[Min-Gi huffs a little laugh, opening his mouth to tell him it doesn't matter if he thinks it sucked. They can come up with something else. Anything he does have to say dies quickly when Ryan takes his other hand though.
He knows he's just being silly. He knows that. It's just Ryan having fun, but seeing him look at him like that... Hearing him sing those words. Even looking like that, Ryan is still Ryan and in the moment it would be so easy to believe he meant it.
He doesn't, though, and Min-Gi knows that. They're friends, and that's enough. It's always been enough. The hopeful flutter in his chest twists, turning into a pang he can't let himself think about. He's definitely let the silence drag too long, but Ryan's still looking at him expectantly.]
♪ The search is over... You were with me all the while ♪
[His voice falters more than it usually does when he sings, but he can only hope Ryan will ignore it. Won't notice the effect he has on him.]
[There's a moment where Ryan realizes he's overstepped here. The thought doesn't even fully process; he just knows that he's put Min-Gi on the spot and that one pause seems like a thousand years of silence.
This is too much. It has to be, right? Min-Gi just came out, and only to him. He doesn't need to wrestle with what it could mean for Ryan to sing a song like this at him.
He's just about to kick himself more for it, and backpedal out of what he's just done, but then Min sings the rest of the line. He doesn't have Ryan's dramatics, but it's soft and sweet and it makes his own heart flutter in his chest. He's in awe, and then the expression changes slowly to beaming in relief.]
...Yeah! Yeah, see? It's perfect, man.
[There's a soft laugh in his voice, a relieved one that he didn't fuck this all up. Something in him feels incredibly light now, in a way he doesn't know how to explain in words. So he does what comes more naturally instead - he moves. He lets go of Min's hands so he can throw his arms around his shoulders in what was meant to be a tight, friendly hug.
But it's not tight at all. It's soft, like falling into a pillow almost. And.......bright?]
[When the light clears and all of their pieces have been rearranged, there is one person standing in their living room - a purple figure with their arms wrapped around themselves in a cozy hug, at least until they realize the moment is over and then they're looking down at unfamiliar (or maybe familiar?) purple hands.
They look up, and all around them. The cats have vanished, because watching their dads fuse into one bigger dad was terrifying and they are both watching from underneath the couch.
Everything feels...new. Like they're looking at the apartment for the first time. Like they've never truly existed before right now.
That's not true though. They weren't alone. They were...
He was? He...]
Min-Gi?!
[They reach up and touch both the gem on their chest and the gem on their forehead. Their gems, plural???]
It isn't even a song they've written, but it always feels good to be praised by Ryan. To know he likes something he's thought of. He doesn't mind the hug. In some ways it's less intimate than holding hands, and it gives him a much needed reprieve from looking into Ryan's eyes.
Except... Ryan melts into him, vanishing altogether as the world turns bright around them.
When they become aware again their arms are wrapped around themself and their hands loosen. They don't think it's him doing that. Is it?
No. He's sure it wasn't. Instinctively, he knows they aren't alone.
They feel familiar, and alien all at once.
Before the thought can fully process he hears a voice come out of their mouth. It doesn't sound like his voice, but it doesn't sound like Ryan's either. It's someone else entirely, yet somehow he knows they're them. One in ways they could never have conceived of until now.
Their hands reach up to feel their gems, but that isn't what he wants. These aren't his movements. It scares him. He tears his hands away, and they stumble backwards. By the time he hits the ground he's Min-Gi again. Or at least the Min-Gi he is today. He flexes his fingers, staring down at them now he has full control again. It's strange how empty he feels now he isn't them. He sits up, reaching out for the one who'd been part of him only moments earlier.]
[Something inside them moves suddenly and pulls apart in another bright flash of light, and then Ryan is flat on his back on the floor, catching his breath and trying to process all of whatever the fuck that was.
Is he alone? He feels...something. Lonely?
But then his name is called and Ryan sits right up.]
Min! Min--
[Sitting up turns into scrambling closer to Min-Gi, the one thing that makes any sense in all of this.]
What was that?! How did we...
[He doesn't have a word for it, so he trails off and uselessly links his own fingers together. But wait, that's not the most important thing here.]
[It's a relief when Ryan scrambles closer, but something within him jars when he stops short of actually touching, almost seeming to go within himself. His shoulders slump, and his eyes search Ryan carefully. It's nice he's thinking of him, but Ryan's the one he's worried about here.
