[ space gay strength! he's holding lavi like he weighs like, two pounds, and once he's steadied so neither of them fall, bixing turns his head up and just beams at him. beams. like the sun. he has not put him back yet. ]
A little bit of column A, a lot of column B.
[ MY SON!!! there's a little bit of a lump in his throat - even though he's bright and happy, his words initially come out a little choked up. ] It's so - so good to see you, Lavi, I'm so glad - what happened to your arm? Are you okay?
...Lavi looks away, clearly a little flustered. look, bixing's expression is so powerful, and it tugs at the same heart strings that have been yanked on for the past week or so? it's a lot!!!
but it's not bad? conflicted...]
Yeah, I'm fine. Got it on one of those adventures. We went the day after you guys got back from yours -- but it's way better now. [SO DON'T FUSS!! he pats bixing on the head]
...M' glad to see you too. ...I thought I'd have to wait until the party to see you guys again.
[ good lavi deserves love!!! feel love!!! bixing's smiling about ear to ear even if his remaining eye is a little shiny, as he finally puts him down, though his brows do knit together immediately at the mention of the adventure. ]
We did too. To say this is a surprise is putting it lightly. [ he will take the headpat, though, and return the favor, tousling lavi's. ]
The room's been too empty without you, you know. You've been working hard - I'm sorry you had to go through something like that, again, too. I would've saved that thing I had if I knew you were hurt. Will you make sure you talk to Rose and see if you can get patched up?
[lavi's tentative look immediately turns into something warm and fond at that, leaning in to bump Bixing on his shoulder with his good one.]
Sure thing. I'll look for Rose later, promise.
But you don't have to worry too much, injuries heal a lot faster here! Plus, Ako and Chandra keep offering to kill me so I can come back all healed after three hours. But not like in a mean way, I think? You know what they're like.
It's okay. [ ok. this is allowed. bixing fusses a little, brushing a little dirt off of lavi's shoulders, and then squeezes one. ] Just try and think about those kinds of things a little bit for my sake, okay? I'm going to be the one dying of a heart attack next, otherwise.
[ but! with that aside. ]
We have so much to catch up on, don't we? I want to hear about how you've been.
[fussing.... Lavi tilts his head to the side, but he doesn't move away, just smiles as Bixing goes full dad mode, then he reaches up to put his hand over the one on his shoulder]
Don't worry, I'll drag Jing over to give ya a kiss if that happens.
[hehehe!!! fairy tale motif!! he remembers!!!]
Speaking of, we had to do a lot of intern work in double hell every week. Like the exhibitions in the zoo and the resort on frosty peak... Sorry, I wanted to write and make some nice things for you guys, but the others kinda went...
I wrote some stuff! Like, the frog thing. [MOVING ON] Oh, and the rooms! Me and Zag put some of those planets up for you guys. Um, he's the one who added the whips... He didn't tell me why when I asked.
But like the traps and stuff -- that was all Ako and Chandra.
Yeah... Not that Chandra finds anything 'fun', but Ako thought it'd be a blast if some of you guys got hurt.... I tried to neutralize the worst of the electricity he was zapping.
[WOW.... HE WANTS TO HAVE SEEN THAT.... >:( why can't the tv show pcs...]
Horrifying...?
[lavi like wow the whips must've been scary (you have no idea lavi]
I'm glad you guys didn't get stabbed by falling icicles. [he thinks. maybe that happened in pcs :/] Oh right, we made a lot of the drinks too! Um... I'm not sure what the others made, but Bob said my bite drink was pretty good for a newbie.
Me too. Kon warned us, thankfully, and Lin's got quick reflexes, so the one time we ran into one, we were able to dodge it with no trouble.
[ and it was very cool and heroic
as for the drinks - well, after this weekend, that's a little bit touchy, but lavi's bite one was harmless. ] Oh, that was you! I liked that one, it was good - it was cute, too. Good pick, good pick! It sounds like you guys were working really hard over here.
[Lavi's grin turns thoughtful, and he turns to look around for a moment, brow creasing as he takes in the crowd around them, then he'll gesture for Bixing to follow him.
As they walk, he glances aside at the other man.]
...Do you want to win, Bixing? At the party. I realized I never asked when I was still over there.
