sweethymns | Pictures in the Dark

[Later, when the cafe is emptied out and the chairs are set on top of the tables, Iona sits on top of the counter, dangling her legs (she's short, shhhhh) and she lets out a relieved sigh.]

Phew! Even I'm tuckered out. How're you doing for your second night?

[He stands next to where she's seated, leaning against the same counter. If Iona is tuckered out, Michael is that and then some. He gives a short laugh at her question.]

A little tired, but I've still got some energy left for a night on the town.

[If there's a twist of irony in the "night on the town" part, it's merely because he's hardly the type to ever utter those words in succession. It's not a lie, though; he can still keep going for a bit, his only saving grace being his penchant for staying up late during his college years a habit he hasn't completely broken yet.]

In that case, we're going to have to use my entrance. Oren can take care of the rest while we freshen up and go out.

[Iona's entrance, coincidentally, leads to her apartment.]

Your entrance?

[He pauses, mind trying to infer what that means.]

So we'll be dropped off close to your place?

Super close! Like right into my living room!

[

um.]

Do you want me... to just... wait outside while you get ready then?

[Where outside? Just... outside. Her apartment or... something.]

Oh! I'm sorry, did I make it weird??

I mean, in that case, you could wait here with Oren...

No, not weird, not exactly-

[Maybe he's just being overly sensitive to this stuff, he wonders. She's just offering for the sake of convenience, after all, and it would be nice to freshen up some before heading out.

How quick she is to invite a guy to her apartment without really thinking twice about it, though. That's the part that floors him, but it runs so parallel with her personality, and what Michael knows about her so far. Maybe, then, he shouldn't be so surprised.]

It's fine, I'll go too. [He corrects, with a little smile.]

[PHEW, Iona looks relieved.]

Right! So that's that. It's just a quick change and then we'll head out after all.

All right. [He pushes his weight off the counter, straightening.] Right behind you.

[Iona opens the cafe door...

And it leads to what clearly is an apartment room. It's very well furnished and modern, with some colorful touches in wall decor, thanks to Iona herself. Heck, it's probably expensive since this is LA we're talking about. Unlike the cafe, there's no hint that there's anything inherently magical even though the two inhabitants are the very definition of it.]

Home sweet home! Well, not quite as homey as the Grind mind you.

[He steps out and looks around; Michael's surprised, really. He expected a place that looked far more "magic-y", but instead finds himself in a relatively normal looking apartment, though certainly nice and modern.]

It's a nice place. [He won't sit unless he's invited to, so he'll just stand for now.] Someplace relaxing to come home to, right?

Thanks! My grandma helped find it for me. It was either this or I lived in a mansion. I mean, I know that sounds like the better alternative, but it would have felt empty...

[She trails off, but snaps out of it just as quickly as she turns to Michael.]

Help yourself to the sofa! I'll just go and get ready.

[He catches that moment of silence, letting it pass as what it is. He never grew up in a mansion (he grew up in a modest house, and the only apartment he could afford in New York was as big as a shoebox), but he can easily imagine the emptiness of living in one, an emptiness that would become overwhelming with time. He can relate to it.

And because he can relate to it, he can't help but wonder if Iona feels tinges of loneliness at times, the same way he does; nibbling at his heels, scratching at the inside of his mind, never overbearing, but always seeming to be there. It's almost impossible to believe; she was too bright, too passionate, too outgoing to be like him.

For some reason, he feels a sinking feeling in his stomach at that thought -- before he quickly reprimands himself, because why would he want anyone to feel the same sort of stagnant seclusion as he? There was the saying that misery loved company, but he never thought of that as anything but selfish. He doesn't want to be that guy.

He's snapped out of his reverie when she invites him to sit. He forces a recovering smile and manages:] Thanks. [He sits, sinking into the sofa, and suddenly his feet are reminding him of how sore they are.] Take your time, I'll just rest for a bit until you're ready.

[It's because she's so bright and so passionate that it makes it harder to tell. She's so open, but there's still so much that goes unsaid, so much that hasn't floated up to the surface. Oren has seen all those parts already. And after all that's happened...

Iona disappears into her room for a minute or two. It takes no time for her at all to change into some casual clothes and walk out the living room, hair untied and tumbling into messy dark waves around her shoulders.]

I'm all set. You?

[He looks up and pauses; he doesn't think he's ever seen her in purely casual clothes with her hair down. He thinks to himself that it suits her well.] You look nice. [It's said automatically, without much afterthought.]

I'm good to go. [Michael dresses nice; not overly fashionable, but rather a modern kind of casual. As a result, he was already inadvertently dressed for an outing even if he didn't plan for it. He stands up from the couch and will follow her lead.]

[Iona beams at his nice remark. In fact, she's kind of beaming all the way down as they make their way out of the apartment.]

It's been a while! Going out to meet with friends I mean! I tend to be real busy so people around me tend to think I'm a drag.

[Well her smile is infectious, so he grins too, though he sounds surprised at her comment.]

What? I find it hard to believe that anyone thinks you're a drag. There's a difference between being busy and being unsociable.

[Like him, who is a bit of both.]

Ah, well... There's a limit to how close I can get to certain people. And you know, I can't stretch myself too thinly.

[Theres something kind of sad about her saying that, but he tries to hide it from his voice the best he can.]

You mean... because of your magic?

Mm!

[A nod and she pushes her hair back behind her ear. It kind of falls back in place anyways.]

In a few more years, I'll have to work on making sure I'm forgotten. Or I'll fade away. But for now, I'm just trying to have fun.

[Being forgotten? His smile fades at hearing that, and he mentally debates whether or he should prod further.

Usually he wouldn't, but for some reason it bothers him, and he says:]

Is it really that easy to do?

[Despite her ease of explanation, how can someone be so eager to fade away? Perhaps it's hypocritical of him to think so, but he's far more concerned about her than he ever will be for himself.]

It's a lengthy and tiring process to be honest.

[He sounds so concerned that it touches her. And she pats him on the back.]

Don't worry about me. I've been prepping myself for this for a while and Oren's there for me.

[He wants to ask how she can be so okay with it, though -- it's true that he pulled away from his family and friends, to the point where it could be debated that he might as well have disappeared.

But the truth of it was, if Michael thought that things could be different, he'd change it. He'd never wish to disappear; he just isn't sure he has the strength to allow anything else to take place. So it's mind-boggling to him that Iona would be so accepting of such a fate.

Should he question her more? He's not sure. He doesn't want to be rude.]

I... I'm sure you'll be fine, and I know Oren will always be there to look out for you.

[He hesitates as he walks, jamming his hands in his pockets and looking at the ground with each step.]

It just sounds sad, you know?

[It's not that she's all okay. It's always easier said than done in the end and it sounds so feasible when Iona says the words herself. If anyone else pointed it out to her, like Oren, that sinking feeling in her stomach always threatens to make her listless.

But she's okay. She has to be. Michael seems hesitant and she doesn't blame him and she wants to make sure he's fine first before herself.

The witch replies cheerfully.]

It's quite the bummer! But I dunno. I don't wanna stay stuck in that mood.

[Because she's been in that pit before, she doesn't want to be there again]

Because you'd miss out on so many wonderful things if you're just looking at the ground all the time!

[Of course, that's just a small joke since he's looking down so Iona just leans down giving him a smile.]

LATER THAT NIGHT...

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