What happened was... strange, but now he's back to himself he's not as frightened by it as he thought.]
I'm fine. Are you okay?
[He inches himself closer, not reaching out to touch if Ryan doesn't want that. Maybe that would be too much after spontaneously becoming one person.
Their cats are becoming slightly bolder as they peek from beneath the couch now. Things are slightly more normal again, and while the separation was initially as scary as them becoming One Big Dad they're at least recognisable to them again now.]
[It helps that Ryan and Min-Gi still haven't gotten off the floor - they're nice and easy to see from the cats' hidey hole under the couch.]
Yeah! Yeah, I'm fine too. I...
[He still struggles for words, all of his feelings sort of rattling around in his head uselessly. The ones that finally bubble up also bring even more red to his cheeks, but he seems happy anyway.]
...That felt amazing. Is that weird? I feel like that might be weird. I mean, I didn't know that was going to happen obviously, but! But it felt...good.
[He unlaces his fingers and holds out a hand for Min to take - not necessarily to try again immediately but because the separation between them feels unnatural now. ]
[Min-Gi sounds surprised, but not upset by the explanation. He takes a moment to process it, first seeming uncertain, then maybe embarrassed. But not upset. A faint smile comes over his face as he reaches out to take his hand, moving to sit so their shoulders are touching.
It isn't the same as it had been before, but it's nice. And it's enough. At least for now.]
It felt good to me too. It scared me, but... I think if I was expecting it, I would've enjoyed it.
[So hugging Ryan is off the table until they feel ready to try again, but holding his hand doesn't seem to do anything. It's nice, but it's also normal. They might look a little different right now, but it's still something they've done countless times.]
[He nods eagerly. Of course he liked it; he liked it so much. And now that he's certain any old touch won't necessarily stick them together without their consent, he's happy to lean into that touch.]
Really? I thought you would've hated it. I think we were in each other's heads? Somehow? And I know that's not really your thing.
[But it makes sense. Min-Gi pulled back because he was startled and scared and didn't know what was happening. Now that he does though...Ryan can't help himself. He squeezes Min's hand, but glances up more towards the ceiling, trying to be so casual about it]
Soooooo...would you wanna try it again?
[What a totally chill question that isn't needy or clingy at all!]
[If it was anyone else, Ryan would be totally correct. Merging with Ryan had been scary, but he hadn't hated it. He barely had chance to process it while it was happening, but now he doesn't think he minded that much. Part of him misses it even. He isn't sure he's ever felt that whole.]
Yeah, but... I trust you.
[It's different. They've spent their entire lives together. There's no one he feels closer to than Ryan. No one who he feels so wrong without. In some ways it makes sense to him they could be one person.
Strut had abandoned Vogue under the couch to sniff at her dads now the excitement is over, so Min-Gi reaches over to pet her reassuringly with his free hand, looking over with surprise when Ryan suggests they try it again.
Despite feeling the loss more keenly than he thought he could for something he'd only experienced for a few moments he hadn't expected either one of them to suggest they try again so quickly.]
Already?
[It's not a no, but he tenses up at the thought, fingers tightening to grip Ryan's hand more tightly.]
[Vogue is a little more cautious than Strut is. Ryan tries to beckon him out from under the couch and is completely ignored completely.
As soon as Min comments on how soon it is, Ryan attempts to backpedal. He can feel that hand tighten and he doesn't pull away, but he's suddenly aware that it might be too much too soon.]
W-We don't have to! There's no rush. I just...if you want to, then I want to too.
[He squeezes Min's hand, trying to be reassuring. It doesn't have to be now. It doesn't have to be ever if Min doesn't want to. It just has to be when Min's ready, and Ryan can wait.]
[While Vogue continues to ignore them under the couch, Strut seems to have all but forgotten the trauma of Big Dad and is more than happy to amble away from Min and over to the hand Ryan had been trying to beckon Vogue with. If he doesn't want that attention then she does.]
I do want to. I just... I didn't think you'd want to already.
[Does he want to yet? Min-Gi honestly isn't sure. He does and he doesn't. It had been terrifying being part of someone else. It had also felt right, and he feels so empty now.
[Ryan chuckles and scritches behind Strut's ears, happy to give her attention while he and Min talk it out. Vogue seems to be further out from underneath the couch every time one of them looks, but he always stops moving the second he is perceived.
