Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Apr 23, 2021 13:36:23 GMT -5
Orpheus breathed out, eyes searching L’s as their thoughts combined and spun around them. He gave a tiny smile, looking up as though he could see them floating around. Why does he think he’s the only one who ever hears the songs before they’re done? Orpheus thoughts mused, his cheeks going just a little bit pink as L’s thoughts met with his. I knew he thinks highly of me, they considered, but it’s different hearing it unfiltered, knowing… knowing certainly that there’s no lie. Not that I think he lies to me, but… but there’s a filter when he has to pick his words. There’s a filter when I have to pick my words, too, so he doesn’t get to hear unfiltered what I think of him. Which is a shame, he’s… he’s amazing. The best, kindest man I’ve ever met, even if nobody in his world thinks that. Even if nobody sees him as more than a heartless detective, because his heart is too big to see. Oh, he’s made tough decisions, people have gotten hurt because that’s the nature of his job, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t care. I know he cares… and he’s smart, but he already knows that, and he… he’s beautiful. Not that appearances matter, but I can’t deny that he is… he let his thoughts trail off, a tiny smile appearing on his face as he watched for L’s reaction. Everything he had said out loud before, only now there was no filter at all. Not that Orpheus had much of a verbal filter anyway, but… hopefully L would appreciate the thoughts as they were, even if that was exactly how he would have said it. Orpheus shifted just a little bit, his hands moving to braid L’s hair. We’ll see, his thoughts whispered as he weaved the delicate strands of L’s hair, combing through so he could braid just a bit better. Your thoughts are already amazing. I’d like to hear them when your deductive capabilities are increased. If we can find something for you to deduce, at least…” the music swelled just a bit, seeming to get louder as he considered. I could get used to his thoughts, his mind murmured, and Orpheus shook his head a little as the sound filled the space. Maybe not my own, but… to be with him… like this… forever… that would be the best thing I could imagine.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Apr 23, 2021 18:59:25 GMT -5
L nodded just a little, understanding the meaning behind Orpheus’ thoughts. My filter is probably stronger than his is, he mused. It has to be. I can’t say what I really think a lot of the time, I have to be careful, and it shows...it’s why I don’t often start complimenting him first, most likely. He reminds me it’s okay to be honest when I’m here. When I’m around him I can speak my mind and tell him how much I love him and...and how beautiful and amazing he is, and...wait, he’s thinking, pay attention, don’t miss anything...oh. His eyes widened a little as he realized what Orpheus was thinking, a touched expression slipping over his face. I believed him, when he said it, but he’s right. It’s different to hear it like this. It’s different when it’s a thought, when it wasn’t inspected beforehand. Even knowing we wouldn’t lie to each other unless the circumstances were extreme, knowing it’s not just someone being kind...I’m not explaining this very well, am I? He can hear this, it sounds like I don’t think his words are enough or that I don’t trust him, which isn’t it at all, if only this room let us feel what the other was feeling, even in my own head I’m bad at explaining it I suppose, which isn’t surprising, feelings and words don’t mesh well for me, it’s different for him, he writes songs and translates them all the time, how he does it I don't know but it comes back to what I was thinking before, he doesn’t know how amazing he is… He let the thought fade a little. He could go on like that for a long time, he knew from experience. Then Orpheus gently started braiding his hair and he closed his eyes, relaxing a little. I wonder if he’ll be able to hear the difference...what is the actual main difference? My tangents tend to be more relevant, I suppose. I can focus better. Things are easier to deduce, I can do it faster, it’s the same feeling I get from sitting the way I do. I wonder if other people do things to increase their deductive reasoning...I mean, of course they do, but consciously. He blinked his eyes open, and a small smile tugged at his lips. You like my thoughts...and I like yours, too. I would love to hear them forever, with your permission.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Apr 25, 2021 17:21:45 GMT -5
Orpheus breathed out, eyes widening just a little bit as L’s thoughts surrounded him. I should probably be getting used to hearing how he thinks, his own thoughts whispered, but I don’t know if that’s possible. It’s just… it’s magic. Or like magic, hearing him think. Hearing how his thoughts combine and transition and melt into my own… that’s what love is, isn’t it? Being separate from someone, but combining together in ways nobody else seems to be able to understand? That is a type of beauty, and seeing it demonstrated here… he let his thoughts trail off, lightly squeezing L’s hand and running the fingers of this other hand through L’s hair. This was comfortable. So much of his time with L was comfortable, but not in the boring way, just in the… in the knowledge that he was safe. That everything was safe and okay, that he didn’t have to worry, even if tragedy could strike at any minute. It wasn’t a concrete thought so much as it was a feeling – that is, it didn’t make itself heard. It just… existed. Maybe one day there will be a room that lets us feel what the other is feeling, he mused, glancing over at L as his thoughts sorted themselves into actual words rather than just impressions. I think your thoughts are more concrete than mine, he decided after a moment, the thoughts quiet compared to L’s. That’s why there’s music. And why your thoughts are louder… because they’re used to being expressed this way. Mine are… less so. Orpheus was curious what L would make of that. Thoughts – logic, at least – was L’s territory. Orpheus’ territory lay more with the poetic, which couldn’t always be captured as clearly in words. Orpheus made a life trying to translate it, though. He just watched as L’s thoughts seemed to concentrate with the gentle braiding of his hair. There was a difference, from an outsider’s view, but not an extreme one. Still… It works, his thoughts supplied, and there was a pleased note that accompanied them. I trusted that it did, but hearing the difference… the hum in the back of his head grew louder, taking on a brighter, happier tone. I wish I could help in his world as much as I do here.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Apr 26, 2021 21:07:06 GMT -5
