[ They frown Disapprovingly at his teasing, doubly unimpressed by his rhetorical question. Obviously people are not willingly touching them; they give the icicle hand to pretty much everyone who tries to get too buddy buddy with them, and Lottie can attest to this. While it would be nice to school him on that fact, he's busy tugging them along to come see whatever it is he brought them over to see, so they just sigh, too tired to put in the effort to prolong a discussion about their outfit.
Actually, is this the first time they've touched each other like this when they're both not wearing gloves? That's what they're thinking when they look at his hand around their wrist. ]
Are you going to tell me what it is?
[ Their tone is a bit expectant, but they are following him willingly, so that's a plus. ]
It's a photograph -- [ he pauses after he says that - Cairngorm probably doesn't know what that is, but he's also not sure how to explain it to them?? ] -- uh, a picture from back home. It's probably easier to show you than try and explain it. I'm sure you don't have cameras in your world, right?
[ it might be the first time they've touched without gloves if Lupin were actually touching their skin - for now, he can only feel them through the sweater as he tugs them up the stairs. His room looks about the same as always, save for an abundance of new blankets on his bed (he's been cold) and a few odd-looking letters on his work desk. There's one more new object on that desk, too - a square frame. Lupin lets go of them, heading over to pick it up, then bringing it back over. ]
See - here. Look at this.
[ he seems quietly excited as he shows it to them - a photograph from home of himself and some friends. ]
[ Their eyes widen a little bit when he shows the picture to them - they don't reach out to take it, since it looks like the front is framed with glass, and they might scratch it, but they do look at it with some considerable interest. ]
Oh. This is...
[ They trail off, studying the details of the image. They recognize Cardia, but none of the other people in this photo; come to think of it, he hasn't really described any of the other people he knew in detail other than her. He and everyone in this photo look so happy and triumphant - even they can tell that, without knowing what this photograph is for. For a brief moment, they're reminded that he has a totally different life outside of Chroma, where his alleged famous career as a thief is, and where he has these people around him constantly to make him happy. Even though they've all been stuck here so long, it's easy to forget that from time to time. But, their expression remains mild, which is actually pretty positive on the Cairngorm-meter, when they glance up from the photo to look at him again. ]
These are the people you live with?
[ It has to be. Cardia is there, and the number he'd described to them earlier back in that mansion matches up. ]
[ he's actually pretty happy Cairngorm remembers that much about him - not that he thinks they're half as callous as they act, but Lupin rarely brings them up, and it's been a good minute since they visited Saint-Germain's mansion. Grinning, he nods. ]
Got it in one. That's Van, Victor, Impey, me - obviously, Cardia, and Saint-Germain - he's the one who owns that mansion you visited. [ as he lists off the names, he points each one out with his finger. It's easy to forget Cairngorm already knows what Cardia looks like; he points her out, too, habitually. ] We won a race together and had this photo taken afterwards. I have no clue how it ended up here, but it was a nice surprise.
[ ... even if it also makes him feel kind of lonely. One of the ways he deals with being here is putting thoughts of home out of his mind - he concentrates solely on the present and the future, focusing all his energy into survival and finding a way out. He can almost forget how much he misses home on a good day. Looking at this photo now, of everyone smiling, it's impossible for him to think of anything else, and he sighs under his breath quietly. ]
[ They're already aware of the people in town receiving some sort of gift - obviously the ones at their own house are much different from this. This is a much more sentimental type of thing, rather than something useful like themself and their two housemates had received. Still, he looks happy with it. They find themself not wanting to say something harsh like what good will this do other than make you sad, solely because that alone will likely upset him. As he talks, they look back to the photo, wondering mostly to themself what sort of people they all are; if they're like Lupin at all. ]
Well, they probably are. I don't really understand all that time stopping stuff... [ They sigh, too, brushing some of their hair from the left side of their face - an old habit deeply rooted. ] But if I had to guess, they might not even know you're not there.
[ From their world perspective, that is for the better. An absence among the gems causes higher stress on the whole. There's only six in this picture, and they have to imagine that Lupin's presence would be sorely missed. They end up studying him in the picture longer than anyone else, tilting their head a fraction of an angle. ]
...Was this not that long ago? You look the same.
[ Obviously, for a gem, that would be normal, but humans age and change so quickly that they have to assume... ]
[ as much as he likes to act like he has a solid grip on everything... once things head into the realm of the supernatural, he's out of his element, and he's counting the time slipping and multiverse concepts as part of that. Lupin's heard the same thing they have: that everything's exactly where he left it back home, and when he gets back, his friends won't even realize he's been gone. But when he has such a vague understanding of how any of that would even work - not to mention a solid distrust in Chroma - he's not entirely confident that theory is true.