Min asks a good question though, one Ryan almost doesn't want to think about. It had felt so incredible, even for just a moment, that thinking about the loss of it already hurts. But...realistically, whatever is happening this weekend won't last forever. It might not even last beyond today.
When he finally answers, he makes it sound so simple.]
Then we can't do it again. And we already couldn't do it before, so we'd just be back where we started. But...we won't know unless we try, right?
[They could be afraid of not being able to sync up again, or they could just go for it - and it's no secret what Ryan's vote would be.]
[Ryan's right, and unsure as he is in some ways he knows he'll regret it if they don't at least try. He nods slowly, scooting Strut away from Ryan's hand and back towards Vogue. He knows she won't enjoy it if she's right there and they do manage to do it again. Poor Vogue has finally emerged completely by now, and while Min feels bad for him he doesn't feel bad enough to not try.]
Okay. So, let's try. Do we just hug, or...?
[Realistically, he knows Ryan's probably just as clueless as he is. It's not like he mean to make whatever happened to them happen. He'd just hugged him, and then he'd been inside him somehow.]
[He has absolutely no idea. He doesn't want to think about how weird it will probably be to sync up on the floor though, so he stands up and offers a hand to Min. When he takes it, Ryan doesn't just pull him to his feet - he pulls him up and into his arms for a tight hug.
And he holds it.
...And he holds it.
His eyes were closed at first, but now they're open and he's looking over Min's shoulder awkwardly. They haven't frightened the cat Pokémon back under the couch yet at least.]
It had felt as right as ever when Ryan had pulled him up with surprising strength and held him close, but the longer it goes on the weirder it feels. Min-Gi waits at first. He's always been an advocate for patience.
But by the time Ryan speaks up... even he can't deny this doesn't seem to be working.]
I don't think so...
[He still hasn't moved reluctant to break free, just in case this is the moment it does happen.]
[Ryan hasn't moved either. Even with the awkwardness, it's still kind of nice. He's always been a really touchy-feely person as it is, and he could so easily rest his head on Min's shoulder from here, but...that seems like a step too far, somehow. As if syncing themselves together wasn't, somehow.]
Was anything else happening? We were goofing off a little, singing...
[He trails off, unsure what the connection would be. Something happened, and it wasn't just a hug. They did touch, but it wasn't just the hug...]
[Where had they got to even? He thinks back, to before this had happened. He falters once he does remember, the lyrics hitting far too close to home for reasons he can never explain to Ryan.
But if they're going to succeed in becoming one again, maybe it's what they need. He pulls back just enough he can look at Ryan, starting to sing softly.]
♪ Can we last forever? Will we fall apart? At times, it's so confusing... ♪
[He trails off there, looking to Ryan to pick up the slack or call it off. His throat is tight and anxious, something he hopes Ryan won't pick up on. Maybe it would've been less weird if they'd tried goofing off.]
[Min doesn't pull back as far as Ryan was expecting him to, and he sings this love song so gently that it brings what must be a blush to Ryan's face - an even deeper red than he is already. There's something about singing it while actively trying to do whatever they just did that feels infinitely more intimate, but Ryan doesn't miss a beat.]
♪ The questions of the heart... ♪
[There aren't any questions in his heart. It knows what he's known for years now, and can't do anything with that information. He isn't belting anymore - he's matching Min's energy, making it a softer song than it was before.]
♪ You followed me through changes And patiently you'd wait 'Til I came to my senses Through some miracle of fate... ♪
[He doesn't remember this song hitting so hard before, but now? Now it feels so on point that it could have been something they wrote. These are words Ryan can imagine himself writing and singing...all with Min. And it feels right.
Before the chorus comes back, Ryan can't help himself. Standing still in this moment is agonizing so he starts to sway with Min, like they're preteens at a middle school dance.]
[Min's blushing too, though it's harder to tell that's what it is on him. Blue on blue skin as he loses himself in Ryan's eyes and gentle voice. He means to join in again once Ryan starts, but it feels so much like he's being sung to he forgets in the moment.
Then when Ryan starts swaying with him... he almost forgets to breathe.
Once he does start to join in he feels giddy and light, though he knows he's reading into it more than he should.]
♪ Loving for a moment Taking on the world That was just my style ♪
[It only feels natural to lean in closer now. It doesn't feel weird like it had before. Even though they're still separate, they still feel almost as united.]
