He's being careful not to crowd into his space, just in case he needs that to feel comfortable enough to talk, but he stays close enough that it'll be easy for the magician to scoot in closer if he wants to.]
Comfy? [His eyes fall back on the blanket Lyney's clutching, and he can't keep the amusement out of his face.] Is that enough, or would you prefer a pillow?
[Lyney accepts the cup gratefully with a small murmur of thanks, and when Heizou sits down Lyney hesitates for a moment before subtly scooting a bit closer to the detective.]
Ah, no, this is good, thank you. You're already offering me too much.
[It's a polite comment, but the warm feeling that bubbles in his chest is genuine. And between the cup of tea, the blanket in his grasp, and Heizou at his side, he's feeling... oddly comfortable. Secure in a way he doesn't usually find outside of the comfort he receives from his siblings.]
[Idly rubbing his fingers against the rim of his cup, Lyney looks into it as he takes his time finding the words. It takes a little while, but finally he speaks.]
It wasn't... you specifically. [He pauses, a frown forming on his face before he makes himself continue.] It wasn't even you pinning me down. It was just... feeling like I couldn't escape. It just... set something off, I suppose.
[Even as Lyney turns down the offer for a pillow, Heizou frees up a hand to reach over and sort of... fluff up the cushions behind him. Just to give him even more of a comfortable little nest to settle into. Maybe also as an excuse to scoot himself ever so slightly closer.
And of course he gives the magician all the time he needs to search for the right words, patiently sipping at his own cup of tea and watching him with a patient, curious gaze. Even once Lyney starts talking that doesn't change, Heizou listening quietly to everything he has to say. It's second nature for him to also listen to what he isn't saying, clocking the little frown and the way his fingers rub along the edge of his cup, like he's carefully weighing what he can and cannot share.]
...I didn't mean to make you feel like that. You just got so frantic, I was worried you were gonna hurt yourself.
[His head tilts slightly, eyebrows pinching slightly as a thought comes to him.] Do you remember what was going through your head? What you thought I might do to you?
[Honestly the small nest Heizou’s provided for him really does help him feel safe and secure. And with how the two are carefully scooting closer, it’s not a big surprise when they are suddenly brushing shoulders with one another. But while a conversation like this might encourage Lyney to remain silent, to hide and bluff, he finds himself… wanting to open up to Heizou. Give him an explanation for his strange behaviour earlier. A dry, humourless chuckle escapes him.]
Ah… it wouldn’t be the first time I did something reckless for the sake of my family.
[He says it almost like it’s a wry inside joke, but his expression is far away. In fact, it’s clear he isn’t even looking at his tea, but rather through it.]
I just… was convinced that I wouldn’t see my family again if I didn’t speak to that giant crab. Or that anyone who was in my way trying to stop me was an enemy.
[Lynry pauses, taking a deep breath as he does, and when he begins, his voice is rather flat and… tired-sounding, really.]
I… my younger brother Freminet is here, you know that. But my twin sister Lynette… she’s still back home in Fontaine. I know she’s fine, and that time works differently here, but… it’s just been so long since I saw her. I haven’t been separated like this from her since…
[His expression flickers, memories briefly flashing in his mind’s eye. He forced himself to continue so as not to remain dredged in painful memories.]
My sister and I… our parents died when we were young, and the streets of Fontaine weren’t exactly the kindest place for orphans. I’ve always been trying to keep my sister safe. Same with Freminet; he’s not our blood brother, but one we met at the orphanage we grew up in. I’ve always been there for them, doing my best to protect them… and I just thought…
[The tea in the cup that Lyney is holding ripples a bit with the subtle trembling of Lyney’s hands.]
I thought I wasn’t going to see them again. I thought they’d be in danger again. And that terrified me.
[Heizou doesn't miss any of it. The dry laugh. The faraway look. The sudden exhaustion in his voice. The way he avoids finishing that first thought. Keep my sister safe. In danger again.
Lyney is a good older brother. Especially in the absence of parents to take proper care of them as children, he's devoted himself entirely to the care of his siblings whatever the cost to himself. That much is painfully obvious to Heizou. Being away from his twin sister of all things must eat him up inside, especially when something clearly happened to her the last time they'd been separated for a certain amount of time. It's not a stretch to believe that experience has left Lyney with a scar that may never go away. It's not even an unusual situation.
Just a terrible one.
