/makes journal like a year after mun planned to [voice test]

[huntedstar]

Honestly, Mun-san, you don't have to worry so much about icons. You and I both know this is going to be short-lived.

[His expression is entirely pleasant while he says this, and yet...]

That's for the best, I suppose. [He frowns, seeming uncomfortable.] It's better that I don't stay in one place too long.

And Kamui will miss me.

Comments

[royal_brat]

So what are you running away from?

[Don't mind Ishtar, she can be very blunt. And nosy.]

[huntedstar]

[Well, it's not as if his username makes that glaringly obvious.] Well, someone I--... [How even to explain?]

...There's a person who wants me, and my twin. [Presumably.] Because... Well, he's hunting us, I guess you could say.

[He sighs, looking troubled.] I apologize, it's a bit complicated.

[royal_brat]

[Ishtar thought that was pretty obvious, yeah, but she wanted to hear his answer, regardless. This looks a lot like a cute boy in distress. She can't leave that alone.]

It's alright, I kinda know how that goes. I mean, I don't know of anyone in particular hunting me, but there are quite a few that would be really happy if I just stopped breathing for whatever reason.

[So, she's got a kind of morbid sense of humor, too, sorry. It's true, though.]

What's this guy's problem, anyway?

[huntedstar]

[His default expression has those kicked-puppy eyes about him that just makes you want to wrap him in blankets and hand him tea, it's true.

He smiles a bit at the joke.] Hm, I don't think it's quite the same, but I understand.

[He thinks for a moment. About that "problem"...] I guess it's my fault, really. I trusted him too much, and let him know more about me than I should have. Now it's a reason for him to chase us both. Not so much to kill as to...--

[He pauses in a confused realization.] ---Actually, I'm not entirely sure what he does want with me. [Though he has a few guesses.]

[royal_brat]

[Very much so. He's precisely the kind of person that Ishtar has a tendency to adopt. She may lack biological sisters and brothers, but she makes up for it with her chosen siblings.]

It's not your fault he's apparently some kind of psycho stalker. [She draws herself up to every bit of her 'imposing' 5'2 and leans in to point at his forehead for emphasis.] I mean, unless you have some kind of super secret mind powers and are controlling him, what he's doing is his choice, not yours, see? Some people are just crazy. He was probably like that before you even met him, I bet.

[huntedstar]

[Subaru blinks as she jabs his finger towards his face. It's a good thing he's not as prone to defensive instincts as Kamui is upon having people invade his personal space.]

I understand your point, but... [He furrows his brows thoughtfully.] It's not as if his reasons for chasing us are solely because he wants to. There's...other reasons, that are my fault. [And also not his fault, but he's more inclined to see the reverse.] I guess you could say there's a supernatural side to the whole thing.

[He'd apologize for being cryptic, but that's been his default for so long he may no even be aware that he's doing it.]

[royal_brat]

[Personal space and a healthy sense of self-preservation are things that happen to other people, not her. That said, she doesn't stay in his face. She rocks back on her heels and crosses her arms, clearly unimpressed with his excuses.]

If you say so. [Yeah, she's not buying it.] Supernatural, eh? Like magic and stuff? We have that where I'm from. I've never been very good at it, myself.

[She did ditch a lot of lessons that might have improved her skills, so it's hard to say if it's a true lack of ability or if she just lacks discipline.]

[huntedstar]

I suppose. Magic. Super-human abilities. Monsters. Whatever you'd like to call happenstance that falls outside of what one might normally expect.

[His tone changes to slightly curious.] You practice magic?

[royal_brat]

I've seen my share of monsters. Some vampires, some human.

I...

[She pauses, a flash of memories flickering through her mind in a rather confusing fashion. Time is weird here, but the sense of loss is an almost tangible thing when she thinks about the magic lessons she didn't manage to wiggle out of had as a child.]

I attempted, for a while. I was more or less forced into it, since my ancestors were powerful mages and warriors. It was assumed that I should follow in their footsteps, but like most things I was obligated to be, and do, I resented it. I didn't have the patience, or the right mind-set for it. That didn't stop Yuujin from trying. He was the kindest, most patient teacher I ever had.

