sweethymns | Pictures in the Dark

[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.]

[He catches her smile in his peripheral, looking over and grinning a bit shyly back. He has more he wants to say, more he wants to ask about the necessity of it all. Making others forget, it felt like erasing a part of your past, a part of who you were. Looking at Iona, that seems such a... shame.

She puts on a brave face, but if he were to be brutally truthful, he would call it nothing but that. He can't imagine being anything but scared.

But while he's truthful, he's not brutal. It's pared-down, his next question, for the sake of not causing her discomfort dwelling on it.]

You wouldn't have to make all your friends forget, would you?

[That one is a bit of a selfish question, but he indulges himself in it regardless.]

[Iona appears to be thinking for a second...]

Don't you forget about me
I'll be alone, dancing you know it baby ♫

[... And thus she sings it off, straightens her self up and walks a few steps ahead of Michael, with a whistle. But she still faces him.]

[He blinks at her when she starts singing, and he recognizes it immediately -- Simple Minds. It isn't common knowledge except to those closest to him, but Michael actually has a fondness for 80's music, and his smile twists into something wry, humoring her.]

Not exactly sure what to make of that answer, Iona. A song about two lovers, one telling the other to not forget them after they grow apart.

[He pauses, his mind shuffling through the song, walking forward while still faces him, walking backwards.] "Would you recognize me? Call my name or walk on by?" Not very uplifting when you really listen.

[He wonders if that was his answer to him, that sort of melancholy he associated with the song being what he could, what he should, expect. Of course she would sing it. Of course she would.]

It seemed appropriate! [Aside from the lovers part]

I don't have an easy answer anyways. And like you said, Oren will take care of me... But I don't think it's just him. I still have Grandma, my brother...

... And there's you.

[There's a light breeze that passes them by, making her hair dance gently as she looks up at the night sky.]

You wouldn't forget me would you?

[She makes it sound so complicated when it should be simple, but Michael isn't so naive to think that life is that easy. Choices often had to be made that he believed to be inherently unfair at their core -- what Iona will have to do in the coming years easily qualifies as such, to him.

But there's only so much he can say to change her mind, if even that much. She's already made her decision, it seems; saying goodbye to one life and moving to another, fluid as water.

She lists those who'll be there for her, and he nods, feeling a bit of that melancholy lift, knowing that she won't be by herself. But when she mentions him, he stops and looks at her profile as she gazes up at the sky.

It's weird, his words catch in his throat for a minute, and he has to struggle to find them again. When he finally does, still looking at her, they're assured and plainly spoken.]

Of course I won't forget. As long as you promise to do the same.

Edited 2016-05-27 17:23 (UTC)

[Iona looks at him after he answers. And then brightly and almost abruptly she holds out her right hand and sticks out her pinkie finger.]

Alright then! I'll swear on it!

[The energy behind the gesture makes him smile, and the sentiment behind it makes him... glad.]

All right.

[He reaches up and hooks his little pinky with hers.]

Pinky swear.

[Her pinkie looks smaller than his and the glamour hides everything, but there's that unmistakable rough surface of small crystals that stud her fingers and all the way to her right arm. So when she hooks her pinkie around his, it's rather gentle.]

Got it. Cross my heart and everything too, I'll make sure that I never forget you.

...

Cool, that rhymed!

[The surface of her pinky is unmistakably rough, but it doesn't bother him; he's distinctly aware that she's being gentle, and after the promise is made, he drops his hand to the side.]

Great. [That wide, sincere smile of his.] So you can add one more person to your list that'll be there for you, as long as I live.

[Being that he doesn't know how long that is, if he ages more slowly or less than her. But that was all details; he means what he says, for her sake. And for his own.]

[The rest of the walk is pleasant and uneventful.

When they reach the bar, Iona opens the door, cheerfully calling out to everyone.]

Where the hell can a girl get a beer around here?

[A small and mixed group of young men and women cheer at her presence and raise their glasses and/or bottles to her. They're a motley group (that's artists for you) and the bar is cozy even with its trendy interior. Iona gestures towards her new companion she brought in for the evening.]

I made a new friend guys! This is Michael! He captures souls with cameras, so be nice to him okay?

[He hangs back a few steps behind her as she announces her presence, immediately floored by the reaction she gets. He's pretty sure he's never had a group of people so excited when he entered the room; the fact that all attention gets diverted to him soon after makes him feel flustered as well. He gives a small wave at the group of her friends.]

Not exactly, I mean, I do photography, but I make a living off of web design...

[Are they even listening to his half-hearted explanation, really? Everyone appears nice enough, but he has no doubt Iona will be the center of attention tonight, so he just sorta trails off.]

[Contrary to what Michael thinks the group is gonna do, one or three of them are actually nice enough to turn their attention to him since photography is either their field or the web design gig catches their interest (gotta see if the guy knows how to set up portfolios after all!?) They even offer him a craft beer and a bottle of hard cider, one which Iona helps herself too as she chats with another friend about due paintings and their gallery set ups.

Iona does glance at Michael every now and then and gives him a thumbs up. YEAH SOCIALIZING.

But in all seriousness, she does lighten up and she hopes this is okay for her new found friend too.]

[He's surprised to find that a few start a conversation with him, concerning the subject of photography and web. It's easier for him to talk about these items of interest than, say, struggling to find an idle topic of irrelevance, so Michaels falls into the rhythm of banter with them. He reaches a certain level of comfort, but still retains his telltale personality of being quiet when the attention is away from him. He'll give Iona a little nod or wave when she glances over at him, to let her know he's fine.

Though he's not a drinker, not even a social one, he finds he can't be rude and not take their offers of craft beer and hard cider. He drinks a little throughout the conversations (sometimes merely to have something to do when others talk), and eventually (probably sooner than the rest) reaches the point of fogginess, resting his chin on his hand.]

...

[It takes a, "Babe, Mikey there's getting a bit of an early haze there..." for Iona to give her full attention to Michael. Uh oh. She moves over to him and takes a seat while everyone else is occupied with some food that's been brought out including some french fries. She grabs one and holds it up in front of Michael.]

Michael. Buddy. How many fingers am I holding up?

[Serious business is her middle name.]

[Michael looks over at her, blinking as if to clear the fog in his head. When did she get seated right next to him? He didn't remember that.

And is this a trick question?]

Um, just one finger?

[Michael, that's a fry.]

Yup. We got a lightweight on our hands.

[And luckily for Michael, Iona is a RESPONSIBLE person instead of a joker who would have liked to see how seriously piss drunk a friend could get.

I mean, she kinda does, but she's not mean! She pops the fry into her mouth.]

There, I ate my finger. Let's call it a night and head back, whaddya say?

[He'll appreciate it when he's more sober, Iona, I promise you that. And did she just eat... her finger? No way. Did he just imagine that?

Poor Michael looks highly confused, at both the edible finger and her question.]

Already? We haven't been here that long. [He seems to be thinking about something, then:] Two hours, ten minutes, thirty-five seconds. Thirty-six. Thirty-seven... [He's going to keep counting, please stop him.]

[And with that, Iona pulls Michael up with her right arm with little to no effort.]

C'mon hon, you're going home with me.

And not in that way! [She yells to her friends who are about to do the usual, "OOOOOOOHHH!!!" but she stopped them early, so that's cool.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject