[Were it not for their preceding exchange, Aubrey would half wonder if Sunny’s making this up, too. He’s gay?]
You’re… dating? [Sunny would date a cat-person. Aubrey’s not judging.
[Actually, she has a few questions about a person who’d get into a relationship with someone who doesn’t remember half his day. But from Sunny’s earlier description, Kenma seems nice enough, and Sunny trusts him. Aubrey will just have to see for herself that the trust isn’t misplaced.]
[The blush on Sunny's face deepens. He...hadn't really allowed himself to consider the sexual identity aspect of all this before now; hadn't really needed to, considering it was all a dream. Now he's let it all slip without even knowing if Aubrey really cares about that sort of thing...]
im surprised too
[Will...she mind? His father would, probably. Maybe his mom too. Sunny swallows down a lump in his throat.]
[It’s funny. Eren’s from another world and has multiple spouses, so that’s one thing. Luz has talked about her girlfriend, and only later did Aubrey realize Luz is from (what Aubrey thinks is) the same version of Earth; if a place can have magic, it can have girls dating girls, too.
[Sunny, though. It never occurred to her…]
I’m glad. [She has no idea what to say to this sort of thing. Two months feels… fast. But the sentiment is genuine, and Aubrey’s faint smile remains.] Congrats on the boyfriend.
I could have stopped the rumbling (said something) and chose not to
[Well, now his face is really burning. He hangs his head a little in a poor attempt to hide it. Kenma and he have used that word here and there, though never actually discussed the details...
[New topic...]
xie lian is the kindest person i know
its hard to say how important he is to me
[Which is...surprisingly honest of him to admit so readily, however...through everything, Aubrey has become...Aubrey again...
[Haven't they shared plenty of confessions like this? There's no harm in her knowing how wonderful Xie Lian is; how he's almost convinced Sunny once or twice that hope still exists.]
[When Kenma hasn't eaten, Sunny remembers to go out and get something. When Xie Lian is missing food from home, Sunny gets the ingredients. But he still isn't touching those eggs himself.
[Just doesn't really think about it. Eating doesn't seem to matter much when everything only seems half-real.]
You know, it sounds like you. [Very, very lightly teasing.] I don’t know if it’s just because I’ve heard you before, but this sort of… all lowercase, with the short messages. It works.
[She pauses, taking a couple bites of her own, before answering the question. This might be one of the first times the topic hasn’t felt incredibly loaded.]
I have Luz. Whether I like it or not.... [It’s fond, though. Aubrey really has to wonder what kind of person gets yelled at like that and sticks around anyway. Sunny and Kel came back, apparently, but that’s different…]
It’s been a little while, but— Oh, I should show you the new bat. And the sword. [She gestures with the empty fork, a little “just you wait” motion.] Wolf guy, Eren, got me that one. I think we’re friends, too.
[At this Aubrey’s face lights up, vaguely mischievous.] Yeah? I’ve been training with iiit… pretty much every day. Haven’t had to really use it yet, but. [Absent wave of the fork.] If I need to, it’s good to have.
[She swings it loosely in Sunny’s direction. Reminding him there are monsters here might be dangerous, but considering how they ran into each other out here…] I can defend you better now.
[It all seems like a joke to him, and that's just how it should be. He likes the feeling of joking with Aubrey again. Taking his eggy fork, he (almost, but not quite) taps each shoulder, then the top of her head. He bows his, regal and reverent. A laugh buzzes in his chest, even if it doesn't quite make it out. That tiny smile endures, though.]
[She bows her head when he does, and doesn’t look up until his pledge is complete. There’s already a laugh in her chest, and when she sees that tiny smile again, it comes out in a soft, borderline-giggling sound. When was the last time she sounded like this? When did Sunny last smile like that?]
I won’t let you down, my liege. [Anything for that smile.] Neither monster nor man shall contest us.
[It works!] Nor man-eating monster, or… monster-eating man? [Okay, not funny to some people out here, but this is between Sunny and Aubrey.]
Really, though… [She sets the fork down, then crosses an actual hand over her heart.] No matter what this place throws at us… I’m keeping my promise, and I want to keep you safe. Don’t…
[Don’t pay attention to anything I say to the contrary. I don’t want this place to force it out. Which means it probably will…]
Don’t doubt that. Okay?
he (eren jaeger) did the mash (rumbling) he did the monster (eren jaeger) mash (rumbling)
[Sunny's smile fades. He nods, staring down at his lap. His own hand folds over his heart, mirroring Aubrey's, but it's more a subconscious thing. The last two times, he pulled her hand there with his. His fingers squeeze around nothing.]
[She sort of figured that might kill the smile. It stings to see it go, but this felt… right, to bring up, then. Important. Watching Sunny mirror her hand is significant in its own way, much as the curl of his fingers tugs at her heart.
[Sunny looks ashamed. His head hangs lower. He nods.
[He wants to keep her safe, but he knows that he can't promise that anymore. He's hurt her so many times - with his own hands, or with his callous panic...
Look… I would’ve kicked me out, too. [Shame has Aubrey shrinking down, glancing away. But she forces herself to refocus on Sunny.] You don’t… need to be sorry for anything.
Edited (would it be a normal thread if I never accidentally a line) 2024-04-10 04:23 (UTC)
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[Were it not for their preceding exchange, Aubrey would half wonder if Sunny’s making this up, too. He’s gay?]
You’re… dating? [Sunny would date a cat-person. Aubrey’s not judging.
[Actually, she has a few questions about a person who’d get into a relationship with someone who doesn’t remember half his day. But from Sunny’s earlier description, Kenma seems nice enough, and Sunny trusts him. Aubrey will just have to see for herself that the trust isn’t misplaced.]
