I'll be the one doing the gazing, so look wherever you want.
(the scar isn't noticed until hei flips their palms up, and even once he's noticed he's learned enough about disliking attention paid to his own. it goes ignore, save for a short "hm" of acknowledgement, wondering what line of work she's in. a question for another time, even if it'd surely help him tell her her future.
the back of her hand is weighed in his.
hei's thumb is pressing lightly into skin, where a thin thread of silver light has gathered where they make contact. an unpracticed amateur, this does little, but does skim surface thoughts and vague impressions of things that he remarks on with a low grunt.) I see. So that's how it is. You put on a brave face, but maybe you're actually intimidated by this process. (a bullshit guess, more to set the mood and entertain.)
Your path's clear to me. You'll receive expired coupons from a new acquaintance, but you won't realize they're expired until you attempt to use them. Then, (no, it's not over,) embarrassed and angry that you missed the fine print, you'll demand to speak to a manager and have your purchases comped.
That is a mystery you'll have to discover for yourself. (still hanging onto her hand, his eyes drift away to focus on something beyond her shoulder. ultimately it's up to her to ~believe~ and only then will the coupons come to her. maybe this evening, maybe next week, maybe next month, or even next year–
eventually she'll get expired coupons. then she'll see, oh yes, she'll see.)
(it's a blasé inside joke between them, now. why would they do anything without first receiving payment for it? does aefenglom think them stupid? hah!)
My name's Hei. (finally taking his hand back, light fading as he slips his glove back on.) Keep the ten, and tell me yours.
(no one has ever told him his name's nice before. in light of this oddity, hei leans back in his seat with his tin and counts his money. with adelaide's contribution of twenty cunes, he's made a whopping twenty cunes.)
Don't get friendly with me, this was a business transaction. (name for name, money for money; they're square.) ... what are you, a witch? Or one of the malformed creatures I've been seeing about?
[Most people probably wouldn't say that to a near-stranger, she thinks, but the sentiment still stands.] Yeah, I'm a witch. I'm not sure if that means I'm lucky or not.
[He should have, because she would've gotten a kick out of that.]
I guess so... [She cocks her head, looking thoughtful.] But I don't think being a witch and being possibly dangerous to yourself is any better. Everyone's kind of got the short end of the stick, if you ask me, but... I guess looking human is still better than growing horns or fangs or tails.
Witches take the pain on themselves, but the creatures here inflict theirs on the world around them.
(civilians aren't exactly on his shortlist; he'd rather internalize whatever agony he's caused. accustomed to it, it'll be as easy as breathing. subjecting the city to random, uncontrolled chaos as a monster every month sounds tiresome.)
Guess it's up for debate... whether or not that means anything to you.
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no subject
Alright.
[She takes his hand, and maybe he'll be able to feel the scar on her palm - whatever caused it, the wound must have been significant.]
Should I close my eyes, or should I gaze into yours to unlock the secrets of the universe or whatever?
no subject
(the scar isn't noticed until hei flips their palms up, and even once he's noticed he's learned enough about disliking attention paid to his own. it goes ignore, save for a short "hm" of acknowledgement, wondering what line of work she's in. a question for another time, even if it'd surely help him tell her her future.
the back of her hand is weighed in his.
hei's thumb is pressing lightly into skin, where a thin thread of silver light has gathered where they make contact. an unpracticed amateur, this does little, but does skim surface thoughts and vague impressions of things that he remarks on with a low grunt.) I see. So that's how it is. You put on a brave face, but maybe you're actually intimidated by this process. (a bullshit guess, more to set the mood and entertain.)
Your path's clear to me. You'll receive expired coupons from a new acquaintance, but you won't realize they're expired until you attempt to use them. Then, (no, it's not over,) embarrassed and angry that you missed the fine print, you'll demand to speak to a manager and have your purchases comped.
no subject
At his fortune, though, she bursts out into another laugh. What is she, a Karen?]
Does this place even have coupons?
[Oh, this has gone even more delightfully than she was expecting.]
no subject
eventually she'll get expired coupons. then she'll see, oh yes, she'll see.)
...
And a question that'll cost another twenty cunes.
no subject
[She'll get those coupons, very carefully look for an expiration date, and then toss them into the trash where they belong. Take that, Hei!]
How about I give you ten and you tell me your name?
[Because she's not giving you another twenty, buddy boy.]
no subject
(it's a blasé inside joke between them, now. why would they do anything without first receiving payment for it? does aefenglom think them stupid? hah!)
My name's Hei. (finally taking his hand back, light fading as he slips his glove back on.) Keep the ten, and tell me yours.
no subject
She brushes a loose strand of hair back, committing the name to memory. Hei...]
That's a nice name! [For a nice man...?] I'm Adelaide. Nice to meet you!
[She hasn't forgotten her manners!!]
no subject
Don't get friendly with me, this was a business transaction. (name for name, money for money; they're square.) ... what are you, a witch? Or one of the malformed creatures I've been seeing about?
no subject
[Most people probably wouldn't say that to a near-stranger, she thinks, but the sentiment still stands.] Yeah, I'm a witch. I'm not sure if that means I'm lucky or not.
no subject
Whether you're a witch or monster shouldn't matter, but it's better than having your body be altered and inevitably deformed.
no subject
I guess so... [She cocks her head, looking thoughtful.] But I don't think being a witch and being possibly dangerous to yourself is any better. Everyone's kind of got the short end of the stick, if you ask me, but... I guess looking human is still better than growing horns or fangs or tails.
no subject
(civilians aren't exactly on his shortlist; he'd rather internalize whatever agony he's caused. accustomed to it, it'll be as easy as breathing. subjecting the city to random, uncontrolled chaos as a monster every month sounds tiresome.)
Guess it's up for debate... whether or not that means anything to you.