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. ]
Don't feel bad for them. That's how their personality got to be like that, you know...
[ They chastise him, using their annoyance over that to cover up their embarrassment over him suddenly leaning in closer. This is all still so very new, afterall. Not bad, just new. ]
I thought you might've known of him by seeing a glimpse of him in my memory that one time, but I guess not. [ Slowly, they turn their face to meet his eyes, feeling strangely nervous looking at him up so close. Distracting! What were they gonna say? ] —That was probably for the better.
[ they'll find he's got his eyes closed, actually, and is looking quite comfy laying there. Seems like he's not nervous at all... Too bad it means he's missing them being shy. ]
I was a bit distracted watching their head explode, [ he replies dryly. At the time, he'd been angry at them over it, but it seems that he doesn't feel that way now - really, he's hoping Cairngorm's forgotten about that, too. That was probably the only time they'd been seriously at odds with one another, rather than just playfully. ] Why'd Phos name you instead of him?
[ They trail off, looking at his face more closely since they have a chance with his eyes closed - it's not like it's something they ever allowed themself to do outside of the occasional stolen glance before he confessed to them. So just a peek is okay. Up close, it's easier to see his eyelashes, how soft his hair looks. Lupin has a certain beauty, they'll admit, even if its different from their own. Not that they'll sit on the thought for much longer than a few seconds, darting their eyes away again to the ceiling. ]
Well, it's because he wasn't going to name me, originally. Him and all the other gems kept calling me Ghost, and I was fine with it. There was no reason for me to be called something else.
[ They'd never been called anything but "Ghost," anyway, even if they weren't usually the one being addressed. It's complicated, as is explaining in full the events that led up to Phos deciding to suggest the idea. ]
But, when I told Phos I didn't care whatever they called me... [ ...Yeah. That's still the truth. ] The next day, they suddenly went up to Sensei and asked him if I could be called a more fitting name until Ghost comes back. That's why it's really them who gave it to me.
me coming back to this thread a month later and being punched in the heart by corn's cuteness...
[ Alas, poor Lupin. He'll never know that Cairngorm is admiring him, because he's here relaxing like a fool... (Secretly, he feels relieved that they aren't snapping at him for his behavior back then.)
Still. It's a little odd that Sensei wasn't going to name them, if he really is that nice. He must not be a human, either. That's all Lupin can think... There's no way a human wouldn't give a separate name to Cairngorm. ]
Well, I'm glad they did. You and Ghost are as different as can be. "Cairngorm" is a nice name, besides. It suits you.
[ At that, they look over at him again, taking in his relaxed and peaceful features since that little note came so easily from him. He's not opening his eyes, so they guess it's still safe. Come to think of it, it's sort of cute for him to let his guard down like this - they've certainly never seen him do so around anyone else. He's usually so full of energy that to see him relax is endearing in its own way. ]
It's a good name.
[ They let out sigh, turning to rest their cheek against the bed while they look at him. The fact that they'll describe anything as "good" is a testament to how much Phos's actions had meant to them. ]
Hah. It's always hard to get used to new things. Especially after a thousand years, I imagine.
[ it's unusual indeed to hear Cairngorm praise anything at all; he can't help but open his eyes a sliver at that, if only to make sure he heard them right. When he finds them staring back at him, he's not caught off-guard - only a little entranced by their sparkling crystalline irises, as ever - and he offers a small smile. ]
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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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[ They chastise him, using their annoyance over that to cover up their embarrassment over him suddenly leaning in closer. This is all still so very new, afterall. Not bad, just new. ]
I thought you might've known of him by seeing a glimpse of him in my memory that one time, but I guess not. [ Slowly, they turn their face to meet his eyes, feeling strangely nervous looking at him up so close. Distracting! What were they gonna say? ] —That was probably for the better.
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I was a bit distracted watching their head explode, [ he replies dryly. At the time, he'd been angry at them over it, but it seems that he doesn't feel that way now - really, he's hoping Cairngorm's forgotten about that, too. That was probably the only time they'd been seriously at odds with one another, rather than just playfully. ] Why'd Phos name you instead of him?
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[ They trail off, looking at his face more closely since they have a chance with his eyes closed - it's not like it's something they ever allowed themself to do outside of the occasional stolen glance before he confessed to them. So just a peek is okay. Up close, it's easier to see his eyelashes, how soft his hair looks. Lupin has a certain beauty, they'll admit, even if its different from their own. Not that they'll sit on the thought for much longer than a few seconds, darting their eyes away again to the ceiling. ]
Well, it's because he wasn't going to name me, originally. Him and all the other gems kept calling me Ghost, and I was fine with it. There was no reason for me to be called something else.
[ They'd never been called anything but "Ghost," anyway, even if they weren't usually the one being addressed. It's complicated, as is explaining in full the events that led up to Phos deciding to suggest the idea. ]
But, when I told Phos I didn't care whatever they called me... [ ...Yeah. That's still the truth. ] The next day, they suddenly went up to Sensei and asked him if I could be called a more fitting name until Ghost comes back. That's why it's really them who gave it to me.
me coming back to this thread a month later and being punched in the heart by corn's cuteness...
Still. It's a little odd that Sensei wasn't going to name them, if he really is that nice. He must not be a human, either. That's all Lupin can think... There's no way a human wouldn't give a separate name to Cairngorm. ]
Well, I'm glad they did. You and Ghost are as different as can be. "Cairngorm" is a nice name, besides. It suits you.
PUNCH
It's a good name.
[ They let out sigh, turning to rest their cheek against the bed while they look at him. The fact that they'll describe anything as "good" is a testament to how much Phos's actions had meant to them. ]
Even if it was odd to get used to.
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[ it's unusual indeed to hear Cairngorm praise anything at all; he can't help but open his eyes a sliver at that, if only to make sure he heard them right. When he finds them staring back at him, he's not caught off-guard - only a little entranced by their sparkling crystalline irises, as ever - and he offers a small smile. ]
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