animated | 📖 INBOX: hotel caelum

Mm. We have something similar. Not elders, per se, even if all of them are like a hundred years older than I am. Still, I'm with you. Not keen to find out what happens for breaking the rules.

[ His shoulders twitch in a shrug. They can leave that subject behind for now, anyway. It has a tendency to get grim, at least for Charlie, who has watched more than one person quietly disappear for stepping out of bounds. ]

I mean, that's good, right? [ No curses. ] Means you can enjoy your vacation to the fullest.

[ It is a grim topic and Nanami is fine to move on from it when Charlie does. Instead nodding at his follow up statement because yeah, it is good. ]

I've been fighting curses since I was fifteen. This is the first time I've had a break in... a long time. I intend to enjoy myself, yes.

[ Of course, there was the period of time he quit being a sorcerer but that wasn't exactly a period of rest for him in the end.

His tail wags a bit then as he thinks about it, because even with the conversation — they're still dancing and it's nice. The corner of his mouth twitches a little, pleased as he adds — ]

This is a good start.

Fifteen, huh? Damn.

[ He's not so presumptuous as to think that Nanami has anything other than a normal human lifespan, so perhaps comparatively it hasn't been that long. Still, it's been long enough. Making kids fight anything when they're still kids is too damn soon.

Ah, but there goes that tail again, bringing a smile back to Charlie's face. ]

I'm glad you think so. I'd hate to be the only one out here having a great time.

[ A nod here because yep, fifteen. That's when he started at Jujutsu High, when he learned about curses, when everything changed for him. It wasn't... fun, let's say.

But this is fun and when Charlie smiles, the tail wags even harder. It's completely giving him away, but he doesn't seem to mind too much. No, as long as it's making Charlie happy, he's kind of okay with having a tail. ]

You're not. Can I ask more about you?

[ He wants to know about Charlie. What it's like being a wizard. What his life is like. He seems like a personable and good natured kind of person and Nanami likes that, for sure. ]

[ He might actually come to miss that tail when it's gone, a little window into what Nanami is thinking behind that stoic gaze, but perhaps for now he can use it as a guideline to figure out what the rest of the man is doing when his tail is going crazy.

God, it really is so cute to see when he's enjoying himself, though.

(Thinks Charlie, a man whose own tail has barely slowed down this whole time.) ]

Of course. Fire away, I'm an open book.

[ Nanami has absolutely noticed the lack of slowing down from Charlie's tail and it makes his chest kind of warm. Though he's not sure if Charlie is just happy because of him or just in general. So, he's trying not to assume anything and just enjoying what he gets in the meantime.

But his own tail is wagging, at a slower pace. A little shyly, even. He just... feels good. He likes this. So, he considers his question to Charlie as Charlie offers himself up. ]

I suppose my first is the most obvious — what type of magic do you do?

[ Can't it be both? Dancing is nice, and he'd be happy doing it regardless, but the company makes it that much better. ]

Oh, I'm an Animator!

[ His ears perk a bit. For as much as he loves dancing, he really loves talking about magic. ]

That means I can enchant and control inanimate objects. If you've ever seen that Disney movie where Merlin makes all the dishes wash themselves, I do that kind of thing.

[ It can be both, true. When Charlie lights up talking about magic though, Nanami's heart maybe does a little flippy flip inside his chest but. Let's not. Talk about that. He really is incredibly endearing.

It takes a moment for Nanami to land the reference but he's still a millennial and watched plenty of animated movies as a kid, both Japanese and English. So, yeah, he gets it and that mental image is enough to let out of an amused huff, nodding in response. ]

It must be useful. I know someone who sort of does similar, but his work is around animating stuffed creatures exclusively. The panda Itadori-kun mentioned to you is one of them, but he actually gave it real life instead of just animating it. Something that took a lot of work.

[ His gaze looks away, expression turning thoughtful. He's trying to make some logical leaps on the rules of magic based off of the things he's read and what makes most sense to him. At his next question, his gaze returns to Charlie. ]

Is it... the type of magic where you wave a hand and things happen or does it include runes and spells and the like?

