[ Emerick wrapped an arm around Moonlight as he leaned into him, giving his shoulder a slight squeeze of reassurance: I'm here; a gentle reminder he wouldn't abandon the other man. ]
Of course. [ He pulled his Agent out and asked her to call for a cab. He let it do the heavy lifting as he slid the phone back into his pocket as he did his best not to twitch and look at every single little noise he heard. Like Moonlight, he didn't particularly try to make any conversation while they waited.
Once in the cab it wasn't until Moonlight spoke that Emerick's own tension started to wane. He glanced over at Moonlight, shifting from confident partner to his usual awkward self. He was a little more shy than usual - perhaps because of Moonlight's familiarity, or maybe due to the act they just had to put on as he thought of Moonlight kissing him. ]
It's no problem at all. Please, uh. You don't owe me anything. Really.
[ It's more of a comfort than he really expects, the way Emerick's arm wraps around him. He finds himself thinking of it even in the car, though the clear shift in the other man's mood distracts him. Amused, he can't help but tease a little. ] You sound nervous about that prospect.
[ Moonlight leans his shoulder into Emerick to play up the act, and even bats his lashes once ore twice - though were the act not already over the top, the grin he can't suppress ruins the effect anyway. ] Do you not trust me, dear?
[ It takes a second for Emerick to realize that Moonlight is teasing him but when he does he smiles with a little chuckle as his gaze falls, a little embarrassed. He looked back up to Moonlight as he felt the man lean into, losing his embarrassment in a real chuckle as Moonlight batted his lashes at him and grinned. ]
No, no, I trust you. You just... Don't have to, you don't owe me anything.
[ He wasn't trying to shut it down as much as just be clear that Moonlight didn't have to subject himself to Emerick's company if he didn't want to. Because who would willingly want to spend time with him, right? ]
[ It isn't until Emerick says it again that it dawns on Moonlightโ he detests the idea of owing anyone anything, but the words had slipped out so easily, a common colloquialism. And normally, had someone insisted he didn't owe them, he would go along โ or make some small gesture just to ensure it was clear any debt real or imagined was settled.
But in this moment... oddly, he doesn't mind it. Particularly strange, given he'd spent however many weeks waiting for blackmail from Emerick to pop up through his agent. He'd slowly, steadily given up that fear, and now the idea just brings a faintly fond smile. Moonlight settles back into the seat, comfortably close. ]
If you haven't had dinner, I make a decent synth-steak. I have some ganic potatoes, too. Then call it even?
[ Dinner certainly wasn't what Emerick expected to come from this. He had genuinely expected for Moonlight to drop the notion of this and let it go, then be dropped off so that Moonlight could go home alone, the location of his home secret. Even if Moonlight hadn't let it go he'd expected maybe going out to have drinks at another time, or something a little less familiar than this. ]
Yeah, uh, that sounds great. I'd really like that.
[ His surprise was clear, but no wasn't in his vocabulary; if that was what Moonlight wanted to do then he would go along with it (gladly, even, once he got past the surprise). It wasn't like he had anything else to do anyway: all he had at home was a pack of kibble, a bottle of the cheapest beer, and the latest screamsheets to read. ]
[ Moonlight's smile in response is a satisfied one. The address Moonlight gives the cab driver turns out to be a moderately tall apartment building - not precisely a skyscraper. It's nice enough for a lobby and an entrance with security, no obvious graffiti in the elevator or along the hallway. The apartment itself is a somewhat small studio, but the fixer has obviously taken care with how he decorates it. The lights are low, with a calm, aqua tint to them. A pattern like lights glancing off of moving water casts from the lights along the baseboard of one wall. The windows, directly across from the door, are obviously large, but the shades are closed at the moment. There is an inset radio panel, but the only media screen visible is a computer on a long, narrow desk set against another wall. Much like his office, the furniture here is a mix of decent flatpack pieces and more genuine craftsmanship, with carefully selected accents.
Moonlight gestures in welcome, holding the door for Emerick (or at least, he keeps a hand on the frame to keep it from closing itself). ] Beer? [ He offers, crossing to the kitchen with its small two-burner stove. ] Or I have some scotch, if you prefer that.
