callalilies | ミ★ chasma

Flat, would you like to go to the market with me?

[ in the courtyard, trying to solicit company! polaris is at his side and eagerly trots up to jack to give a greeting. kaeya holds out a hand to him with a soft smile, gravitational fondness. ]

I was thinking we could use a change of clothes, maybe have a little fun taking in the sights. What do you say?

[ flat’s face immediately lights up when kaeya asks him to hang out. it’s a look between surprise and joy, as if he were shocked that he chose him over any of the others.

jack is happy to see polaris, too, immediately switching to its black wolf form to nuzzle against her in greeting. ]

I’d love to!

[ he’ll hold his hand, smiling warmly. ]

This place is much different, don’t you think? There’s lots of people here…

[ polaris will nuzzle him back in delight, tail beating happily as he circles with jack, gives it one of those wolf hugs with his mouth.

while kaeya has always been tactile, this feels... much. but it also feels pretty nice. he grins. ]

Can't help but be reassured by the fact that there's a significant population here, and not to mention we'll be able to get some supplies while we're here. Personally, I'd like to check out the local wares, maybe find some more appropriate clothes for the heat.

Ah, that'd be nice! I've never really gone clothes shopping with anyone before...

[ flat looks...excited, actually? usually in london he goes shopping mostly by himself, and over here they've just been taking whatever they could find appropriate but...

this bit of interaction actually seems fun! ]

I know we're both new, but you could show me around, Mister Kaeya. You'd make an excellent tour guide--and a stylist.

I do have taste.

[ he's trash, please run. but in all honesty, flat seems pretty Neat so, he's happy to play dress up. ]

But what sort of things do you think you'd like to wear? Any favorite colors?

[ this apartment is so ugly, they didn't paint it just one shade, they painted it three shades of pee yellow, pea soup, and coral pink. kaeya just sits up... confused and with his hair wild as polaris is barking??? out the window. it's a knee jerk reaction, polaris is awake so now he must be awake. it's terrible. ]

Po, shh...

[ he grumbles, patting around the bed briefly before patting? pat pat? flat's head. ]

…

[ flat is up as soon as he’s pat on the head, jolting awake with an anxious look in his eye…before pausing.

he takes his surroundings. jack is there, joining polaris in the barking.

polaris.

oh, he’s roomed with— ]

M-Mister Kaeya! Good morning!

[ in the corner of the room is a reindeer???? just kind of chilling, maybe nibbling on one of the ugly curtains curiously???? ]

Good morning, Flat... Sorry. I guess some part of me is also rather anxious about Mondays these days.

[ he pauses.

hm.

did he mean to say anxious?

eugh. weird. he's chalking it up to yesterday. ]

[ flat will laugh nervously, nodding. he doesn’t waste time in getting off the bed, going over to jack’s side. ]

It’s actually kind of convenient since I needed to talk to you anyw—

[ his hands fly to cover his mouth, eyes wide. he didn’t mean to say that…

…

… ]

I think I might be cursed. Or we all might be. I don’t know yet.

[ oh. hm. that's... the way flat covers his mouth and the panic on his face? well that's... ]

Do you want to find some breakfast and talk? Or is it better done in private?

[ he frowns a little bit. cursed? he doesn't feel weird (yet). ]

What sort of curse do you think is hitting us this week?

…Honestly, it doesn’t matter. You won’t like it either way.

[ flat looks… upset? apologetic? conflicted. he looks like he’s between bracing himself for impact or taking off running like a scared animal. ]

I imagine that it’s probably something that forces us to say the truth? But I’ve never been good at lying so…

[ just another tuesday for him, lol. ]

[ you won't like it either way. haha! ]

This is going to be an interesting week then, no doubt.

[ he just palms his chin in his hand. he's sitting up in bed, but it looks like he just fell asleep in some cozy nerak sweats and a t-shirt. love it. ]

Go on then. You're keeping me in suspense.

[ polaris gives another last nip to jack before trotting back to place his paws on kaeya's knees and get a soft series of self-soothing pets! ]

…

[ flat takes a deep breath, and jack immediately trots over to stay in front of flat…but flat immediately moves in front of the daemon.

he looks meek, nothing like the usual, energetic flat. ]

No matter what, I was going to tell you today…maybe it’s good luck they put us together?

[ and then he looks up, eyes wide and fearful. his chest feels tight and he wants to run, but…

he takes a deep breath—forces himself to. ]

I’m the one that poisoned Rochalízo. And I wanted to tell you everything, sir.