[ yeah. it's nice to just kind of relax into the city crowd, as they're moving along. lu bixing clearly fits into this environment - he soaks it up like a sponge, the familiarity of the city itself, the cadence of a raucous, loud place full of questionable people. he's thinking about that as they're walking, and as lavi asks that question.
he's thoughtful, for a moment. and then... ]
I'm terrified of dying. [ almost bluntly. ] I always have been. [ for so many reasons. lu bixing is the eighth galaxy, after all. their lives rest on his shoulders, in more ways than one; his guiding arrow has long been shot from its bow, and there's no turning back when the hopes of his people rest with him. there was a time, here, where he considered the alternative, but with both him and lin jingheng surviving the entire countdown, and... frankly, after his own countdown of sorts reset, there's no other option.
lu bixing glances up, for a moment, like he might see the stars, and absently reaches to touch the inside of his own arm, fingers brushing up against something under his sleeve. ]
... So, I do. With my chip, I'll have an advantage I didn't have when we first got here, and one I wasn't expecting. It should make things a little easier. I don't have any intentions of losing.
[ there's a pause, and he glances back to lavi. ]
But, I don't like the idea of a half-won victory. I have every intention of negotiating with Satan to ensure all of us are given that ticket out. It doesn't sit well with me to run off and leave you all behind.
[but it's not a sound of frustration, more immeasurably fond? His eye tracks the way Bixing touches his arm, eyebrow going up at the mention of a chip, but the rest of his face turns into a smile.]
If it helps, I don't think Satan's the hardass type. Dedicated to his job, for sure, and in keeping the ratings up so he can implement what he wants later down the line. [a politician type. he thinks bixing could relate to that,] But more importantly, he wants to have fun at his party.
[there's no disdain or suspicion in his voice, lavi is of the opinion that Satan is just a guy, and he likes him too, despite the circumstances.]
He's definitely expecting us to try and sabotage him. But in a 'game on' kind of way? So you've got a chance.
[ listen sometimes when you decide to do something you have already begun an action plan and you are unstoppable in achieving it. this is how lu bixing has lived his entire life, and he returns the smile with one of his own. ]
I got that feeling, too. He's got a reputation to uphold. Don't we all? [ there was a little camaraderie there. he can relate to managing a group of a little bit unruly teens and an entirely unruly... galaxy... hell.... it's real similar. ]
Right now, we'll have to come up with a few ways to make things work - the more plans we all come in with, the better. We have to find a way to prove both that he's not too lenient, and that all of you get to get out of here. But, hey. If there's anything I'm good at, it's negotiating! And with all of our skills, I think we'll be just fine.
[Lavi tilts his head a little, like he's taking the time to think of the picture Bixing is painting. It feels a little strange to see one in broad, optimistic strokes after all this time.]
So first up, winning the contest. You think he'll let you guys tag in?
[he stops, thinks]
Well, not you guys -- since you'll be competing with each other, but maybe us? Call a friend, so that one of us gets your drink for you. The fun part could be that you don't tell us which one it is.
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A little bit of column A, a lot of column B.
[ MY SON!!! there's a little bit of a lump in his throat - even though he's bright and happy, his words initially come out a little choked up. ] It's so - so good to see you, Lavi, I'm so glad - what happened to your arm? Are you okay?
no subject
...Lavi looks away, clearly a little flustered. look, bixing's expression is so powerful, and it tugs at the same heart strings that have been yanked on for the past week or so? it's a lot!!!
but it's not bad? conflicted...]
Yeah, I'm fine. Got it on one of those adventures. We went the day after you guys got back from yours -- but it's way better now. [SO DON'T FUSS!! he pats bixing on the head]
...M' glad to see you too. ...I thought I'd have to wait until the party to see you guys again.
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We did too. To say this is a surprise is putting it lightly. [ he will take the headpat, though, and return the favor, tousling lavi's. ]
The room's been too empty without you, you know. You've been working hard - I'm sorry you had to go through something like that, again, too. I would've saved that thing I had if I knew you were hurt. Will you make sure you talk to Rose and see if you can get patched up?
no subject
Sure thing. I'll look for Rose later, promise.
But you don't have to worry too much, injuries heal a lot faster here! Plus, Ako and Chandra keep offering to kill me so I can come back all healed after three hours. But not like in a mean way, I think? You know what they're like.
[INSANE, LIKE THE GY]
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Have a little bit more care for yourself, Lavi.
[ :T ]
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Sorry... I did say 'no' the last couple of times...
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[ but! with that aside. ]
We have so much to catch up on, don't we? I want to hear about how you've been.
