[no charlie no. that's a reason to worry, not a reason not to.
and now, for the first time since she's met janus, they hesitate. her question's a good one. two weeks ago, they would have said with confidence yes, and yes. or at least, yes, and enough. these days, they aren't so sure. janus had hurt him. not badly, but it was explicitly their hunter training, their potential for violence that janus had turned against him. it had been shameful. janus has yet to properly make amends.] He knows about him. You should ask him yourself, [janus answers finally. they don't want to lie to her. not even in spirit.] He's seen me make mistakes. I can't speak for him.
You can decide later. And you can always change your mind, [janus offers, finally.] It shouldn't be a problem for long. One day I'll be called away. Probably soon. Sylwia tipped her hand. [janus reaches for their tea again, picking up the mug by the handle. stealing the warmth from it. portugal is warm, but nothing compared to florida. they don't complain about it, but janus is cold all the time.]
[ she's perceptive, it's more than just a wolf trait. they maybe good at reading people but charlie isn't too shabby herself. she senses the pause and decides it's not a good thing. or at least, that there's some tension between the roommates, janus' words only seem to further that idea.
she simply nods at their suggestion to ask arel and already, she's planned on doing that.] I didn't say I want you to stay away. You're Arel's roommate, we're going to be running into each other... I just don't know you. [ and that they are a hunter will make it tougher for her to trust them.
however, if she were a wolf right about now her ears would be perked and she'd have her head tilted sideways at what they'd just said.]
[janus swallows a mouthful of tea, then sets the mug back on their lap. the warmth isn't quite enough to soothe the queasy flip of their stomach, even though they keep their face neutral. there's definitely some tension, and it's getting toward that time that janus knows they need to stop avoiding. cowardice is all it is. cowardice, unbecoming of a hunter.]
We don't have to. You don't have to know me. I can make arrangements if you don't want to see me around. I'm good at staying out of sight. [janus could learn her footsteps, take note of arel's preferred tryst times.] I'll still be here, though, so it'll just be-- pretend. You don't have to choose this, I just want you to be aware of all your options. [#informed consent. at least one (1) of chinatown's characters gives a shit about it.]
Sylwia came into the school dance. The one they call the 'Spring Fling.' She announced her intentions with humankind and myths who side against her.
[ charlie has forgotten to drink her tea so when she sees them do it, she follows suit. she doesn't want to be rude. she watches them for a moment as they try to give her an out and the thing is, she could take it, she could say she never wants to see them but... it would cause more drama and it was better to know what janus was about than not, to keep her eyes on them. her father had tried to force his brand of paranoia on her and some of had stuck over the years.]
I'm not... that's not what I'm interested in. I don't trust hunters in general but grouping people is not something I do. I'm sure that not all selkies are evil just because Sywia is. [ charlie doesn't sound impressed by sywia at all. she's not into showy villian-type people. it seems over-the-top and ridiculous to make a declaration of war when it would make more sense to just attack when it's least expected.]
You and Arel are friends and I assume you care about him. So do I. Ignoring each other is sort of... third grade.
[there's a tiny, fractioned curl of janus' mouth, the smallest smile. to be honest, they respect paranoia. they are a great deal like that, themself. paranoia keeps you alive, and it's certainly better to know where your prospective enemies are at a given time than to choose willful ignorance. janus approves of this. they also know that she has a brother, and that must be on her mind as well— that she has to protect him.
janus is a pretty weird sixteen-year-old.]
All right, [they nod.] Then I'll be here to answer questions if you have any. There's another hunter here too, her name is Bryn. We're going to start self-defense exercises in the quad next week. You should join us. We both have wolves in our clan, and we know something about how best you can defend yourself.
[ what she doesn't tell them is that her father already forced her to learn how to defend herself, that she could be quite deadly for someone her age even in human form. no, she wasn't some expert but she knew enough to be dangerous, to catch someone off guard who might underestimate her.]
I might stop by. [ she wont but they shouldn't take offense, she just knows better than to show off what moves she does know.]