[ It was clear even from the lobby that this was a standard of living that Emerick had never been able to personally experience. The studio was nice, though, and fit what little Emerick knew about Moonlight perfectly. The atmosphere was calming and the decoration intentional. He wondered what the rent on a place like this was but quickly decided to disregard the thought because he knew he probably couldn't reliably make the rent. Maybe someday. ]
Beer, please. [ He followed Moonlight and found a place to stand or sit where he was out of Moonlight's way. ] You have a real preem place
[ Moonlight fetches a bottle of beer from the fridge - it's hardly craft, but it's at least decent - and opens it. As he turns to set the bottle in front of Emerick, there's a perhaps surprisingly soft expression on his face. ]
Thanks. After the Holocaust, I lived on the streets for years. [ His gaze shifts, flickering thoughtfully around the apartment he had worked for. ] I always told myself I'd be comfortable one day - and safe. [ Being off the streets... that had been more important to him than anything. In those early years, it drove him. He'd lost sight of it for a while under the Tyger's Claw and the haze of drugs that came with that life, but when he'd gotten free - really free - and when he'd had a taste of the lifestyle Aka's income afforded him, he had returned to that dream with a vengeance.
Moonlight's brows raise suddenly, as though realizing what he's sharing. He turns back to the small fridge, taking out a few packages. In glimpses of profile as he turns this way any that, Emerick might notice his cheeks are distinctly flushed. ]
[ Emerick is a little surprised at the expression on Moonlight's face as the bottle was set before him. He took a drink of it as Moonlight spoke of his history, setting the bottle down gently. Comfort and safety were surely the dream in Night City, and it seemed as if Moonlight had certainly carved off his little piece of them here. That he'd managed to be so successful despite such a humble start gave him hope, but he was also genuinely happy to hear that Moonlight had managed to make it.
The fact that Moonlight had just admitted something of his past - accident or not - put Emerick more at ease. He relaxed a little, both hands resting at the bottom of the beer bottle as he watched Moonlight with a faint, fond smile. He noticed the flush in Moonlight's cheeks but called no attention to it. His voice was warm when he spoke. ]
You've done really well for yourself. I've dreamed of living in a place like this since I was a teenager. The means just never really materialized. [ He gave a small shrug, not particularly bothered by it. Then, a little playfully: ] So color me a little jealous.
[ Moonlight fetches a pan from a cupboard, and sets it on one of the burners. He looks over his shoulder with a look of amusement that shifts to definite flirtatiousness, lips curving. ]
Well, perhaps if you play your cards right... [ And he's not talking about business. Then, as though he hadn't just made that suggestive comment, continues seamlessly on: ] Fries, mashed, or baked potatoes?
[ The comment surprised Emerick, his brows slightly raising and his cheeks shifted to pink. It was confirmation that Moonlight was interested in him, though. He'd wondered in the cab, but had written it off as possibly just crossed wires from earlier. ]
I might be feeling a little lucky with the hand dealt. [ He was a little more coy than his counterpart - intentional, yes, but a byproduct of his nervous nature as well. He wasn't as seamless or sleek as Moonlight, in part due to pausing for a split second to consider if he had any real preference on what form the potatoes ultimately took. ]
Um, whatever you prefer. I'm not picky. [ Which was true, and not an attempt to skirt making a decision. ]
[ Moonlight grins over his shoulder. He isn't one for casual flings - he's not entirely sure he's one for intimacy in general, anymore. His last two relationships had ended in violent, horrible ways for his partner, and Moonlight has wondered more than once if perhaps he's cursed, or a harbinger of some sort. It's Night City, and people die every day, but in his darker moments the thoughts creep in anyway.
Still, he likes Emerick, despite their rocky (on his part at least) start, and maybe there's no harm in flirting, at least. He turns his attention back to dinner.
Here, away from the hard, suspicious stares of 6th Street and the anxiety that came with that scrutiny, Moonlight has realized he's quite hungry. So he decides mashed is best in the moment, purely because it's probably the fastest. He washes the potatoes, fills the pot with water, and sets to chopping them. ]
I hope I didn't pull you away from anything important, earlier. [ He comments somewhat off-handedly, taking just a moment to glance over his shoulder again. ]
[ Moonlight's grin made Emerick smile in kind. He'd struggled with trust and attachment since he was a kid, and the two people he cared about he specifically detached from to avoid dragging them down or being a burden. The one person who had been interested in him he chose not to pursue, and he'd spent more than his fair share of time regretting the choice. Perhaps he had no real chance here, but he wasn't going to throw it away if Moonlight was actually interested.