[huntedstar]

... [He offers a few words with slow caution, but curious.] Your world has vampires...?

[He sees enough discomfort on her face to mimic with an empathetic frown.] It seems I touched upon an uncomfortable subject. I apologize.

[royal_brat]

Yes. Most of them are pretty terrible. [Duzell being the main exception.]

[She shakes her head, smiling.]

You just blame yourself for everything, don't you? It's alright. I was just thinking about how much of a spoiled brat I was back then. It took a while for me to appreciate how many people actually cared about me quite a lot. I was never as alone as I thought I was.

[Moving on!] My name's Ishtar, by the way.

ftr I don't know your canon at all but this is the best exchange I've had on DW in months. ❤

[huntedstar]

[He nods with a hum of acknowledgement. Not a surprising opinion, honestly.

He sighs, half-laughing with a slight, bashful smile.] You're not the only person to tell me that. [He's just extraordinarily conscientious and polite. And really not as bad as he is in some other universes could be!] It's good that you have people who look out for you.

[But he is certainly okay to move on! He offers a slight bow.] I'm Subaru. It's nice to meet you, Ishtar-san.

[Which....it might not make sense for him to use a Japanese honorific in this particular universe but honorifics don't translate well so Mun says WHATEVER ¯\_(ツ)_/¯]

Aw~ ❤ This muse hasn't been out in a while, she's lonely :3 I do remember X/1999 and Tokyo Babylon

[royal_brat]

[Pfft, language barriers. He'd probably be speaking Japanese, anyway, and who knows what they speak in Pheliosta. Pheliostian? Well, it's all the same now, cause reasons.]

[Ishtar looks pleased. She's happy to see him smile and laugh a little bit, even if she only just met him. She suspects that he probably doesn't do that all the time. He seems very... gloomy.]

Likewise. It's nice to have a... well, sorta normal conversation around here, isn't it? Sometimes I get really tired of the constant political crap I have to deal with at home. [Everything there is generally "Your Highness" this, and "Princess" that and sometimes "You can't say that, you'll start a war!" It gets old really quickly.] It's a lot different when I'm here.

She's delightful! TRC!Subaru's similar enough to himself in TBX except add vampire & some self worth

[huntedstar]

[Because ~magic~]

Mm... To be honest, I don't often talk with other people; situations don't really allow it, since we travel often. [Among other...reasons.] It is nice to break from the norm though, I suppose.

[But really, he's been around so long most everything starts to feel like "the norm" after a while.]

He's so cute~ *pinches his cheeks*

[royal_brat]

Who do you travel with? [She figures it's pretty obvious that he doesn't have to get specific if he doesn't want to. As good as she is at getting people to open up, she's not bothered when they choose not to. With a few specific exemptions. And actually, those people frequently clam up anyway, just to spite her, she imagines.] Are you not allowed to make friends?

I think that's consistent in every universe~ /)-u-(\

[huntedstar]

Ah, Kamui. He's my twin. [In a manner of speaking.] Though we're not identical. But we've been together for as long as I can remember.

It's not that we're not allowed. It's just... [He tilts his head, trying to figure out how to best explain.] ...It's better that we keep our distance. [For a few reasons.] We're barely in one place long enough for it to matter.

I think so! Ishtar wants to kidnap him and take him home with her. x3

[royal_brat]

That seems awfully lonely. I mean, Darres has been with me pretty much every day since I was a little kid, and Duzie was, too, ever since I found him. I still met a lot of new people, no matter where I went...

[Ishtar is something of a social butterfly. Frequently scathingly honest, undoubtedly spoiled rotten, but an enthusiastic butterfly, nonetheless. The only people she just can't work with are stuffy, boring ones. Subaru is anything but boring.]

Is it really that dangerous, to let people get close to you?

If only Kamui wouldn't take gross offense to that. :v

[huntedstar]

Hm, I guess it is a little lonely, in a manner of speaking. But also not so much. The reverse is almost lonelier, in some ways--

[He pauses at her question.]

