IC INBOX

[crystallinememories]

Hello! This is Raha's phone. Sorry that I couldn't answer, but leave me a message or text me.

Comments

text; un: riftdancer

[thavnairian]

[The day after he makes that post, Amal checks in.]

hey, it's me! you said you had questions and i have some time now

Re: text; un: riftdancer

[crystallinememories]

[oh!! yes!! Raha had been trying to determine when would be an acceptable time to reach out, given that he doesn't want to overburden the young man and was well aware of how... exuberant he can get when excited. And what about learning of other worlds wouldn't be exciting?]

Questions might be a bit generous, since I would hardly know where to start. I suppose if you wouldn't mind telling me about your experience being brought here?

text; un: riftdancer

[thavnairian]

[He laughs, though Raha can't hear it. Typical Raha.]

gladly!

so i was just minding my business, preparing for a long journey. i had all of my things packed nicely and was simply passing time in my favorite frontier town... then, i felt something weird churn in the bottom of my stomach. before i could figure out what it was, i found myself being dragged by some invisible force into a spirit portal. i was alone and no one else could either see or help me. the whole thing was over in seconds.

the portal led to a weird maze. i'm not bad at mazes, but unfortunately i dropped most of what i'd packed, so i grabbed what i could carry and ran until i found the exit. at the other end of the portal was the kaisou shopping mall, which was even more of a maze, and i was hungry and tired at that point and got myself locked in a storeroom for a few days. eventually someone found me and called the police-- which was very rude, i might add!!

zodiac intervened so that i didn't spend any time in gaol. they explained some things to me, like kaisou had something about it that was drawing people in from other worlds, and offered to give me a place to live. i decided to work on my own, though... i'm still not sure they're completely uninvolved with the whole kidnapping thing.

all of that happened last july, by your reckoning, but we didn't get the libra app until january

Re: text; un: riftdancer

[crystallinememories]

[That is all so very curious. People don't often wind up just dragged into the spirit realm, as far as he knows, much less stumble into a different world on the way out. But then again, there are a wide variety of myths and folktales where exactly that happens--]

I'd like to say for certain they weren't, but they tend to be very profit minded and I can't say they wouldn't have tried to open gates for that purpose. [Whether they would have judged the risk worth the reward is a question he's decidedly unqualified to answer.]

Do you remember what the portal looked like? And the churn you felt- was it more of an emotion, or something physical?

[thavnairian]

it's hard to say. when other portals have opened up, which seems to happen every month or so, they usually have us run in and collect things for them if we want some coins. i know from experience they are used for spells and potions, but i'm not sure what zodiac wants with them. research maybe?

i don't remember what the portal looked like. i only got a brief glimpse of it as i was being dragged in. maybe next time i'll get dragged face first instead!

i can't say if it was emotional or physical. it felt like i wanted to vomit with anxiety so uh... both?

sorry i can't be of more help there. maybe one of the others can answer better

second half of november;

[thavnairian]

[Well, that sure... happened. It's a lot to take in, especially if one hasn't been even a little dead before. He figures he should check in.]

hey raha

this place sucks and i'm feeling kind of restless

do you want to grab

[... quickly checking the time.]

dinner?

[SMOOTH]

Re: second half of november;

[crystallinememories]

[It has been A Lot, if not only for the revelation of who had actually been behind all this. Raha foresees a lot of diving into what records of POKEGO are public in the near future... and frankly he's trying not to think too hard about the whole being dead thing.]

That sounds nice. Where should I meet you?

THERE'S A BEETLEJUICE MUSICAL??? ah shit i need it

[thavnairian]

[Amal has decided the best way to avoid thinking about it all is to simply not think.]

i'm down for whatever. we can find something that reminds you of your home though if you like

[Even the food that is closest to his Hannish upbringing isn't completely the same-- but it's still good. There's also a lot more fried food, which he approves of.]

[crystallinememories]

[bless amal. if only raha could use that pro strat.]

I know of a few good places.

[it's pretty hard to find a 'Cyprus' restaurant, but Greek? More than possible. So he'll send the address of one and/or meet up with him somewhere to go there???]

[thavnairian]

[All Raha has to do is give in to his himbo instincts.]

ooh i've never eaten there! looks good!

meet you in 15 minutes?

[Amal will be there early but there's no need to tell Raha he's desperate to stay out of the house. Work is work but it only goes so far to distract him, honestly.]

action; after the zodiac race

[thavnairian]

[After the race has ended and everyone has found their way back home, Amal nevertheless has some things to consider. Of course he rejected the peach out of hand. Immortality sounded awful to him. Who wants to live forever when he can die making a difference and have a nice rest after everything? And watch all his friends grow old and die without him? ... Sounds terrible, no thanks.

But it does get him thinking about other things, and how their time here isn't guaranteed. At any moment the little rubber band connecting him to his timeline could snap and send him tumbling back through the void, only to awaken in his bed in Radz-at-Han with little to no memory of a future where he and his friends are dead and have been reincarnated on Earth.

He wishes that decision had been made for him, almost... almost... but he's here now, and he wants to live like each moment is important. Thus, with some very poor planning (but his heart in the right place), he finds himself waffling in front of Raha's closed door, with a small shiny gold gift bag dangling from his fingertips.

They've given each other gifts before, and this time is no different. His fingertips hover over the choker he got from Raha a few weeks ago as he thinks about it. This gift isn't magical at all, but Amal thought of Raha when he saw it, which is good enough. It's also an excuse to talk to him about... that.

He steadies himself, and knocks with his free hand.]

Raha~ [The sing-song hopefully disguises how nervous he's feeling.] Do you have a moment?

