( ooc. just a closed log with the starters i owe for peeps! if you'd like a custom scenario with jinwoo, feel free to send me a pm or ping me on discord so we can work something out. )
[ Jinwoo remains standing by the sliding door, watching Ishmael carefully. The casual tone she tries to match is betrayed by the exhaustion in her voice, the way her body barely moves except for the slight rise and fall of her chest. He doesn't miss the way she closes her eyes, how she seems to retreat inward before forcing herself to speak.
He lets out a soft huff, shaking his head. ]
Flowers, huh? Didn't think you'd want something that wilts so fast.
[ The joke is light, but there's an edge beneath it. His hands flex at his sides before he exhales through his nose, forcing himself to ease up. He had seen too many people on the verge of deathβ seen too many not come back at all. The fact that Ishmael is even here, talking, is something he shouldn't take for granted.
He studies her for a few more beats, and then steps further into the room. Once he's closer, he kneels beside her futon, one hand outstretched as shadows dance in his palm. They twist and turn until they manifest into the shape of a few different flowers: sunflowers, hyacinths, and orchids. ]
It's not much, but... they'll last longer than the real thing.
[ she was only kidding. that should've been obvious. where can one even get flowers in this desolate landscape anyway, in such harrowing circumstances? she wasn't expecting anything. not anymore, when everything continues to fall apart around her, including her own body that's thankfully beginning its fast recovery thanks to everyone's collective efforts.
she slowly sits up, grunting as she does so, opening her mouth to hopefully segue into another topic, only to clam up as he literally conjures up flowers from the darkness. she stares, dumbfounded, her hand weakly reaching up to receive the makeshift bouque...
and he just had to say that, huh. no, even if he didn't say that, it's the fact that he gave her flowers -- a gesture that a certain someone used to shower her with when he was still around -- that made her feel all sorts of conflicted.
she lowers her head, her face overshadowed with her bangs. ]
Thank you. [ she says, her trembling voice almost inaudible. ] I know you mean well, but...
[ a tear drops onto the shadowy petal, then another. ]
Nothing really lasts forever.
Edited 2025-02-19 13:39 (UTC)
cannot believe he stepped on this landmine so early
[ He watches as her fingers hover over the flowers, barely brushing against the petals before something gets to her. The way her voice trembles, how she lowers her head to hide her face— he doesn't need to see the tears to know that she's crying.
His hands tighten into fists. Idiot. He can't believe the mistake he just made.
It's not too long ago when they spoke together for the first time, when she told him about how LILITH suffered important losses last year. He hadn't pressed her then, but now, watching her reaction, the pieces fit a little too well. Like a puzzle he wasn't meant to solve. Someone important to her (someone who used too give her flowers) is now gone.
Maybe he should let the flowers fade back into the shadows, but then he thinks— no. That's not it. He lets out a quiet breath, choosing his next words carefully. ]
... No. Nothing lasts forever.
[ He doesn't try to deny it. After all, he knows the heavy feeling that comes with loss. There's no point in offering empty reassurances. Instead, he reaches out, not quite touching her, just resting his hand nearby hers by the futon. He's giving her the space to decide if she wants to take it, but at least he lets her know he's there. ]
But that doesn't mean what's gone is forgotten. And it doesn't mean you have to carry it alone. [ His voice is soft and steady. ] Isn't that what you were trying to tell me before?
[ it's apparent how he's trying to navigate through this topic with the delicacy it deserves, and she will commend him on that. he's only been here for a month and a half so she doesn't expect him to know everything that had happened last year -- and honestly, the less he knows about her greatest losses, the better. he talks as if he has another world's burdens to carry; no need to add more to that too.
she shifts in her futon, huddling her knees close to her chest and resting her chin atop them, tilting her head slightly to stare at some random spot on the ground. she also puts the flower down between the gap between jinwoo's hand and hers. it's too early for them to go straight to holding-hands phase rn π ]
I know, I know. I just... didn't expect you to deliver, I guess.
[ she brings up her free hand to wipe away some stray tears in her eye, sniffling. ]
But I still feel bad. I was looking forward to that date, too. [ she lets out a hollow chuckle. ] Guess I'm going to take a raincheck on that till the city recovers.
