Appointments

[aerialassault]

Cliff here. Looks like we've missed eachother, so drop a note and we'll talk soon.

[please note date/time/type of interaction.]

Comments

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[aerialassault]

[Cliff cracked a grin at the commentary, even as he kept a careful eye on where that pretty pin was going.]

Her name's Mirage, [He said, clearly fond of this person.] She's another Klausian, and she's my teacher's daughter. She's beautiful, but...[He chuckled.] It's like you said-- no one expects someone that pretty to wipe the floor with them.

That's exactly what I mean by 'dangerous'.

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[ahappylie]

[Mirage - Souji wasn't sure if he'd heard the name before, but he had heard that description. Bit by bit, he was finding out more about the people in Cliff's life. Fayt, Maria, Albel, Nel, and now Mirage. An entire group of people he was also missing, possibly fearing for, just like Souji did. Cliff, however, didn't seem like the sort to worry, but that likely just meant he did it below the surface, where others couldn't see. As straightforward as the Klausian could be, he also had his secrets and parts of himself that he couldn't or wouldn't explain. At least, not yet.

Souji smiled back as he relaxed against the side of the hot spring.]

So I take it she wiped the floor with you and taught you a lesson about underestimating the pretty ones then. [Souji tried not to laugh as he leaned in toward Cliff.] That explains a lot about your tastes in people, you know.

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[aerialassault]

What-- that I like knowing my friends can take care of themselves?

[He laughed, brushing off that idle little comment. While he had a feeling that Fayt had a few suspicions about his track record with Mirage, he didn't want too many other people around knowing about how regularly Mirage threw him-- nor did he want Souji getting any more ideas than he already had.]

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[ahappylie]

That's one way to put it.

[Lifting his arms out of the water, Souji stretched them out in front of him, watching droplets slide off. He was lucky to be as clear of scars as he was. In the right light, he could still see where that shadow creature Pride had stabbed him through the hand - small light lines to mark the puncture wounds all up his arms.

He tilted his head, wondering if he could really handle himself against creatures like that. He certainly hadn't run from it, a mark of pride, but if Pride hadn't stopped, he would have died there that night. He had almost died so many times in battle, and yet the only thing to have killed him here or anywhere was the cough. His head tilted the other way of its own volition as he silently considered that he'd never have a warrior's death. How strange.

His arms slipped back under the water and Souji checked his fingertips.] Or that you have a thing for dangerous people. [He smiled a little.] I wouldn't judge you for it - I like them, too. They're more interesting.

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[aerialassault]

Like attracts like, [Cliff said, relaxing against the cool stones that surrounded the pool,] I like to think I'm a little dangerous too.

[A dangerous man living a dangerous life. After spending years attracting all of the wrong kinds of attention, being tortured, nearly being killed, Cliff counted himself lucky that he didn't have any lasting marks. The wonders of space-age technolgy truly were astounding in a few respects...]

What sort of interesting and dangerous peope have you met? They can't all be old and grumpy.

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[ahappylie]

[He smiled, not saying yes or no to Cliff's self-evaluation. He was dangerous, of course - a formidable fighter and a leader of a rebellion in his own way. To say he was anything but dangerous was a lie, but that was why Souji didn't feel like he had to hide anything around him. Only dangerous people weren't afraid of him, people who were like him in some way or another.

He leaned his head back and looked up at the stars.]

....It's been so long now, I don't think I could tell you about them all before we turned into prunes in this water.

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[aerialassault]

[He chuckled softly at the joke, but recognized the words for what they were.]

I don't mind turning into a prune today. It's been way too long...

[He stretched his arms as he spoke and shifted so that he sank deeper into the water, not caring at all if his hair got wet in his determination to just enjoy the outing.]

... We can talk about something else if you'd like. It's just nice being here.

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[ahappylie]

[He laughed a little and ran his hands over his arms under the water, feeling the slide of the minerals under his fingertips.]

You rarely give yourself a chance to relax, do you? Tinkering with this or that - giving lessons to all the children in the village.

[Souji smirked at the last remark and leaned in toward Cliff again.]

