spandexisyouth | Third Lotus

You don't want to be looked at that way? Chances are, then, you should worry about it being the former.

It's fine. It's not like anyone else knows exactly why they have their neuroses either. You don't know why you like green, do you?

Unspoken rules. It'd help if you told me what you expected of me, hm?
No, I just feel more comfortable this way.

I did not say that I did not want to be... I think you are twisting my words, but I am not sure.

No. But I can guess! Green is the color of life! And youth is life! Therefore it fits!

I cannot anticipate everything, but I will try! I am nearly to the market! I expect you to be near there? If we are to meet up and I am to give you the book. I will ask no more questions about it if it makes you comfortable!

Maybe you should take a moment to think about it. To be sure.

And I don't like people very much, so I'm not a people person... Therefore it fits, too.

I'm around, yeah. [[He will be a little late? But he can also get a tad stuck now--it could even be his excuse--if we want to move to quicklog now?]]

I said... And then you said... Hm. Yes, I think you were!

I am sorry that you do not like people. I can try to help!

I am... Hm. I am being pulled away from the shop. Oh. Um. Bell? Do you know if events repeat? I think they might. Oh. I believe you have already found this out! I believe I see you! Perhaps I should stop writing this.

[Quicklog]

Are you... [Youth pauses as he sees Bell for the first time. There's an odd feeling he can't place, so he's quiet for a moment as he's pulled a few feet closer by the mistletoe.] You are Bell?

Edited 2009-10-20 06:09 (UTC)

Nicely done.

Please don't.

...

[Quicklog]

[Bell sighed, resigned. So this was what the mistletoe did to people it caught. He would have preferred it if Youth could have given him just a tad more space.] Yeah. You're Youth, I take it?

[Bushy brows, dark hair, dark eyes. He fit the description. He also almost fit the description of a young boy Bell had seen in his dream except...not quite. That didn't explain why it felt like they had met, though.]

[He frowned as Bell sighed.] You do not seem enthused at all about meeting me. You seem the opposite! But... [Youth shook his head.] I am not sure I have not met you before.

[It's not exactly like there's an option of space when the mistletoe pulled people together.] I am! And we are stuck. But do not worry! I have your book portion!

I'm supposed to be enthused about being stuck under mistletoe with a stranger? [So Youth noticed it to, that sense of having known each other before, somewhere. Perhaps it was only in passing on the streets of the sphere...though it all seemed...annoyingly familiar.] We haven't met. I think I'd remember.

[A man can wish.] So we are. At least I'll have something to read while I wait. [With a mild smile, one which was hidden by the scarf he wore around his lower face, he held out his hand expectantly.]

There are methods to become unstuck! [That's the thing. He'd think he would remember too, but he doesn't. He can't place it. And he tried to pay attention to the people he ran past while doing laps on bridges.] Would we? Remember? If... I do not know.

[He handed over the book, unsure about Bell.] At least you do not seem entirely upset! That is good! [Now they were very close, but Bell didn't seem interested in getting free. That was just another thing to add to the list of strange things about the other man.]

So I've heard. [But the mistletoe does go away eventually. Maybe if they wait long enough, it would release them. Hours, days...] Does it matter now? I don't remember, neither do you, so for all intents and purposes...we haven't met. There's no sense wondering.

[He took the book and fingered through it, his attention seemingly completely diverted away from Youth and their close proximity. "We must advertise Wilbur's noble qualities, not his tastiness," read one line on the first page of Bell's copy, obviously from the middle of the book. ...Hm. Well, this wasn't the book from his dream, that was for sure. But it would work to help him ignore Youth until the mistletoe's power gave out.]

You would prefer to simply stand here, trapped? When all we would need to do is hug? [Youth blinks.] But it does matter! It could be important! We do not know why we are here or anything, and if this is a clue, then it is important! Why are you so, so distant?

[And now he was being ignored. For a book. And something tickled in the back of his head. Youth gasped, staring at Bell.] You are not just distant. You are aloof.

