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Simon will just LIVE in this booth forever. (magienoir) wrote in yegods,
@ 2012-02-18 11:09:00

Entry tags:

!log, milo canonici, simon renaud

Mars, the Bringer of War.

WHO Milo CANTSPELLHISLASTNAME & Simon Renaud
WHERE The Catacombs
WHEN February 18th, Late Afternoon
RATING PG-13
SUMMARY Bones may be picked...
STATUS Complete

Scruffy. This is not a word that one would usually use to describe Simon Renaud. However, there's no getting around it. Today, he is scruffy. It is the look of the young and lovelorn... or the university student. Unshaven, hair a mess, and clothing wrinkled. It's probably the bruised look of his eyes that makes the difference, because he has not been sleeping well. Not at all. It's always harder to sleep in the days following an episode, even a minor one. Each instance, however, tends to open up a floodgate of historical cosmic horror, and his dreams are plagued with memories of things that he doesn't even begin to know how to describe, but when leave him awake at 4 a.m. listening to the sound of Kuma running around, or Kat quietly doing whatever it is he does at that hour, in his room on the other side of the apartment. It's not like having a dream about zombies or ghosts or ogres or something like that, because the fear is so intrinsic. Like it's talking to some secret part of the human brain - a knowledge of what ought to be feared that is not learned, but known from before birth. The fact that things are not going well in terms of patching things up with Daisuke, but seem to be declining, even, makes this worse.

So he is not looking as dapper as he usually does this Saturday afternoon. He is even wearing the same outfit he put on yesterday, which is an extreme rarity for anyone who knows him: one of the sweaters Sunny gave him, his leather jacket, and jeans. Of course, since it has only been worn one other time since it's last cleaning, this fact is not really obvious. The sweater is a little wrinkled looking, but that's about all. It would require a very familiar eye to recognize the change in appearance (at least, in regards to his clothing). Giving up on himself entirely would probably be a sign of mortal peril for Simon, after all. So even if his hair is messy, he did spend the usual hour in the shower when he got up today. He just didn't bother fixing his hair or shaving, so there's shadow around his jawline and throat. More than these things, he looks pissed. Perhaps an apt simile would be, he is like a human rain cloud, reading to spit out rain and lightning and changing the atmosphere of whatever space he's in for the worse.

However, despite this, he is out and about, and he is trying to make the best of things. He was supposed to go to tennis today, but the thought of Daisuke's cold frown made him just... blow it off entirely. He'll go tomorrow. He'll go and he'll clean up the apartment like he promised to, and he'll just hope for the best. Today, though, he is trying to mend his brutalized self-esteem, and the best way to do that is to play. Because there are only two things he is really good at - that no one else can deny he is good at - and violin is one of them. And also the only one that is appropriate for public spaces. So he is standing outside the Arts Guild, Estelle in hand, playing up a storm to a small gathering. Not nearly as large as he thinks he deserves, but it is Saturday, and people have things they need to be doing. Plus, it's chilly outside, even underground, so there's that. He's playing a little Yann Tiersen* for his admirers. He does love Tiersen. His music always feels a little like going home for Simon. It's like comfort food for the ear.

Finishing the song, he looks up and sees a familiar head of silver passing by. Giving a little bow, smiling and nodding in thanks for the applause, he quickly puts Estelle away, puts the case under his arm, and hurriedly breaks through the crowd. "Milo," he says in the commanding sort of tone that he called forth Leonard with.

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risplendere
2012-02-18 08:20 pm UTC (link)

There are several other (more important, obviously) things on his mind than who could have suddenly called his name. He's thinking about cars, bills, his daughter's birthday, and Katsumi's sudden about face. Ebisu's son's sudden attitude is perplexing, and it leaves him sour. All the times he'd wished Katsumi would take a little more bite with the world, he hadn't intended for it to be with him. Anya seems more than a little distressed with this new development, and he can understand why. It makes her work atmosphere awkward.

They've come to the Catacombs today to decompress. To think not about Katsumi or nagging about cars, but just enjoy each other. At least, that's what Milo's goal is. So far Anya has mentioned cars and Katsumi exactly twice each, and each time he has put a stop to the conversation with food, pointing out a boy, or finding something shiny (and moderately priced) to distract her attention. Now they are plodding towards the Arts Guild together, Anya laying out a precise argument for why the nuns at her school were secretly goblins when he hears someone snap his name. He turns, coffee in hand and brows raised.