Very quietly, Heizou reaches out to press one hand over Lyney's. Just to help with the way he can see the magician's hands shaking ever so slightly, to reassure him that Heizou is listening intently and is there to support him. That it's okay for Lyney to lean on someone else for once. Even if it's just for now.]
That island was... doing something to us. I couldn't tell you how, but it was so easy to jump to the worst conclusions about everyone around us for absolutely no reason. I'm so sorry that that's where it took you.
[He says it as if it hadn't done the same to him. As if Lyney hadn't said things to him that struck that same chord within him and launched them into fighting each other the way they had. Because Heizou is focused on his dear magician first and foremost, because he can see that there's so much going on behind the smoke and mirrors, and that's so much more important to him.]
But it's okay, now... I know how hard it is to believe, but I really do believe it when they tell us that time works differently here than at home. Your sister is safe. And you'll all be together again, I know it.
[His past has definitely left scars, scars that honestly have never properly healed. It was obvious when Wriothesley so casually dangled the safety of his siblings in front of him back in the Fortress of Meropide, and it was obvious on that island. It's a scar that Lyney tries his best to hide under smoke and mirrors, glamour and flamboyance. But just like a magic show, if one were to look carefully from the right angle, the truth behind the illusion would be revealed. All it took was the right amount of external forces to trigger him.]
[It says how far in his mind he is, because when Heizou rests a hand on his Lyney actually blinks in surprise, looking up at the detective as if he forgot he was there. He looks into those emerald eyes with his own quivering gaze, and somehow... he feels he can trust the other's words. He carefully adjusts his grip to hold Heizou's hand more properly in his own.]
I know time works differently here. As strange as it is, I... went back home once. I can't tell you how it happened, or how I ended up back here, but... it was as if no time had passed at all, both when I left and when I returned. In fact, only about a day or two had passed here. So I know that time works much differently here, and I know Lynette is safe. But... on that island, I couldn't convince myself of that.
[Lyney grips Heizou's hand a little tighter, looking away.]
And... I'm sorry as well. I said such horrible things to you... things I believed at the time, but I know aren't true. You're not the horrible person I'd made you out to be. And... mon dieu, I shot at you...
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book2thehead
Text > Action
Date: 9 Apr 2024 04:25 (UTC)[This is fine, everything is fine. He adjusts his clothes and dons his hat, offering a pleasant goodbye for the evening to Freminet, and he feels fine. He walks the memorable route to Heizou's home, and he feels fine. He knocks on the door, taking a steadying breath as he does. And when Heizou opens the door, he offers a pleasant and flirty grin, even if it's a little tight with apprehension.]
Good evening, mon amour. I hope you had a good day?
[He's fine. Everything is fine. If he keeps telling himself that, maybe he'll believe it.]
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Date: 9 Apr 2024 05:01 (UTC)[It's fine. Heizou definitely doesn't spend the time it takes for Lyney to get there going over all the different possibilities of how this might go, because everything is fine. He cleans himself up a little bit because that's just normal, completely normal. And by the time he's answering the door he has a tentative hold on his usual, casual mask, a flirty smile on his face and a playful note in his voice.]
I had a perfectly lovely day, my dear magician. Thank you for asking~
[He steps to one side to let Lyney come in, though not first without clocking that uncharacteristic tightness in the other's grin.]
Can I get you something to drink? Tea?
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Date: 9 Apr 2024 06:14 (UTC)Tea would be lovely, my dear detective. Thank you very much~
[He moves to take a seat, attempting to appear casual. However, the stiffness remains in his movements, and he keeps idly fidgeting and shifting a bit; small but subtle tells of his anxiousness.]
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Date: 9 Apr 2024 06:39 (UTC)He only turns once the tea is steeping in the pot, and... It might be a bit telling that he chooses to lean back against the counter instead of bringing it all over to where Lyney is seated while they wait.]
You seem stressed. Long day?
[His tone is still light, still trying to keep any awkwardness from overwhelming them. But he's mostly asking to see if maybe Lyney wants to talk. If he just needs the opportunity, to have the excuse of "Heizou asked" to fall back on. But honestly, Heizou himself isn't sure what he hopes to hear.]
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Date: 10 Apr 2024 03:37 (UTC)Ah, you know, just more of the same! The usual, you know?
[He stands then, taking slow, measured steps forward, swishing his hips as he moves to press up against Heizou, resting his hands on the other man's chest.]
But now that we're here, I'm just happy to see you again. Aren't you, mon amour?
