What Why is asking me any different from asking a human? I'm not putting it on if it's gonna do something weird
[ It's not like there aren't other humans around the same size as him, so they do find his specifying pretty suspicious... what if this is an elaborate prank......... ]
Don't tell me that I am wrong! You wouldn't laugh at me, would you, Cairngorm? I know that a kind heart beats underneath that cool exterior - metaphorically speaking, of course.
But I digress; my home is in Ruga. It's the home with the red rose bushes in front of it. You won't miss it.
Whatever If this takes longer than past sunset I'm not walking back in the dark
[ Which means they'd consider it his fault if they had to pass out on the floor later to avoid taking a chance with whatever crazy things might happen at night in this place!!!
It doesn't take them long to find his house, but the knock at the door is more like loud bang than a polite knock, as Cairngorm isn't sure what the right volume to knock at is since they won't call out to him. Opening the door, he'd see that their hands are full carrying a wooden box filled with miscellaneous cloths. But at least they've returned to their usual powdered self!! ]
[ iyan... cairngorm crashing at his place... just kidding, he doesn't mind. That knock definitely scares Lupin half out of his wits, even though he's expecting them. He just hopes Akechi doesn't come down to see what the ruckus is.
It's a bit of a relief that it really is just Cairn and not some huge monster pounding on his house or something, and it's nice to see them all back in one piece. Almost nice enough for him to come bounding up like usual. He doesn't, though. In an un-Lupin-like move, he opens the door just enough to poke his head through, hiding the rest of himself behind the door. ]
Oh! You actually came! [ ... they actually came... he looks at their permanently unamused face and suddenly begins to question his decision to invite them. they are absolutely going to judge the shit out of him even if they don't understand human stuff. ] And... you brought clothes, too! That's a good idea. Didn't think of that. Uh... Come in.
[ he steps back, beckoning them in. When they come inside, they will see Lupin wearing this. Minus the jacket. It didn't help as much as he thought it would. Accessorizing this look is an expression of dread as he awaits their reaction... ]
[ That certainly is... a look. They can't stop themselves from staring for a hard moment once they push the door open enough to enter and see - but they're more confused by his outfit than amused by it. There's no doubt in their mind that it is hideous, but if he was dreading them pointing and laughing, no such reaction comes - just an aloof scoff while they come in, shaking their head. ]
Be grateful that I'm not Red Beryl. That fashion geek would lecture you for a decade for wearing that...
[ They're muttering while they set the box of rags and table cloths and random peasant clothes they'd found at their feet, giving his outfit the good judgey up-down look once they stand back to their full height. At least they don't know what leopard print is or how inherently tacky it's considered to be...it just looks like weird dots to them. ]
But I didn't bring these for you. They're for--
[ If the words are accompanied by subtle clinking noises, its because while they talk, a few small gems fall from their mouth, which their hand is already in place to catch. Because yes, they expect this now.
Instead of saying anything further, they just open their palm to show him the muted stones, gray and dull against their white glove. ]
[ Okay, that definitely could have been worse. Lupin's shoulders visibly relax when all Cairn does is turn up their nose at him. It's not that his ego is fragile, exactly - it's just that he places a lot of value on his appearance and looking a certain way. And this is ruining that.
But, as expected, Cairngorm doesn't care that much. He laughs under his breath, a little relieved, and is about to ask after Red Beryl (he's never heard of that gem before), but then his guest is spitting up rocks. Which they then show him. Are those... gem tonsil stones? God, he hopes not. He makes a face. ]
[ Cairngorm is notorious for not caring about clothes.... in fact they would judge him more for caring so much about his outfit than for just wearing it despite it being ugly. But they shake their head at his comment, picking a handkerchief from the box and tying up the stones inside of it. ]
What? No. This isn't normal, it's from the town. Just like your hideous outfit...
[ They immediately get more irritated looking, because talking while putting away the ones they'd already coughed up only caused a few more to clatter against the ground. Not only is this little curse very disturbing to them, but it's also annoying as hell. The way they watch the pearls that fell from their lips roll around the floor is pretty apathetic, not caring as much because they're just pearls - those small treasures have no value to them unlike the gemstones they'd been so careful with, and it shows on how their expression sours just at the sight. ]
[ you might think Lupin would go after those pearls. He doesn't. They just came out of Cairn's mouth, and that's gross! The jab at his outfit makes Lupin sigh in exasperation - he knows, okay - but knowing this is the town's fault means he's able to put together what's going on pretty quickly. ]
Does that only happen when you talk? You should probably stop, then. I can get you some paper, or - you could use my laptop, actually! That would be easier. What do you think?
