unknownballad | Hybrid Kingdom PSL

Nineteen. You?

[David isn't headed anywhere in particular, but he angles himself in the vague direction of the cafe now that he's got company. After all, Emmanuel's been an interesting person to him since the first time they met - he wouldn't mind chatting with the guy over a drink and possibly a snack.]

You're so young...

(( As if he's significantly older or something... As if he himself isn't considered 'so young' by all these gods and long-lived creatures around them. Don't mind him just wandering along wherever Lucas is headed. At least he's call covered up in his sweat pants and hoodie. It's appropriate enough to be out and about in (even if it's far more casual than his usual attire). ))

Twenty-seven.

Nineteen's not that young... but yeah, people always figure I'm older 'cause of the height. [And the next question that usually follows is:] 6 foot 2.

[The more casual clothes suit him, David thinks. He looks more approachable. Maybe that's why David's finally decided to take a chance on a conversation - if he's honest with himself, Emmanuel's intensity makes him kind of intimidating.]

Wanna get a coffee or something? Nothing against all these superhuman badasses, but it's kinda nice talking to another normie.

So young to be involved in all of this.

(( Some clarification. All of this would affect the whole of humanity (an beyond) so Emmanuel isn’t about to tell David he shouldn’t be involved. For all Emmanuel knows, David’s youth could have been as strange as his. He doesn’t really know. ))

I’m not sure how normal I am… But I wouldn’t mind coffee. The cafe here isn’t bad. Shall we?

(( A small gesture to indicate even further away from the gym. Please, anywhere but there. ))

[Self-deprecation is a great way to put David at ease. He nods and grins as he leads the way, though thinking about how he got involved does cause a shadow to fall over his eyes.]

My friends… that house where you found me, there’s usually five of us living there. The other four all got sucked in by that Set bastard.

(( Is it really self-depreciating when it’s true? Emmanuel’s hardly had what anyone might consider a normal life. But he thinks what David means is a baseline human, which is a qualifier that does suit Emmanuel.

Hearing even just the most truncated version of the reason for David’s involvement in all this… Emmanuel turns to look at him, eyes slightly wider and very sympathetic. ))

I’m sorry.

[Ah jeez, David's no good with genuine, selfless emotions like sympathy when they're directed at him. He scratches the back of his neck and shrugs one shoulder, as if he's got any hope of being nonchalant about his friends after bombing the compound.]

Yeah... I'm just glad you guys tracked me down and gave me something to do, 'cause my next plan was an anthrax letter bomb. I kinda fuckin' lost it. [He glances sidelong at Emmanuel, a guilty frown on his lips. He also made things way, way worse for all the people (and gods and such) who have been fighting Set since the beginning.]

Probably don't deserve the second chance, but I'll take it.

(( One might think he'd be better at offering solace since he's a priest but... he's not that kind of priest. Sorry, David! ))

Anyone can say they're sorry for doing something awful. Mistakes are normal, but so is some bit of pride. It takes a strong person to admit they were wrong and take steps to prove they're better than their mistake. You didn't have to agree to help us, but you did. I think that makes you more than deserving of a second chance.

[David has a much easier time with such brusque language, so he's more than happy to discover that's how Emmanuel hands out his priestly wisdom. The response even brings a bit of a grin to his face.]

Y'know, that's pretty close to what Lucas said.

[Aaaand here's the cafe. As they approach the counter, David lets Emmanuel know:]

I'm buying, since I'm the one who dragged you here.

[And he orders himself a red-eye and an enormous blueberry scone.]

(( Well. There's a bit of reassurance in hearing he holds the same belief in redemption as an angel of the Lord. The spike of pride is short lived, replaced by a curious peering into the display case of baked goods. ))

Black tea and a croissant.

(( Barely have the words left him and he's already looking around for the most advantageous place to sit. He doesn't even realize it's something he does, casing every place he plans to spend more than a handful of minutes in like that. ))

Shall we sit over there?

(( He nods toward a specific table he's picked out for the ease of a potential escape route in case of an emergency. ))

[While David may not know exactly what Emmanuel's doing, the intensity of his gaze as he scopes out the cafe doesn't go unnoticed. It's got to be exhausting, David thinks, living every second of every day at the steady burn this guy does, but he can also see why it makes Emmanuel so appealing to some people. Having his steely eyes fixed on you even for a second does do something strange to a person's heartbeat.]

Yeah, sure. [Looks as good as any other spot to him. He pays the barista, who says she'll bring their orders out in a moment, and then goes to sit at the indicated table.

Once they're both seated, David suddenly remembers that he's been holding onto something he wants to tell Emmanuel:]

Oh, hey! Your family name's Yoon, right? So's mine.

(( It's not something he realizes about himself (though it has been pointed out to him before). The intensity. So much of it is just an effect of how his life was prior to the present moment. Learning about monsters most people don't think are real before he could tie his shoes. Learning how to kill them before he could ride a bike. The years of debacle with his brother leading to his untimely death. His single-minded devotion to make sure that something like wouldn't happen to anyone else if it was in his power to prevent it.

Yeah, he's definitely a little intense.

Emmanuel cants his head to the side, then nods once. ))

Yeah. Emmanuel Yoon. My mother's... (( Another habit. Listing off his lineage when people inquire. Theirs is a long and distinguished line. )) Nevermind. It's not important.

[David has learned very quickly that there are a lot of questions better left unasked around here - everyone's got at least one tragedy, it seems, and a guy with eyes like Emmanuel's probably has a laundry list. But there's no air of tragedy about the way he cuts himself off there, so David presses him curiously:]

What? You guys famous or something? You can brag if you want, I did ask.

(( Famous? More like infamous... among a certain kind of person (and monster). He bows his head, then looks back up. He doesn't want this to seem rude since he's very sure David didn't know non-humans existed even before he met gods and angels. ))

Among a certain group, yes, we're well-known. My family have been monster killers for generations. They... We are very proud of it.

[David's not offended in the slightest. On the contrary, his mouth drops open in awe and his eyes shine as if he's just found out he's sitting with a celebrity.]

Holy shit... so you're like the Van Helsings. That's so fuckin' cool. [After a pause:] And we're definitely not related, 'cause there's nobody that cool in my family.

Hybrid Kingdom PSL

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