savetheearth | When You Fall Down | [ video -> action ]

[ The last few days have been a little too much for Adrian to take and, uncharacteristically, he decides to communicate with the numbers community with video. After the last time he had tried to promise himself he wouldn't try this again but with no pulses to ward him off he felt safe to broadcast. The camera on his phone focuses on his face, he's casually dressed and when he speaks his new, pointy teeth are not hard to miss. He's outside, the sun is setting. ]

Hi everyone, sorry if my last video disturbed some of you. Not my intention, promise.

[ He motions to cross his heart with his free hand ]

Anyway, my "sorry" message here is that I'm out tonight. Anyone who wants a drink text me and I'll tell you where I am. I probably owe some people more than one.

So, [ He pauses a moment before managing a lopsided smile ] maybe I'll see some of you later.

---

Who: Adrian and...
What: After what's happened in the mine and the stress that followed Adrian felt the need to get out and have a drink.
Where: One of the many bars in the city centre
When: Today (26th June)

Adrian is at one of the many so-called "indy" bars in Locke city, the walls are plastered with various posters of bands old and new; ranging from Pink Floyd to Florence and the Machine. He's found a ~~grotty,~~ cosy, little corner composed of an assortment of chairs around an old wooden table. He's in the largest, plushest of chairs; a red, leather armchair which dwarfs his slender figure. The table in front has a variety of messages carved into it and he seems fascinated with reading them as he sips on his beer.

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But what if I did hurt you-- [ Adrian said, with a genuine fear, without thinking clearly he added ] --what if someone else did? [ Somewhere in the back of his mind were undertones of jealousy that he couldn't begin to comprehend or understand ]

Are you not afraid of people? Of what they can do?

[ No one in Locke city knew Adrian's past, they didn't know of his lonely, bullied upbringing, the brutal murder of his parents or the years he'd spent alone here. How he had felt so abandoned, never able to connect with others, forever an outsider too scared to put his heart on the line for something he was convinced was destined to fail. ]

Sorry, I... probably shouldn't have said that, [ And although his expression did soften, fear leaving it, what replaced it seemed much worse; a sort of reside sorrow, a sadness that didn't want to leave him be ] I don't think you'd have anything to fear from anyone.

[ How ironic, when Adrian had been Alucard he had feared nothing, the prince of darkness had had nothing come close to scaring him and here he stood now, too shy and awkward to be honest with his own feelings ]

If they hurt me? [he frowned a little at that and reached out to stroke his fingers gently along Adrian's cheek, trying to figure out where this was coming from. no, he can guess where it was coming from and that made him feel so tired and angry at the people that damaged him.] If they hurt me, then they are one of two people. The ones that did not understand me or the ones scared themselves of trying so hard.

[he wears skirts as easily as pants, was not afraid of wearing makeup or dressing like a woman, and he had no qualms about open affection or voicing his opinion.] No. Why should they make me fear? We all have our hangups but if I let the silent thoughts of others dictate my actions, I would never get out of bed.

Fear is something in your mind first. It gains power by getting fed into itself so just let it go. There's nothing to fear from me.

O-oh...

[ The softest, gentlest of sighs passed by Adrian's lips as he felt Shou's fingers touch his cheek. He glanced at Shou briefly, then looked away again, his expression had relaxed somewhat but his heart was heavy and it showed.

He spoke, voice meek and quiet in the bustle of the bar ]

I wish I were like you.

It helps to have friends that will accept you no matter what kind of person you are. They can be your support and strength.

[he wanted to take this fragile man in his arms and hold him. he wanted to hit whoever had damaged him and make sure that they wouldn't harm anyone else the same way. the force of this need to hurt someone shocked him a little - shou was no stranger to fighting, but this was more of a protective need.]

I'm not that special.

[ Adrian had not really had that luxury, but he didn't resent fate or his life, he was glad to be alive and at least through the network he had people to talk to. He didn't always know what to say, or how to communicate his feelings, but knowing that people were there to at least listen to him meant a lot.

Even still, he longed for closeness. Not necessarily in a romantic sense (although that was there too) but someone he could confide it, someone he would know would never lie or intentionally hurt him.

And without even the slightest hint hesitation Adrian replied to that last comment ]

I think you are.

[Shou sighed to himself, not exactly sure about some things, but knowing that somehow, some way, this night went from being just a good time to something serious. he wanted to drag it back to just being fun, but Adrian seemed too fragile for that sort of thing.]

So are you.

[ He was special?

Adrian's parents had barely praised him, let alone anyone else, so hearing that from someone who was patient and willing enough to kiss him meant a lot. That said, because of his distinct lack of compliments in the past, Adrian didn't know what to do with those kind words. He hesitated to respond, occasionally looking away or down at his hands that were lacing together then separating moments later. ]

I don't know about that, but thank you for saying it.

I do know about special people, and you're one of them.

[he'll repeat himself a lot when it comes to this, now won't he? Shou looks around and then nods at the door.]

I think we can do some air about now. It's getting stuffy in here.

When You Fall Down | [ video -> action ] | open

Adorable <3

;;;

omg I know!! <3

poor adrian ;;

Shou, why so cute?!

/flails/ he would say he's isn't cute, just silly

Adrian would disagree ;) definitely cute.

pffft Adrian is just cute