[ that means less barf pearls for Lupin to pick up later and fewer gemstones for Cairn to try and strategically dribble into a sack. ]
[ Oh. They guess that makes sense. Other than when they're physically using the device, they forget that it's even an option, if they're being honest... there's a little nod in agreement, almost a bit dumb, since they'd pretty much been prepared to just talk anyway. Very very distantly, they'd actually been thinking that it'd be to their benefit if they could cough up some black quartz, even if that would be really disgusting.
Nonetheless, if he's going to go retrieve that, they think they should make the best use of their time here, so they give a little tug to the shoulder of their uniform accompanied by an inquisitive look, trying to communicate that if he had something prepared that they were supposed to put on, he should hand it over. ]
[ His urging only makes them wonder if he thinks they don't trust him to be able to lead the way to his bedroom... They get irritated by his antics but they don't think he's that dumb. Maybe they are coming off harsher than they thought.
Nonetheless, they follow willingly, taking the box of rags and peasant clothes with them since he mentioned trying to wear different clothes might have some effect. It really might be helpful, even if they didn't intend it for that. ]
[ this is why communication is important........ if you're not spewing rocks.
anyway, welcome to Lupin's bachelor pad. It's the same as any other townhouse room in shape and size, but full of various eccentric knicknacks he's gathered around town - a broken globe with a map so faded it can no longer be read, a bookshelf full of fairytales that interest him either in content or in their covers, bits and pieces of broken items that have their color back, smooth stones from the riverbanks in Bluo that caught his eye. He truly is a magpie - but it's all well-organized enough to keep from looking like a dump. In the corner is a desk with a large piece of paper laid on top of it that he seems to have been writing on, and around the desk are various other little projects that are difficult to identify just by looking at them: what looks like part of a kite, half a bombshell, a few long, thin pieces of metal. Thief things, no doubt.
Also, his bed isn't made. Nobody's perfect. On top of the sloppy bed is his usual red jacket, which looks normal enough; Lupin makes a beeline for it, picking it up in his hands. ]
[ They get a little distracted by all the neat stuff in here - it wasn't often that gems got to see items that were entirely new to their understanding (other than new Lunarian weapons, that is), so everything in this funky little town is pretty fascinating to Cairn. Seeing it all collected here in one place is especially interesting, even those weird things that he seemed to be building, but of course it's in their nature to stare the longest at the bookshelf.
But Cairn isn't the spacey type, so their attention is drawn back pretty easily by his asking, setting the crate down so they can do ask he asks. The sleeves of his jacket are puffy like their own so it's hard to pull on over their uniform, but they do so quickly nonetheless... it hangs off them quite a bit more than it does on him given their smaller and thinner overall frame. They take a moment to inspect the garment on themself before giving him an expectant look - looks normal to them, but they guess it's possible he could see something different. ]
[ meanwhile, Lupin stands there, chin resting in the crook of his thumb and index finger as he watches the jacket's every move like a warden watching an unruly prisoner. He's waiting for the inevitable transformation into a tutu or a chicken suit or whatever else. But... nothing happens. Cairngorm is just standing there, wearing his jacket. Which is sort of adorably big on them, but that wasn't the point of this exercise.
A sigh. ]
So it's something about me, then...? I should have guessed. [ as he speaks, he crouches down, retrieving his laptop out from under his bed. He stes it atop the covers, flipping it open and launching the barebones word processor installed on it before backing away. Just in case Cairngorm has anything to say. ] You feel normal?