But he thinks it would be better if it were true, too. He's the glue holding that group together, and he knows it. If he vanished, he's not sure Impey and Cardia would have the pull to keep the others from drifting away. Lupin sits down at the edge of his bed, scooting over a bit and patting the space next to him in invitation. ]
You're right, though. This was... probably about a year ago, now. [ he smirks, looking at them with some amusement. ] I'm surprised you knew we change like that.
[ They come to sit by his side - not too close and not too far away, mostly because... well, they're still sort of shy about being close to him. They're certainly sitting closer to him than they would to anyone else, but they leave a little space just to be careful.
Thankfully, they can mask being shy about it by acting slightly annoyed at that amused smirk. ]
I've seen younger humans before. [ Both in books, and in real life!! They huff. ] I know that you look completely different when even just five, ten, fifteen years pass.
[ It was pretty shocking the first time they saw how tiny a human under ten years old could be, moreso when they saw how quickly they grow and age. Their skill at guessing humans' ages has only gotten marginally better the longer they've spent in this place, but pointing a finger at the photo still in his hand, they squint. ]
But these people look the same as you, so you're probably all around the same age.
[ They say this like they are trying to prove to him that they know things. Because they do!!! ]
[ he'd be lying if he said he didn't consider immediately closing that bit of space between them by looping an arm around their waist, but he doesn't - touching is weird for gems, he knows, and they're shy to boot. Just being next to them is good enough for him. ]
Oh - right, right. There's Damian and Kisa here. [ rather than forgetting them, he just assumed Cairngorm would want nothing to do with children... they barely have patience for adults. Moving on, though - their pride at guessing the ages is pretty funny (and charming.) Lupin uses his master thief skills to not look like he's about to laugh at them. It's the little things. ] You're right, though - good job. We're mostly all in our 20s. The Count's the oldest... I think. Come to think of it, I don't know how old he is...
[ hmm, weird!! oh well. there's surely no deeper reason behind that piece of information slipping through his fingers. ]
And I guess Cardia's only around three, technically, but she looks the part. Her aside, I'm the youngest one.
[ They make a small humming sound, resting their hands down on the bed on either side of them. ]
Huh. You're the youngest one.
[ That's interesting. Somehow, they thought he'd be in the middle somewhere, but the more they dwell on it, they guess it makes sense. Younger gems are always more full of energy and upbeat than the older ones; they have to say the fellows on the far left and right give off a much more mature vibe than Lupin or the man next to him do, just from this picture. ]
I get the feeling you don't follow your elders.
[ He doesn't respect the law, or authority, so they don't really expect him to follow any sort of hierarchy. A few years between humans - is that enough to make a difference of who's in charge? Maybe. It never would be among gems. ]
Hey. What's that supposed to mean? I respect everyone until they give me a reason not to.
[ lightly; he sets the picture on his lap, eyes moving over to Cairngorm, instead. Maybe the gems are a listen-to-your-elders-type people? Come to think of it, he doesn't think he's ever asked if there's anyone in charge. ]
I am the leader of our little gang, though, if that's what you're asking. Originally, it was just going to be me and Impey and the Count on this job, but I picked up a lot of stragglers along the way.
[ he says it affectionately - as much as he's the "leader" of this band of misfits, these people are also just his friends, by this point. ]
It means that you do whatever you want. That doesn't sound like someone who follows instructions well...
[ Then again, Cairngorm also doesn't tend to respect the gems older than them that they view as incompetent. Red Beryl, Alexandrite - sure, those two are well over a thousand years older than them, but they're both freaks, which revokes whatever sense of respect they're supposed to have for them. Still, letting the youngest person be in charge? Maybe age doesn't really matter that much for humans. Or maybe his skills are just best suited for a leadership position. Who knows. They have to assume the "job" he's referring to is curing Cardia's poison - what else would he be referring to. ]
But since you're the leader, I guess it doesn't matter. [ They'd thought that maybe he was the only one working on solving that, which frankly, they'd had little confidence that he'd be able to do it. He's just one guy after all. With more people, perhaps it is more achievable. ] I didn't know you were all working on the same task.
[ When he'd said some of them were doctors or engineers, they'd imagined they all had different stuff going on. It's not like they all had a common enemy to band together against - instead, they guess they all have a common goal. ]
Yeah, we were. [ he sits back a little. Come to think of it, he's never actually told Cairngorm about this stuff. It's not all that surprising, considering he much prefers to talk about other peoples' problems and lives than his own; still, after all the time Cairngorm's spent explaining their life to him, it's odd to realize they barely know the basics of his.