[He punctuates his question by leaning in to give a slow, sensual kiss to the detective's lips. This should dispel any awkwardness, right? Pushing things back to the usual, it should work, right?]
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Date: 10 Apr 2024 07:50 (UTC)So to answer the question he poses, Heizou just kisses him back with a soft, pleased sound in his throat. He's in no real hurry either, perfectly content with holding the magician close while their lips move together. It's familiar and warm and so nice, but-- it's off, somehow.]
I'm happy to see you too, but... [He murmurs the words out, their lips still brushing together as he speaks.] Is that all..?
[Heizou knows what Lyney's doing. And it would be so easy to just leave it at that, let themselves just get lost in sensation and pretend like nothing happened, like nothing's changed. So why does that unsettle him so much??]
no subject
Date: 10 Apr 2024 17:36 (UTC)Nothing gets past you, does it? It’s as attractive as it is unfortunate at times.
[He doesn’t separate completely, because he was missing that warmth of the other’s body, but he leans back a bit in Heizou’s hold.]
I had been hoping you would have forgotten about what happened, or at least ignored it.
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Date: 10 Apr 2024 21:37 (UTC)I'll try to be less attractive next time~
[And even though Lyney hasn't stepped away, Heizou slips his other arm around his waist as well. Not to hold him down or anything like that. It's just meant as a bit of encouragement, to tell Lyney that Heizou doesn't want him to try to run from the conversation. That Heizou is right here.]
Unfortunately, my memory can be pretty sharp. But if I'm overstepping...
[He trails off there, with a little shake of his head. He hopes he isn't. He hopes Lyney will talk to him. He doesn't know where that might ultimately take them, but intuition says it could be worth the leap.]
I guess I'd really just... like to get to know you better, if that's all right. [Outside of the bedroom, anyway.]
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Date: 14 Apr 2024 23:19 (UTC)[This close to Heizou, Lyney can't easily hide the genuine surprise at Heizou's words. Get to know him better? Such words were always loaded and heavy, or misguided and short-sighted. Lyney hesitates, his fingers idly playing with the stray ends of Heizou's hair at the nape of the other man's neck, focusing less on Heizou's eyes and more on the choker on his neck.]
Are you certain about that? I've heard it said before that it's never good to meet your heroes... or those you idolize in some way. And most who arrive at a show aren't terribly interested in what goes on behind the curtains of the stage.
[The words are playful, but his tone is surprisingly serious. People in Fontaine always wanted to know more about their local celebrities, but never on a deep and personal level; they usually wanted to know dirty little secrets, useful information, or hidden tidbits of juicy gossip. Or they wanted to get to know the version of others that they wished to see, get close while still wearing pretty masks and speaking pleasant words. Rarely, if ever, did they want to peek under the mask and see the ugly, vulnerable truth beneath.]
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Date: 15 Apr 2024 00:29 (UTC)Heizou doesn't even know exactly how, but something about what happened on Norhpip changed that. He'd hated seeing Lyney feel haunted by a deep-rooted fear he knew nothing about, that he felt powerless to help him with. Despite all the time they've spent together he knows so little about the magician, and for once that truly bothers him.]
Well... I am a detective. All my best work is done behind the scenes.
[His head tilts slightly then, like he's trying to get Lyney to meet his eyes, just before gently bumping their foreheads together. He realizes vaguely that this is probably asking a lot, but...]
I just want you to know you really can trust me. So if something like that happens again, I can help. You don't have to tell me every little thing, but- [And here he tries for a reassuring smile and a little wink.] -I am great with secrets.
no subject
Date: 15 Apr 2024 05:07 (UTC)I...
[Lyney pauses, frowning, but it's not in anger or frustration. What flickers across his face, ever so briefly flashes in his eyes, is uncertainty and fear. Fear of what Heizou will say if he knows who Lyney truly is, uncertainty of if their relationship will survive it. Heizou is asking for a lot, but what can he really tell him? What could he possibly handle knowing? What could their strange relationship handle knowing, fleeting and casual as it is? Normally, he'd back away, pull the walls up and hide behind his mask. But... hadn't his experience with the Traveller taught him otherwise? That not everyone would leave the auditorium once the audience cleared? Didn't Father herself tell him that he needed to trust others more..? And hadn't Heizou helped pull Lyney back into stability when he was caught in the throes of distrust and trapped in the claws of panic caused by traumas he refuses to acknowledge?]
