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[ there's something very earnest about lavi's questioning that's sweet? fond.]
...I think so. I didn't - well, I didn't know it was love, then, but. Do you know how I first met Lin?
[ his expression softens, all warm and nostalgic and - amused? he seems amused. ]
...I met him because I found his ecopod floating in space. A device that can hold a single person in space for an extended period of time - he was completely unconscious, completely - well, naked, and I found him out of sheer chance on my way out of the Eighth Galaxy for the first time. I stopped everything I was doing to bring his ecopod in and wake him up. I'd never met him before, I had no idea who he was, just that he was a handsome guy in the middle of space who had to have some kind of crazy mystery behind him.
I didn't know it then, but now, I know I fell in love with him as soon as I saw him. [ a little laugh. ] Like something out of a fairy tale.
...I think so. I didn't - well, I didn't know it was love, then, but. Do you know how I first met Lin?
[ his expression softens, all warm and nostalgic and - amused? he seems amused. ]
...I met him because I found his ecopod floating in space. A device that can hold a single person in space for an extended period of time - he was completely unconscious, completely - well, naked, and I found him out of sheer chance on my way out of the Eighth Galaxy for the first time. I stopped everything I was doing to bring his ecopod in and wake him up. I'd never met him before, I had no idea who he was, just that he was a handsome guy in the middle of space who had to have some kind of crazy mystery behind him.
I didn't know it then, but now, I know I fell in love with him as soon as I saw him. [ a little laugh. ] Like something out of a fairy tale.
Edited 2023-02-15 01:35 (UTC)
[...what the hell this is so romantic????? Bixing says "like something out of a fairy tale" and Lavi's just like "??? you mean it IS a fairy tale??"
But mostly he's observing Bixing's expressions as he shares his story, as if trying to pinpoint the emotion behind his words. This is an expression Lavi will never forget, now that he's committed it to memory. No matter what happens after, he thinks, he'll always remember Bixing talking about the man he loves.
...He's not sure if he understands still, precisely, but he thinks he gets it for Bixing...]
Yeah, that sounds way more romantic than my story. [but it's warm, and mostly teasing.
if anything, it kind of reminds him of when he first saw Lenalee... though he shelves that name away as soon as it pops up in his head --]
And surprising! I figured if anyone would be the Sleeping Beauty, then it'd be you.
But mostly he's observing Bixing's expressions as he shares his story, as if trying to pinpoint the emotion behind his words. This is an expression Lavi will never forget, now that he's committed it to memory. No matter what happens after, he thinks, he'll always remember Bixing talking about the man he loves.
...He's not sure if he understands still, precisely, but he thinks he gets it for Bixing...]
Yeah, that sounds way more romantic than my story. [but it's warm, and mostly teasing.
if anything, it kind of reminds him of when he first saw Lenalee... though he shelves that name away as soon as it pops up in his head --]
And surprising! I figured if anyone would be the Sleeping Beauty, then it'd be you.
[ oh, that got a little out of hand... his cheeks flush pink, and he waves his hand, now a little flustered. especially at the teasing. ]
Ah - that's, the point is, sometimes you aren't expecting it! I thought love at first sight was just a fantasy, but, I think it did actually happen to me, so I wouldn't discount it.
[ he's still thinking about this like it's science. but, anyway. ] And - no, definitely not. Have you seen Lin? He's so pretty! And, besides, if either of us are half dead all the time, it's always, always Lin.
Ah - that's, the point is, sometimes you aren't expecting it! I thought love at first sight was just a fantasy, but, I think it did actually happen to me, so I wouldn't discount it.
[ he's still thinking about this like it's science. but, anyway. ] And - no, definitely not. Have you seen Lin? He's so pretty! And, besides, if either of us are half dead all the time, it's always, always Lin.
[softe... Lavi just laughing at this,]
Think you're both good looking. [lavi can say this because he's not inflicted by a gay love potion to make it awkward]
But I guess that tells me it could have happened... Maybe I'm the type who falls out of love just as quickly.
Think you're both good looking. [lavi can say this because he's not inflicted by a gay love potion to make it awkward]
But I guess that tells me it could have happened... Maybe I'm the type who falls out of love just as quickly.
