Of course I would be worried. I... [ there is a pause.
when he speaks up again, it's a little hesitant. almost shy, and it takes him a moment to make eye contact, too. ] ....We're friends, are we not?
[ how long has it been since yin yu has had a friend? a genuine, real friend. the only people he ever talks to are hua cheng and the occasional ghost in ghost city, who don't know him. no one knows him, because he's a forgettable nobody. the hesitation comes from not knowing what to do with having one, as much as he half expects it to just disappear the moment she closes her eyes or he walks away. it implies what friendship means to him - care, and kindness - and what it really means to him, too. ]
[She says it quickly and earnestly, but there is no small amount of relief in her voice. It's true. It's absolutely true, that she thinks of him as a friend - but some small part of her had been afraid that perhaps she was being too pushy, or that he was indulging her selfishness.
It is a very nice thing, to hear that he thinks of her as a friend.
Flayn can't help but smile down into her glass as she takes another sip.]
[ the hesitance takes a moment to fade from his expression, and -- then he's smiling, too, down into his own drink. it's a little wider than before, a little warmer, a genuine feeling of camaraderie and happiness. he's not really sure what he did to deserve this, but... he's glad to have it.
the relief is present in his response, too. ] ...then, of course I would be worried for your well being.
That is to say--I'm very glad. [ it's a little awkward, also, but what do you expect at this point. maybe it's the carbonation, or the alcohol, but it's nice to feel a little lighter than usual. ] Thank you for inviting me.
—I hope you know that I would also be worried for yours.
[There may not be much she can do to protect him here. Her strength has always lied in the healing magics, none of which she can use in a place like this, none of which she's been able to use for weeks.
It's frustrating, to rely on the protection of others instead of being able to provide it herself.]
And I am glad that you accepted my invitation. I like spending time with you, Yin Yu.
Hah- I would say the same, Lady Flayn. [ yeah. yeah, friendship is nice. it's... really been a long time. not since jian yu's death, and that entire messy affair is something he wants to keep as long forgotten as possible, even if it never is.
he takes a sip of the sweet, bubbly drink though, content for a moment of peace before everything goes to hell with... a friend. ] I'll always make time, if you need me.
And I shall always make time for you. It is not even necessary for you to need me for something - merely wanting my company is enough.
[This is, perhaps, a little more forward than she would normally be - and really, she is rather forward to begin with. Maybe it is the drink that has loosened her tongue, or the relief of having a friend in an unfamiliar place.
[ the smile tugs a bit further, at that, though it's not as warm... it's mostly self deprecating, a little bit distant. could he say the same? he is at best, a useful person with many capabilities, and at worse, an errand boy. to want his time is to see him complete a task at some measure of success. it's a hard mindset to shake, after a hundred years of being no one. ]
I'll be sure to keep that in mind. [ he'll never ask for it, even if he does want it, but he won't forget it. ]
...but at least he'll remember that the offer is open. Flayn can only hope that, eventually, he'll reach out to her. Until then... well, she'll just have to keep at it.
Time to sip at her drink a little more. Her head feels a little fuzzy, and she feels warm, but maybe that's just because of the combination of alcohol and extremely crowded bus.
She doesn't seem to realize that she's fallen silent.]
[ it's okay; a bit of companionable silence isn't a bad thing. for a moment, he's fine to soak it in, taking a long drink of his own drink and savoring it. a little alcohol isn't enough to loosen his tongue much, but it helps to make the atmosphere a little more relaxing, to forget that they're inevitably going to be in danger, if they aren't already.
they've been through a lot, and it seems like it was only the beginning. who knows what sort of dangers lie ahead of them, or if they'll even embark from this bus. so many people means so many dangers, especially with so many unknowns. still... to have a moment like this is nice, a calm before the storm. a sleepy warmth drifts through the cabin--it's a faraway feeling of contentedness.
eventually, he's the first to speak, after said pause. how unusual. it seems there's been something on his mind. ] Lady Flayn... I have to confess something small to you, if you wouldn't mind.
[It's almost possible to forget the danger they're in. Not quite, but almost - if Flayn closes her eyes and blocks out the occasional jostling from the bus, she could perhaps believe that she was somewhere safe, sharing a drink with a friend.
Maybe someday...
