heartsteals | AWASH IC INBOX

[ frankly, it's a sign of how much Cairngorm cares about him that they don't immediately roast him for giving them these ugly little roots - he's well aware of that, and he laughs at their polite restraint, clearly not offended in the least. ]

Not quite. Not yet, at least. They're bulbs.

[ he thinks he explained a little bit of this to them in the past, but probably not in detail, so he continues. ]

Bury them in the ground and give them plenty of water, and they'll grow into flowers. It'll take a few months, of course, but if you take proper care of them, they'll bloom beautifully. [ a smile. ] You've never done it before, right? We can grow them together.

[ Hm... that... does not sound like something they want to do. They remember when he brought up the idea of growing flowers back when they visited the mansion he lived in; back then, they'd thought it was a dumb idea, considering flowers live for such a short amount of time. Even though they've grown past thinking human lives are short and insignificant, the same can't be said for a measly plant that sometimes can't even live a full year. ]

But... why?

[ Is there a point to that...? They frown a little, confused by his present and why he gave it to them. It's not like they're trying to be unappreciative - but it's hard to appreciate a present they don't understand. ]

It's going to take months for them to grow?

[ and they'll just die anyway?? sounds wack..... ]

Edited 2019-04-15 06:02 (UTC)

[ good thing Lupin was basically expecting a reaction along these lines, and is thus not offended by their less-than-enthused response. Actually, the fact that they're not outright expressing that they think it's stupid means this is a polite response, in Cairngormese, and he feels lightly flattered by the fact they're trying to be nice about it. That's some special treatment. ]

Mm. Life doesn't just spring up overnight. The same goes for you gems, too, doesn't it?

[ unfazed, he continues in a mild tone. ]

We make it through this winter, and we'll have made it through a year of living here - I think we deserve to celebrate by helping create something beautiful. You and me, together. I want something I can share with you. [ something they can do together - that sounds nice. Lupin pauses, then smirks. ] Besides, learning a little about life couldn't hurt you.

[ Their expression turns a little milder after that, head tilting. Well, when he puts it like that, it doesn't seem so bad; it could just be their affections clouding their judgment, or maybe it's because he has always been good at framing and explaining things to them in ways that others just aren't able to. The concept is nice, even if the execution is strange - this long, eventful year of their lives isn't worth nothing. ]

If this is what you want...

[ They sigh, setting down the bulb very gently onto the table. Their trust in his taste is strong enough that if this is something he thinks is worthwhile, they will at least give it an attempt, because that is the mark of Cairngorm's acceptance; a willingness to follow someone else's wishes. Even so, they're a bit miffed at his tiny smirk and suggestion that they don't know much about life (even if it's true, it's not like it was their fault!), so they turn their head to make eye contact with him, raising a brow. ]

I'm supposed to learn about life from these flowers?

[ when they gave him that irritated look, his smile only gets bigger, fond as ever, and he pats them playfully on the shoulder where his arm rests. Almost a year ago, he thought their contrarian prickliness was irritating; now, he finds it charming. It's just so... them. ]

That's the spirit. [ not really but it's close enough. ] The only thing you're supposed to do is have a little fun. If you learn something new, that's just a bonus.

[ but he hopes they do. The flowers will die again in the next winter - but that doesn't mean that it was a mistake to grow them. Poetic. Lupin isn't going to spell it out in such explicit terms for them - he doesn't want to remind them of the time limit on his life while the two of them are in good spirits. ]

[ What's fun about putting some water on some plants, would be the choice thing to say at this moment in time, but they've already questioned the validity of his present enough. They're not the type to beat a dead horse when their point has been made, at least not in the same conversation. And they like him, so they feel merciful. ]

You're going to have to tell me where to put it... and when.

[ If it was up to them, they'd probably just put them in a ditch all together or something. That's how you bury things! He said they'll do it together, but they're not sure he really knows how much he'll have to walk them through it. ]

Where did you even find these? From those plants that used to be in front of your house?

That's a secret. [ playful, he taps his finger briefly against their stony lips. ] But no, they're not the roses from my house. You'll have to wait until they bloom to see what they are. That's part of the fun, too.

[ it's a long-term present! With that, he retracts his arms from them so that he can set his bulb on the table, too. Then, he stands up, wandering back over to where he'd set down the camera and the photograph. When he picks it up to check its progress, he smiles widely, then glances back over at Cairngorm, beckoning. ]

It's coming out -- here, come look.