On the other hand, trying to explain this to them when they come from such a radically different culture is going to be a challenge. Lupin hums in thought for a moment. ]
You said there were only 30 or so gems, right? Well, there are loads of humans, and we all live together in huge cities, tens of thousands of us. I found out that there was a group of people secretly planning on wiping out an entire city's worth of people - maybe even more - and so, naturally, I decided to stop it. But that's a lot of work for one single thief, even one as charming and talented as myself. I had to go round up some allies for the job.
[ he taps a finger against Cardia's image in the photo again. ]
Remember how I said someone wanted to kidnap her to use her as a weapon? Same people. That's how I found out about her.
[ Their expression becomes a bit complicated as he explains. There are multiple parts of what he says that are confusing: 1) there's tens of thousands of humans? For as long as they've spent here, no one's actually keyed them into the fact that there were that many people in the world - sure, people complained about Chroma being such a small town from time to time, which led them to believe that compared to gem society, there must be hundreds, maybe thousands of humans. It's hard to grasp that there's that many. Anyway, 2) the other most confusing thing about humans is that they're always trying to fight amongst each other. ]
Destroying that many humans is just... [ Well, it's horrible. Just a gem or two getting taken every hundred years is devastating to the gems close to them. They can't imagine what that'd be like for tens of thousands of people to go through. ] I don't know. It's hard to believe.
[ They don't say it because they doubt him; only because it's hard to come to terms the fact that people like that exist in the world he comes from. And that he'd try to stop it all with a few of his friends. ]
Finding the cure for her poison will prevent all of that, then?
[ he thinks it's confusing, too. Lupin gives them a rueful smile, shaking his head very slightly. ]
Yeah - hard for me to believe, too. I don't know what they're trying to accomplish with all of it.
[ but people have done horrible things for money or power or whatever else for as long as people have existed at all, so he can't bring himself to be too shocked or horrified about it; that's just life. It is kind of sad to have to share things like this with Cairngorm, though - not because they paint his species in a bad light, but because they're sort of innocent, in a way. They've never had to think about a disaster of that scale before, he's sure.
Fortunately, they give him an easy out so that the two of them don't have to linger on it. With a little chuckle, he waves a hand dismissively. ]
Ah... the poison is a personal promise I made to her, actually. It might throw a wrench in their plans, for all I know, but when I don't know exactly what they planned to use her for, I can't say for sure curing her would be the solution. [ he's sure it would set them back, but they probably have backups. Twilight has a lot of funds and a lot of resources. ] We're trying to hunt down clues regarding that group's headquarters and their leader's whereabouts. Once we know those two things, we can put a stop to them.
[ They just nod a little at his explanation. As expected, he has a lot going on, like most residents of this town. ]
Well, Lunarians are like that too. We can only guess why they do what they do...
[ They're sure that the people on the moon could wipe them all out at once, like what he's describing, but they don't. Whatever the reason is, they gave up a long time ago trying to understand it. Some things are just bad, they guess. They lean back a little more on their hands, breathing a sigh out through their nose. ]
Though, it sounds like you have a plan to put a stop to your own problem. [ It helps that the enemy isn't on a distant space rock, probably. ] And you had time to be racing. Unless that was part of your plan.
[ Not that they can see how racing (sidenote: 'race' translates as physically running a race) could ever be relevant to stopping a terrorist plot... but alas. ]
[ a nod. In the end, their problems aren't all that different, even if they're worlds (and species) apart, he thinks - both of them just want to protect their friends and their lives. Their values are the same. Lupin isn't given to deep thought about the nature of life, but there's something nice about meeting someone whose very existence is like nothing he's ever known and finding an understanding - very deep understanding, even, between the two of them. ]
Would you believe me if I said it was? The prize for winning was some information I wanted to get my hands on, so we all signed up. It was a bit of extra work finding an airship to fly for it, but as you can see, it all came together nicely.
[ they won, after all... even though it was just a trap, in the end. Then again, trap or no, the information still led them to find Isaac's lab and information about Cardia's past, painful though it may be. For the umpteenth time, he hopes she's coping all right without him - but even as he worries, he finds his eyes drawn back to Cairngorm, and he reminds himself to focus on the present. Lupin picks up the picture again, then lets himself flop back against the bed lazily, holding the image up with a pensive hum. ]
Someday I'd like to take you for an airship ride, Cairn - I'll bet you've never flown before.
[ His life is about as crazy and whimsical as they had imagined, and it's a little easier to understand when they can put names to faces. Neither of them really talk about their lives outside of Chroma much, other than how Cairngorm has to explain their lifestyle here and there. Talking like this, just passing the time, is nice in a way that takes their mind off of things, and it does feel like they're getting a little closer to him. They're relaxing, albeit slowly. ]
I haven't.