L listened to Orpheus’ thoughts, soaking in the unfamiliar familiarity of them. He heard them spoken all the time, but this...this was different. It was how he thought more than the thoughts themselves that were unfamiliar, he decided, since he heard him think aloud often enough. Yes, I think that’s true. I think this is a good demonstration of how love works, this difference and similarity at the same time...it’s not possible for us to be the same, but we wouldn’t love each other the same way if we could. I love all of him, the parts that are the same and the ones that aren’t, I suppose it’s knowing someone that makes love possible, you can’t love a stranger...no, that’s not true, you can, but you don’t love them the same way, it’s a different experience completely, there should be more words for love like in Greek, Orpheus knows what I mean I think… He glanced at Orpheus, smiling a little as he heard his thoughts. I suppose that makes sense, I’m used to dealing with hard facts and evidence, I have to have very concrete thought and lines of reasoning, I suppose you deal with more abstract thoughts and ideas, music and poetry, I still don’t know why mine are louder but I think that’s why they’re faster, besides that I suppose I naturally think very fast, it’s necessary for my work, was this what we were meant to get out of this room, either that or the House was just curious how we’d react, maybe it hoped we wouldn’t like them, if Orpheus is right it doesn’t know us very well… He hesitated, taking in Orpheus’ next thought before his own continued. He doesn’t know how much he helps anyway, does he…? Although I am distracted thinking about him sometimes, I get his songs stuck in my head, which helps, besides that just having spoken to him makes everything seem brighter, his existence is proof of hope… He didn’t look away, his eyes wide. He’s so very human, his thoughts murmured, On the one hand, it’s impossible for me to fall any deeper in love, and then somehow I still do...I’m falling in love with him every second I’m alive, never touching the ground...I believe that’s called flying, actually. Flying in love.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Apr 27, 2021 18:53:19 GMT -5
It’s interesting, Orpheus’ thoughts mused as he listened to L’s own thoughts, catching on little details instead of responding to the thoughts as a whole. When you think love, I don’t hear it in Greek. Maybe because the translator can’t decide on a type of love that you mean in particular, because you’re referring to all the kinds at once. I don’t know what language I hear it in, though… is there more than one type of love in Japanese? he hesitated for a long moment, searching L’s expression as he waited to see if there was a response. I would love to have a room like this when we’re both working on different things, his thoughts added out of the blue, a tiny smile appearing on his lips. I want to hear how he thinks when he’s working on a case, and I think he might like to hear what my thoughts sound like when I’m working on composing a song. It may not be as good as it is when the songs are done, but I trust him with those in between stages when there are still things that need to be worked out. It was wishful thinking, he knew, but… he wanted to be surrounded by L’s thoughts again, he wanted to hear them more when the novelty of it had worn off, when they could just coexist together without blushing every few seconds because their thoughts decided to be cheesy. Not that he figured their thoughts would stop being cheesy, just that they might get used to it. Flying in love, his thoughts thrummed happily, and he didn’t stop braiding L’s hair, didn’t stop gently weaving the strands into place. I think that’s accurate. He doesn’t’ realize how poetic he can be. Was he like that before we met, or have we influenced the way we both think… but maybe the fact that I’m wondering that is proof enough that we have, because this thought almost feels like it belongs to him rather than to me…
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on May 2, 2021 15:05:31 GMT -5
That is interesting, I suppose it makes sense, though...language differences...I wonder if they’re more noticeable in our heads than spoken? I don’t see why they would be, but I suppose it’s possible...the I wonder sometimes about the translator, is it accurate? Are there ever mistakes or miscommunication? Does my meaning ever get lost in translation? Sometimes I wish I could hear Orpheus’ accent more often, I think I’d like that very much, also there are different meanings of love in Japanese, crushes to being in love to love in a deeper, broader sense, I wonder if Orpheus would here which word I’m using it he knew Japanese…? I suspect he might, he already hears other unfamiliar words I’ve used in Japanese, so it’s likely, oh he’s thinking I should pay attention. He did his best to pay attention, his own thoughts not stopping but switching to what Orpheus was saying. I’d like to hear him when he’s writing a song, he thought, a small smile on his face as he did. I know it wouldn’t be the finished product, but he’s heard plenty of unfinished theories from me, hasn’t he? I’m grateful he trusts me, I will do my best to be worth that trust, if it happens anyway, I wonder what it would be like if we played chess right now, what would he hear from me? Or I from him? He’d know my strategy then so winning might be difficult but it would be worth it I think. He breathed out, letting his eyes close as the feeling of Orpheus’ hands in his hair. I love him. I love him, and I know he’s changed me, but he’s made me a better version of myself, and I wouldn’t go back. He’s made me see the world in a new way, given me a different perspective, and I’m glad to have it. I'm glad that the world looks beautiful through his eyes.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on May 2, 2021 20:18:53 GMT -5
