[ pausing, she listens to him. what remained in her expression, twisted with anger and insult, is gone now, whisked away by the tenuous strain on his voice and the honesty she knows is sutured into it. sure, she's not a bad candidate for posing that question: abandoned as a child, left to the church, scraping to get by... she looks at him for a long moment, silent and thoughtful, before aerith's mouth lets her form the words her heart wants to say. if he's going to be real with her, she might as well be real with him, too. ]
[ sha-ming falls into silence. quiet and thoughtful as heat crawls across his cheeks. she was so predisposed to seeing the good in people — himself included. sometimes, he thinks it’ll be her undoing.
sheepishly, a hand comes to rub at the back of his head. ]
I’m… I’m not that good of a guy, Aer…
[ he really would do anything for her, no questions asked. ]
But I guess that’s just you. Always seein’ the bright side of things… even when life hasn’t given you a reason to.
[ "they like me because i'm cute," she thinks but doesn't say. she just tilts her head and wanders over to sit on his desk, next to him. with her feet dangling off the floor, she looks at him with a bright, beaming grin. ]
Yeah, maybe. So what? [ honestly. who cares how good or not good he is? sha-ming is sha-ming. ]
Nuh-uh. This isn't about me, buster. [ then who is it about...? hmmm. ] Sha-ming Jr., don't you agree?
[ cheep, cheep goes the chicken in her tight, unforgiving grip. free me, it's dead stare begs. ] Yes, this really is about your father, isn't it?
[ ugh, she really is too cute — and too much. he cocks his head, charmed by the audacity, gaze poring over her face. ]
That make you the mom? [ a beat, as he nudges her wrist in some attempt to loosen her grip on the poor thing. ] Don’t tell me we skipped right past the best part of the baby making process…
[ AHEM. ]
Don’t get shy on me now. People here can’t get enough of ya. Been that way since we were brats.
[ there's a non-committal quirk of one thin chestnut brown brow in response to his comment. neither do i, the look seems to say. aerith relaxes, still holding sha-ming jr. in her hands as it begs for release from it's prison only through a beady, flinching stare. ]
Aren't you lucky that I know Sha-Ming Speak? Or else I might have gotten really mad right then. [ which part? who is to say. ] If you helped out around town, too, people would know you better, you know. I'm sure the farms would appreciate it if you came around to help with their animals. [ a short, curt beat— it doesn't linger long enough for her to let him speak. ] It's not like you aren't helpful.
[ aerith just keeps smiling in a thin, knowing manner. it's only then that she relinquishes her tight grip on the chicken, and it takes to freedom the same way a fish takes to water, immediately wandering the desk with halting curiosity. ]
Okay, you prodded my brain enough. Minato's still at school, isn't he? So we can go and play a little. There's a few new stalls set up in the shopping district, let's go check it out!
Yeah, that too. But yanno, you’re a real piece of work yourself, if I do say so myself….
How’s the phrase go? Like knows like?
[ he’s teasing, but there’s something genuine there too — aerith was… the kindest, most compassionate selfish brat of a woman there was.
and he likes that, really.
the poor chicken is liberated from the iron vise of her arms shortly thereafter and practically bolts into the hallway. sha-ming brings his leg up, sitting loosely on the stool as he rests his face in his palm. ]
Play, huhhh? Sounds like a date to me. Didn’t you say you already know how’d that go…
[ a wave of the hand. ]
But sure, let’s do it. Not like I can say no to you, princess.
[ sliding off the desk with a hop, aerith plants both her feet solidly on the ground. when she turns to look back at sha-ming, her braid is swaying quickly with the motion, and her smile has turned mischievous. he could see right through her, she muses silently, but aerith likes to think it's only because she lifts the veil to let him peer in.
of course, they grew up together; she would be foolish to think she can hide anything from him. so without another thought, she leaps forward to capture his arm in both of her's, smiling still as if it's no more than a tease. ]
And where did you hear the word "date", hm? You must be awful lucky to go out with a cute girl, though. [ a beat. ] Not a princess. Really! Let's mosey.
[ without another word, she's tugging him out with her, leading the way brightly and cheerfully as she always has. ]
Oh, but look who started it-- if y'can't take the heat, get outta the kitchen.
