[OPEN] I sing a bitter song

[bostova]

WHO: Yulia Bostova & You
WHAT: Catch-all for pre-campaign all the way up to June 14th (Yes, the first day of classes)
WHERE: Anywhere
WHEN: Anytime
SAFE FOR WORK? Y...for now.
OTHER NOTES: If your character has been in Falner for the past few days/months/years leading up to the first day of classes at Balamb, then feel free to to tag in :) Feel free to reply in prose or action, I don't really care which! Just indicate when the thread is happening :)

a. gisi
Zangyaku's base of operations in Falner; usually, you can find her at an izakaya at the Entertainment District. If she's not there, try the Hot Springs; she usually takes over operations there. If not there, check the Sky Steps, or Sabina's office, or with some of the other Whisperers. Good luck getting her to talk, though.

b. around falner
If she's in the Great Hall, it's usually because of a Hound or two. She doesn't stay too long there, though. She can also be found at the Shatterdome, terrorizing Netsach initiates. If she's at the lake, it's best to leave her alone.

c. shatterdome barracks
She lives on the fifth floor of Zangyaku's barracks. Or, she could be visiting the barracks for Aegis Kai Doru or the Thrones. Who for? Wouldn't you like to know.

d. choose your own adventure
There are a lot of places you can run into Yulia. Pick one and go for it!

Comments

[larue]

[ He's now very interested to find out what exactly went down with you two. Since, you know, he wasn't there, and his interaction with Sophie had been the tip of whatever iceberg made up her situation. ]

She wouldn't be qualified for Hunter school though. [ Too old for the Regular program, for one. ] She'd have probably landed in Special Cases.

[ Okay, he's going to ask. ]

So, what makes you say that? Just pretend I have no clue over how high your standards are for a minute here and spell it out for me.

[bostova]

Joining a conspiracy for the sake of joining a conspiracy shouldn't be anyone's reason to become a Hunter.

You know that.

[ And a beat later, with a frown: ] My standards are not that high.

[larue]

[ He's listening. He's got his eyes on the road but he's listening. ]

Did she put it that way specifically?

[ A beat. ] Just clarifying, my talk with her didn't touch too much on that end.

[bostova]

We talked a little, then sparred. She was very flippant about everything.

She's too new to understand anything. [ Seriously, LaRue, is this a test or what. :| Yes, it's true, she doesn't care much for the girl, what more do you want? ] Is that all? Do you want me to pull up her dossier? It should be up somewhere by now.

[larue]

[ No, this is not a test.

No need. Tossing you a look that says: yes, I will check her dossier soon. ] I wanted your take.

[ A beat. ]

Hikaru mentioned her to me. [ Hence her endorsement to ASC. ] Was looking for another person's take.

[ Turning down the road that'll take you closer to Intramuros now. ]

She made a comment that stuck with me. Said that the idea of ASC looked like "fun".

[ And anyone who knows about the program usually knows that it's anything but. ]

[bostova]

[ She snorts. ]

She does seem the type to say that.

I think I could like her, if she knew better.

[larue]

[ Slowing the car down to a halt as he sights the light up ahead turning yellow and then red. He tugs the handbrake up and leans back into his seat as he waits for the light to turn green.

You'll both be at Intramuros soon enough. ]

I'm worried that she doesn't know what she's getting into.

But I admire her spunk.

[bostova]

If that's all she has, then she's not going to survive.

[ She'll light up now; you did roll the windows down for that. ]

[larue]

[ He's releasing the handbrake and stepping lightly on the gas again. ]

No kidding.

[ If there's one area of concern on his part, it was Sophie's reluctance over the studying aspect. ]

[bostova]

Mmm. [ And that's how she'll end the Sophie discussion, really. Right now, it really isn't any of her concern. Maybe if the girl grew up a little in the coming months, she'd be more amenable to her being in the ASC. Maybe even mentor her, if she had the right mentality by then. As things stood, though, the girl wasn't worth the time.

The next time she speaks, they're pulling up at Intramuros, and she's lighting up another stick. ]

Pity we're not going to the Dark Hour tonight. I would have liked to relieve some steam.

[larue]

[ Smiling as he maneuvers the car in search for a place to park. ]

I'd take you, but, [ exhaling a breath as he slides a look your way. Sunday's meant staying in with Hikaru, since it was the one day in a week they'd both decided to keep as theirs. Granted, living with a shy little eight-year-old Changeling under the same roof meant they mostly kept things Rated-G, but well.

Oh! There's a free spot. Easing his car over now.

Maybe it'd seem funny to anyone else who didn't know that just last month his boyfriend, your sempai, had nearly died on an engagement. The weeks since have been better though. ]

[bostova]

It's fine. [ She waves her hand dismissively. ] I could always bully Kaz to take me. I'll just tell him you promised to babysit while we're out. [ ♥ ]

[larue]

[ Tossing you a look as he kills the engine. ]

That's a win/win situation since I do need to shower a lot more attention on my god-daughter.

Let's go?

[ He's getting out of the car now. It's not likely that there'll be anything to put down tonight, but at least the walk will do him good. ]

[bostova]

[ Eyeroll.

But she'll follow you out of the car, one hand in her pocket and the other one holding her cigarette. ]

I really hope tonight isn't boring.

