Hadriel Voice Mail

[such_a_teez]

[The sound of static hits for a moment, then fumbling can be heard. Then Tyki's voice can be heard muffled and irritated, but the words can still be made out, just barely.]

Stupid god-forsaken piece of junk...

[Then the noise clears, and Tyki clears his throat.]

Leave a message, will you? I'll get back to you at my earliest possible convenience.

Comments

[such_a_teez]

I have enough food for both of us. Possibly a couple more people. I've been pretty careful about saving things and hunting. And I'm rationing carefully so there's plenty to go around. [The cold may not harm him, but he finds this weather miserable. All of the worst parts of winter in one setting, always cold but never with the joyful feelings that come with Christmas.

Christmas. It must have passed by now. He's a year older, most likely. If time and aging even work in Hadriel at all. It doesn't matter, he supposes. But he's disappointed that he didn't get his Christmas eve dinner. He'd even saved some fish for it.] I was awake when I texted you. [Tyki shivers suddenly, and then makes an irritated sound.] I'm starting to wonder if it's warmer outside. No amount of fire seems to keep the place comfortable.

[redwinekindofgirl]

[Julie has been here long enough to miss at least one birthday, but she also went home once, so does it reset? She tries not to think about it too much, or think about her age too much, given that relative youth has never really mattered when it comes to surviving a zombie apocalypse.]

Hmm. [She says, but gives up on pressing it. If he wasn't awake already, it doesn't look like he's going to tell her about it. Never mind.

When he shivers, she snickers softly at his complaining and shakes her head. So, the cold's finally starting to get to him.]

It's not that bad. [Her voice has a gentle challenge in it. Portugal probably never sees this kind of cold so consistently, but New York could be gridlocked in snow for days during the winter.

She lifts up an edge of the fur she still has draped around her hips.]

Come in under this with me.

[such_a_teez]

It's not. But it's not pleasant. And I'm longing for that jungle planet more every day.

[Tyki sighs. The food probably needs a little longer anyway, and it can't hurt to share some body heat. It's not that he doesn't want to be near her, but he worries that he's pushing too much sometimes.

He worries about a lot for someone who supposedly isn't supposed to care at all.] Just for a moment. [And with that, he sits next to her and under that warm fur. It's luxurious, something that he didn't particularly enjoy for fashion back home, but that here he's come to enjoy greatly. And the luxury is dimmed and outshone by the feeling of warmth that comes from being near Julie.] It's nice.

[redwinekindofgirl]

I don't know what I'd prefer. The cold, or mosquitos. [Maybe even giant mosquitos. She hadn't given too much thought to the idea of extraordinary large insect life, but now it comes up... there was no way to know what to expect on the other planet either.

When he joins her, she moves to toss the fur up over both of their shoulders and leans very gently against his arm. Her own, resting loose in her lap with the sleeves pushed up, bear the marks of a history that she long since stopped being ashamed of.

And he's right. It is nice.]

Hey, Tyki... [She likes his name; the way it sounds when it rolls off her tongue.] Do you have anyone? You know, back home.

[Though she knows he isn't interested in marriage, the question drifts up to the surface of her thoughts as she shifts and rests the side of her head against his shoulder.]

Mentions of non-graphic mutilation idk

[such_a_teez]

You know, at this point I'll take back all I said about the rain. [Tyki shivers every so slightly at the contact, the careful leaning of her against his arm. She's so light and fragile looking, it's amazing to see that sweet face and tiny body and hear all the amazing sass that comes out of her mouth. She's amazing. And while he notices the scars he says nothing of it. He has his own that ache, that he mutilates from time to time when the pain become too much. But since coming to Hadriel, and meeting some of the people he has, the desire to harm himself to distract from a greater physical pain has lessened.

Julie is a part of that.

When she brings up having someone back home, he shakes his head.] No. There's only you. [No one else in Hadriel or home is waiting for him, or has a chance with him.] You had that boy, didn't you? Or he wanted to have you. [There's not even a hint of jealousy. He doesn't care honestly, if she has someone else, if she'll allow him this anyway. He'll share, if it means having her for now.]

[redwinekindofgirl]

Me?

[She isn't sure if he realises what he said, or what saying it in that context could mean. It's weighted in a way she didn't expect to feel, and it slips through her ribs to curl warm and tentative around her heart. Stupid, to want to do this again, but she falls into it in the same way that she always does.

Briefly, she lifts her head away to look at him with a frown that's half amusement and half puzzled, but she gives no more indication that what he chose to say bothered her at all as he moves on to his own question.]

R. Yeah. I guess I do. It's... weird to think about it while I'm here. [She leans against his arm again and sighs.] I care about him, and we're doing something important together back home, but... I can't just... put all my feelings on hold, for someone who might never show up again. I don't know what's going to happen to us. I don't know if we'll stay together. I'm just going to have to deal with things as they come.

[such_a_teez]

You.

[His word is simple, it's hardly anything complicated or poetic, but his tone of voice is full of quiet intensity. You, meaning Julie, is something almost reverently said. And even he's surprised with how much emotion he ends up sounding out without meaning to.