[ They answer with a hum, slightly amused by his suggestion. When he lays down, they turn their body so they can look back at him, raising a brow. ]
But how would you go about doing that? Even you can't build one here.
[ Lupin might be crafty, but even without ever seeing an airship, they're pretty sure it's outside the realm of possibility at least here. Though they aren't exactly against the hypothetical idea. ]
You're right about that. It doesn't have to be here, [ he replies, meeting their eyes beneath the pictureframe. ] Maybe you'll get another chance to visit where I'm from, like before. There's so much more outside that mansion I wish you could have seen. You wouldn't believe London - I'd never run out of things to show you. Airships are just the tip of the iceberg.
[ it would be a lot of fun. Perhaps more for him than for Cairngorm - but Lupin wants to believe that they could learn to have fun, too. They've just never had the opportunity before.
All of it is idle daydreaming, of course. There's no way for him to know if they'll ever even catch a glimpse of Steel London again before the two of them part ways. Still, looking at the photograph makes him remember his life - his real life, not his life here - and makes him wish he could share more than just a picture of it with them. Maybe homesickness is catching up with him at last after nearly a year. ]
[ A few beats after he says all that, they shrug slightly, before letting themself lay down next to him on their back, sliding their eyes shut. ]
Maybe.
[ But I doubt it, is what they would have normally finished with, though the idea that he wants to share everything with them so badly prevents them from saying anything harsh. It really would be nice, to visit his place again. It's too bad they don't have anything pleasant like that to share with him - he's really already seen all there is to see of their home, other than the slight variation of the seasons. ]
What kind of things do you mean? The stuff in London.
[ Unlike him, they have little to no homesickness; they'd much rather just sit calmly and let him talk about whatever it is he'd like to show them than think for even a moment of what's waiting for them when they're forced to go back home. ]
[ Maybe. He knows what they're thinking - their perspective on life is a consistent one, and as relentlessly skeptical as his is optimistic. The fact that they don't voice their doubt means that they're either hoping he's right or they're actually trying to be sensitive, and either explanation is more than satisfactory. Setting the photograph down beside him for now, he turns his head towards them. ]
I'd take you to the orchestra, for starters. Do you know about music? You could listen to a hundred people playing instruments in perfect harmony. There's the ballet, too; I bet you'd like that. It's got music, but it has a performance to go along with it. We could go to an art museum - you'd be amazed at the paintings and sculptures some people could make. There are stores, too - more than you could count, selling all kinds of things you've never seen before. Animals, clothes, woodworks, pottery, books... [ a beat; then Lupin seems to think of something, nudging them with his elbow excitedly. ] -- Oh, I know! I'd take you to a proper ball. This time, I could teach you how to dance ahead of time. And you could pick out something really beautiful to wear. The two of us would be the envy of every couple there.
[ They open one eye to look over at him when he nudges them like that, their expression turning exasperated. ]
Wearing flashy clothes isn't really my style....
[ They're opposites in that regard, and they know it. Lupin is always trying to draw attention to himself, where Cairngorm is perfectly fine if no one's aware of their presence. Actually, they prefer it if they are the least distinct that they can be. There's a reason they fixate on the last of what he says, and that's because the rest of it doesn't sound too bad at all. That's just how they are; finding something to complain about so they can omit their acceptance of everything else. ]
I mean, is there a point in wearing something different just for that?
[ It seems strange to them... they're just clothes. And if he wasn't kidding about some people wearing clothes closer to their pajamas to these kinds of events, they're not only flashier but also harder to move in, which doubly makes no sense. ]
[ he hums, trying to come up with a good answer for that question. One that will make sense to Cairngorm, anyway. ]
You're out in public, being seen by tens of people - maybe hundreds, if the ball's big and fancy enough. With that many eyes on you, you want to make sure you look your best. That's the general idea.
[ there's the matter of such events typically being upper-class mingles, too, with lords and ladies of high breeding trying to catch one another's eye and broker some beneficial alliances, be it through marriage, trade, or simple connections; there's also the simple matter of it being an excuse to show off one's wealth and power. But those are abstract concepts for someone from a world with no concept of money or stratification of society - and Lupin doesn't find those aspects of dances charming, himself. If he and Cairngorm attended one, none of those things would be a factor. Maybe that's part of why he likes them, too - they're so separated from the evils and the nonsense of the human society that largely failed him. They're just Cairngorm, and he's just Lupin. It's nice. ]
But if you don't like that, we could go somewhere on our own, instead. [ they look exasperated; Lupin, on the other hand, smiles more softly, and closes his eyes, his voice a bit teasing, but his expression distantly sweet. ] You could shine for me alone. My shy, hidden treasure.
