driftfleet | Let's all hold hands and sing Kumbaya

Oh... well, okay!

[Though his thoughts do pause for another moment or so, still feeling some embarrassment, before that fades enough for him to keep going.]

[ Maybe the planet has magic elements and that's why the people with magic react well to it, maybe that's what's making our sense of empathy heightened, but then how does it affect those who don't have any magic like me?

Everything here is so lush and green it's almost unnatural especially after that last moon, I hope that place is okay I wish we could've kept up communications to see how the process is going even though they likely won't see any results for a while

I wonder if this place was terraformed I'll have to ask ]

[While Clay thinks, Allen keeps leading them. Eventually they start to leave the bustling area of the city, and more into a quieter area with just trees.]

[ Some magic can affect anyone. ]

[He approaches a tree that has some sturdy looking branches. It'd be climbable if they let go of each other's hands, but...]

Clay, hold onto me. [It'd be easier to use his Innocence to get up there]

[ Oh yeah... ]

[Still weird to think about. But as Allen leads them to the tree, Clay looks up at it, then at Allen, and there's a feeling of understanding as he figure out what Allen plans on doing. Understanding, and a growing excitement as well as a tiny shot of adrenaline as he lets go of Allen's hand, only to wrap both arms around his neck.]

Ready when you are!

[He feels that excitement and adrenaline coming from Clay. It's cute, but he has to focus on his powers. His emotions turn to concentration]

[ Innocence, Activate! ]

[When he thinks that, there seems to be a change. Not quite in Allen, but it almost feels like there's another presence in their mental connection. It's not sentient enough to feel like another person or even an animal - but there almost seems to be something alive about it, in some form.]

[Allen doesn't seem bothered by it. If anything, he seems entirely comfortable with having this other presence here. He looks up and points his left arm up at the tree, and there's a feeling of will and understanding from the presence about the intent- no, it's more than that. It was more like they're utterly in-sync with one another. There's no real structured thoughts commands to hear Allen think, the intent and feelings were enough alone to communicator.]

[And next thing you know, the ribbon shoots out and wraps itself along the tree. Once he's got a firm hold, they shoot off the ground towards the intended branch.]

[Oh, wow. Curiosity and intrigue fill Clay as he focuses on that other presence, and it's easy to figure out that it's the powers Allen has. This is the first time he's really considered that the Innocence has sentience, or at least enough to follow orders - no, not even follow it, but be in-sync with those orders, the intent in Allen's head to lash out and wrap around the tree.

In fact, Clay's so intent on analyzing this new information that he's not even prepared for the lift off. Suddenly he's jerked into the air, and a stab of shock fills him before that fades into adrenaline, the yell he gives turning from surprised to excitement signaling those changes as well. His hold tightens around Allen's neck, and a big smile comes up as he squints against the wind.

And from their connection, Allen can feel utter joy, a sense of freedom, the thrill of flying through the air, a feeling of belonging, and under it all? Even though he still feels the adrenaline and excitement from the danger this poses? He feels safe. There's trust and security, because he knows Allen won't let him go. He knows that even if he did, he'd be caught again. He's safe with him, and Clay's absolutely certain of it.]

[Even though he's focusing on his Innocence, he still feels those feelings coming from Clay. Part of it explains a lot, why he always loves Allen using these powers so much. Clay was someone who loved to be in the sky after all, loved the thrill. But the feeling of safety and trust...well, it's pretty touching to feel that coming from him. Knowing Clay feels that safe with him]

[But it's not a long trip. Soon enough Allen and Clay land on the tree branch. With how huge these trees are, there's more than enough room for them to sit down and it can easily support their weight. Once Allen's sure both of them are firmly on the tree, he tells his Innocence to deactivate, and the other presence goes away along with the ribbons.]

There. This should give us enough privacy.

[And now that presence is gone. Clay really wants to jump around, yell and holler from the adrenaline still in him, but doing so would probably make him fall out of the tree, and that's something neither him nor Allen wants. Instead, he keeps holding on to Allen, a big smile on his face while he presses his cheek to his shoulder, just trying to hold himself back from bouncing.]

That was awesome!

[ THAT WAS AMAZING I WANT TO DO IT AGAIN SO COOL I LOVE HIM SO MUCH ]

[It makes him really happy to feel Clay's joy and excitement. He gets his own big smile and tilts his head down to kiss Clay's head, expressing his own love.]

Maybe later. I want to get used to...this, before I try too much with my powers.

[It was easy to shoot a single ribbon- but something more complex? Well, he wouldn't want to accidentally fall out of sync because Clay's mind caught him off guard.]

Ha, right, right!

[All those feelings inside him make him think about the sensation he'd feel back home, unaware that it leaks through: Looking down at the controls of the plane he rented, then taking a moment to look out the window and down at the Manhattan Beach Pier, where several people on the beach below it walk around, some surf in the ocean beyond it, and some walk along the pier itself, eager to see the aquarium at the end of the pier. They look so small from way up here, and the thrill of wondering what it was like to look up and see that plane up the in the sky -

The memory ends after that, just as the adrenaline slowly starts to recede from Clay, and he leans his head back to look at Allen again, this time moving his hand down to hold his boyfriend's once again.]

So... Maybe we should sit and figure out how to deal with all this?

[Wow...that definitely wasn't his memory. He could tell it was the ocean and some sort of pier, but it was looking at an angle he wasn't used to at all- from above. It was different than seeing it in the movies. Maybe from a shuttle or the ship, but it still wasn't quite the same.]

[Pretty...]

[The memory fades and Clay speaks as he takes his hand again.]

