tfln #4 return of the terrible choices

[muskeg]

you know the drill. have at it, swampians.

Comments

[gunflowers]

yeah? who that?

he's been spending time away, lately. i think he got himself some warmer company than the piano

[hoodwinker]

really? you want to fight me about this?

you're one of them, you punk.

i have to question his taste, nothing's more beautiful than your playing.

[gunflowers]

one of *them*
wait, have you finally got your shit together and stopped pushing rook away?

one, you're being cheesy, and two, i wont blame him if he's getting some.

[hoodwinker]

i care about the mr neves too.

i'm not being cheesy, you know how i've always felt about your music.

[gunflowers]

you're so tight lipped. if you can't talk to me about him, who can you talk to!!!

i didn't say it wasn't nice, Ji. but it's still cheesy. anyway come over to do your knitting. you can not tell me anything about rook some more. i can tell you about dal.

[hoodwinker]

if i start talking about him, you'll lose all respect for me.

don't say i didn't warn you.

good, i need to take your measurements anyway.

[not that it's gonna matter, whatever he makes will still end up looking like a picasso.]

[gunflowers]

Oh, please. As if I have any to start with.

[ Snicker snicker. ]

you can’t possibly say anything more embarrassing than anything you already know about me.

My - oh, are you going to make me something???

[hoodwinker]

i took him to an italian restaurant and fed him from my fork

of course i am. i don't need twenty lace doilies or something

[gunflowers]

wow, so much respect has been lost, you’re right. I can’t believe you took someone in a date and had a nice time, that’s so gross.

I hope you can imagine how hard I’m rolling my eyes right now. I took Dal on a breakfast date yesterday and held his hand. Is that just as disgusting?

I mean you do need to decorate a little. You could always make me a hat.

[hoodwinker]

god, that's so much worse. a breakfast date. i'm suddenly glad rook sleeps past breakfast.

shit, that's a good idea. clear a spot, i'm on my way.

[gunflowers]

at least i didn't feed him pieces of my bagel with my fingers, you filthy animal

couch's ready for you

[hoodwinker]

It wasn't bagels, it was garlic bread.

[which is just grosser, really. jiho invades, bag of yarn and such in hand as he flops down on the couch.]

I'm making you a grey hat. You wear a lot of grey.

[gunflowers]

Ew.

[ Myung's grinning, and he's definitely happy to see Jiho. He's still playing, but just random little melodies, nothing in particular, nothing focused. ]

I gotta balance the hair, you know.

[ Even though, right now, said hair is white as can be, which Jiho knows, and as seen before, usually means that Myung's power is not working.

But he's also not injured. So what? ]

[hoodwinker]

That's what soap and mouth wash are for.

[jiho takes his yarn and needs out, setting it aside so that nothing will get tangled before looking up. he does the double-take.]

Hey, what's wrong? Are you sick?

[gunflowers]

Huh? [ It takes Myung a second. ]

Oh. Oh! No, I'm fine.

[ He runs a hand through his hair, smiling to himself, cheeks going rosy. ]

It's Dal. He can, uh, absorb powers, through touch? He had to borrow one of my hats.

[ He cuts a look at Jiho. ] But don't go jumping to conclusions, it's not - the way you think.

[hoodwinker]

Of course it's not.

[he doesn't look like he quite believes you, but he does look amused. and relieved to know that myung is okay. and while his powers might be embarrassing for some, they won't actually hurt dal either. so that's good.

jiho thinks for a moment.]

He takes them away, just like that?

[gunflowers]

[ Eye roll. ]

It really isn't. I mean. I want it to be, but he's like. He's never - you know? He hasn't. So we're taking our time. He's actually made me think about a few things. I'm thinking I - I want to be with him. Exclusively.

[ And here you go, now he's flushing for real, deep red and a little floundering. He has no idea why it was so difficult to say it to Jiho that it came out in a rush of words the way it did.

Looking back up, Myung nods. ]

Yeah. He just has to touch someone.

[hoodwinker]

Well he obviously touched you somewhere.

[and wow, he sort of wishes that dal hadn't right about now. he can only imagine how bright myung's hair would be.]

Holy shit, you're looking at houseboats. [jiho teases, looking a little shocked, but- when was the last time myung looked this happy and at peace? it's like hes gotten off of some roller coaster that he's been on ever since jiho's known him. there's a knot in his throat, but he swallows it down. this doesn't mean that myung is going anywhere, and jiho's sincere with his words.] I'm really happy for you.