... Unless, of course, you picked this place so you could talk more. [ Sometimes, she can't tell with you. Sometimes.

This time though, she actually means you should talk. There's obviously something on your mind. ]

[larue]

You and me both. [ Because he actually misses the action. Dark Hour surveys are great and hitting Umbra is always good -- especially now that he's got a better feel of what it is to operate as a Card.

As for the talking... there actually is something that's been on his mind for a while now.

If he was more confident in being honest with himself ( getting there, not quite just yet, but he's definitely been thinking about it more in the last couple of weeks ) he'll admit that the idea to come off the bench and get Back in Black has been there since April. It's... w weight in the back of his head that has nothing to do with his Persona and everything to do with the fact that--

( It is time, Joshua. You and I both know that you are in a better place now than you were last year. )

He can feel Leo's quiet desire to step out and join him and Yulia on this, but he also knows that Leo is waiting on his word. They move around with him hidden for a reason.]

Want to do the rounds on the wall?

[ There's a stairway up ahead that leads up to the walls that surround Intramuros. No reason to walk among the civvies tonight, and if there is a need, they'll be better off spotting it from up there before intervening if it becomes necessary. ]

[bostova]

[ She looks up at the walls, and shrugs. ]

Why not? It provides a much better vantage point.

[ She leads the way this time, up a narrow flight of stairs to the side and up on the walls of Intramuros. She's quiet in the meantime, but a smile is on her lips. Of course there is something he wants to talk about. This is Josh, and she likes to think she knows him very, very well.

So she waits until he starts talking. ]

[larue]

[ And as he's following you, he's fishing out his pack and lighter and bringing the flame on that old Zippo to his stick. It's the tail-end of summertime in Manila and it reminds him oddly enough of late mid-August back in San Diego.

He'll walk with you for a little bit, gaze occasionally wandering down to note movement in the more dimly lit areas of the Walled City of Intramuros. The first time he ever saw this place was back in 2063 in the company of Rethe Kyriff.

No words yet. ]

[bostova]

[ Don't worry, she's patient. Or at least, she's learned to be, after these years.

She'll just keep walking, lighting up a second cigarette on the way. Besides, she's already talked too much tonight (by her standards, anyway). It's Josh's turn. ]

[larue]

[ He's quiet as he walks with you, content to just be in your company as you start on your rounds. It's about twenty minutes in and half another stick that he finally speaks up again: ]

It's really been three years, hasn't it?

[ Since you two met on that plane, since the Hounds were first formed, since all the things that came together to set you all on your individual paths fell into place. ]

[bostova]

A little over.

[ She smiles; it's not so rare to see these days. You'd know best, Josh, how she used to not smile at all, how hard it is for her to smile sincerely, and without biting someone's head off a few seconds after. She might even have complained to you, sometimes, about how her cheeks hurt from smiling too much, after a Whisperer engagement. Not so much, anymore.

But yes. She smiles. It's fond and wistful, and a little amused. She remembers the first words she said about you: What is this lost puppy doing on the plane? ]

Three years, three months, if I'm thinking what you are thinking. Three years and two, if you mean when the Hounds came together.

[larue]

Who'd've thought that we'd end up where we are now.

[ Saying that quietly, as he's watching the curling smoke from his cigarette dissipate into the night. He tucks his free hand into his pocket at that, takes another drag from that cig and breathes the nicotine into his lungs. There's a number of emotions writing themselves out over his features -- he never had to hide his thoughts from you, and you were always so good at reading him anyway. It's just how the two of you operate. ]

Do you remember our conversation last March?

[ At the Izakaya in Little Gion, where he'd come with the hope that you'd join him for patrols and ended up agreeing to find you a really fucking old knife that he's actually yet to procure. ]

[bostova]

[ She smiles at the mention of March. ]

I do. Your three months is almost up, and I expect my Tanto very soon.

[ Her predatory grin is teasing and she nudges your shoulder with hers, laughing a little.

Of course, she does know which conversation it was, exactly. You just have to find the words for it, LaRue. Say it, already. She's been waiting. ]

[larue]

[ He'll nudge back at that and smile your way. It comes slow, but it's there and a whole lot more sure than he thought it would be almost three months ago.

And because he feels like that, that smile is going to take on a teasing edge.

Honestly, Bostova. Contrary to popular belief, he's better with actions than he is with words. You know this. Besides, some things don't need to he said, right? ]

[bostova]

[ She'll just smile and shake her head. Really, Josh. Sometimes, you just have to say it. ]

Whenever you're ready, just say the word.

[ Waiting now, with her cigarette between her lips. ]

[larue]

Give me until the end of June. [ He says that as he takes another drag from his cigarette, eyes scanning the street below. ] I should have a better swing of things at Balamb by then.

[ Teaching is going to be a nerwracking experience. He suspects that much. At least you had last year to handle the fresh recruits in Hunter School. ]

Handling the Special Cases kids and teaching the incoming freshmen will help me get my feet wet again. I can sort things out with Rhiannon so that I can chaperone evening patrols now and then.

[ He breathes in the night. It'll be good to get off the bench. To get back on the field again. Like riding a bike, manner of speaking. But there are also other things he want to do.

His voice comes out soft for this next bit: ] I'm going to ask him, before the year is out.