Maybe. [ he can't say for certain about his friend, but— ] I teach, remember? It's part of my job.
[ family and friends are rare commodities, luxuries that few can afford. elmott doesn't remember his birth family, nor does he want to; he remembers living a lonely life out in the wilderness with nothing but the warmth of his flames to keep him company. it wasn't until he joined the crew that he remembered what it was like to care about people and things beyond himself, to let people in and allow them to care about him, too. it's funny, how things can change in such a short amount of time; even funnier still, is how he finds himself in this particular situation.
he hasn't lived for very long in the grand scheme of things. twenty one isn't very old at all, he isn't qualified to be giving advice about these things. but he's been on both ends of the spectrum now, knows what it's like to be the one to take the hand and to offer it, and maybe that's more important. he listened when others would not, reached out when others refused to, and sometimes that's really all it takes.
it got him to where he is now. maybe that counts for something. and maybe he should have expected yq to say shit like that too, but it startles a laugh out of him anyway. ]
Hell no, [ embarrassment tints his cheeks pink, wishing for the couch to swallow him whole. ] I ain't cut out for that stuff.
[ He laughs and it's genuine, teeth showing and eyes sparkling without the aura he seems to have around him, all mystery and danger. He wonders if Elmott ever saw him that way. Elmott seems like a down-to-earth sort of guy, so Yan Qing thinks he shouldn't expect too much. But if that's what keeps Elmott true to himself and the others around him, maybe Yan Qing should stick around and learn a thing or two. ]
Coulda charmed the pants off me.
[ He doesn't let his sidelong glance linger for too long, choosing to watch the wisps of smoke in the room and let them cloud his senses. Even being here feels like a dream. Not a lot of places make him think of home. ]
Trust me, you're a lot better than you think you are. Clean up and you're a total catch. [ Or maybe he's overstepping some boundaries again. He snorts. ] I'm just being honest. You don't gotta listen to me.
[ he clicks his tongue, a disgruntled expression on his face softened only by yan qing's more genuine laughter this time. he's always had a nice voice, but it's nicer when he's not fronting like he normally does. elmott can feel his eyes on him though, even if he doesn't let them linger, and he rubs his nose a little, leaning forward to tap his cigarette against the ashtray with an embarrassed shut up. ]
This is me cleaned up. [ friends (is that what they are now?) probably don't say this kind of stuff to each other and no matter how yan qing says he's just being honest, elmott can't find it in himself to really believe it. but that's less on yq and more his own issues. ] Look, I'm being honest too. People see me an' they cross the street, alright?
[ he closes his eyes and takes another long drag, a heavy exhale directed up above them. ]
This ain't about me. When're you gonna give it to your friend?
[He snorts and shakes his head in amusement. Elmott's got more reason to brag than Yan Qing does, he's sure. The humility is refreshing, though. Better than some guys who only have their pride going for them — guys like him. Elmott can't see how good he is now, but that only means Yan Qing has a reason to keep trying.]
Tomorrow. [His turn to tap his cigarette. As he reaches for the ashtray, his sleeve revealing more of the dragon scales tattooed around his arm. Elmott never seemed to care about it the way others do, so Yan Qing's not going to start.]
I think— I think she'll like it. It's cute. She's cute. She likes animals. I like animals. You know?
[Desperately trying not to sound like someone who's never had a steady girlfriend.]
[ yan qing sounds so unsure it's almost funny, and elmott doesn't bother to hide his chuckle at it. it's less derisive and more light ribbing than anything; yan qing's teased him enough by now that he thinks it's about time he gave him his due. ]
Sure. [ elmott's never had a steady girlfriend either, so. ] But hey, it's from you. She'd probably like it no matter what it was.