[ so he waits, wondering if he needs to break into a run or if kaeya will hear him out. ]

[ oh that's. that's not really the news he thought it was going to be. he thought maybe it was something dumb or a scolding. he'd take a scolding from anyone about what happened beyond the barrier at the execution yesterday before... well.

the suddenness of this. he doesn't look angry, he just looks.

confused? sad. the emotions flicker across his face, it's like someone started to close the wound and decided to shove a few fingers in it and deepen it. somehow this is both what he wanted and not what he wanted all at once. ]

Okay. [ soft, as he gets off of the bed and gives a stretch. ]

Thank you... Flat. I mean that.

[ it's honesty week. so of course he means that. but this is a lot, isn't it? kaeya's body language doesn't look particularly angry, just... sad. oof. his voice is soft as polaris' tail stills and his ears fall back somewhat. he's already moving, rifling through his bag. ]

In here, then, just you and me. We can talk and you can explain everything to me. From the beginning, hm? I took some tea from our hosts in Nerak and... I think we have a kettle. So how about I make some for us and we sit on that decrepit-looking couch?

[ a pause, he swallows tightly. ]

I could use one.

[ while i want this person caught, i also demand of you that you will show them every ounce of compassion that you once showed to me. ]

Edited 2021-11-08 21:06 (UTC)

[ the disappointment on kaeya’s face hurts as much as any knife or gunshot— more, actually, since the former two don’t actually have any effect on him.

flat looks on the bright side: at least he’s still alive. at least kaeya hasn’t kicked him out.

because of that, his only answer is to give a short nod, and jack butts its head against flat’s hip, whining sadly. ]

Sure, sir.

[ who is he to say no, in this situation? ]

[ kaeya just goes through the motions. he rifles around for a kettle and finds something old, but serviceable, washing it down (the faucet rumbles and clanks loudly before it spits any water out, but it does run). it takes him a bit, between getting the hotplate to boil the water, but it boils eventually, a soft tinny whistle and eventually there are just. two mugs of black tea! sorry, flat. but it's warm in the autumn chill, so it should do the trick anyways.

he'll just bring them over, polaris close at his leg as he has a seat. his ears prick a bit at the whine and he just lays down over kaeya's feet on the floor as he sets one of the mugs down. ]

And please, Flat. You don't have to call me Sir. It's just Kaeya.

[ flat doesn’t complain. he’s happy to take whatever he’s given, both before and especially now. he gives a nod as a thank you, sitting down on the couch that god only knows which dumpster they took it from.

he takes a sip—better than reze’s coffee, at least. either way, he doesn’t say anything.

jack lays down at his feet, and flat starts to talk. ]

I’m…not really sure why I did it. Rochalízo said that it was either vengeance or to protect the executioner. I’m sure it wasn’t the first option, but… the second one feels a bit wrong, too. More right, but still not completely right.

[ … ]

I think part of me saw him as a threat, somehow. Or… maybe I was angry. I’m not sure. I’ve never been angry before.

[ this couch probably had fleas at one point. ]

Part of you?

[ he tilts his head. he just looks a bit puzzled. ]

Surely you've been upset at some point, haven't you, Flat? A place like this... I would be incredibly surprised at your patience if you haven't.

…

[ flat shakes his head. ]

Frustrated. Annoyed. But not… not angry. I don’t even know how to describe it…but it was probably a mix of fear and anger and sadness. That’s what I think.

[ he grips the cup in his hands just a bit tighter. ]

It was pointless, though. When Rochalízo told me he didn’t plan to fight back, I told him he could throw up the poison…but he didn’t. It was never going to kill him, sure, but I didn’t want to hurt someone that wasn’t going to be a threat.

[ flat sighs, closing his eyes. ]

I didn’t tell him not to tell anyone. He told me that he wasn’t in any place to condemn anyone, but I told him that I didn’t mind. I mean, he should have said it when he had the chance… but he probably thought that he deserved it or something like that.