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Don't worry, I'll drag Jing over to give ya a kiss if that happens.
[hehehe!!! fairy tale motif!! he remembers!!!]
Speaking of, we had to do a lot of intern work in double hell every week. Like the exhibitions in the zoo and the resort on frosty peak... Sorry, I wanted to write and make some nice things for you guys, but the others kinda went...
[he makes a hand gesture equivalent to 'extreme']
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a pause. ]
...Wait, you did what?
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averts his gaze]
I wrote some stuff! Like, the frog thing. [MOVING ON] Oh, and the rooms! Me and Zag put some of those planets up for you guys. Um, he's the one who added the whips... He didn't tell me why when I asked.
But like the traps and stuff -- that was all Ako and Chandra.
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help me ]
Oh, I was right. [ he mumbles, at first, about the zoo, and then ] ... Did they do it just for their version of fun....?
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Yeah... Not that Chandra finds anything 'fun', but Ako thought it'd be a blast if some of you guys got hurt.... I tried to neutralize the worst of the electricity he was zapping.
[UNHINGED SKRUNKLY]
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[ just fucking calls scaramouche out immediately for this behavior
anyway. he pats him on the shoulder. ]
I really, really liked your fairytale, Lavi! I thought it was cute. And... the room was cute if a little horrifying. It's the thought that counted!
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Horrifying...?
[lavi like wow the whips must've been scary (you have no idea lavi]
I'm glad you guys didn't get stabbed by falling icicles. [he thinks. maybe that happened in pcs :/] Oh right, we made a lot of the drinks too! Um... I'm not sure what the others made, but Bob said my bite drink was pretty good for a newbie.
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[ and it was very cool and heroic
as for the drinks - well, after this weekend, that's a little bit touchy, but lavi's bite one was harmless. ] Oh, that was you! I liked that one, it was good - it was cute, too. Good pick, good pick! It sounds like you guys were working really hard over here.
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As they walk, he glances aside at the other man.]
...Do you want to win, Bixing? At the party. I realized I never asked when I was still over there.
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he's thoughtful, for a moment. and then... ]
I'm terrified of dying. [ almost bluntly. ] I always have been. [ for so many reasons. lu bixing is the eighth galaxy, after all. their lives rest on his shoulders, in more ways than one; his guiding arrow has long been shot from its bow, and there's no turning back when the hopes of his people rest with him. there was a time, here, where he considered the alternative, but with both him and lin jingheng surviving the entire countdown, and... frankly, after his own countdown of sorts reset, there's no other option.
lu bixing glances up, for a moment, like he might see the stars, and absently reaches to touch the inside of his own arm, fingers brushing up against something under his sleeve. ]
... So, I do. With my chip, I'll have an advantage I didn't have when we first got here, and one I wasn't expecting. It should make things a little easier. I don't have any intentions of losing.
[ there's a pause, and he glances back to lavi. ]
But, I don't like the idea of a half-won victory. I have every intention of negotiating with Satan to ensure all of us are given that ticket out. It doesn't sit well with me to run off and leave you all behind.
no subject
[but it's not a sound of frustration, more immeasurably fond? His eye tracks the way Bixing touches his arm, eyebrow going up at the mention of a chip, but the rest of his face turns into a smile.]
If it helps, I don't think Satan's the hardass type. Dedicated to his job, for sure, and in keeping the ratings up so he can implement what he wants later down the line. [a politician type. he thinks bixing could relate to that,] But more importantly, he wants to have fun at his party.
[there's no disdain or suspicion in his voice, lavi is of the opinion that Satan is just a guy, and he likes him too, despite the circumstances.]
He's definitely expecting us to try and sabotage him. But in a 'game on' kind of way? So you've got a chance.
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I got that feeling, too. He's got a reputation to uphold. Don't we all? [ there was a little camaraderie there. he can relate to managing a group of a little bit unruly teens and an entirely unruly... galaxy... hell.... it's real similar. ]
Right now, we'll have to come up with a few ways to make things work - the more plans we all come in with, the better. We have to find a way to prove both that he's not too lenient, and that all of you get to get out of here. But, hey. If there's anything I'm good at, it's negotiating! And with all of our skills, I think we'll be just fine.
no subject
So first up, winning the contest. You think he'll let you guys tag in?
[he stops, thinks]
Well, not you guys -- since you'll be competing with each other, but maybe us? Call a friend, so that one of us gets your drink for you. The fun part could be that you don't tell us which one it is.