[Lyney bites his lip, and remains silent for a long time. But eventually, he takes a breath, looking Heizou in the eye as he speaks.]
I... don't know if I can talk about it all at once. It's just...
[Because, truly... there was a lot. A lot he's gone through, a lot of secrets he's keeping, a lot of uncertainty about the whole thing.]
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Date: 15 Apr 2024 07:45 (UTC)But when Lyney finally meets his gaze, Heizou feels an instant wave of relief. He knows it's not much, just opening a window where a door can't be opened yet, and honestly he's still not quite sure what this turns their strange situationship into... but it's enough.]
It's a lot, I know... And that's okay. I'm not asking you to tell me everything right away. Just... Maybe we can be a little more open with each other from now on?
[The look he gives Lyney is... a bit hopeful. Anxious and vulnerable, but hopeful. Maybe we can actually be proper friends.] Does that sound doable..?
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Date: 21 Apr 2024 21:15 (UTC)[He takes a breath, slowly letting it out as he leans more into Heizou's hold. After a brief pause, he nods.]
Well... what would you like to know..?
[Maybe if Heizou sets the stage, he can go from there.]
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Date: 22 Apr 2024 01:59 (UTC)For now, how about we start with an apology...
[His fingers brush over Lyney's cheek, his touch soft as he idly traces the outline of his jaw.]
I'm sorry I upset you back on Norhpip. I really don't know what came over me.
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Date: 22 Apr 2024 02:20 (UTC)[He glances down a bit sheepishly, but forces himself to look back up at Heizou when those fingers run across his jaw.]
I'm sorry as well. I just... I kept doubting everyone, and everything... and then when we fought, I just...
[He bites his lip, needing a moment to collect himself before he continues.]
It brought up bad memories, I suppose.
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Date: 22 Apr 2024 02:52 (UTC)What kind of...?
[No. He stops himself from finishing that question with a little shake of his head. It might be too much for Lyney to share right now, and he may have an inkling or two about what kind of bad memory it might have been to cause that kind of reaction.]
Was it just because we were fighting, or... Was it something specific that I did?
[If it was the latter, he wants to know what it was. So he can avoid ever doing it to Lyney again.]
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Date: 22 Apr 2024 03:11 (UTC)Well...
[He pauses, frowning as he looks to the side again. Then he looks over to the living room, before back to Heizou.]
Is it... okay if we sat down?
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Date: 22 Apr 2024 03:43 (UTC)Of course. Let's-- Oh, the tea!
[He straightens up a little as he remembers it, finally pulling himself away from Lyney so he can look around the kitchen for where he'd left the teapot. It's probably been steeping for too long now, and it's definitely cooled down quite a bit...]
Ah... You can go ahead and sit down, I'll just reheat this a bit first. Okay?
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Date: 22 Apr 2024 05:25 (UTC)[Honestly, Lyney all but forgot about the tea as well, but right now it sounds delightful. He nods and retreats to the couch, settling down on the plush cushions comfortably. He probably should sit more respectfully, act more like the guest he is. But by the time Heizou returns with the tea he's all but curled up on the couch, even going so far as to tug a nearby blanket closer to him. It's not really wrapped around him, but more... held close, like a comfort object.]
[Not unlike a cat seeking a security object, but don't let him hear you say that.]
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Date: 22 Apr 2024 06:56 (UTC)Heizou takes the spot next to Lyney on the couch, his own cup of tea in his hands. He's being careful not to crowd into his space, just in case he needs that to feel comfortable enough to talk, but he stays close enough that it'll be easy for the magician to scoot in closer if he wants to.]
Comfy? [His eyes fall back on the blanket Lyney's clutching, and he can't keep the amusement out of his face.] Is that enough, or would you prefer a pillow?
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Date: 26 Apr 2024 05:17 (UTC)Ah, no, this is good, thank you. You're already offering me too much.
[It's a polite comment, but the warm feeling that bubbles in his chest is genuine. And between the cup of tea, the blanket in his grasp, and Heizou at his side, he's feeling... oddly comfortable. Secure in a way he doesn't usually find outside of the comfort he receives from his siblings.]
[Idly rubbing his fingers against the rim of his cup, Lyney looks into it as he takes his time finding the words. It takes a little while, but finally he speaks.]
It wasn't... you specifically. [He pauses, a frown forming on his face before he makes himself continue.] It wasn't even you pinning me down. It was just... feeling like I couldn't escape. It just... set something off, I suppose.