[ It's hard to imagine so many people in one room. Even the ball here in Chroma had been overwhelming to them, and back then, there weren't quite as many residents as there are now. They're not someone that cares a lot about what someone who they never interact with will think of them, but they've found it can be quickly stressful and embarrassing if too many people look at them or acknowledge them at one time. Maybe it'd be okay if Lupin was by their side...
Is what they think, before he drops that incredibly cheesy line on them. On second thought, scratch that. Maybe it's more overwhelming being with him when they're alone. They purse their lips and turn their head slightly away, not liking how they're starting to get accustomed to the feeling of color coming into their cheeks when he's around. ]
Ugh. Why do you have to say it like that... [ Them? A treasure? Very absurd, from both the logical standpoint and the abstract. They push at his arm a little in retaliation to his teasing affection, and because he's writing them off as gentle and timid again. ] I can handle something like that just fine. It wouldn't be up to me where we go anyway...
[ Considering they have no money and no knowledge. Besides, it's of course easier to let him make the executive decisions in this hypothetical scenario that they're only barely not quashing with their skepticism. ]
What are you saying? [ he responds with a small laugh, letting them shove him without complaint (he knew that would embarrass them and that's half of why he said it - the other half was because he meant it, of course.) ] Of course it would be. Far be it from me to force you to go anywhere.
[ he likes dragging them along with him to do things, sure, but it's not like he'd ignore their input if they were really opposed to it - and the idea of him refusing to go where they want is preposterous. They never ask for anything; he'd trip over his feet trying to fulfill any request from them. It's a little bit embarrassing to admit to himself, considering the two of them only came together a month ago, but he supposes he's felt that desire to treat them for a lot longer. Lupin playfully raps his knuckles against their crystalline arm. ]
Just say the word, and I'll take you anywhere you want.
[ Is it sad that that's such a bizarre statement to them? Probably. But he continues to surprise them with his eagerness to let them lead and choose. Rather than exasperation or annoyance, their expression turns almost bashful, unsure like always of what to do in the face of someone showing them a degree of kindness. ]
It's not as if we could actually go anywhere...
[ They mumble; realistically, he can only take them to places in the confines of this little town, or wherever this place allows them to go to in his home world. Even though they remind him of this reality, their voice is tinged with disappointment - it's sad to daydream about things that'll never come to fruition. ]
...But if I'm ever able to go back there, whatever is fine. [ Brushing a few strands of hair behind their ear, they look at him from the corner of their eye. ] I don't care.
[ Both in the sense that they don't have a preference so strong that they'd intentionally try to steer their course in that direction, and that they're pretty convinced they'll be content as long as he's with them. Additionally, he hasn't seen it in such a literal way from them, but they aren't great at choosing from multiple options. ]
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Actually, is this the first time they've touched each other like this when they're both not wearing gloves? That's what they're thinking when they look at his hand around their wrist. ]
Are you going to tell me what it is?
[ Their tone is a bit expectant, but they are following him willingly, so that's a plus. ]
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[ it might be the first time they've touched without gloves if Lupin were actually touching their skin - for now, he can only feel them through the sweater as he tugs them up the stairs. His room looks about the same as always, save for an abundance of new blankets on his bed (he's been cold) and a few odd-looking letters on his work desk. There's one more new object on that desk, too - a square frame. Lupin lets go of them, heading over to pick it up, then bringing it back over. ]
See - here. Look at this.
[ he seems quietly excited as he shows it to them - a photograph from home of himself and some friends. ]
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Oh. This is...
[ They trail off, studying the details of the image. They recognize Cardia, but none of the other people in this photo; come to think of it, he hasn't really described any of the other people he knew in detail other than her. He and everyone in this photo look so happy and triumphant - even they can tell that, without knowing what this photograph is for. For a brief moment, they're reminded that he has a totally different life outside of Chroma, where his alleged famous career as a thief is, and where he has these people around him constantly to make him happy. Even though they've all been stuck here so long, it's easy to forget that from time to time. But, their expression remains mild, which is actually pretty positive on the Cairngorm-meter, when they glance up from the photo to look at him again. ]
These are the people you live with?
[ It has to be. Cardia is there, and the number he'd described to them earlier back in that mansion matches up. ]
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Got it in one. That's Van, Victor, Impey, me - obviously, Cardia, and Saint-Germain - he's the one who owns that mansion you visited. [ as he lists off the names, he points each one out with his finger. It's easy to forget Cairngorm already knows what Cardia looks like; he points her out, too, habitually. ] We won a race together and had this photo taken afterwards. I have no clue how it ended up here, but it was a nice surprise.
