Video/Action; So very cursed down an abandoned road

[moonlitrequiem]

[The person known as Yin is seated at her piano, basking in the light of the moon. And on her face is an impossible smile. It's soft and gentle, like the light she's bathing in.]

However horrible it is here, I can't think it's all bad. Not when the moon comes out. Being in this light again makes it easier. This place isn't so awful. Not to me.

[After saying that, she starts to play the piano for a time. A far more happier tune than Yin might have picked. When she finishes, though, there's a slight frown of concentration as she reaches for the device. Her fingers flicker over the screen for a moment before it switches off.]

[Options for run ins:

[A - Day time, at the Welcome Center: Everyone will be greeted with a brilliant smile, whether co-worker or new arrival, or just stopping by.]

[B - Mid-day, on the streets: She's attempting to take the same path home as she did to work, but there are more people than there were in the early morning, and Yin's forehead crinkles in distress when she bumps against people that get irritated with her. She tries to politely explain it's difficult, but not everyone cares to listen. At times she feels the buildings and certain landmarks to continue on. Maybe she should get a seeing-eye dog that would get along with her cat?]

[C - Moonlit meeting in her apartment: For anyone that knows her well enough, they can meet at her apartment, where she plays the piano, far more than she has ever since she acquired it. The moonlight spills in from an open window, allowing anyone to either spy in.



[ooc: Post backdated to last night. Cursed with "Road not taken", what if Yin hadn't become a Doll. She's a normal teenage-adult, more aware of her place in the world as a woman. Perhaps scarred by past events, but still able to smile. Void of her specter and blind, but full of emotion.]

Comments

B :3

[mortemscintilla]

[ If Hei had the slightest interest in art (he doesn't), he'd think Yin looks like a Fragonard -- those pretty pink and white ladies in the beautiful fluffy gowns. The ones who look like they'd shit rose petals if they shat at all -- everything about them so decorative and willowy and still. But since he has no idea who Fragonard is, and no interest in finding out, he simply studies Yin intently for a few moments, seated at an outdoor cafe. The characteristic Doll's blankness is completely absent from her face. It's strange how un-Yin-like that makes her seem. ]

[ But this isn't Yin, is it? Just a facet of the curse, floating down the street in pale pastel shades, occasionally bumping into passersby like a lost bonnet on a stream. ]

[ He stays where he is a few moments more, observing her. Then, as she crosses his spot, he gets up and merges into the crowd. His fingers close lightly around her elbow; leaning close, he murmurs, ]

You shouldn't be wandering around alone.

[ Naturally her specter can't help her. A tactical liability, but how is that different from any other curse? ]

B :3

[moonlitrequiem]

[She looks almost alarmed at first when Hei's fingers meet her skin. But even before he speaks she eases, recognizing the fit of his hand in hers.] Hei.... [Still, she doesn't smile right away, her eyes a little wide, her breath caught in her lungs.]

[When her lips do turn up, she takes Hei's whole arm and holds it.]

I needed to get back home, though. I've walked this way plenty of times. [At least, in her cursed mind she's managed the walk before, while blind. She's confused as to why it's suddenly difficult.]

[mortemscintilla]

[ It's weird. Seeing Yin display a range of expressions. Watching her curl around his arm, like some sleek white kitten dawdling for scraps. A youthful eagerness seems to well up into her glowing skin, her girlish smile. It makes Hei uneasy. To his credit, though, there's only the slightest shuttering of an expression on his face, there and gone again. His life -- as much by choice as circumstance (both become interchangeable, given enough time) -- has been pared down to the basics, and it's the same with his expressions. It makes him feel like the Doll here -- the stereotypical automaton -- while Yin radiates life. ]

[ Again. Weird. ]

[ At her words, he doesn't bother to explain it's a curse. Her memories have probably been teased into a different shape for today. Instead he says, ]

This way, you'll have less people bumping into you.

[moonlitrequiem]

[For now, she can't see the brief expression, so it makes no difference, or impression on "Yin", assuming she would have caught it with sight.]

I prefer this way.

[mortemscintilla]

[ At that, a smile -- or the ghost of one -- flits across his lips. Not pleased so much as amused. Indulgent. He has the distinct impression he's being flirted with -- she's giving off all the shyly playful signals that Korra does. But it's easy enough to ignore. This girl -- Yin, Kirsi, whoever the City's made her today -- is just someone he's watching out for. His prime objective is getting her home. ]

[ To her: ]

If there's something you need to pick up on the way, or later, let me know.

[ Not polite so much as matter-of-fact. It's rare of him to offer. But for Yin, he supposes he can make exceptions. ]

[moonlitrequiem]

[She shakes her head, skin and hair brushing against Hei's arm as she does.]

I have everything I need. [Kirsi nuzzles her cheek against Hei's arm.] Especially now.

[mortemscintilla]

[ He half-smiles again, but the expression doesn't reach his eyes -- it's thin, like he knows the name of that fluttering coyness in Yin's (Kirsi's) body-language, and he's being watchful in the wake of it. No, not watchful. Wary. Part of him wants to brush her off, and walk back the way he came. The other part just fixes on the glossy silver top of her head, a creeping unease in his stomach. She's so enchanting, this cursed facet of Yin -- but so completely alien to anything he knows about his teammate. So normal and vibrant that he can't relate to her at all. His profession has left marks -- invisible, irreversible -- that make it impossible for him to feel easy around anyone who's not jagged or broken. ]

[ He used to feel that way with Korra too, until his cruelty left dark smudges over her shine, like a mirror dulled by blackened fingertips. ]

[ Aloud, he says, equal parts dry and dismissive, ]

You sure about that? A guide dog would be useful.

