This...is a trap. This is so obviously a trap and Edwin feels it. Especially as Lalo moves forward to wipe away the words scrawled in the fogged-over mirror.
Edwin goes...very still. Even before Lalo makes his accusation, he goes still. When Lalo does guess at what the words might mean, Edwin goes even more still. If that's even possible. The result of that might be that Lalo congratulating himself on an observation well made but really he'd be wrong to do so. It's only that being the way Edwin is - liking the company of men - is criminal. Not something he's actively ashamed of, but a bit dangerous nonetheless.
He wants to boldly tell Lalo that no, he needn't be worried and let the implication be that Lalo isn't in any danger on that front from him. (He...really isn't, certainly not at this juncture.) The most Edwin manages, however, is a cold and curt "No" with his eyes still averted.
Edwin doesn't have enough courage to bait a beast.
Lalo is actively ashamed. It's one of the only things capable of causing him shame; he's pretty impervious to embarrassment in most situations. But this... this is different.
Which means that, in most situations, Edwin's stillness and timidity would net him nothing more than an eyeroll and a small snort... and the dissipation of Lalo's interest. He has little reason to go out of his way to harass Edwin, right now, and timid people don't often sustain his interest for long anyway. Lalo isn't really the type of evil that gets off on bothering random strangers, anyway.
But he's disgusted with himself. This place keeps putting urges in him that he doesn't want to follow. He keeps thinking about his Tio. Taking his feelings of shame and self-loathing out on Edwin feels like a good enough way to vent his feelings as any.
"Yeah? You sure about that? Hm?" There's ice in Lalo's tone, and in his veins. He steps towards Edwin, poking him in the chest.
The venom is directed as much towards himself as Edwin, but it might not look like that from the outside. Perhaps it seems like he's just being petty. He certainly can be at times.
Edwin takes a step back on instinct, though not quickly enough or far enough to evade the finger headed towards his chest.
Even though he doesn't stand his ground (too ingrained not to, too much of a coward), there's ice in his eyes to match the frostiness of Lalo's voice and his own voice doesn't tremble when he answers.
Lalo snorts and shakes his head. Maybe, there's the just the faintest roll of his eyes.
"Yeah, okay."
He's not sure if he believes that or not. There's definitely a slight undercurrent of mockery in his voice, like he thinks Edwin might be still lying. But he can tell when a conversation is going nowhere. He surveys Edwin, before turning back to the sink. He's clearly lost interest, or at least it seems that way right now. But then a word appears again. On Lalo's mirror.
It's there long enough for Edwin to see it, although whether or not he will understand its significance will depend on if he speaks Spanish. If he does, he'll recognize it as a Mexican slur for a gay or effeminate man. Lalo, seemingly calm, slams his fist into the mirror in a sudden rage.
Glass shatters. Lalo's blood drips all over the sink. He closes his eyes and shakes his fist, wincing and exhaling. Fuck.
Edwin is fortunately - unfortunately? - not at all versed in Spanish and even if he was even a little, he has likely would not specifically know the word that shows up on the mirror nearest Lalo.
It clearly isn't any good, though. Edwin actually jumps when Lalo abruptly slam his fist into the mirror hard enough to shatter it.
He isn't a brave man and he has no desire to spend any more time around a violent bully. While Lalo's eyes are closed, Edwin takes the opportunity to make a swift exit from the man's vicinity. Hopefully he'll make it to the door of the bathroom before Lalo realizes he's gone.
[As Keita asks the question - 'Have you noticed the thing on your wrist yet' - a niggling sensation of not-quite-right (one of many) coalesces into a very acute awareness of a heaviness and pressure on his arm. Edwin lifts the offending area to look at...whatever the hell it is. He has no frame of reference for this square object. It seems to be coated in....glass and that's as far as he can divine, other than being able to visually parse the picture and text.
It's actually precisely then that it begins to beep and buzz. Edwin startles a bit, and then shakes out his wrist, looking distinctly discomforted. It's not a pleasant sensation for him.]
What the devil is it?
[Even though Keita has explicitly said it can't be removed, Edwin tries to pluck at the band with a displeased expression.]
[ The way Keita pronounces the word, all sharp edges, makes it fairly clear what he thinks of that. He doesn’t care for any of this, in fact—not the watch, not the circumstances of their arrival, not the fact that his head feels like mud. It makes it much more difficult to keep his wits about him.