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im surprised
too
[Will...she mind? His father would, probably. Maybe his mom too. Sunny swallows down a lump in his throat.]
he makes me feel
very good
and safe
shakes fist at html fail
[It’s funny. Eren’s from another world and has multiple spouses, so that’s one thing. Luz has talked about her girlfriend, and only later did Aubrey realize Luz is from (what Aubrey thinks is) the same version of Earth; if a place can have magic, it can have girls dating girls, too.
[Sunny, though. It never occurred to her…]
I’m glad. [She has no idea what to say to this sort of thing. Two months feels… fast. But the sentiment is genuine, and Aubrey’s faint smile remains.] Congrats on the boyfriend.
I could have stopped the rumbling (said something) and chose not to
[New topic...]
xie lian
is the kindest person i know
its hard to say
how important he is
to me
[Which is...surprisingly honest of him to admit so readily, however...through everything, Aubrey has become...Aubrey again...
[Haven't they shared plenty of confessions like this? There's no harm in her knowing how wonderful Xie Lian is; how he's almost convinced Sunny once or twice that hope still exists.]
😔. hands you a seashell.
Xie Lian. [She mucks up the punctuation a bit, but there’s an honest effort. The kindest person…]
How’d you meet? [It’s a soft question. Sunny’s telling her a lot…]
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he needed trash
for projects
later
he needed ingredients
so i got him some
and we became friends
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[Ingredients. Sunny’s kitchen was not stocked.]
You meet a lot of people through the network, huh?
cw: eating issues
[Just doesn't really think about it. Eating doesn't seem to matter much when everything only seems half-real.]
its easier
to talk this way
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[He never was the biggest eater. But it’s not lost on Aubrey that he’s leaving his breakfast at three bites; that seems new.]
I guess it is.... I feel like you miss a lot, though. Tone and stuff.
[Small shrug. She’s not judging too much; as long as he’s talking with someone, somehow. Charlene would probably be the same way.]
By the way, ah. You gonna finish that? [The food.]
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at tone
anyway
[He glances at the eggs. Aubrey worked hard to make them, so he takes another bite. They're cold now...but not bad.]
you have
good friends too?
[He's wondered...worried that she might be alone.]
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You know, it sounds like you. [Very, very lightly teasing.] I don’t know if it’s just because I’ve heard you before, but this sort of… all lowercase, with the short messages. It works.
[She pauses, taking a couple bites of her own, before answering the question. This might be one of the first times the topic hasn’t felt incredibly loaded.]
I have Luz. Whether I like it or not.... [It’s fond, though. Aubrey really has to wonder what kind of person gets yelled at like that and sticks around anyway. Sunny and Kel came back, apparently, but that’s different…]
It’s been a little while, but— Oh, I should show you the new bat. And the sword. [She gestures with the empty fork, a little “just you wait” motion.] Wolf guy, Eren, got me that one. I think we’re friends, too.
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ive seen u
practicing
🗡️
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[At this Aubrey’s face lights up, vaguely mischievous.] Yeah? I’ve been training with iiit… pretty much every day. Haven’t had to really use it yet, but. [Absent wave of the fork.] If I need to, it’s good to have.
[She swings it loosely in Sunny’s direction. Reminding him there are monsters here might be dangerous, but considering how they ran into each other out here…] I can defend you better now.
holy crap
ur going to
defend my honor?
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Honor?
[She takes the fork in both hands, holding it upright like a real knight. Or at least like knights in picture books.]
Hell yeah, I’ll defend your honor. I pledge my sword to thee, Sunny [insert surname here].
[And god help her, the knight schtick may be a joke, but protecting him is a vow she will keep.]
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I do...hereby...knight thee.
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[She bows her head when he does, and doesn’t look up until his pledge is complete. There’s already a laugh in her chest, and when she sees that tiny smile again, it comes out in a soft, borderline-giggling sound. When was the last time she sounded like this? When did Sunny last smile like that?]
I won’t let you down, my liege. [Anything for that smile.] Neither monster nor man shall contest us.
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eren jaeger: guess i’ll go fuck myself—
[It works!] Nor man-eating monster, or… monster-eating man? [Okay, not funny to some people out here, but this is between Sunny and Aubrey.]
Really, though… [She sets the fork down, then crosses an actual hand over her heart.] No matter what this place throws at us… I’m keeping my promise, and I want to keep you safe. Don’t…
[Don’t pay attention to anything I say to the contrary. I don’t want this place to force it out. Which means it probably will…]
Don’t doubt that. Okay?
he (eren jaeger) did the mash (rumbling) he did the monster (eren jaeger) mash (rumbling)
I kicked you out...
[Even for Sunny, it's a quiet voice.]
I'm sorry.
smash… :pensive:
[She sort of figured that might kill the smile. It stings to see it go, but this felt… right, to bring up, then. Important. Watching Sunny mirror her hand is significant in its own way, much as the curl of his fingers tugs at her heart.
[Then he speaks.]
You’re… [Aubrey’s own voice is quiet, searching.]
For that?
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[He wants to keep her safe, but he knows that he can't promise that anymore. He's hurt her so many times - with his own hands, or with his callous panic...
[He couldn't protect anyone if he tried.]
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[Gently, she slips her hand back towards his.]
I wasn’t even thinking of that…
[This could get very, very dangerous.]
Look… I would’ve kicked me out, too. [Shame has Aubrey shrinking down, glancing away. But she forces herself to refocus on Sunny.] You don’t… need to be sorry for anything.
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There were monsters...
[She could...have died...]
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There were, and we made it out fine. [She squeezes back, steady.] I shouldn’t have left you. We could’ve stayed together, and…
[He doesn’t want to hear how goddamn sorry you are.]
…We can now. We will. That’s what matters.
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