[ it's the thought that counts, or something like that. elmott's certain that the gift giving would go fine, but he figures a little nervousness is warranted. he remembers feeling that way whenever he had something to give to djeeta; it's not the same, but it's the closest he's got. ]
[ Elmott's laughing. Great. He's officially not the cool friend. But Elmott's smiling and reassuring him that everything will be okay, and if a cynical guy like Elmott can tell Yan Qing things like that with a straight face, then he can believe it too. At the very least, he wants to think he knows Pyra enough to make her happy, however temporarily. ]
Yeah... you're right. [ A pause, a deep breath. ] Thanks, haha.
[ But when he drags a hand down his face, it's for something completely different. ]
Fuck, I'm older than you. I should be the one dispensing life advice and waving a cane at the kids.
[ he's always cynical except when it comes to others. people are capable of growth and change and he wants to lift them up, let them see the potential they can achieve. it's one of the best things about teaching, he thinks, being able to watch his students grow and accomplish whatever they set their minds to. he may not have had that growing up, but being along for the ride is enough to make up for it.
what he doesn't always realize is that he's changing in the same ways. ]
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no subject
[ family and friends are rare commodities, luxuries that few can afford. elmott doesn't remember his birth family, nor does he want to; he remembers living a lonely life out in the wilderness with nothing but the warmth of his flames to keep him company. it wasn't until he joined the crew that he remembered what it was like to care about people and things beyond himself, to let people in and allow them to care about him, too. it's funny, how things can change in such a short amount of time; even funnier still, is how he finds himself in this particular situation.
he hasn't lived for very long in the grand scheme of things. twenty one isn't very old at all, he isn't qualified to be giving advice about these things. but he's been on both ends of the spectrum now, knows what it's like to be the one to take the hand and to offer it, and maybe that's more important. he listened when others would not, reached out when others refused to, and sometimes that's really all it takes.
it got him to where he is now. maybe that counts for something. and maybe he should have expected yq to say shit like that too, but it startles a laugh out of him anyway. ]
Hell no, [ embarrassment tints his cheeks pink, wishing for the couch to swallow him whole. ] I ain't cut out for that stuff.
no subject
Coulda charmed the pants off me.
[ He doesn't let his sidelong glance linger for too long, choosing to watch the wisps of smoke in the room and let them cloud his senses. Even being here feels like a dream. Not a lot of places make him think of home. ]
Trust me, you're a lot better than you think you are. Clean up and you're a total catch. [ Or maybe he's overstepping some boundaries again. He snorts. ] I'm just being honest. You don't gotta listen to me.
no subject
This is me cleaned up. [ friends (is that what they are now?) probably don't say this kind of stuff to each other and no matter how yan qing says he's just being honest, elmott can't find it in himself to really believe it. but that's less on yq and more his own issues. ] Look, I'm being honest too. People see me an' they cross the street, alright?
[ he closes his eyes and takes another long drag, a heavy exhale directed up above them. ]
This ain't about me. When're you gonna give it to your friend?
messes with the timeline, I don't give a fuck
Tomorrow. [His turn to tap his cigarette. As he reaches for the ashtray, his sleeve revealing more of the dragon scales tattooed around his arm. Elmott never seemed to care about it the way others do, so Yan Qing's not going to start.]
I think— I think she'll like it. It's cute. She's cute. She likes animals. I like animals. You know?
[Desperately trying not to sound like someone who's never had a steady girlfriend.]
hell yeah
Sure. [ elmott's never had a steady girlfriend either, so. ] But hey, it's from you. She'd probably like it no matter what it was.
[ it's the thought that counts, or something like that. elmott's certain that the gift giving would go fine, but he figures a little nervousness is warranted. he remembers feeling that way whenever he had something to give to djeeta; it's not the same, but it's the closest he's got. ]
So don't stress out over it.
no subject
Yeah... you're right. [ A pause, a deep breath. ] Thanks, haha.
[ But when he drags a hand down his face, it's for something completely different. ]
Fuck, I'm older than you. I should be the one dispensing life advice and waving a cane at the kids.
no subject
what he doesn't always realize is that he's changing in the same ways. ]
Maybe start actin' like it, then.