There's a little raise of his brow at that - and he definitely lifts Souji up in his arms while at the same time bending his head closer so that their faces are most certainly closer than they really need to be.]
What's this?
Did your good health suddenly make you want to play hard to get?
["jae-ha loves bullies" is going to be the statement that condemns us both
Anyway, as per usual for these two HORRIBLE PEOPLE, Souji isn't at all bothered by Jae-ha just dipping right into his personal space. If anything, the spark of amusement in his eyes seems brighter, even as he trains his expression into a theatrical look of innocence.]
I'm not exactly sure what you mean by that? I've always been this way.
[NOT UNTRUE... This is the Souji beneath the TB ballerina, god.]
[He hums faintly at that, his lips curling into a contemplative smile. The stars are probably judging them from far above because we've swung into every single genre of kdrama and have apparently ended up right back in dumb flirting.]
... maybe that's true. It would explain my interest in you since the beginning, after all.
[There's a little quirk of a smile at that, and Souji shifts his hand a little so that he can cup the side of Jae-ha's face and the corner of his mouth.
Then, in a brief break from the stupid flirting:]
I've never heard as many nice things as I've heard here... About me, I mean.
[It's still a shock to him like 8 weeks later when people claim to be his friend, okay. This is a lot for one little Souji to take in...]
[They in particular seem to have a sour reputation, but it's not like he hadn't come to accept it long ago. His expression shifts from the bright amusement to something a little softer.]
Mm... I wouldn't say that it bothers me, really. We expect people to treat us as they do. But I think-- I'll miss it, at least a little. I can use my old name in town so I'm not as recognizable when I want to make friends or enjoy the shops, but it's not the same.
[They're probably somewhere closer to the gardens by now. Jae-ha's walk honestly slows as he looks over the selection of blossoms all throughout the area, his expression growing contemplative.]
... I've had to wear a few different hats during my trials. Pirate, bandit, traveling entertainer... but I can never really reveal all too much, since the importance of who I'm traveling with and their safety means more than anything else.
It was nice being here... and only having to be Jae-ha.
[DON'T CURSE US IN THIS WAY like i started it but don't finish it
There's a little contemplative sound. It's similar enough, really, that he knows Jae-ha really does understand. A sad thing, but... well. Not much to be done for it in the end.]
That's exactly it. [...Except he still held a lot of things close to his chest - things he's afraid would push even the people here away if they knew of it. That's also a bit of a scary thing to live with, honestly.]
...I suppose I'll miss it. But I think I'll just miss the people here most of all.
Jae-ha manages a little laugh at that and he shrugs lightly - he can't move his shoulders entirely too much while Souji remains in his arms, but he hopes the nonchalance of the movement manages to get across.]
If we're lucky you might not miss me for very long.
Though I suppose you've made it clear that I'm merely a small, meager piece of the puzzle...
[It sure does get across, even if his attention anchors on his words instead of the gesture. Is it possible? With the ink they have, or perhaps the coins, he wonders if they really can create some way to visit each other - or at the very least, to keep in touch.
But he doesn't voice any of that because he's too busy being stupid instead.]
Oh? You almost sound like you're troubled by that.
[hates being tied down but loves being tied up.......]
It's a little late for that, don't you think?
[His tone pitches upward; a light and teasing lilt. His voice does have a musical quality to it that was kind of buried under... tb gunk before... but it sure does shine in moments like this when he's being extra punkish.]
But you can have my attention now. ...Until it needs to go elsewhere, anyway.
[it's so bad that this is jae-ha's idea of a good time
but he hums and - like a punk, he'll stop by the nearest bush that seems to be growing red roses. gently, he'll set souji back down on his feet, though it's not like he'll let him go far either. one arm easily snakes around souji's waist to keep him close, as jae-ha's other hand moves to tuck any stray hair behind one of souji's ears
and he hums pleasantly
so innocently]
... and if I'd like to steal your attention away for as long as I can?