♪ Now I look into your eyes ♪
[Everything feels brighter than it had before. Softer.]
♪ I can see foreveeeer ♪
[It isn't his voice anymore. It's theirs. They laugh, looking down at purple hands. They aren't so worried this time, now that they'd been hoping for it. Although there's no one else there to hold, they don't mind that now. They wrap their arms around themselves, approximating a hug.]
Ryan! We did it!
[Strut doesn't seem so worried about it this time either. She doesn't love it, but she doesn't flee either. Not that they notice, too wrapped up in themselves.]
[That little self-hug feels so, so good. They are warm and light and full of every fuzzy feeling the two have had in the last several minutes. If they smile any bigger their face is going to start to hurt, but they laugh in relief anyway that it actually worked.]
Woah...
[They look down at their hands again - there's no sadness in slipping out of the hug because the feelings inside of it still course through their entire being. It's really amazing though - they aren't quite Min and they aren't quite Ryan. There's so many things they could do or say or BE - it's incredible! But it's so much.
Suddenly, a gasp!]
I should-- We? We should find a mirror!
[Vogue is somewhat reluctantly out from under the couch because he refuses to be seen as more of a baby than Strut, but he's very prickly and keeping a good distance.]
[Which is still scary, but not so much now that they were expecting it. It's a good idea. They have no idea how they look right now, and while there's some trepidation they aren't so worried about finding out as they were when they were just Min. They take a step towards the bathroom, then another slower one because it turns out their centre of balance is a little different now they're taller.]
Be careful.
[Min thinks he's the one controlling their legs right now, but it doesn't feel totally the same as when he's on his own. They figure it doesn't hurt to warn them. They're still not used to being one person after all.]
[This has almost the opposite effect on them. The truth is they had both been in sync in terms of movement, at least for a brief moment, but the attention called to their separate halves has them stumbling a little on their way.
But it's fine. If it makes a part of them feel more secure, then they can work with that!
So they slowly and clumsily make their way to the bathroom. Even so, there's an small undercurrent of excitement. They're walking!
They catch the door frame and with maybe an odd amount of trepidation for someone who was so excited about the idea, they shyly peek into the bathroom...
...And a tall purple person looks back at them in the Mirror, with two sets of eyes and two sets of gems.
The truly odd part is that even though this person doesn't look like either Ryan or Min, there's still a ping of recognition in the back of their mind. They are Purple Jade, in the same way that Ryan is Red Jade and Min is Blue Jade - not that either name has gotten any use.]
[That sends him reeling for a moment before they're back to them. They really are one person. They step closer to the mirror, reaching out to touch their reflection in wonder.]
It's us...
[They're scary yet familiar. And they're not really a them, are they?]
It's... me?
[That sends a shiver through them. They still feel like separate people almost despite occupying one body. Are they still them? Are they... them?]
This is confusing.
[But he's determined to hold himself together this time. To hold them together. At least for longer than they had before. This is how they should be. At least that's how they feel. They've always been Min-Gi and Ryan, for longer than either of them can remember. There were so few people who thought of them separately as they grew up it almost makes sense this would feel so right to them.]
[You know, because that's how the song that help fuse them together goes? It's a bad joke though, and they're a lot more interested in what's in the glass anyway. One hand reaches for the mirror, and the other lifts up to their face, as if touching and looking at the same time will make it all more real.]
...It's super weird. But cool too?
[There are parts they can see that they recognize from before. Ryan's nose twitches. They run their fingers along Min's jawline. All these little bits and pieces that combine to make them.
But who are they? Purple Jade, they've established, but no one is using their gem names it seems - Ryan and Min-Gi have perfectly good names already, after all. All four eyes squint at their reflection, trying to sound out something better.]
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no subject
He knows he's just being silly. He knows that. It's just Ryan having fun, but seeing him look at him like that... Hearing him sing those words. Even looking like that, Ryan is still Ryan and in the moment it would be so easy to believe he meant it.
He doesn't, though, and Min-Gi knows that. They're friends, and that's enough. It's always been enough. The hopeful flutter in his chest twists, turning into a pang he can't let himself think about. He's definitely let the silence drag too long, but Ryan's still looking at him expectantly.]
♪ The search is over...
You were with me all the while ♪
[His voice falters more than it usually does when he sings, but he can only hope Ryan will ignore it. Won't notice the effect he has on him.]
