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. ]
[ at that, Lupin sighs with a sort of exasperated fondness - because they're really always like this. If anyone asked him, he'd have a hard time listing anything Cairngorm liked or disliked in particular (beyond "sleep" in that first category.) Is it because of Ghost? It makes sense, he supposes, but it's sad, and frustrating, too, because it's another problem that's probably outside the scope of what he can fix. He props himself up on one elbow, looking down at their uncertain face from a short distance. ]
"Whatever" again, huh? I'm beginning to think that's your favorite way to answer my questions.
[ teasing, light, yet a little quieter, suggesting a tinge of gentle concern. Lupin doesn't expect a response; he just wants them to know that he notices these things, mostly. He continues, flashing them a grin. ]
I could visit you in your dreams and take you anywhere. Don't underestimate the abilities of the gentleman thief. [ a beat. ] Do you like the indoors or outdoors better?
[ They catch the little change in tone, beneath the teasing - not that they know what to do with it, other than to tilt their head a fraction of an angle, even against the bed. The truth is that if they had always kept strong opinions of what they liked and disliked to do, their life with Ghost would have been fraught with even more tension than it already was. The result now is that his concern over their nonchalance is puzzling, and makes them wonder if they should've said something else, instead. ]
It— depends, I guess. [ Their pitch goes up at the end, almost implying it's a question. ] On the weather, and the time of day. Without having to patrol, I spend most of my time indoors, I suppose...
[ Even here, they only ramble about what they tend to typically do, rather than things they like about either option. It isn't intentional, but this is how it naturally comes out when they try to talk about themself. After they respond, they look at him briefly as if to check if that's the sort of response he wanted, for approval. ]
[ Lupin wonders if they're worried answering wrong will make him dislike them or something. He's good at reading people; he sees their little questioning glance. He thought they just didn't have a chance to form their own opinions most of their life, but maybe it's more than that... ]
Outdoors. I'm thinking of something you'd want to do, of course. [ matter-of-factly. he'll figure it out! maybe. ] If it's nice out, we could go out into the countryside, then. Maybe take a hike. Oh --
[ he blinks a few times, remembering something - something puzzling. ]
Did you know there's a mountain with the same name as you not very far from London? Cairn Gorm. I just remembered it - I thought your name sounded familiar.
[ ... it's a little too weird to be a coincidence, but he doesn't know what to make of it. ]
[ That is... faintly amusing, but then again, he said the human world had tons of places in it, so maybe it just seems silly to them because they can count the number of historic landmarks on their little island on two hands. Unlike him, they don't find this coincidence that strange, just shrugging their shoulders. ]
It likely has to do with the geology of that mountain. "Cairngorm" is only a name given to me based on the type of crystal I'm made of, after all... the same type of quartz with the same chemical composition is probably found there.
[ Of course they have no reason to think "Cairngorm" is a proper name bestowed on quartz in that region by humans - it's just the scientific fact of their namesake, from their point of view. Sensei knows lots of rock facts, it's not that weird... ]
Oh, cram it, [ he says jokingly, leaning over to tap them on the nose rebukingly. ] It's not like I've ever had to go there. Even I can't have every landmark in Britain memorized.
[ he has no idea how tiny their home is - although considering how few gems seem to exist, he can hazard a guess that they haven't spread very far. In any case, he doesn't seem particularly convinced by their explanation. ]
Well, I guess you could be right. [ it's more likely the crystal was named after the place, though... but he keeps that thought to himself. He doesn't know what it would mean if he was right, and he's not interested in arguing over it, either. ] It means something like "blue mountain" in the native language, if I'm remembering correctly. Not very fitting for you, is it?
[ Their nose wrinkles when he does that, turning their face away petulantly. If that's how it's going to be, he can expect a little push at the side of his face from their cold hand in retaliation. ]
No, it isn't. [ They mumble, retracting their hand back to rest on their midsection. ] I don't think any variations of smoky quartz are blue in color...
[ That would kind of render the name nonsensical, right? Maybe this is just a name coincidence, then? Though that seems highly unlikely. Well, they're not the type to question these things; they're neither curious nor forward-thinking enough to consider inconsistencies too deeply. So, they shrug, staring up at the ceiling. ]
Gems actually name landmarks with colors, too, even if it's not really represented in that area... "the White Hills," "the Yellow Forest," things like that. The names of human places are pretty abstract by comparison.