[ They just nod, slipping the jacket off while they walk over to where he's setting up the laptop. They're even considerate enough to neatly fold the jacket and put it back on the bed, before sitting down carefully and beginning to type, albeit fairly slowly: ]
I feel fine But I don't know why I expected anything good to come out of following that dumb bird's instructions I did what it said and still
[ They sigh without opening their mouth, staring hard at the screen. ]
Honestly I can't tell if your clothes being like that is because you listened to it or you didn't
[ Is it really that hard not to pick something up... they look around his room again, all the clutter, and guess that it really is, at least for Lupin. Luckily for him them not being able to talk keeps them from wasting time typing any unnecessarily rude comment about it. ]
Well it wasnt that hard not to look But I guess Im being punished for talking with who I heard The bird didnt care when I spoke with them so I thought it was okay
[ There's hesitation after he asks, both out of a weird sense of mourning and a confusion around how to explain it to him... it shows in how there's a rare somberness and bitterness to their typically unimpressed expression, before they close their eyes and will it away. When they open them again, they type diligently to explain, not pausing to look at him at all. They don't want to be interrupted. ]
My former self. There used to be another gem formed over this body called "Ghost Quartz", but they got chipped off of me during a Lunarian attack 102 years ago.
[ It wasn't hard not to look at someone they had never seen face to face, but they couldn't resist a chance to hear their voice again, fabricated as it was. ]
I don't think humans can be born with multilayered structures, so just think of it as two personalities sharing one body That's how Ghost and I were
[ it's safe to say that nothing like that exists for a human, no. In fact, Lupin looks rather puzzled as he reads it, trying to picture what Cairn's describing in his mind. They had... someone else living on top of them? Or, more accurately, they shared a body with another gem, as they say. It's a bizarre concept. ]
So... They were like family to you, or... No, you might not even have something like that. [ He shakes his head. It's hard to imagine what the relationship between those two might have been like. Humans who have "two personalities in one body" are sick in mind; this is different. There was physically another person in there with Cairngorm, and they were killed, by the sounds of it. ] I can't imagine what that's like... You must miss them.
[ it's hard to blame them for giving in. Lupin doesn't have any family, but he knows what it's supposed to be like. ]
Could you talk to them before? When you shared a body, I mean.
[ They nod. Explaining their livelihood to Lupin has become routine at this point, so they don't really mind it, and they're finding that each time is a little less awkward than the last. Its been quite a while since they've talked with anyone about Ghost, anyhow, and it seems respectful to remember them every once in a while. ]
We could talk. It wasn't like both of us talking out loud to each other though I could speak to them without talking, kind of like what you might consider thinking
[ As he has rightfully imagined, losing someone that they shared thoughts with was a disorienting experience, one that they're not sure they will ever be used to. It also meant that they were inseparable, both physically and mentally, which often made it difficult for other gems to see them as being distinct. ]
Because of that I'm not sure how close that is to "family" Human families have visible separate members, or so I've read But we were understood as the outer Ghost and the inner Ghost Two gems but both of us "Ghost Quartz" Likely humans don't have anything like it
[ A nod - he understands, even if he can't say that he gets it, exactly. It's difficult to imagine living like that, let alone living like that for hundreds of years. He takes a seat on the bed next to the laptop, rotating it enough that he can read it while Cairn can still type. ]
You're right about that. I can't think about any relationship a human could have that's like that.
[ to be separated from someone who'd always known your every thought and feeling - it sounds... simultaneously freeing and lonely. ]
... What did you talk about? When you saw them, I mean.
The gems who have also been stolen since they got taken My new name Both are things the real Ghost would have wanted to know about.
[ They're quick to type responses to that, just responding easily with the truth. When they sigh, they let go of a little of their bitterness, face settling closer to neutral than anything else. They've long since made peace with the fact that they would never be with the true Ghost again, so all of this was more of them capitalizing on a chance to hear their voice again. ]
Mostly they spent time trying to get me to turn around though So we didn't get to talk about much else
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Why is asking me any different from asking a human?
I'm not putting it on if it's gonna do something weird
[ It's not like there aren't other humans around the same size as him, so they do find his specifying pretty suspicious... what if this is an elaborate prank......... ]
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I will be honest: I look very silly and I do not want to be laughed at.
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You think I won't laugh at you
[ They won't, so he's right to guess, but the only reason they wouldn't is because they don't laugh at anything. ]
I don't have anything better to do with the remaining hours in the day
So fine
But you could've at least asked me sooner
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But I digress; my home is in Ruga. It's the home with the red rose bushes in front of it. You won't miss it.
