tushanshu_logs | this is the world we live in

Characters: Callaghan & China
Date: End of August
Location: Fire Sector
Situation: Callaghan and China catching up on the state of the turtle. A bit of a gossiping - and quiet information sharing.
Warnings/Rating: None needed? Gossip turning dark, maybe. With China being one of the few to know about a mask...

Focusing so heavily on the college and the shop, it was a given that Callaghan would fall behind on some of the goings-on. Maybe it was the result of taking too much on at once; maybe it was a result of immersing himself so heavily in to the city's culture, as opposed to holding himself aloof. But there was something to be said about not being able to see the forest for the trees - it seemed that when he had a moment to raise his head, well...

Funny how quickly things could change.

Funny how easy it was to remember that no matter how comfortable he made himself, at times, this place was not and would never be home. Some of the differences were subtle, but here, staring in to a fountain spurting a colored flame?

The closest thing he'd get to that back home was SFIT's chemistry lab - maybe miss 'Honey Lemon' with one of her latest creations. But it wasn't like he could get back there very easily, now, could he...?

Or if he'd even want to.

Home it wasn't, but at least things were, to a degree, simpler - no matter how much work he piled upon himself, no matter how blind he could, at times, make himself to the world about him. It would never be San Fransokyo, and even with his jaunts of some months ago, it wasn't as though that would lead to the same turn of events that it had at...well...

...so long as he did so sparingly, at least. Sparingly at best.

For now, though, well aware of his status as a Foreigner as he watched the patterns of the flame, and well aware that anyone could tell by just looking at him - he thought he was content with that. Between being - vaguely homesick? - and the alternative...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

August had not been China's favorite month. Oh, there had been worse, certainly -- the month of her departure from her home world came to mind -- but she had not been over fond of the events of this August. And she was, therefore, more prone to being out and about than she had been previously, more likely to take an interest in other things.

And Callaghan had already been an interest, of course. So when she came across the good professor staring contemplatively at a fountain in her home sector, China did not pass him by as she might have another day, but instead made her way over, took a careful seat on the fountain's edge, where she'd be right at the corner of his field of vision. There she settled contentedly, with the air that she was not so much awaiting his attention as she had come to be there completely incidentally.

It was hard to miss her; she always had such an attracting presence, all physicality aside. A draw, if one would. So when she sat down within his vision?

Callaghan's head automatically turned, and a small smile automatically crept on to his face, breaking through his own meandering thoughts.

"Hey, China. Come for the sights as well?"

"I do see them every day," she said lightly, dismissive; but all the same, she did return the smile, if smaller, a little more secretive. "But there is something to be said for stopping to appreciate the flames, isn't there?" She nodded to the fountain.

And it was nice to be around someone who actually did appreciate her, in turn. Too many people here simply looked right through her magic, or were used to it. It was decidedly annoying.

"How lovely to see you again, my dear... Professor," she added in a moment.

The warm sort of feeling was rare for Robert; it was pleasant, almost soothing, even if his mind was still wandering in circles. Still...

"As you," he noted, tilting his head. "I take it you're keeping out of trouble?"

There was a slight twist to his smile, just the slightest of smirks as if in some private joke - but a seriousness, as well. He wasn't just asking to make conversation.

There was a little mischief to her expression that matched his. Yes, they did share a private joke, didn't they?

"When have you ever known me to seek trouble, Professor?" she returned. She leaned back a little, lazily elegant against the fountain. She might well be laughing internally, from the twist to her smile. "Keeliai has been quiet, save for some minor hiccups. The fires. Skulduggery Pleasant. And, of course, the much-anticipated Justicar." Her definition of minor hiccups might leave something to be desired. "And you, my dear? Has your life been... interesting?"

"Oh, I don't know." (He could name at least one.) "I just like to hear it." After a moment, he followed her lead, taking a seat on the edge of the fountain. "I've been taking efforts to keep it as boring as possible. The last time things got too interesting for me, I got some odd looks." He managed a nonchalant shrug. "May I ask what's between you and Skulduggery?"

It wasn't that he disliked the man - skeleton - but there was a degree of respect-wariness towards him he held towards few.

"Are you reassured, then?" she wondered.

At his question China laughed aloud now; it was, as ever, a beautiful sound. "How long do you have?" she wanted to know. It sounded mostly amused still, at least. "I've known Skulduggery a very long time, and rather a lot of water has flowed beneath that metaphorical bridge." She considered a moment, though. "The minor hiccup to which I refer is his temporary resurrection."

Larger emotional issues aside, it had simply been odd seeing him flesh and blood, when she was so used to him a skeleton.

"Shouldn't I be?"

There was a hint of dryness to the tone; whether or not he came across as such, there was a part of him that was still wary. It also could simply have been the result of his lingering discomfort with this world.

"If you need an ear to listen, the least I could do is offer- but I won't push you." A beat. "But I'm going to guess you aren't on the best of terms."

There was a beat, wherein China gauged if he was serious about the offer. It was not that she intended to take him up on it, but the novelty of someone genuinely, seriously offering an ear for China Sorrows to talk about feelings-- well. Most people tended to assume she didn't have them.

"It's a very long story," China said, before too long could elapse. "Suffice to say I have known Skulduggery since before he died."

Her smile remained, but she quieted, her tone becoming something more serious. "By all means, be reassured," she told him. "There's no reason not to be."

For now.

this is the world we live in

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