Yeah, that'd be best if we did. [His thumb runs along Clay's thumb in the handhold] Feels...better than I thought it would, though.

[Ah... He saw that. It's not as much of a surprise now (and definitely not nearly as embarrassing), but it's still weird. Not a bad weird, but... weird.

Still, it makes him smile, feeling a little swell of pride for his home city. It was pretty, and lively, and wonderful... and so not what was important right now.

Clay ducks his head to look down at their hands, feeling a tender sensation from the thumb brushing across his own. In return, he rests his cheek against Allen's shoulder again while moving his free hand up to rest his palm against his chest, shuts his eyes, and just... settles into the dual feelings being shared, the affection and love being passed between them.]

Yeah... feels kind of good, actually. Not as weird as earlier.

[Allen meanwhile moves his own free hand to rest on Clay's shoulder- both for supporting Clay and for the closeness.]

Yeah...like it's a whole other sense opened up.

[That's really the only way he can describe it. Like a new way of perceiving things has opened up]

So...we know we feel each other's emotions, hear some of our thoughts and...if we're thinking of a particular memory, it shows that too. What do you think it can do?

Mm... I don't know. [He opens his eyes, his gaze on the branch below them to consider this] This is a whole different thing to think about. Maybe dreams?

[ REM sleep is when dreams occur and that's only 20% of our sleep cycle or so ]

But then it'd only have to happen during the REM stage, so maybe the dream sharing wouldn't happen very often. It's just a theory, though; I don't know if it'll actually happen or not.

[ I don't want the possibility keeping me away from him ]

[He knows they both have nightmares sometimes, ones they don't particularly want the other to see. But like his thoughts, Clay doesn't want that fact to make them want to keep away from each other at night. It's only a possibility, after all.]

[Wait. dreams?]

[Allen's quiet for a moment at that idea, but the thought it could affect dreams does make him feel worry, concern....fear.]

[ I don't want him to see those things. ]

[Which of course, if you're fretting about how you don't want to think about something- you think about it. It's quick disjointed flashes- blood smeared on walls, a shadowy figure in a mirror with a smile far too big to be human, screams echoing through steel hallways, dead and maimed bodies lying everywhere with a chil- ]

[The images end as he breaks the physical contact, pulling himself away from Clay. He swallows, trying to collect himself, and looks apologetic at Clay]

...Sorry.

[He had heard that last thought that Clay had had.]

[Clay breaks contact at the same time Allen does, understandably a bit freaked out by the images that just flashed through his head. Well, definitely more than a bit. His eyes are wide, and he shakes his head hard while pressing a hand to his forehead. When Allen said he had nightmares, he wasn't quite expecting things like that.

Yeah, okay, Clay can see why Allen wouldn't want him to see those things.]

I-It's fine, you're fine!

[Just gotta think of nice, happy things now. Okay... with that in mind, he lowers his hand, his attention back on Allen now.]

We could ask the locals if that's a thing we should worry about. They didn't say anything about dreams, but might as well make sure, right?

Edited 2016-06-27 00:34 (UTC)

[No, it's not fine, he thinks to himself. Not when it's his own memories and dreams that were the problem. Memories he's trying very hard to push back into the back of his mind]

Yeah...they'd know for sure. I'd rather check with them.

We'll do that when we're done up here then.

[Which, since they're up here, Clay will go ahead and sit down, just to make this a little easier on them. He then looks up at Allen, before holding his hand out again.]

When you're ready?

[There's a pause after Clay offers his hand. As if Allen is still trying to clear his mind of the bad things that popped up. But soon enough, he feels confident enough to reach over and take his hand. Which- it becomes pretty clear what tactic he's using to clear his mind:]

[- curry, dango, ice cream, jerky, cake, sushi, ramen...]

[The thoughts that suddenly show up gets Clay to laugh, and he pulls Allen down to sit with him. Once Allen's done so, Clay can't help leaning in to rest his forehead against his temple, shifting their hands a bit so that they can entwine their fingers together.]

[ Speaking of that ]

You know, I wouldn't be surprised if they had a lot of ingredients here. Maybe I can try cooking some of those for you.

[!!!!!]

[Yeah, there's a definite sudden perk in excitement. FOOD? BOYFRIEND'S WONDERFUL COOKING???]

Really?

Yup. Heck, maybe I can make some Korean food, finally! Mom's specialty!

[And right then, there's a flashbulb of a memory that comes along with that last sentence: a woman in front of a stove, looking away from the pan she's flipping food on to give a smile.]

Though I do need money first. I don't think they accept credits here...

[He pauses when that memory flashes through his head. So that's his mom, huh...?]

[She looks like you.]

I can help you earn the money.

[There's a pause from that comment, though it's obviously a good thing Allen said, if the touched feeling that blooms in Clay's chest says anything.]

[ Thanks... I got that a lot. ]

[And another pause, as it's weird to think about something that's entirely different from what he's actually talking about]

That'd be awesome! Your contribution to operation: feed Allen fund would be greatly appreciated.

[He laughs a little at that remark, in amusement]

What can I say? It's for a good cause.

[I love this man. I want to spend as much time as I can with him.]

[That thought he just heard makes Clay silent, though he feels a series of feelings along with it: touched, a sense of tenderness, a deep love, and a pleasant sort of flustered that shows when he pulls back enough to face Allen properly, a blush on his cheeks.]

I feel that way too. I...

[Instead of finishing that, Clay leans in - slowly, so that Allen has time to react, his free hand reaching up to cup his cheek as he presses his lips to Allen's. That love he's feeling increases, and a thought rings out in his head as well:]

[ I love you, I love you, I want to be with you as long as I can. ]

Let's all hold hands and sing Kumbaya

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