❦ 4th Record
[As he writes, drops of water drip onto the page; most fall on blank paper, but a few fall on the letters and blur them a little. It's just water, really.]
I was already pretty wet from the rain, but now I'm soaked...
I assume that people already know about the large pink octopus in the lake--it's too big and [pause] friendly for it to have lived ( Read more... )
I was already pretty wet from the rain, but now I'm soaked...
I assume that people already know about the large pink octopus in the lake--it's too big and [pause] friendly for it to have lived ( Read more... )
About an hour in, though, Youth's mental exhaustion was just too much, making him physically exhausted too.]
I am sorry, Bell. I think I need to go inside.
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The tension and fatigue were visible in Youth's muscles.]
Alright, just don't pass out on me. [He led the way to the little island with the cabin. Something felt slightly off, like they weren't alone, but maybe Bernard was just feeling sneaky today. He put an arm around Youth as they headed to the door.] Hm... I'm a little cold. [he said as he opened the door.] Maybe while you relax, I can find a way to keep warm?
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[He'd seen a few flashes of pink while they'd been working; Bernard was around. But for some reason she hadn't bothered them today. Maybe she realized that for once he really did not want a hug from her. Youth leaned into the contact, glad of it. A little smile came to his face as he stepped into the cabin.]
We do not want to get sick. Let us stay warm.
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"We do not want to get sick. Let us stay warm."
[The sound of two people talking yanked Cloud unceremoniously out of sleep. He sat up from where he was lying on the floor, his coat sliding down from his shoulders, and looked toward the door a little groggily ( ... )
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He sensed no immediate threat from this man, but just the same, carefully withdrew his arm from around Youth, sliding his hands into his pockets almost casually. If Youth was as exhausted as he looked, and if this man was dangerous, Bell would have to be on his guard. Still, he lingered close to his roommate, not just protectively, but slightly possessively, and adopted a friendly tone.]
Evening. Looks like someone's here to play voyeur. Or maybe a threesome, hm?
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He easily let Bell take point. Youth was in no shape for a fight.]
Not a threesome. Hello. I am not sure we have met before.
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His gaze lingered on the pale man for a moment longer before flicking back to look at the man's partner... ignoring the threesome question, since the darker man had already shot that down.]
No, I don't think we have. I'm called Cloud. [The briefest of hesitations as he looked back and forth between them... for all they sounded and acted perfectly friendly, there was a tension in the air Cloud didn't like. He kept his face as carefully neutral as his voice, just in case one or both of them could see in the dark as well as he could.] I didn't think anyone else would be wanting to use this place tonight.
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Not a threesome, then. [A shrug and easy dismissal of that plan. By the looks of it, Bell wasn't so interested in the idea of the threesome that he would push for it, if he was genuinely interested in the idea of one at all.]
Neither did we. People usually don't. [He took in the clothes draped on the bed.] I'm Bell. ...I take it you had a nice swim with Bernard, hm, Cloud?
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[He could see the resemblences as well, but a lot of people wound up looking a bit like others. There wasn't anything speaking to him when it came to Cloud, so it didn't seem important.]
It is not often that other people are here. I have never seen anyone else here. [Youth shrugged.] It is not like the cabin belongs to anyone. You are fine to use it.
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His faint smile returned, a little bigger this time.]
I did. She's... very friendly. [He shifted his stance a little, putting his hands in his pockets. For a brief moment he wished he had a cigarette. Something for his hands to do would be nice about now.] This seemed like the best place to take shelter for the night after that.
Youth...san and Bell-san, mmm? [Now, why did those names sound familiar when put together... oh yes. That Lotus kid who had written about perverts. Was it this guy's kid?] Nnn. I see.
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[The way Cloud repeated their names was with the sort of vague recognition of someone who had seen/heard those names before and was trying to place them. Bell had a feeling that Cloud knew their names as most people in the sphere probably knew them, from the comments he and Youth made, and the sex-scandal Lotus splashed across the journals now on a semi-regular basis. He could only imagine what sort of impression that left, especially considering how they showed up to the cabin just now.]
Yes, indeed. I suppose our reputation precedes us?
[Youth should probably sit down, Bell thought, eying him. He wasn't going to baby his roommate, though. Youth knew his own limitations. If he was determined to stand... fine by Bell.]
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We have written on the journals before, you and I. [He wanted to remind Cloud of that, not of recent times his name had been mentioned. They'd come out here to get away from that. Youth's reputation... yeah. That was shot. He'd worked very hard on it, and now he was pretty much the very bad father, the pervert.]
[Catching Bell's glance, Youth gave in and leaned. He wondered if they should just go somewhere else, leave the cabin to Cloud so he wasn't bothered. There were other buildings here and there; they didn't have to go home and bother Lotus.]
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Hmm. [A nod at Youth.] I remember. [A short pause.] Lotus seems like a good kid, if a little... enthusiastic. [And very, very innocent about a lot of things.]
[Cloud wondered if they were going to try and make him leave. He wasn't really interested in going back out in the rain this late at night, especially since he didn't really have anywhere else to go... but nor was he interested in hanging around if they were going to use the cabin whether Cloud was present or not.]
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[Cloud didn't have much of a choice when it came to the cabin. And the guy didn't seem to be a bad guy. In fact, Bell actually found him to be ...ok. He seemed sensible enough.]
[Still, sensible or not, Bell waited for it...for Cloud to make some comment about Lotus and Youth's fatherly skills, or about sex and porn, or being gay. What came out instead was mild in comparison to what they had heard on the journals and Bell couldn't fault the man for that assessment. But Youth had a hard couple of days. He really needed to relax somewhere, away from mention of any of the journal goings-on. At the moment, Youth probably needed to relax here and gather back his strength for the walk back.]
He's like his dad. Once he's got an idea in his head, it's hard to shake it loose.
[Good, Youth was trying to take it easy, at least, instead of trying to be cool and tough and show off his currently non-existent stamina. He wasn't even sure if Youth would accept a helping hand from him for the ( ... )
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[Youth braced for it at his son's name, at the pause. Good things did not tend to follow pauses like that. Enthusiastic? Okay. He could take enthusiastic. He'd heard that about himself more than once.]
Yes. He is. [That was to Cloud. Bell got a look. Maybe he was slightly stubborn, but he wasn't that bad. Though Bell probably didn't mean it in a mean way. Probably.] I can take advice.
[He nodded in agreement with Bell's other statement, though.] I apologize for the imposition. I will be ready to go soon. [In theory they could leave now. Youth would be slow, but they could make it home. Probably. If he wasn't heavier than Bell he wouldn't hesitate. If he'd been alone he wouldn't hesitate either. But he didn't want to be a burden to Bell. His son was already out to get his partner. There was no reason to make things worse.]
If you do not mind, we will take two minutes. [That should be enough to get... somewhere.]
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So he's stubborn, hmmm? [Something to remember, just in case the kid really did end up asking Cloud questions about the porn he'd read.]
[Cloud found himself wishing for a cigarette again; it would be a lot easier to hide the grin at Youth's protest if he had one. They seemed like an interesting couple... Cloud wondered just how much like his son Youth was.]
Mmm, don't worry about it. You can stay as long as you need to, I don't mind. [With the way Youth was leaning against the wall Cloud thought they probably needed more than two minutes. He turned away slightly, walked to one of the walls, and slid down it to sit on the floor. Now that it was clear they weren't going to make him leave he really didn't mind if they took their time and rested here for a while.]
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