I'm not sure I have any questions besides... if you're not a wolf... are you something else?
[Arel's whistling along to the music he's listening to when he walks into the dorm, headphones on, head bopping to the music. He's in a good mood - all things considered, but everything drops the second he walks into the room.
Janus. And Charlie. Having tea. This is not what he thought he would walk into. He freezes for a second at the scene in front of him, before going to his desk, dropping his headphones and phone on top of it. The music's still playing, sounding tinny.
Things with Janus are still weird. Less weird, but still definitely weird, and they just feel even weirder now, as Arel runs a hand through Charlie's hair as a greeting.]
Hey. What's up? [It's directed at both of them. Trying not to be too awkward, here.]
[janus will wonder, when she doesn't show. but they won't press. another grand lesson of tact, hard-won after a long month of awkward questions and stalking people. they draw another mouthful of tea, and they're thinking about how to answer her question when the other hunter's footsteps light the common area outside. janus glances at the doorway-- doubtless, charlie does too, her enhanced hearing working a parallel to process to the hunter's hypervigilance.
it's distracting. janus doesn't find an answer to her question before arel walks in and says his greeting, and touches charlie in that easy way that makes janus wonder to themself, sometimes, when they stalk people, ask themself hard questions, watching people pair off creepily from the sky.]
I have harpy powers, [they say finally, answering charlie's question a weird interval of time later.] I can fly, anyway. I'm supposed to be able to stun people with my voice as well, but I've never figured it out. I should probably talk to Jay about that. [end educational mode. begin interpersonal mode.] Charlie is returning your missing earring.
[ charlie had wondered if they were any relation to jay considering... well, they looked similar (of course, this was before she'd met jay in person and then she'd see they were identical, almost). but now she'd assume that harpies perhaps looked similar. however, she wouldn't have a chance to really delve deep into that considering arel was in the room being distracting and well... yeah, she can sense a tension.
she offers arel a smile when he touches her, still, she nods a little, looking back to jay as they answers her question. she takes another quick sip of tea as janus speaks before adding herself--] I came by to drop it off-- [ for a moment, she probably looks like she's trying to stifle a laugh due to the memory of losing the earring but she takes in a breath and evens her expression out.] And your roommate invited me in for tea. [ and arel should know by now that charlie isn't the sort to refuse a kind gesture.]
My -- earring. [He moves his tongue in his mouth, enough for the tiny piece of plastic tubing he's temporarily replaced his tongue piercing with moves against his teeth. He can guess it's not an earring she's bringing back, but he has no interest in explaining that to Janus. They'd definitely unpack it with that clinical way they have and it's just. Not something Arel wants to be a witness of.
So he smiles at Charlie instead, nodding.]
Right, yeah, of course. Thanks for looking for it. [Then he nods at Janus, implicitly thanking them for being their usual polite self.]
[and now this is the hilarifun part of the thread where i guess all three of them are going to pretend that janus doesn't stud their roommate closely enough to notice the tiny ball of metal that usually decorates his tongue was recently replaced by a small plastic surrogate. janus' face is pleasantly blank. they are definitely thinking about the physics and probable causes of the jewelry's loss unless that's infomodding and then instead they'll just be thinking about charlie and arel having sex. one may debate which is creepier.] Sure. [they nod at arel.]
I'm going train with Bryn, [janus says then, standing up. they put their cup on the edge of their desk and then finally remember to smile. it's like hitting a button.] If you need to work on your grappling, I recommend her. [janus measures even strides to the window and pulls it open. air trickes in, warm and scented with spring. the hunter folds up their gangly limbs and starts agilely to climb out.]
[ look, charlie doesn't know that janus is that observant nor does she have an inkling of what the roommates' relationship is or was or is going to be, she just senses that there's something else going on that she doesn't know about and the Chill Girl in her tells her that it isn't her business and not to pry. ]
Yeah, of course, [ she replies to arel in the same fashion as arel had, glancing at janus when they speak and excuse themselves from the room. she moves to stand too, holding her tea.] Thanks for the tea and... everything, Janus, [ she says before he can scramble out the window, glancing up at arel with an expression of curiosity she cannot help.]