[ ... even if it also makes him feel kind of lonely. One of the ways he deals with being here is putting thoughts of home out of his mind - he concentrates solely on the present and the future, focusing all his energy into survival and finding a way out. He can almost forget how much he misses home on a good day. Looking at this photo now, of everyone smiling, it's impossible for him to think of anything else, and he sighs under his breath quietly. ]
I hope they're okay.
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Well, they probably are. I don't really understand all that time stopping stuff... [ They sigh, too, brushing some of their hair from the left side of their face - an old habit deeply rooted. ] But if I had to guess, they might not even know you're not there.
[ From their world perspective, that is for the better. An absence among the gems causes higher stress on the whole. There's only six in this picture, and they have to imagine that Lupin's presence would be sorely missed. They end up studying him in the picture longer than anyone else, tilting their head a fraction of an angle. ]
...Was this not that long ago? You look the same.
[ Obviously, for a gem, that would be normal, but humans age and change so quickly that they have to assume... ]
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[ as much as he likes to act like he has a solid grip on everything... once things head into the realm of the supernatural, he's out of his element, and he's counting the time slipping and multiverse concepts as part of that. Lupin's heard the same thing they have: that everything's exactly where he left it back home, and when he gets back, his friends won't even realize he's been gone. But when he has such a vague understanding of how any of that would even work - not to mention a solid distrust in Chroma - he's not entirely confident that theory is true.
But he thinks it would be better if it were true, too. He's the glue holding that group together, and he knows it. If he vanished, he's not sure Impey and Cardia would have the pull to keep the others from drifting away. Lupin sits down at the edge of his bed, scooting over a bit and patting the space next to him in invitation. ]
You're right, though. This was... probably about a year ago, now. [ he smirks, looking at them with some amusement. ] I'm surprised you knew we change like that.
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Thankfully, they can mask being shy about it by acting slightly annoyed at that amused smirk. ]
I've seen younger humans before. [ Both in books, and in real life!! They huff. ] I know that you look completely different when even just five, ten, fifteen years pass.
[ It was pretty shocking the first time they saw how tiny a human under ten years old could be, moreso when they saw how quickly they grow and age. Their skill at guessing humans' ages has only gotten marginally better the longer they've spent in this place, but pointing a finger at the photo still in his hand, they squint. ]
But these people look the same as you, so you're probably all around the same age.
[ They say this like they are trying to prove to him that they know things. Because they do!!! ]
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Oh - right, right. There's Damian and Kisa here. [ rather than forgetting them, he just assumed Cairngorm would want nothing to do with children... they barely have patience for adults. Moving on, though - their pride at guessing the ages is pretty funny (and charming.) Lupin uses his master thief skills to not look like he's about to laugh at them. It's the little things. ] You're right, though - good job. We're mostly all in our 20s. The Count's the oldest... I think. Come to think of it, I don't know how old he is...
[ hmm, weird!! oh well. there's surely no deeper reason behind that piece of information slipping through his fingers. ]
And I guess Cardia's only around three, technically, but she looks the part. Her aside, I'm the youngest one.
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Huh. You're the youngest one.
[ That's interesting. Somehow, they thought he'd be in the middle somewhere, but the more they dwell on it, they guess it makes sense. Younger gems are always more full of energy and upbeat than the older ones; they have to say the fellows on the far left and right give off a much more mature vibe than Lupin or the man next to him do, just from this picture. ]
I get the feeling you don't follow your elders.
[ He doesn't respect the law, or authority, so they don't really expect him to follow any sort of hierarchy. A few years between humans - is that enough to make a difference of who's in charge? Maybe. It never would be among gems. ]
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[ lightly; he sets the picture on his lap, eyes moving over to Cairngorm, instead. Maybe the gems are a listen-to-your-elders-type people? Come to think of it, he doesn't think he's ever asked if there's anyone in charge. ]
I am the leader of our little gang, though, if that's what you're asking. Originally, it was just going to be me and Impey and the Count on this job, but I picked up a lot of stragglers along the way.
[ he says it affectionately - as much as he's the "leader" of this band of misfits, these people are also just his friends, by this point. ]
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[ Then again, Cairngorm also doesn't tend to respect the gems older than them that they view as incompetent. Red Beryl, Alexandrite - sure, those two are well over a thousand years older than them, but they're both freaks, which revokes whatever sense of respect they're supposed to have for them. Still, letting the youngest person be in charge? Maybe age doesn't really matter that much for humans. Or maybe his skills are just best suited for a leadership position. Who knows. They have to assume the "job" he's referring to is curing Cardia's poison - what else would he be referring to. ]
But since you're the leader, I guess it doesn't matter. [ They'd thought that maybe he was the only one working on solving that, which frankly, they'd had little confidence that he'd be able to do it. He's just one guy after all. With more people, perhaps it is more achievable. ] I didn't know you were all working on the same task.
