There weren't a lot of people along the way, so Yulia smoked as they walked toward the dorms. She wondered if they should even keep staying there. They were of age and did not require studies at Balamb, so getting a place each at the residential area seemed more appropriate for them. She should probably bring that up the next time the rest of the Blade gathered.
The two of them walked in silence. Yulia didn't have anything to say. Small talk wasn't her forte-- socializing wasn't her forte. Her language was more fighting, dancing with blades and blood, and she was sure Taning wasn't the same. He was more... restrained (between the two of them, he definitely was).
Still, she doesn't find the silence uncomfortable. That counted as progress, right?
Taning walked beside Yulia, hands in mage-robe pockets (Tohru had insisted that if he was to learn about being a better mage, he had to dress the part. Hikaru Shinta's influence, no doubt). He would have preferred to be talking to his companion, but he understood that 1) Yulia wasn't one for small talk, and 2) he didn't have anything useful to say anyway.
He snuck a glance at her and saw her watching the children, with what could probably pass for a pensive expression on her face. He gently nudges her with a shoulder.
Yulia was expecting complete and total silence until they reached the dorms. It usually was quiet between her and Taning, but apparently, he wanted a conversation.
She took a drag from her cigarette and turned towards him, slowly. Then, she smiled.
"I was wondering if they would taste good medium rare, with potatoes and bit of wine," she said, simply.
(A joke, sister? I didn't think you could.)
Of course, that's when she drops the smile.
are you hungry or something i heard humans taste like veal
And then, he surprised himself by laughing out loud.
"I think," he coughed, in between laughs, "that you should ask Inquisitor Lim." He composed himself and grinned, even though Yulia was no longer smiling. "He would probably know how they taste; I'd grant you he probably didn't cook anyone though."
Yulia, joking. Maybe there really is hope for the world.
i had salad for lunch so yes i am kind of hungry right now
It felt weird, actually, to realize how comfortable she had gotten with this new set of people, her new blade. It had taken her months after getting to know her old one before she even started opening up to them. Years before she even admitted that she was developing feelings for-- for them.
Maybe she wasn't as closed off as she thought she was.
"Are you done laughing?" She asked, sounding a little annoyed. Not at Taning, but at herself. Just a little bit. (Or maybe you are embarrassed?)
Taning felt a sense of accomplishment. A quick thought passed through his head: maybe Yulia, not having cared for emotions for so long, is unused to hiding them.
Because even though her question sounded gruff, her face was lit up by embarrassment.
Brig was right, Taning realized, though not entirely. You don't just look better when you smile, you look better whenever you don't look annoyed. Even if it means you look embarrassed.
"Yes, yes, I'm done laughing, sorry. Though please realize, that is the first time you've ever made a joke that I heard, so that just makes it soooo" and Taning made an expansive gesture with his arms, "much funnier."
Taning thought he heard Yulia hmph (and stifled a chuckle; that's another thing he's getting from her for the first time), and contented herself with walking in huffy silence.
Presently they made it to the living quarters. Taning, sensing no killing intent from the Bladian (another first! especially after someone annoys her!), magicked her door open for her.
A semi-servile bow. A too-amused-to-be-unctuous smile.
She did huff and cross her arms as Taning flailed his arms about in explanation. And then she promptly ignored him the rest of the way. At least, Anya comforted her, it wasn't as bad as it was in Mexico.
It made Yulia hiss.
She was calmer, though. Not as angry as she used to be, although still a bit irritable. She didn't feel the need to punch Taning's nose in is face, or the urge to cut him into ribbons. That would be... progress. (Josh would be proud.)
Yulia frowned when Taning opened her door with his magic. She could never understand why he kept insisting to show off like that. He had hands, he should use them. Idiot.
"We just happened to walk in the same direction," she said. Which she really didn't mean to say-- it was different in her head, but her mouth ran off before her thoughts could form properly.
Ah well.
Edited (i need to stop derping) 2014-01-27 13:55 (UTC)
Why did I open that that door with magic? Oh yes, because I don't want to be anywhere close to Yulia when I do gentlemanly things for her. She has a propensity for hitting people.