[He regains his balance easily once he's set back down - a far cry from how delicately he had to be placed before. Still, he doesn't even bother trying to move far, and curls himself into Jae-ha's side. With an apparent fuckin 6 inches of height difference he probably has to crane his neck, but he'll do exactly that so he can reach Jae-ha's jawline to press a kiss there. It's brief and light, and seems to be more a matter of where Souji can reach with the greatest ease.
Then, mock-thoughtful:]
I suppose you could try to steal it, if it's something you'd like.
[There's a stupid mischievous twinkle in his little punkass eyes though, and in the next moment, he's squirming to slip away from Jae-ha's grasp and reach for one of his hands instead, pulling at his fingers and doing a half-spin step down the path.]
There are songs to sing, aren't there? Under the stars, like you asked for.
Unfortunately - it's the type of game that Jae-ha loves to play. He hums a brief, musical, curious note even as he lets Souji take his hand. He'll allow himself to be brought along the path, his steps following easily after Souji's. He moves to intertwine their fingers next, as if to make sure that Souji doesn't slip away any further that he already has.]
Will you sing me a love song?
[Let's be entirely specific about what kind of song now.]
Ah, I'm not sure how my heart would ever be able to recover... but I still can't let this opportunity pass, you know?
[this is truly even more of a cursed combo than i expected but souji is LIVING UP HIS HEALTH WHILE HE HAS IT!! Since he doesn't know how long it'll last. This is fine.
It doesn't seem like he has any particular destination in mind, though. More like he's just using his legs to use his legs, weaving aimlessly, drifting from flower to flower whenever one catches his attention through the darkness and enjoying the freedom of an unrestricted ribcage. He makes no attempt to shake his hand free from Jae-ha's, seemingly content to hold it.]
I'll sing you anything you'd like.
[i'm not making up an edo era love song gosh ALL SONGS SOUND VAGUELY MELANCHOLY ANYWAY!! and Souji will be focusing on singing in Japanese so it's not like Jae-ha would understand him!! But he does turn his face up toward the sky overhead, swinging their hands a little before seeming to decide on a song. It's a lilting and somewhat sad tune, like this, that Souji sings out with crystal-pitch. Is this a love song or a song about lost loves, lord.]
no subject
Jae-ha loves bullies.
There's a little raise of his brow at that - and he definitely lifts Souji up in his arms while at the same time bending his head closer so that their faces are most certainly closer than they really need to be.]
What's this?
Did your good health suddenly make you want to play hard to get?
no subject
Anyway, as per usual for these two HORRIBLE PEOPLE, Souji isn't at all bothered by Jae-ha just dipping right into his personal space. If anything, the spark of amusement in his eyes seems brighter, even as he trains his expression into a theatrical look of innocence.]
I'm not exactly sure what you mean by that? I've always been this way.
[NOT UNTRUE... This is the Souji beneath the TB ballerina, god.]
no subject
[He hums faintly at that, his lips curling into a contemplative smile. The stars are probably judging them from far above because we've swung into every single genre of kdrama and have apparently ended up right back in dumb flirting.]
... maybe that's true. It would explain my interest in you since the beginning, after all.
[he loves what he can't have
wow]
no subject
Are you sure that wasn't just because I enjoyed a good drink and could tie your hair up nicely?
[But it's said on a little breath of a laugh, as Souji reaches up to gently tug on a small pinch of Jae-ha's hair as if to make his point.]
no subject
[shameless!
but he's also going to turn his head just to make sure that he can press a kiss against that hand now that it's reaching up so close to him
because
why wouldn't he]
no subject
Then, in a brief break from the stupid flirting:]
I've never heard as many nice things as I've heard here... About me, I mean.
[It's still a shock to him like 8 weeks later when people claim to be his friend, okay. This is a lot for one little Souji to take in...]
no subject
even as Jae-ha will automatically lean his head into the touch, closing one eye lazily as the other continues to look down at Souji]
... that does sound like a soldier's type of problem to have.
[he should know, as a pirate who typically has issues with soldiers]
Does it bother you to think about that when going back?
no subject
It is, you're right.
[They in particular seem to have a sour reputation, but it's not like he hadn't come to accept it long ago. His expression shifts from the bright amusement to something a little softer.]