[ "Britain", "Japan", "LA" (whatever that one means, thanks Lottie)... it seems like a very confusing process. ]
[ another little laugh when they shove him away; he rubs at his cheek to warm it up, not looking terribly bothered. ]
Not quite. They all started out that way, but over hundreds and thousands of years, the names slowly evolved into something different. Most of our names are like that. Even my name is like that, technically. "Lupin" comes from the word for "wolf."
[ since the gems live so long, he supposes their names and traditions are much more stable - and the rest can likely be attributed to the town's translation magic. ]
As far as I know, I haven't got any mountains named after me, though. Lucky you.
[ Their names for things evolve that quickly?? Is what they want to ask, but then again, humans experience time so differently that it feels like a dumb question. And they're way more interested in how Lupin translates to wolf, especially entertaining because he's not like a wolf at all. ]
Huh... [ They seem momentarily puzzled; they've always found human names kind of strange, but they had no idea they had meanings like this. ] What's "Arsène", then? I can't tell if that's supposed to be part of your name or just another word in your language.
[ Like a title, like a different monsieur? His language is so alien sounding that they don't have the slightest clue - the meaning behind it besides. ]
[ how quickly you forget that one time he turned into a werewolf, cairngorm!! his brow furrows at the question. Dammit, don't ask him things he doesn't know the answer to!! He truly considers making something up for a solid two seconds... then decides it's not worth the effort. ]
Hah... I don't really know, to tell you the truth. I got to pick my last name myself, but my mother called me Arsène. [ and he's never bothered looking up name meanings, something that is much more annoying to do when you don't have the internet. To distract from the fact that he doesn't know something, for once, he continues: ] Humans usually have two names - the first one's our name, specifically, and the second one's a family name. When we're born, we're given a first name by our parents, but we inherit our last name from our father. I'm a bit of an odd case, since I didn't know who mine was.
[ Well, that is a little bit strange, but only in the contextual sense of comparing how they call most other humans by the first part of their names. But, surprisingly enough, they empathize with this story - if they're understanding correctly. His parents didn't care for him, so having a new name not bestowed on him by them gave him a sort of new identity, or something like that, right? They turn on their side slightly so they can look at him, blinking. ]
I guess you could say that I'm like that, too, at least sort of. Getting a new name late, and going by that instead. It's odd among gems.
[ They like that there can be little similarities between them... usually the differences are too many to count. Even if a point of likeness is just that they have weird backstories for how they got their names. ]
[ oh... he actually never considered that. His face brightens at the suggestion, and he nods, smiling a little wider and resting his cheek in one hand. ]
We're two peas in a pod, then.
[ as for his name... ]
And I suppose I do. That, or I just got used to everyone calling me "Lupin." Where I'm from, mostly everyone calls each other by their last names, anyway - first names are for people who are very close. [ a beat; he adds, a bit playfully: ] You qualify, for the record.
[ only Akira calls him Arsène, and the reasoning behind that is a little more complicated... but he wouldn't mind if Cairngorm did it, he decides. It would be kind of cute. ]
Honestly, they look a little confused when he says that, even though they always drink in an opportunity to feel special and unique. Come to think of it, they really don't hear anyone call him that, even if he signs his full name sometimes in messages. ]
Arsène, huh... [ They say it just to test it out; it still feels weird and foreign to say. ] I don't know. It's sort of weird to call you something new all of the sudden.
[ They guess they can call him by it sometimes, if they feel like it. He's never really been "Arsène" to them, though, just Lupin, so that's probably why it seems strange. ]
Maybe it's because you chose it, but Lupin suits you more. [ A beat. ] Not that you're very much like a wolf...
[ he laughs a little again, simply in good spirits. ]
You don't have to call me by that name - I prefer Lupin, myself. I'm just saying that you've got special permission. And I can count the number of people who have that permission on one hand, so it's quite special, indeed.
[ Hm. Come to think of it, people must have a better nickname for Cairngorm than "Cairn." Gorm? Gorm doesn't sound very beautiful, though... ]
[ Five or less people... huh. They wonder who those other people are, since this information implies that not even all those people in the photo are allowed to... but first things first: ]
I know plenty about wolves. [ YEAH LUPIN!!! ] I had to fight so many of them back then. Including you.