Why not? I don't need a hug. I could stand here all day. [Bell sighed again.] Do I look distant to you? [...He began to say, gesturing to the lack of space between them with a wave of his hand, not even bothering to look up.]

[Youth's accusation at least got a reaction. Bell glanced up. There was something about Youth's reactions that just begged to be matched with more ...aloofness.]

So?

Edited 2009-10-20 07:24 (UTC)

But I do not wish to stand here all day! I must get new clothing! [Youth shakes his head.] I did not mean physical distance! I meant that you are being mentally distant when we could learn more!

[That just cemented things all the more. But why would this man be a part of his dream? What was it that made Bell stand out? The name Bell didn't even do a thing for Youth. This made no sense. But perhaps if he tried to explain Bell would stop being so... aloof. That didn't seem very likely.]

I think... [He lowered his voice. That is to say, he was talking in a VERY LOUD whisper. He didn't want to risk being blown up by an acorn. Appleseed. Thing.] I think you were part of my dream.

Or you could spare the sphere and not? [Bell didn't reply. Learning more about Youth? He would rather not.]

[Bell waited a moment, as if expecting something to happen. People who learned things got censored on the journals--Youth could be courting his own version of ink-blotting-out by voicing such a thing. If Bell was part of Youth's dream, and if the dreams were connected to their own personal truths, they were treading dangerous waters just talking about this. Bell would rather an acorn not smoosh Youth either. Just the thought of it made Bell's left eye sting painfully.]

Hm. You don't sound too sure. Maybe it was another Bell.

Not get clothing? I will be doing that later when I go to the beach! It will be-- I got distracted. My point was... [Wait. What was his point? Oh, right! He didn't want to be stuck here all day. How would he fix that, though? Everything he knew said things had to be mutual, and Bell seemed content to just read. Perhaps it was time to get creative with the truth.] If you are certain we can wait! Though I believe a hug would be more to your interests than a kiss! Or perhaps you do not know. If we wait too long, we will be forced into that! [Hah! That would do the trick. Especially with a guy that covered up his mouth. Soon he would have clothing that was comfortable.]

[Nothing happened. There was no punishment. Youth patted his head. Good, no snakes.] No. It is not your name. It is that you look familiar, and then that you are... [He kept using the word over and over. But if it fit, well.] Aloof. I am sure. [Mostly. Sorta. Kinda. A little. Okay, maybe not sure. He was still new to this. What if it was like that thing with Moon? The memory that wasn't his?]

[Eyebrow cocked, Bell looked mildly disturbed, if vaguely interested in that tangent. And then it was back to the hug thing, and Youth kind of lost him again, until the bit about being forced. God, he hoped it didn't come to that. His tone was teasing, but relatively dull.] Ah...shame. But I believe in waiting. I happen to like long courtships. You wouldn't rush into things, would you?

[In the book, they were trying to figure out if the pig was radiant or not. Bell decided Youth was just a little more interesting at the moment. A connection between them, however, was still too vague to go off of.] So just because I'm aloof, I'm the man of your dreams? You aren't very particular about these kinds of things, are you?

[That didn't work? The person who didn't like people wouldn't just hug him to get out of more contact and being stuck with him? Then again, maybe this wasn't the worst scenario ever. He could try to work on Bell's friendship more! He had a captive audience!] I think I would, actually. I think I am exactly the type of person to rush into things. But if you are certain you do not wish to be free, we can stay here. If a manly hug is too intimidating, then we will remain stuck!

[Youth shook his head.] It is not just that. It is also that you look familiar and the entire attitude matches. It is... I do not have a word for it. But I am choosy and particular! There are several here that are aloof! You are in a different way!

Edited 2009-10-20 08:24 (UTC)

[Captive in the most literal sense of the word, too. Bell was just trying to avoid the hug--ignoring Youth would be easy, he was sure of it. He was sure it was a skill that came naturally to him.] Stuck is fine with me. I have reading material, remember? What are you going to do for however long this takes?

