[ 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.
[Flayn raises her glass and clinks it against his, smiling as she brings it back to her lips to take another sip.]
As are you.
[She means it. How much she means it is clearly written on her face - she's never been good at disguising what she feels. Much as she dislikes it, she is something of an open book.]
<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. ]
no subject
...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.
no subject
[ 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.) ]
no subject
[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.]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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.]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
[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.]
no subject
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
As are you.
[She means it. How much she means it is clearly written on her face - she's never been good at disguising what she feels. Much as she dislikes it, she is something of an open book.]