R, so that was the young man he saw? He's fine with that. However she chooses to play this, he's happy. As long as she allows him to be a part of it. Julie makes him feel frighteningly human and adored, there's something about her that he's willing to sacrifice for. And since the young man isn't here, he's not an issue.] That's how things go, isn't it? Hadriel makes us live life one day at a time. [Tyki presses a kiss to her head then, on the soft hair. She's amazing.]

[redwinekindofgirl]

[If R ever did show up... Julie isn't sure what she'd do, now. Things have changed, and while she still has some feelings for him, they're nowhere near as intense as they once were. It would kill her to have to break his heart, and she has no idea of what it would do to him, but she can't deny herself things that she wants on a 'maybe'.]

Yeah... it really does. Stupid fucking place. [Never knowing from one day to the next what might come along to mess with their heads. She hates that. Physical dangers are one thing - she can handle those, she's lived her whole life with them - but having her emotions played with... that's something else entirely.

That's something she wants to have some control over.

She scoffs softly at her own thoughts. As if she's ever had any control over anything except those silvery marks on her wrists.

The fire pops and she looks over at it, lifting a hand to tuck her hair behind her ear. She smiles, tilting her head to one side, feeling the tingling of that kiss against her hair running over her skin.]

You know, [Julie says, looking up at him again. She brings her hand up again, higher this time, to slide her fingertips along his jaw.] You're really fucking unfair.

[Then, she leans up, pressing a light kiss to the corner of his mouth.]

[such_a_teez]

[It's all complicated. Tyki has similar feelings, but towards his family. He supports their goals to some degree. He even enjoys killing Exorcists and he knows that killing all of humanity is their goal. But if that goal was something he felt complicated about in his own world, here the conflict is magnified entirely.

He's not sure who he'd choose, Sal and Julie, or his own family. And he doesn't want to have to make that choice. He doesn't want to think about it, consider it, deal with it in any way whatsoever. He wants to just deny and enjoy and choose to not deal with this rush of emotions.

But it's too late to really head down that path. Julie and Sal are his loved ones, and on top of that he has friends that are close to their importance level. And they've woven their way into him, making a place in his heart that even his family's goals can't compete with.

He thinks he's already made that awful choice in his heart, he's so fucked.]

It's awful here, but it let me meet you. So it's not all bad. [He's about to say something about how he's absolutely unfair, make a joke about being a terrible person and a cheat at cards, but then she kisses him and he doesn't know what to do.

It's intense, and it almost burns. Her lips are hot against his skin, and he acts without thinking, deepening the kiss. It's not a lewd kiss, or anything suggestive, but it's a declaration of his intent. He adores her, he desires her, and he wants her to know. And it's easier to tell her this way than to try to fumble with words.

Sorry, Noah family. His Hadriel loved ones are winning out.]

[redwinekindofgirl]

[One day, he might have to choose, just like she might one day have to face R again, or her father, or Perry, or... It's a little too painful to think about the possibility of seeing her mother again.

Julie is good at just going for what she wants, even when it gets her into trouble, and it so often does. This could be trouble, too, but she wants to kiss him if only to get it out of her system when she's very sure she hasn't been misreading the signals she's been getting from him.

As it turns out, she's right, and the way he responds is far more eager than she had anticipated.]

Easy, tiger. [She tells him, a soft laugh as she gently pushes him away with one hand flat against his chest. Her face is red, and she laughs again as she lets her hand drop.] No tongue on the first date.

[But she gets the idea. He's made it quite clear that her suspicions were right on the mark. Now that it's gone far better than she thought it would, she finds she isn't quite sure of what to do with herself.]

So, um... coffee?

[such_a_teez]

I'll behave myself.

[The smile on Tyki's face reflects his happiness, and he steals one more cheeky and sweet kiss to her cheek before separating himself and standing up. His face is full of mirth and mischief, and his mood is amazing. Yes, it's all worth it. She'll let him stay near, they'll deal with things like R and family another time. For now, it's just them, and the best breakfast available in Hadriel at the time being.

Okay, Sanji could do better. But still, he doesn't have the ingredients that Tyki has.

Tyki hums out a tune while he works, mixing the food one more time before putting some onto a plate for each. Flatware already set out is gestured at as he hands Julie her plate and gets them both coffee.] Milk? Sugar? I've got a little of both. [He'll fix hers up however she pleases. And with that, he takes his seat back next to her.

The fireside is the best place to eat at, he decides. And with a fire and warm food, and Julie next to him? No amount of cold can get to him.] It's no fine restaurant but it'll do.

[redwinekindofgirl]

Behave yourself? I'll believe that when I see it, Tyki Mikk. [Julie taunts him, amusement threaded through her voice. Any thoughts of dozing off have all but fled her now. How could she even think of falling asleep? She can't place the tune he hums, though she feels as if she ought to know it and draws her lower lip between her teeth in thought while she watches him finish up with breakfast.

This is stupid. This is so stupid. She questions what she's doing while she can still feel the tingle of how firmly he'd pressed his lips to hers.]