Mm... I wouldn't say that it bothers me, really. We expect people to treat us as they do. But I think-- I'll miss it, at least a little. I can use my old name in town so I'm not as recognizable when I want to make friends or enjoy the shops, but it's not the same.
no subject
Yes, I can understand that.
[They're probably somewhere closer to the gardens by now. Jae-ha's walk honestly slows as he looks over the selection of blossoms all throughout the area, his expression growing contemplative.]
... I've had to wear a few different hats during my trials. Pirate, bandit, traveling entertainer... but I can never really reveal all too much, since the importance of who I'm traveling with and their safety means more than anything else.
It was nice being here... and only having to be Jae-ha.
no subject
There's a little contemplative sound. It's similar enough, really, that he knows Jae-ha really does understand. A sad thing, but... well. Not much to be done for it in the end.]
That's exactly it. [...Except he still held a lot of things close to his chest - things he's afraid would push even the people here away if they knew of it. That's also a bit of a scary thing to live with, honestly.]
...I suppose I'll miss it. But I think I'll just miss the people here most of all.
no subject
Jae-ha manages a little laugh at that and he shrugs lightly - he can't move his shoulders entirely too much while Souji remains in his arms, but he hopes the nonchalance of the movement manages to get across.]
If we're lucky you might not miss me for very long.
Though I suppose you've made it clear that I'm merely a small, meager piece of the puzzle...
no subject
But he doesn't voice any of that because he's too busy being stupid instead.]
Oh? You almost sound like you're troubled by that.
no subject
[A WISTFUL SIGH - that's not even remotely actually unhappy, for the record. Rather, he sounds like he enjoys the idea of being rejected....]
... well, I suppose that maybe I ought to just try harder to earn your attention.
[hm
bad]
no subject
It's a little late for that, don't you think?
[His tone pitches upward; a light and teasing lilt. His voice does have a musical quality to it that was kind of buried under... tb gunk before... but it sure does shine in moments like this when he's being extra punkish.]
But you can have my attention now. ...Until it needs to go elsewhere, anyway.
no subject
but he hums and - like a punk, he'll stop by the nearest bush that seems to be growing red roses. gently, he'll set souji back down on his feet, though it's not like he'll let him go far either. one arm easily snakes around souji's waist to keep him close, as jae-ha's other hand moves to tuck any stray hair behind one of souji's ears
and he hums pleasantly
so innocently]
... and if I'd like to steal your attention away for as long as I can?
no subject
Then, mock-thoughtful:]
I suppose you could try to steal it, if it's something you'd like.
[There's a stupid mischievous twinkle in his little punkass eyes though, and in the next moment, he's squirming to slip away from Jae-ha's grasp and reach for one of his hands instead, pulling at his fingers and doing a half-spin step down the path.]
There are songs to sing, aren't there? Under the stars, like you asked for.
no subject
Unfortunately - it's the type of game that Jae-ha loves to play. He hums a brief, musical, curious note even as he lets Souji take his hand. He'll allow himself to be brought along the path, his steps following easily after Souji's. He moves to intertwine their fingers next, as if to make sure that Souji doesn't slip away any further that he already has.]
Will you sing me a love song?
[Let's be entirely specific about what kind of song now.]
Ah, I'm not sure how my heart would ever be able to recover... but I still can't let this opportunity pass, you know?
no subject
It doesn't seem like he has any particular destination in mind, though. More like he's just using his legs to use his legs, weaving aimlessly, drifting from flower to flower whenever one catches his attention through the darkness and enjoying the freedom of an unrestricted ribcage. He makes no attempt to shake his hand free from Jae-ha's, seemingly content to hold it.]
I'll sing you anything you'd like.
[i'm not making up an edo era love song gosh ALL SONGS SOUND VAGUELY MELANCHOLY ANYWAY!! and Souji will be focusing on singing in Japanese so it's not like Jae-ha would understand him!! But he does turn his face up toward the sky overhead, swinging their hands a little before seeming to decide on a song. It's a lilting and somewhat sad tune, like this, that Souji sings out with crystal-pitch. Is this a love song or a song about lost loves, lord.]