[ it's still a little dark, but it's developing: a picture of Cairngorm, standing there, blushing ever-so-faintly while they stare at the camera. It's not a masterpiece of a portrait by any means - Lupin hasn't taken many photos in his life - but, frankly, neither of them will know that. ]

[ Like usual, they make a face when he pokes at them, but don't retaliate much aside from it. If almost-one-year-ago Cairngorm could see them now...

They even go over when he beckons them instead of telling him to bring it over, even if it's done with a sigh. They're not really sure what to expect when they peer into the photograph, having never seen a picture of themself, so needless to say, it's little disorienting. They've only ever seen photos of other humans. ]

...Huh. [ The closest thing gems have is looking at your reflection in the water, and that goes away whenever you want it to. This picture could last forever if he takes care of it. ] It changed so much. That's interesting.

[ Not that they understand whatever chemical process must be going on to make that happen even the slightest. ]

Is it what you wanted?

[ he's peering over at their face when they look at the picture, a little giddy; he holds it out for them to take a closer look at, should they desire. As always, he seems to enjoy introducing them to new things. ]

It would be even better if you were smiling. [ a playful grin. ] But I've still got a while to go on that one, so I'll say it's about what I wanted.

[ it's a memento more than anything. ]

What do you think? You've not seen a picture of yourself before, right? This is about as cute as you look every day, for the record.

[ They give him a little side glance at the comment about them smiling, chastising. Funnily enough, they don't really mind getting called cute, even if the delivery is sort of corny. Really, though, he brings up their smile every so often that they feel like they need to do it at the right, perfect moment since it's so special to him. That is, if it happens consciously. They suppose they'll cross that bridge when they get to it. ]

Well, no, I haven't seen one. [ Very carefully, they take the picture from him, both bewildered and intrigued by the photograph of themself in front of them. ] It's a little... weird.

[ If their name had been difficult to get used to, their reflection was moreso. It's not jarring anymore like it used to be, but it does feel a strange, looking at themself in a way that isn't an image of their real being, like in a reflection. Even if they change, this picture will always stay the same. That's probably part of the reason humans like photographs. ]

I guess I just haven't seen myself like this before. Frozen in time, sort of.

[ They offer the picture back to him. ]

[ cairngorm, you're getting as cheesy as lupin is...

he looks perfectly pleased with himself, though he's not entirely aware of the complicated feelings going through Cairngorm's mind at the moment. If he was, he'd be even more pleased that he could help them self-actualize a little more in some tiny way. As it stands, he's just happy to show them the fruits of their labor. When they hand it back, he gazes at it for a moment or two more before tucking it away into his breast pocket for safekeeping. ]

Precisely. It's like I said - whatever happens to us and wherever I go, I'll always be able to look at you just the way I am now if I have this. [ he taps the pocket where he just placed the picture. ] It's like a physical memory. Most people take photographs at special events for that reason - to commemorate awards or weddings or things like that.

A physical memory...

[ They guess they hadn't thought of it exactly like that. Not only is it stopped in time, but it's something tangible too. Humans don't have proneness to losing memory the way gems do when they get injured, unless it's a head injury, or so they'd been told. It might be nice to have something physical. Especially if he were to ever disappear... ]

Hm. [ But this is his present, they don't want to use it for themself, especially when they wouldn't be able to take a picture of him with them back home. They just let their gaze linger for a little longer on the camera itself, before shaking their head. ] You're going to take pictures of other people around too, aren't you?

[ he nods at their question, though he also shrugs slightly. ]

Maybe. I don't want to use up all the film too quickly, but I'd at least like some of Minato and Akira, I think.

[ ... Lupin tilts his head a little, trying to puzzle out what the purpose of the question was. Are they jealous? That doesn't seem like them. ]

Why? Did you want to take some?

Well...

[ They trail off, wondering how they should say this, and if they should say this. ]

I can't bring pictures like that home. They'd get destroyed or lost. [ And that would honestly be more painful than just not bringing them in the first place. They seriously can't imagine being able to safeguard a piece of paper in the insanity of their life. ] If you were to disappear from here.. then it would be different.

[ They would still want to see him, is what they're trying to say, in their classic roundabout and never direct way of speaking. Keeping a picture of him here would be okay, they think, because they never do know if today will be the last time they see him in the flesh, even if that's not at the forefront of heir mind every waking second. ]

But it's yours. I gave it to you, so use it however you want.

[ good thing Lupin's gotten very good at reading between the lines of what they're trying to say. He nods again, giving them a smile. Not jealous - just thoughtful, as always. ]

Well, I don't intend on disappearing anytime soon... but I get what you're saying.