1/2
This is too much. It has to be, right? Min-Gi just came out, and only to him. He doesn't need to wrestle with what it could mean for Ryan to sing a song like this at him.
He's just about to kick himself more for it, and backpedal out of what he's just done, but then Min sings the rest of the line. He doesn't have Ryan's dramatics, but it's soft and sweet and it makes his own heart flutter in his chest. He's in awe, and then the expression changes slowly to beaming in relief.]
...Yeah! Yeah, see? It's perfect, man.
[There's a soft laugh in his voice, a relieved one that he didn't fuck this all up. Something in him feels incredibly light now, in a way he doesn't know how to explain in words. So he does what comes more naturally instead - he moves. He lets go of Min's hands so he can throw his arms around his shoulders in what was meant to be a tight, friendly hug.
But it's not tight at all. It's soft, like falling into a pillow almost. And.......bright?]
2/2
They look up, and all around them. The cats have vanished, because watching their dads fuse into one bigger dad was terrifying and they are both watching from underneath the couch.
Everything feels...new. Like they're looking at the apartment for the first time. Like they've never truly existed before right now.
That's not true though. They weren't alone. They were...
He was? He...]
Min-Gi?!
[They reach up and touch both the gem on their chest and the gem on their forehead. Their gems, plural???]
no subject
It isn't even a song they've written, but it always feels good to be praised by Ryan. To know he likes something he's thought of. He doesn't mind the hug. In some ways it's less intimate than holding hands, and it gives him a much needed reprieve from looking into Ryan's eyes.
Except... Ryan melts into him, vanishing altogether as the world turns bright around them.
When they become aware again their arms are wrapped around themself and their hands loosen. They don't think it's him doing that. Is it?
No. He's sure it wasn't. Instinctively, he knows they aren't alone.
They feel familiar, and alien all at once.
Before the thought can fully process he hears a voice come out of their mouth. It doesn't sound like his voice, but it doesn't sound like Ryan's either. It's someone else entirely, yet somehow he knows they're them. One in ways they could never have conceived of until now.
Their hands reach up to feel their gems, but that isn't what he wants. These aren't his movements. It scares him. He tears his hands away, and they stumble backwards. By the time he hits the ground he's Min-Gi again. Or at least the Min-Gi he is today. He flexes his fingers, staring down at them now he has full control again. It's strange how empty he feels now he isn't them. He sits up, reaching out for the one who'd been part of him only moments earlier.]
Ryan...?
no subject
Is he alone? He feels...something. Lonely?
But then his name is called and Ryan sits right up.]
Min! Min--
[Sitting up turns into scrambling closer to Min-Gi, the one thing that makes any sense in all of this.]
What was that?! How did we...
[He doesn't have a word for it, so he trails off and uselessly links his own fingers together. But wait, that's not the most important thing here.]
Are you okay?
no subject
What happened was... strange, but now he's back to himself he's not as frightened by it as he thought.]
I'm fine. Are you okay?
[He inches himself closer, not reaching out to touch if Ryan doesn't want that. Maybe that would be too much after spontaneously becoming one person.
Their cats are becoming slightly bolder as they peek from beneath the couch now. Things are slightly more normal again, and while the separation was initially as scary as them becoming One Big Dad they're at least recognisable to them again now.]
no subject
Yeah! Yeah, I'm fine too. I...
[He still struggles for words, all of his feelings sort of rattling around in his head uselessly. The ones that finally bubble up also bring even more red to his cheeks, but he seems happy anyway.]
...That felt amazing. Is that weird? I feel like that might be weird. I mean, I didn't know that was going to happen obviously, but! But it felt...good.
[He unlaces his fingers and holds out a hand for Min to take - not necessarily to try again immediately but because the separation between them feels unnatural now. ]
no subject
[Min-Gi sounds surprised, but not upset by the explanation. He takes a moment to process it, first seeming uncertain, then maybe embarrassed. But not upset. A faint smile comes over his face as he reaches out to take his hand, moving to sit so their shoulders are touching.
It isn't the same as it had been before, but it's nice. And it's enough. At least for now.]
It felt good to me too. It scared me, but... I think if I was expecting it, I would've enjoyed it.
[So hugging Ryan is off the table until they feel ready to try again, but holding his hand doesn't seem to do anything. It's nice, but it's also normal. They might look a little different right now, but it's still something they've done countless times.]
no subject
Really? I thought you would've hated it. I think we were in each other's heads? Somehow? And I know that's not really your thing.
