CONTACT | Call me, maybe

[intercalaryninja]

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[speedweed]

He's nothing if not honest. Or just can't really tell a complete lie, is maybe the more accurate way of looking at it.

"Your line of work...?" Do shopkeepers really have that problem with people being honest? That's rather strange, but he supposes it makes sense in the long run. He... wasn't terribly familiar with the business to begin with, so maybe it is a problem he's just not aware of. After all, lying your ass off was a good part of the job when it was needed in his former line of work.

But onto another thing entirely and he's letting out the softest of huffs and tilting that hat to try and hide the red crawling to his cheeks again. He's... not entirely sure if he's joking or not, but it does make him feel absolutely ridiculous for saying all of that.

"I'll... keep that in mind, I suppose. But eventually these sorts of things get out into the open whether you wish them to or not."

[intercalaryninja]

Tsukikage says nothing to answer Speedwagon's question. He merely takes his straw and sips at his drink, not a drop spilling onto his cowl or showing his face as he does so. He hides his smile in his drink, incredibly amused by all of these.

"That is true. I suppose it's better finding out from you than by other means," Tsukikage says.

Now he has to wonder what can he say? It'd be rude to overstep his boundaries as an employer, so he can't really ask too personal questions. Maybe stick to what he's already mentioned?

"So you've been around the world for research and your interest?" Maybe elaborate more on that? Why were conversations so hard?

[speedweed]

Tsukikage, please, he has absolutely no issues talking about personal questions. He might turn a shade of red and die for a minute, but he'll eventually stammer the answer out. It just takes a bit of time and persuasion and he certainly will be glad he said it later.

Perhaps.

Oh, that, thankfully he will gladly talk at length about all of it. "Something like that. A lot of it was to also get out of London proper and get a look at the rest of the world. I was... lucky I was even able to, with my station in society." He's pausing for a brief moment, glancing to the ceiling as he turns something over in his mind. It only lasts a moment before his attention is on him once again. "I wanted to learn everything I could from wherever I went, whether it meant the local flora and fauna or the culture and hospitality of the native population. Which I... suppose is odd, given the time period and how Britain tended to be."

But he's shrugging and taking a moment, a frown playing on his expression. "I suppose also to see if the ways my country handled things was the same as other places. In some it was, in others it was not. Things you could be killed for there, you would not be there. A sad state of affairs, but I did promise to not dwell on that for long..."

[intercalaryninja]

It's not that he's too shy. He's just very aware of how bosses take advantage of their employees and he doesn't want to be one of those people. He's all about professionalism... even if he wants to break that wall down.

"Sounds like you have a very open mind. It's nice," Tsukikage says. His exposure to British history is limited but he has the roughest understanding a person from 'modern' times can have.

"Country to country, City to City, Dimension to Dimension. The differences a world can have is astounding. You are free to discuss it if you want to. I have no issue with it. My master tells me I often am too dour though which was why I said such a thing earlier."

[speedweed]

He may as well go ahead and break that wall down, given how he easily rolls with the punches and keeps going. As well as being disgustingly good at keeping everything separate or mostly under wraps if it's necessary.

"I do try to, it seemed a rare thing." It's not wrong, he was lucky to end up in the strange situation he had and with people who were willing to learn or willing to teach. Different life experiences and different view points he wouldn't have seen otherwise. It even continued here, really.

The question is if he should even talk about it. He remains silent to mull it over in his mind, weighing the pros and cons of it. He's fairly sure that it's... safe here, from what he can tell, so maybe it's not the worst of ideas to discuss. To put out there and hope that this goes well.

"Forgive me if I'm a bit... blunt about this, but it's easier to just outright speak plainly of it. All of... what we had been doing, the looks and some of the words, would have gotten us arrested and possibly killed where I'm from. You had to remain in secrecy, having to be extremely careful lest someone catch notice." His tone has shifted greatly from the more upbeat chatterbox to carefully picking his words and speaking slower, voice softer. It's not a subject he's too fond of speaking about, but this isn't Victorian England.

[intercalaryninja]

Tsukikage is very much the same, honestly. However, he's bound by his own code and his idea that things need to be done in a certain way. At least, while he doesn't know someone and doesn't know what to think of them...

The young man sips his tea again, giving Speedwagon a chance to think and a chance for his own heart to settle. He admits that he had been going a little fast and he feels a little tired from the emotional rollercoaster. That wasn't to say that he wasn't prepared for Speedwagon's statement. Tsukikage responds with a grave nod.

