http://fateddance.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] fateddance.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] tampered2007-11-06 04:10 pm

Log; Complete

When; Late on the 5th of November; early on the 6th.
Rating; PG-13, for violence and unpleasant injuries.
Characters; Subaru [[livejournal.com profile] gemini_running] and Zhang He [[livejournal.com profile] fateddance]
Summary; After Subaru makes a request of Zhang He, the pair meet for tea and talk... unaware of what tomorrow will bring.
Log;

It did not take long for Zhang He to make his way to the fountain in Misery Square, after the brief exchange over the network; the fireworks display was long finished, so the streets had emptied considerably. The fact it was late did not matter. Subaru's request for advice was not something the Wei General could ignore. He was concerned.

Once he reached the fountain he gave it only the briefest of looks, having heard rumours of what people saw in its waters, before he turned his attention to the immediate area so that he could spot Subaru's approach. It was a cool night -- it would not do to linger outside.

[identity profile] gemini-running.livejournal.com 2007-11-06 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Having spent the evening with Ranmaru and Lawr, Subaru still felt the thrill of the fireworks and the energy of the people gathering to celebrate. Despite his concerns, which ran deeper than one night of enjoyment could clear away, he had slipped out of the apartment with relative high spirits, seeking to think positive about the lingering look of guarded pain he had seen on Ranmaru's face.

Hurrying through the streets, he arrived at the city center and noticed the lone figure by the fountain. His steps slowed as he was caught with a fleeting feeling of shyness, but aware of how such a reaction might be taken, he ran over with a smile.

"Ah. T.. thank you for meeting with me, Junyi-san. I realize it is rather late and perhaps you would rather be celebrating with everyone else, so.. I very much appreciate it."

[identity profile] gemini-running.livejournal.com 2007-11-06 08:50 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh yes, very much." Smiling as he walked along beside, Subaru looked back on the evening and the event--the moon, and the lights, and the shadows that played on everyone's faces. "I've seen them a few times during my travels, but it was very nice to see them tonight with those I care about."

"Did you see them? I should have asked you to join us, but I hadn't known about them until right before the started." He knew little about the event itself--something political, about freedom--but the excuse to be relax and be happy was always welcome.

[identity profile] gemini-running.livejournal.com 2007-11-06 09:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"Thank you for having me in your home.. " Subaru murmured, feeling it only polite to tread carefully and respectfully in someone else's space. He wondered faintly if he should remove his shoes, as Ranmaru had set up the tradition in their own space, but he left the question unanswered as he stood on the threshold and viewed the room.

"Oh.. no. It's beautiful." The style and decorations lept forth and recalled memories he had seen in other worlds--similar colors, or patterns, that helped him make a clearer image of where Zhang He had come from. Colorful, yet tasteful, the apartment put to shame his own almost spartan little bedroom. "Really. It's quite lovely.."

[identity profile] gemini-running.livejournal.com 2007-11-06 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Subaru settled almost nervously, by no means uncomfortable in the other's presence, but still concerned about his manners and remaining in good graces. Besides, asking such a favor from someone he didn't know very well had him worried over shifting the burden.

"Oh.. well, I uhm.." His mind had been so removed from the troubles surrounding Ranmaru that he was having trouble formulating thoughts, but he did not like to stray too far from the subject, now that it had been brought up. "I just.. well you see... I.."

[identity profile] gemini-running.livejournal.com 2007-11-06 11:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Taking a moment to accept the tea with a soft word of thanks, Subaru wrapped his hands around the warm cup, warming his skin as he thought over what to say. He supposed that it would be best to start from the beginning. He did not know how much to say, but some was better than nothing, especially if he was asking for advice.

"I don't know.. how much you know about Ranmaru-san. But you may know that.. he's involved with Subaru-san. The.. ah.. other me. And certain things about Subaru-san and I are surprisingly consistent. So I'm.. in a position where I understand perhaps.. both sides of their sorrow well... and have no means with which to help."

He paused, wanting to give Zhang He one more chance to perhaps do away with him, before he plunged into the entire problem of it all.

[identity profile] gemini-running.livejournal.com 2007-11-07 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
He nodded slightly, fidgeting for a moment before continuing. "Subaru-san.. died. He died in part to help Ranmaru.. But also in part.. Because he.. " And here he sighed, closing his eyes, knowing if he voiced what he knew to be true for Subaru-san, then he would be admitting what he knew to be true in his own heart. "He died because Seishirou-san... will always come first. And Ranmaru-san knows that now.. despite Subaru-san.. trying his hardest to care for him."

Subaru looked down at his tea cup for a moment, recalling Ranmaru's tears and his anger, Subaru-san's face when he asked of Seishirou-san, even the cheerful atmosphere of the apartment that meant Ranmaru-san was hiding his pain very deep. "And so I know.. that he must feel... unwanted. Second best... And I have tried to assure him... that his happiness is so very important to me--to us all. But I'm afraid words.. can only say so much."

