What? Sure you are. You've got plenty going for you! And you're still young, besides. It's way too soon to throw in the towel on your blissful future with some lucky person.
Fair enough. It's not for everyone, that's for sure. I imagine the sort of person you'd want to be with would make you feel free regardless of whether you wear a bit of jewelry or not, rather than tied down.
Who says I'd settle down with a girl, anyway? As far as preferences like that go, I'm all over the road 😉
You'll see her, though. Soon. Once you're off the elevator, I want you to head... I think left? Assuming things haven't changed too terribly much since I was last here, there ought to be a sandwich shop with a yellow bird on the sign. Just keep heading down the street from there until you see me.
Also very fair. But you said, uh Well. I can't wait to meet her. I'm on my way up. It's not my safety I'm worried about in this thing, I just... god, it's loud, isn't it? What a ruckus. I don't know how anyone can sleep through that noise.
You're not from a very big city, are you? If it helps, Midgar is a little... quieter in some places compared to here. Topside, anyway. It'll be noisy down below where we'll be going, but it's more the people who're noisy than anything else.
( the elevator opens. julian's answer dies the second he steps out into junon proper. he stands there, transfixed at all the huge buildings, the bright lights, the dozens of people, and the fucking cars for so long the doors almost close on him again. he has to scramble out, and then he stands there gawking and kind of petrified on the street corner until someone barks at him to ged'oudda heah and then he's. just. frantically following roche's directions and going "left."
[He really can't help himself by laughing out on the street, his phone cradled delicately between his hands as he stares down at the message. Luckily he's gotten himself a nice little spot staked out by a good ol' banged up humvee that's seen some better days, but it's still military thus most of the locals tend to give it a wide berth. The drivers? Nowhere to be found, but they're most likely getting trashed in the nearest bar.]
Oh, baby. Baby, come here. Keep your phone close and... I'd say follow the dulcet tones of my voice, but that's pretty hard to do over texts. Just keep coming. If it helps, look for a big red metal beast, because that'll be your ride out of here.
[Could Roche easily kick it into gear and go down the street looking for him too? Of course. But then there's too much of a risk of missing Julian, and then he'd get lost in the city and no one needs that :(]
( this is... terrifying, honestly, but he's also fascinated. or he would be if he wasn't more or less totally lost in an unbelievably loud, dirty, smelly, crowded city. people keep looking at him like he's nuts, what with the eyepatch and the piratey peasant garb, but that's the least of his troubles. he knows he doesn't have to hide his face or be concerned about being caught in a place like this, so he doesn't have his mask with him.
good thing or he'd really be drawing stares. then again, most of the military guys around here have masks... )
Red metal beast? How am I supposed to tell that from all the other What are these Carriages? Why are they so loud Oh! I see the bird. The sign. Are you
( and here comes julian up the way, frantically looking from his phone to the area around him. he's having a hard time pinning anything down, let alone spotting roche or his red metal beast apart from everything else there is to see. he's... pretty visibly overwhelmed, honestly, but it could be worse. he's not about to have a breakdown or anything like that, at least. )
[luckily, he's not a hard one to miss. if his height and hair didn't make him stand out, looking like a lost puppy sure does. and you know something? roche's heart goes out to the guy. he remembers looking more or less the same the first time they'd dumped him in midgar, a city so much bigger than junon itself. if it wasn't for the rest of pub sec keeping an eye on him, no doubt roche would've gotten himself lost and stuck in part of the slums within a few hours.
he almost sets his phone down on the hood of his bike, but seems to remember where he is at the last second and slips it into his pocket, pushing himself away from the red paneling. and when julian nearly walks past him, roche whistles. sure, it draws some attention, but does he care? nope.]
( how about a fucking hug. because that's what roche is getting when julian crossing the space between them in one long stride, both arms going out. it isn't as pathetic a clinging grasp as it could be, but listen, he's really relieved. really, really relieved. he slums into roche with his arms around his shoulders. )
I've never seen anything like this in my life! You could have, uh, warned me, you know!
[he's not used to people being this much taller than he is, so it catches roche by surprise for a few moments. then, it clicks in his head and he leans up on his tiptoes to properly return it, seeking out the crook of his neck purely out of habit. hugs like that are always the best, okay? he's a sucker for little affectionate things like that.]
