lucetilogs | Event Log

[Cliff looked up when he heard Souji's voice, briefly startled by the man's sudden appearance. The strange distance that had grown between the two of them since Cliff's return from Malnosso custody was both confusing and disheartening for the Klausian. He understood that Souji was an intensly troubled and private person underneath the vibrant smile that he showed the world, but it still bothered him. Out of all of the people that Cliff had met over his short time in Luceti, Souji was one of the ones that he wanted to see the most.

Between the haze of pain and anger that punctuated his stay outside of Luceti, there had also been periods of quiet. A man, in any situation, gets to thinking...but it wasn't prudent to speak of his realizations for the moment, and the Shift that was thrown on top of everything else only made it more complicated.

'Frustrations' was a mild term, in Cliff's opinion.]

Ya could say it's something like that. If it wasn't so cold, I'd probably go take a trip down to one of the lakes and do something there, but that just ain't so easy in the snow.

[He smiled, still unused to the height adjustment between them and turned around, leaning back against the edge of the console. One hand traced a long strand of hair over his ear before Souji settled both into his lap.]

Well, if someone would only wear a proper coat, it wouldn't be so bad.

I dunno...that's kinda hard. Even back home, it's tricky finding a coat that fits.

[It was his size. Although he was far less conspicuous when he was among his own people, he was still tall by Klausian standards. Shopping was only moderately easier when he was on his homeworld.]

[Souji tilted his chin back, finger touching the edge of it as he looked up, thinking.]

You could always commission someone in the village to make one for you - it isn't like there's a shortage of...

[He trailed off, noticing something red, green and horribly familiar hovering over their heads.]

Mm... Cliff-san? Can you look up a moment?

Look up? What--

[His words were cut short when he saw the inconspicuos little plant hanging just outside of reach, too high to even be grabbed if one stood on the other's shoulders.]

Yanno. I never understood that little tradition.

Edited 2013-12-30 01:51 (UTC)

[Souji shrugged himself and reached up toward the mistletoe, knowing he couldn't reach it, but wanting to try anyway, it almost seemed to dip down to his fingertips as if to taunt them both.]

It isn't a tradition of my country so I wouldn't know.

I remember it appearing before in Luceti, but not what you were supposed to do about it.

It's no tradition for me either, but I've heard things.

[Like how it was a cute little thing to put up at parties, and how anyone who met under it was supposed to play along with it. Cliff laced his fingers together and dropped down to a knee.]

I've got an idea-- I'll give you a boost, and you grab it.

[Although he knew it would be useless, in the long run, it gave them something to try.]

[Souji gave Cliff a look, glancing first at the laced fingers at then at Cliff's feminine face.]

Are you sure this shouldn't be the other way around? You are-- [He motioned to Cliff as he was.] -- you know.

[The implication was obvious, but Cliff simply didn't see his current condition as any problem in their little predicament.]

We weigh about the same now, if that's what you're thinking. Believe me when I say that this ain't a biggie.

[It wasn't about weight, but Souji wasn't about to argue. He knew trying to get to the mistletoe was fruitless, but if it made Cliff feel better, it was the least he could do.

With a small sigh, he bundled his kimono hem up a little and slipped his geta off before stepping onto Cliff's provided platform, using his extra hand to steady himself on the girl's shoulder.]

You do realize it won't do anything but anger it, yes?

I know. [He sighed and boosted Souji up, carefully adjusting to the differences that the Shift had caused and keeping the both of them balanced.]

Just, it makes it feel like we're doing something. What's it gonna do, anyway? Bite us?

[The last time he checked, these little plants weren't sentient. They didn't have teeth, and weren't liable to sap his strength to the point of passing out.]

[He reached up anyway and the mistletoe danced away, just out of reach. Any movement caused the little plant to move again and Souji was struck by an idea suddenly.

He'd been watching people and while it hadn't played out this way with Fayt, maybe it was the luck of the odds that this was supposed to happen. After a few more moments of trying to catch the mistletoe, Souji put his hand back on Cliff's shoulder and patted it to let him down.]

It might, you know. It follows me around sometimes - almost like it wants us to do something.

[Cliff gently set Souji back onto his feet and looked up at the plant, as if studying it.]

I dunno...I mean, it doesn't look dangerous.

[It was his own turn to avoid the topic. He knew exactly what Souji was getting at...but, was it worth it? Anyone else it would be brushed off like a joke, but even Cliff knew that this would be different, somehow.

Their conversation back on that mission was hard to forget. Cliff already decided that, if anything happened, he wasn't going to push it.

He didn't want to make things more complicated for Souji.]

[Back on the ground, he slipped his feet back into his geta and let the hem of his heavy wool kimono back down. Even though he knew he had no dust on him, habit dictated that he pat his clothes down anyway.

After that, he glanced back up at the mistletoe.]

Often the things that look the least dangerous are the ones you must be wary of the most.

[An oft said phrase about him, actually. Souji took a step back and then shrugged - noting how Cliff, even in a different body, seemed uncomfortable.]

Me teasing Fayt-kun seemed to be enough to get it to go away before, so maybe it will work this time?

[Pulled into a more direct course of action with those teasing words, Cliff glanced back at Souji with obvious questions in his eyes.]

Teasing? How?

Mmmm about things like what we'll dress him in when he turns into a girl. Or like how he could borrow your dresses should it happen since right now, you look like his sister and could very well pass for his twin.

[He puffs out one cheek and taps a finger against it.]

Orrrrr about how pretty he would be if he was a girl. Because really, it seems to be working out that way, doesn't it?

[...

Souji. Wat.]

What do you mean that Fayt and Maria look alike?! [Sure they did, a little, but there were probably reasons for that which didn't stem from the two of them being related at all.]

... And I don't have any dresses!

Well, they do! [Souji said defensively, puffing out both cheeks like a child now. To his eyes, Fayt and "Maria" could be twins what with their number of similarities and it seemed only Cliff and Fayt refused to admit it. Reaching out, he poked Cliff on the cheek.]

And you should at least have one! That new feather dress counts!

[Cliff just refuses to acknowledge that his not!daughter looks similar to the one man that he would encourage her to date if he were that sort of man. :| ]

No it doesn't-- that thing barely counts as pajamas!

[Like how he used his new feather pants in the warmer months, sometimes.]

Edited 2014-01-02 15:21 (UTC)

You could put a nice haori over it and I'm sure it'd look just fine.

[ Not that it really mattered though. However Cliff and Fayt dressed wasn't the real issue here. What was important was that despite teasing Cliff, the mistletoe still hadn't gone away. Souji tilted his head back to look at it, perplexed. ]

Well, that didn't work.

Edited 2014-01-03 01:17 (UTC)

...

[Cliff looked from swordsman to mistletoe, getting the point of Souji's little game at that point. Of course Fayt wouldn't have received any teasing that was worse than the usual banter...

But the lingering plant was problematic.]

I dunno. Maybe it really does want you to keep it for a pet.

[Keep it for-?

Souji laughed pinching the corner of his kimono sleeve to lift it to hide his mouth as he did so.]

So you heard of me teasing Fayt-kun, hm? That seemed to work that time.

[But not this time. He'd been teasing Cliff, but it wasn't going away.]

Edited 2014-01-07 04:15 (UTC)

[There was a grin at those words.]

It's not that hard to figure out what you're thinking sometimes. Guess we've gotten to know eachother pretty well, huh?

[He reached out to ruffle Souji's hair-- the effect was ruined because of their similar height, but the affection was the same. Cliff let himself relax, and wondered if he even needed to worry about Souji's reaction to the Shift.]

[He laughed again, keeping himself relaxed as a friend wearing a stranger's face ruffled his hair. His shoulders tensed at the motion, an involuntary reaction to not knowing the face associated with it. They had gotten to know each other fairly well, but sometimes Souji wasn't sure if that was a good thing.

Their talk on their mission and how it ended, still weighed on Souji's mind. Too much shared, too much given and he wasn't sure where he stood anymore.]

It's also very easy if you've spoken to Fayt-kun recently - I told him something quite like that earlier.

[It may have been too much, too soon, but Cliff wasn't going to lie about his ease with Souji. Even with all of the uncertainties about this world, he appreciated all of the jokes and games. The smile may have hidden the many shadows that lingered in the depths of Souji's heart, but that was just another side of him-- who was Cliff to judge?

He glanced over at Souji with a curious eye, but the grin didn't fade.]

Well, he didn't tell me a thing.

[And, after the sock jokes and too much time to think, Cliff thought that he might have an inkling why.]

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