Not forgetting, [he replies just before Janus is out - not the door, but the window, because why not - and there's something, as they fly away, that just seems to deflate inside of Arel. He walks to the window, closes it, before turning to Charlie.]
Sorry - that was awkward as fuck. Were they okay, with you? [It's hard to explain, just how much Arel likes them but how he also understands that it's not exactly easy. But Arel knows more about Janus than most people do - the training, the conditioning, the aspects of their life being all hyperfocused on their mission and not on being able to hold a conversation full of small talk. It's not their fault.
He looks wistfully at the window, sighing.]
Don't get me wrong, I really like them. But things have been a little strained lately. Sorry to put you in the middle of it.
Last time I checked I'm the one who invited myself over so... [ She looks up at him with perked eyebrows, reminding him without really saying much that she is independent and he didn't put her anywhere. It had been her choice to come to his room and her choice to accept the invitation.
But her spidey senses are going haywire and she approaches Arel carefully, setting aside the tea cup before reaching for his hand, turning it over and uncurling his fingers if necessary so his hand is palm up.] It wasn't that bad, they seem... they were trying and that's nice.
Did you get into a fight or something? [ she pries, she doesn't mean to but it's asked out of concern not out a selfish, nosy need, at least. If he gave her some kind of generic answer, she'd take a hint and drop the subject all together. But if he wanted to talk about it, she'd listen too.
Meanwhile, a her hand holds his steady, she reaches into the front pocket of her flannel to pull out the tongue ring and place it gently into his hand, making sure he has it and it won't roll to the floor before she lets go of his hand.]
Yeah, 'course. [He's just used to apologising. Call it a British thing - he knows how to make a proper brew, how to queue, how to binge drink, and how to apologise. But, just like he didn't want to take anything away from Janus, he doesn't want to take anything from Charlie, either.]
We did. [That's the easiest way to answer, with the truth. And besides - she's not just a booty call. She's a friend. He nods when he closes his hand around the tongue ring, going to drop it into the correct body jewellery baggie in his bedside drawer.]
I fucked up, then they fucked up, and now we're at this stage where we're trying to assess if we want to talk it out. Hence, awkward. But I think we'll work it out.
[ So his answer doesn't dismiss her as a confidante but it's still vague enough that she feels like she ought not to try into specifics. If he wanted to tell her exactly what happened, if he could, he would. And she nods a little, tugging consciously at the sleeves of her shirt for a moment before she tucks her hands into the back pockets of her shorts, a little thing she does without really realizing it.
She can't blame him for not smiling or laughing about the tongue ring now, given what just happened but she finds herself a little sad that he didn't and that he and his roommate have a thing between them that makes them feel awkward.]
I hope you do. I know you care about them. [ Hopefully it's not to info-modd-y to say that Arel has spoke fondly of Janus in the past with her or at the very least, spoken of them at all. ] I probably shouldn't have stayed, this would have been a good time for you to talk.
[ She grins at him when he speaks of losing countless tongue rings. ] Well when you use your tongue the way you do.... [ Smirking, she lets him bump her shoulder before she turns and playfully nip at his shoulder.. ]
Well I was going to be creepy and watch you work out from afar, sigh dreamily... but I guess I missed my chance. I was thinking of ice cream or a swim. What about you?
[ She looks at him for a moment, thinking she would like to steal him away for dinner however--] Didn't Janus say something about Chinese for dinner tonight?
[Arel tilts his head back, chuckling to himself, bitterly.] Jesus fuck, yeah, he did. Sorry.
[He's so distracted, and Charlie deserves better than this, than him being halfway here and his brain being so full up with so much. Bringing his head back down, he runs a hand over his face, before looking at Charlie again.]
Sorry, I'm totally all over the place today. After dinner? You can make me watch the Princess Bride, if you want. I won't complain once.