Forgive me for assuming you came from someplace civilized and not a backwater village in the middle of who-knows-where.
[it's all teasing, evident by the smile on roche's face as he pulls away, hands on each shoulder to really take a good, proper look at him. tall, very easy on the eyes, and he's... actually really, really cute looking all flustered like he is. yep, definitely a weakness for redheads. especially because roche actually has to tilt his chin up just a smidge to look this one in the eye.]
They won't lash out and bite you, I promise. Not unless they've got an idiot behind the wheel, anyhow.
( on the upside, julian gives lovely hugs. he's a big fucker, even when he's slouched over and clinging to somebody else, and a pretty-looking big fucker even when he's all out of sorts and having Anxiety. he gets ahold of himself relatively quickly, especially with the reassurance of some nice physical contact and the promise that his life... probably isn't in any danger, but still. when he steps back it's with a slightly nervous shuffle, brow furrowed even as he tries to smile. )
I'm from all over the world and I've still never seen—this. People really... live in all those buildings? And they're so... square. And tall, and... er...
( speaking of tall. roche is looking up at him. julian grins a little more easily. )
Sorry. I'm carrying on like we don't have better things to talk about. It's good to finally meet you.
[goddamn if that wasn't endearing. normally he'd ask why the world decides to drop the cute ones into his lap like this, but he's not going to argue or question it this time. clearly he must've done something right in a past life for it to happen so often. or, maybe the world is finally taking pity on him after everything else.]
The feeling is mutual, sweetheart. But, you don't have to stop gushing on my account.
[because it's fucking cute, okay???]
Though I'm a little shocked that you turned up in Junon of all places. And... relieved, if I can be candid with you. I would've had to call in a favor if you were on the other continent, not to mention it would've taken me longer to get there. I can't...
[oh, shit, right. he did say that julian would see her soon, didn't he?? god, he's getting distracted here. tilting his head back, his eyes flick towards the bike tucked up against the curb of the sidewalk.]
It must be good fortune! I didn't know where I was headed and didn't ask. I just got on the first ship for "away from here" and never looked back.
( who would have thought he'd be boarding an interdimensional universe-hopping plot ship! this is going to be a wild ride, clearly, but luckily he's not foolish enough to ever have assumed at any point in his life that he couldn't continue to be surprised by what's out there in the world.
and speaking of wild rides... julian's eyes point every which way at the mention of "she" before he finally catches on to what roche is talking about. oh, yeah, the... red metal beast. )
Is that... is this the "girl" you were referring to? I... uh, she's... hm. For quite possibly the first time in my life, I've met a lady I've got no idea how to talk to. You'll introduce us, won't you?
Just talk to her like you would anyone else. That's what I do, anyway.
[is it weird??? probably yeah kinda, but who doesn't talk to their vehicles in traffic or in bad weather? whatever, it works and it's a good way to bond. and stuff. he looks from julian to the bike, back to julian, and tilts his head a little in thought. roche isn't about to go hog wild right out the gates with him, but still.]
Delilah'll treat you well, I promise. Her bark is much, much worse than her bite.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Roche, are you married?! You absolute cad. You should have told me!
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n
o
no
don't be
That's absurd
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Is that this mystery girl, then...?
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You'll see her, though. Soon. Once you're off the elevator, I want you to head... I think left? Assuming things haven't changed too terribly much since I was last here, there ought to be a sandwich shop with a yellow bird on the sign. Just keep heading down the street from there until you see me.
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Well.
I can't wait to meet her. I'm on my way up. It's not my safety I'm worried about in this thing, I just... god, it's loud, isn't it? What a ruckus. I don't know how anyone can sleep through that noise.
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( the elevator opens. julian's answer dies the second he steps out into junon proper. he stands there, transfixed at all the huge buildings, the bright lights, the dozens of people, and the fucking cars for so long the doors almost close on him again. he has to scramble out, and then he stands there gawking and kind of petrified on the street corner until someone barks at him to ged'oudda heah and then he's. just. frantically following roche's directions and going "left."
he only has one thing to say: ]
What the fuck
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Oh, baby. Baby, come here. Keep your phone close and... I'd say follow the dulcet tones of my voice, but that's pretty hard to do over texts. Just keep coming. If it helps, look for a big red metal beast, because that'll be your ride out of here.
