deercountry | October 2021 Event Overflow

[How does someone who grew up so privileged and sheltered manage to be empathetic like this? Some of it seems to be innate for Wu, but Vyng suspects he probably had to work at it too. Hell, he's still probably working at it.

Everyone has their blind spots. At least Wu can acknowledge his.]

It's...

[Sigh. Any lingering traces of anger evaporate away.]

It's okay, pal. You didn't mean anything by it. I know that. Just be a little more careful from now on, alright?

[The compliment reflexively sends Vyng reaching for his hair, as if to cover the pointier parts of his face. Like lightning, he's struck by how irrational it is — now, more than ever. Instead, he lowers his hands and simply mutters "Wish I could say the same..."

That last comment draws a quiet laugh from Vyng, though.]

You know, I was this close to making that same comparison. Glad you did it for me, though. Thanks, buddy.

[ Wu lays a hand gently on Vyng's arm, nodding. ]

I wouldn't blame you. Honestly? I always kind of hated my nose! My Auntie would always say awful things about it, always that it was too big, that it stuck out too far. But it's just a nose! And your ears? Just ears, right?

[ Which maybe isn't the most nuanced read of the situation, but that's where he is ]

I'll be more careful! I'm really sorry, even if I didn't know. Hey, want to look for a different mask? But, ah, not the bird one. That one's creepy.

[ And Vyng couldn't exactly get it off by himself ]

Fuck your Auntie. No offense, but she sounded like a bitch.

[The response is automatic. Probably not Wu's intended takeaway, but that story still rankles Vyng on a surprisingly personal level. Partly because Wu is his friend, but also Wu never asked for a big schnoz. Not to mention...there's something insidious about a politically-powerful woman lording her young nephew's insecurities over his head.]

But yeah. You know what? I'd love to find another mask.

[A quiet smile. He clasps his hand over Wu's.]

You do have excellent taste. That last one just wasn't for me.

[ Wu's breath catches. People don't tend to use that kind of language around him. Well, most people. Chuck does, but it's still kind of shocking to hear other people say those words.

But... he's not wrong. ]

No, she's-- she was, a... [ He can't say it. He really can't ] terrible. She was terrible.

[ He smiles up at Vyng, nodding ]

Thank you, Vyng. How about this time, you tell me what you like, and we can go from there?

[It's fine if Wu can't say it. Vyng has zero problem blabbing it for both of them. Because if there's one thing he can't stand, it's royals who treat their family like garbage.

He's happy to let that conversation drop, though. They're at a party! They should be focusing on happier things.]

That sounds great, pal. [His voice is warm.] ...I think I'm feeling birds today, actually. Know where I can find a good one?

Birds. Birds! Oh, of course. We can do birds.

[ Shopping is much more fun than talking about his terrible aunt. He grins back at Vyng, and goes about picking out a mask-- a bird this time. A bright, colorful one. Nothing like Vyng's normal coloring, nothing like it at all, so he can't mess up again.

And we can leave these two here, to bicker over mask shapes! ]

October 2021 Event Overflow

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