plz don't

[moneyballer]

[Today, Asher is particularly excited- A friend is coming over! While his sheer joy at the mere prospect of a visitor seems albeit pathetic, especially at his age, it's nice to have somebody over who isn't just using his house to hide from the police. He's prepared an assortment of unhealthy snack foods, including wings of the microwaveable variety, nachos with "extra" chili (read: white people spice level), and pizza.

In fact, he's so happy, he's begun to sing a very familiar tune in a high falsetto. As high as he can muster, really.]

I shake iiiit off, I shake it off-

[He tops this off by doing a little spin and a booty pop, only to realize that his guess has already arrived. Immediately, he sputters:]

T-That's, um. A rap song.

[Jin is Asian and from the eighteenth century, or some shit. Right? He can't know who Taylor Swift is. Then again, he is gay.]

Comments

[pummelling]

[Guess Asher is already cooling off. Jin manages a half-smile and shrugs his shoulders.]

Could be worse. You could be out trying to pick a fight instead.

[Jin has, again, done worse while venting negative feelings-- he's very grateful that attempting to throw down with the literal god of thunder didn't have any permanent repercussions.]

By the way, you still have snot on your face. Might wanna get back inside the castle to take care of that.

[moneyballer]

[Asher's emotions sometimes get the best of him, but for the most part, he seeks more than to antagonize. Jin's words have definitely ruffled his feathers in more ways than one, but at least that lingering feeling of comfort is enough to quiet him for the time being.

His greatest strength is also his greatest weakness- The tendency for him to follow his heart. Asher does not yet recognize this, it's not something that he's come to value about himself, but it is moments like these that remind him of who Jin really is.

The thief can be callous and sarcastic most of the time, but there's someone kinder underneath. Jin's armor doesn't stop at the metal plating on his forehead or whatever covers his body, his harsh words and devil-may-care attitude are walls he builds as well.

Not loudly, but stern:]

This never happened.

[Asher sniffles once or twice. Jin is right, that's a lot of snot.]

This never happened, okay?

i forgot to tag this.....sry

[pummelling]

Absolutely nothing.

[His hand's still resting on Asher's shoulder; it slides down his arm until Jin pulls away completely, beginning to walk away.

Asher Millstone is more than just a joke, he's coming to realize. But he's not especially interested in exploring it anymore, at least not today-- comforting a crying teammate is going well over his altruism quota for the day.

Maybe next time, Millstone.] Got it.

I'll see you inside.

[moneyballer]

[And he can't help but watch Jin go, eyes following the other in the dark as he struggles to come to terms with whatever's going on inside his head. On one hand, he feels almost violated- Whatever he shared was private, not masculine in the least.

But this is still better somehow.

Somebody listened.]

Thanks.

[Asher manages to blurt out, although Jin is clearly out of earshot.

Talking is better than keeping silent, for him.

Even when it's hard.]

Thank you.