[ When he'd said some of them were doctors or engineers, they'd imagined they all had different stuff going on. It's not like they all had a common enemy to band together against - instead, they guess they all have a common goal. ]
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On the other hand, trying to explain this to them when they come from such a radically different culture is going to be a challenge. Lupin hums in thought for a moment. ]
You said there were only 30 or so gems, right? Well, there are loads of humans, and we all live together in huge cities, tens of thousands of us. I found out that there was a group of people secretly planning on wiping out an entire city's worth of people - maybe even more - and so, naturally, I decided to stop it. But that's a lot of work for one single thief, even one as charming and talented as myself. I had to go round up some allies for the job.
[ he taps a finger against Cardia's image in the photo again. ]
Remember how I said someone wanted to kidnap her to use her as a weapon? Same people. That's how I found out about her.
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Destroying that many humans is just... [ Well, it's horrible. Just a gem or two getting taken every hundred years is devastating to the gems close to them. They can't imagine what that'd be like for tens of thousands of people to go through. ] I don't know. It's hard to believe.
[ They don't say it because they doubt him; only because it's hard to come to terms the fact that people like that exist in the world he comes from. And that he'd try to stop it all with a few of his friends. ]
Finding the cure for her poison will prevent all of that, then?
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Yeah - hard for me to believe, too. I don't know what they're trying to accomplish with all of it.
[ but people have done horrible things for money or power or whatever else for as long as people have existed at all, so he can't bring himself to be too shocked or horrified about it; that's just life. It is kind of sad to have to share things like this with Cairngorm, though - not because they paint his species in a bad light, but because they're sort of innocent, in a way. They've never had to think about a disaster of that scale before, he's sure.
Fortunately, they give him an easy out so that the two of them don't have to linger on it. With a little chuckle, he waves a hand dismissively. ]
Ah... the poison is a personal promise I made to her, actually. It might throw a wrench in their plans, for all I know, but when I don't know exactly what they planned to use her for, I can't say for sure curing her would be the solution. [ he's sure it would set them back, but they probably have backups. Twilight has a lot of funds and a lot of resources. ] We're trying to hunt down clues regarding that group's headquarters and their leader's whereabouts. Once we know those two things, we can put a stop to them.
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Well, Lunarians are like that too. We can only guess why they do what they do...
[ They're sure that the people on the moon could wipe them all out at once, like what he's describing, but they don't. Whatever the reason is, they gave up a long time ago trying to understand it. Some things are just bad, they guess. They lean back a little more on their hands, breathing a sigh out through their nose. ]
Though, it sounds like you have a plan to put a stop to your own problem. [ It helps that the enemy isn't on a distant space rock, probably. ] And you had time to be racing. Unless that was part of your plan.
[ Not that they can see how racing (sidenote: 'race' translates as physically running a race) could ever be relevant to stopping a terrorist plot... but alas. ]
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Would you believe me if I said it was? The prize for winning was some information I wanted to get my hands on, so we all signed up. It was a bit of extra work finding an airship to fly for it, but as you can see, it all came together nicely.
[ they won, after all... even though it was just a trap, in the end. Then again, trap or no, the information still led them to find Isaac's lab and information about Cardia's past, painful though it may be. For the umpteenth time, he hopes she's coping all right without him - but even as he worries, he finds his eyes drawn back to Cairngorm, and he reminds himself to focus on the present. Lupin picks up the picture again, then lets himself flop back against the bed lazily, holding the image up with a pensive hum. ]
Someday I'd like to take you for an airship ride, Cairn - I'll bet you've never flown before.
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I haven't.
[ They answer with a hum, slightly amused by his suggestion. When he lays down, they turn their body so they can look back at him, raising a brow. ]
But how would you go about doing that? Even you can't build one here.
[ Lupin might be crafty, but even without ever seeing an airship, they're pretty sure it's outside the realm of possibility at least here. Though they aren't exactly against the hypothetical idea. ]
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[ it would be a lot of fun. Perhaps more for him than for Cairngorm - but Lupin wants to believe that they could learn to have fun, too. They've just never had the opportunity before.
All of it is idle daydreaming, of course. There's no way for him to know if they'll ever even catch a glimpse of Steel London again before the two of them part ways. Still, looking at the photograph makes him remember his life - his real life, not his life here - and makes him wish he could share more than just a picture of it with them. Maybe homesickness is catching up with him at last after nearly a year. ]
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Maybe.
[ But I doubt it, is what they would have normally finished with, though the idea that he wants to share everything with them so badly prevents them from saying anything harsh. It really would be nice, to visit his place again. It's too bad they don't have anything pleasant like that to share with him - he's really already seen all there is to see of their home, other than the slight variation of the seasons. ]
What kind of things do you mean? The stuff in London.