"Sure we did." He smiles. He did, after all, enjoy the walk. "Well, see you."
Taning started walking away. He thought it a high privilege indeed to be able to show your back to Yulia Bostova after you have annoyed her and not worry for your life. It means she respects you, or considers you a friend.
Then again, Taning thought, it's just as likely she thinks you're not worth the trouble.
Taning turned back before he got to his door.
"It was nice, talking to you. You should do that more often. We'd all like to know you more, you know?" He nodded, once, mostly to himself. "Anyway..." he trailed off, as he turned back to open his door, and shut it as he stepped in.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
he'd better not be
The two of them walked in silence. Yulia didn't have anything to say. Small talk wasn't her forte-- socializing wasn't her forte. Her language was more fighting, dancing with blades and blood, and she was sure Taning wasn't the same. He was more... restrained (between the two of them, he definitely was).
Still, she doesn't find the silence uncomfortable. That counted as progress, right?
;)
He snuck a glance at her and saw her watching the children, with what could probably pass for a pensive expression on her face. He gently nudges her with a shoulder.
"What about the kids are you thinking about?"
#sorrynotsorry
She took a drag from her cigarette and turned towards him, slowly. Then, she smiled.
"I was wondering if they would taste good medium rare, with potatoes and bit of wine," she said, simply.
(A joke, sister? I didn't think you could.)
Of course, that's when she drops the smile.
are you hungry or something i heard humans taste like veal
And then, he surprised himself by laughing out loud.
"I think," he coughed, in between laughs, "that you should ask Inquisitor Lim." He composed himself and grinned, even though Yulia was no longer smiling. "He would probably know how they taste; I'd grant you he probably didn't cook anyone though."
Yulia, joking. Maybe there really is hope for the world.
i had salad for lunch so yes i am kind of hungry right now
Maybe she wasn't as closed off as she thought she was.
"Are you done laughing?" She asked, sounding a little annoyed. Not at Taning, but at herself. Just a little bit. (Or maybe you are embarrassed?)
qt yulia
Because even though her question sounded gruff, her face was lit up by embarrassment.
Brig was right, Taning realized, though not entirely. You don't just look better when you smile, you look better whenever you don't look annoyed. Even if it means you look embarrassed.
"Yes, yes, I'm done laughing, sorry. Though please realize, that is the first time you've ever made a joke that I heard, so that just makes it soooo" and Taning made an expansive gesture with his arms, "much funnier."
Taning thought he heard Yulia hmph (and stifled a chuckle; that's another thing he's getting from her for the first time), and contented herself with walking in huffy silence.
Presently they made it to the living quarters. Taning, sensing no killing intent from the Bladian (another first! especially after someone annoys her!), magicked her door open for her.
A semi-servile bow. A too-amused-to-be-unctuous smile.
"Thank you for walking with me, ma'am."
no subject
It made Yulia hiss.
She was calmer, though. Not as angry as she used to be, although still a bit irritable. She didn't feel the need to punch Taning's nose in is face, or the urge to cut him into ribbons. That would be... progress. (Josh would be proud.)
Yulia frowned when Taning opened her door with his magic. She could never understand why he kept insisting to show off like that. He had hands, he should use them. Idiot.
"We just happened to walk in the same direction," she said. Which she really didn't mean to say-- it was different in her head, but her mouth ran off before her thoughts could form properly.
Ah well.
no subject
"Sure we did." He smiles. He did, after all, enjoy the walk. "Well, see you."
Taning started walking away. He thought it a high privilege indeed to be able to show your back to Yulia Bostova after you have annoyed her and not worry for your life. It means she respects you, or considers you a friend.
Then again, Taning thought, it's just as likely she thinks you're not worth the trouble.
Taning turned back before he got to his door.
"It was nice, talking to you. You should do that more often. We'd all like to know you more, you know?" He nodded, once, mostly to himself. "Anyway..." he trailed off, as he turned back to open his door, and shut it as he stepped in.