[ it's all play, all fun -- that's just how they were. it's been that way since they were children. made everyday an adventure, even in the sleepy, faraway corner of the world.
and then suddenly, her hands are on him, and his mouth is agape in this dumbfounded kind of way -- like she's totally caught him off guard (she has). sha-ming stumbles onto his feet, letting her have her way, feet dragging against the floorboards. the door flies open and the sunshine washes over them in swathes. ]
Didn't give me a choice, did ya? You really do want me bad... [ he flashes a lopsided, teethy grin, the sharpness of his canines poking out. ] Alright, I'll let you have lil 'ol me. Tell me, Yer Highness, where are we headed first?
[ there's a fond roll of her eyes anyway, her free palm flipped over skyward as if to gesture to the heavens themselves in disbelief. this guy. ] Like I saaaaid, there's some new stalls at the shopping district. But you can always come with me anywhere else after that. I need to take a trip to the seamstress to check on my dress for tonight!
[ she looks back at him with a scandalous smile, positively radiant in the sunlight. ]
Oh, Sha-Ming! Are you getting dressed up tonight, actually? It's going to be a real show, you know.
[ if anyone's around to hear this conversation, they probably wish they weren't. ]
Hmm... what kind of guy...? [ "a crybaby," is pirouetting about on her tongue as she snaps her jaw shut. that might be a little too mean, she reasons, but there's a taunting raise of one of her thin brows when she looks at sha-ming. ] What about one that wants to match clothes with me tonight, then?
'Course I can handle it. Been handling it my entire life.
[ ugh, miss thickness. there's some deliberation at what she says next, a brow raising, the chatter of the village buzzing around them as the sun graces them with its warmth. ]
Our styles are pretty different, aren't they? [ a beat. ] I'll make it work. You just gotta show me what yer wearin'.
but she does watch him expectantly, knowing he'll buckle for her if she keeps her ground. as soon as he agrees, there's a little pep in aerith's step— ribbon in her hair bouncing, she turns to look at him, hands laced behind her back and bent at the waist. ]
That's why I'm bringing you with me. If you're lucky, the seamstress will even let you bring something to sew onto before the show. But, you gotta really impress her to get that kind of treatment. It's pretty special, you know?
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expiationlogs2024-03-09 08:37 am
no subject
That's easy. I met you, you know.
no subject
sheepishly, a hand comes to rub at the back of his head. ]
I’m… I’m not that good of a guy, Aer…
[ he really would do anything for her, no questions asked. ]
But I guess that’s just you. Always seein’ the bright side of things… even when life hasn’t given you a reason to.
Think that’s why everyone likes ya so much.
no subject
Yeah, maybe. So what? [ honestly. who cares how good or not good he is? sha-ming is sha-ming. ]
Nuh-uh. This isn't about me, buster. [ then who is it about...? hmmm. ] Sha-ming Jr., don't you agree?
[ cheep, cheep goes the chicken in her tight, unforgiving grip. free me, it's dead stare begs. ] Yes, this really is about your father, isn't it?
no subject
[ ugh, she really is too cute — and too much. he cocks his head, charmed by the audacity, gaze poring over her face. ]
That make you the mom? [ a beat, as he nudges her wrist in some attempt to loosen her grip on the poor thing. ] Don’t tell me we skipped right past the best part of the baby making process…
[ AHEM. ]
Don’t get shy on me now. People here can’t get enough of ya. Been that way since we were brats.
no subject
Aren't you lucky that I know Sha-Ming Speak? Or else I might have gotten really mad right then. [ which part? who is to say. ] If you helped out around town, too, people would know you better, you know. I'm sure the farms would appreciate it if you came around to help with their animals. [ a short, curt beat— it doesn't linger long enough for her to let him speak. ] It's not like you aren't helpful.
no subject
[ obviously. but then she keeps talking and — sha-ming huffs out a laugh, mouth crooking up into a smile edged with pure assholery. ]
Bein’ an angel is your job, not mine. I’ll keep to my own, thanks. Besides, farmers only care about makin’ a buck off their livestock anyways.
Like I said: just how humans work.