Not exactly. [Though speaking of things that are somewhat relevant...] We're...immortal, for one thing. [In all practical applications of the word, anyway.] In that sense, it's difficult to form bonds with people when the way they experience life is so different. [Which, he's always felt that way, but in days gone by he'd once felt more inclined to make exceptions. Not so much anymore.]

He can come, too! *imagines Ishtar's castle being filled with CLAMP boys...*

[royal_brat]

Duzie said something like that, too. He was a vampire, so, he didn't really know how to fit in around humans. [She smiles, and while there's a hint of sadness to it, she seems determined not to let it get to her.] Of course, he was reincarnated as a kyawl, so no one wondered why he was a little rough around the edges. I just let everyone think that he was my grumpy pet kitty.

So... yeah, I kind of get that. It's hard, but not impossible.

[She made friends with Duzell eventually, after all. It did take a lot of effort, though.]

Every CLAMP fangirl's dream, I'd imagine~

[huntedstar]

[He nods in agreement, expression seeming a bit more...intentionally flat for some reason. He has...some uncertainties, and some questions, but feels like it's not really his place to push her to share more than she already has.]

That's more or less the idea. Ah, though... [He looks a bit confused.] What is a 'kyawl'?

Ahahah, Ishtar would be such a CLAMP fangirl.

[royal_brat]

Oh, it's a big, tan, kinda stripey cat, with a bushy mane and a fluffy tail. The full-grown ones are pretty big and intimidating, but Duzie was just a kitten. [She gestures to indicate a size just a bit bigger than an average adult house cat.] Once he got used to it, though, he was able to shape-shift back into his old form.

[She gives him a thoughtful sort of look.] Um... are you a vampire, too? It's okay, if you are, I'm not gonna run away screaming, obviously.

[ex_actuates396]

You never know it might last longer than you think. Besides it's always good to get some fresh air.

[huntedstar]

I...suppose.......

[He trails off, seemingly distracted by studying her.

Her face was almost like looking into a mirror. Their hair was even eerily similar.]

...Ah, forgive me for asking but...who are you?

[ex_actuates396]

Sumeragi Hokuto. And you must be Subaru, because you look just like my brother.

[huntedstar]

... [The fact that she's able to guess his name is more than a little uncomfortable. And forget "look just like my brother."]

Does...your brother look just like you, too?

[If he seems suspicious, that's because he is, but it's not personal. Honest.]

[ex_actuates396]

We're twins, so yeah we look almost identical. His name is Subaru, thirteenth head of the Sumeragi Clan and the most powerful onmyōji it's seen.

[huntedstar]

Twins... [She's probably not lying. And the Witch of Dimensions said they might run into people that were similar to those they knew, but somehow he doesn't...think this is what she meant.

Even if she's not lying, he can't help but wonder...and murmurs to himself, half lost in thought--] But then...what about Kamui.....?

[ex_actuates396]

Kamui seems to be a pretty popular name. It's the name of two different people that become really important to Subaru, though I don't anyone has a shot against Sei-chan.

[oftesserae]

As always, Subaru-kun has an all-too gentle heart.

[huntedstar]

[This face is familiar, and yet......

He frowns coldly.]

You smell different.

[oftesserae]

Scent deeper. Always the same colour.

[huntedstar]

I wasn't speaking in metaphors.

[oftesserae]

My, my. Shall I apologise for troubling Subaru-kun's senses?

[huntedstar]

I am not sure what you think you'll accomplish by being coy. It certainly does you no favors.

[oftesserae]

It's only civil. Subaru-kun can't have cast aside his manners so easily.

[huntedstar]

[Oh fear not, if he were speaking Japanese it would still be exquisitely polite.]

You are a reflection of somthing I am trying to leave behind. You are similar only in name, and nature. I have no ties to you. I owe you nothing.

Leave me.

[oftesserae]

Nothing is owed. And nothing is asked. An equitable bargain.

But I'm afraid, Subaru-kun, some things may be past the point of fair diplomacy. Wouldn't you say?