june closed prompts

[flowlikewater]

who: genji + various
what: closed prompts for specific characters
when: throughout the month
where: all throughout the quarantine
warnings: none yet, will edit accordingly!

Comments

[franciscoramon]

[ When Genji tells him he's cool, for once Cisco doesn't argue. Sure, he smiles and shakes his head a little, but he doesn't actually try to convince Genij otherwise. That in itself is a mark of progress. His self-esteem has improved by such small increments over such a long period of time that he hadn't noticed it happening. But here, in this place, there are so many people who want to spend time with him, who don't do so with disclaimers and half-joking remarks.

He can feel a pleasant sort of lightness starting up in his head, and thinks that he should slow down on the sake. It's tasty, but stronger than beer, which is what he's most used to. He is quiet for a few solemn moments, thinking about how he will be able to help Genji move, how when he finds a new place maybe he'll get him another plant... ]

Hey, come on. You're rocking that gray and you know it.

[ But he takes the cue for what it is, and lets those subjects - Hana leaving, Shigeru's struggles with his powers - fall by the wayside. There are a few moments of silence, the two of them looking down at the bustle of people, before Cisco breaks the silence, voice warm and light: ]

You wanna go shopping for crop tops again?

[ He doesn't really think that Genji will, but Cisco figures the reminder of that strange they spent together, Cisco and the younger version of Genji, might lift his spirits a bit. ]

[flowlikewater]

[ Genji fills his glass back up, swirling it again. After that last glass, he's starting to feel it a bit now, a pleasant buzz and warmth settling in his chest. He disabled his internal error system for the night, as he's sure it's probably shrieking about something. (Sorry Dr. Ziegler.)

He chuckles and runs a few fingers through his temples, roughing up the gray. It puffs out a bit, his hair very similar to his brother's, and he smooths it back down. His roots are terrible and the green is starting to fade. ]

I couldn't stand it at first, but I've grown to like it. Shimada men always go gray once we hit thirty.

[ He goes to take another sip and— almost chokes. At least it only stings the back of his throat a little and he clears it, looking back over to Cisco.

An interesting mélange of facial expressions quickly flit across his face and he sighs, rubbing between his eyes. If his ears were still visible, they'd be very pink. ]

I was so obnoxious. I'm surprised I didn't get arrested.

[ But he drops his hand, smiling a little. ]

Another night we aren't drinking, for sure.

[franciscoramon]

[ Cisco just grins, witnessing Genji's recognition of the reference, his embarrassment and annoyance. He doesn't really want to distress his friend, of course, but a little harmless teasing doesn't hurt. If anything, it'll help to take Genji's mind more firmly off all the stuff in his life that is complicated and heavy and difficult at the moment. ]

Naw, come on, you were-

[ He stops midway, because he can't really in good conscience say that Genji's younger self hadn't been obnoxious. Even after his initial suspicion and abrasiveness, when he was comparatively friendly and happy, he'd still been a bit... well... ]

Okay, you were a little obnoxious, but I don't know, man. I liked hanging out with young Genji, for a little while. Saw a whole different side of you.

[ Genji had told Cisco, of course, how different he had been earlier in his life, but seeing is believing. And he'd seen a lot more similarities than he'd expected. Genji has changed, sure. Matured, grown more serious, more respectful, more peaceful - but his sense of humor had always been there. His generosity and wit. The seeds of everything Cisco likes in the Genji he knows now were already present. ]

For what it's worth, I think younger me was pretty obnoxious, too. I made my fair share of unfortunate decisions. Just more ill-advised hook-ups than arrests.

[flowlikewater]

[ The embarassment melts away after a moment and he laughs. ]

I was very obnoxious, you don't need to pretend. I was a textbook example of a spoiled kid who wasn't getting enough attention. I've long since come to terms with it.

[ He dips his head back, taking another drink of sake. Genji takes the moment to think how he's quite fortunate to have met Cisco. He would be well within his rights to not want much to do with Genji upon learning his history. ]

But you're right, everyone has... youthful indiscretions. Although I made a good number more than most. The drunk tank in the police station essentially had my family on speed dial after a certain point.

[ He puts the cup down, then eyes Cisco playfully. Now he's starting to feel tipsy. ]

The thought of you being a bit of a playboy is interesting, though.

[franciscoramon]

[ Cisco knows, for all that Genji is joking about it now, that there must have been some discomfort and tension with his family, over his behavior. That that acting out wasn't just him being a spoiled kid, but a reaction to the environment he was being raised in. To stuff with his mom, and all the expectations placed on him. But Genji must know that he knows that, so neither of them need to bring it up. Cisco instead just smiles, shaking his head a little. ]

I can't think of any other way I woulda wanted to spend the anniversary of me showing up here than hanging out with your punk past self. 'Cuz if I never came here, I wouldn't have ever met you. So... yeah.

[ He belatedly realizes that he is, possibly, progressing to that stage of intoxication where he gets a little too inclined to go on long speeches about how much he loves everyone and how important his friends are to him. But he thinks a little of that wouldn't go amiss tonight, for Genji. ]

Uh-uh. Nope. You got it twisted. I wasn't a player, I was a just a lil' bit slutty: there's a difference.

[ Cisco says it with a preciseness and delicate dignity that he can only maintain for a few moments before he's snorting with laughter. ]

I feel like playboy implies a sorta... I don't know. Thinking I was too good for anybody. And that was definitely not, y'know. The situation.

[ Which is as close as he's going to come to saying that his self-esteem was in the dumpster. But he wants to focus on sunnier things, so he pushes his hair back, swaying just a little as he sits and admitting: ]

Y'know that is kinda what led to me and Eddie getting together? Back when there was that big blackout... I don't know if you were here, yet. It was before we met. But there was this big ol' blackout 'cause of some acid rain and we were stuck inside with nothing to do, so we just started talking about our pasts and I think he thought before that- I don't know, he had a different image of me.