Um, black coffee's fine.

[It's taken when offered, along with the food, and she smiles at him again when he joins her.]

Don't think I'd fit in with fine dining. We can't all play fancy noble as well as you.

[such_a_teez]

I'll have you know I'm absolutely capable of it on occasion. Rare occasions, but I'm still capable. [Once in a blue moon, Tyki is a charming and entirely proper young man without a hint of sarcasm or mischief. That day is not today. Tomorrow isn't looking good for behaving either.

Tyki takes a bite, and muses on it. It's good, really good and simple. It's not too salty, and having hot food does good for him. Simple comforts like this really speak to him, and make him feel right.] Fine dining has it's place. Sometimes a person wants to feel disgustingly arrogant and superior. [That's the only benefit he can see to it.] I'd rather eat simple food. I'll end up as big as the Earl if I keep eating the things my family enjoys. [A pause.] He was the one with the hat.

[redwinekindofgirl]

I guess I can see why you'd want to feel arrogant and superior. [Julie muses thoughtfully, settling down to eat the food. It isn't bad at all, and anything beats the threat of carbtein cubes.

When he clarifies just who the 'Earl' is, she laughs and easily recalls the scene she had witnessed from his memories. The Earl. So, that was his name.]

The guy whose teeth were way too big for, like, his entire face? [She snickers softly, nudging her arm against his.] I bet he's the one in charge, right? The one in charge always has a fucking fancy hat.

[such_a_teez]

[Tyki laughs at her description of the Earl. Oh, someday he'll share intimate secrets about his family. She'll learn that she's seen the Earl, but only his disguise. That he has another face. She'll hear secrets about Road's age, that she's older than Tyki. That his brother borders incestuous traits. That there's a mind-reader among them. And one that has eyeballs on his tongue...

Maybe he won't share that specific detail.]

I've got a fancy hat too. Not quite as fancy as the Earl's, though. You're right, hats and status go hand in hand. [Tyki grins, and takes another bite or two. This is good, being with Julie this way. If they can be happy in so many situations, they have a real chance he thinks.]

[redwinekindofgirl]

Alas, I have no fancy hats. [Julie says grandly, her voice coloured with clear humour.

Despite her settled outward appearance, her mind is still running wild. She just kissed Tyki. She just kissed Tyki and by all accounts he didn't seem at all put out by it. He'd kissed her back, far more fiercely than she had expected from such an impulsive gesture on her part.

She sips her coffee to cover her lapse into thought, letting the warm cup linger against her lower lip until it begins to sting. What does it mean for them now?]

Soooo, hm. Not to spoil the mood or anything? But I kissed you. I feel like we should maybe talk about that.

[such_a_teez]

It won't spoil the mood. What about it do you want to discuss?

[This part Tyki doesn't know what to do with, or how to go about it. For all of his charm, he's never been in a relationship. The Noah family bred together to repopulate the human race, but he doesn't have memories of that time. And since he doesn't seek out casual sex, he's not entirely experienced. He's no innocent child, he's aware of how things work, but it doesn't mean he's actually been in a relationship before.

If this was a court set up meeting, he could fake the right answers. But it's not, and it's his own relationship with Julie. So he wants to do things right.]

[redwinekindofgirl]

[Immediately, she makes a face at him.]

Ew, don't say it like that, you make it sound all serious.

[But any joviality she might have put into that soon fades off, and she shakes her head. It's not as if she hasn't tried to do the relationship thing here, but every time she has, the person she's grown affectionate towards has been taken away.]

... Did it mean anything to you?

[God, that sounds desperate. Good job, Jules.]

[such_a_teez]

[Tyki laughs at that face, unable to hold back. To him, it is something serious. As serious as it can be, anyway. He's betraying his family and goals for her, so it does mean something important to him.]

It meant everything to me. [He can't help the almost fearful tone in his voice, and he curses quietly under his breath. He'll scare her off if she finds out anything else. He doesn't want this to be ended because of his issues.] Well, that sounded entirely dramatic. [Food, yes. More food. It's hard to say stupid things with a full mouth.]

[redwinekindofgirl]

[She doesn't know, yet, just how much he's risking when he says that. All she can read of it is based on what she knows, and she knows so little about what he really is. It comes across as shyness. Sweet, in a way, but not what she expected of him. How much of that confidence of his is just a front?

Julie can't help but wonder as he does his best to make sure he can't say anything else.]

It was a little bit dramatic. [She tells him, pursing her lips slightly against another smile. Her fingers rub loosely over his forearm then grip it lightly.]

Don't worry, yeah? We can try this out. I like you. What do you think?

[such_a_teez]

I think that's absolutely doable. [His grin is casual and teasing, but he really is warm and happy inside, and pleased at the idea of it. Yes, this will be good. They can enjoy the start of this, whatever it is. If it fails, well, it'll fail before he can get in any deeper. And it'll be easy enough to shrug off. The joy of the experience and time with her will be worth it.

But if they make something of this? Who knows how wonderful it could be.] I'll do my best in the future to avoid dramatic theatrical responses.