(no subject)

[hot_mess_express]

Who: anyone
When: day 29 all day
Where: wherever!

[Mingle, look at memories, run amok, whatever.

Or, you know, there's morning glories blooming all around the train today. Mostly white but with a few brilliant crimson flowers (do morning glories come in that color?), all of them smell sweet and lovely, though the red ones smell a bit like... cinnamon? They're also blooming all day, which is weird.

The scent wafts pleasantly through the train through the morning. The sweet scent brings the urge to be honest and express your emotions freely. The more spiced scent... might make you randy? No not the tall redhead. The other kind.

In either case neither effect is generally overwhelming, and can in most cases be overcome, if you happen to notice you're under any influence in the first place. The effects are subtle enough.

In the afternoon a light rain will crush the flowers, making the scents heavier, and the effects stronger for a few hours, before it all clears up in the evening.]

Comments

[crimeson]

[Randy puts his face in his hands and groans.]

Look. A lot of it is on me for not remembering exactly how you are about this kind of stuff in context? So much could have been avoided if I'd just thought to myself "oh right use straightforward words with Rean and don't assume implications mean jack shit"?

[awakenerd]

[Whines a little at being called an idiot basically but he can't argue it!! He is one!!]

I didn't mean to imply things! I'm really sorry. You shouldn't have to adjust your expectations to me being oblivious, I should be able to pick up on things better.

[Should. But his mind just doesn't really work in that direction and never has.]

Rufus was direct too. This time it really is entirely on me for causing you pain, and by extension him as well.

[crimeson]

[reaches over and paffs his shoulder gently.]

It's just. We talked around the concept of dating, obviously, an' then you said you were surprised you needed to respond at all, and just. Left it? There?

Maybe if I hadn't been so surprised by the whole thing I would've realized, but instead I got bummed out without actually thinking about it.

[awakenerd]

[Groans and rubs a hand over his face.]

I wasn't thinking how it sounded. I wasn't thinking at all. Sorry.

[crimeson]

It's okay. Sorry it became such a mess.

[awakenerd]

That's my fault.

But we should talk about it. What do you want out of all this, ideally?

[crimeson]

It's not like I'm not... perfectly happy just helping you out? Like I said when you asked, I'm sure. I want to.

[randy that's not subtle evading the whole goddamn question.]

[awakenerd]

That's not what I asked, though.

[crimeson]

...I'm in love with you. An' it's probably kind of pathetic, but I'll take whatever you're willing to give.

1/2

[awakenerd]

[Way to make a guy blush.]

I don't think that's.... It's not pathetic to want to be with someone you love.

[awakenerd]

But Randy... I'm not really the guy you remember. I don't even remember you yet. And even when I do, I'm not... human any more. There's a lot about me that might not be the person you're thinking of.

And even if none of that turns out to be an issue for you, what about Rufus? He basically demanded I date you if we contract, but that's not because he wants me in the equation. It's because he wants you to be happy, which I agree with him on, but I don't think you'll be happy if he's unhappy either.

So I want to know, even if you think it's impossible, what does your ideal situation look like?

1/2

[crimeson]

It's not like I haven't considered the ways you're different, y'know.

He... it's not like he doesn't know, that I love you. We already talked about it. It won't make him happy, but I think I've managed to get through to him that I don't love him less just because you're here. We were straightforward from the start, too, that I'm not really able to do "exclusive".

[crimeson]

...I want both. I know it's a lot to ask, but... Ideally, you'd date me too. I just- want to be together with the people I want to be together with?

[awakenerd]

[Oh no. What a charming man.]

I don't think it's wrong to want everything. It being possible is another matter...

[He's really worried about Rufus but.]

To be clear, would you want me to be exclusively dating you?

[crimeson]

Well that would be fuckin' unfair of me, wouldn't it?

[awakenerd]

I just don't want any more misunderstandings this week!

[crimeson]

Fair enough. No. I wouldn't ask that of you. 'Specially not with Crow here.

1/2

[awakenerd]

[That again?]

What do you mean?

[awakenerd]

No that's not important right now.

[He shouldn't get side tracked!]

Rufus and his happiness and its impact on you aside, I think my other main worry is... dissapointing you. It'd be one thing if you didn't know me and wanted me. It might be odd to say it, but I'm not confident in my ability to live up to myself in your expectations.

[crimeson]

[opens his mouth to shove crow further under the bus, but pauses and lets the conversation move on.]

Rean... What sorts of expectations do you think I have? Back then, I fell for you pretty much from the start. What we went through together made it stronger, sure, but it wasn't everything.

...I'm not looking to compare you to the you I knew.

[awakenerd]

I don't know! I don't remember anything.

I just... don't want to disappoint you.

[crimeson]

...At risk of worrying you more about it, you aren't gonna disappoint me. I'm not sure that's something you're capable of.

[awakenerd]

[No pressure! He sighs and leans back, lifting a hand to ruffle Randy's hair.]

That's a bit concerning in a number of ways.

[crimeson]

[leans into the ruffle.]

I know. I'm trying to figure out how to explain in a way that doesn't just worry you more, but...

You're Rean. You might not be the Rean I met first, but even without memories, the things about you I fell for at the start? They're there, because they're you.

[awakenerd]

[That actually makes sense to Rean at least!]

Okay. I think I get that.

Then... well... I am really out of practice with dating I'm pretty sure, and I'm not sure what you want dating to look like even, but I like you and I'm not against it. I mean, our souls are already bound together.