I wonder how I'll ever win your attention with how busy you keep yourself.

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[aerialassault]

[He chuckled softly at the jest and leaned closer himself, resting his head on top of Souji's.]

You've already won it, [he said, without any hint of teasing.] You're one of the more interesting things around here, yanno.

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[ahappylie]

[Souji is surprised by the feel of Cliff resting up against him, but he doesn't stiffen or flinch like he thought he might. Maybe the water was doing more to relax him than he thought. He reached up, fingering a strand of blond hair that had fallen in front of his face.]

Is it because I'm a mystery? Or because I tend to explode into glitter every so often?

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[aerialassault]

[He glanced down, as if trying to look at Souji from his vantage point, and grinned.]

Can I just go with 'all of the above'? [He asked, his voice was light with laughter. Relaxing into the moment, Cliff reached for Souji's hand once more.] You're something else. I just wonder, what made someone like you go for an old guy like me?

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[ahappylie]

Mmm? [He didn't move his hand away when Cliff reached for it; instead turning his palm up so they could actually hold hands more naturally. Somehow, being here, with the water and steam and privacy, Souji thought it might be okay to be affectionate. So long as no one saw them, it was fine, right?]

There's more to you than just 'an old guy,' you know.

Besides... [He gently twisted the strand of hair in his fingers, twirling it together.] I could ask you the same thing.

[Despite knowing what Souji was, Cliff still wanted this. Most would have been scared or intimidated, but not him. In his own way, Cliff was very unique. His personality was attractive and his straightforward nature was different from everything Souji knew. Even if he might eventually leave to go back to his own war, Souji knew he wouldn't regret what happened between them. After giving up on ever finding anyone to care about him, Cliff had shown up out of the blue like a shock of lightning. He was different - special.]

You'd just laugh at me if I told you why.

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[aerialassault]

Nah, I don't think I'd laugh, [he said, squeezing that hand nestled in his-- all affections were fine while they bathed in the privacy of the steam and each other's company. There would be no giggles between voyers and conspirators later on.]

But, if you'd rather hear my side of things first...

[Cliff pulled back and dared to look at Souji straight in the eyes.]

...You're funny, and your fierce like some kinda wild animal sometimes. You know how to make someone's day no matter how rough it is...

And you're strong. I don't need to worry about you getting hurt or falling behind. Even if you do, I know you'll give 'em hell and do what you can to make 'em regret it.

[He smiled. The very things he listed were the very reasons why he bothered with trying to find love back in his world. There were few that he could trust to be strong enough and self-sufficient enough to manage with him and his chosen line of work. While Quark wasn't an established party in Luceti, the dangers and risks with the nature of this world were the same-- and Souji, who had been here for five years and who seemed so broken and fragile sometimes, still managed to keep moving forward with a smile on his face despite these and any odds.

Cliff admired that strength, and his strength as a warrior.]

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[ahappylie]

[When Cliff suddenly pulled back and looked him right in the eyes, Souji was a little stunned. It wasn't often that he found himself on the opposite end of such an intense gaze and he'd never been told things like what Cliff said. Wild animal aside, of course. He'd been called that, but never in a good way and Souji could barely hide his wide-eyed surprise at how Cliff was opening up to him.

He was wrong about one thing though; Souji wasn't strong. He was barely holding together enough to make himself seem normal, and yet Cliff was calling him strong. But Cliff was smiling and Cliff didn't know about how Souji spent his early mornings or what happened to books that would never interest him. It was a small part of his life that he couldn't really share because no one would ever really understand. It was insanity - even the Hijikata from the other world had called it that.

But Cliff didn't know, and so Souji smiled back, raising a hand to touch the Klausian's cheek.]

You think too highly of me, Cliff-san. But thank you.

I wish I could tell you all the reasons why, but there are so many and I've never been very good at this. [He turned his hand around, running the back of his fingers down Cliff's jaw slowly.] But you are important to me, more important than I've let anyone become since I left home. I would fight by your side and die for you, if you asked it of me. In our own way, that is how samurai define our affections.

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[aerialassault]

It's fine. You don't need to say anymore. [Smiling, he reached out and took a lock of Souji's hair between his fingers, idly playing with it while he spoke.] I think I understand...

