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 Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 7:54 pm
She watched the clock, counting down seconds. Only half a minute left and then she could reverse the direction of her abilities; that was good, since her light silk hanfu was almost too much for her to bear against her skin. Every tiny motion was a miniature agony, and she wondered if that was what it had been like for Brad. If so, she truly did regret it and would apologize profusely the next time she saw him. That was, if she allowed herself to see him again. Hae-min couldn't even bear to sit still any more, but to walk was...
The half minute gone, she let the direction reverse, breathing out a heavy sigh of relief. "Gomawoyo," she whispered, tucking the lightweight fabric of her house-robe around her shoulders. God, but she was freezing! How could she not have noticed before? With a pleased smile at the sudden lack of dull, strange pains, she stretched and settled in to continue figuring out the specifics of the garden she was currently planning.
It seemed like no time at all had passed between that moment and when the doorbell rang, when it had in fact been an hour- enough time that, given warning, she'd be able to bear turning the brunt of her new talents inward and spare the visitor the discomfort of her power. Still... She frowned as she made the mental switch. Instant heat suffused her and she pressed her cold hands to her cheeks to force the color down before tripping down the stairs. It took her a moment to fumble the door open- firstly, the texture of the metal stung, and secondly, the hem of her pale purple skirt got caught under the door. "I am so graceless," she murmured as she finally got the door to stand wide open.
Without thinking, her Korean greeting tumbled out (she was still trying to straighten her top). "Annyong hashimnikka...?" Then she looked up and smiled brightly for the benefit of the person standing on the other side. "Brad! How good to see you!" Self-consciously aware of the (she felt) obvious flushed look to her face and collar bone, she pressed both hands to her cheeks and looked down at her toes (a futile effort, as they were hidden behind the silk). "How are you?"
Even if it was Brad... she'd have to get him to leave sooner rather than later. Preferably before she reached the stage where it hurt too much to sit but the brush of air against her skin from walking or rising hurt more.
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:19 pm
He'd been worried. It hadn't been too long since he'd last seen her, but he'd thought about her everyday, concern and curiosity getting the best of him. Even his work hadn't proved to be the pleasant distraction he was so accustomed to, which put him in even more of a kink. Brad wasn't able to sit around and not work, so he had dressed properly [jeans that fit, a button up shirt mostly buttoned and folded up at the sleeves] and made his way to her home. He should have called first or at least asked, but he had a feeling she might have refused for his own well being. The man had a lack of sense of self, and so decided to tempt fate instead.
Hae-min's appearance at the door only confirmed his dubious thoughts. Smiling widely, he rocked on his heels in an oddly nervous habit. "Surprise," he chuckled lightly. "Sorry for stopping by without notice, I was just in the area and thought I'd come say hello." A small lie, but he was genuinely happy to see the Korean woman, even if she was already acting a little strangely. He wouldn't comment on it - that'd be terribly rude of him - so instead continued on with the obvious. "I wont trouble you if you're busy, just, you know, wanted to see you."
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:31 pm
"I'm not busy," she said, ignoring the chance to send him away before she even had to think about pain (overwhelming desire, really). She smiled a little brighter, adding a giggle for effect. "Just don't look at my desk, okay? I'm planning." Slipping out of the way, she gestured towards the interior of her house. The long sleeve of her robe added to the illusion that she was swaying. "Would you like something to drink? I have tea, coffee..."
The list went on, but her voice trailed off midway through it as she led the way towards the room where she generally had visitors. She paused just outside the door and turned to face Brad, looking at him a little oddly before taking a couple steps forward and hugging him tightly. "I wanted to see you, too," she mumbled.
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:54 pm
The man followed her inside, taking off his shoes as he was so used to doing and padding after her. "I wont look." Indigo eyes passed over Hae-min as she moved, admiring her fluid grace, "Tea would be great, if that's okay. You make the best tea." Brad's feet slowed as Hae-min stopped, lifting a dark brow in curiosity.
As she walked towards him, tension he didn't know he had in his shoulders melted away, hugging her with fond return. "Oh thank goodness, I thought you were upset," he laughed softly, sincerely relieved. He felt like something was missing if he didn't get his hug from her; it wasn't exactly something he took for granted, for he most certainly was aware when it did or did not happen, but he felt bereft without that show of affection. Adding to it, he gave her cheek a gentle kiss before pulling back to smile warmly at her. "You look gorgeous, by the way. The hanfu looks wonderful, and your hair compliments it nicely."