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If this takes longer than past sunset I'm not walking back in the dark
[ Which means they'd consider it his fault if they had to pass out on the floor later to avoid taking a chance with whatever crazy things might happen at night in this place!!!
It doesn't take them long to find his house, but the knock at the door is more like loud bang than a polite knock, as Cairngorm isn't sure what the right volume to knock at is since they won't call out to him. Opening the door, he'd see that their hands are full carrying a wooden box filled with miscellaneous cloths. But at least they've returned to their usual powdered self!! ]
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It's a bit of a relief that it really is just Cairn and not some huge monster pounding on his house or something, and it's nice to see them all back in one piece. Almost nice enough for him to come bounding up like usual. He doesn't, though. In an un-Lupin-like move, he opens the door just enough to poke his head through, hiding the rest of himself behind the door. ]
Oh! You actually came! [ ... they actually came... he looks at their permanently unamused face and suddenly begins to question his decision to invite them. they are absolutely going to judge the shit out of him even if they don't understand human stuff. ] And... you brought clothes, too! That's a good idea. Didn't think of that. Uh... Come in.
[ he steps back, beckoning them in. When they come inside, they will see Lupin wearing this. Minus the jacket. It didn't help as much as he thought it would. Accessorizing this look is an expression of dread as he awaits their reaction... ]
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Be grateful that I'm not Red Beryl. That fashion geek would lecture you for a decade for wearing that...
[ They're muttering while they set the box of rags and table cloths and random peasant clothes they'd found at their feet, giving his outfit the good judgey up-down look once they stand back to their full height. At least they don't know what leopard print is or how inherently tacky it's considered to be...it just looks like weird dots to them. ]
But I didn't bring these for you. They're for--
[ If the words are accompanied by subtle clinking noises, its because while they talk, a few small gems fall from their mouth, which their hand is already in place to catch. Because yes, they expect this now.
Instead of saying anything further, they just open their palm to show him the muted stones, gray and dull against their white glove. ]
Have to wrap them. They'll get scratched.
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But, as expected, Cairngorm doesn't care that much. He laughs under his breath, a little relieved, and is about to ask after Red Beryl (he's never heard of that gem before), but then his guest is spitting up rocks. Which they then show him. Are those... gem tonsil stones? God, he hopes not. He makes a face. ]
... Did you hurt yourself again?
[ maybe they're damaged internally... ]
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What? No. This isn't normal, it's from the town. Just like your hideous outfit...
[ They immediately get more irritated looking, because talking while putting away the ones they'd already coughed up only caused a few more to clatter against the ground. Not only is this little curse very disturbing to them, but it's also annoying as hell. The way they watch the pearls that fell from their lips roll around the floor is pretty apathetic, not caring as much because they're just pearls - those small treasures have no value to them unlike the gemstones they'd been so careful with, and it shows on how their expression sours just at the sight. ]
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Does that only happen when you talk? You should probably stop, then. I can get you some paper, or - you could use my laptop, actually! That would be easier. What do you think?
[ that means less barf pearls for Lupin to pick up later and fewer gemstones for Cairn to try and strategically dribble into a sack. ]
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Nonetheless, if he's going to go retrieve that, they think they should make the best use of their time here, so they give a little tug to the shoulder of their uniform accompanied by an inquisitive look, trying to communicate that if he had something prepared that they were supposed to put on, he should hand it over. ]
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It's in my room - the laptop and my jacket. Come on. Don't worry, you can trust me.
[ as if Cairn has any reservations about following a man to his bedroom, but he feels the otome need to reassure them, anyway. ]
No matter what I put on, it keeps turning into something ridiculous like this... I can't tell if it's me or the clothes.
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Nonetheless, they follow willingly, taking the box of rags and peasant clothes with them since he mentioned trying to wear different clothes might have some effect. It really might be helpful, even if they didn't intend it for that. ]
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anyway, welcome to Lupin's bachelor pad. It's the same as any other townhouse room in shape and size, but full of various eccentric knicknacks he's gathered around town - a broken globe with a map so faded it can no longer be read, a bookshelf full of fairytales that interest him either in content or in their covers, bits and pieces of broken items that have their color back, smooth stones from the riverbanks in Bluo that caught his eye. He truly is a magpie - but it's all well-organized enough to keep from looking like a dump. In the corner is a desk with a large piece of paper laid on top of it that he seems to have been writing on, and around the desk are various other little projects that are difficult to identify just by looking at them: what looks like part of a kite, half a bombshell, a few long, thin pieces of metal. Thief things, no doubt.