[It was such an old style of morality that was almost wholly foreign in his era, as people didn't define themselves by their particular roles any longer. A soldier was just a man, not a paragon of justice. Trust between warriors, such as what Souji described, was an intimacy entirely of its own.]

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[ahappylie]

[Souji smiled faintly, hoping that Cliff did understand. He was still new to the idea of affection apart from devotion. The only way he knew how to show someone he cared was to fight and die for them. He had never known if his affections had been returned at home, but here, at least, he did. Now he just had to learn how to show his loyalty and his feelings without needing to die for it; the gods only knew if he could.

He pulled his hand back and watched Cliff play with his hair. He'd done the same thing to the Klausian a moment before and yet he felt his face turning pink at the role reversal.]

I suppose I should trim my bangs, hm? I could tidy up your hair, too, if you'd like.

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[aerialassault]

[The little affectionate gestures were what encouraged Cliff to notice the details in the first place. Those hands pulling his hair back and tying it into a tail, those same hands brushing bits of dust or glitter from his shoulders, the covert entries to leave little surprises, and the general fussing were just hints at the thoughts that had remained unspoken.

They made Cliff wonder if he was doing enough. The many things that called for his attention never did lend themselves towards him being any good with relationships like this, but he wanted to to do right by Souji.

At least it didn't take him seven years to notice this. It was a start.

He chuckled when he saw Souji flush under the attention and pulled back-- maybe it was too much.]

If you don't mind trimming it, then I won't say 'no'.

[Once more, it was Souji doing something for him. He would need to find some way to return the little gestures.]

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[ahappylie]

It's something I've become accustomed to doing.

[And it was a little something he could do, a little bit of devotion he could show to someone who meant something to him. It'd been so long since he'd had such a chance that the idea almost felt foreign, like remnants of a dream he'd almost forgotten being brought back by a random scent passed on the street. Souji tucked the loose bit of hair behind his ear and smiled faintly, hoping that he didn't look too sheepish suddenly.]

I can do it now or later, whenever you'd prefer.

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[aerialassault]

[Cliff sighed, knowing full well that such gentle, affectionate, and almost motherly gestures were as much a part of Souji's manner and person as his protectiveness and his blade.

It was beautiful.

Reaching out, he gently touched Souji's shoulder and hoped that he wasn't breaching any unspoken rules.]

Later, [he said,] we've got plenty of time for it.

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[ahappylie]

If that is what you wish.

[Souji smiled back at him and reached up, touching his hand briefly. It was a gentle unfamiliar touch, but he liked it and he smiled to show it. He let it linger, then slid his hand away, trailing his fingers down Cliff's hand.

Which reminded him. He looked at his fingertips and made a face, holding the semi-wrinkled tips up for Cliff to see.]

I think this is how plums look after the pickling season, don't you?

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[aerialassault]

[He studied Souji's fingers intently for a moment before he lifted his hand and studied his own.]

...huh. Can't say I've tried pickled plums, but we do look kinda like raisens right now.

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[ahappylie]

Maybe it's time we retire to the bathhouse then? [He smiled and stood, grabbing his towel to wrap around his waist.] If you'd like I can work the tension out of your shoulders with a massage - I used to do it often at home.

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[aerialassault]

Alright, [he said, joining Souji.] But only if you let me do you, too.

[The little displays of affection were always too one-sided for his tastes. He needed to fix that.]

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[ahappylie]

[He'd never actually received a massage himself, so he had to stop for a moment to think. Would he enjoy having a massage? Hijikata certainly seemed to, so maybe it was pleasant and thus okay for him to partake in as well. He tilted his head to one side as he thought, then straightened and smiled, nodding.]

Alright. But let's get inside, hm? It's far too cold out here.

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

[aerialassault]

Uhm-- right

[In the summer they could have made themselves comfortable on the deck, but that was impossible in January. Suppressing a shudder from the sudden chill, Cliff hurried back toward the dressing rooms. Whatever supplies were available inside-- he wasn't sure, after all-- he knew that they would make the most of it.]