A small smile appeared on Orpheus’ face as he listened to L’s musings about love. I want to learn the Japanese words. Just once, I think it would be nice for the House to turn off the translator. I’d like to learn from him what words are in his language. I think I know enough already to be able to piece through any words I haven’t heard before… perhaps that’s a little bit too optimistic of me. But the House isn’t exactly helpful when it comes to learning other languages. I want to hear what Japan thinks about love. Λ already knows all the words my people use, I want… his thoughts trailed off as he realized he was repeating himself, a blush spreading across his cheeks for a few moments as he looked down. He squeezed L’s hand lightly, wanting to press their foreheads together again, though he wasn’t quite sure the motion would be welcome. It’s unfair, his thoughts remarked as he met L’s gaze. It’s very unfair that he’s had the chance to hear my accent, but I’ve never once heard if he has one himself. Maybe if I think of words that my people use that wouldn’t be used in his time. Do any of those exist, or does everything I know have some sort of translation into Japanese? He pursed his lips, head tilting to see if L had anything to add. Perhaps there would be words he didn’t know. Perhaps he would get to hear L speak in Greek, but intentionally. Perhaps he’d get to hear what L would sound like if he were actually learning the language. He would enjoy that immensely – warmth burned in his stomach at the thought, and he couldn’t quite do away with the smile spreading across his lips. Oh. Suddenly it didn’t feel like what he had been thinking about was very important, because there were L’s thoughts, plain and simple and also quite possibly the most beautiful sound Orpheus had ever heard. Yes, he agreed, hazel eyes meeting dark. We aren’t the same people we were at the start. I don’t know who I would be if not for him, but I’d just as well never find out. And it appears that me braiding his hair is just as distracting as it is helpful… The thought passed with a small sound that could have been a laugh.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on May 4, 2021 22:30:45 GMT -5
”Koi” and “ai” both describe how I feel about him, “koi” being the more romantic side and “ai” being that I love him in every way possible, including romantically. “Suki” doesn’t quite work as well, it means like, which...actually does work because I do like him, I suppose, it’s just the wrong...wrong….word...meaning, but a synonym of that...anyway, it’s not deep enough, it gives the wrong impression, I would say “ai” fits best overall, I would like to learn Greek, perhaps I should start, it’s not unlikely that a room may happen where the translator is off, we ought to be able to still understand each other if that happens, I already speak six languages, it wouldn’t be that difficult to add Greek, why haven’t I already done this? It seems like a bit of a major oversight...I’ll remedy that immediately. He tore his thoughts back, trying to focus on the room instead. It’s interesting, I hadn’t realized this, but when he braids my hair I need to concentrate on something, or the boost isn’t as noticeable, I’m as rambly and easy to distract as ever. I wonder if it’s surprising to him, does he think it means I don’t care what he’s saying? It doesn’t mean that at all, I’m fascinated by his thoughts and opinions…no, he likes my thoughts, he’s thought that already...Oh...he wants to hear my accent? I must have one, everyone does, but I’ve never noticed it, I wonder if he’d like it, maybe a room will come where he can hear it, I’d like that if only so I could see if he likes it or not. He met Orpheus’ eyes, his large dark ones wide and open, his expression vulnerable. He was used to being without his mask around Orpheus by now...he still remembered when he’d let himself trust him, that very first chess match where Orpheus had been afraid to take his pieces, where L had slept around him on purpose. It had been so very unlike him, but he was more grateful than he could say for it. Which was less of a thought and more of a memory, it seemed. As Orpheus continued, a small, almost raspy sound filled the room in L’s voice, a sort of croaky and surprised “hA hA hA.” After a long moment, it became clear that he was laughing at the comment, as amused by it as Orpheus was.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on May 5, 2021 3:32:31 GMT -5
Koi, Orpheus’ thoughts repeated, committing the words to memory. Ai. Suki. Koi. Ai. He had an accent even in his thoughts, his mind trying and not quite succeeding to pronounce the words exactly as they should have been pronounced. He couldn’t mimic L perfectly, even in his head, though the pronunciation was much better than the first time he had been faced with a Japanese word. I think I like ai, Orpheus thoughts whispered, and he lightly tapped how he thought the word would be spelled on L’s hand. It was one way to learn how to spell things. The issue was, he didn’t really know that they didn’t spell things the same way in Japan. All he knew was that somehow, his letters translated to L’s letters, and it worked perfectly well for the both of them. I’d like it if you learned Greek, Orpheus’ thoughts cut in, louder than before and carrying more than a little bit of excitement with them. I hear you speaking Greek all the time, but it’s different from actually… hearing… you speak it. I’d like to hear that. Would he be good at Greek? I would learn hundreds of languages for him if it meant I could speak with him whenever I wanted, but that’s not really… how this works, is it? He shook his head, letting his attention catch on what L was thinking. His thoughts almost issued a protest before he silenced them as L corrected himself, not wanting to focus on anything negative. He wanted to dwell in the positive thoughts, wanted… I like it when he rambles. But it might be interesting to have something to concentrate on. I don’t know if I have anything interesting enough… if I could walk around with things for him to investigate, it would be easier, but for now… It was easier to stop thinking when he was looking into L’s eyes. Even now, the music in his head swelled and he felt the rest of his thoughts seem to short circuit as he let himself get lost in L’s eyes, if only for a few moments. He didn’t know what L was remembering, just that there was so much history between them, so much behind even making eye contact. And Orpheus never wanted to lose it. Oh… his sound of surprise was muffled, but the smile that accompanied it most certainly wasn’t. The noise had been quiet, but it was unmistakably L, and Orpheus couldn’t help but feel a little starstruck by the sound. I’ve never heard him laugh before, his thoughts supplied, flooding in. I’d quite like to hear it again.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on May 8, 2021 1:22:56 GMT -5
L nodded, a small smile on his face as Orpheus’ thoughts repeated the words. I love his accent on all those words...what would it be like to hear them on every word? What would it be like to hear him with no translator? I would like that very much, I think...is there anything lost in translation? I’ve never heard of a misunderstanding being caught, so it seems likely that if there are mistranslations, or if anything doesn’t come through, it’s minor. The House seems to want us to be able to communicate, after all. I don’t know how our code works, or if it would work outside the House, for that matter...why is it not translated to everyone? Does the House not know how? No, that’s not possible, it can see the key in our heads, it’s useless with the key… He blinked a little, expression softening as Orpheus’ thoughts continued. They were loud enough to be heard over L’s own, which didn’t bother him. Far from it, actually, he was pleased to hear them like that. I will learn Greek for you, his thoughts rushed in, faster than before. I’ll learn it as fast as I can. Perhaps enough to know what words I can say that will have an accent, by next time. Yes, I would like that, and I think he would too. Perhaps there will be a room that lets us have it. Perhaps the House will be so kind as to allow us that much. Listen to me talk...I sound like him, don’t I? What have you done to me, Orpheus? A small smile lifted his features and he shook his head a little. And yet, I wouldn’t go back. It wasn’t unpleasant being how I used to be, but it wouldn’t make sense for who I am now. People are supposed to change and grow, I just never expected to go this direction, that’s all. He hesitated, surprised at the sound of his own laugh as Orpheus was. I laughed...why did I do that? He’s said amusing things before. I’ve had my mask down for a long time, now. I didn’t know I even could laugh, I’ve never done it, why...oh...well...I suppose if he wants to hear it again, he’ll have to do something unexpected. That’s the center of humor, after all. He hesitated again, meeting Orpheus’ eyes, his own wide. Are you as in love with the sound of my laugh as I am with yours? Does it make your heart race? Is that even possible…?
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on May 8, 2021 1:58:34 GMT -5
Orpheus blinked a little, a small smile appearing at the corners of his lips as he squeezed L’s hand. You’re going to try to learn Greek by the time you blink in next? He couldn’t quite fathom how that worked, but he was inclined to believe that L could do it. He had a feeling L could do a great many things that other people couldn’t do. Perhaps he had a little bit too much faith in him, but… no, he figured he had just enough faith in him. L had proved more than once that he could do the impossible. These thoughts, though they weren’t quite words, were suggested in the soft melody that permeated the room, just a bit quieter than the actual words. The thoughts that filled the back of Orpheus’ head, that weren’t concrete enough for him to focus on them. Maybe the House wants to let our code be secret, Orpheus’ thoughts suggested lightly, but he made a face as soon as he heard them. That was… perhaps a bit too optimistic of me. But I’d like to think it knows that it’s important for us that the code is kept secret. Even if it can understand every word of it. He cut his thoughts off, a bemused expression coming over his face as he listened to L. Who would’ve imagined, he mused, folding L into his arms, That I would catch myself on sounding like an idealist and you would allow yourself a little bit more optimism. We really have rubbed off on each other. I don’t… I don’t believe that’s a bad thing actually. I believe neither of us had very much balance in our way of thinking, at least before we started bleeding into each other’s thought process. I’ll never think like him, but perhaps I’ve come a little closer… He opened his eyes again, holding L’s gaze and not looking away. He didn’t want to look away. He didn’t want to lose this moment, this feeling of standing here with their thoughts echoing around them. How can I make him laugh again? Orpheus’ thoughts cut in, a little bit overeager. I really would like to hear it… maybe if I… wait, if I think about it now, then it won’t surprise him into laughing. What’s he thinking? Oh. Orpheus took L’s hand, lightly raising it to his own racing heart. Yes, his thoughts echoed, the loudest of anything he’d thought since he’d entered the room. I’m in love with everything about you, including your laugh. Perhaps, in this moment, especially your laugh.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on May 8, 2021 2:23:48 GMT -5
Try to learn some of it, anyway. Languages are difficult to learn completely, but perhaps I can know enough to hold a conversation...the other languages I know didn’t take long to learn. And once they’re learned, they stick, so I’m not worried about losing them while I learn other things, I think if I could become fluent in Greek before I blink in next I would prefer that, but I do understand it would take a lot of work...ah, well, I want to try, I will at least know some of it next time…something is better than nothing. And I’ll keep at it until I know it as well as any other language. It’s important to him so it’s important to me, too. He shook his head a little, amused as Orpheus’ thoughts nearly matched his own. I wonder how often his thoughts and mine match? When we’re together it isn’t at all unlikely that it happens quite a lot, but in our own words...it’s far less likely. We even if I do like the idea of musing about the same things from worlds apart, it’s not terribly likely at all, and that’s alright, I like hearing his thoughts when they’re different as wel, I wonder if we ever happen to look at the moon at the same time? No, that’s not possible, we live in very different times...which is a very confusing topic, I could think about that a lot, I often do but not here, not here, I don’t need to ramble about my theories when there are plenty of other things to think about, perhaps I’ll give it more thought later… He met Orpheus’ eyes for a moment, then let himself relax completely in his arms, his own eyes closing as he let the sounds of their thoughts fill his head instead. If I were better with words, perhaps I’d be thinking of some to describe this, now, his own thoughts murmured, softer than Orpheus’ were. Ah...did he notice? His thoughts get louder when he gets emotional, and mine get quieter. That makes sense, I suppose, my louder thoughts are logical and rambling theories and ideas, my quieter ones more emotional and closer to my heart, it’s switched for him...I’m getting distracted again, the point is that I would like to laugh again someday, it felt...very human of me, in a good way.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on May 8, 2021 2:38:24 GMT -5