It's okay, [ she murmurs, understanding, friend drama can be exhausting. She reaches up to pull his hand down from his lovely face and give it a squeeze before moving to stand. ]
After dinner. Meet me at the track field. [ She has a feeling he might have some energy he'll want to get rid of. If not, they can just lay on the mats with her laptop and watch the movie. ]
Yeah, okay. [When she stands, he reaches out and grabs her hand, pulling her to her lap and kissing her, brushing a hand through her hair as he does. It's an apology, as much as he can make it, but he lets her go easy, still playing with her hair a little.]
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and now, for the first time since she's met janus, they hesitate. her question's a good one. two weeks ago, they would have said with confidence yes, and yes. or at least, yes, and enough. these days, they aren't so sure. janus had hurt him. not badly, but it was explicitly their hunter training, their potential for violence that janus had turned against him. it had been shameful. janus has yet to properly make amends.] He knows about him. You should ask him yourself, [janus answers finally. they don't want to lie to her. not even in spirit.] He's seen me make mistakes. I can't speak for him.
You can decide later. And you can always change your mind, [janus offers, finally.] It shouldn't be a problem for long. One day I'll be called away. Probably soon. Sylwia tipped her hand. [janus reaches for their tea again, picking up the mug by the handle. stealing the warmth from it. portugal is warm, but nothing compared to florida. they don't complain about it, but janus is cold all the time.]
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she simply nods at their suggestion to ask arel and already, she's planned on doing that.] I didn't say I want you to stay away. You're Arel's roommate, we're going to be running into each other... I just don't know you. [ and that they are a hunter will make it tougher for her to trust them.
however, if she were a wolf right about now her ears would be perked and she'd have her head tilted sideways at what they'd just said.]
What do you mean? What did she do?
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We don't have to. You don't have to know me. I can make arrangements if you don't want to see me around. I'm good at staying out of sight. [janus could learn her footsteps, take note of arel's preferred tryst times.] I'll still be here, though, so it'll just be-- pretend. You don't have to choose this, I just want you to be aware of all your options. [#informed consent. at least one (1) of chinatown's characters gives a shit about it.]
Sylwia came into the school dance. The one they call the 'Spring Fling.' She announced her intentions with humankind and myths who side against her.
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I'm not... that's not what I'm interested in. I don't trust hunters in general but grouping people is not something I do. I'm sure that not all selkies are evil just because Sywia is. [ charlie doesn't sound impressed by sywia at all. she's not into showy villian-type people. it seems over-the-top and ridiculous to make a declaration of war when it would make more sense to just attack when it's least expected.]
You and Arel are friends and I assume you care about him. So do I. Ignoring each other is sort of... third grade.
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janus is a pretty weird sixteen-year-old.]
All right, [they nod.] Then I'll be here to answer questions if you have any. There's another hunter here too, her name is Bryn. We're going to start self-defense exercises in the quad next week. You should join us. We both have wolves in our clan, and we know something about how best you can defend yourself.
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I might stop by. [ she wont but they shouldn't take offense, she just knows better than to show off what moves she does know.]
I'm not sure I have any questions besides... if you're not a wolf... are you something else?
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Janus. And Charlie. Having tea. This is not what he thought he would walk into. He freezes for a second at the scene in front of him, before going to his desk, dropping his headphones and phone on top of it. The music's still playing, sounding tinny.
Things with Janus are still weird. Less weird, but still definitely weird, and they just feel even weirder now, as Arel runs a hand through Charlie's hair as a greeting.]
Hey. What's up? [It's directed at both of them. Trying not to be too awkward, here.]
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it's distracting. janus doesn't find an answer to her question before arel walks in and says his greeting, and touches charlie in that easy way that makes janus wonder to themself, sometimes, when they stalk people, ask themself hard questions, watching people pair off creepily from the sky.]
I have harpy powers, [they say finally, answering charlie's question a weird interval of time later.] I can fly, anyway. I'm supposed to be able to stun people with my voice as well, but I've never figured it out. I should probably talk to Jay about that. [end educational mode. begin interpersonal mode.] Charlie is returning your missing earring.