[a pause. and because he's jiho:]

I hope he wrecks your ass with everything he's been saving up. Seriously, I hope he rides your ass until you're flopping around like one of those air dancing things in front of car lots. Start eating some oysters, you don't know what you're in for.

[gunflowers]

[ Another eyeroll, and Myung groans. ] We've been holding hands a lot. And there's been some kissing.

[ The most virginal relationship Myung's been with in years. Since he was like, a virgin himself. He sees the surprise on Jiho's face, and he feels the knot in his own stomach, but it's not unhappy. It's just - things are changing, for both of them.

And Myung is going absolutely nowhere. He's never been this close to feeling actually settled in the house. ]

I'm - eh. Thanks. I haven't actually talked to him about it yet so it might all be a moot point and he wants to explore his options. I. I'm goddamn terrified about it, Ji, but I haven't really stopped thinking or talking about him since we met, so I think that it's like. What I should be doing.

[ And then Jiho barrels on, and Myung's mouth drops open, the flush in his cheeks so loud he's thinking he must be to the point of implosion. He must be, right? Must be.

He hides his face in his hands, closing his eyes tightly. ]

Oh my God, stop talking. Holy shit, how can you even say that shit with a straight face?

[hoodwinker]

[at least he doesn't have to worry about jiho judging him for holding hands and kissing. to him, that's the best part, what really means something, and he hopes it stays special for myung even after they've taken it steps beyond.]

It's easy. [the assassin shrugs, kicking his shoes off so he can fold his legs up under himself. he pulls what looks to be the beginnings of a scarf out of his bag. maybe he should make a full face mask for myung. you know, hide the evidence.] When are you going to talk to him?

[damn. he can't get rid of a house resident for breaking myung's heart, can he.]

[gunflowers]

[ Well, so far, Myung has very much enjoyed the hand holding, and the kissing, and the dancing and the playing piano together. He's enjoying it all, in ways he still finds surprising, because usually, at this point, his relationships have evolved to be mainly about sex.

It's not easy, not really, not for Myung, but whatever. He shrugs. ]

As soon as possible. It's always a bit difficult to know when he'll be around, because he has to share time with Bam and I already feel like I'm constantly asking Bam to sacrifice his life for me to get time with Dal, so I'm waiting for the next time he's around.

[ Jiho, no. ]

He said before he didn't have interest in anyone else, but that was then. Things might have changed, and I won't try to stop him if he wants that.

[hoodwinker]

[jiho might.

no, he wouldn't really. but he's protective of myung. tough on him, yes, but jiho's getting better at that too, and expressing his feelings in general.

but he's still a little pink punk.]

Talk to him about it as soon as you can. Get it behind you so you can move on to the good stuff.

[emphasis on good stuff, but hey at least he's not shoving bananas into bagels.]

So when he took your power away, it didn't just vanish, did it? You said he had to wear a hat.

[gunflowers]

[ Myung nods, returning to playing a nonsensical little melody. ]

Yeah, I will. It's the plan, anyway. I just hope it... goes the way I want it to. I think I'd be really kinda jealous.

[ Which is not exactly a feeling Myung in unaccustomed to, but it's not one he enjoys at all.

He shakes his head at the question. ]

No, he takes it on. SO my hair goes white, his goes all colorful and shows his feelings. I guess it's the same for any other power he can absorb, he can use it for a little while, or manifest it at least. The other person can't anymore.

[hoodwinker]

[jiho nods softly. he wants it to go that way too. he feels good about it. the situation is...new, not one he would've expected to find myung in. but hell, who is he to talk.

myung is being honest with his own feelings though. and that's good, it encourages jiho too.]

That's too bad. [he looks down at his knitting for a moment before correcting himself.] I mean, it's good. It's fine for you and for him. But...I was thinking it could help Rook.

[gunflowers]

[ It is not a situation Myung ever expected himself to find himself in, either. It's a pretty huge game-changer for him, which is why he's talked about it with a number of people, trying to make sense of it, trying to make sure he can do it, that it is what he wants, really, and...

Seems like it is. At least he's got Dae to thank for that, for being slightly more in touch with his feelings, accepting them easier.

Myung looks up, the piano going silent. ]

I mean, if you and Rook talk to him about it... I guess it depends on what he'd take on. If it's the summoning thing, I'm going to have to ask you not to do that. But I'm not sure if that's something that he can take on, anyway.