[the water is boiling - so she'll take the kettle and pour the water into a teapot so the tea can start to steep. just a little longer... but with the teapot full, they can move it over to join the cups.
once it's ready, she'll pour it.]
...thank you for coming to see me today, Yin Yu.
[the fact that in some small way, he's reaching out for her -
[ mm... he ducks his head, just briefly, to hide his smile. ]
...Thank you for playing along. [ he did sort of play a trick! as they get settled, flayn's statement reminded him of one of his original reasons for coming. he stops what he's doing for a moment, and then goes for his largest pouch. ]
That reminds me, actually: I have something for you. [ there's a brief moment of searching, before he pulls out two squares, wrapped up in a piece of cloth, and gives them a push across the table.
move the cloth, and....they're books! the first is a fiction book, something fantasy, and the second looks...a bit more romantic?? it's a romance novel britt this is what the npcs gave him. ]
[she looks confused for a moment, as he pulls out the bundle. when he pushes it across the table, she takes it so that she can carefully unwrap the cloth.]
Please excuse me, Yin Yu. I feel a sudden need to go ask the directors for a favor. Will you keep watch over the tea for me? I should only be gone a few minutes.
no i mean. he seems a little relieved when it doesn't look like flayn is going to get up and go off to the directors to prove a point... he really was just keeping what she said in mind, and it's not like yin yu really wanted anything! besides, getting to talk to black shadows after sunday was enough, in its own right.
as the tea finishes brewing properly, he goes for the handle to serve it to the both of them, head tilting briefly at the suggestion. ] That would be good, I think. It's been some time since I've read much of anything...
[flayn reaches for the teapot's handle at the same time - but yin yu is, as ever, faster than her. her fingertips brush against his, and she draws her hand back after a moment, her cheeks flushing.
(it's because of the cold, she tells herself.)]
Then... we should take the chance to, while we can.
yin yu's hand pulls back a little too, and he glances upwards to make eye contact, a little surprised...and then takes the teapot to properly pour, focusing on that, instead.
with his head bowed to make sure the tea is poured properly, it's fairly obvious his ears are red. ] ...we should. Black Shadows only said that it was fiction, but I didn't look much into it beyond that.
[ yin yu pauses, briefly, hovering with the pot in his hands. something flickers across his face, but it's gone in a moment. ] ...I did. I'm sure they would appreciate it.
[ he sets the pot back down and quietly sips at his own tea. it is good, and yin yu closes his eyes, taking the moment to savor the taste. ]
[flayn notices the pause and the flicker of expression - she's watching him, after all. after a moment, she smiles very faintly, but doesn't press the matter and just sips at some more of her tea.]
...ah, this helps. It is much warmer in here than it was out there.
The weather here is strange. [ considering. the change from summer camp weather to snow. it's bizarre, in a host of extremely bizarre things about this place. ] And our cabins are hardly meant for such weather, either.
...then again, I suppose that's not all that different from home. I am really the only person who can feel the cold in the manor. [ considering. most everyone else is dead. it's not like it gets that cold that often in Ghost City, either, but nevertheless, he learned to cope with it well enough. normally he'd take coals or hot water back to his bed, but, such things aren't really available in the camp. ] Perhaps things will be warmer, soon.
[ but... with a day like today, the cold certainly hadn't been so bad. ]
[if she is - someday - able to visit him there, perhaps she will have to bring some cold-weather clothing... she half-catches herself thinking that and smiles to herself, looking down at the cup of tea.
is that possible...?]
...the weather does seem to change without much provocation, here. I would say it is likely that it will be warm again.
Mm. Winter touches all pars of life, but ghosts don't really feel cold, or many other things. [ with a little shrug! it just be that way. he's used to being one of the only humans around, and it's not often so cold that it's unbearable. ] I am used to adapting when necessary.
[ he has the warm clothes he needs to complete the tasks hua chengzhu gives him in the freezing cold, so. without any spiritual energy of his own to keep the chill away, he's learned what it takes to survive.
yin yu takes a sip of his tea, content with the company, the atmosphere. with all of the chaos of the camp - someone's body will be discovered, and a trial will begin later, but for now, that all feels far away. it's a little pocket of warmth in a terrible situation - as flayn always seems to be. ] I'm glad to enjoy the snow for a few days, then. It is truly a beautiful sight, though perhaps one enjoyed best from somewhere warm.
...it is nice to look at - with a warm drink, perhaps, and warmer company.
[by which, of course, she means yin yu.
maybe once the snow starts falling again - when it's doing more than just coating the ground and giving them plenty of material for snowball fights - they can sit and watch it from the safety of a cabin, wrapped up in a blanket.]