"I understand..." He tests some words in his mind, needing a moment to match Speedwagon's seriousness. "... Where I'm from, it's not as harshly punished but older more traditional families would disapprove. However... here... here we do not have to worry. Ryslig, for all its flaws, at least accepts same-sex couples. There have been even a few same sex marriages... I attended one last year, for instance."

[speedweed]

His hands are perhaps a little tighter around his cup than he had meant for them to be, but the warmth is comforting and calming his nerves somewhat. His nerves and his worries, it will certainly take a bit of time for him to become accustomed to that particular fact, but it's one that he can at least rest easy with.

It's more of a question of if certain people around him would agree with such a notion, even if it's ridiculous for him to even think that'd be a problem.

"... Marriages?" He legitimately sounds surprised by that, his brain just comprehending that at least basic relationships would be fine around here. But going that far? With all the legalities and the like that goes behind all of it? How strange, not an unpleasant strange, but strange to him none-the-less.

"I hadn't ever considered... That... that's good to know." Genuinely.

[intercalaryninja]

Genuine fears always took time to fade away and habits were hard to break, even when one didn't have to worry any more. Tsukikage had to come to terms with the same worry Speedwagon was having for years and he was glad he could take away what potentially could have been months of stress and skirting around the issue.

"Yes. It was a lovely ceremony. I can't believe it's been almost a year since then." Time's flown... it's almost been a year since he realised Robbie was gone. It'd be the anniversary of him finding Draco's body before too long...

...

Tsukikage smiles though. He's good at hiding his darker thoughts, so he smiles and focuses on assuring Speedwagon. It was okay to be gay. Really.

"... If... you do not dislike the looks... and the... talk we've been having, no one else will. I, myself, really have been enjoying it." Nerd.

[speedweed]

It already had been months of stress and skirting around the issue as much as possible before now, but at least here there's no reason for him to continue doing as such. And there's legitimate possibility for a relationship in this place versus where he'd come from and the notion that he'd always be too late to say anything. Or too afraid, but previously anyone that had caught his attention ended up settling down with a lovely woman and he could only be happy from the sidelines.

Perhaps this really is all for the best.

"Sincerely, I would wish them all the best. Marriage is certainly a difficult stressful thing, from what I've heard." And more power to anyone who could handle it.

It might be for the better that he hasn't caught on that anything is wrong and his mind is focusing on the issue at hand versus anything else. Of course he is flustering the tiniest bit at the last bit of sentences, looking down at his drink for a brief moment to collect himself until he can properly look at him once again.

"I was hoping that you would enjoy it, I'm not great at this sort of thing, as you can probably tell." He's the worst. "... Though I do have to ask, are you available?" The one time he's actually going to be straightforward in this entire conversation.

[intercalaryninja]

There was a price to pay for such openness. Tsukikage knew all too well that Ryslig used loved ones against you. Even now, he was still tormented with images of Reiji whenever the magic of this cruel world wanted him to mourn. Outside of that, people disappeared all the time, more so than how it would anywhere else... So heartbreak seemed almost inevitable.

Still, it really did seem it was better to say something first. The memories were painful- especially hearing Speedwagon wish Robbie and Draco the best when they were both gone- but he cherished the thoughts even if the bore deep like scars.

And he's smiling. Soft. Tender.

"You're fine..." The young man gives a light chuckle. "Yes, I am single..." But he wonders if he is indeed available. After all... he's cursed, in a sense. Could he really subject anyone to... well... him?

[speedweed]

It's the unfortunate nature of this place, not that he's quite realized it just yet. Perhaps, if he's lucky, he won't have to encounter such a thing for quite some time. A social creature by very nature, losing those connections never settled right with him. Even outside of this place, being left as the last one standing hadn't... done him too kindly.

Perhaps it would be different here, opportunities he wouldn't have had a chance at otherwise.

And it certainly seems that's the case as it wasn't the answer he'd expected to hear from him, heart feeling as if it'd burst out of his chest if he wasn't careful. Though careful never really was in his nature, either. Better to put it out there than to say nothing and wonder what would have been the result if he'd just gathered up enough courage. "A-ah, I see." That's the worst way to go about this, but he's at least trying. "... Perhaps it's something we could... try and see where it goes?" That's also vague, Speedwagon. He was doing so good.