Ah, Simon. Milo can't hide the upward twitch of his lips at the sight of the surly Frenchman. Definitely someone he hasn't thought of since outing him on the godling net. Still, Simon hasn't shown himself to be the best at keeping himself together. He turns back to Anya and murmurs for her to go on to the Guild by herself. She stands to watch Simon come closer for a few moments, and then does as bid.

His free hand raises in a half-hearted sort of wave as the boy draws closer. "Yes?"

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magienoir
2012-02-18 08:58 pm UTC (link)

Simon's mouth thins, his face going a touch paler than usual as he stops in front of the shorter man. Like Milo doesn't know what Simon is angry about. Infuriating. He takes a shuddering breath. He is not going to lose his cool. At least, he is going to try very hard not to give Milo that satisfaction. He opens his eyes and regards Milo from under his lashes. The twist of his mouth that's supposed to accomplish this is supposed to be a smirk or a sneer, but it comes off a little more like snarling despite his efforts. "I would like to know the reason that you decided to try to systematically hurt my relationship with Daisuke. Let's start with that.

"Surely, there's a better reason than 'I am a sexually confused middle-aged man who is having a midlife crisis and wants to experiment, but now I know that the boy I want to experiment on is not one-night-stand material, so boo-fucking-hoo, plans ruined.' Because from where I'm standing," and he straightens a little just to make it apparent that where he stands is a greater vantage point than Milo's, "that's the only picture I can see. I was trying to help you, and you have decided to try to ruin my life. What the fuck is wrong with you?" Was he trying to stay cool? Well. It was a nice idea....

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risplendere
2012-02-18 09:08 pm UTC (link)

Milo does not have a particularly flattering laugh. It sounds more like Anya's high-pitched giggles than a man his age, and as such he doesn't like to laugh much in public. But Simon's assessment of the situation is so wild and off base that his laughter can be heard from behind the hand that tries to smother it. He probably thought he was going to hurt Milo's feelings, he realises. That only makes him laugh harder.

"Was I not supposed to say that?" he asks, his hand drawing away to bring his coffee cup to his mouth for a sip. "That is exactly what you called him, isn't it?"

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magienoir
2012-02-18 09:27 pm UTC (link)

Simon stares at the strangely laughing man, his features wrinkling in bewilderment. That's just kind of eerie and weird. He takes a little step back from the strange, short silver-haired man with the squeaky girl laugh. Stop trying to distract him with that kind of weirdness, Milo! He quickly puts the scowl right back onto his face. "Yes, I did. I did call him that, because I see there's nothing wrong with being called a twink. I am not ashamed of being young, beautiful, or gay, but not everyone is like me, and you could already see things were going poorly. You purposefully arrived to try to make things worse.

"And you haven't answered the question. Why?" he asks, and his voice goes up a little pitch at that, mouth drawing back over his teeth. A line forms between his brows. There is a horrible, dense pain in his chest. It is a pain that has only ever come of three things: disappointment in his father, betrayal by his mother, or Daisuke being angry at him. So it's not a feeling he has all that much, since his parents are not around enough to offer up opportunities, and Daisuke is usually really easy for him to get along with. He hugs Estelle (in her case) to his chest. "Why?" he asks more quietly.

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risplendere
2012-02-18 09:53 pm UTC (link)

"I don't have a problem with it either," he shrugs. Milo enjoys his own privacy very deeply, but he'd like to cut off any hysterical directions Simon might think to go down immediately. Homophobia is one of them. God, he does not want to be having this conversation right now either, in the middle of a public place, but he supposes he should have expected it. The boy has proven himself emotional and prone to fits of, well, whatever that was in the car. Simon is now standing in front of him like a love-sick high school waif, clutching the instrument case to his chest like a girl would her notebooks. It's kind of pitiful to watch, and leaves him wholly annoyed.

His own brow wrinkles as he continues to look Simon over. "Then why call him that in the first place, if you knew it would upset him?" Another shrug, and he spreads his hands in a gesture that hints at how little he actually cares for what he's done. "Do you actually think on the things that come out of your mouth? I'm sorry you didn't enjoy having your own words put back in your face, but it's not impossible to think some people would have a problem with what you say about them or their friends."