Edited 2021-11-10 05:43 (UTC)

[ his expression doesn't ever harden, in fact, it reminds soft, remorseful, but kind as well. a hand lifts from the cup, hovers a moment before he gives flat a very soft clap on the shoulder. ]

Rochalízo held great guilt so close to his chest. I can only imagine the weight, between that and... Susato... of course he thought he deserved it, but in the end. [ there are so many things that kaeya is torn on, things that make his heart clench tightly between his ribs between unsteady beats. his expression draws a bit. when he looks at flat in the eyes it's just! well, it's honesty week. so his one eye is just big blue and looking right at him. ]

I'm not angry with you. [ softer, of that he can be certain. ] I don't think I can be if you're as puzzled by your own actions, there's more to it than that. I don't take you for a malicious young man, Flat... I only want to understand this as best I can.

Were you close with Miss Susato, Flat?

[ flat’s body tenses at the touch for a second—proof of worse times—before relaxing against kaeya. he breathes out a sigh of relief when he hears that the man isn’t mad at him, but feeling is still there. maybe if he knew himself better, then he’d be able to answer kaeya’s questions with more clarity.

it’s difficult, when you barely know who you are, and have to build yourself from watching others.

but he’ll do his best. with a sad smile, they answer in a soft voice. ]

I think I was close to her. She was one of the two that I did not mind being around during that time… she wasn’t angry or afraid. I appreciated that.

It felt like something was ripped out, when we found out she died. I don’t know how else to describe it.

[ oh. the tension for a moment. kaeya almost pulls his hand away until flat relaxes again. polaris just leans forward, sniffs softly at jack, but kaeya doesn't move, just remains as is. ]

Grief is... often times a very unfortunate spark that sets alight all kinds of fires. Or it's a deluge that drowns us. It depends on the sort of person you are, really. [ the emphasis doesn't go unnoticed. ] Being angry or afraid doesn't help understanding someone. We all have parts of us that require a bit more patience... compassion.

[ the word sits heavy on his tongue. ]

Miss Susato was always the sort to hear everyone out as much as she could. And so am I. She is a friend who for now will be missed... but we will find a way to return her to us, to those who loved her dearly. [ a pause ] To you, too.

We're only afraid of the unknown because it's just that, unknown. Instead, why not stretch out a hand to it from time to time so that it becomes less of a stranger, and more of a friend as well.

....

[ jack will sniff back, its tail wagging softly. we're okay, it tries to signal.

it depends on the sort of person you are, kaeya says, and flat smiles wryly at that. he doesn't correct him, though. it's true in it's own way--grief is something that he's never felt until recently. but it's the latter part that actually strikes one of flat's chords, eyes widening.

he draws in a deep breath and shakes his head ]

The unknown has always been a really scary thing for me. It's not like a stranger, but...I'm not sure if I could ever be friends with it. But if other people do...I guess that's fine.

[ kaeya is just here in casa alberich-escardos nudging some things into his bag. in his hand, he has an unopened bottle of wine. as he hears flat, he turns his head and smiles fondly. ]

How are you?

[ it's the first question out of his mouth after all of that. ]

[ flat looks...tired? but he looks up at kaeya, smiling sheepishly. ]

I'm exhausted. So much happened, after all...

[ ... ]

Are you going to visit Spike?

[ kaeya just kind of flops to sit down on the couch, turning the bottle in his hands. ]

Yeah. I wanted to just. Have a drink with him. Talk.

[ flat will...sit next to him, the springs on the couch creaking slightly.

he eyes the wine bottle, and then his gaze moves up to kaeya. ]

Are you mad at him?

[ the bottle is covered in a matte black foil at the top. the name on the label is, appropriately, the parting glass. ]

At him, at myself.

Perhaps I'm just as responsible.

[ flat considers that last part, before shaking his head. ]

You didn't ask him to do that.

[ he opens his mouth, then closes it again. shaking his head. ]

I didn't. But somehow it still feels quite terrible all the same.

Do you plan on visiting him as well?

I am.

[ he nods. ]

He's my friend.

Good... he needs friends. We have to bring him back to. Just like the others.

Tomorrow will be hellish.

…

[ he smiles sadly at kaeya, nodding. ]

But I think that it’ll be over soon. We just have to push a bit more.

A bit strange, isn't it? To think of the end? Both a relief and... I don't know.

It's a complicated feeling.

I think we've made so many connections here, I'm loathe to let them go if it comes down to that.

ミ★ chasma — flat

w3, monday uhhh explorin'

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w5, our 6th floor ugly apartment of truth

AND THEY WERE ROOMMATES

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1/2

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2/2

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w6, omg why'd u let me write wk 5 tori !!!! /jk

NOT ME ALSO DOING THISS

IT'S BEEN A RIDE

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