[ Are they going to let him forget that? No. They'd probably flip out a lot more if something like that happened to him now as opposed to back then, so maybe it's better that sort of thing happened when they didn't know each other that well. ]
In fairytales at least, they're always aggressive, violent, and preying on the weak, not to mention usually the antagonist. Is that the kind of image you think you give off?
[ at the mention of it, Lupin looks a little tired, rolling over onto his back once again with a sigh. That was the worst it's ever been for him, probably, getting turned like that... He's grateful it was a long time ago, too, if only because it makes it easier for him to forget. ]
Obviously not, [ he scoffs. ] Fairy tales aren't much like reality, you know. Wolves are strong, and smart, and they like working together. But there are lone wolves, too - ones that got rejected by their family, or don't fit in with the group. They live on their own, doing things their own way.
[ ... come to think of it, he doesn't think he's ever actually told this to anyone before. It feels a little weird. Lupin laughs, nearing sheepish. ]
... Well, I was a lot younger when I came up with it. I'll admit that I mostly thought it sounded cool.
[ Is he supposed to be like one of those "lone wolves" then...? That's probably why he mentioned it. They let out a long sigh, folding their hands over each other on their midsection while they rest their eyes, wanting to say I already knew that about fairytales not being perfect representations of the world, but it's just not worth the effort. ]
Sounding cool was important to you even back then...
[ Actually, they guess that's not that surprising. They're reminded of younger gems who dream of being cool battle heroes and wanting to one day be a valiant and respected senior, and think it might've been like that for him, too. ]
I guess I just didn't care about stuff like that when I was younger. [ A beat. ] Even if I had cared, it's not like we choose like that.
[ Cairngorm can act like they're above it, but he knows they've got plenty of pride of their own - even if it simultaneously coexists with that crazy inferiority complex of theirs somehow.
He's heard a lot about their world and lifestyle, but not too much about Cairngorm's personal history. For obvious reasons, of course. They didn't really have one. He glances over their way, looking at them sideways. ]
[ Maybe Lupin had been too focused on how they had obliterated Phos's head to see Sensei in the background of that memory. They can't really blame him, they suppose, even if Sensei is hard to miss anywhere else. Either way, this isn't information they feel is that sensitive, so they just let it out casually. ]
Though, it's technically Phos who decided I should have a different name. They suggested the idea to him to begin with.
[ At that, their eyes open, just staring at the ceiling. Then, they give out an indifferent sigh. ]
Well, we count him as one of us.
[ The vagueness of their answer is intentional, as they honestly don't know for now. A lot of gems have thought to themselves that Sensei is different from the rest of them, knows more than them, but Cairngorm is within the overwhelming majority that elects not to investigate it. ]
But he looks very different from the rest of the gems. Taller, and bigger. [ How can they explain this to him... ] I haven't actually seen any humans close to his size.
[ At that, they look at him Knowingly. Yes, it is strange, but they don't really have the means of figuring it out, nor the resolve. They turn back to staring at the ceiling. ]
He's too nice, sometimes. [ It comes out like the complaint that it is. ] He's always being so lenient and forgiving to gems like Phos.
[ They give a cut-off sigh, pressing between their brows with the pads of their fingers. ]
[ Lupin chuckles a little, gently leaning his head into Cairngorm's shoulder. ]
Poor Phos. [ gorm is so mean to them!! ] But... I'm glad. I always thought all of you were alone out there.
[ does Lupin trust this Sensei guy? Instinctively, no. However, he's glad that there's someone in Cairngorm's world who's kind and caring towards the gems. Their lives sound too hard. ]
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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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"Whatever" again, huh? I'm beginning to think that's your favorite way to answer my questions.
[ teasing, light, yet a little quieter, suggesting a tinge of gentle concern. Lupin doesn't expect a response; he just wants them to know that he notices these things, mostly. He continues, flashing them a grin. ]
I could visit you in your dreams and take you anywhere. Don't underestimate the abilities of the gentleman thief. [ a beat. ] Do you like the indoors or outdoors better?
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It— depends, I guess. [ Their pitch goes up at the end, almost implying it's a question. ] On the weather, and the time of day. Without having to patrol, I spend most of my time indoors, I suppose...
[ Even here, they only ramble about what they tend to typically do, rather than things they like about either option. It isn't intentional, but this is how it naturally comes out when they try to talk about themself. After they respond, they look at him briefly as if to check if that's the sort of response he wanted, for approval. ]
Why? What about you?