Ah. When Yin Yu does break the silence, she looks up to meet his eyes.]
no, nothing like that. it takes yin yu a moment to meet her eyes properly, as he explains himself. ] ...When I was checking you over, back at the island, I... wasn't able to find much in terms of evidence, but I did see your ears.
[ he says it quietly, serious, weight in his tone. ] I don't know what that means, necessarily, but if it was something important to you to keep hidden, then, it's as important to me as well. Your secrets should be yours to keep, and I didn't want to look in on them, like some kind of voyeur. [ and, with that polite, serious bow of his head. ] I deeply apologize for uncovering something you might not have wanted to be uncovered.
I didn't mention anything to anyone else, and there's nothing you have to tell or explain. [ as he lifts his head again, he bites his lip. ] .... it didn't feel right to me, to not tell you that I saw. I'll forget about it immediately, but... I wanted to be honest, first.
[It takes a moment for it to register - perhaps the alcohol has slowed her thinking? - but as it does, an expression of panic settles itself over her, and a hand flies up to her ear.
It's hidden by her hair, but she can feel the pointed tip of it through it, and she swallows hard, willing her heart to settle.
Yin Yu is quick to reassure her that he didn't tell anyone else, and doesn't intend to, and that he won't think on it. He's been nothing but kind to her, and she doesn't want to repay his kindness with fear.
(It's not as if this is someone who might hurt her, discovering it. It's Yin Yu. Her friend.)
Slowly, she breathes out.]
I... thank you for telling me. [She looks down at her hands, tracing the rim of her glass. It's better to know that he knows. And it's fine.
It's fine, isn't it? For even when they make it off this bus, even when they finally, finally return him -
What Yin Yu knows won't be making its way back to Fódlan.
It isn't as much of a relief as it should be.]
...and thank you for keeping my secret.
do you know i tagged this before my meeting and then completely forgot to hit send because i did.
[ flayn's reaction is more than enough to tell him his intuition was right; that this is a secret that she doesn't want shared, and one that makes her uncomfortable. it's unfortunate to bring it up, but it's been nagging at him since the moment they met again, and in a way, he's glad that it's not a secret between them any longer. just one mutually shared, though yin yu knows nothing about her own.
he nods, placing his fist against his heart, and then, even seated, gives a much more proper bow. ] I swear on my own life and on my ancestors before me, it will be safe with me.
[ it's a weighty and serious promise, but, that's as much as such a conversation deserves. flayn has been nothing but kind to him, and if something makes her terribly uncomfortable, then yin yu will do his best to protect her from it. it's the least he can do.
as he straightens again, he ends up glancing back at her properly, mouth curled up in a slightly wry smile as he takes a sip of his drink. ] Its not an uncommon feature in Ghost City: Chengzhu's are similar. Believe me when I say, I have seen ghosts hide things that were far less charming.
[ a gentle tease; he does think they're quite charming, actually. ]
Edited (mother fucker) 2020-06-10 16:37 (UTC)
im tagging this out of order so we can pretend you sent your tag before your meeting
It is serious - her eyes widen slightly as he bows and as he speaks. Her secret is important to her, certainly. It's one she's kept as best she can because, if it were to get out, it very well could turn into a matter of life and death.
But she never expected to hear that it mattered enough to someone else for them to swear an oath like that.
She is silent for a few long moments, processing it, thinking Yin Yu truly is very kind - and then he smiles.
Her cheeks flush, and this time it isn't just from the alcohol.]
[ ah. oh, that was a bit more honest than he'd usually so out loud. yin yu's flustered now too, his cheeks turning pink, momentarily startled and quite embarrassed at his own forwardness, suddenly feeling very open. ]
[ ....that doesn't change the answer though. ] I... yes? Yes. [ they are... they're especially more charming now that they're on her while she's, you know, alive. it's easier to process now that things are over. ] They suit you...
[ aaaa embarrassed aaaaa where is his mask when he needs it. ]
[ all he can really do is laugh, a quiet, awkwardly embarrassed little thing, reaching back and rubbing the back of his neck to try and will away some of that embarrassment. ] I wouldn't say that.
[ he's only surprising in the fact that he just shows up behind people randomly, really. that's the most surprising thing about him. though, actually, flayn inadvertently brought up a good point. she shared one of her biggest secrets with him, and not on purpose. it seems only fair....
there's a brief moment where he quiets, tapping his fingers against the glass. ] ...I'm not entirely human. At least, not in the standard sense.
[ there. a secret (?) for a secret. one of many that he has, but one he's told no one. (not that he had many to tell, but. it's the thought that counts.) ]
[Flayn considers that for a moment. Perhaps it isn't surprising, given the little she knows of him - although perhaps it isn't, given that he's said that humans can visit Ghost City.
(Visit, though. Reside, as he seems to...?)]
Whatever you are, you are still yourself.
[And that's enough for her. He doesn't have to explain, if he prefers to keep the specifics a secret.]
[ still himself, huh... that's true. in the end, he's just.... this, the xianxianyue officer. a nameless echo of a person, still living the immortal life of the glory days he had, once upon a time, a star that didn't quite burn out, but rather, fizzled into nothing. he left his former position with a whimper, not with a bang.
it's a little harder to draw up a smile, even though he knows flayn means well. yin yu's not really sure who 'himself' is, anymore. ]
A secret for a secret. [ a pause, and then. ah. ] I am among the living, if that's what you were wondering.
[ he's not a ghost. lol. it's a complicated story, but it's best to clarify that, probably. ]
Flayn's face falls, and she runs a finger along the rim of her cup. She supposes it's only fair. It's not as though she divulged her secret to him in the first place - that's why he feels compelled to share his with her.
But it hurts a little, thinking that he wouldn't have told her if not for that.
(It is, perhaps, just a little hypocritical.)]
...that is nice to know, but you do not have to share the details with me if you do not wish to.
[ mm. there's a moment of quiet; he watches her face fall.
in the end, he is a disappointing person; it resonates somewhere in his chest. it doesn't seem like he's going to share.
...but, he takes a longer sip of his drink, and lets the whiskey burn on the way down. ] ...As a member of my sect, I learned to cultivate; that is, to perfect the spirit through balancing spiritual energy and martial practices, among other things. To reach a higher state of cultivation is to achieve immortality.
[ even years later, it is something he is proud of. it tastes bitter now, an achievement that he didn't take as far as he should have, but he earned at least that much.
he got that far. what happened after is a different story. ] Mm. [ yin yu confirms. ] My body doesn't age, and processes sickness very quickly. It is not utter invincibility: I can still be injured and killed in many ways, but nevertheless, it was a practice I mastered.
[It's something they have in common, then. She can fall in battle, but - if she stays safe... her life will span ages. She's well aware of that.
Admitting it, though, is a difficult thing. But Yin Yu is trustworthy. He's proven to be trustworthy, and he's choosing to trust her in turn. She wants to trust her with more of her secrets, but she's grown so used to not sharing them that the words stick in her throat.
Instead:]
Thank you... for trusting me with this knowledge. I shall take it to my grave.
[Except they'll both get doxxed in a few days, instead.]
[ he nods. it's. a prickly, sort of uncomfortable feeling to share these sort of things, but...it's not bad. yin yu is in much of the same, and there are many of his that will never see the light of day, not even with this person if he can help it; he keeps his boss's secrets, and he keeps his own, buried so deep in hopes that no one will ever get to really know him. he thinks, perhaps if flayn got to know him, really, she wouldn't be so kind.
it doesn't show on his face, though, and quietly, he lifts his glass again, to clink it gently against hers. it's odd to feel vulnerable and exposed; that is definitely the end of secret sharing hour for yin yu. ] You're very kind.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fishingforcompliments) wrote2020-06-06 12:53 pm
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when he speaks up again, it's a little hesitant. almost shy, and it takes him a moment to make eye contact, too. ] ....We're friends, are we not?
[ how long has it been since yin yu has had a friend? a genuine, real friend. the only people he ever talks to are hua cheng and the occasional ghost in ghost city, who don't know him. no one knows him, because he's a forgettable nobody. the hesitation comes from not knowing what to do with having one, as much as he half expects it to just disappear the moment she closes her eyes or he walks away. it implies what friendship means to him - care, and kindness - and what it really means to him, too. ]
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[She says it quickly and earnestly, but there is no small amount of relief in her voice. It's true. It's absolutely true, that she thinks of him as a friend - but some small part of her had been afraid that perhaps she was being too pushy, or that he was indulging her selfishness.
It is a very nice thing, to hear that he thinks of her as a friend.
Flayn can't help but smile down into her glass as she takes another sip.]
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the relief is present in his response, too. ] ...then, of course I would be worried for your well being.
That is to say--I'm very glad. [ it's a little awkward, also, but what do you expect at this point. maybe it's the carbonation, or the alcohol, but it's nice to feel a little lighter than usual. ] Thank you for inviting me.
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[There may not be much she can do to protect him here. Her strength has always lied in the healing magics, none of which she can use in a place like this, none of which she's been able to use for weeks.
It's frustrating, to rely on the protection of others instead of being able to provide it herself.]
And I am glad that you accepted my invitation. I like spending time with you, Yin Yu.
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he takes a sip of the sweet, bubbly drink though, content for a moment of peace
before everything goes to hellwith... a friend. ] I'll always make time, if you need me.no subject
[This is, perhaps, a little more forward than she would normally be - and really, she is rather forward to begin with. Maybe it is the drink that has loosened her tongue, or the relief of having a friend in an unfamiliar place.
Or both.]
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I'll be sure to keep that in mind. [ he'll never ask for it, even if he does want it, but he won't forget it. ]
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...but at least he'll remember that the offer is open. Flayn can only hope that, eventually, he'll reach out to her. Until then... well, she'll just have to keep at it.
Time to sip at her drink a little more. Her head feels a little fuzzy, and she feels warm, but maybe that's just because of the combination of alcohol and extremely crowded bus.
She doesn't seem to realize that she's fallen silent.]
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they've been through a lot, and it seems like it was only the beginning. who knows what sort of dangers lie ahead of them, or if they'll even embark from this bus. so many people means so many dangers, especially with so many unknowns. still... to have a moment like this is nice, a calm before the storm. a sleepy warmth drifts through the cabin--it's a faraway feeling of contentedness.
eventually, he's the first to speak, after said pause. how unusual. it seems there's been something on his mind. ] Lady Flayn... I have to confess something small to you, if you wouldn't mind.
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Maybe someday...
Ah. When Yin Yu does break the silence, she looks up to meet his eyes.]
Something to confess? What is it?
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no, nothing like that. it takes yin yu a moment to meet her eyes properly, as he explains himself. ] ...When I was checking you over, back at the island, I... wasn't able to find much in terms of evidence, but I did see your ears.
[ he says it quietly, serious, weight in his tone. ] I don't know what that means, necessarily, but if it was something important to you to keep hidden, then, it's as important to me as well. Your secrets should be yours to keep, and I didn't want to look in on them, like some kind of voyeur. [ and, with that polite, serious bow of his head. ] I deeply apologize for uncovering something you might not have wanted to be uncovered.
I didn't mention anything to anyone else, and there's nothing you have to tell or explain. [ as he lifts his head again, he bites his lip. ] .... it didn't feel right to me, to not tell you that I saw. I'll forget about it immediately, but... I wanted to be honest, first.
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It's hidden by her hair, but she can feel the pointed tip of it through it, and she swallows hard, willing her heart to settle.
Yin Yu is quick to reassure her that he didn't tell anyone else, and doesn't intend to, and that he won't think on it. He's been nothing but kind to her, and she doesn't want to repay his kindness with fear.
(It's not as if this is someone who might hurt her, discovering it. It's Yin Yu. Her friend.)
Slowly, she breathes out.]
I... thank you for telling me. [She looks down at her hands, tracing the rim of her glass. It's better to know that he knows. And it's fine.
It's fine, isn't it? For even when they make it off this bus, even when they finally, finally return him -
What Yin Yu knows won't be making its way back to Fódlan.
It isn't as much of a relief as it should be.]
...and thank you for keeping my secret.
do you know i tagged this before my meeting and then completely forgot to hit send because i did.
he nods, placing his fist against his heart, and then, even seated, gives a much more proper bow. ] I swear on my own life and on my ancestors before me, it will be safe with me.
[ it's a weighty and serious promise, but, that's as much as such a conversation deserves. flayn has been nothing but kind to him, and if something makes her terribly uncomfortable, then yin yu will do his best to protect her from it. it's the least he can do.
as he straightens again, he ends up glancing back at her properly, mouth curled up in a slightly wry smile as he takes a sip of his drink. ] Its not an uncommon feature in Ghost City: Chengzhu's are similar. Believe me when I say, I have seen ghosts hide things that were far less charming.