[intercalaryninja]

Tsukikage's been here too long and lost too many. He's formed familial bonds, friendships, and romances... most of which have already faded away. Losses never sit well for Tsukikage... perhaps he should be used to it after five years but it never sits well with him...

He really was doing so well and the change gets Tsukikage to laugh again. This man was so... lively. He wonders if he can even keep up. That really would be nice. And even though he could guess what the blonde was about to say, his face does go pink otherwise and he moves his mask a little higher on his face as if that would hide his already-invisible smile and blush. He's... actually not used to being asked out as soon as he's met someone. Usually, there's a build-up, at least.

"Perhaps we can," Tsukikage says. "Though... we just met. And I tend to take things slowly, despite my youth... Would you want to give it a try?"

[speedweed]

Honestly, that's partly the reason he's usually quick to form bonds despite himself. When you're used to having absolutely nothing, you cling onto the things you can have. Which is another story for another time entirely, perhaps.

There's not many who really can keep up with him, but it's also something he's used to. It's the fact that someone even tries to that gets to him, an effort that most aren't even willing to indulge. Something about a bit of sunshine when it's needed.

He can't help a small, amused, smile of his own as he notices that pink and the shifting of his mask. Build up would assume that he works as slowly as everyone else, but that energy makes him quick. His decisions quick. And sometimes not for the better.

... As in being reminded of how short of a time it has been and he's sinking into his chair with a sheepish expression. Right, that, how could he forget. "I... honestly, yes, I would. Slow is... fine, sometimes I just get ahead of myself without realizing I had or without meaning to." It's not sometimes, it's basically all of the time. "And you can't be that much younger than I am."

[intercalaryninja]

Perhaps. And they'll find they share similar stories, in that regard.

He's certain that Speedwagon will be a ray of sunshine in his usual storm clouds. He already makes Tsukikage's heart race with his earnest, puppy-like attitude and Tsukikage finds it impossible to stop smiling. Even as he shyly pushes the conversation back to Speedwagon and watches the man sheepishly retreat, he chuckles, mirth brimming from his heart.

"That's alright. Just letting you know that I'm old fashioned in that sense," Tsukikage's usually the anchor for his friends and other support groups, so he's used to pulling people back... though that happens more than he'd like.

"Well... Almost 21." And he said that he was a father at one point... yeesh. And owns three businesses. Welp. "People always mistake me for older."

[speedweed]

If he's good at one thing, it's absolutely being the one mostly positive and energetic person in a room or group. And he can't help himself but be absolutely elated by all of this. He'd expected mostly doom and gloom from this place, not a relationship.

"I wouldn't call it old, I'm by no means the normal standard," he misses, but he is from an older time period, after all.

"That's only a four year difference and at this point age doesn't mean much. Or, ah, I mean once someone is an adult then the actual years hardly matter anymore."

[intercalaryninja]

"I suppose so. It's all a matter of perspective," when he speaks to people from older time periods, especially Japanese ones, he fits right in.

"Yes, it doesn't. I'm glad you think the same way." He's glad that he's got a chance, if nothing else, even though he's not sure if he should risk jumping into another relationship again. "I've been mistaken for thirty before, but I suppose it's because of my mask. Hides anything important."

[speedweed]

It's a little sad in a way, but he's used to people taking things slower than him, so it's not as if he's going to hold it against him or something ridiculous.

A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth before he's waving all of it off with a light laugh, of course he would. "That seems more like a problem for them than for you, but I could always be biased." He's absolutely biased, he knows full well that physical appearances and the like are the last thing on his list. It's nice, certainly, but a personality always mattered more at the end of it.

"As I said, I have no problem with being slow if you're more comfortable with that. I can have restraint when I need to."

[intercalaryninja]

It's alright. Once things get settled, Tsukikage can keep pace. He has more experience after all.

"It's useful for me, if anything. I do like my disguises and masks. Lets me do things undisturbed... My attire right now is sort of my daily uniform in a way." Appearances certainly was important for work, which is why Tsukikage always kept careful regard of them. But indeed the heart was the most important.

"Just don't be too cruel to my heart if you find someone more up to your speed, neh?" Tsukikage teases as he holds up his tea cup to 'cheers' good-naturedly with Speedwagon.

[speedweed]

He has far more experience than the idiot sitting across from him, that is certain.