I can’t wait, Orpheus’ thoughts murmured, excitement coating them as they entered the room. I want to hear your accent, I want to see the way you form the words I grew up with, because… well, you do, when I talk to you, but that’s different, because that’s the House, not you, and that means that I don’t hear your thoughts exactly as you choose to present them, even if they’re translated perfectly. It means I’ve never heard you say anything that didn’t go through the House’s filter first, and that’s not… a big deal, because the words and thoughts I hear are still yours, they’re just not as pure as I wish they could be. But if you learn some Greek… and if you could teach me more Japanese… then I would like that, a lot. It seemed the longer he spent in this room with L, the greater his tendency to ramble. Perhaps it was just being around L that inspired that. Perhaps it was more. A smile crossed his lips, and he didn’t try to pull away, didn’t try to think as he listened instead to L’s thoughts, eyes closing as he tried to picture the moon. Does the moon even look the same for me as it does for you? he wondered, eyes snapping back open. After all this time, are we looking at the exact same moon? I think… there’s something about that that’s magical, if that’s the case. The celestial bodies have been alive long enough to touch us both. But… even if they aren’t the same, I think of you often enough that I find it difficult to believe that you’ve never thought about me while I’m thinking about you. Perhaps that’s only because I think of you near constantly… he blushed as the words rushed out before he could stop them. There was no poetic spin he could put on that one. It was blatant and it was out there, and Orpheus didn’t want to take it back. We can think about logical things again, he offered quickly, eyes wide. I don’t want to drown you out. Your thoughts… I could live with them for an eternity.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on May 15, 2021 21:29:15 GMT -5
L smiled a little, pleased as he could hear Orpheus’ tone. He nodded a little, not looking away for a second. Yes, I want that, too, He agreed. I think, if we learn each other’s languages, hearing each other’s accents should prove more possible, I wonder whether if we did that enough we could actually end up changing each other’s accents..? I don’t know if I’d like that, I like his accent very much, it’s probably not likely anyway, I’m only one person and I probably couldn’t change his accent on my own, that’s good, it would only be if he came to my world, which I do still want to do, I wish it were more likely to happen, but it really isn’t at all, the House has never done that to my knowledge, then again what if it has before? There’s no use pretending I know everything about the House, though I don’t believe it’s impossible for me to, I don’t believe that I couldn’t know everything about the House eventually, if I kept trying… He pulled his thoughts back, meeting Orpheus’ eyes again, his own expression softening a little. I hope the moon looks the same…but, technically, even if it doesn’t, it’s the same moon, it’s not as though someone replaced it with a different one or something, so really, we’re seeing the same moon anyway, maybe we really do look at it at the same time sometimes? I would like that very much, I think...oh...then I suppose we really do look at each other at the same time, sometimes at least, probably quite often, since I think of him near constantly as well. Our minds have changed each other, perhaps we always think of each other at the same times...it’s not likely at all, is it? Why am I tempted to believe in its possibility anyway? His eyes widened a little and he squeezed Orpheus’ hand, shaking his head. I’m not being drowned out...I love your thoughts...I hear them, of course, outside this room, but I like this, I like hearing your thoughts like this, I want to take full advantage of this room.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on May 17, 2021 19:11:57 GMT -5
I want… Well, whatever Orpheus wanted was lost as he blinked back to his world, the sound of his thoughts cutting off before he could finish even thinking it. Evidently, the House had decided that they had been sappy enough already, and that it was about time for them to go back to their own world. Not that Orpheus blamed the House… it was just another reminder that they couldn’t have what most people had. They couldn’t spend hours basking in each other’s’ company. The loneliness was always just a little bit starker just after blinking out. -- It didn’t take very long for Orpheus to blink back in. Sometimes he felt like he spent most of his life waiting to be blinked… sometimes he felt his real life, his real home was in the House. He was still… adrift… after Eurydice. He didn’t know how to handle it, didn’t know what to do with his life in his world. He was figuring it out, slowly bt surely. Travelling the world. Moving through Greece and meeting people where he could… he thought one day he would try to make it to Japan, if L could blink in with a map to show him where Japan even was. Assuming, of course, that Japan existed yet. Orpheus relaxed immediately when he noticed the House. A tiny smile lifted his features and he sank down onto the couch, humming quietly to himself as he waited to see who else the House might throw in.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on May 18, 2021 0:56:45 GMT -5
L hadn’t been in his own world for long before he blinked back in, though he couldn’t have said how long exactly. He’d been busy, a case had come in and it had pushed the sadness that Orpheus wasn’t there...well, not out of his mind, but out from the front of it. He knew it was hard for Orpheus in his own world, he knew it had to be difficult to be a wanderer the way he was. He wished he could wander with him sometimes, just to keep him company. And also because, selfishly, he wanted to spend more time with him. He looked up as his computer vanished, and relaxed a little, noticing the House. Ah...and there was Orpheus, sitting on a couch. He smiled a little, raising a hand in greeting. “Hello.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on May 19, 2021 11:15:26 GMT -5
It wasn’t so bad, at least… as long as Orpheus got to keep blinking in. It hurt, never really being able to go home, but he knew that going home would hurt more. So he just kept moving forward, waiting for the House to choose to blink him. And meeting people from various villages, teaching their children music, praying to his gods, and then moving on to the next village. It was amazing how similar the people he met were to the people in the House. They were all just… people, even with all of that time and space between them. Orpheus thought he was a little bit in love with humanity, as a whole. He gave a little bit of that love to everyone he met. Of course, he was more than a little bit in love with the man who appeared not moments later. “Hello,” he returned, a small smile accompanying the word. He had tried to say it in Japanese, but the pronunciation was just… a little bit off.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on May 19, 2021 23:02:09 GMT -5
L wished he could help in Orpheus’ world, but he knew he couldn’t. He wished he could go there and wander with Orpheus, or settle down somewhere, or whatever he wanted to do...technically they were both wanderers, he supposed. He didn’t wander, he traveled, but neither of them had a place they called home, at least not a permanent one. Which...just meant they’d have to call each other home instead, didn’t it? He smiled back as Orpheus spoke, and moved towards him. “Hello,” he replied, this time in Greek, as best as he could...the pronunciation wasn’t perfect, but it was clear he’d tried very hard to get it as close to it as he could. What he’d actually done was listen to it online a thousand times and then made Watari correct him until he either got tired enough to tell L it was perfect or it actually was perfect. He still wasn’t sure which one.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on May 20, 2021 2:48:50 GMT -5
A wide grin spread across Orpheus’ features as he heard L. He could tell something was different – it wasn’t the same tone L usually said the word in, and there was something almost clipped about his voice in a way Orpheus didn’t fully understand. And then he got it. “Greek,” he whispered in Japanese, just loud enough for L to hear. L’s pronunciation hadn’t been perfect, but it had been more than understandable, and would Orpheus had even heard the accent if the pronunciation had been perfect? He didn’t think so – if he pronounced the words L taught him exactly like L had pronounced them, then there would be no accent for the detective to pick up on. He moved forward without thinking, wrapping his arms around L and holding him high enough that he could spin them both, giddy excitement flooding him and spilling into his excited twirls. “You learned Greek for me,” he added, his voice thick with awe. He hated having to switch back to his native tongue for that, but knowing a few words didn’t mean he knew grammar. “Or… at least a little bit.” He set L down lightly, not quite letting him go. “You’re amazing.”
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on May 20, 2021 3:17:02 GMT -5
L felt excitement run through him as Orpheus understood why he’d repeated the word, no doubt catching onto the way he’d spoken a little bit differently or sounded just a little strange. He hadn’t been worried about Orpheus missing it, really, but he was still glad he’d caught it so quickly...and he looked happy about it, too. L was about to nod and try to say something else when Orpheus moved and his feet left the ground. It was a sight of how much he trusted Orpheus that his immediate response wasn’t to try and kick him. Sudden movement, reaching forward, L would have been prepared to knock most people unconscious for less. But not with Orpheus. With Orpheus, he hadn’t even completely processed what had happened before a light, high, startled laugh broke through, his entire body as relaxed as though he’d been a ragdoll cat as he spun through the air. He put his arms out trusting Orpheus to hold on as he soared, and he was breathless when he touched the ground again, breathless but grinning openly, color in his cheeks. “It’s no more than you’re doing for me,” he pointed out in Greek when he could speak again, but he still sounded pleased. “It’s something I should have started a long time ago, really.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on May 20, 2021 3:44:49 GMT -5
Orpheus hadn’t exactly… intended to do that, but he wouldn’t take it back now that he had. His face was flushed and his eyes bright, and he could hear L’s laugh ringing in his ears as clearly as a bell. Yes, he decided. He was in love with L Lawliet, and as impossible as he continued to think it, he was falling even deeper in love with him every day. He loved his laugh, though he had only recently discovered it. He loved everything about him, and he loved that there was probably more to discover and love the longer he spent with L. “I made you laugh again,” he commented lightly as soon as he had gotten his own breath back. There was a stubborn smile that refused to leave his face (although he hadn’t tried to make it… he wanted L to see it, wanted L to know how blissfully happy he was in this moment). He wanted to freeze this moment, wanted to look at L like that forever, the wide smile, the pink cheeks… yes, this was L as he had never seen him, and Orpheus was determined to see him like this again. “You’re really good,” he whispered, his grin somehow spreading more. He had a feeling his cheeks were going to hurt from smiling whenever he blinked back… he couldn’t remember the last time that had happened. Actually… yes, he had smiled the entire afternoon after he had learned that L loved him back. But before that… it had been a really long time. “I like your accent,” he added, letting his eyes close just a moment to listen to it a bit better. “I’ve never heard it before. It’s… it’s soft, but a little bit sharp, at the same time. It’s… as though you added some extra spices to your deserts. Something different, but in a good way.”