Shaking himself out of his own sorrow, he lifted his eyes and bit his lip for a moment. Now it seemed quite silly to ask for advice, when he had no idea how to proceed. "T.. the reason I asked for your time was that.. Because you are from Ranmaru-san's world--although, of course, from a different culture...--I thought.. perhaps you might know of some way.. something I could do that could help him. The dance, I think, really meant a lot to him.. so I just.. well I..thought.. " He faltered, losing confidence and blushing slightly as he fell silent.

[identity profile] gemini-running.livejournal.com 2007-11-07 01:01 am (UTC)(link)
An oath. Yes, perhaps that would be something of meaning.. Subaru had such little luck with words, but perhaps something stronger.. something from Ranmaru's own place. Something Subaru could do for him, that would last forever.

"Could you? I would be most grateful. You have taught me so much already but.. I think perhaps.. it could be something of meaning."

[identity profile] gemini-running.livejournal.com 2007-11-07 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
Subaru listened with wide eyes, watching the flowers as they crossed, and despite it being nothing more than a demonstration, his heart quickened at the gesture and the words. It was not something to be taken lightly. His bond of brotherhood to Kamui had been one of blood, but what was blood to a vampire? Perhaps it was something like this that they had lacked, and now they were apart...

"And.. if he doesn't accept the oath?" Subaru turned his eyes to Zhang He for a moment, keeping his thoughts in check for the time being. It was not that he did not trust in Ranmaru's heart, or think him coarse or ungiving. It was merely that he did not wish to take for granted the other's motivations, and would not push upon him something he did not desire.

[identity profile] gemini-running.livejournal.com 2007-11-07 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
Nodding simply, Subaru sat down, his decision already made long before he had even known what gesture to make. He could not, perhaps, offer all of his treacherous heart, but his life, his blood, his love? He could, and would, without regret.

"Then I will learn this. And I will offer it to him. And--"

But Subaru stopped in mid sentence, as the lavish apartment disappeared in one moment and became the hollow of two giant, moss grown trees in the next. Gone were the night sounds of the city--people returning home late, shops closing, bars opening. They had been replaced with the dark silence of a forest, the far away cries of birds, and the rustle of animals in the dark. He looked about with slight panic as his eyes adjusted and for a moment he thought himself alone.

"Zh.. Zhang He-san??"


[ooc; I hope you don't mind? But I thought that with the emotional goo done it could be forest tiems!]

[identity profile] gemini-running.livejournal.com 2007-11-07 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
As the seconds flowed by, Subaru began to adjust, and by the time Zhang He had found a blade, he could make out his form in the darkness, and that of their surroundings.

"I can see you now.." he said carefully with a smile, wondering if he too should bare his weapons. It would be dangerous if Zhang He himself could not see and Subaru some how injured him, so he decided against it. "I have fairly good eyes for the dark."

Reaching out carefully, but making no effort to quiet his movements, he touched his companion firmly on the shoulder. "I'm right here."

[identity profile] gemini-running.livejournal.com 2007-11-07 05:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ah, well.." Subaru peered into the darkness around them, listening for sounds of approaching danger or other life. It was fairly quiet, but he was now beginning to feel the heat from the trees and the canopy. "It's fairly dense around us. I can't see any.. any animals or anything, but one could be behind a tree and I'd never know."

Turning about, he tried to remember which direction would leave them to the center of the city, or better yet, the ocean. "It might be best to move somewhere a little more open. Or find others.."

[identity profile] gemini-running.livejournal.com 2007-11-07 07:05 pm (UTC)(link)
While he wasn't exactly sure where the direction Zhang He had mentioned would lead them, it seemed as good as anything else. As long as it led to open ground and a chance for the moon to shine, he had no objections. "That sounds good to me. The City has changed a few times since I've been here, but usually only to reflect different cultures. I've never seen it so.. overrun." He opened his mouth to continue, but stopped short and looked over quickly.

"My--? Ah.. er.. Y.. yes. Of course." Taking a moment to dust off his palms, he shyly held out his hand, hoping the darkness covered the deep flush across his cheeks.

[identity profile] gemini-running.livejournal.com 2007-11-07 07:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's very clever.." Subaru said softly, knowing he would have never thought of something so simple yet effective. The blush still lingering on his cheeks, he refocused his thoughts and looked toward the small gap between the trees.

"Alright. Shall we?" Making his way carefully forward, he paused occasionally to pick out the best path, finding the way over roots and around giant trunks. While he was confident the general could follow, he still glanced over his shoulder occasionally, smiling slightly. "I'm sure you must have spent a great deal of time outdoors yourself."

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