[ capitalism sucks. ]
Between you and my brother, one of us has got to be a complete bastard.
no subject
[ aerith just keeps smiling in a thin, knowing manner. it's only then that she relinquishes her tight grip on the chicken, and it takes to freedom the same way a fish takes to water, immediately wandering the desk with halting curiosity. ]
Okay, you prodded my brain enough. Minato's still at school, isn't he? So we can go and play a little. There's a few new stalls set up in the shopping district, let's go check it out!
no subject
How’s the phrase go? Like knows like?
[ he’s teasing, but there’s something genuine there too — aerith was… the kindest, most compassionate selfish brat of a woman there was.
and he likes that, really.
the poor chicken is liberated from the iron vise of her arms shortly thereafter and practically bolts into the hallway. sha-ming brings his leg up, sitting loosely on the stool as he rests his face in his palm. ]
Play, huhhh? Sounds like a date to me. Didn’t you say you already know how’d that go…
[ a wave of the hand. ]
But sure, let’s do it. Not like I can say no to you, princess.
no subject
[ sliding off the desk with a hop, aerith plants both her feet solidly on the ground. when she turns to look back at sha-ming, her braid is swaying quickly with the motion, and her smile has turned mischievous. he could see right through her, she muses silently, but aerith likes to think it's only because she lifts the veil to let him peer in.
of course, they grew up together; she would be foolish to think she can hide anything from him. so without another thought, she leaps forward to capture his arm in both of her's, smiling still as if it's no more than a tease. ]
And where did you hear the word "date", hm? You must be awful lucky to go out with a cute girl, though. [ a beat. ] Not a princess. Really! Let's mosey.
[ without another word, she's tugging him out with her, leading the way brightly and cheerfully as she always has. ]
no subject
[ it's all play, all fun -- that's just how they were. it's been that way since they were children. made everyday an adventure, even in the sleepy, faraway corner of the world.
and then suddenly, her hands are on him, and his mouth is agape in this dumbfounded kind of way -- like she's totally caught him off guard (she has). sha-ming stumbles onto his feet, letting her have her way, feet dragging against the floorboards. the door flies open and the sunshine washes over them in swathes. ]
Didn't give me a choice, did ya? You really do want me bad... [ he flashes a lopsided, teethy grin, the sharpness of his canines poking out. ] Alright, I'll let you have lil 'ol me. Tell me, Yer Highness, where are we headed first?
no subject
[ there's a fond roll of her eyes anyway, her free palm flipped over skyward as if to gesture to the heavens themselves in disbelief. this guy. ] Like I saaaaid, there's some new stalls at the shopping district. But you can always come with me anywhere else after that. I need to take a trip to the seamstress to check on my dress for tonight!
[ she looks back at him with a scandalous smile, positively radiant in the sunlight. ]
Oh, Sha-Ming! Are you getting dressed up tonight, actually? It's going to be a real show, you know.
no subject
[ his teeth flash white, that trademark smile of his materializing. ]
Oh? You need me to help you put it on?
[ he's joking. surely. before smoothing it out with a-- ] You look good in anything you wear. Ya know that, right?
[ and then she asks that and-- sha-ming raises a wrist, head cocking. ]
'Course I am. I'm not gonna come to one of your shows lookin' like a damned dud. What kinda guy do you take me for?
no subject
[ if anyone's around to hear this conversation, they probably wish they weren't. ]
Hmm... what kind of guy...? [ "a crybaby," is pirouetting about on her tongue as she snaps her jaw shut. that might be a little too mean, she reasons, but there's a taunting raise of one of her thin brows when she looks at sha-ming. ] What about one that wants to match clothes with me tonight, then?
no subject
[ ugh, miss thickness. there's some deliberation at what she says next, a brow raising, the chatter of the village buzzing around them as the sun graces them with its warmth. ]
Our styles are pretty different, aren't they? [ a beat. ] I'll make it work. You just gotta show me what yer wearin'.
no subject
but she does watch him expectantly, knowing he'll buckle for her if she keeps her ground. as soon as he agrees, there's a little pep in aerith's step— ribbon in her hair bouncing, she turns to look at him, hands laced behind her back and bent at the waist. ]
That's why I'm bringing you with me. If you're lucky, the seamstress will even let you bring something to sew onto before the show. But, you gotta really impress her to get that kind of treatment. It's pretty special, you know?