[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

[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.

[bostova]

[ She was about to say something about Josh teaching, but then he speaks again, and it makes her smile even wider. ]

Finally. [ She almost laughs in relief, and she puts an arm around her best friend's shoulders to lean in and say, ] I thought you never would. I suppose the plan will be a little different this time around?

[larue]

[ He feigns wanting to shrug you off -- but his hand comes up and catches yours to keep it in place. You're the only one who knows, barring Makoto, but that was expected given that he was joined to Josh's brain at the time. ]

It will. [ He smiles at Yulia. ] Just don't blow my cover until I actually get around to it.

[ It's half-joked, half-meant -- and largely because there's a pretty huge possibility that Hikaru won't see it coming. Before this year, to say that things were bad was a massive understatement. That's his fault, he knows.

But things have been good for them; him and Hikaru. They were finally back on level ground where it concerned their relationship. ]

It's time. [ He breathes. ] Within the year, and no amount of crazy will get in the way of it this time around.

[bostova]

[ That makes her roll her eyes (even if he really didn't mean it)-- as if she would! Hikaru didn't find out about the first plan from her, he'll never find out about this one as well. ]

Hopefully no one has to die again, this time around. [ Whoops, did she just jinx this? ]

[larue]

[ ... ] Ha ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.

[ Making this face at you, Bostova. Though he can feel Leo's amusement radiating from the back of his head. ]

Yeah, lacking one groom would kind of make the ceremony awkward. [ A beat. ] And you punch mean. So I've got plenty of incentive to keep myself in one piece.

[bostova]

[ :) ]

Of course. You have to keep your face pretty for the wedding, after all.

[ She really missed teasing you. It was a pretty boring year without her being able to tease anyone like she teases Jos. ]