Tweak says, "one day there came a letter,"
Richie "Gear" Foley ( put_it_in_gear) wrote in marinasylum,
Entry tags: :mingle, alma karma, anew returner, anri sonohara, atsuro kihara, axel, buffy summers, cain, claire bennet, conrad weller, cross marian, dean winchester, dick grayson, diva, duo maxwell, euphemia li britannia, faith lehane, hei, hikaru hitachiin, ibram gaunt, jade curtiss, jane maxwell, judith, kaylee frye, kira yamato, kitty pryde (aoa), kitty pryde (evolution), lacus clyne, lavi, legion, lyle dylandy, marian hawke, momo mizrahi, naoto fuyumine, nasuti yagyu, neku sakuraba, peter parker, prospitian monarch, raenef v, rapunzel, reki, revive revival, richard foley, ritsuka aoyagi, rogue, schuldig, seiji date, soubi agatsuma, spencer reid, stephanie brown, suzaku kururugi, tear grants, tieria erde, touma hashiba, tyki mikk, wayward vagabond, wolfram von bielefeld, yomi isayama, yu kanda, yuri lowell, yuuri shibuya, zatanna zatara, zelgadis greywars
[AAAAAND...MINGLE!]
[The warnings have already been given, but it's a little too late. The gas was invisible, untraceable to the normal senses. But someone might feel it. The changes in them if they had been close enough, breathed in too much. Too bad they probably wouldn't care after that either.
It's not such a big deal now, is it? Neither is holding back on all those things they keep to themselves, or refusing to do the things they remind themselves are bad or dangerous or against the rules. Who cares about rules anymore? Why not just do what they want? Why should they hide how they feel? Why should they keep hiding who they really are? Who came up with all of these silly unspoken rules anyway?
You do not feel a loss of control. To you, it's like being more in control than you've ever been. And choosing to just go with it. You only have one life to live! Regret, remorse and reservation are all just words to you for the day. Just...try not to die or kill anyone.]
{OOC: Mingle post for the event! Your threads can occur anywhere open to the public in the prison, or not-so-public if you're including a closed thread, too. Although, it is encouraged to make your own post if you're keeping it closed to one or a few individuals. If you think you would rather make your own post instead of tagging it onto this one, please feel free!}
mysterymelody
[She shakes her head vigorously while leaning down to look at the options, picking out the both strawberry and caramel sauce to go top after a moment, before her gaze catches on something in the sprinkles section and she hurries over to that side, practically beaming]
Pawprint shaped... That's so cute! [And she's getting them, if how enthusiastically she points them out to the robotic server is any indication]
bottomless_pit
[ he smiles a little, peering over her shoulder at the sprinkles. ] So are you. [ the words are out of his mouth before he can stop them, but it's true. Puppies suited Tear. Cute, lovable, and above all, loyal. ]
[She looks back at him, surprised; eyes wide, telltale red already present on her face and seeming like she wants to say something to that, but the server shoving her sundae at her ruins that opportunity. So instead, she accepts it and after a moment of staring down and pushing it about idly, manages the words that are quite different from the denial that normally would have covered up her uncertainty]
Do-- do you really think so?
[ Hei was momentarily distracted in looking for napkins. And an empty table for the two of them. And getting himself a bowel to plop the rest of his ice cream cone into. He's used to multi-tasking. ]
Do I--? [ he smiled and slipped his hand around Tear's elbow, guiding her off into a cozy little corner near the window. ] I do. You're very warmhearted. [ she befriended him after all. ]
Well, I like you very much. [It comes out so easily and bluntly as she allows herself to be led about and eventually takes a seat, despite both the still present flush and the immediate realization of what's been said that's just as quickly discarded without care for consequences. It's the truth, after all; while she's naturally a gentle person, she's certainly more so to those she's fond of]
And you've already been so kind to me.
[ his heart warms at that confession even though his mind tells him it's not meant in that way. ]
It was easy. You've been nothing but courteous. [ and Hei had no reason to hide his true self from her after that evening and the long walk back to his apartment. The only thing he's hidden is a name. ]
But only that; that much is easy with people. [She pokes at her dish with a sudden sigh and deflated mood, slumping down in her chair slightly. It's not difficult to act nice to most others with her patience and good heart, but it's only ever superficial; she's never experienced actually connecting with another person. Even the most important people like Van and Legretta were always unknown on a deeper level to her]
I'm not entirely sure how to be more, even when I want to. It's awkward and confusing.
[ he instinctively reaches out to cover her hand, his gaze holding hers if she chooses to look up. ]
You're doing it; you listen. You could speak up a little more, though. People like it when others talk. [ They'll spill anything with just a few well chosen words and kind a sympathetic ear. And they never suspect a thing. ]
[She does, but ducks down again just as quick with a flush that's impossible to miss... and a fleeting smile]
Well... what do I say? Talking about nothing of importance seems pointless. [Don't bother with unnecessary things, that's always been ground into her ... Yet, isn't that what she's doing right now, conversing and eating so carefree? The contradiction from this just doesn't worry her as much as it should-- not yet, at least]
[ How could he miss that smile or fail to file it away? She was endearing like this. If only... ]
It's not pointless, if it puts others at their ease. If they're relaxed, you'll feel relaxed. It's... sharing an interest. [ he looks down at the tail, dripping end of his cone. ] Even if it's just ice cream.