With a sigh, Keita sits up as well and draws his robe as tightly closed as he can manage before cinching the belt around his waist. ]
I’ve yet to get up and explore, but I don’t believe our clothes are anywhere to be found either. [ He rubs at his forehead, then sighs and turns a somewhat wry smile in Edwin’s direction. ] I believe we have a challenge ahead of us, Mr. Courcey.
[Anything else that Edwin might have to say, might be thinking of saying, grinds to a standstill as his expression becomes sharp and searching. His tone is accusational.]
[ How foolish—it normally takes Keita longer than this to slip up. He'll blame it on the headache, and on the ridiculousness of their current position, and... well, on himself, for not being cautious enough. ]
I apologize, it ordinarily... There's usually a bit more lead-up into it than this. [ He rubs at his temple again, this time out of frustration with himself moreso than due to a headache. ] It's that you—well, you intended to tell me your name. Just after I told you mine—which, incidentally, is Mori.
[ That's what happens, when so many futures are muddled up as memories in the back of your mind. ]
I have a bad habit of that, you see. Responding to the thing you meant to say instead of the thing you said.
[Edwin's eyes...stay narrowed, watching Keita closely. Trying to divine truth or lies in his words.
He supposes that should this man - Mori - have introduced himself, he would have introduced himself in turn. That much is true. It still doesn't make much sense and it doesn't make him any less suspicious.]
And how did you know what I meant [There's an inflection there, faintly sarcastic, faintly disbelieving.] to say?
[ Fair enough, honestly. It's a difficult thing for many to believe; Keita is plenty used to skepticism. ]
I am... what I suppose many would call clairvoyant. I can see any number of possible futures that might arise from the decisions that one may or may not make. Not only you, but anyone around me.
[ Edwin just happens to be the closest to Keita right now, which means his futures are the easiest for Keita to remember.
The first time Keita told anyone about this gift, he had been standing at the foot of an enormous, uprooted pear tree; the second time he had been at the top of the stairs, teetering on the precipice of being pushed. Being semi-nude and in bed with a stranger still manages to be his least favorite of the scenarios. ]
I imagine you'll have a difficult time believing it right now, but I assure you I am just as unwilling a guest in this place as yourself.
[That certainly isn't uninteresting, and Edwin does visibly, metaphorically sort of perk up his ears at it. It isn't foresight exactly but it's a close relative and....fascinating.
If true.
He tamps down his natural urge to ask as many questions as possible. It's hardly the most important mystery on his plate (...though it is the most intriuging one...) and he should probably sort out everything else first.]
You're right, it is very difficult.
[He finally pulls back the covers on his side of the bed, and places his feet into...the spare few inches afforded them at either side. This room really is tiny, isn't it? There's no closet, just...a metal bar on the wall with a few empty hangers, and two shelves. On those shelves do appear to be...a hamper filled with things.
Not useful things, as it turns out. Edwin wrinkles his nose in contempt at the offerings. There are...shirts of a sort (two of them) but he leaves those for Keita to find. At the very least there are two pairs of slippers by the door.]
[ Resigned, Keita crosses his legs as if to make room for Edwin to pass through, never mind that he's going around the bed and not across it. Maybe it's just that the room is small enough that it feels like moving his legs is helping.
As he watches Edwin look through the basket on the shelf, Keita runs his mind across several possible futures, ones that might prove to Edwin that he is who he says he is. Eventually what he settles on is, ]
Your watch has a clothing voucher stored on it, and if you visit— [ He pauses, brow furrowing briefly as he focuses. ] A clothing store in the marketplace, two down on the left. There will be something there to suit you. Trousers and shirtsleeves and—two waistcoats, but one of them will remind you a bit too much of your... brother, I believe.
[ It's harder to think through these things here than it had been, at home. Never did Keita think he would wish for the relative ease of tracing a future through the air. ]
That is, unless the loud man with red hair decides to make a ruckus at the entryway to the Nest instead of in the lobby.
[As Keita makes his prediction, Edwin stills in front of the basket, back to the man but clearly listening to him. When he gets to the part about the waistcoat that reminds him too much of his brother, Edwin's shoulders briefly curl in before he remembers himself and makes himself straighten again.
That...could certainly be a lucky guess. Many people have brothers and many people might either detest those brothers or be mourning for their loss in some way. It doesn't mean much
Then they'll close the entryway briefly to deal with him, and you'll be distracted by something else before it reopens. [ Keita sighs. ] That's a rather unlikely future, I admit.