[Could Roche easily kick it into gear and go down the street looking for him too? Of course. But then there's too much of a risk of missing Julian, and then he'd get lost in the city and no one needs that :(]
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good thing or he'd really be drawing stares. then again, most of the military guys around here have masks... )
Red metal beast? How am I supposed to tell that from all the other
What are these
Carriages? Why are they so loud
Oh! I see the bird. The sign. Are you
( and here comes julian up the way, frantically looking from his phone to the area around him. he's having a hard time pinning anything down, let alone spotting roche or his red metal beast apart from everything else there is to see. he's... pretty visibly overwhelmed, honestly, but it could be worse. he's not about to have a breakdown or anything like that, at least. )
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[luckily, he's not a hard one to miss. if his height and hair didn't make him stand out, looking like a lost puppy sure does. and you know something? roche's heart goes out to the guy. he remembers looking more or less the same the first time they'd dumped him in midgar, a city so much bigger than junon itself. if it wasn't for the rest of pub sec keeping an eye on him, no doubt roche would've gotten himself lost and stuck in part of the slums within a few hours.
he almost sets his phone down on the hood of his bike, but seems to remember where he is at the last second and slips it into his pocket, pushing himself away from the red paneling. and when julian nearly walks past him, roche whistles. sure, it draws some attention, but does he care? nope.]
Right here, sweetheart.
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( how about a fucking hug. because that's what roche is getting when julian crossing the space between them in one long stride, both arms going out. it isn't as pathetic a clinging grasp as it could be, but listen, he's really relieved. really, really relieved. he slums into roche with his arms around his shoulders. )
I've never seen anything like this in my life! You could have, uh, warned me, you know!
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Forgive me for assuming you came from someplace civilized and not a backwater village in the middle of who-knows-where.
[it's all teasing, evident by the smile on roche's face as he pulls away, hands on each shoulder to really take a good, proper look at him. tall, very easy on the eyes, and he's... actually really, really cute looking all flustered like he is. yep, definitely a weakness for redheads. especially because roche actually has to tilt his chin up just a smidge to look this one in the eye.]
They won't lash out and bite you, I promise. Not unless they've got an idiot behind the wheel, anyhow.
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I'm from all over the world and I've still never seen—this. People really... live in all those buildings? And they're so... square. And tall, and... er...
( speaking of tall. roche is looking up at him. julian grins a little more easily. )
Sorry. I'm carrying on like we don't have better things to talk about. It's good to finally meet you.
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The feeling is mutual, sweetheart. But, you don't have to stop gushing on my account.
[because it's fucking cute, okay???]
Though I'm a little shocked that you turned up in Junon of all places. And... relieved, if I can be candid with you. I would've had to call in a favor if you were on the other continent, not to mention it would've taken me longer to get there. I can't...
[oh, shit, right. he did say that julian would see her soon, didn't he?? god, he's getting distracted here. tilting his head back, his eyes flick towards the bike tucked up against the curb of the sidewalk.]
She can't drive across water. Unfortunately.
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( who would have thought he'd be boarding an interdimensional universe-hopping plot ship! this is going to be a wild ride, clearly, but luckily he's not foolish enough to ever have assumed at any point in his life that he couldn't continue to be surprised by what's out there in the world.
and speaking of wild rides... julian's eyes point every which way at the mention of "she" before he finally catches on to what roche is talking about. oh, yeah, the... red metal beast. )
Is that... is this the "girl" you were referring to? I... uh, she's... hm. For quite possibly the first time in my life, I've met a lady I've got no idea how to talk to. You'll introduce us, won't you?
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[is it weird??? probably yeah kinda, but who doesn't talk to their vehicles in traffic or in bad weather? whatever, it works and it's a good way to bond. and stuff. he looks from julian to the bike, back to julian, and tilts his head a little in thought. roche isn't about to go hog wild right out the gates with him, but still.]
Delilah'll treat you well, I promise. Her bark is much, much worse than her bite.
[.......................usually.]