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on May 20, 2021 22:36:40 GMT -5
L hadn’t expected that reaction, even if he had been prepared for Orpheus to be pleased. He hadn’t thought he’d be quite that pleased...he wasn’t complaining. Far from it, the look on Orpheus’ face was one L wanted to treasure for the rest of his life, hold close to his chest and never let go. He’d noticed when Orpheus stopped smiling. They’d been friends by then, very close friends, of course he’d noticed...he’d hated being helpless to make it better. Time had done what he couldn’t, it seemed. “You did. Out loud, this time,” he replied, still a little breathless from being twirled. It had been an unexpected sensation, flying safe in Orpheus’ arms. He thought he’d very much like to do it again. He felt...overwhelmingly happy, in the sort of way that made you know you were going to miss this moment when it ended. He didn’t want to let go, he didn’t want Orpheus to let go of him...he thought sometimes that he could live in Orpheus’ embrace and be more than content with it. He couldn’t help the soft, pleased expression that teased his features into a gentle smile. He couldn’t help the way he leaned a little closer, into Orpheus’ touch. “I’ve practiced since last time,” he managed in Greek, pleased as he remembered the phrase. He’d learned as much as he possibly could, with the sort of one minded obsession normally reserved for cases. He’d gotten pretty far, too. “I’m glad,” he whispered back, searching Orpheus’ eyes. “I think I like Greek.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on May 22, 2021 3:02:44 GMT -5
Time had healed the wounds failure and fate had left, but you couldn’t heal a gaping wound before it had been tenderly stitched up, before someone had taken the time and effort to give you the best possible chance at healing. Losing Eurydice… failing like Orpheus had… that wasn’t just a scratch. That was a fatal injury. Time might’ve healed it, but it wouldn’t have been able to without L there to hold him and get him through day after day after day. If L hadn’t spoken to him and reminded him that there was a reason to keep walking and moving forward, that the end of the world didn’t mean that you couldn’t start to recover. And recover Orpheus had. Not thanks to time, though time did its part. Thanks to L. “Out loud,” Orpheus echoed softly, casting his attention back to the present, to the laugh that made him feel like he was floating, that made him feel like L was the entire world, like he could orbit him for eternity without a single regret. Seeing L happy was the real prize… seeing him smile, feeling the way he leaned into him… Orpheus wasn’t sure if he believed that anything was every truly perfect, but if perfect was possible, this was it. “You have,” he murmured, pride lightening his voice. “You didn’t know any Greek last time, and here you are speaking in full sentences.” Orpheus shook his head in disbelief, unable to shake his grin. Well… he wasn’t going to attempt to shake it, so it didn’t much matter if it was permanent for now. “I get to hear your accent now,” he added, letting it wash over him once more. “It’s beautiful. As beautiful as everything else about you.”
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on May 25, 2021 18:54:21 GMT -5
L had done what he could to help, to be there for Orpheus during the worst pain he’d ever gone through. He didn’t know for sure whether he could have done more, all he knew was that he hadn’t done more and he didn’t think he’d been aware of what else he could have done. He’d held Orpheus, he’d tried as hard as he could to stitch his wounds and watch for infection, and somehow...somehow, Orpheus had healed. L had helped, he wouldn’t contradict that, but he knew Orpheus was the only one who could make the decision to keep going after the world ended. And that was exactly what he’d managed to do. He was happy, here, in this moment. He was happy, here, with Orpheus, in the House, which was as much of a home as Wammy’s House was by now. Maybe that was just because this was where he got to spend time with Orpheus, though, since Orpheus was home more than Wammy’s House and the House combined. “It’s a fascinating language. I’ve been missing out on it,” he replied softly, giving a tiny smile as he met Orpheus’ eyes. He was pleased that Orpheus liked his accent, but it was the sort of deep emotion words struggled with, so he didn’t say it. “Would you like to do a room?” He asked after a moment, in Greek again. “Or...stay here?”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on May 26, 2021 0:06:59 GMT -5
Orpheus, too, was quite happy. There was a part of him that would always miss Eurydice. All of him still loved her, still hoped for the best for her, but he had decided to move on. To keep living, for her. And, in a way, for L. Because Orpheus could live the way Eurydice might have wanted him to, but she may never know that he did. L was there. L could see. And Orpheus was determined to try and live the life that L had fought for him to have. There were days when Orpheus hadn’t been able to fight his own demons. When L had to fight them for him. And Orpheus didn’t have the proper words to thank him for that. He just had to hope that L was aware of how hard Orpheus was trying. He had to hope that L knew just how much he had done for Orpheus when it had been difficult for Orpheus to even stand up without collapsing from the grief and the guilt. “Hm,” Orpheus considered, wishing he were nearly as fluent in Japanese as L had become in Greek. Unfortunately, the resources weren’t quite so readily available to him. “Perhaps we could try a room,” he decided, stepping close enough to weave his fingers through L’s. “As much as I would like to speak with you in Greek and hear your accent… I think we can probably multitask.”
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jun 3, 2021 14:32:58 GMT -5
L would never have let Orpheus go, not if there was anything he could do about it. Orpheus had been shattered by what had happened, L knew that. He’d watched it happen, and he’d been unable to save her, however hard he’d tried. But here they were now. Here they were, proof that the worst could happen and there would still be a rainbow on the other side of it. L couldn’t quite imagine how much pain Orpheus had endured, he didn’t know how it had felt to go through that, but he thought it was safe to say it was one of the worst things they’d ever been through, if not the worst. “I would like a room,” he agreed, fumbling the pronunciation a little. He frowned. “I…would…like…a…room?” He tried again, voice hesitant as he glanced at Orpheus and switched to Japanese. “Is that better? What am I doing wrong?” He headed for the hall, trusting Orpheus to follow as he answered. “It’s only fair that you should pick the room,” he added over his shoulder. “Since I did last time. We should be careful. There have been more kind rooms than unkind lately, which is a bit worrying...I would rather not tempt the House.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jun 3, 2021 19:03:53 GMT -5
Orpheus listened, noting the places where L’s pronunciation was off. It was hard to tell if it was mispronunciation or just his accent, but it was endearing either way. Orpheus had never expected L to learn Greek for them, had never anticipated that L would be willing to do it so quickly, either. Or that he would be so good at it. L, they reminded themself, was absolutely brilliant. It was one of the many reasons Orpheus had fallen in love with him, but it was far from the top one. L’s intelligence was just one part of him, and Orpheus… well, Orpheus was in love with all of him. “Your second try was better,” Orpheus noted, frowning a little bit as they tried to figure out how to correct L without being able to say the words and have L repeat them. “The second to last word,” they tried, their brow creasing, “You elongated the last syllable a little bit too much. If you were to shorten it, it would be easier to understand.” They took L’s hand, moving forward quickly and glancing over the different room options. It was always difficult to pick, though they knew the choice likely didn’t actually matter much. “This one,” they decided, squeezing L’s hand as they pushed the door open.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jun 4, 2021 11:11:34 GMT -5
Learning Greek was the least L could do, really. It was one more way to feel closer to them, for one thing. Speaking the words he knew Orpheus was forming, aside from the translator. Letting the sounds at his lips be the same as the sounds in Orpheus’ head...L had never had a very romantic view of languages, but with Orpheus at his side, he tended to view everything with just a touch of poetry. He was perfectly serious when he said the whole world was brighter when he shared it with the person he had fallen in love with. “Mm.” He murmured, frowning a little as he tried to figure out what Orpheus meant. “A. Aaaaaaa. A. A. A. Like that?” He squeezed their hand gently as they walked, looking at the hall with interest...he liked to think he could tell something about a person based on the door they chose, even if he already knew that person better than he knew himself. “That one,” he repeated, giving a small nod. It was as good as any other. He figured the choice had been random this time, not born out of any sort of strategy. Which was fine with him. He stepped through, still holding Orpheus’ hand. And blinked at the room. It was...sparse. He noted an elderly wooden bookshelf in the corner, and some song lyrics with their notes on a wooden and dark purple table. He caught sight of a guitar, too, which he made no assumptions about, having been on multiple job swap rooms. “This is - “ he began, then gave a violent start and broke off, eyes flying wide. Because the voice that had left his lips was not his. It was Orpheus’.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jun 4, 2021 12:08:00 GMT -5
“Yes,” Orpheus murmured, watching as L did his best to fix the syllable. “That last one, it sound right.” They leaned against L, letting their eyes close for just a second as they soaked in the feeling of L next to them. L’s presence, comforting and familiar in a way that nothing else was. They always heard L in Greek, but knowing that he was speaking the words himself, choosing exactly which words to say without the House’s influence… it was nothing short of magical. Orpheus couldn’t help but feel honored that L was willing to take the effort to do that for them. Yes, it was a sort of poetry. If Orpheus knew that L was thinking that, they would have been very pleased that L saw it, too. It was one thing to have the House be a mediator. It as quite another to know that every word L said was his own, that everything that came from his lips was exactly how he wanted to say it. Plus, there was the accent, and Orpheus was more than a little bit enamored. They knew why L enjoyed teaching them the words that didn’t exist in Greek, if only so their accent came out a little bit more. They let their thoughts drift away as they followed L into the room, brow raising at the sight of the guitar. They weren’t sure what it was there for, but they were a little bit comforted by its presence. If they had access to music, they could make almost anything better. Almost. “Hm?” Orpheus turned at the sound of the voice, surprised to find it had come from L. “Odd,” they commented, blinking a little at the voice that accompanied the word. They were quite proud of their voice, normally, but if they had to have anyone else’s… well, L’s was exceedingly pleasing to the ear.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jun 6, 2021 11:36:13 GMT -5
L gave a small nod, testing the syllable in his head. A. He made a note to practice that when he returned, to keep doing it until it was instinctive. This was how he tended to learn. It was much easier to do something if your body wanted to do it anyway. He glanced around ether room, noting everything in it. It seemed relatively normal, so far, appearance wise, which didn’t mean anything at all. The House could kill someone in the most innocent of rooms. It had done it before. He breathed in, looking at Orpheus in surprise as their words escaped in his voice. That was...very odd. He blinked, trying to decide how he felt about this room. On the one hand, it was very, very strange. On the other hand, he loved Orpheus’ voice, and he was curious to hear what he sounded like outside his head. He’d heard recordings, obviously, but was it the same as hearing someone in the same room with him speak in his voice? “This is interesting,” he murmured, voice cautious as he tested Orpheus’ voice again. Then, a little louder, “You get to hear what your voice sounds like outside your head, now.” They hadn’t been able to hear it before, because nothing that could record it worked in the House. He was tempted to try singing to see if he could manage it as well as Orpheus could, having stolen their voice. But he let that wait until the novelty had worn off a bit.
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