tunasub | OPEN RP POST 2020

[ look at Phos, getting permission for something... Cinnabar did not hear of this. Cinnabar also does not hear their approach, lost in their thoughts as they are - it's a bad habit, and one they wish they'd broken as soon as they hear that irritatingly familiar-yet-not voice.

Or, rather, they will be wishing that once they get past the panic. The mercury around them pinecones all at once in surprise as Cinnabar lets out a startled yelp, scrambling to their feet with frantic haste. The miniature Phosphophyllite in their hand immediately melts away; Cinnabar would like to do the same, but, unfortunately, they're stuck here on the beach, whipping around to face the other gem once they've backed away sufficiently and hoping the darkness hides at least some of what they're sure is a fluorescent blush. (Then again, the moon is bright tonight...) ]

D -- don't sneak up on me, idiot! [ the uncharacteristic panic probably isn't doing much to hide their embarrassment, either. There's no way in hell they're answering those questions, so they pretend like they were never asked. ] What are you even doing out here?

[ oh boy!! phos expects them to be surprised, but the mercury's movements isn't something predictable. it fans out around cinnabar as they stumble around, and phos yanks up their hands in front of them defensively, leaning back.

the moon is certainly bright, and when phos's focus adjusts on cinnabar's face, they can see the hot shade of red blooming over their cheeks and nose. phos's mouth quirks in a smile like they can't help it. ]

Sorry, sorry.

[ they lower their arms, letting the surprise ease off, letting their smile be a little more smug. ]

Sensei gave me permission to patrol on the night watch.

[ none of it touches Phos, of course - Cinnabar can't really control their poison, but they can exert some influence over it, and hurting a fellow gem with it is the last thing they want to do. Especially not this one. They shake their head a little bit, as if the blush is something stuck to their face they can toss off, before going back to glaring at Phos... although the smug look on Phos's face suggests that glaring isn't very effective.

It still feels weird to look at Lapis's face and call it Phos. Their gaze wavers a little. ]

Sensei did...?

[ a sigh. ]

Why do I have to... [ they trail off, frowning, then cross their arms anxiously. ] I don't have anything to tell you.

[ nope! not very effective at all. no matter cinnabar's reaction to it—and even a younger phos understood that despite their poison, cinnabar's anger was essentially harmless—phos had permission to be here and, technically, nothing was stopping them from talking to cinnabar. ]

You don't? [ phos points at the same hand that held mini-phos. yes, they saw it. ]

I know I snuck up on you, but... that isn't what it looked like.

[ they sound so innocent, when they know exactly what they're doing. ]

Edited 2020-06-10 05:09 (UTC)

[ sensei, what did they do to deserve this punishment... honestly, Sensei probably didn't even think about it that deeply. He's hard to read. In the moment, though, Cinnabar feels pretty annoyed with him. They fidget where they stand, looking for all the world like an animal about to bolt, but there's nowhere to escape to - Phos would definitely just follow them. They're persistent like that. As soon as Phos brings up their idle sculpting - and confirms that yes, they did see it, which makes Cinnabar want to turn to dust on the spot - they stiffen immediately, crossing their arms even tighter, as if hiding their hand will somehow make the other gem forget. ]

I don't! You're so creepy...

[ watching them! without them noticing! creep! that's their excuse! ]

I was just... thinking. [ about Phos. they try to quickly dismiss it: ] Not everything's about you.

[ sensei is just outside of the inter-gem drama enough for phos to get instant approval somehow. sorry shinsha... phos lets a smile ease back onto their mouth. the fidgeting and sudden stiffening of cinnabar's limbs is enough for them to know they guessed right. ]

I can't help what I see when I'm walking over here!

[ they take a step forward, offering up their arm; their hand melts upward, forging a little phos-doll similar to what they had seen cinnabar conjure up earlier, standing on one leg like a ballerina in a music box. ]

It looked something like this. That's me, isn't it?

[ phos brings their free arm behind their back and leans forward, their smug smile growing. ]

You can't make something look like me without thinking about me, right? Even a little?

[ testily, Cinnabar looks off to the side, turning their nose up and away from Phos's own metallic art piece. Phos really did see the whole thing... How humiliating. Lying about it is probably just digging them in deeper. They'll have to move on to plan B: not acknowledging it and hoping Phos gets distracted and forgets the topic. ]

... Everyone's thinking about you. I know you came back to cause more trouble for us.

[ a little more honest than they intended, perhaps. ]

You're already here to cause trouble for me.

[ phos was right, of course. that's what cinnabar's reaction is telling them.

their response, though, makes their smile melt away—much like the little golden figuring phos, which collapses slowly to form their hand again. phos lowers their arm, watching cinnabar with curiosity and intent. they can't argue with that answer. they're silent for a moment as they bring their arm back to their side. ]

Well... [ they smile meekly, taking a few steps forward to meet cinnabar at a more comfortable distance. for them, at least. they're still giving them a few feet of room. ]

Some of them already figured me out. [ they slide an alloyed arm up behind their neck, looking sheepish. ] And if that was the case, I didn't think I would be able to pull a fast one on you anyway.

[ they drop their arm back to their side, smiling with more confidence now. ]

We're supposed to be patrolling, right? [ they turn towards the shoreline and take a big step. ] We should get going.

[ miraculously, Cinnabar doesn't pull away when Phos gets closer. Whether it's because they know the effort would be futile or simply because it's Phos, they don't care to investigate. They scrub their face with a hand, as if wiping away any remnants of that embarrassed blush, before turning away slightly, looking at Phos sidelong over one standoffish shoulder.

It's surprising how much Phos admits to them. Then again, it's not as if Cinnabar talks to the others. Regardless, judging by their expression, Cinnabar's not all that surprised by the admission. And they'd be lying if they said they didn't feel a little guilt. (It is their fault, isn't it? The start of this...) ]

I already finished patrolling, [ they declare - but they begin to walk, anyway, carefully giving Phos a wide berth as they move past. ] You're late.

[ phos would have been more surprised to see cinnabar react at all, yet it still feels like a relief when they don't. it saves them the trouble of having to explain too much, if anything.

once cinnabar begins trailing down the coastline, phos doesn't seem startled by being left behind a few steps. they jog forward before slowing into a walk beside cinnabar, still a comfortable distance away but keeping an equal clip. ]

You never know when they could be back, right? Um, technically. We could just patrol again.

[ it's obvious to them both that phos is an agent from the moon and would have more insight to lunarian attacks, but they can just ignore this for now. ]

Anyway... you aren't going to ask me about anything that happened?

[ it is obvious, and it stings a little more than they'd like to admit. Phos had asked if that sculpture was them; frankly, Cinnabar's not really sure anymore, themself. That simple gem that wanted to help them before feels awfully distant in their memories. Cinnabar can guess at what Phos is doing. They're not so sure why.

It's a sign of their own weakness that they let Phos walk with them now, anyway, they think. It's even worse that they're still talking. They should know better. ]

Would asking help anything?

[ if Phos had concocted a good plan or learned some miraculous information, they wouldn't be engaging in all this secrecy. Besides, Phos probably came out here to tell them, anyway. For some reason... ]

OPEN RP POST 2020

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whoops those typos in the last tag

I HONESTLY DID NOT NOTICE

thank god

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