He was tired of being lonely. It would be easy to just take care of things the Night City way - spend a few hours or the night with a joytoy, hook up with anyone that moved. Emerick was used to fake gestures, he wanted something real. ]
Oh, no. I was just reading. I picked up a book analyzing the political and economic tensions in Europe during and after the Fourth Corporate War. [ He's maybe a little more excited about this than most would be - his inner nerd definitely showing a little. Moonlight had interrupted a calm day that he'd taken for himself, but Emerick didn't particularly mind. ]
If I may, what were you doing at that bar? They didn't really seem to think of you as their crowd.
[ Moonlight's brows loft in surprise, and he glances over his shoulder again as though to verify Emerick had really just said that. His expression shifts, then, to something more along the lines of 'that makes sense,' and he returns to chopping potatoes. ]
A client thinks some Sixth Street members might be responsible for sabotaging opponent's cars in some street racing, but he wanted proof before taking any action on it. I happen to have a soft spot for racing - and I suppose I occasionally get the itch to get back out there myself - I thought I would check up on it instead of delegating. I knew I don't really fit in with their style but I didn't realize they'd be quite that suspicious.
[ He salts the water as it heats steadily to a boil, adds the potatoes, then takes a moment to return his attention fully to Emerick. ] Lesson learned, I suppose.
[ Emerick didn't react to Moonlight needing to consider the fact that apparently, Emerick was fond of such dry subject matter - he only listened intently as Moonlight explained what he'd been doing. He watches what Moonlight's hands are doing more than actually watching Moonlight, as if focusing to keep his gaze from wandering too much, his attention turning back to Moonlight's face when appropriate. ]
Sixth Street can be a little cagey. They take the whole "protect and serve" thing pretty seriously, or at least like to act the part. [ His gaze lowered, a little nervous giving unsolicited advice. His gaze lifted back to Moonlight about halfway through what he was saying. ] If you chat them up a little at the bar - let some of the vets boast and act impressed, let them talk about their days in whatever conflicts they saw - they usually decide you're okay and leave you alone.
[ Emerick looked as if he might have more to say, choosing to change the subject instead. ] Racing, huh? I used to sneak out as a teenager to watch them sometimes. Why did you stop? [ It was clear that it was a genuine question borne from curiosity and not an attempt to fish for information, and if Moonlight didn't want to answer it he certainly didn't have to. ]
[ Moonlight leans a hip against the counter, loosely folding his arms, brows raised in an open sort of expression. ] I don't know if I can use that advice at that bar anymore, but I'll keep it in mind if I have reason to shadow them again. 'Preciate it.
[ The question is a natural one, and Moonlight doesn't mind that Emerick asks. It's a difficult answer, complicated by the array of memories - good and bad - that come with it. The fixer's gaze drops to the vinyl flooring, a half-cocked, morose sort of smile finding its way to his expression. One loose tress casts shadows across eye and cheek from the ambient lighting.
Moonlight clears his throat after a moment, resets the slope of his shoulders, and drops his hands back to his sides. ] The scene is too wound up in a group I used to run with. [ His gaze finally lifts again.] Just easier to quit altogether than try and dodge them. [ His smile grows a little more natural. ] I wouldn't have pinned you for a racing fan.
[ Emerick watched as Moonlight got lost in the thought. He wasn't quite sure how to feel as Moonlight's gaze fell and it the gloom that congregated around him made Emerick unconsciously shift uncomfortably. The air was starting to feel thick and suffocating as time seemed to stretch on like this, infinitely elongating as Emerick started to search for any sign that he was okay, he didn't cross some line and make him upset, and his mind started to race and iterate through how he could fix it while the insidious whispers of his parents began their regular cycle of hatred in the back of his mind.
He started a little at the sound of Moonlight clearing his throat. The sound broke the spiral that was starting. He was still elevated enough that he had the sick feeling that came with anxiety, but much of his fear calmed when Moonlight spoke, and what was left melted as Moonlight's smile shifted into something less contrived. He was still trying to shake off the funk he started to slide into when he started to speak. ] Oh. I, uh, I'm not. Not really.
[ Emerick's expression shifted slightly so that it was tinged with regret and sadness. His gaze lowered so that he was not meeting Moonlight's eyes, but it was still high enough that at a glance he was still looking at Moonlight. ] I had a friend who was a fan, and he liked to take me with him. [ Emerick had realized years later that it was Callum taking him on dates, courting him in a way that he knew Emerick would be comfortable. Emerick had been made too dense by fear to realize it at the time. ] The races were always exciting and I did enjoy going, but he was the one that kept up with the sport and was knowledgeable. [ Emerick smiled faintly. ] He would talk about what kind of car he wanted to get when he could drive.