["If they're relaxed, you'll feel relaxed." She repeats these words quietly, letting them settle. Normally she'd argue that it's not true, but now that she honestly considers it, isn't some of her unease caused by overthinking interaction, how to do it "right"? How often does she just let talking take its course, not berate herself for her perceived social clumsiness even when conversation is going well? And while she's so busy analyzing herself, she doesn't read the other person very well at all]
I'll try to pay more attention to how they feel, and respond to that, then. [And then maybe she'll be at ease in turn]
[ he nods and then starts stealing a bite of her sundae. He liked Tear, honestly, and he hoped it worked. It was such an unexpected gift, when a true connection was made. Hei almost regretted all the years of closing people off. He could have done so much more if he hadn't. ]
You could just say the first thing that comes to mind as well.
[ like so ] This is good ice cream. [ noms ]
[She can only watch the unexpected and completely unfair move in slight indignation, not even bothering to pull back her dish at this point. If he'd asked for some, she would have gladly shared, but he didn't.
Say the first thing to mind? Well...]
What am I going to get in return for that, then?
[ Hei smiled and then set his spoon down on the table, but not until he licks the last drop off the spoon. ]
Whatever you like. Another sundae?
... A kiss? [ he's all innocence. He'd just like to see her blush. ]
[He'll be disappointed at first then, as she merely gives him a cloudly look and opens her mouth to ask if he actually thinks she could possibly manage another one, until it clears up from the surprise that's enough to stop her completely. Putting her at a loss is just a bonus point when she finally does go red. But she doesn't avert her eyes from him; instead speaking up with a hesitant voice:]
...Really?
[To... say that as casually as he just did; previous incidents had only ever been because of coercion... right?]
[ and Tear does not disappoint, warmth spreading from his smile down to his bones. Only a flash of guilt surfaces as he remembers Saya, but it's gone in a flash as she asks her question.
He would have been surprised if she hadn't questioned it. Tear so rarely disappointed him. ]
If you want one. [ he laid his hand across the table, fingers brushing against hers. All she had to do was say yes. ]
...I'm not sure.
[She's only been honest and open all day, and the reply that comes almost immediately with a gradual perplexity is no exception. Suddenly feeling like not holding back doesn't mean she automatically has a clear cut answer to the thoughts and emotions she'd sat on and idly puzzled over for some time, though; but it does let her consider them better than when her sensibilities are whole and intact and overbearing]
I think... yes? [She meekly watches his hand instead of what kind of expression he has as she speaks aloud her musings, her fingertips twitching faintly from the touch but not pulling away] I think I do-- but since it's the first time, I'm not sure if it's the right feeling...
[ he was pleased, warmed, flush even as she answered in the affirmative. It was short lived, but that giddiness welling up within, after so many years of suppression, went straight to his head. ]
Is this better?
[ he rubbed a thumb across her knuckles, leaning in, gaze drifting down to her mouth before flicking up to catch her gaze. He was curious. What would it take to get Tear to open up, fully? ]
[Tear's not sure what brings more surprising anticipation-- and adrenaline, she absently notes-- with it: the brush against her skin, or the clear advance, his invitation. An anticipation that at first seems so much like her heart has leapt into her throat... that then emboldens her when that obviously isn't so, to slide her free hand over to his still occupied one, fingertips brushing up his wrist. Only an instant of hesitation before she shifts a leg under her in order to lean over her side of the table, to just short of meeting him entirely. Some of her hair falls over her shoulder from the shift, but she doesn't even think to push it back out of the way. Not now]
Is it...?
[Softly asking him just as much as she keeps to musing aloud to herself. Keenly watching his expression, she notes his darting eyes but holds her own steady this time; needing to see how he will respond to her question, to her. That this is a public establishment, that both of them are now closer than she'd normally consider decent while in clear sight, is little more than a passing thought, actually practically negligible. Right now she's simply fixed on what will come next, and what that will bring...
Hopefully, her answer]
[ his first thought, intially, had been to simply press a kiss to her forehead or a cheek, but with her hand on his, with her body leaning towards his over the now forgotten remains of a sundae, Hei's thoughts strayed elsewhere.
Down, lower, to her lips, to the way she breathed her question. She was... he didn't stop himself. Some impulse made him act and act he did, leaning up and over the table to brush his lips softly against hers in a dry brush of intimacy before he pulled back. ]
[ and then he sat down, folding a napkin into his lap and blushing. ] You should finish your sundae. [ he won't steal anymore. It was clearly fraught with danger. ]
IGNORE THIS /screams at par's inbox
[He thankfully doesn't leave her waiting, and her eyes close on an instinct as he brushes faintly against her to start-- but then pulls back abruptly. The first thing she feels is a leap of her heart, of anticipation, that completely surprises... and is ultimately short lived due to his sudden stop, and followed far too quickly by an empty unfulfillment. Left where she is with a mute expression, she simply watches as he sits back down properly until her confused-- by many things-- mind catches up.
Well, one way or another, denied or not, she did get what she desired: understanding of more than beforehand. She shouldn't be left "wanting", if she hadn't "wanted" to begin with, right? Yes, she probably did want an intimacy from him, a closeness different from with others. Maybe not since that night, but for some time...
So the new question is... what does she do with what she now knows?
After a heavy second, she slowly settles back into her chair, perhaps surprisingly not red like him, but face clouded in sober thoughtfulness. When he gestures to her ice cream, she does eye it a bit, but eventually gives a shake of her head. Far too preoccupied... to eat right now]
...I don't think I can. [Another beat, before she pushes it to the center of the small table. He can have it if he wants, it's free of charge this time]