Lucky me. [Deadpan.] I'm the one stuck with you, then, hm? Because I'm the right blend of looks and attitude?

[Youth did not like to be ignored, and he was skilled in making sure he was not ignored. Though Bell did seem to be particularly talented in this area.] I could read over your shoulder! I did not read it, though I glanced at it! I had to make sure it was in a readable shape, otherwise there would be no point in bringing it to you!

Exactly! You are! [Completely missing the sarcasm here.] We are both lucky! We have found out something important! I am glad of this!

[Bell was not comfortable with someone looming right over his shoulder like that, reading, though it could be doable...to avoid a hug.] But the book is mine now. Maybe I don't want to share.

We don't know how important it was, really. [Another thing Bell found came relatively easily: being a ~~downer~~ realist.] You weren't in my dream. You're blowing our association way out of proportion on only a hunch and circumstantial evidence.

[He stared for a moment, unsure about how to deal with this man. He couldn't get free, but Bell wouldn't even share? Hm.] Very well! I do not see that I have other options other than to try hugging you! It would be silly to stand still while you read! [Saying that, Youth reached for Bell, intent on wrapping him up in a giant hug.]

But my hunches are important hunches! You... There was nothing about me at all? But you thought there was something familiar about me! You cannot deny that!

[Bell tensed, but could not move away as he would have liked. He was forced to stand there stiffly through a hug and hope that all this at least freed them from the mistletoe before he decided he might want to kill Youth.]

Nothing about you at all. Maybe I was mistaken.

...And you can let go now.

That is cold! Perhaps you are simply too stubborn to admit things!

[Youth released him, attempting to step away. He could let go, but he couldn't go any farther.] Apparently it must be mutual! I thought so! Are you scared of the thought of a manly hug, Bell? I have hugged several people due to this event! It is harmless!

I don't know what you expect to hear instead. You weren't in my dream... ['Your cool hip attitude is really pissing me off.'] ...Anywhere. But, if you'd like to pretend we knew each other, go right ahead.

[Even Bell could feel the tug when Youth stepped away and the gravity of the mistletoe set in again. He just crossed his arms and didn't look huggable in the slightest.] You do get around, don't you.

Edited 2009-10-22 09:19 (UTC)

You are trying to aggravate me! But do not worry. I am not easily angered! I will not just give up! I am determined! I believe you are simply challenging me to get at the bottom of this! And I shall! [He gave Bell a thumbs up, unable to do the full arm-extension when he was this close to the other. There was something about the distant people in this place that made him just want to break down their prickliness. It was as if their attitudes were cries for help, cries for him to help.]

[Now Bell looked cranky, and Youth had no idea why. He was only trying to free them.] We had become trapped! One was during a game of Frisbee, another was a small girl who stuck mistletoe in her hair! And then there was Fred! You have not hugged anyone? That is a shame! Hugging can make your mood better! [He debated hugging and holding on. Sooner or later, Bell would have to hug back, right? Even if it was just a twitch? Maybe that would make Bell more angry. Youth 'hmphed' and folded his own arms. He could be aloof too. Totally.]

[Bell blinked at the thumbs up in front of his face and remained neutral in expression. Maybe, though...if there was a connection between Youth's "aloof" person, and the voice in Bell's dream... But he didn't want Youth to go looking into it. The idiot was liable to stumble upon enough to get himself killed.] ...If that's what you want to believe...

No, I haven't hugged anyone here. And I highly doubt that it'll improve my mood. [He didn't see how hugging Youth would make his mood better, though he was beginning to think they might just as well do it and get out of here, and maybe he wouldn't have to put up with him after all... But when Youth decided to try and match him in stubbornness and "aloofness," something stirred in him and he couldn't just give in. He was going to win this one. Or, more importantly, he wasn't going to let Youth win this. Bell's mood was improved already, even if he failed to show it.]

And no, that's not an invitation to try it.

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