[ they didn't state outright that they wanted a picture of him, but they implied it well enough. He picks up the camera and holds it out to them with a light attitude. ]

Here. Go ahead. You look through this viewfinder to see what the image is going to look like, and you press that button to take it. Just make sure to hold it steady, or else the photograph will be blurry. Oh, and tell me when you're going to take it. I want to make sure you get my good side.

[ As usual, he totally gets it. It puts them at ease to be understood easily... that's just part of why they like him so much.

They take the camera from him carefully, nodding as he explains the process to them - they're in a good enough mood right now that they don't even make a face or say something rude to his usual "let everyone know I think I'm handsome" antics. Instead, they just blink a few times, babying the machine like they'll break it in half if they grip it too hard. Then, slowly, they hold it up to their eye to peer at him through it. ]

So... it's like this. [ For some reason, they expected they'd see something really strange when they looked through the machine, but he looks just as he does when they're not looking through it. ] Is this your "good side"?

[ They joke, but as usual, the delivery is so very dry. That's just how their humor is. Anyway, they're being nice and not taking the picture without telling him, even though that would be entertaining maybe. ]

[ thanks for not taking a picture of him mid-expression, cairngorm... except maybe that would be the way to get them to laugh. DAMMIT! ]

Trick question! All of my sides are good sides.

[ it seems Lupin's going to continue applauding his own handsomeness whether or not Cairngorm reacts. Fortunately for everyone, he doesn't strike a cheesy pose - he just sticks his hands in his pockets and smiles for the camera like a proper gentleman. ]

Go on.

[ Of course he would respond with something like that... at least by now they find his antics kind of endearing even if it is annoying on top of it, and thus don't tell him to shut up. That won't stop them from shooting him an unamused glance from over the camera, though.

They take the photo easily enough, the shutter clicking and the flash going off all the same. Even though they already witnessed it work once, they seem mildly surprised when it works again, immediately moving the camera so they can peer at it while the photo comes out. Living in Chroma has made them accustomed to learning new things all the time, but a great majority of the new things they have to learn are conceptual in nature. This is so... physical, they guess. They pull out the photo and place it face down on the table, just as they'd seen, inwardly fascinated by the strangeness of the whole process of photo taking. ]

You can have it back now.

[ it seems like that was all they wanted... they don't hesitate at all to offer the camera back to him. ]

[ on the bright side, them shooting him a dirty look gets him to laugh a little, so it'll probably be a good photo when it develops. Lupin takes the camera back, but just sets it on the table, too, not planning on running around to take more photos just yet. ]

Heh... Look at the two of us. We're a regular pair of lovebirds now.

[ carrying around photos of each other and everything!! He seems perfectly satisfied with that, though. Unsurprisingly. ]

Lovebirds...?

[ They tilt their head curiously at the phrase, looking at him quizzically. ]

You say so much confusing stuff sometimes.

[ peas in a pod... literally any mention of a go to saying that requires contextual knowledge of common animals and plants... they shake their head. ]

Yeah. You know... Or I suppose you dont, [ he interjects, cutting himself for a moment before continuing. ] It's a type of bird that bonds for life and spends a lot of time with its partner.

[ a pause; he chuckles. ]

Mostly, it's a saying. You and I are acting like a typical couple - that's all I meant.

Oh. [ Don't mind them as their brow furrows Even more at the description, passing over the typical couple comment. ] Is that not normal for most animals?

[ They discount jellyfish and their weird mating habits because as far as they're concerned, jellyfish are like aliens compared to the animals familiar to humans. Maybe they're thinking of this too much like a gem would. ]

[ he shakes his head. ]

I don't think so. Not that I know too much about animals, but most of them don't even stay together to raise kids, as far as I can tell.

[ ... does Cairngorm even know how that works? Hm. He hopes he didn't accidentally walk into an embarrassing conversation when they were having a nice moment. ]

Except humans. Right?

[ ...right?! Not in his experience maybe, but they're pretty sure humans continue to know their parents for at least some of their lives. ]

I only ask because gems tend to partner for life, too. Or I guess the more accurate thing to say would be at until one or both get captured.

[ Until they get captured. That's depressing. If Lupin was a gem, he can imagine how he'd never be able to give up on any of them -- and, by the sounds of things, he'd never be able to do anything about it, either. No wonder Cairngorm is so stressed out. ]

Well -- generally, yeah. It depends on where you come from. There are a lot of different kinds of people in the world. Where I'm from, though, yeah. You fall in love with someone, get married, and stay together, ideally. [ a pause, followed by a curious look. ] You really keep your partners for all those hundreds of years? Your people are more romantic than I expected.

Edited (style edits...) 2019-05-29 03:29 (UTC)

AWASH IC INBOX

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

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)