I am very glad that you came to see me today, Yin Yu.
[ that comment makes the little hearth he's come to associate with flayn in his chest flicker with light, throwing warmth on his entire being. he's come to recognize what this is now, and has done his best to tame it and set it away, but that light refuses to be extinguished. it baffles him that flayn thinks so much of him - when was the last time he was good company for anyone? when was the last time he was company, period, short of attending hua chengzhu every now and then? - but it's a feeling maybe he could start to get used to. maybe.
he ducks his head, looking down into his teacup, shoulders hunching a little, like he's not sure how to accept such a kind comment. (he's not). but, yin yu glances up at her after a moment, and says, softly, ] ...It was fun. I'm glad, too.
I promise I won't betray you again. [ but, that comes with a soft huff of a laugh, poking gently at himself. a little more normal. ]
If being betrayed by you leads to more moments like these, you can betray me all you like.
[...she's just saying. she really doesn't mind how this "betrayal" has turned out at all - though, she muses over that as she sips at her tea.
when she sets the cup back down--]
Though perhaps, having just given you permission to do so, anything you do would not count as a betrayal. I suppose now it is impossible for you to betray me.
flayn's utter kind honesty with such things is bad for yin yu's blood pressure. moments like these, huh... he has to forcibly shove all of those emotions backwards to keep himself from reacting any further, biting the inside of his cheek to keep himself from smiling. it fails. this is ridiculous. ]
...I wouldn't otherwise betray you, my lady, so, perhaps... we can make such moments without any betrayals at all.
[ yin yu is trying to reach out to flayn just to spend time with her at least a little more often. friendship is unfamiliar, after all this time, especially with someone like her for someone like him, but... tentatively, slowly, he's opening up to it more.
he takes a sip of his tea so he can have a moment not to respond, a little embarrassed. ]
[she smiles down at her tea, her expression fond.]
I certainly hope so.
[if she can make more moments like this - many more moments like this - with yin yu, then that would make her happy. she isn't sure when that first became the case, but she can recognize, now, that it is.
it's been... hard, being here. but yin yu is one of the reasons she's been able to keep smiling, and why her smile isn't constantly failing to meet her eyes. she isn't sure if he knows that, and she's equally unsure how to even begin thanking him for that.]
[ unbeknownst to him, and maybe to flayn too, yin yu's making the same exact face. there's fondness in his eyes too, failing ultimately to hide that small, gentle smile, as he looks down at his cup.
...what a strange place, to find moments of happiness.
yin yu is quiet, content just to bask in it, for a tiny moment of peace in all of the chaos. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fishingforcompliments) wrote2020-06-06 12:53 pm
no subject
once it's ready, she'll pour it.]
...thank you for coming to see me today, Yin Yu.
[the fact that in some small way, he's reaching out for her -
well, it makes her very happy.]
no subject
...Thank you for playing along. [ he did sort of play a trick! as they get settled, flayn's statement reminded him of one of his original reasons for coming. he stops what he's doing for a moment, and then goes for his largest pouch. ]
That reminds me, actually: I have something for you. [ there's a brief moment of searching, before he pulls out two squares, wrapped up in a piece of cloth, and gives them a push across the table.
move the cloth, and....they're books! the first is a fiction book, something fantasy, and the second looks...a bit more romantic?? it's a romance novel britt this is what the npcs gave him. ]
1/2
[she looks confused for a moment, as he pulls out the bundle. when he pushes it across the table, she takes it so that she can carefully unwrap the cloth.]
2/2
flayn's eyes light up, and she looks up at yin yu, her expression both enamored and delighted.]
Thank you— but how did you get these?
no subject
...You mentioned the library was gone, so... I just asked. They may be able to get more, depending on the topic.
no subject
...that was very kind of you. I hope you asked for something for yourself, as well.
no subject
he sure did not. ] It was no trouble, my lady. [ ahem.... don’t worry about it ]
no subject
[narrows her eyes at him slightly]
Please excuse me, Yin Yu. I feel a sudden need to go ask the directors for a favor. Will you keep watch over the tea for me? I should only be gone a few minutes.
no subject
Ah--Lady Flayn, that's really not necessary...
no subject
...she'll just have to get him back when he least expects it. (he better live long enough for her to.)]
In that case, perhaps we could read these books together? That is, if the subject matter would be to your liking...