Re: action; after the zodiac race

[crystallinememories]

[Raha as usual is studying, but he looks up when he hears Amal's voice outside his door. He has not broached the topic of... that, and naturally he began second guessing whether or not he'd read too much into it basically as soon as they'd returned home after. (He is a very smart catte, but also kind of dumb.)

Still, Amal is never unwelcome, so he gets up from his desk with a stretch and moves to the door with a smile.] Of course! What's up?

[thavnairian]

[It is a kind of dumb that they both have in common.

He brightens visibly when he sees Raha, not unlike the sun coming out from behind a cloud.]

I got you something.

[He holds up the gift bag. It isn't very big, but you know what they say: good things come in small packages. (Raha is also a great example of this rule.)]

If it's not a bad time, I was hoping we could... talk? It's nothing dire, but— [He glances over his shoulder.] I was doing some thinking, and you know how dangerous that is for everyone involved.

[crystallinememories]

Oh-- thank you! [Raha takes the little bag, holding it between his hands.] Should I... open it? Is it for something?

[He doesn't think there's an occasion, but why would Amal get him something otherwise...?]

And I'm free. Is anything wrong?

[thavnairian]

Go ahead, open it. [Beneath the tissue paper is a small jewelry box containing a silver necklace with a crystal pendant. The pendant is big enough that it's reminiscent of what he wore in his other life without being exactly like it, and it's more subtle besides.]

I was walking by a shop when I saw that in the window, and it reminded me of you.

[He steps into the room properly and closes the door gently behind him without turning around, giving... less urgent and secretive vibes. Though the door is closed, he knows that if Ghaleon really wants to eavesdrop he can do so easily with those big-ass ears of his.]

Nothing's wrong. I just wanted to... talk through something, I suppose. [He takes a seat on the end of Raha's bed, making sure there's plenty of room for Raha to sit beside him if he wants.] I don't think anything I'm going to say will surprise you... if that helps.

--> action;

[thavnairian]

[Amal comes back to their shared house after a busy afternoon. He's carrying a couple of plastic bags with him, and judging by the smell that leaks from the kitchen, it's Mediterranean food again. He's dressed slightly more modestly than usual, though his long silk tunic is still left open to show most of his chest, with leggings and strappy gladiator heels to finish it off. He sure loves fashion. (Whether that fashion is any good, however, is up for debate.)

Then he knocks on Raha's door.]

Hey, I brought home dinner. Want to watch something while we eat?

[He's gone so far native that he finally relented and got a flat screen for the living room, so one can entertain on the Turkish couch and also be entertained.]

[crystallinememories]

[The timing is good, Raha having been considering taking a break from his work to eat, and whatever Amal's brought back smells wonderful. He opens the door with a smile-- and frankly Amal's wandered around the house in far less clothing before, so he's adjusting to that much.]

That sounds nice. Do you have something in mind?

[He moves out into the room, going to get them some utensils and things, as well as starting the kettle]

[thavnairian]

[At least Raha never has to look far if he wants an eyeful of something, lol.]

Um... [Maybe not his usual disastrous cooking shows.] Maybe we can find one of your favorite movies on the... net thing? [The Netflix thing.] I want to learn about all the things you like.

[He knows Raha likes books, but there's surely more than that!!!!

He spreads the food out on the counter and starts popping spoons into things for serving.]

[crystallinememories]

Oh! Alright...

[He'll go ahead and pull up Netflix, searching through to see what's available- it's not a movie, exactly, but he's always had a nostalgic soft spot for the various BBC mystery series.

Once he's got that set up, he'll help with getting the food ready, and then settling down with the Amal on the sofa.]

[thavnairian]

[It doesn't have to be a movie. He's honest about wanting to learn more about what Raha likes. After all, he's not exactly the same as the one Amal knew back home-- like a cake with an extra layer. Once they've gotten the food properly sorted, he happily curls up beside the Miqo'te so they're side-touching-side. It's all very warm and familiar, and very comforting besides.]

Oh, this is interesting.

[He likes a good mystery!]

These are considered historical clothes on this world, right? It's not my style, but I can see you pulling off the coat the detective is wearing.

[Of course, Raha looks adorable in everything.]

text; un: riftdancer; after varian's birthday

[thavnairian]

so

how do you feel about kids?

[There is probably a story behind this but meanwhile this sure is the text of all time.]

[crystallinememories]

[rtyuiop;'sagfuen

had amal bothered to add literally any context, he might have gotten a response in fewer than ten minutes

but he didn't, so let raha get his flustered bafflement out for a minute.]

generally positive?

is there a specific circumstance you're asking for?

[not sure he's ready to be a nunh!!!!]

[thavnairian]

varian said i'm the closest thing he has to a parent in this place

and

he said he loved me a lot

you should've seen me raha i was sobbing in the old navy like a good old fashioned hannish downpour. the cashier asked me if i got dumped

i think we're only ten years apart, but .... i think i want to become his legal guardian and make it official when this is over

[crystallinememories]

[awwww.

any panic vanishes and raha can't help by smile. it still takes him a moment to compose an answer, trying to figure out how to be as reassuring as possible.]

you don't need my permission to do that.

but of course i'll support you in any way you need.

he's lucky to have you.

[thavnairian]

[Of course he'd say something like that. But even Amal, as dumb as he is, knows that what affects one of them affects both of them.]

awww raha....

thank you so much. your opinion means a lot to me

i'm not sure what i need to do besides a lot of paperwork. i guess you could help me with that???? i'm not very organized when it comes to stuff like this..... as you've probably noticed

i still need to ask varian about it but i'm sure he'll say yes