Also, his bed isn't made. Nobody's perfect. On top of the sloppy bed is his usual red jacket, which looks normal enough; Lupin makes a beeline for it, picking it up in his hands. ]
-- Here. Put this on.
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But Cairn isn't the spacey type, so their attention is drawn back pretty easily by his asking, setting the crate down so they can do ask he asks. The sleeves of his jacket are puffy like their own so it's hard to pull on over their uniform, but they do so quickly nonetheless... it hangs off them quite a bit more than it does on him given their smaller and thinner overall frame. They take a moment to inspect the garment on themself before giving him an expectant look - looks normal to them, but they guess it's possible he could see something different. ]
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A sigh. ]
So it's something about me, then...? I should have guessed. [ as he speaks, he crouches down, retrieving his laptop out from under his bed. He stes it atop the covers, flipping it open and launching the barebones word processor installed on it before backing away. Just in case Cairngorm has anything to say. ] You feel normal?
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I feel fine
But I don't know why I expected anything good to come out of following that dumb bird's instructions
I did what it said and still
[ They sigh without opening their mouth, staring hard at the screen. ]
Honestly I can't tell if your clothes being like that is because you listened to it or you didn't
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I mean, I listened to the bird. After it disappeared, though... I may have grabbed something.
[ he scratches at his hair, perhaps a little sheepish. Not that much, though. ]
I am a thief. I don't know what they expected out of me. [ a beat. ] You're getting punished even though you listened?
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Well it wasnt that hard not to look
But I guess Im being punished for talking with who I heard
The bird didnt care when I spoke with them so I thought it was okay
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Who you heard...? [ a blink. ] Right, that's what it was for yellows. I thought it was just looking, myself.
[ he can't help wondering who it is that Cairngorm was talking to... should he ask, or would that be insensitive? He bites the bullet. ]
... Who was it, if you don't mind my asking? There's still a lot about you I don't know.
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My former self.
There used to be another gem formed over this body called "Ghost Quartz", but they got chipped off of me during a Lunarian attack 102 years ago.
[ It wasn't hard not to look at someone they had never seen face to face, but they couldn't resist a chance to hear their voice again, fabricated as it was. ]
I don't think humans can be born with multilayered structures, so just think of it as two personalities sharing one body
That's how Ghost and I were
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So... They were like family to you, or... No, you might not even have something like that. [ He shakes his head. It's hard to imagine what the relationship between those two might have been like. Humans who have "two personalities in one body" are sick in mind; this is different. There was physically another person in there with Cairngorm, and they were killed, by the sounds of it. ] I can't imagine what that's like... You must miss them.
[ it's hard to blame them for giving in. Lupin doesn't have any family, but he knows what it's supposed to be like. ]
Could you talk to them before? When you shared a body, I mean.
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We could talk. It wasn't like both of us talking out loud to each other though
I could speak to them without talking, kind of like what you might consider thinking
[ As he has rightfully imagined, losing someone that they shared thoughts with was a disorienting experience, one that they're not sure they will ever be used to. It also meant that they were inseparable, both physically and mentally, which often made it difficult for other gems to see them as being distinct. ]
Because of that I'm not sure how close that is to "family"
Human families have visible separate members, or so I've read
But we were understood as the outer Ghost and the inner Ghost
Two gems but both of us "Ghost Quartz"
Likely humans don't have anything like it
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You're right about that. I can't think about any relationship a human could have that's like that.
[ to be separated from someone who'd always known your every thought and feeling - it sounds... simultaneously freeing and lonely. ]
... What did you talk about? When you saw them, I mean.
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My new name
Both are things the real Ghost would have wanted to know about.
[ They're quick to type responses to that, just responding easily with the truth. When they sigh, they let go of a little of their bitterness, face settling closer to neutral than anything else. They've long since made peace with the fact that they would never be with the true Ghost again, so all of this was more of them capitalizing on a chance to hear their voice again. ]
Mostly they spent time trying to get me to turn around though
So we didn't get to talk about much else
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