[ Moonlight tips his head as Emerick says he's not, actuallyโ but then he follows up, and the fixer's expression lifts in understanding, then softens again in something approaching sympathy - or empathy, maybe. ]
Sounds like good memories.
[ It also sounds like that friend isn't around anymore. Dead, maybe, or moved away, or they just went their separate ways. It isn't Moonlight's place to push. He turns back to the tiny stove, checking the potatoes, then moving to the fridge. He's lucky he bought more than one synthsteak - he hadn't exactly planned on company. Actually, come to think of it, Emerick is only the second person, aside from Moonlight himself, to see this apartment. He muses on the implications of that, then shakes it off and sets a pan on high heat. ]
[ For once it was nothing so morbid: Callum came from a higher social class and his parents could afford to put him into college, and Emerick had to kidnap his own sister and figure out how to balance working three jobs, raising a teenage girl, and somehow making time to sleep. They were fond memories, because they were memories where he was having fun. ]
Yeah, they are.
[ He took a drink of his beer to buy him a moment. It would get weird if he kept talking about it, he knew that much, and he was aware that maybe he was saying a little too much. He didn't mind if Moonlight came to learn much about him - he was a nobody with no prospects and important only to one person - but Callum deserved to live uninterrupted. ]
It was all a while ago, though. I'd rather try to make new memories to look back on.
[ It was tentative, maybe a little probing to see how Moonlight would react, but he was being honest. ]
[ Moonlight pauses in fiddling with the steaks, sets them down, and is still for just a split moment.
He turns back to Emerick, brows raised high. As he curls his hands loosely around the edge of the counter, his head tips again, but this time his expression is a little playful. ]
I think you should, [ he agrees, tone light. He leans forward slightly, body language implying he doesn't mind the idea, and is in fact, terribly curious about this turn. ] Did you have something in mind...?
[ Moonlight isn't entirely sure he heard correctly, because the obvious assumption - to him - is that Emerick is fishing, or at least implying he'd like to make memories with Moonlight. But on the other hand... it's Emerick. He's professional, and reliable, but thus far, the fixer hasn't known him to be assertive at all. ]
[ Emerick watched the other's body language, paying close attention to see if Moonlight was going to shut him down. It was a surprise to him that Moonlight seemed to actually be interested, and seemed to be encouraging him. Moonlight was so far above Emerick's station that surely he had to be misunderstanding this moment. He did his best to hide his surprise. ]
I admit that I haven't given it much thought until recently. [ He hesitated. It was occurring to him what he could lose if he was misinterpreting this, but the memory of Moonlight's lips on his own was still on his mind, and maybe, just maybe that was worth being a little bold.
His tone was more coy than anything else, and it was a miracle he was able to keep his voice from shaking. ] I think this might be a good start.
[ Emerick was implying he wanted to make memories with Moonlight.
The realization startles a sound out of the fixer that is remarkably close to a giggle. He straightens, pushing off from against the counter, and turns back to cooking. The smile, though, remains. After placing either steak in a pan, he looks at the other once more over his shoulder. ] I'm inclined to agree.
[ He fetches a beer for himself from the fridge, pops it open, and leans once again against the countertop, folding one arm over the other. Pearlescent prosthetic fingertips tap idly at his beer. Moonlight tips his head in a look of faintly amused curiosity, studying Emerick, though he doesn't say anything else. ]
[ The sound caught Emerick off-guard. Before he could even process it the litany of insults his father liked to use against him surged into his mind: he as a useless fuck up, a disgusting queer not worth his name. The way his jaw set was the subtle exertion that came from pushing those thoughts away, though it grew so much easier when he saw the smile on Moonlight's face as he glanced back and agreed.
He hadn't expected to get this far, and that much was plain on his face - he was unable to hide the his surprise any longer as he met Moonlight's gaze. ]
[ He can tell Emerick didn't expect his comment to get him anywhere - though he remains surprised the man made the comment in the first place - but Moonlight can also tell Emerick is uncomfortable to some degree. The fixer isn't in the habit of being cruel intentionally (at least not to those who he doesn't think deserve it), but Emerick's wide eyes and disbelief are too much. He has to tease, at least a little. ]
Would you rather I not...?
[ His smile isn't unkind, but there is certainly a mischievous glint in his eye. ]
[ The question was rewarded with Emerick's surprise turning into a genuine deer in headlights stare. He catches the glint in Moonlight's eye and the expression collapses into an embarrassed smile, his gaze lowering as if trying to hide his embarrassment.
He chuckled just a little, then looked back to Moonlight with a smile that was the closest to natural that Moonlight may have ever seen on him. Sure, it was still a little shy, still a little nervous, but he was maybe letting himself believe that this was real. ]
No, I'm... Glad that you do.
[ He considered saying more, but closed his mouth before he started his nervous babbling. Moonlight was teasing him and Emerick knew that he wasn't a particularly hard read. ]
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Date: 2023-11-04 03:57 am (UTC)Of course. [ He pulled his Agent out and asked her to call for a cab. He let it do the heavy lifting as he slid the phone back into his pocket as he did his best not to twitch and look at every single little noise he heard. Like Moonlight, he didn't particularly try to make any conversation while they waited.
Once in the cab it wasn't until Moonlight spoke that Emerick's own tension started to wane. He glanced over at Moonlight, shifting from confident partner to his usual awkward self. He was a little more shy than usual - perhaps because of Moonlight's familiarity, or maybe due to the act they just had to put on as he thought of Moonlight kissing him. ]
It's no problem at all. Please, uh. You don't owe me anything. Really.
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Date: 2023-11-04 04:46 am (UTC)[ Moonlight leans his shoulder into Emerick to play up the act, and even bats his lashes once ore twice - though were the act not already over the top, the grin he can't suppress ruins the effect anyway. ] Do you not trust me, dear?
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Date: 2023-11-04 04:35 pm (UTC)No, no, I trust you. You just... Don't have to, you don't owe me anything.
[ He wasn't trying to shut it down as much as just be clear that Moonlight didn't have to subject himself to Emerick's company if he didn't want to. Because who would willingly want to spend time with him, right? ]
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Date: 2023-11-05 03:55 am (UTC)But in this moment... oddly, he doesn't mind it. Particularly strange, given he'd spent however many weeks waiting for blackmail from Emerick to pop up through his agent. He'd slowly, steadily given up that fear, and now the idea just brings a faintly fond smile. Moonlight settles back into the seat, comfortably close. ]
If you haven't had dinner, I make a decent synth-steak. I have some ganic potatoes, too. Then call it even?
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Date: 2023-11-05 11:39 pm (UTC)Yeah, uh, that sounds great. I'd really like that.
[ His surprise was clear, but no wasn't in his vocabulary; if that was what Moonlight wanted to do then he would go along with it (gladly, even, once he got past the surprise). It wasn't like he had anything else to do anyway: all he had at home was a pack of kibble, a bottle of the cheapest beer, and the latest screamsheets to read. ]
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Date: 2023-11-06 04:01 am (UTC)Moonlight gestures in welcome, holding the door for Emerick (or at least, he keeps a hand on the frame to keep it from closing itself). ] Beer? [ He offers, crossing to the kitchen with its small two-burner stove. ] Or I have some scotch, if you prefer that.
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Date: 2023-11-06 04:08 pm (UTC)Beer, please. [ He followed Moonlight and found a place to stand or sit where he was out of Moonlight's way. ] You have a real preem place
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Date: 2023-11-06 05:20 pm (UTC)Thanks. After the Holocaust, I lived on the streets for years. [ His gaze shifts, flickering thoughtfully around the apartment he had worked for. ] I always told myself I'd be comfortable one day - and safe. [ Being off the streets... that had been more important to him than anything. In those early years, it drove him. He'd lost sight of it for a while under the Tyger's Claw and the haze of drugs that came with that life, but when he'd gotten free - really free - and when he'd had a taste of the lifestyle Aka's income afforded him, he had returned to that dream with a vengeance.
Moonlight's brows raise suddenly, as though realizing what he's sharing. He turns back to the small fridge, taking out a few packages. In glimpses of profile as he turns this way any that, Emerick might notice his cheeks are distinctly flushed. ]
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Date: 2023-11-07 12:11 am (UTC)The fact that Moonlight had just admitted something of his past - accident or not - put Emerick more at ease. He relaxed a little, both hands resting at the bottom of the beer bottle as he watched Moonlight with a faint, fond smile. He noticed the flush in Moonlight's cheeks but called no attention to it. His voice was warm when he spoke. ]
You've done really well for yourself. I've dreamed of living in a place like this since I was a teenager. The means just never really materialized. [ He gave a small shrug, not particularly bothered by it. Then, a little playfully: ] So color me a little jealous.