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Outdoors. I'm thinking of something you'd want to do, of course. [ matter-of-factly. he'll figure it out! maybe. ] If it's nice out, we could go out into the countryside, then. Maybe take a hike. Oh --
[ he blinks a few times, remembering something - something puzzling. ]
Did you know there's a mountain with the same name as you not very far from London? Cairn Gorm. I just remembered it - I thought your name sounded familiar.
[ ... it's a little too weird to be a coincidence, but he doesn't know what to make of it. ]
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[ That is... faintly amusing, but then again, he said the human world had tons of places in it, so maybe it just seems silly to them because they can count the number of historic landmarks on their little island on two hands. Unlike him, they don't find this coincidence that strange, just shrugging their shoulders. ]
It likely has to do with the geology of that mountain. "Cairngorm" is only a name given to me based on the type of crystal I'm made of, after all... the same type of quartz with the same chemical composition is probably found there.
[ Of course they have no reason to think "Cairngorm" is a proper name bestowed on quartz in that region by humans - it's just the scientific fact of their namesake, from their point of view. Sensei knows lots of rock facts, it's not that weird... ]
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[ he has no idea how tiny their home is - although considering how few gems seem to exist, he can hazard a guess that they haven't spread very far. In any case, he doesn't seem particularly convinced by their explanation. ]
Well, I guess you could be right. [ it's more likely the crystal was named after the place, though... but he keeps that thought to himself. He doesn't know what it would mean if he was right, and he's not interested in arguing over it, either. ] It means something like "blue mountain" in the native language, if I'm remembering correctly. Not very fitting for you, is it?
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No, it isn't. [ They mumble, retracting their hand back to rest on their midsection. ] I don't think any variations of smoky quartz are blue in color...
[ That would kind of render the name nonsensical, right? Maybe this is just a name coincidence, then? Though that seems highly unlikely. Well, they're not the type to question these things; they're neither curious nor forward-thinking enough to consider inconsistencies too deeply. So, they shrug, staring up at the ceiling. ]
Gems actually name landmarks with colors, too, even if it's not really represented in that area... "the White Hills," "the Yellow Forest," things like that. The names of human places are pretty abstract by comparison.
[ "Britain", "Japan", "LA" (whatever that one means, thanks Lottie)... it seems like a very confusing process. ]
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Not quite. They all started out that way, but over hundreds and thousands of years, the names slowly evolved into something different. Most of our names are like that. Even my name is like that, technically. "Lupin" comes from the word for "wolf."
[ since the gems live so long, he supposes their names and traditions are much more stable - and the rest can likely be attributed to the town's translation magic. ]
As far as I know, I haven't got any mountains named after me, though. Lucky you.
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Huh... [ They seem momentarily puzzled; they've always found human names kind of strange, but they had no idea they had meanings like this. ] What's "Arsène", then? I can't tell if that's supposed to be part of your name or just another word in your language.
[ Like a title, like a different monsieur? His language is so alien sounding that they don't have the slightest clue - the meaning behind it besides. ]
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Hah... I don't really know, to tell you the truth. I got to pick my last name myself, but my mother called me Arsène. [ and he's never bothered looking up name meanings, something that is much more annoying to do when you don't have the internet. To distract from the fact that he doesn't know something, for once, he continues: ] Humans usually have two names - the first one's our name, specifically, and the second one's a family name. When we're born, we're given a first name by our parents, but we inherit our last name from our father. I'm a bit of an odd case, since I didn't know who mine was.
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I guess you could say that I'm like that, too, at least sort of. Getting a new name late, and going by that instead. It's odd among gems.
[ They like that there can be little similarities between them... usually the differences are too many to count. Even if a point of likeness is just that they have weird backstories for how they got their names. ]
Do you like "Lupin" better than "Arsène"?
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We're two peas in a pod, then.
[ as for his name... ]
And I suppose I do. That, or I just got used to everyone calling me "Lupin." Where I'm from, mostly everyone calls each other by their last names, anyway - first names are for people who are very close. [ a beat; he adds, a bit playfully: ] You qualify, for the record.