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Date: 29 Apr 2024 20:14 (UTC)And of course he gives the magician all the time he needs to search for the right words, patiently sipping at his own cup of tea and watching him with a patient, curious gaze. Even once Lyney starts talking that doesn't change, Heizou listening quietly to everything he has to say. It's second nature for him to also listen to what he isn't saying, clocking the little frown and the way his fingers rub along the edge of his cup, like he's carefully weighing what he can and cannot share.]
...I didn't mean to make you feel like that. You just got so frantic, I was worried you were gonna hurt yourself.
[His head tilts slightly, eyebrows pinching slightly as a thought comes to him.] Do you remember what was going through your head? What you thought I might do to you?
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Date: 29 Apr 2024 21:47 (UTC)Ah… it wouldn’t be the first time I did something reckless for the sake of my family.
[He says it almost like it’s a wry inside joke, but his expression is far away. In fact, it’s clear he isn’t even looking at his tea, but rather through it.]
I just… was convinced that I wouldn’t see my family again if I didn’t speak to that giant crab. Or that anyone who was in my way trying to stop me was an enemy.
[Lynry pauses, taking a deep breath as he does, and when he begins, his voice is rather flat and… tired-sounding, really.]
I… my younger brother Freminet is here, you know that. But my twin sister Lynette… she’s still back home in Fontaine. I know she’s fine, and that time works differently here, but… it’s just been so long since I saw her. I haven’t been separated like this from her since…
[His expression flickers, memories briefly flashing in his mind’s eye. He forced himself to continue so as not to remain dredged in painful memories.]
My sister and I… our parents died when we were young, and the streets of Fontaine weren’t exactly the kindest place for orphans. I’ve always been trying to keep my sister safe. Same with Freminet; he’s not our blood brother, but one we met at the orphanage we grew up in. I’ve always been there for them, doing my best to protect them… and I just thought…
[The tea in the cup that Lyney is holding ripples a bit with the subtle trembling of Lyney’s hands.]
I thought I wasn’t going to see them again. I thought they’d be in danger again. And that terrified me.
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Date: 29 Apr 2024 22:12 (UTC)Lyney is a good older brother. Especially in the absence of parents to take proper care of them as children, he's devoted himself entirely to the care of his siblings whatever the cost to himself. That much is painfully obvious to Heizou. Being away from his twin sister of all things must eat him up inside, especially when something clearly happened to her the last time they'd been separated for a certain amount of time. It's not a stretch to believe that experience has left Lyney with a scar that may never go away. It's not even an unusual situation.
Just a terrible one.
Very quietly, Heizou reaches out to press one hand over Lyney's. Just to help with the way he can see the magician's hands shaking ever so slightly, to reassure him that Heizou is listening intently and is there to support him. That it's okay for Lyney to lean on someone else for once. Even if it's just for now.]
That island was... doing something to us. I couldn't tell you how, but it was so easy to jump to the worst conclusions about everyone around us for absolutely no reason. I'm so sorry that that's where it took you.
[He says it as if it hadn't done the same to him. As if Lyney hadn't said things to him that struck that same chord within him and launched them into fighting each other the way they had. Because Heizou is focused on his dear magician first and foremost, because he can see that there's so much going on behind the smoke and mirrors, and that's so much more important to him.]
But it's okay, now... I know how hard it is to believe, but I really do believe it when they tell us that time works differently here than at home. Your sister is safe. And you'll all be together again, I know it.
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Date: 30 Apr 2024 03:24 (UTC)[It says how far in his mind he is, because when Heizou rests a hand on his Lyney actually blinks in surprise, looking up at the detective as if he forgot he was there. He looks into those emerald eyes with his own quivering gaze, and somehow... he feels he can trust the other's words. He carefully adjusts his grip to hold Heizou's hand more properly in his own.]
I know time works differently here. As strange as it is, I... went back home once. I can't tell you how it happened, or how I ended up back here, but... it was as if no time had passed at all, both when I left and when I returned. In fact, only about a day or two had passed here. So I know that time works much differently here, and I know Lynette is safe. But... on that island, I couldn't convince myself of that.
[Lyney grips Heizou's hand a little tighter, looking away.]
And... I'm sorry as well. I said such horrible things to you... things I believed at the time, but I know aren't true. You're not the horrible person I'd made you out to be. And... mon dieu, I shot at you...
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