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Date: 2023-11-07 04:34 am (UTC)Well, perhaps if you play your cards right... [ And he's not talking about business. Then, as though he hadn't just made that suggestive comment, continues seamlessly on: ] Fries, mashed, or baked potatoes?
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Date: 2023-11-08 02:20 pm (UTC)I might be feeling a little lucky with the hand dealt. [ He was a little more coy than his counterpart - intentional, yes, but a byproduct of his nervous nature as well. He wasn't as seamless or sleek as Moonlight, in part due to pausing for a split second to consider if he had any real preference on what form the potatoes ultimately took. ]
Um, whatever you prefer. I'm not picky. [ Which was true, and not an attempt to skirt making a decision. ]
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Date: 2023-11-08 07:42 pm (UTC)Still, he likes Emerick, despite their rocky (on his part at least) start, and maybe there's no harm in flirting, at least. He turns his attention back to dinner.
Here, away from the hard, suspicious stares of 6th Street and the anxiety that came with that scrutiny, Moonlight has realized he's quite hungry. So he decides mashed is best in the moment, purely because it's probably the fastest. He washes the potatoes, fills the pot with water, and sets to chopping them. ]
I hope I didn't pull you away from anything important, earlier. [ He comments somewhat off-handedly, taking just a moment to glance over his shoulder again. ]
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Date: 2023-11-09 04:27 am (UTC)He was tired of being lonely. It would be easy to just take care of things the Night City way - spend a few hours or the night with a joytoy, hook up with anyone that moved. Emerick was used to fake gestures, he wanted something real. ]
Oh, no. I was just reading. I picked up a book analyzing the political and economic tensions in Europe during and after the Fourth Corporate War. [ He's maybe a little more excited about this than most would be - his inner nerd definitely showing a little. Moonlight had interrupted a calm day that he'd taken for himself, but Emerick didn't particularly mind. ]
If I may, what were you doing at that bar? They didn't really seem to think of you as their crowd.
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Date: 2023-11-15 02:43 am (UTC)A client thinks some Sixth Street members might be responsible for sabotaging opponent's cars in some street racing, but he wanted proof before taking any action on it. I happen to have a soft spot for racing - and I suppose I occasionally get the itch to get back out there myself - I thought I would check up on it instead of delegating. I knew I don't really fit in with their style but I didn't realize they'd be quite that suspicious.
[ He salts the water as it heats steadily to a boil, adds the potatoes, then takes a moment to return his attention fully to Emerick. ] Lesson learned, I suppose.
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Date: 2023-11-15 05:43 pm (UTC)Sixth Street can be a little cagey. They take the whole "protect and serve" thing pretty seriously, or at least like to act the part. [ His gaze lowered, a little nervous giving unsolicited advice. His gaze lifted back to Moonlight about halfway through what he was saying. ] If you chat them up a little at the bar - let some of the vets boast and act impressed, let them talk about their days in whatever conflicts they saw - they usually decide you're okay and leave you alone.
[ Emerick looked as if he might have more to say, choosing to change the subject instead. ] Racing, huh? I used to sneak out as a teenager to watch them sometimes. Why did you stop? [ It was clear that it was a genuine question borne from curiosity and not an attempt to fish for information, and if Moonlight didn't want to answer it he certainly didn't have to. ]
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Date: 2024-03-09 05:52 am (UTC)[ The question is a natural one, and Moonlight doesn't mind that Emerick asks. It's a difficult answer, complicated by the array of memories - good and bad - that come with it. The fixer's gaze drops to the vinyl flooring, a half-cocked, morose sort of smile finding its way to his expression. One loose tress casts shadows across eye and cheek from the ambient lighting.
Moonlight clears his throat after a moment, resets the slope of his shoulders, and drops his hands back to his sides. ] The scene is too wound up in a group I used to run with. [ His gaze finally lifts again.] Just easier to quit altogether than try and dodge them. [ His smile grows a little more natural. ] I wouldn't have pinned you for a racing fan.