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she offers arel a smile when he touches her, still, she nods a little, looking back to jay as they answers her question. she takes another quick sip of tea as janus speaks before adding herself--] I came by to drop it off-- [ for a moment, she probably looks like she's trying to stifle a laugh due to the memory of losing the earring but she takes in a breath and evens her expression out.] And your roommate invited me in for tea. [ and arel should know by now that charlie isn't the sort to refuse a kind gesture.]
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So he smiles at Charlie instead, nodding.]
Right, yeah, of course. Thanks for looking for it. [Then he nods at Janus, implicitly thanking them for being their usual polite self.]
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I'm going train with Bryn, [janus says then, standing up. they put their cup on the edge of their desk and then finally remember to smile. it's like hitting a button.] If you need to work on your grappling, I recommend her. [janus measures even strides to the window and pulls it open. air trickes in, warm and scented with spring. the hunter folds up their gangly limbs and starts agilely to climb out.]
Chinese for dinner tonight. Don't forget.
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Yeah, of course, [ she replies to arel in the same fashion as arel had, glancing at janus when they speak and excuse themselves from the room. she moves to stand too, holding her tea.] Thanks for the tea and... everything, Janus, [ she says before he can scramble out the window, glancing up at arel with an expression of curiosity she cannot help.]
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Sorry - that was awkward as fuck. Were they okay, with you? [It's hard to explain, just how much Arel likes them but how he also understands that it's not exactly easy. But Arel knows more about Janus than most people do - the training, the conditioning, the aspects of their life being all hyperfocused on their mission and not on being able to hold a conversation full of small talk. It's not their fault.
He looks wistfully at the window, sighing.]
Don't get me wrong, I really like them. But things have been a little strained lately. Sorry to put you in the middle of it.
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But her spidey senses are going haywire and she approaches Arel carefully, setting aside the tea cup before reaching for his hand, turning it over and uncurling his fingers if necessary so his hand is palm up.] It wasn't that bad, they seem... they were trying and that's nice.
Did you get into a fight or something? [ she pries, she doesn't mean to but it's asked out of concern not out a selfish, nosy need, at least. If he gave her some kind of generic answer, she'd take a hint and drop the subject all together. But if he wanted to talk about it, she'd listen too.
Meanwhile, a her hand holds his steady, she reaches into the front pocket of her flannel to pull out the tongue ring and place it gently into his hand, making sure he has it and it won't roll to the floor before she lets go of his hand.]
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We did. [That's the easiest way to answer, with the truth. And besides - she's not just a booty call. She's a friend. He nods when he closes his hand around the tongue ring, going to drop it into the correct body jewellery baggie in his bedside drawer.]
I fucked up, then they fucked up, and now we're at this stage where we're trying to assess if we want to talk it out. Hence, awkward. But I think we'll work it out.
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She can't blame him for not smiling or laughing about the tongue ring now, given what just happened but she finds herself a little sad that he didn't and that he and his roommate have a thing between them that makes them feel awkward.]
I hope you do. I know you care about them. [ Hopefully it's not to info-modd-y to say that Arel has spoke fondly of Janus in the past with her or at the very least, spoken of them at all. ] I probably shouldn't have stayed, this would have been a good time for you to talk.
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And then he sticks his tongue out, smirking.]
So where was it?
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In my sheets. I was changing them and then bam! There it was.
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Thanks for bringing it back. What're you doing this afternoon?
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Well I was going to be creepy and watch you work out from afar, sigh dreamily... but I guess I missed my chance. I was thinking of ice cream or a swim. What about you?
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[He's so distracted, and Charlie deserves better than this, than him being halfway here and his brain being so full up with so much. Bringing his head back down, he runs a hand over his face, before looking at Charlie again.]
Sorry, I'm totally all over the place today. After dinner? You can make me watch the Princess Bride, if you want. I won't complain once.
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After dinner. Meet me at the track field. [ She has a feeling he might have some energy he'll want to get rid of. If not, they can just lay on the mats with her laptop and watch the movie. ]
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See you tonight.
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