[ elmott has his own lantern he arrived in the city with, but he takes the star lantern that was offered anyway, taking a detour back to his apartment after the cafe closes. the reason becomes clear when he makes his way over to caihong, to check on the ramen shop him and yan qing have been going to for the past few months. he's relieved to see that it's closed at least, glad that the owner decided to be smart and stay indoors with the city being what it is. with that done, elmott heads off again, lighting a cigarette on the way.
he should take his own advice and head straight home as well, but he makes his rounds through the rest of caihong anyway, despite the warning of increased crime since the city went dark. elmott isn't worried — hard to be, when he looks shady enough to blend in, the light from his lantern throwing his face in stark relief against the shadows. it isn't until he turns around to head back home when he spots a lone figure ahead of him, and he raises his lantern higher to get a better look. ]
Oi, what're you doing out here? [ the person is too short to be anyone he knows, and he assumes it's some kid that got lost on the way back home. ] It's dangerous goin' out by yourself.
[ He's not the type to get lost. Even as he strays from his usual path, intuition and years of honing both body and mind take him where he wants to go. But today time seems to move slower than he's used to. Using the doppelganger too much has its drawbacks, and as much as it scares him to say, he thinks he's grown used to them by now: the patchwork of memories blending into one another, the moments he'd even forget his own name. Nothing, however, could prepare him for this. Just an hour earlier, he was on his way to the very same ramen shop. Now, in the darkness of the night, he can't even remember where he is.
Elmott finds a boy younger than his students standing on the side of the road. With his long hair and soft features, he could easily be mistaken for a girl, but his hands are far too broad and rough for anyone to think so.
Even so, he's a child. He looks up at Elmott with glassy eyes, and his voice shakes as he speaks: ]
Um, I tried looking for my master... but I can't find him anywhere. [ He snivels. ] I don't know where I am. Do you know where this is, mister?
[ there's a sinking feeling in elmott's stomach the second the boy speaks up and he recognizes his voice. it's softer and a little higher, lacking the teasing sing-song lilt that yan qing tends to adopt whenever he's talking to him. but it's unmistakable that the boy in front of him is yan qing, as much as elmott wishes it wasn't.
something in his chest breaks just a bit, if only because lunatia is no place for a child, but elmott can't leave him alone. ]
'Fraid you're a little far from home, kid. [ elmott shifts his lantern against his shoulder, lowering himself to a crouch to bring them more at eye-level. his expression is soft as he reaches up to wipe away yan qing's tears gently with his thumb. ] What's your master's name? We'll look for him together.
[ The boy doesn't flinch at the gesture. Kindness isn't something he's used to, but he welcomes it all the same. After all, it's familiar too, and Elmott doesn't seem like a bad person. He knows what those look like. ]
My master is the great Lu Junyi! [ He beams, and if his face wasn't still red, it'd hard to believe he was crying in the first place. ] He's strong and rich and super nice! I bet he'd give you lots of clothes if you asked, mister!
[ Because Elmott looks cold. Erunes and their fashion sense. ]
Oh, yeah? [ he pinches the boy's nose for the comment, and his smile turns wry. ] Ya got a problem with my clothes, huh?
[ there's no denying it, it's really yan qing in front of him. elmott isn't sure if it's some kind of magic— it's likely some kind of weird shit that lunatia loves to pull every month. still, he doesn't know how long it'll last, and it's likely better to get yan qing out of level three. ]
Your master sounds like a pretty cool guy. If he's as strong as you said he is, I bet he's fine. [ he gets back on his feet and offers the star lantern to yan qing. ] But let's get you outta here first, okay?
[ The boy yelps and wrinkles his nose, but he doesn't apologize. The man really does look cold! It looks like he has other priorities, though. Without skipping a beat, Yan Qing takes the star lantern and gets back on his feet. ]
Okay!
[ He walks with Elmott, immediately in high spirits. Maybe it's Elmott's fire. Compared to the Yan Qing Elmott knows, this one speaks without the lilt and drawl of a more worldly ruffian. Every word is said in earnest. ]
My master's cool, but he's kinda dumb.
[ Yes, even that. ]
I can do everything better than Li Gu can, but sometimes he makes Li Gu do them instead. Oh, Li Gu's his other servant. Anyway, since my master's too nice, I have to look out for him. He could be giving someone his entire wallet right now! Don't give money to strangers, mister. You don't look like you have a lot.
[ he can't help it, he laughs, a quick chuckle even if it's at his own expense. this yan qing might be younger than the one elmott knows, but it looks like he's kept some of his old habits. the difference in height makes it easy for him to reach out and ruffle yan qing's hair though, like he would with his students whenever they give him sass. ]
A brat too, huh. [ he's smiling even as he says it, not nearly as offended by it as he lets on. the star lantern emits a soft red glow in yan qing's hands, casting a warmer glow on his face as they make their way down the dark streets. ] Maybe that's why your master makes the other kid work instead. He's gotta keep an eye on the bigger troublemaker.