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magienoir
2012-02-18 09:59 pm UTC (link)

Simon doesn't have an answer for that. Because it was funny at the time, he supposes. Because Daisuke sort of is, despite being older and more adult and having a job and wearing suits and being masculine. It isn't his fault that Daisuke is apparently emasculated by the idea of being pretty and gay. It isn't his fault that Daisuke seems to find the idea of having homosexual leanings scary in the first place. All in all, he suspects it was mostly a poorly timed quip and obviously made to the wrong person. He should have been a lot more circumspect. He shouldn't have let the man's apparent calm in the car lull him into thinking he was a decent person. So really, it is his fault that this has come to light, even if it's stupid for Daisuke to be offended by that. And even if it was told to this man in what he had wrongly assumed was confidence. He stares down at the ground, still clutching the case.

"I didn't lie about anything I said about Kat, and I didn't say anything mean about him. If you think this is correct, then please tell me what horrible thing I said about him that makes you think you have a right to ruin the only good relationship I have ever had with anyone outside my grandparents."

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risplendere
2012-02-18 10:22 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, God," he murmurs, his eyes rolling as Simon stares at the ground. Really? Really? "Cry me a river, Simon."

This is so dramatic. Dramatic, and ridiculous, and not how he wanted to spend his day in the Catacombs at all. He is not going to placate the boy by telling him it's not his only good relationship, or that it's all fixable if he just drags himself up by his bootstraps and apologises. No, he is going to stand where he is, a hair away from palming his face and ruminating on how bad this really is. "Could you stop," he says, rolling his eyes again for good measure. "I don't know what planet you think you're from where you can't even hear the sh- stuff coming out of your mouth, but it's obviously not Earth."

Had he ever acted like this when he was Simon's age? Ptah, please, let the answer be 'no'. "I need to find my kid." His body twists away from Simon as if he's already decided to leave, but he stops and looks back once more. "Please tell me you aren't going to find a bridge to jump off."

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magienoir
2012-02-18 10:41 pm UTC (link)

Now it is Simon's turn for creepy laughs. And so he does. A low, mirthless rumble escapes him. His shoulders shake a little, hair hanging down over his face. He raises it just a little, the sneer now back in place. "You aren't supposed to make light of that," he replies lightly. "I am, after all, 'schizophrenic,' and a quarter of all those diagnosed with my illness will give it a try at least once... Most of them fitting my profile exactly. Would you like to get a 'crazy' joke in whilst we're at it? Would you? Go on. I'm sure you've got something..." he says, but of course, being Simon, he doesn't really wait for it before plunging onwards in his rant. "So you can make fun of the situation. Go ahead and do just that. But unlike you and your silly fear of dying after living like 60 years and having a child and a wife and a full life and a legitimate chance with a handsome young man, I have real and immediate things to be concerned about. This is important to me - Daisuke is important to me - and the fact that you have gone out of your way to turn him against me is not a small issue."

He pulls out his phone, gripping the little pig charm in his hand, and looks up at Milo, sneering. "You act like you've merely inconvenienced me by feeding those flames. Well, now I'll inconvenience you. αλλαγή."

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risplendere
2012-02-18 11:39 pm UTC (link)

He's not going to refute anything Simon says. That would just be stupid on his part, and give him more fuel to throw back in his face later. If he wanted to think Milo had been married and straight, that was fine. The 'like 60 years' comment does rankle a bit, but that rolls off his back in a blink, too. He is more focused on the miniature villain speech he's getting from Simon now, his gaze wandering to the pig charm. It does not seem so dangerous.

At first.

A tingling pain in his lower back makes his head swing to look. There, first bunching up in his khakis and then spilling over the top of them, a whip-like tail unfurls long enough to brush the ground. He only has time to blink at the strange new appendage before it changes again. It suddenly sprouts hair. Long, thick, silver hair, the same colour that covers its head. It is silky to the touch, he finds, scooping the tail into his hand. He gives it a tug and winces, because he finds it is actually attached to him.

There is a small sort of commotion from the crowd around them, little gasps and laughs at the sight of Milo with a silver tail. He does not notice them, standing silently with his new tail in one hand as he considers his options. For one small, blinding moment, he is ready to nail Simon to a wall, but it passes in the next breath. There is a logical sort of way to go about this, and one that does not involve popping Hecate's crazy son one in the mouth. He lets the tail fall behind him and turns to face Simon again, clearly extremely unamused, but very still.

