kaisou | video; un: riftdancer

WHO: Amal and whoever!
WHERE: The network
WHEN: The last week of May
WHAT: Amal's long nap is finally over.
WARNINGS: Endwalker spoilers in some threads, if you care about that sort of thing. Mind the CWs on Zelos' thread too (abuse, indentured servitude).

[video]

[Amal is dressed a little differently today. Repping Thavnairian weave and a ribbon in his hair, he's seemingly conquered the incredible bedhead he's nursed for several weeks.]

Hey everyone! Did you think you were rid of me? Sorry to disappoint! Being exceptionally difficult to get rid of is one of my many talents, as it turns out.

My birds are acting like I was dead instead of asleep, when I don't even remember going to bed. But I remember a lot of other things—it was like I was home. Like I never left. Maybe... my body was here while my soul was there? I have no idea, but I'm awake now, and I have every reason to believe what I saw happen... uh, happened.

So. What'd I miss?

[A pause.]

Oh, and what's a BBL? I woke up to a bunch of texts from work asking if I'd 'recovered' yet.

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[During his absence, Raha takes a deep, calming breath himself, the now near empty and definitely cold mug shifting fitfully between his hands. He's not sure why he feels so flustered- it is just the oddity of the situation, of knowing and not knowing all at once, of only newly meeting someone and yet having known them for years, across time and space? It's not as though he's got much else to compare that specific set of circumstances to... conversations with Rhel haven't yet gotten quite this intense feeling.

He fidgets a little on the couch, waiting and perking up when Amal re-enters, looking down as the little gift is presented.] Oh...

[He reaches out to thread the ribbon between his own fingers, looking over it for a moment before raising his gaze to Amal's again, that same, soft smile almost radiating joy.] Thank you. I suppose... some things really don't change, do they?

[Amal's smile broadens into a sunny grin that's a touch shy. It's a rare, honest smile, not the big fangish mischief he usually displays.]

People are more than the sum of their memories. Even if something washed them all away, you would be you, and I would still be me. I've seen that firsthand.

[He looks down at the ribbon.]

Ah... I can tie it into your braid, if you like. [The angle might be hard for Raha to do it himself.]

Oh, uh-- yes, please.

[He turns a bit to make it easier-- is his face on fire? It feels like his face is on fire.]

[He doesn't notice Raha's blush, too wrapped up in his own thoughts, really... but he shifts around so that he can gently take the man's braid in his hands. He wishes he had a comb. He'd repart this hair, and rebraid it, and make Raha feel as pampered as he deserves.

But for now he simply ties the bow about the end to help hold it all together, giving it a nice fluff so it's perfect, crisp, and striking against that beautiful red hair. It's over far too soon.]

Done. [He settles his hands on his knees.] It's hard for me not to associate that shade of blue with you, if I'm being honest... After everything you went through, you carried a little piece of the Crystal Tower with you. This is hardly that, but the color—it looks good on you.

[It reminds him of Raha's time as the Crystal Exarch, too. Perhaps G'raha saw what happened to him as some ugliness necessary for sacrifice, but Amal was never one to shy away from touching the jeweled hand that had plucked him so gently away from an awful fate.]

[He has his staff back now, though Amal would have no way of knowing that as he's been asleep the whole time, but it doesn't occur to Raha to mention it right now. It's hard for much of anything to occur to him right now, his primary focus being to try to damp down the blush that has definitely made its way to his still-human ears by now.

He turns back when Amal says he's done, his smile still soft and warm with an added bit of shyness to it, since he suddenly feels like everything about him may as well be an open book.]

Thank you. For-- all of that.

[The story, and the ribbon, and... still wanting him here, despite everything. Missing half the story as he is, he's not sure if he should be protesting the sense of care more or not, but even if he were to protest, it's nice to have. It's nice to know that the stain of the Tower was looked on with fondness, rather than distaste.]

[Amal finally notices that Raha is a little red. Maybe he should back off a little—he doesn't want to embarrass him or anything. Or worse-- come on too strong, and push him away. Raha certainly has his shy moments, and sometimes has trouble vocalizing what he wants. But he will get there in time, and whatever he does want—Amal will happily provide.]

I worry I've bored you in the telling, [he says mildly.]

I should be thanking you, though. You haven't run off screaming into the woods yet, or thrown your tea at me and called me a lunatic. Most people have a low tolerance for my kind of weirdness.

[He's spent his whole life being told that he's too much for people and it's a fact he understands, but adding the whole past life thing on top of it is so much... He's ever so grateful for Raha's patience in any universe.]

You haven't, I promise.

[He smiles a little brighter, trying to push past the awkwardness and just settle in the happiness, of being with his friend, and of being able to talk like this.]

I think that would be an extreme reaction, to say the least. I think you're more than tolerable.

[He's teasing a little, but he means it. He can't see why anyone wouldn't like Amal.]

More than tolerable? I'm more than tolerable?

[Teasing is how he shows affection himself, but he's fighting to keep a smile off his face and losing.]

I suppose I'll have to try harder, so I can get a true ringing endorsement of okay I guess.

video; un: riftdancer

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