[ Jinwoo watches as Ishmael huddles into herself, the flowers now resting between them. She doesn't take his hand, and that's fine. It's not like he expected her to. He lets his fingers relax, resting against the futon instead as the silence settles, unhurried.
A soft exhale escapes him at her words, at the way she wipes her tears like it'll erase everything too. When she mentions the date, a wry smile tugs at the corner of his lips. ]
Raincheck it is. It's more important that you get enough rest and recover, anyway.
[ His tone remains even, but there's something lighter beneath it too. Not teasing, not exactly— just enough to let her know there's no pressure if she'd rather forget about it entirely too. ]
But if you need anything while you're cooped up in here, now's the time to tell me.
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He lets out a soft huff, shaking his head. ]
Flowers, huh? Didn't think you'd want something that wilts so fast.
[ The joke is light, but there's an edge beneath it. His hands flex at his sides before he exhales through his nose, forcing himself to ease up. He had seen too many people on the verge of deathβ seen too many not come back at all. The fact that Ishmael is even here, talking, is something he shouldn't take for granted.
He studies her for a few more beats, and then steps further into the room. Once he's closer, he kneels beside her futon, one hand outstretched as shadows dance in his palm. They twist and turn until they manifest into the shape of a few different flowers: sunflowers, hyacinths, and orchids. ]
It's not much, but... they'll last longer than the real thing.
looks up
she slowly sits up, grunting as she does so, opening her mouth to hopefully segue into another topic, only to clam up as he literally conjures up flowers from the darkness. she stares, dumbfounded, her hand weakly reaching up to receive the makeshift bouque...
and he just had to say that, huh. no, even if he didn't say that, it's the fact that he gave her flowers -- a gesture that a certain someone used to shower her with when he was still around -- that made her feel all sorts of conflicted.
she lowers her head, her face overshadowed with her bangs. ]
Thank you. [ she says, her trembling voice almost inaudible. ] I know you mean well, but...
[ a tear drops onto the shadowy petal, then another. ]
Nothing really lasts forever.
cannot believe he stepped on this landmine so early
His hands tighten into fists. Idiot. He can't believe the mistake he just made.
It's not too long ago when they spoke together for the first time, when she told him about how LILITH suffered important losses last year. He hadn't pressed her then, but now, watching her reaction, the pieces fit a little too well. Like a puzzle he wasn't meant to solve. Someone important to her (someone who used too give her flowers) is now gone.
Maybe he should let the flowers fade back into the shadows, but then he thinks— no. That's not it. He lets out a quiet breath, choosing his next words carefully. ]
... No. Nothing lasts forever.
[ He doesn't try to deny it. After all, he knows the heavy feeling that comes with loss. There's no point in offering empty reassurances. Instead, he reaches out, not quite touching her, just resting his hand nearby hers by the futon. He's giving her the space to decide if she wants to take it, but at least he lets her know he's there. ]
But that doesn't mean what's gone is forgotten. And it doesn't mean you have to carry it alone. [ His voice is soft and steady. ] Isn't that what you were trying to tell me before?
truly the protag of all time
she shifts in her futon, huddling her knees close to her chest and resting her chin atop them, tilting her head slightly to stare at some random spot on the ground. she also puts the flower down between the gap between jinwoo's hand and hers. it's too early for them to go straight to holding-hands phase rn π ]
I know, I know. I just... didn't expect you to deliver, I guess.
[ she brings up her free hand to wipe away some stray tears in her eye, sniffling. ]
But I still feel bad. I was looking forward to that date, too. [ she lets out a hollow chuckle. ] Guess I'm going to take a raincheck on that till the city recovers.
ish deserves better
A soft exhale escapes him at her words, at the way she wipes her tears like it'll erase everything too. When she mentions the date, a wry smile tugs at the corner of his lips. ]
Raincheck it is. It's more important that you get enough rest and recover, anyway.
[ His tone remains even, but there's something lighter beneath it too. Not teasing, not exactly— just enough to let her know there's no pressure if she'd rather forget about it entirely too. ]
But if you need anything while you're cooped up in here, now's the time to tell me.