"Really. A tail?" It takes a lot to appear so unenthused about it, when really, it's very mortifying. The feeling of something brushing against his ankle makes him look down again, dismayed to find the thing swishing about of it's own volition. "Change it back," he demands, though he's already wondering how to explain this to Anya or any number of medical professionals. People just don't go growing tails.

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magienoir
2012-02-18 11:47 pm UTC (link)

"Yes," Simon says, pouting a little. "A tail. That's what you get." So ha! Goddamnit, why does his stupid charm only change one part? And why can't he control what it does? Because he was most definitely thinking 'pig.' Ugh, this is just embarrassing. His mother has again failed him. Milo doesn't even look that embarrassed about it. Just like stupid Gus. Because it is just a fluffy tail. In New York. Where men dress like women and animals and aliens and everything in between normally. Hecate, you stupid hose beast. WHY? He can't wait until he actually learns demon magic. Then he won't have to rely on pranks like this. The only good thing about this charm is if he can use it on himself someday and then turn into a bird or something. That would be cool. Or if, like Nico, it gives him the power to fully transform other people, but it doesn't do either of those things. It just gives people fluffy freaking tails. He hates his mother. He considers throwing the phone and charm on the ground and stamping on them. He glares at it and then shoves it into his pocket anyway.

He turns back to Milo. "I can't. It wears off on its own. You just have to live with it until then. You can think of it as a reminder, should you ever think about going around and trying to ruin other people's lives again, because I can do worse than that if I want." Yeeeeah. Er. YEAH! Cough. "So you should be glad it's only that," he sniffs. "And learn to mind your manners."

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risplendere
2012-02-19 12:00 am UTC (link)

The tail is still swishing. Just being aware of his makes Milo angry, as does the fact Simon seems rather blase that he has just cursed him with animal parts. How is he supposed to function with a tail? He can't go to work, or anywhere in public, really. What is he supposed to say to a doctor without ending up in a tabloid? Can he go to a vet instead? They'd know something about amputating tails for sure. But one.. like this?

It is really more panic and humiliation that spurs him to move rather than anger. His free hand lashes out (because God forbid he spill his coffee now, right?) to take Simon by the upper arm tightly. "How long does this last?" There is certainly a vindictive part of him that would like to add 'you overdramatic queen' to the question, but he needs to know. Answer first, then anger. His tail snaps against Simon's leg, and his expression flinches to something more honest of what he's feeling before he can school it again.

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magienoir
2012-02-19 12:17 am UTC (link)

Simon does not expect physical retaliation. Not from some guy with silver hair. He's rather shocked when he suddenly finds his arm grasped - and painfully, too - his eyes widen, and he clutches Estelle very tightly with his other arm, trying to pull away. "Let go! What are you doing? That hurts!" he snaps, not yet making a scene about it, but on the verge to start really shouting and struggling. He eyes Milo's swishing tail with some apprehension. "I don't know! A few hours! God!" It's not even like it's permanent! "Stop manhandling me, or I will kick you." Except he can't, because he's holding Estelle, and he can't risk damaging her by getting involved in a physical altercation. "You did this to yourself - you tried to make Daisuke hate me, so now you have a tail. You're an adult, so act like one and deal with it!"

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risplendere
2012-02-19 04:06 am UTC (link)

Maybe he hadn't meant to grab Simon so roughly. He's been working out a lot, perhaps he no longer knows his own strength. Still ,there is something satisfying about seeing him squirm. He waits til Simon pulls away again and tightens his hold, then releases him all at once. He hopes the momentum makes him fall. That would also be sort of satisfying, even if Simon isn't the one with a tail.

A few hours. What is he supposed to do with a tail for a few hours? "I didn't do this," he says evenly, eyes trained on Simon in a flinty stare. "You did. And last I checked, you were an adult as well. Act like one."

A tail. Knowing it'll disappear in a few hours doesn't make it any less hard to swallow. He'll be stuck walking around like this, forced to endure stares, whispers, giggles and conjecture. All for one crazy twink's idea of revenge. Milo has not been so livid in a while. He gives Simon one last cold stare and turns to walk away with purpose and as much dignity as he can muster, silky tail swishing behind him.

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