Thank you, Lavi, that's sweet. [ its okay he takes this like a son might say to their father so its all good
anyway. he puts a hand on his chin.. ]
...You know, now that you mention it... I drank something this week that I feel like made me act a little weird. Did you try anything different at the new bar?
anyway. he puts a hand on his chin.. ]
...You know, now that you mention it... I drank something this week that I feel like made me act a little weird. Did you try anything different at the new bar?
Oh, yeah. I tried that one drink, Number Nine?
[. . . . . .]
No...
[NO!!!!!]
[. . . . . .]
No...
[NO!!!!!]
What does it explain.
[WHAT'S THE REFERENCE? HE DOESN'T GET IT!!! DAD!!!!!!!!]
[WHAT'S THE REFERENCE? HE DOESN'T GET IT!!! DAD!!!!!!!!]
[pterodactyl screaming
me assuming that bixing is in their room but if he's not then lavi's there anyway,]
How's the arm?
[he seems less tense than he'd been when the whole group dropped out from the ferry, but he's still tense?]
me assuming that bixing is in their room but if he's not then lavi's there anyway,]
How's the arm?
[he seems less tense than he'd been when the whole group dropped out from the ferry, but he's still tense?]
[ this is fine. lu bixing is here! he seems okay. true to form, he doesn't have any injuries besides the bandage now wrapped around his arm, and is just sitting on the floor, rubbing his face, tiredly. he's got no shirt on because pulling a sweater on over his burned arm seems like a bad idea and his sleeve was a casualty of this entire event. ]
It doesn't really hurt. [ it doesn't. he gives him a little smile, though, tired, but there. ] Thank you for helping with Lin.
It doesn't really hurt. [ it doesn't. he gives him a little smile, though, tired, but there. ] Thank you for helping with Lin.
[Lavi will go fetch Bixing's blanket and drape it over his lap...]
He's a seriously tough guy... Don't know what I did that he wasn't doing already.
[also, he'll offer a glass of water]
He's a seriously tough guy... Don't know what I did that he wasn't doing already.
[also, he'll offer a glass of water]
Yeah.
[ there's a little derisiveness to the way he says that - a huff. he takes the blanket, though, giving him a small, grateful smile. ]
...Lin can take pain. He'd tell you the same thing himself. I think, if I didn't see it happen, he would've tried to play it off like he wasn't hurt.
[ there's a little derisiveness to the way he says that - a huff. he takes the blanket, though, giving him a small, grateful smile. ]
...Lin can take pain. He'd tell you the same thing himself. I think, if I didn't see it happen, he would've tried to play it off like he wasn't hurt.
[he huffs too at that, joining Bixing on the floor across from him.]
I know the type -- and he's definitely one of 'em.
[god knows Lavi's been surrounded by the type, has been the type. still,]
Doesn't mean he has to take it, even if he can. [...] But I bet you've already told him that, huh?
I know the type -- and he's definitely one of 'em.
[god knows Lavi's been surrounded by the type, has been the type. still,]
Doesn't mean he has to take it, even if he can. [...] But I bet you've already told him that, huh?
[This continues to sound like very familiar behavior.]
So you want him to admit that it hurts? So that he can confide in ya? Or to avoid getting hurt at all?
So you want him to admit that it hurts? So that he can confide in ya? Or to avoid getting hurt at all?
[ he. sighs. ]
Either, really. I'd like him to just stop running into situations recklessly without care for himself or the fact that people care about him, but he didn't do that here.
[ a pause. ]
...Lavi, we'd been apart for seventeen years before we came here. He - for all intents and purposes, Lin died in an explosion, and I didn't even get to say goodbye. [ the way he delivers this sounds like - it sounds like information that he's had to say before. a thousand times, maybe, but it never tastes any less bitter. ] But, right before, out of the blue, he came back. I don't know how he survived, or where he's been, I just know... I just know that I've already lost him because of that kind of thing, and I can't stand it when he does it.
[ ah - he stops himself, there, abruptly, like he's realizing. ]
I'm sorry. I don't mean to put this on you.