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Date: 2024-03-09 05:12 pm (UTC)He started a little at the sound of Moonlight clearing his throat. The sound broke the spiral that was starting. He was still elevated enough that he had the sick feeling that came with anxiety, but much of his fear calmed when Moonlight spoke, and what was left melted as Moonlight's smile shifted into something less contrived. He was still trying to shake off the funk he started to slide into when he started to speak. ] Oh. I, uh, I'm not. Not really.
[ Emerick's expression shifted slightly so that it was tinged with regret and sadness. His gaze lowered so that he was not meeting Moonlight's eyes, but it was still high enough that at a glance he was still looking at Moonlight. ] I had a friend who was a fan, and he liked to take me with him. [ Emerick had realized years later that it was Callum taking him on dates, courting him in a way that he knew Emerick would be comfortable. Emerick had been made too dense by fear to realize it at the time. ] The races were always exciting and I did enjoy going, but he was the one that kept up with the sport and was knowledgeable. [ Emerick smiled faintly. ] He would talk about what kind of car he wanted to get when he could drive.
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Date: 2024-03-22 06:42 pm (UTC)Sounds like good memories.
[ It also sounds like that friend isn't around anymore. Dead, maybe, or moved away, or they just went their separate ways. It isn't Moonlight's place to push. He turns back to the tiny stove, checking the potatoes, then moving to the fridge. He's lucky he bought more than one synthsteak - he hadn't exactly planned on company. Actually, come to think of it, Emerick is only the second person, aside from Moonlight himself, to see this apartment. He muses on the implications of that, then shakes it off and sets a pan on high heat. ]
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Date: 2024-03-23 02:47 am (UTC)Yeah, they are.
[ He took a drink of his beer to buy him a moment. It would get weird if he kept talking about it, he knew that much, and he was aware that maybe he was saying a little too much. He didn't mind if Moonlight came to learn much about him - he was a nobody with no prospects and important only to one person - but Callum deserved to live uninterrupted. ]
It was all a while ago, though. I'd rather try to make new memories to look back on.
[ It was tentative, maybe a little probing to see how Moonlight would react, but he was being honest. ]
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Date: 2024-03-23 06:59 am (UTC)He turns back to Emerick, brows raised high. As he curls his hands loosely around the edge of the counter, his head tips again, but this time his expression is a little playful. ]
I think you should, [ he agrees, tone light. He leans forward slightly, body language implying he doesn't mind the idea, and is in fact, terribly curious about this turn. ] Did you have something in mind...?
[ Moonlight isn't entirely sure he heard correctly, because the obvious assumption - to him - is that Emerick is fishing, or at least implying he'd like to make memories with Moonlight. But on the other hand... it's Emerick. He's professional, and reliable, but thus far, the fixer hasn't known him to be assertive at all. ]
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Date: 2024-03-23 06:24 pm (UTC)I admit that I haven't given it much thought until recently. [ He hesitated. It was occurring to him what he could lose if he was misinterpreting this, but the memory of Moonlight's lips on his own was still on his mind, and maybe, just maybe that was worth being a little bold.
His tone was more coy than anything else, and it was a miracle he was able to keep his voice from shaking. ] I think this might be a good start.
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Date: 2024-08-03 04:57 am (UTC)The realization startles a sound out of the fixer that is remarkably close to a giggle. He straightens, pushing off from against the counter, and turns back to cooking. The smile, though, remains. After placing either steak in a pan, he looks at the other once more over his shoulder. ] I'm inclined to agree.
[ He fetches a beer for himself from the fridge, pops it open, and leans once again against the countertop, folding one arm over the other. Pearlescent prosthetic fingertips tap idly at his beer. Moonlight tips his head in a look of faintly amused curiosity, studying Emerick, though he doesn't say anything else. ]
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Date: 2024-08-04 03:52 am (UTC)He hadn't expected to get this far, and that much was plain on his face - he was unable to hide the his surprise any longer as he met Moonlight's gaze. ]
You... Are?
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Date: 2024-08-04 04:07 am (UTC)Would you rather I not...?
[ His smile isn't unkind, but there is certainly a mischievous glint in his eye. ]
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Date: 2024-08-04 04:36 am (UTC)He chuckled just a little, then looked back to Moonlight with a smile that was the closest to natural that Moonlight may have ever seen on him. Sure, it was still a little shy, still a little nervous, but he was maybe letting himself believe that this was real. ]
No, I'm... Glad that you do.
[ He considered saying more, but closed his mouth before he started his nervous babbling. Moonlight was teasing him and Emerick knew that he wasn't a particularly hard read. ]
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