[ To close off the entire entryway of the Nest would take quite a ruckus indeed, considering its size and relative importance to the resort. But for the sake of proving the point, Keita felt it prudent to provide all possible outcomes of that particular branch. ]
[Well. That does make sense. Edwin considers it and then nods. Finally, he does turn to look over his shoulder as he slides his feet into one of the pair of slippers.]
I see. Well. Thank you for your assistance, I suppose.
[He...thinks about saying something polite about how it's nice to meet Keita, discards it...and then wonders if the man might know that he considered saying it.
If he's telling the truth. Of course.
With that, Edwin opens the door and sets out into the unknown. But at least it's with direction...]
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@salamanca
This...is a trap. This is so obviously a trap and Edwin feels it. Especially as Lalo moves forward to wipe away the words scrawled in the fogged-over mirror.
Edwin goes...very still. Even before Lalo makes his accusation, he goes still. When Lalo does guess at what the words might mean, Edwin goes even more still. If that's even possible. The result of that might be that Lalo congratulating himself on an observation well made but really he'd be wrong to do so. It's only that being the way Edwin is - liking the company of men - is criminal. Not something he's actively ashamed of, but a bit dangerous nonetheless.
He wants to boldly tell Lalo that no, he needn't be worried and let the implication be that Lalo isn't in any danger on that front from him. (He...really isn't, certainly not at this juncture.) The most Edwin manages, however, is a cold and curt "No" with his eyes still averted.
Edwin doesn't have enough courage to bait a beast.
no subject
Which means that, in most situations, Edwin's stillness and timidity would net him nothing more than an eyeroll and a small snort... and the dissipation of Lalo's interest. He has little reason to go out of his way to harass Edwin, right now, and timid people don't often sustain his interest for long anyway. Lalo isn't really the type of evil that gets off on bothering random strangers, anyway.
But he's disgusted with himself. This place keeps putting urges in him that he doesn't want to follow. He keeps thinking about his Tio. Taking his feelings of shame and self-loathing out on Edwin feels like a good enough way to vent his feelings as any.
"Yeah? You sure about that? Hm?" There's ice in Lalo's tone, and in his veins. He steps towards Edwin, poking him in the chest.
The venom is directed as much towards himself as Edwin, but it might not look like that from the outside. Perhaps it seems like he's just being petty. He certainly can be at times.
no subject
Even though he doesn't stand his ground (too ingrained not to, too much of a coward), there's ice in his eyes to match the frostiness of Lalo's voice and his own voice doesn't tremble when he answers.
"Quite sure."
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"Yeah, okay."
He's not sure if he believes that or not. There's definitely a slight undercurrent of mockery in his voice, like he thinks Edwin might be still lying. But he can tell when a conversation is going nowhere. He surveys Edwin, before turning back to the sink. He's clearly lost interest, or at least it seems that way right now. But then a word appears again. On Lalo's mirror.
It's there long enough for Edwin to see it, although whether or not he will understand its significance will depend on if he speaks Spanish. If he does, he'll recognize it as a Mexican slur for a gay or effeminate man. Lalo, seemingly calm, slams his fist into the mirror in a sudden rage.
Glass shatters. Lalo's blood drips all over the sink. He closes his eyes and shakes his fist, wincing and exhaling. Fuck.
no subject
It clearly isn't any good, though. Edwin actually jumps when Lalo abruptly slam his fist into the mirror hard enough to shatter it.
He isn't a brave man and he has no desire to spend any more time around a violent bully. While Lalo's eyes are closed, Edwin takes the opportunity to make a swift exit from the man's vicinity. Hopefully he'll make it to the door of the bathroom before Lalo realizes he's gone.
@keita
[As Keita asks the question - 'Have you noticed the thing on your wrist yet' - a niggling sensation of not-quite-right (one of many) coalesces into a very acute awareness of a heaviness and pressure on his arm. Edwin lifts the offending area to look at...whatever the hell it is. He has no frame of reference for this square object. It seems to be coated in....glass and that's as far as he can divine, other than being able to visually parse the picture and text.
It's actually precisely then that it begins to beep and buzz. Edwin startles a bit, and then shakes out his wrist, looking distinctly discomforted. It's not a pleasant sensation for him.]
What the devil is it?
[Even though Keita has explicitly said it can't be removed, Edwin tries to pluck at the band with a displeased expression.]
no subject
[ The way Keita pronounces the word, all sharp edges, makes it fairly clear what he thinks of that. He doesn’t care for any of this, in fact—not the watch, not the circumstances of their arrival, not the fact that his head feels like mud. It makes it much more difficult to keep his wits about him.