Either, really. I'd like him to just stop running into situations recklessly without care for himself or the fact that people care about him, but he didn't do that here.
[ a pause. ]
...Lavi, we'd been apart for seventeen years before we came here. He - for all intents and purposes, Lin died in an explosion, and I didn't even get to say goodbye. [ the way he delivers this sounds like - it sounds like information that he's had to say before. a thousand times, maybe, but it never tastes any less bitter. ] But, right before, out of the blue, he came back. I don't know how he survived, or where he's been, I just know... I just know that I've already lost him because of that kind of thing, and I can't stand it when he does it.
[ ah - he stops himself, there, abruptly, like he's realizing. ]
I'm sorry. I don't mean to put this on you.
[I can't STAND IT HERE LET ME OUT
Lavi listens with a growing mix of both alarm and concern because he can see more clearly now, thanks to Bixing, that this relationship between him and Jingheng is one that's indelibly left a mark -- grief is something Lavi is intimately aware of and also not, not really on the kind of scale he's trying to imagine now. But first things first,
He reaches over and
lightly pokes at Bixing's cheek.]
Conservation of energy. It's gotta go somewhere, right? I'm your roomie, we're supposed to share things.
[he made that up but it's the principle of the matter,]
Way I see it, he's got a lot to answer to. Shouldn't have to be in here, but maybe the locale will knock some sense into him.
[...]
It's not the second chance you guys deserve... But you gotta start somewhere, yeah?
Lavi listens with a growing mix of both alarm and concern because he can see more clearly now, thanks to Bixing, that this relationship between him and Jingheng is one that's indelibly left a mark -- grief is something Lavi is intimately aware of and also not, not really on the kind of scale he's trying to imagine now. But first things first,
He reaches over and
lightly pokes at Bixing's cheek.]
Conservation of energy. It's gotta go somewhere, right? I'm your roomie, we're supposed to share things.
[he made that up but it's the principle of the matter,]
Way I see it, he's got a lot to answer to. Shouldn't have to be in here, but maybe the locale will knock some sense into him.
[...]
It's not the second chance you guys deserve... But you gotta start somewhere, yeah?
[ 8C
lavi doesn't get a rando location. lavi actually gets their bedroom! lu bixing is in here today, sitting on his bed. popcorn is here too, quietly slinking around his back, but maybe most importantly...
he's got king bileygr in his lap, and he just looks very, very sad. ]
lavi doesn't get a rando location. lavi actually gets their bedroom! lu bixing is in here today, sitting on his bed. popcorn is here too, quietly slinking around his back, but maybe most importantly...
he's got king bileygr in his lap, and he just looks very, very sad. ]
[NOOOOO SCREAMS IN AGONY
Lavi pauses when he opens the door, then moves in, quietly closing the door behind him. He waits for a second or two, before taking a seat on the floor across Bixing. He'd sit next to him, but Popcorn is there... He doesn't want to alarm sweet Popcorn.
his eyes go from the book to Bixing, then down again.]
...Did you get to talk to her last night?
Lavi pauses when he opens the door, then moves in, quietly closing the door behind him. He waits for a second or two, before taking a seat on the floor across Bixing. He'd sit next to him, but Popcorn is there... He doesn't want to alarm sweet Popcorn.
his eyes go from the book to Bixing, then down again.]
...Did you get to talk to her last night?
[ popcorn doesn't seem to mind lavi as much nowadays - he's still easily spooked and him even sitting on the floor would've terrified him a week ago, but now, he just stays on the bed. progress? slow progress!
that's the cute thing. otherwise, he looks up at lavi from under his brow, a second late, like he was probably disassociating a little.
... and then he makes a soft noise, a little wounded, and shakes his head. ]
No.
[ it's always like this, isn't it? (captain turan's voice. we lost contact while you were...) ] Did you?
that's the cute thing. otherwise, he looks up at lavi from under his brow, a second late, like he was probably disassociating a little.
... and then he makes a soft noise, a little wounded, and shakes his head. ]
No.
[ it's always like this, isn't it? (captain turan's voice. we lost contact while you were...) ] Did you?
[lavi shakes his head, then winces, carefully bringing his hand up to cradle his chin.]