He missed her long locks, but there was something very classy about her appearance now. It was hard for him not to admire, and it seemed only fair to inform her that she looked beautiful. That's how one should always treat a lady, or so he was taught. It didn't occur to him that he was treating her as such rather than the sorella he had always known her to be.
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:04 pm
She was upset, just not at Brad. Not yet, anyway; she had been told she exhibited strange mood swings when practicing the suppression of 'lust'. "Thank you," said Hae-min warmly, tightening her grip a little and sighing shakily. For a moment, she stayed there, unwilling to move for more reasons than one. Then she remembered her duty as a hostess and drew back with a half-bow to toe the door open. It was the same room as always, with dainty antiques scattered about it, but it seemed a little different. Instead of the usual organized look, it had devolved into a bit of chaos- clearly she knew where everything was, because it was all in neat, pretty stacks, but there were piles of books where she never would have allowed them before.
"I'll be right back," she murmured, hugging him again quickly before darting away down the stairs.
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:19 pm
It was so familiar and welcome to have the young woman pressed against him that it didn't strike him as odd at all, smoothing his hand over her back to try and soothe the strange mood that seemed to linger. His eyes never left her as she moved back, somewhat caught off guard by the bow, giving a baffled nod as she quickly hugged him and disappeared. Brad blinked, perplexed, having an inkling that it could all be a result of her new found responsibilities.
The thought made his heart ache, tearing his gaze from the door to look over the room. It was as he always knew it, but like Hae-min, small things had changed. Like the owner of the house, the room seemed to be in slight disarray - not enough that a normal person would be bothered by it, but enough that he knew it was unusual for the Korean woman. Brad sighed quietly, fingers drawing over a pile of books before taking a seat, deeply worried for his dear friend.
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:32 pm
She rejoined him shortly, fussing over a small tray with her tea service on it. Once it was set, though, she sat down in a chair near Brad. Her back stayed fairly straight, as if sitting into it would hurt or cause some other equally untenable reaction. It wouldn't, not yet, but she didn't want to have to explain it to Brad. He'd do something admirable but stupid again, she thought, like telling her to switch it back. She couldn't do that to him, though. With a deep breath, she found her smile again, but words evaded her. It was understandable, she supposed; other things were distracting her.
"I'm sorry for the mess," she said finally, unable to think of anything else and instead fixing her eyes on the steam rising from the tea pot. The actual tea had to soak for a few minutes yet, but the water was hot. It was something to look at, anyway. "I haven't had enough time to clean it up like I normally do." She thought it a little funny that while she had a real job, she could clean to her heart's content, but when she had no job, she couldn't find time to even put books back on a shelf.
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:40 pm
A smile lit his features as Hae-min returned, not wanting to betray his concern so quickly, knowing full well she was likely keeping much to herself. It was a precarious game they had started, as she had the upper hand in knowing exactly what was going on. He was in the dark, but he wasn't about to pry, not if she was unwilling to speak of it.
"Don't worry about it," he gave a short wave of his hand, watching her. He couldn't tell if she was being formal with him or simply out of sorts, both of which bothered him, due in part to the fact that he couldn't pin down what the difference was. "I'm sure you have a lot more on your plate right now," he added softly. Not wanting to talk about it wouldn't change the fact that there was definitely something there. Brad wanted her to know that he was aware, and not completely insipid; useless, maybe, but not mindless of her plight.
Wanting to know if she was at least okay, he reached out to put his hand over hers, his expression showing a small bit of his concern. "How are you holding up?"
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:48 pm
A little shudder was the only betrayal of exactly how it felt to be touched at that specific moment. It wasn't quite pain but it wasn't the normal happiness she was supposed to feel when he was around. Still, seeking to calm him a little, maybe, she rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm fine," she lied, looking in the general direction of his face but not quite meeting his eyes. "I don't really do much. I just have to move around a lot."
Shame caused her to flush redder than she already had been. Talking about this with Brad was so difficult and strange. She wanted to change the subject, but couldn't think of anything, so she flipped her hand and intertwined her fingers with his. "How are you," she asked instead, remembering he'd never answered. A faint tone of teasing accusation entered her voice at that thought. "You didn't say."
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:58 pm
He almost withdrew his hand at the shudder, but he stilled as she rested against his shoulder, indeed soothed by the motion. Unthinking, he pressed a brief kiss to the top of her head, not minding that she couldn't quite look him in the eye. Brad was easily distracted, however, his own gaze moving to light upon the entwined digits with surprise and perhaps a bit of a guilty pleasure. He should not have enjoyed the moment as much as he did.
