welcome to night vale u_u

[badhaircut]

You're not serious about this username, are you? It was ages ago! Cecil is the only one who even cares, anyway. .. I'm growing it back out, so hush.

And no, I-- I'm not talking about our date, either. He already covered it pretty thoroughly in his radio show, I think. [ face in hands forever. ] .. I should really.. talk to him about that habit of his..

Comments

[badhaircut]

You're certainly opinionated about Steve Carlsburg. [ a small, thoughtful hum, brows lifting as he considers cecil's enthusiasm. ]

Well.. you know, while I really do want to study you, and most people in Night Vale, I also just want to know about you for personal reasons. Things like your family and your background. What growing up here was like. That sort of thing.

[nightvalesvoice]

You know I'm not usually not one to be antagonistic, but he- He's just such a jackass!

[Blink. He seems to not even have considered those things before and it takes him a moment to answer.] ... A family? Well... Yes, I'm sure I had one! Everyone does, after all. Well, except for the kids that are left by the hooded figures and the storks. But maybe they had to come from somewhere, too. [Er- you're losing him, Carlos.]

[badhaircut]

I'll take your word for it, since I don't think I know him. At least, not well enough to say. [ and cecil's word is good enough for him, at least in things like this.

he tilts his head, squeezing the hand still curved around to his lower back. ] --You don't remember your family? [ back on the subject, dear. ]

[nightvalesvoice]

You don't need to know him. [He doesn't want Steve anywhere near his perfect, well-spoken, smart Carlos. People like that don't deserve his presence.

The squeeze seems to ground him just a little and he offers a smile, his tone not changing.] I'm positive I had one.

[badhaircut]

There are lots of things I don't need to know. That doesn't mean a lot to a scientist.

[ a small shake of his head. ] But you don't remember them. [ reeducation? or something else? ] Cecil.. are you.. [ a brief pause. well, there's really no tactful way to put this, and carlos struggles with being too blunt at the best of times. ] Are you human? Like me, I mean.

[nightvalesvoice]

He's not the type of thing anyone needs to know.

And I'm not just like you. [Cecil laughs like that should be obvious.] We're all different in some ways, otherwise the monotony of existence would definitely be too much for any of us to bear. [It's hard to tell if he just doesn't fully grasp the question, if he's purposefully being vague, or if it's something he legitimately can't answer.] Don't I... Look human?

[badhaircut]

Of course you do. But sometimes, you look a little.. other, too. [ he reaches up with his free hand, tracing his thumb over cecil's mouth again as if in illustration. ] It's never terribly obvious, but.. I notice you, after all. I notice things about you.

[nightvalesvoice]

[The mere idea that Carlos pays attention to him again veers him off topic.] I notice you, too! I notice everything about you, Carlos. [That could sound a bit creepy, but there's such a doting, genuine look on his face that it's difficult to find it quite as unnerving.]

[badhaircut]

[ he huffs slightly, mouth quirking. ]

Thank goodness you're too earnest to give off a stalker look.

[nightvalesvoice]

Oh- I'm sorry, was I too forward just then?? I was, wasn't I?

[But to be fair HE isn't always the one doing the sta- watching... By now he has quite a few... Intrepid citizens who eagerly give him tips as to Carlos' whereabouts and doings.]

[badhaircut]

No, you weren't too forward. I'm starting to get used to the way you word things, anyway.

[ he tugs cecil's tie once teasingly. ] You're-- perfect.

[nightvalesvoice]

Oh, thank goodness!

[That makes his eyes go wide and that whole "speaking for a living" thing again goes out the window.] Er- Oh.

[badhaircut]

[ he winds his fingers in the tie, smile widening a little. ] I'm sorry it took me this long to see you this way.

[nightvalesvoice]

[Despite still obviously flustered he does manage to actually come up with a coherent sentence this time. Thank goodness.] Ah- Why are you apologizing? Perception is a shaky, fickle thing anyway so it's not your fault that your vision hadn't adjusted yet. I mean, it's actually good that you didn't go around just seeing everything right away, since that can get you in a lot of trouble these days!

[badhaircut]

Apparently, everything can get me in trouble lately. [ he tugs a little, leaning slightly into the arm around him. ] But we both know I won't stop my work, even if I have to adjust it a little to avoid the secret police.

[nightvalesvoice]

[The tug makes him lean over Carlos a little more and the arm around his middle tightens, free hand going up to caress his face.] It's not very easy to avoid them... And they're only there for our own good, anyway.

[badhaircut]

Well, in this case, 'avoid' is sort of subjective. I'd be satisfied with just not catching their attention any more than usual.

[ he tilts his face into the caress, lips grazing cecil's palm. ] After all, they can be perfectly pleasant sometimes. When they want to be. [ a quirk of his brow. ] Now would be a good time to kiss me again, by the way.

[nightvalesvoice]

They're really a calming presence once you get used to the cameras. [And, well. The cameras are almost everywhere, so getting used to them is a must. But again Carlos is very effective at changing the subject and Cecil smiles as if he couldn't think of a better suggestion.] Oh, of course!

[He leans down and kisses him gently.]