[ a gentle tease; he does think they're quite charming, actually. ]
im tagging this out of order so we can pretend you sent your tag before your meeting
It is serious - her eyes widen slightly as he bows and as he speaks. Her secret is important to her, certainly. It's one she's kept as best she can because, if it were to get out, it very well could turn into a matter of life and death.
But she never expected to hear that it mattered enough to someone else for them to swear an oath like that.
She is silent for a few long moments, processing it, thinking Yin Yu truly is very kind - and then he smiles.
Her cheeks flush, and this time it isn't just from the alcohol.]
—you think my ears are charming?
<333
[ ....that doesn't change the answer though. ] I... yes? Yes. [ they are... they're especially more charming now that they're on her while she's, you know, alive. it's easier to process now that things are over. ] They suit you...
[ aaaa embarrassed aaaaa where is his mask when he needs it. ]
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...well! Thank you. That is a compliment I do not often receive.
[Probably because she deliberately keeps her ears covered, but. There you go. Her cheeks are still a little pink, but she seems happy about it.
She sips at her drink.]
You are full of surprises, Yin Yu.
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[ he's only surprising in the fact that he just shows up behind people randomly, really. that's the most surprising thing about him. though, actually, flayn inadvertently brought up a good point. she shared one of her biggest secrets with him, and not on purpose. it seems only fair....
there's a brief moment where he quiets, tapping his fingers against the glass. ] ...I'm not entirely human. At least, not in the standard sense.
[ there. a secret (?) for a secret. one of many that he has, but one he's told no one. (not that he had many to tell, but. it's the thought that counts.) ]
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[Flayn considers that for a moment. Perhaps it isn't surprising, given the little she knows of him - although perhaps it isn't, given that he's said that humans can visit Ghost City.
(Visit, though. Reside, as he seems to...?)]
Whatever you are, you are still yourself.
[And that's enough for her. He doesn't have to explain, if he prefers to keep the specifics a secret.]
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it's a little harder to draw up a smile, even though he knows flayn means well. yin yu's not really sure who 'himself' is, anymore. ]
A secret for a secret. [ a pause, and then. ah. ] I am among the living, if that's what you were wondering.
[ he's not a ghost. lol. it's a complicated story, but it's best to clarify that, probably. ]
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Flayn's face falls, and she runs a finger along the rim of her cup. She supposes it's only fair. It's not as though she divulged her secret to him in the first place - that's why he feels compelled to share his with her.
But it hurts a little, thinking that he wouldn't have told her if not for that.
(It is, perhaps, just a little hypocritical.)]
...that is nice to know, but you do not have to share the details with me if you do not wish to.
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in the end, he is a disappointing person; it resonates somewhere in his chest. it doesn't seem like he's going to share.
...but, he takes a longer sip of his drink, and lets the whiskey burn on the way down. ] ...As a member of my sect, I learned to cultivate; that is, to perfect the spirit through balancing spiritual energy and martial practices, among other things. To reach a higher state of cultivation is to achieve immortality.
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He doesn't have to share details - but he is. Flayn looks momentarily shocked, but then her expression softens into a smile.]
Are you... immortal, then?
[Because she has no doubt that he would be able to master any skill he put his mind to.]
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he got that far. what happened after is a different story. ] Mm. [ yin yu confirms. ] My body doesn't age, and processes sickness very quickly. It is not utter invincibility: I can still be injured and killed in many ways, but nevertheless, it was a practice I mastered.
[ but there you go. ]
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[It's something they have in common, then. She can fall in battle, but - if she stays safe... her life will span ages. She's well aware of that.
Admitting it, though, is a difficult thing. But Yin Yu is trustworthy. He's proven to be trustworthy, and he's choosing to trust her in turn. She wants to trust her with more of her secrets, but she's grown so used to not sharing them that the words stick in her throat.
Instead:]
Thank you... for trusting me with this knowledge. I shall take it to my grave.
[Except they'll both get doxxed in a few days, instead.]
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it doesn't show on his face, though, and quietly, he lifts his glass again, to clink it gently against hers. it's odd to feel vulnerable and exposed; that is definitely the end of secret sharing hour for yin yu. ] You're very kind.
[ he does mean it, though. flayn really is. ]
(no subject)