[ Unlike him, they have little to no homesickness; they'd much rather just sit calmly and let him talk about whatever it is he'd like to show them than think for even a moment of what's waiting for them when they're forced to go back home. ]
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I'd take you to the orchestra, for starters. Do you know about music? You could listen to a hundred people playing instruments in perfect harmony. There's the ballet, too; I bet you'd like that. It's got music, but it has a performance to go along with it. We could go to an art museum - you'd be amazed at the paintings and sculptures some people could make. There are stores, too - more than you could count, selling all kinds of things you've never seen before. Animals, clothes, woodworks, pottery, books... [ a beat; then Lupin seems to think of something, nudging them with his elbow excitedly. ] -- Oh, I know! I'd take you to a proper ball. This time, I could teach you how to dance ahead of time. And you could pick out something really beautiful to wear. The two of us would be the envy of every couple there.
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Wearing flashy clothes isn't really my style....
[ They're opposites in that regard, and they know it. Lupin is always trying to draw attention to himself, where Cairngorm is perfectly fine if no one's aware of their presence. Actually, they prefer it if they are the least distinct that they can be. There's a reason they fixate on the last of what he says, and that's because the rest of it doesn't sound too bad at all. That's just how they are; finding something to complain about so they can omit their acceptance of everything else. ]
I mean, is there a point in wearing something different just for that?
[ It seems strange to them... they're just clothes. And if he wasn't kidding about some people wearing clothes closer to their pajamas to these kinds of events, they're not only flashier but also harder to move in, which doubly makes no sense. ]
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You're out in public, being seen by tens of people - maybe hundreds, if the ball's big and fancy enough. With that many eyes on you, you want to make sure you look your best. That's the general idea.
[ there's the matter of such events typically being upper-class mingles, too, with lords and ladies of high breeding trying to catch one another's eye and broker some beneficial alliances, be it through marriage, trade, or simple connections; there's also the simple matter of it being an excuse to show off one's wealth and power. But those are abstract concepts for someone from a world with no concept of money or stratification of society - and Lupin doesn't find those aspects of dances charming, himself. If he and Cairngorm attended one, none of those things would be a factor. Maybe that's part of why he likes them, too - they're so separated from the evils and the nonsense of the human society that largely failed him. They're just Cairngorm, and he's just Lupin. It's nice. ]
But if you don't like that, we could go somewhere on our own, instead. [ they look exasperated; Lupin, on the other hand, smiles more softly, and closes his eyes, his voice a bit teasing, but his expression distantly sweet. ] You could shine for me alone. My shy, hidden treasure.
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Is what they think, before he drops that incredibly cheesy line on them. On second thought, scratch that. Maybe it's more overwhelming being with him when they're alone. They purse their lips and turn their head slightly away, not liking how they're starting to get accustomed to the feeling of color coming into their cheeks when he's around. ]
Ugh. Why do you have to say it like that... [ Them? A treasure? Very absurd, from both the logical standpoint and the abstract. They push at his arm a little in retaliation to his teasing affection, and because he's writing them off as gentle and timid again. ] I can handle something like that just fine. It wouldn't be up to me where we go anyway...
[ Considering they have no money and no knowledge. Besides, it's of course easier to let him make the executive decisions in this hypothetical scenario that they're only barely not quashing with their skepticism. ]
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[ he likes dragging them along with him to do things, sure, but it's not like he'd ignore their input if they were really opposed to it - and the idea of him refusing to go where they want is preposterous. They never ask for anything; he'd trip over his feet trying to fulfill any request from them. It's a little bit embarrassing to admit to himself, considering the two of them only came together a month ago, but he supposes he's felt that desire to treat them for a lot longer. Lupin playfully raps his knuckles against their crystalline arm. ]
Just say the word, and I'll take you anywhere you want.
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It's not as if we could actually go anywhere...
[ They mumble; realistically, he can only take them to places in the confines of this little town, or wherever this place allows them to go to in his home world. Even though they remind him of this reality, their voice is tinged with disappointment - it's sad to daydream about things that'll never come to fruition. ]
...But if I'm ever able to go back there, whatever is fine. [ Brushing a few strands of hair behind their ear, they look at him from the corner of their eye. ] I don't care.
[ Both in the sense that they don't have a preference so strong that they'd intentionally try to steer their course in that direction, and that they're pretty convinced they'll be content as long as he's with them. Additionally, he hasn't seen it in such a literal way from them, but they aren't great at choosing from multiple options. ]
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me coming back to this thread a month later and being punched in the heart by corn's cuteness...
PUNCH
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