[sleepingstar]

[Pai comes running and tackles Hei in a hug, shopping bags swinging in her hands.]

I've been looking EVERYWHERE for you!!!

[moonlitrequiem]

But a guard dog isn't - [Kirsi breaks off when Pai shows up, her smile faltering. She likes Pai well enough, but feels Hei is way more preoccupied with Pai over her. The appearance of the other eclipses her existence. This doesn't stop her from greeting her.]

Hello, Pai. We were just going to my apartment. [Kirsi peeks around Hei, still clinging to his arm, Pai hanging on or not.]

[mortemscintilla]

[ Someone ought to point out to Pai, Hei thinks, catching her shoulders, that she's getting a little too old to just fling herself against him in that ickle girlie way. ]

[ Not that it isn't flattering, or that he isn't glad -- always -- to see her, although he is dimly surprised she's not buzzing in the brightly-lit honeycomb of the mall, hunting for more shiny frippery. At his side, he notices Yin's smile falter. Tries to pinpoint a reason behind it, before it clicks. Oh. By and large, Hei's used to being around men. The heavy-handed camaraderie, the hierarchies and pecking order, the rivalries and ego clashes ... all that is familiar. What he has no idea how to deal with are teenage girls. Especially normal ones. All the time spent with Korra has taught him only one thing: he's no fucking good at it. ]

[ But, with effort, he tries. Carefully extricating his arm from Yin's, he reaches for Pai's bags. ] Let me take those. [ He gathers them in both hands without waiting for a reply. (Mostly to discourage the girls from taking possession of either arm. He likes his space, thank you. But it also seems important not to play favorites.) ]

[ To Pai, ] I was dropping Yi -- Kirsi home. [ Then, glancing at Yin, ] Unless you want to stop somewhere for a snack, first.

[sleepingstar]

[Pai, forever self-absorbed, had completely missed Kirsi's presence before. But once she does, her eyes light up with mischief.]

Dropping her home, huh? Are you sure that's all you were going to do?

[moonlitrequiem]

[She outright blushes to Pai's words, and Kirsi looks to the side. She knows Hei's likely never thought of her that way. Still...it's nice to think someone's considered it, aside from her (very cursed) self. She looks a little down when she no longer has Hei's arm to latch onto, but spending a bit more time with both Hei and Pai suddenly seems a good idea.]

A snack would be nice.

[mortemscintilla]

[ Hei glances from Pai's impish smile to Yin's pink-cheeked face -- and fights a wince. He feels like he's stuck in a shōjo manga. Next thing he knows, he's going to end up fast-forwarded into Tokyo's landmark 109 Department Store, with its collection of trendy boutiques, arm in arm with these teenage girls, now in blue sailor school uniforms, picking out Gucci handbags. ]

[ The sooner this curse ends, the better. ]

[ Without rising to Pai's teasing, and pretending not to notice Yin's blush, he says, ] Let's get going. [ Window after window, street after street, he peers through foggy panes of glass and reads which menus will offer something to suit their palates. A sign on the front door of the Pizza Inn says 'Sorry, no food today'. A bistro that looks promising isn't open till the night. The Tandoori place near the Fountain is good, but probably too heavy for the girls. Eventually he ends up at a frivolous outdoor cafe -- ordering a banana ice-cream crepe for himself, and parfaits of whatever flavor Yin and Pai prefer. ]

[ A shōjo manga. Definitely a shōjo manga. ]

[sleepingstar]

[A more generous sister would offer to leave the two alone, but how would Pai get her teasing fun in if she did that?]

Do you want to split a parfait, Kirsi? [She leans in conspiratorially.] I'd say you should split with my brother, but he's a pig.

[moonlitrequiem]

[Of course, if Pai had left them alone, this little outing wouldn't have happened, and Kirsi would likely be home right now with Hei long gone. But Kirsi isn't thinking that far ahead. On the other hand, she's no longer frustrated and happily thinking of the kind of parfait her and Hei would share, and the one she is going to share with Pai.]

I think Hei needs the entire meal. But yes, we could share. [She smiles softly.] Maybe something with chocolate and strawberries?

[sleepingstar]

Sounds perfect!

[mortemscintilla]

Stop talking about me like I'm not here.

[ Of course, Hei's grousing would have more effect if his mouth weren't full. They've served his crepe with the ice cream folded inside the pancake rather than on top, so the whole thing is already a lukewarm mess even as he makes the incisions with his toothless knife. Chasing the disappearing warmth, he eats too fast, then feels sick. But it's strange, how the girls' bright prattle is such a pleasant backdrop. He could learn to tolerate it -- but never for very long. Fun outings, harmless chatter, smiles with no agendas behind them -- those are for people who are built differently than him. ]

[ Even so ... there's no harm in playing pretend. Just for a minute. ]

[moonlitrequiem]

[After getting their parfait, Yin fumbles a bit for her seat, but once seated she neatly, and barely, picks at her side of the parfait, but looks pleased. It's Hei's words that make her giggle, though.]

So then I should ask you if you want to share?