[ Why is this guy ruffling his hair? Hey! Yan Qing isn't too annoyed by it, though. It's a bit different from what he's used to, but it's not bad. ]
Right! I've been doing a pretty good job so far, haven't I? One day, he's gonna see— [ But when Yan Qing turns around and expects affirmation, he's distracted by something far more magical. ]
Woah, it's glowing! How'd you do that? How did you light it without opening the lantern, mister? Are you a magician or something?!
[ he's not sure if he wants to get into the mechanics of the lanterns right now, because he'd ultimately need to explain chroma and it'll probably lead into him explaining his feelings, which he is not eager to do at the moment. the magician thing is a good segue, however, and elmott holds his fist out to yan qing. ]
Here, give me your hand.
[ when yan qing does, he opens his fist to drop a little fireball in his hand. it takes the shape of a tiny dragon, a miniature bahamut, puffing little streams of fire as it hovers over yan qing's palm. ]
[At first, he's afraid. He's burned himself from lighting fireworks and learning how to cook, but when Elmott releases his flames, they never touch Yan Qing's palm. They float above his skin, only letting him feel their warmth as they transform into a creature he's only seen on paper.]
This is sooo cool! Do more, mister! More! [But as soon as he says this, he pats his pockets and his smile falters.] I don't have anything to pay you with, though...
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tdm (de-age + star lantern)
he should take his own advice and head straight home as well, but he makes his rounds through the rest of caihong anyway, despite the warning of increased crime since the city went dark. elmott isn't worried — hard to be, when he looks shady enough to blend in, the light from his lantern throwing his face in stark relief against the shadows. it isn't until he turns around to head back home when he spots a lone figure ahead of him, and he raises his lantern higher to get a better look. ]
Oi, what're you doing out here? [ the person is too short to be anyone he knows, and he assumes it's some kid that got lost on the way back home. ] It's dangerous goin' out by yourself.
no subject
Elmott finds a boy younger than his students standing on the side of the road. With his long hair and soft features, he could easily be mistaken for a girl, but his hands are far too broad and rough for anyone to think so.
Even so, he's a child. He looks up at Elmott with glassy eyes, and his voice shakes as he speaks: ]
Um, I tried looking for my master... but I can't find him anywhere. [ He snivels. ] I don't know where I am. Do you know where this is, mister?
no subject
something in his chest breaks just a bit, if only because lunatia is no place for a child, but elmott can't leave him alone. ]
'Fraid you're a little far from home, kid. [ elmott shifts his lantern against his shoulder, lowering himself to a crouch to bring them more at eye-level. his expression is soft as he reaches up to wipe away yan qing's tears gently with his thumb. ] What's your master's name? We'll look for him together.
no subject
My master is the great Lu Junyi! [ He beams, and if his face wasn't still red, it'd hard to believe he was crying in the first place. ] He's strong and rich and super nice! I bet he'd give you lots of clothes if you asked, mister!
[ Because Elmott looks cold. Erunes and their fashion sense. ]
no subject
[ there's no denying it, it's really yan qing in front of him. elmott isn't sure if it's some kind of magic— it's likely some kind of weird shit that lunatia loves to pull every month. still, he doesn't know how long it'll last, and it's likely better to get yan qing out of level three. ]
Your master sounds like a pretty cool guy. If he's as strong as you said he is, I bet he's fine. [ he gets back on his feet and offers the star lantern to yan qing. ] But let's get you outta here first, okay?
no subject
Okay!
[ He walks with Elmott, immediately in high spirits. Maybe it's Elmott's fire. Compared to the Yan Qing Elmott knows, this one speaks without the lilt and drawl of a more worldly ruffian. Every word is said in earnest. ]
My master's cool, but he's kinda dumb.
[ Yes, even that. ]
I can do everything better than Li Gu can, but sometimes he makes Li Gu do them instead. Oh, Li Gu's his other servant. Anyway, since my master's too nice, I have to look out for him. He could be giving someone his entire wallet right now! Don't give money to strangers, mister. You don't look like you have a lot.
no subject
A brat too, huh. [ he's smiling even as he says it, not nearly as offended by it as he lets on. the star lantern emits a soft red glow in yan qing's hands, casting a warmer glow on his face as they make their way down the dark streets. ] Maybe that's why your master makes the other kid work instead. He's gotta keep an eye on the bigger troublemaker.
no subject
Right! I've been doing a pretty good job so far, haven't I? One day, he's gonna see— [ But when Yan Qing turns around and expects affirmation, he's distracted by something far more magical. ]
Woah, it's glowing! How'd you do that? How did you light it without opening the lantern, mister? Are you a magician or something?!
no subject
[ he's not sure if he wants to get into the mechanics of the lanterns right now, because he'd ultimately need to explain chroma and it'll probably lead into him explaining his feelings, which he is not eager to do at the moment. the magician thing is a good segue, however, and elmott holds his fist out to yan qing. ]
Here, give me your hand.
[ when yan qing does, he opens his fist to drop a little fireball in his hand. it takes the shape of a tiny dragon, a miniature bahamut, puffing little streams of fire as it hovers over yan qing's palm. ]
no subject
This is sooo cool! Do more, mister! More! [But as soon as he says this, he pats his pockets and his smile falters.] I don't have anything to pay you with, though...