[ Meanwhile, Charlie is most decidedly not a millennial, though he definitely has the heart of one. There are many more references than that to be made, just keep chatting with him. ]

Oh really? [ He's learning so much about this panda. ] That sounds seriously impressive. I've only ever managed something close on accident. The suit of armor in my bookstore gives me attitude and I have no idea how that happened.

[ Wyn is like the teen daughter he didn't ask for who also happens to be very adept with a sword. ]

Runes, and we use those to write the magic. It's like putting together complex math instead of waving a magic wand and making things happen.

[ He will keep chatting with him. And figuring out the references he makes. Just you wait, if he has to do research, he will. He wants to know all about Charlie. ]

Suit of armor? [ wait. ] Bookstore? You own a bookstore?

[ Nanami's eyes seem to light up a little at that because... well, he likes books. He likes bookstores. He's a voracious reader and now he's learning that the cute guy he's dancing with has a bookstore, it's a little... well, Charlie's hitting all the right notes, let's say. ]

And, right, ah. That must take a lot of studying, no?

[ Ah-ha, he knew he'd get him with the bookstore. (As if he was not showing signs of being Gotten already.) Lucky him that this handsome guy he's chatting with and dancing with also seems to love books just as much as Charlie does.

It's not very obvious, that shift in Nanami's expression, but Charlie certainly catches it, and he finds himself utterly charmed all over again. ]

I do own a bookstore. Imagine how excited I was when you said you like to read.

[ They're definitely hitting all the right notes for each other, it seems like. God. He can't not ask this man on a date after all this. He's too perfect. ]

Mm. It does. A lot of study and a lot of time. I love it, though. Magic is one of my favorite things, right up there with books.

[ It's probably not very obvious, no. But with how close they are and the lack of sunglasses on his face, Nanami isn't able to hide how much he likes that. His expression softens just a little at Charlie's words, even if remaining mostly neutral, and he nods his head. ]

I can imagine. Well, if you ever want to talk books, consider me engaged.

[ Nanami isn't thinking about asking Charlie out after this because he's just used to, well, not doing that. But he likes the other man so much, is finding him so endearing, the idea of not having more of his time after this is almost too much to bear. ]

... I can picture it, you, studying magic. [ And the image is a nice one. ] Is animating all you do?

[ As a rather quick study, Charlie is beginning to pick out some of those subtleties. The micro-shifts in expression that Nanami's tail tells him mean much more than they'd appear. ]

That's a dangerous thing to say to me. I'll probably talk your ear off.

[ Not that he gets the impression that Nanami will mind. Quite the opposite, actually.

Anyway, at the question, he nods a little. ]

It is. It's a complicated magic system to learn, and you can either learn the basics of a bunch of stuff, or pick a Specialization and really delve into it. A lot of people choose the latter because that's what's socially acceptable, but I do it because I think it's interesting.

[ Speaking of that tail, it wags a little harder at Charlie's comment even if Nanami doesn't seem to express anything else at it. And he replies with an easy — ]

I wouldn't mind that.

[ Which is tantamount of explicit flirting for Nanami. If anyone he knew heard him say something like that to someone, he'd never live it down. Especially Gojo. Which, thank god, Gojo's distracted right now. This would be terrible otherwise.

But Nanami likes Charlie, and his voice, so he wouldn't mind hearing more of it at all. ]

Got it. That seems similar to most education, doesn't it? You find what you're passionate and delve in. To try and master everything is impossible. Are there many other Specializations?

[ Oh. For all that Charlie has read and assumed about the other man, it's surprisingly nice to get confirmation from Nanami himself. It makes his grin hitch wider, and he definitely logs that bit of info away for later. ]

There are nine officially sanctioned, including Animation, and one officially... shunned, I guess. That one's Necromancy, before you ask.

[ There's a nod there as he takes in Charlie's answer and looks considering at the mention of necromancy. ]

Huh. Understandable that that's the one that's shunned. There is someone from my world with the ability to possess corpses by replacing their brain with his own. It's a terrible thing and looked down upon and that's just his innate ability. It reminds me a bit of what I'd call necromancy.

Replacing brains with his own? That's some horror movie stuff right there.

[ What the fuck, Nanami's world. ]

Sounds like the people where you come from have some crazy abilities.

