IC Inbox

[solar_flare]

"You've reached the voicemail of Yang Xiao Long. But don't YANG up! Just leave a message after the beep, and we'll get in touch!"

Beeeeeeeeeeeeep!

Comments

[sarcaskick]

New place? Nah, we haven't moved out yet. Still looking.

[ A pause, deliberate. ]

You know, these devices have a video function.

[ mercury please]

[solar_flare]

Wait, still? Did you get the door fixed by maintenance yet? It still looked kinda busted when I dropped off the trash can.

[A pause. A sigh.]

Is that an observation, or a request?

[sarcaskick]

I think it gives the place a unique charm. It's got personality!

[ So in other words, no. ]

It's whatever you choose to make of it, Yang.

[solar_flare]

You sound about sentimental about it, ha ha!

...It's a bubble bath, you wouldn't see anything worthwhile.

[sarcaskick]

Not enough to keep me here. We'll be moving out before long, once we find the perfect place.

[ Because why settle for less? ]

I'd see you, wouldn't I?

[ smooooooooooooooth ]

[solar_flare]

Oh, you're GOOD!

[She indulges in a chuckle, then a relaxed sigh.]

What would I get to see in return if I switched to video? And are you going to stay in Nova?

[sarcaskick]

Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week. Tip your servers.

[ He sounds equally amused, trailing off into a thoughtful hun.]

We'll be in Nova for sure. I still work here, after all. As far as what you'll get to see? Why don't you make a request?

[solar_flare]

That's cool. We're moving to Recency next month.

...Any request? What if I'd rather be surprised?

[sarcaskick]

I would say that's cool, but I have no idea where that is.

... I can do that, in a few.

[ There's the sound of metal being dragged against the floor. ]

Still figuring out the best way to close this door.

[solar_flare]

Main city. It was one of the few places I could find with a garage. Mikaela is a mechanic, she needs one. Need a place for my next bike too.

As for the door? No clue. Wasn't really thinking about the consequences when I punched it down. Aren't you the handyman?

[sarcaskick]

Mikaela... oh, her! Right. I don't think she likes me.

[ A lot of people don't, to be fair. ]

You warped that thing waaaaaay beyond what I can do with a hammer and a screwdriver. I'm not that handy.

[solar_flare]

I don't think she dislikes you. I didn't hear any venom or vengeance when she called you 'Robocop.'

Kinda digging the nickname!

And, uh...Sorry?

[She's not THAT sorry about the reasons she punched the door down, but hearing the inconvenience does make her feel a little guilty.]

[sarcaskick]

She's very anti-authority, and I'm the city Guardian. There's tension, not the fun kind.

... Actually it's definitely fun for me, but not that fun kind.

Don't worry about the door, I really don't care. It'll be someone else's problem soon anyway.

[solar_flare]

Yeah, but you're cool with me, and I'm cool with her. So it trickles down. There are benefits to being Yang Xiao Long's husband.

Including cooties.

[She grins, a little relieved that he's not teasing her too much about the door. She supposes it does make his place a lot easier to spot in the hallway.]

[sarcaskick]

Speaking of which, when are we having kids? Or are these so-called roommates actually adopted children you're going to spring on me?

[solar_flare]

...Arrrrre you asking because you're looking forward to being a dad, or looking forward to the process of making the kids?

[sarcaskick]

I don't have to answer that question.

[solar_flare]

Ha! Yeah, I don't know why I even asked.

[She's quiet for a moment. Thoughtful. And carefully drawing a razor over her leg.]

...You think you'd ever have kids someday? For real.

[sarcaskick]

[ There's a silence, just long enough to be a bit uncomfortable. ]

Never thought about it. Don't really want to, right now.

[solar_flare]

Nah. Definitely not right now.

[And she knows better than to give much encouragement or discouragement, it's always going to be a sensitive topic. ...Why is she even wondering in the first place?]

...A tiny version of you would probably be way too cute. I don't think I could handle it.

[sarcaskick]

[ Silence, on that front, because the only tiny version of himself he ever saw was in the mirror, and. Well. You know. ]

You were probably an annoying kid.

[ DEFLECTION GO ]

[solar_flare]

You have no idea.

[This time she can actually detect the deflection, and rolls with it.]

Just rocking around in pigtails. I don't remember it, but apparently I wreaked a lot of havoc and bit the barber for my first haircut.

[sarcaskick]

File that under "things that don't surprise me".

[ He's trying to turn away from it, but there's a nagging question in the back of his head, now. ]

Can I ask you something? And when I do, don't ask why, or pry for more details, because I'm just... curious. Be honest.

What was it like, growing up?

[ with a family that actually cared, that is ]

[solar_flare]

Hmmmm...

[She tips her head back, idly tipping her foot in and out of the water. She could talk about all the good times, but...he did say to be honest.]

It was...mixed, I guess. My mom left after I was born, so Ruby's mom was all I ever had. And when she was there, I remember being happy. She really loved us. Then, one day, she didn't come home from a mission, and things just...changed.

[She drops her foot back into the water and keeps it there.]

Dad didn't take it well. He shut down. So for a couple of years I was the one trying to keep things together, figuring out how to make meals, cleaning up around the house, looking after Ruby...things like that. Uncle Qrow helped sometimes, but... I don't know. It was tough. I was so busy trying to hold our family together I never really got the chance to sort out my own frustrations. Eventually Dad did come around and things got better. Ruby loved me, looked up to me, and that was a good feeling. And then we got our dog Zwei, and that definitely helped shake off all the bad stuff from before.

It happened back when I was really young, so...my memories aren't clear. And if there were any memories of my own mom, I gave them up to open the gate to Beacon, so they're just not there anymore.

[sarcaskick]

[ There's silence, contemplative, but when he does respond... it's with a laugh, short and muted. ]

Well, that makes two of us who don't remember our mothers.

[ He had tried to ask, long ago. He learned quickly not to bother. ]

So you were basically mom and dad for a while. I could see that.