"... Fair enough, honestly, I hadn't thought much on it. But there is a vast difference between keeping up appearances for a store front or what-not versus being a thug." No one really cared what you looked like as one, it was all about attitude and personality than anything else.

Maybe that's why he doesn't put much stock into appearances. Huh.

Though he does get him to sputter a bit and look down at his cup for a moment before slowly raising his own with a brief bit of a laugh. This is honestly ridiculous. "Does that mean this is somewhat official, then?" He sounds ridiculous.

[intercalaryninja]

Tsukikage gives a small nod. If nothing else, it gives way to Speedwagon's character. It gives him insight what he's getting into anyway.

The younger man blinks and blushes but he does shrug nonchalantly. His tea cup tinks against Speedwagon's cup as Tsukikage briefly brings them together.

"Well, we can start officially dating, if you're so interested. Being official like a couple... we'll see." Not so fast, remember Speedy?

[speedweed]

He does try to be something of an open book with the majority of his emotions and thoughts, but there's always something to be hidden if there's reason for it. Even now, even outside of his familiar comfort zone of old, he still has things he hides away or lets stew in his mind before a hint of them comes to the surface. Nothing particularly bad, but things that aren't relevant or things that need to be hidden.

It'll come back to bite him later.

One day he'll learn how to slow and calm down, but today is not that day. Particularly seeing as he can't hide that smile of his own, he'll figure it out in due time. It just takes some time to learn where and where not to push things along just a little. Give and take is something he's still learning. "Ah, yes, that whole going slow thing. I do suppose I should figure that out." He sounds far too amused by all of it, but that's normal at this point. "I would say I am interested in such a thing, since there is certainly no time like the present."

Because who knows just how much time there really is, it could be years or it could be hours. This place has already confused him significantly.

[intercalaryninja]

Tsukikage's face falls the tiniest bit behind his mask. Right, no time like the present. They were all on limited time spans, everyone on their own momentum. The finite nature of life is all the more apparent in Ryslig and it reminds Tsukikage once more how many friends and how many family members he's lost.

But Tsukikage's much of the same. While he tries to be honest, a ninja had their secrets. They had to keep grace and composition so they can help their allies at any given time. Even outside of work in this social situation he recognises his role. So his repeating mantra of regret is hidden behind a similarly amused chuckle.

"Then I guess we are dating now. I look forward to getting to know you better, Mr. Speedwagon." God, he's now going to be dating a guy he just met. So scandalous... not the most scandalous thing he's done but still.

[speedweed]

It's... less of this place and more that he's recently had to deal with people dying around him. A few he's seen face-to-face and another that he only heard about dying from someone that was there. But this place could certainly be just as bad, he would suppose, but at least no one seems to stay dead here. A small, small consolation.

A lot of regret that perhaps one day the both of them can try and let go of, but that's somewhere far further down the line than it currently is.

Mr. Speedwagon. There's something hilarious about hearing that and he's just waving a hand with a small smile of his own. "There's no need to be so formal about it, simply Speedwagon works, or Robert. Either one." Hell, even his closest friend rarely calls him by his actual first name. No one ever really did when it's something as common as Robert, after all.

"And I can say much the same, admittedly you... intrigue me quite a good bit, in more ways than one." As a person in general, as someone that has been here so long, and in other ways that are perhaps better kept unsaid and hidden for the time being. But a man's mind can certainly wander when not in public, of course.

[intercalaryninja]

"Speedwagon... alright." Maybe one day Tsukikage will feel a bit daring and try to call him by his first name. Maybe when he knows the man better, at very least. But that can wait. They can go fast but there's no point rushing things.

"Really now?" Tsukikage asks. "I suppose I have some interesting things about me, being a ninja and a blood magician, but I have a few less surprises in me than I'll admit." That's a blatant lie, Tsukikage. Even if he does think it's true and he's rather bashful about it at the moment.

[speedweed]

He would certainly be the only one who calls him by that, that's certain. Despite being rather impatient, this is something he can actually take time with and not rush around. There was something to be said about taking your time in matters of the heart, after all, and he may have realized just... how fast he was pushing. Not intentionally.

"I'm sure there's more than you realize, it is simple for one to put themselves and their skills, abilities, and personality down than it is to see their strengths." He's not wrong, oddly enough, even if he does the same thing to himself near constantly. Everyone else is more interesting than him, after all. "I'm certain there's far more beneath the surface than what you are giving me, Tsukikage."