[ only Akira calls him Arsène, and the reasoning behind that is a little more complicated... but he wouldn't mind if Cairngorm did it, he decides. It would be kind of cute. ]
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Honestly, they look a little confused when he says that, even though they always drink in an opportunity to feel special and unique. Come to think of it, they really don't hear anyone call him that, even if he signs his full name sometimes in messages. ]
Arsène, huh... [ They say it just to test it out; it still feels weird and foreign to say. ] I don't know. It's sort of weird to call you something new all of the sudden.
[ They guess they can call him by it sometimes, if they feel like it. He's never really been "Arsène" to them, though, just Lupin, so that's probably why it seems strange. ]
Maybe it's because you chose it, but Lupin suits you more. [ A beat. ] Not that you're very much like a wolf...
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You don't have to call me by that name - I prefer Lupin, myself. I'm just saying that you've got special permission. And I can count the number of people who have that permission on one hand, so it's quite special, indeed.
[ Hm. Come to think of it, people must have a better nickname for Cairngorm than "Cairn." Gorm? Gorm doesn't sound very beautiful, though... ]
I doubt you know much about wolves, by the way.
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I know plenty about wolves. [ YEAH LUPIN!!! ] I had to fight so many of them back then. Including you.
[ Are they going to let him forget that? No. They'd probably flip out a lot more if something like that happened to him now as opposed to back then, so maybe it's better that sort of thing happened when they didn't know each other that well. ]
In fairytales at least, they're always aggressive, violent, and preying on the weak, not to mention usually the antagonist. Is that the kind of image you think you give off?
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Obviously not, [ he scoffs. ] Fairy tales aren't much like reality, you know. Wolves are strong, and smart, and they like working together. But there are lone wolves, too - ones that got rejected by their family, or don't fit in with the group. They live on their own, doing things their own way.
[ ... come to think of it, he doesn't think he's ever actually told this to anyone before. It feels a little weird. Lupin laughs, nearing sheepish. ]
... Well, I was a lot younger when I came up with it. I'll admit that I mostly thought it sounded cool.
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Sounding cool was important to you even back then...
[ Actually, they guess that's not that surprising. They're reminded of younger gems who dream of being cool battle heroes and wanting to one day be a valiant and respected senior, and think it might've been like that for him, too. ]
I guess I just didn't care about stuff like that when I was younger. [ A beat. ] Even if I had cared, it's not like we choose like that.
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[ Cairngorm can act like they're above it, but he knows they've got plenty of pride of their own - even if it simultaneously coexists with that crazy inferiority complex of theirs somehow.
He's heard a lot about their world and lifestyle, but not too much about Cairngorm's personal history. For obvious reasons, of course. They didn't really have one. He glances over their way, looking at them sideways. ]
Speaking of... Who did choose your name?
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[ Maybe Lupin had been too focused on how they had obliterated Phos's head to see Sensei in the background of that memory. They can't really blame him, they suppose, even if Sensei is hard to miss anywhere else. Either way, this isn't information they feel is that sensitive, so they just let it out casually. ]
Though, it's technically Phos who decided I should have a different name. They suggested the idea to him to begin with.
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"He?" [ Lupin raises an eyebrow. All the other gems he's met have been genderless. ] Is he not a gem like the rest of you?
[ the bit about Phos is new, too, but that part is just sort of sweet from his point of view. The two of them must really be close, after all. ]
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Well, we count him as one of us.
[ The vagueness of their answer is intentional, as they honestly don't know for now. A lot of gems have thought to themselves that Sensei is different from the rest of them, knows more than them, but Cairngorm is within the overwhelming majority that elects not to investigate it. ]
But he looks very different from the rest of the gems. Taller, and bigger. [ How can they explain this to him... ] I haven't actually seen any humans close to his size.
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[ he's not big-headed enough to think that Cairngorm didn't notice that it was weird, too - but he can't help commenting on it. ]
Is he nice to you?
[ this is the important thing here. If there was someone out there taking care of Cairngorm, he better have been doing a good job!! ]
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He's too nice, sometimes. [ It comes out like the complaint that it is. ] He's always being so lenient and forgiving to gems like Phos.
[ They give a cut-off sigh, pressing between their brows with the pads of their fingers. ]
It'd be better if he were stricter.
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Poor Phos. [ gorm is so mean to them!! ] But... I'm glad. I always thought all of you were alone out there.
[ does Lupin trust this Sensei guy? Instinctively, no. However, he's glad that there's someone in Cairngorm's world who's kind and caring towards the gems. Their lives sound too hard. ]
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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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