...Wasn't with her this time. Micah -- Nameless said she stayed at the bookstore with him last night.
[...]
Last time I talked to her properly was during the performance.
...Wasn't with her this time. Micah -- Nameless said she stayed at the bookstore with him last night.
[...]
Last time I talked to her properly was during the performance.
She took care of me a little, when we came back - brought me a cloak for my arm.
[ :(
the bookstore, though... that checks out. he huffs, a little, though it's humorless, and looks down at the book again. ]
...She really... you know, she signed it for me? Her book. It was a little bit of a joke - because I said I was going to be her biggest fan. [ lu bixing opens up king bileygr to the back cover - sure enough, there's a signature. ]
...If this is the pattern we're going to see here, I'm already tired of it.
[ :(
the bookstore, though... that checks out. he huffs, a little, though it's humorless, and looks down at the book again. ]
...She really... you know, she signed it for me? Her book. It was a little bit of a joke - because I said I was going to be her biggest fan. [ lu bixing opens up king bileygr to the back cover - sure enough, there's a signature. ]
...If this is the pattern we're going to see here, I'm already tired of it.
First edition, huh? Now that's an honor.
[ETO.... Lavi would crack a smile, and he does -- a little, soft and unsure, before it fades.]
...We won't know until tomorrow. Could be that someone aimed right for her, could be that they were on the defensive instead. Knowing the reason won't change anything, but... it's important that we know. For Eto.
[ETO.... Lavi would crack a smile, and he does -- a little, soft and unsure, before it fades.]
...We won't know until tomorrow. Could be that someone aimed right for her, could be that they were on the defensive instead. Knowing the reason won't change anything, but... it's important that we know. For Eto.
Mm.
[ the defensive thing rings true. look they all saw eto go a little unhinged at the end of trial last week.
... still. the conversation she had with lu bixing afterwards stuck with him, in the stubborn way that people often do. he folds his hands, setting them on the cover of the book, and takes a deep breath. inhale...exhale. ]
If we have to go through all of that again, then I think it's paramount that we solve it. I wish - it'd be nice, to not have to have the follow through of Sunday. [ can't we just throw people in jail - lbx, probably ] ...But, I'd like to solve it anyway. We should start thinking of places to investigate soon.
[ the defensive thing rings true. look they all saw eto go a little unhinged at the end of trial last week.
... still. the conversation she had with lu bixing afterwards stuck with him, in the stubborn way that people often do. he folds his hands, setting them on the cover of the book, and takes a deep breath. inhale...exhale. ]
If we have to go through all of that again, then I think it's paramount that we solve it. I wish - it'd be nice, to not have to have the follow through of Sunday. [ can't we just throw people in jail - lbx, probably ] ...But, I'd like to solve it anyway. We should start thinking of places to investigate soon.
[ as char once said: "TL;DR Priest gives you a kitten (LuLin) and lets you love it for a long time (like all of Part 4) and then she brutally rips it from your hands and throws it into space never to be seen again"
anyway. the cheek poke makes him laugh, a little, startled, as he cups his own cheek? silly.
but, he softens after, with a little laugh, rubbing his face. ]
Sure, yeah. We've gotta start somewhere. [ that's... a good way to put it, actually. even if he's been struggling and faltering with it, but, it's a start. the smile lu bixing gives him is a little more honest, this time, just the crook of his mouth as he ducks his head. ]
I'm the one who's supposed to give you advice, aren't I? You're going to put me out of a job here, Lavi. [ ... ] Thank you.
anyway. the cheek poke makes him laugh, a little, startled, as he cups his own cheek? silly.
but, he softens after, with a little laugh, rubbing his face. ]
Sure, yeah. We've gotta start somewhere. [ that's... a good way to put it, actually. even if he's been struggling and faltering with it, but, it's a start. the smile lu bixing gives him is a little more honest, this time, just the crook of his mouth as he ducks his head. ]
I'm the one who's supposed to give you advice, aren't I? You're going to put me out of a job here, Lavi. [ ... ] Thank you.
Edited (my hands are cold im making typos) 2023-02-18 14:54 (UTC)
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