[ YEAH. yeah. yeaaaah. Nanami feels a little good that he's able to just outright say what people can do in his world without repercussion. But on the other hand, yeah, people from his world are weird. ]

It is.

[ But right, he gives a pause and then — ]

Before you ask, my ability is nothing so grandiose. I forcibly create weak spots in things in order to deal massive damage. Be it a living thing or inanimate, I can ... see exactly where to strike to either kill, destroy, or just generally damage something. Relatively simple, in comparison.

Ohhhh.

[ Yeah, definitely way better than sticking your brain into other people's bodies. Charlie seems interested all over again though, perking right back up. ]

That sounds super cool, though. Must be pretty useful for hunting stuff down.

[ When Charlie perks up and compliments his ability, Nanami's tail wags a little at that. He's just... pleased! ]

It is. I'm a fairly efficient sorcerer, which is what we call people who exorcise curses.

[ That's when the music shifts though, from the slow music from before to something a little more upbeat. Nanami looks a little surprised and then, maybe, a touch sheepish. ]

Oh... ah, I'm not sure I'd be good at dancing to this.

[ Cute!! Why is this man so cute? Charlie is finding himself more endeared by the second, which is perhaps a funny feeling to have about someone who's telling him how efficiently he kills curse monsters.

Well. It's probably fine. They both come from strange backgrounds, so maybe that's what makes this work. ]

Oh! [ One of his ears swivels in the direction of where the music is coming from. ] We can stop if you want... though maybe one of these days, I can teach you some new moves if you'd like.

Edited (repetitionnnn) 2024-02-28 01:30 (UTC)

[ Nanami is loathe to step away from Charlie though, which is the sad thing. He's not really one to share personal space with another person but it's been nice, holding Charlie's hand, holding his waist, being in his space. Maybe Nanami should give some thought to changing that policy of his.

So, he doesn't pull away yet and at Charlie's offer to teach him new moves, he feels the initial distaste at doing something so embarrassing but then the follow up desire to just spend more time with Charlie in general. ]

That... would be fine. [ God, why does he feel so awkward? ] For now, I shouldn't take up all of your time so I can let you go.

[ A pause, his tail curls against his back and he looks like he wants to say something before he adds, voice soft, ]

Later, they'll release the lanterns. If you'd like company to watch, I can make myself available.

[ Charlie can read the room. He can tell that Nanami isn't keen to let him go, and it makes something warm surge in his chest at the realization. To be so instantly wanted is... oh, it's nice.

He grins, giving the other man's hand a squeeze. ]

By all means, take up my time. Maybe we can walk around some until lanterns?

[ There is relief in him when Charlie doesn't pull away, and seems to want to keep spending time with him as well. Nanami isn't oblivious, he knows that their exchange so far hasn't been just friendly but something more. He knows that dancing with another man like this, that his desire to stay talking to him isn't just stemming from a desire to get to know one another. There is an attraction in the air and he is adult enough to know he is giving positive, hopefully reciprocated signals back.

The only thing that stumps him is his... lack of practice with this. It's funny, Giselle said he seemed like someone with a lot of experience but if she could see him now, he's sure she'd say differently. It's like this all feels so much more straightforward when he's not as invested. ]

... I'd like that.

[ He'll take a step back then, removing his hand from Charlie's torso and hesitating when it comes to removing his hand from Charlie's own. To hold hands? In public? With someone he barely knows? That would be too much, right? Yes, that would be too much, he tells himself and will pull his hand back for now. ]

I'm glad.

[ He's really, truly glad. It's been a long time since he had sparks fly with someone so instantly, and if Nanami feels out of practice, Charlie certainly doesn't notice. Chemistry goes a long way, making him feel comfortable and strangely giddy in equal measure.

Though he does feel a bit of a loss when Nanami pulls away from their dance entirely, withdrawing his hands. Ah, it is probably a bit too much for having barely just begun to know each other — and a man as reserved as Nanami seems to be probably isn't keen on displaying too much in public. So, Charlie shoves his own hands into his jacket pockets, stepping up to walk alongside the other man, close but not too close, as they exit the dance floor and take to the rest of the festival. ]

Oh, hey, can I ask you a question about the hotel?

BIRTHDAY DIRECTORY QR CODE

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject