[action/accidental voice] backdated to the 12th

[faterecanted]

[action, for Nephry only]

[This morning, there is a suspicious looking Van lurking at the rear of the grocery store. A shady meeting has been arranged, you see, to pass over some goods. He's acting a bit twitchy, though. He'd really rather not be caught in the act. He's got one hand in his pocket, tapping his foot while he looks over the produce, pretending to be interested.]

[/lovebirds]



[Around mid-morning, there will be a sight potentially very disturbing to those familiar with both people involved: Van and Nephry, strolling down the riverbank, looking rather... cozy. He's actually offered her his arm. Which she has taken, without even hesitating to think about it. It isn't some sort of formal escort situation, either - she's leaning in, just enough to be conspicuous.]

I don't see any reason to tell them. [He actually laughs.] Not yet. I'll be your dirty little secret. Doesn't every politician have a few?

[Her return laugh is brighter than any of her friends might have heard in a long time.] Secrets of the state are usually less...incriminating. I do try to be honest. I suppose...just this once isn't going to hurt anyone. [Might help - she knows a person or four who wouldn't be pleased with this new arrangement.]

[He stops and pulls her closer, leaning in in a way that should be menacing, given just who it is doing it; but his expression is soft, and when he speaks, his voice is low and gentle with good humor.] Incriminating? ...That's one word for it. But not here. Not now.

No. [Ordinarily, being this close to the man who nearly succeeded in destroying her world would be something to fear. There is no fear, or even caution, in this smile.] This is...different.

[With a sigh, he wraps both arms around her, tightly. It's perhaps a bit forward of him... but then Van has always been bad about staying in his proper place.] Perhaps 'different' is what we all need in our lives.

[Now being an excellent time for someone to interrupt them and let them know their private conversation is being broadcast. Before they do something awful, like get even cozier and more contemplative.]

(OOC: Joint post! If you have a preference for which one of these unlikely lovebirds replies, please note it in the subject line. Otherwise, there's no telling who you may get. Remember to drive carefully, now, and watch for falling threadjacks.)

Comments

[action]

[silversnowfall]

[Nephry's nonchalant act is almost flawless; she approaches the back of the grocery with shopping bag in hand, choosing a few things before moving near to the tall man waiting there.

That must be him. Van. ...Tear's brother.

The one who almost ended everything.]

[action]

[faterecanted]

[When she approaches him, he turns his head just enough to look at her out of the corner of his eye... and then he turns it a bit more. He'd seen her before, of course; in the little images the journal provided, but for some reason he hadn't realized she was so...

He's staring.

He looks away again, and pulls a small velvet box out of his pocket, holding it out for her beneath the level of the display they're pretending to be contemplating.]

Put it someplace she'll find it... but not too quickly. [The good thing about having a voice as deep as his is that it can be pitched so anyone trying to eavesdrop only hears a low, indistinct murmur. The person he's speaking to, however...]

[action]

[silversnowfall]

[...has needed to whisper to just one person in a meeting room full of nosy busybody politicians before.]

I understand. ...Why the mystery? If I may.

[As she slips the box into her bag along with her groceries. Her eyes never leave him, one eyebrow raised in a gentle question - far more gentle than she has ever been inclined to be toward him until now.]

[action]

[faterecanted]

[He's so fascinated by her presence, he realizes he forgot to pull his hand back. He does so now, and puts it back into his pocket.]

I wanted to give her something for her aid. [He pauses, chin tilted down, eyes to the side, mouth pulled in an expression that isn't quite a smile or a frown.] I just think she'll enjoy it more if she doesn't know who it came from.

[It's hard, trying to be a decent brother after such a history of abysmal failure. It's hard, but he does sometimes do it.]

[action]

[silversnowfall]

[It can be difficult on your heart, having a...bizarre personality for an older brother. It doesn't mean you stop loving him. Nephry feels compelled to explain this to Van, to erase that look from his face so he might replace it with a smile. She just can't find the right words.]

She may well figure you out. [A grin is working its way onto her face; a slight blush is there already.]

1/itbegins.jpg

[distressedude]

[Those voices.]

[He knows those voices.]

[distressedude]

[Dirty little secret-- what.]

[distressedude]

[What.]

[distressedude]

[WHAT!?]

[distressedude]

[Okay. Okay. Calm down. Maybe he just misheard them. They don't seem to know they're talking into the journals, right? And even if it's public, it's rude to snoop and--]

[distressedude]

[Actually, no. No. This is weird. This is weird even if the effects of the experiment is toning down just how weird. But hey, better weird than absolutely and unbelievably horrifying, right?]

[That'll come in a week!]

[But for now, Ion is just... going to pull himself together and manage to steel his expression for a single sentence that in no way reflects his true feelings as to what he has just heard:]

/AND WE'RE GOOD

[distressedude]

The journal is recording.

[faterecanted]

[That rustling?

It's Van jumping back and rifling through his coat pockets for his traitorous journal. Well this was a short-lived secret... Thanks for ruining the moment, Ion. He clears his throat.]

Yes, well. Thank you for telling us. [Us.]

[distressedude]

Of course. [Somehow. Somehow he is still managing that poker face. Now, if this were anyone else talking with Nephry about some sort of dirty little-- HE CAN'T secret, he'd have just shut the journal and let that be the end of it.]

[But this is still Van...]

Just... what is it the two of you were talking about?

[faterecanted]

It's not my place to say. [First time in his life he's ever said that.]

voice;

[trashed]

[Oh.

Oh.

I don't think this replica has probably been this brain broken in a very long time, if ever. He had been mostly ignoring the network, but this was--]

Van?

[His voice raises a few octaves as he tries -- and is starting to fail -- in his attempt at keeping calm. This didn't make sense.

Nope. He just doesn't know what else to say.]

voice;

[faterecanted]

[You know, when two people with basically the same voice interrupt your date at the same time, it's like being infuriated in stereo.]

Sync, now is not the time.

voice;

[trashed]

[Being a replica is suffering.]

Then when will be the time?

[He's not happy, Van.]

voice;

[faterecanted]

I don't know. I think I'll be out today. [On a date. With the enemy.]

voice;

[trashed]

Obviously, but why?

[Sync would be brainbroken if Van told him that.

Even more than he is now.]

[action]

[seleniahymn]

[It just so happens that Tear is also enjoying a walk by the riverbank, her hand entwined with one belonging to a rather handsome young man in stride with her. While she pays no attention to the couple coming their way at first, her attention is seized from the pleasant conversation she had been having, directing instead toward the two other voices.

Two voices she happened to know very well.

... Dear Lorelei no.]

[action]

[falenandawn]

[When Tear stops, staring at the couple nearby, Frey looks to her in concern.

The look on her face.... why was she so upset? Running his thumb over the back of her hand in what he hopes is a soothing manner, he decides to ask.] Tear? Is everything alright?

[Wait.... isn't that... Van? ....And.....]

[action]

[silversnowfall]

[And a cheerful-looking blonde woman with her arm linked through Van's, leaning her head against his shoulder while they talk. What's so strange about that?]

[action] 1/2

[faterecanted]

[Van is going to need a moment to notice Tear's horror, as he's busy being completely enraptured by Nephry's presence. She is clearly the most fascinating thing in all of existence, and he is regarding her with the sort of lovestruck expression that gives little sisters whole months of nightmares. Isn't she the most amazing-

Oh, hello Tear.]

[action] finally a use for this icon

[faterecanted]

[... wait whut.

No.

No.]

Mystearica?