With a sigh, Keita sits up as well and draws his robe as tightly closed as he can manage before cinching the belt around his waist. ]
I’ve yet to get up and explore, but I don’t believe our clothes are anywhere to be found either. [ He rubs at his forehead, then sighs and turns a somewhat wry smile in Edwin’s direction. ] I believe we have a challenge ahead of us, Mr. Courcey.
no subject
I don't believe I told you my name.
no subject
[ How foolish—it normally takes Keita longer than this to slip up. He'll blame it on the headache, and on the ridiculousness of their current position, and... well, on himself, for not being cautious enough. ]
I apologize, it ordinarily... There's usually a bit more lead-up into it than this. [ He rubs at his temple again, this time out of frustration with himself moreso than due to a headache. ] It's that you—well, you intended to tell me your name. Just after I told you mine—which, incidentally, is Mori.
[ That's what happens, when so many futures are muddled up as memories in the back of your mind. ]
I have a bad habit of that, you see. Responding to the thing you meant to say instead of the thing you said.
no subject
He supposes that should this man - Mori - have introduced himself, he would have introduced himself in turn. That much is true. It still doesn't make much sense and it doesn't make him any less suspicious.]
And how did you know what I meant [There's an inflection there, faintly sarcastic, faintly disbelieving.] to say?
no subject
I am... what I suppose many would call clairvoyant. I can see any number of possible futures that might arise from the decisions that one may or may not make. Not only you, but anyone around me.
[ Edwin just happens to be the closest to Keita right now, which means his futures are the easiest for Keita to remember.
The first time Keita told anyone about this gift, he had been standing at the foot of an enormous, uprooted pear tree; the second time he had been at the top of the stairs, teetering on the precipice of being pushed. Being semi-nude and in bed with a stranger still manages to be his least favorite of the scenarios. ]
I imagine you'll have a difficult time believing it right now, but I assure you I am just as unwilling a guest in this place as yourself.
no subject
If true.
He tamps down his natural urge to ask as many questions as possible. It's hardly the most important mystery on his plate (...though it is the most intriuging one...) and he should probably sort out everything else first.]
You're right, it is very difficult.
[He finally pulls back the covers on his side of the bed, and places his feet into...the spare few inches afforded them at either side. This room really is tiny, isn't it? There's no closet, just...a metal bar on the wall with a few empty hangers, and two shelves. On those shelves do appear to be...a hamper filled with things.
Not useful things, as it turns out. Edwin wrinkles his nose in contempt at the offerings. There are...shirts of a sort (two of them) but he leaves those for Keita to find. At the very least there are two pairs of slippers by the door.]
I suppose I'll discover the truth for myself.
[Outside of this room.]
no subject
[ Resigned, Keita crosses his legs as if to make room for Edwin to pass through, never mind that he's going around the bed and not across it. Maybe it's just that the room is small enough that it feels like moving his legs is helping.
As he watches Edwin look through the basket on the shelf, Keita runs his mind across several possible futures, ones that might prove to Edwin that he is who he says he is. Eventually what he settles on is, ]
Your watch has a clothing voucher stored on it, and if you visit— [ He pauses, brow furrowing briefly as he focuses. ] A clothing store in the marketplace, two down on the left. There will be something there to suit you. Trousers and shirtsleeves and—two waistcoats, but one of them will remind you a bit too much of your... brother, I believe.
[ It's harder to think through these things here than it had been, at home. Never did Keita think he would wish for the relative ease of tracing a future through the air. ]
That is, unless the loud man with red hair decides to make a ruckus at the entryway to the Nest instead of in the lobby.
[ There. Take what you will of that, Edwin. ]
no subject
That...could certainly be a lucky guess. Many people have brothers and many people might either detest those brothers or be mourning for their loss in some way. It doesn't mean much
Does it?]
...And if the man does decide to make a scene?
no subject
[ To close off the entire entryway of the Nest would take quite a ruckus indeed, considering its size and relative importance to the resort. But for the sake of proving the point, Keita felt it prudent to provide all possible outcomes of that particular branch. ]
no subject
I see. Well. Thank you for your assistance, I suppose.
[He...thinks about saying something polite about how it's nice to meet Keita, discards it...and then wonders if the man might know that he considered saying it.
If he's telling the truth. Of course.
With that, Edwin opens the door and sets out into the unknown. But at least it's with direction...]