"Worried about you," he admitted quietly, his thumb stroking over her smaller and dainty hand. "I haven't even been working. You look well though." Brad gave her a small but earnest smile. She would know that he was serious if his work was suffering for it, and while he knew it might upset her in turn, he wasn't willing to fib about this. He was well and truly concerned for her and all that being an avatar of Lust could imply, even if she was handling it admirably. Was it safe to be alone? Was it worse with company? He didn't have the foggiest notion.
Maybe nothing bad would come of it, but he couldn't stop the concern he felt. "I don't mean to upset you, it just hurts to think of you alone here." What the...? His eyes returned to their hands, flabberghasted as to why he had said that out loud. Brad wasn't certain he could blame that one on her influence, either.
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:08 pm
"About me?" She frowned, unsettled by that. Never in her memory had he stopped working. It almost seemed like he wouldn't be Brad without his work. "Oh," she said miserably, though a negative mood hadn't seemed to have any effect on the way the redirected talents worked. It had one setting- uncomfortably lustful. "You shouldn't worry," she murmured, squeezing his hand. "I've always lived here alone."
That might not be the best thing to say, she realized belatedly. Hoping to cover up the slip, she straightened to check the color of the tea; it wasn't quite dark enough, she decided, glad for the searing heat from the copper pot that was both a distraction and a good source of heat. "I'm sorry," she told him. "I'm just all uncoordinated inside today, I think." Of course she wouldn't tell him the real reason, she resolved. Admirable, silly, and selfless was pretty much a defining trait set of Brad's.
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 11:14 pm
"I can forgive it if you at least smile," he teased gently, forcing his gaze back to her face. Wouldn't do good to call for such a thing and not be able to receive it. She looked younger with her hair so short, but something in her face spoke of a wisdom that chilled him. He shook his head to himself, running his free hand through his shaggy mane, mentally kicking himself for giving himself more to worry over. She deserved more trust than that.
"But if I've come at a bad time, I can come back. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable for my sake." Brad's fingers uncurled, not releasing Hae-min from their clasped hands but loosening his own grip should she desire to. He wasn't used to seeing her without a smile or so...ansy. Sure, Hae-min preferred not to be idle, but it seemed as though she was uncomfortable to do so little as sit.
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:15 am
She did want him to go, she thought ruefully as she smiled at him, if only to spare the awkwardness of things that would surely happen later. But, stupidly, she didn't want him to go as much as she wanted him to stay. Standing (and shivering at the feel of the house robe on her skin) she peeked at the tea again. It was the right color, now, so she untwined her fingers from his and poured two cups with the same aplomb she always had. It was nice to know at least that hadn't changed, anyway, or so she felt.
Returning to her seat, she passed one of the dainty things to Brad and set hers down on the table. Quickly, she removed her gossamer house robe and draped it over the back of her chair. It felt a little awkward to do such a thing in front of Brad, but since everything was still covered she just took a deep breath and sat down. "It's a little bit of a bad time, but you can stay for a while," she said slowly, as if she were measuring each word for its meaning. "If you'd like. I would prefer it if you did." Not for too long, though.
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 8:18 pm
He watched, because there was nothing else he could do in that moment. That wasn't to say he was staring, for that was rude, but his eyes were in constant movement between the woman and her destination, politely accepting the delicate cup with a grateful smile. Each of her motions and careful smiles told Brad that she was under some amount of stress. Her next words did nothing to soothe his thoughts, instead confirming his notion. He gave a nod to acknowledge them, using the cup to be a convenient shield of his worried frown.
The Italian took a slow sip of the tea - it was hot, but he was fairly impervious to such things - musing over the familiar and favored taste while he considered what to say. "I'll stay a few minutes, if that's okay," he said out loud, his voice quiet and just a little pensive. "I am sorry for not calling in advance."
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 8:37 pm
She shifted uncomfortably. "Of course it's okay, Brad." Her smile widened a little. "Did you manage to finish the project you were working on, at least? I would hate to have put you behind schedule." That was true, and her expression shifted to become a little more neutral. She watched him for a moment, forcing herself to sit still when she just wanted to get up and pace around the room.
"I'm sorry, too. Am I worrying you?" Her tea remained untouched, even though it was rude not to drink when her guest did.
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