[the romance novel might be too embarrassing but maybe the fantasy novel is fine.]
no subject
no i mean. he seems a little relieved when it doesn't look like flayn is going to get up and go off to the directors to prove a point... he really was just keeping what she said in mind, and it's not like yin yu really wanted anything! besides, getting to talk to black shadows after sunday was enough, in its own right.
as the tea finishes brewing properly, he goes for the handle to serve it to the both of them, head tilting briefly at the suggestion. ] That would be good, I think. It's been some time since I've read much of anything...
[ just not the romance novel.... ]
no subject
(it's because of the cold, she tells herself.)]
Then... we should take the chance to, while we can.
no subject
yin yu's hand pulls back a little too, and he glances upwards to make eye contact, a little surprised...and then takes the teapot to properly pour, focusing on that, instead.
with his head bowed to make sure the tea is poured properly, it's fairly obvious his ears are red. ] ...we should. Black Shadows only said that it was fiction, but I didn't look much into it beyond that.
no subject
[she looks. pretty happy about that! hm.]
...they are very kind - I shall have to thank them for helping you pick something out for me.
[with the tea poured, she'll wait a moment or two for it to cool, then picks up the cup to take a small sip. mmmm.]
no subject
[ he sets the pot back down and quietly sips at his own tea. it is good, and yin yu closes his eyes, taking the moment to savor the taste. ]
no subject
...ah, this helps. It is much warmer in here than it was out there.
no subject
...then again, I suppose that's not all that different from home. I am really the only person who can feel the cold in the manor. [ considering. most everyone else is dead. it's not like it gets that cold that often in Ghost City, either, but nevertheless, he learned to cope with it well enough. normally he'd take coals or hot water back to his bed, but, such things aren't really available in the camp. ] Perhaps things will be warmer, soon.
[ but... with a day like today, the cold certainly hadn't been so bad. ]
no subject
[if she is - someday - able to visit him there, perhaps she will have to bring some cold-weather clothing... she half-catches herself thinking that and smiles to herself, looking down at the cup of tea.
is that possible...?]
...the weather does seem to change without much provocation, here. I would say it is likely that it will be warm again.
no subject
[ he has the warm clothes he needs to complete the tasks hua chengzhu gives him in the freezing cold, so. without any spiritual energy of his own to keep the chill away, he's learned what it takes to survive.
yin yu takes a sip of his tea, content with the company, the atmosphere. with all of the chaos of the camp - someone's body will be discovered, and a trial will begin later, but for now, that all feels far away. it's a little pocket of warmth in a terrible situation - as flayn always seems to be. ] I'm glad to enjoy the snow for a few days, then. It is truly a beautiful sight, though perhaps one enjoyed best from somewhere warm.
no subject
[by which, of course, she means yin yu.
maybe once the snow starts falling again - when it's doing more than just coating the ground and giving them plenty of material for snowball fights - they can sit and watch it from the safety of a cabin, wrapped up in a blanket.]
I am very glad that you came to see me today, Yin Yu.
no subject
he ducks his head, looking down into his teacup, shoulders hunching a little, like he's not sure how to accept such a kind comment. (he's not). but, yin yu glances up at her after a moment, and says, softly, ] ...It was fun. I'm glad, too.
I promise I won't betray you again. [ but, that comes with a soft huff of a laugh, poking gently at himself. a little more normal. ]
no subject
[...she's just saying. she really doesn't mind how this "betrayal" has turned out at all - though, she muses over that as she sips at her tea.
when she sets the cup back down--]
Though perhaps, having just given you permission to do so, anything you do would not count as a betrayal. I suppose now it is impossible for you to betray me.
no subject
flayn's utter kind honesty with such things is bad for yin yu's blood pressure. moments like these, huh... he has to forcibly shove all of those emotions backwards to keep himself from reacting any further, biting the inside of his cheek to keep himself from smiling. it fails. this is ridiculous. ]
...I wouldn't otherwise betray you, my lady, so, perhaps... we can make such moments without any betrayals at all.
[ yin yu is trying to reach out to flayn just to spend time with her at least a little more often. friendship is unfamiliar, after all this time, especially with someone like her for someone like him, but... tentatively, slowly, he's opening up to it more.
he takes a sip of his tea so he can have a moment not to respond, a little embarrassed. ]
no subject
I certainly hope so.
[if she can make more moments like this - many more moments like this - with yin yu, then that would make her happy. she isn't sure when that first became the case, but she can recognize, now, that it is.
it's been... hard, being here. but yin yu is one of the reasons she's been able to keep smiling, and why her smile isn't constantly failing to meet her eyes. she isn't sure if he knows that, and she's equally unsure how to even begin thanking him for that.]
no subject
...what a strange place, to find moments of happiness.
yin yu is quiet, content just to bask in it, for a tiny moment of peace in all of the chaos. ]
(no subject)