[But it makes sense. Min-Gi pulled back because he was startled and scared and didn't know what was happening. Now that he does though...Ryan can't help himself. He squeezes Min's hand, but glances up more towards the ceiling, trying to be so casual about it]
Soooooo...would you wanna try it again?
[What a totally chill question that isn't needy or clingy at all!]
no subject
Yeah, but... I trust you.
[It's different. They've spent their entire lives together. There's no one he feels closer to than Ryan. No one who he feels so wrong without. In some ways it makes sense to him they could be one person.
Strut had abandoned Vogue under the couch to sniff at her dads now the excitement is over, so Min-Gi reaches over to pet her reassuringly with his free hand, looking over with surprise when Ryan suggests they try it again.
Despite feeling the loss more keenly than he thought he could for something he'd only experienced for a few moments he hadn't expected either one of them to suggest they try again so quickly.]
Already?
[It's not a no, but he tenses up at the thought, fingers tightening to grip Ryan's hand more tightly.]
no subject
As soon as Min comments on how soon it is, Ryan attempts to backpedal. He can feel that hand tighten and he doesn't pull away, but he's suddenly aware that it might be too much too soon.]
W-We don't have to! There's no rush. I just...if you want to, then I want to too.
[He squeezes Min's hand, trying to be reassuring. It doesn't have to be now. It doesn't have to be ever if Min doesn't want to. It just has to be when Min's ready, and Ryan can wait.]
no subject
I do want to. I just... I didn't think you'd want to already.
[Does he want to yet? Min-Gi honestly isn't sure. He does and he doesn't. It had been terrifying being part of someone else. It had also felt right, and he feels so empty now.
He looks Ryan over carefully, considering.]
What if we can't do it again?
no subject
Min asks a good question though, one Ryan almost doesn't want to think about. It had felt so incredible, even for just a moment, that thinking about the loss of it already hurts. But...realistically, whatever is happening this weekend won't last forever. It might not even last beyond today.
When he finally answers, he makes it sound so simple.]
Then we can't do it again. And we already couldn't do it before, so we'd just be back where we started. But...we won't know unless we try, right?
[They could be afraid of not being able to sync up again, or they could just go for it - and it's no secret what Ryan's vote would be.]
no subject
Okay. So, let's try. Do we just hug, or...?
[Realistically, he knows Ryan's probably just as clueless as he is. It's not like he mean to make whatever happened to them happen. He'd just hugged him, and then he'd been inside him somehow.]
no subject
[He has absolutely no idea. He doesn't want to think about how weird it will probably be to sync up on the floor though, so he stands up and offers a hand to Min. When he takes it, Ryan doesn't just pull him to his feet - he pulls him up and into his arms for a tight hug.
And he holds it.
...And he holds it.
His eyes were closed at first, but now they're open and he's looking over Min's shoulder awkwardly. They haven't frightened the cat Pokémon back under the couch yet at least.]
Is...anything happening?
[Doesn't seem like it.]
no subject
It had felt as right as ever when Ryan had pulled him up with surprising strength and held him close, but the longer it goes on the weirder it feels. Min-Gi waits at first. He's always been an advocate for patience.
But by the time Ryan speaks up... even he can't deny this doesn't seem to be working.]
I don't think so...
[He still hasn't moved reluctant to break free, just in case this is the moment it does happen.]
no subject
Was anything else happening? We were goofing off a little, singing...
[He trails off, unsure what the connection would be. Something happened, and it wasn't just a hug. They did touch, but it wasn't just the hug...]
no subject
[Where had they got to even? He thinks back, to before this had happened. He falters once he does remember, the lyrics hitting far too close to home for reasons he can never explain to Ryan.
But if they're going to succeed in becoming one again, maybe it's what they need. He pulls back just enough he can look at Ryan, starting to sing softly.]
♪ Can we last forever?
Will we fall apart?
At times, it's so confusing... ♪
[He trails off there, looking to Ryan to pick up the slack or call it off. His throat is tight and anxious, something he hopes Ryan won't pick up on. Maybe it would've been less weird if they'd tried goofing off.]
no subject
♪ The questions of the heart... ♪
[There aren't any questions in his heart. It knows what he's known for years now, and can't do anything with that information. He isn't belting anymore - he's matching Min's energy, making it a softer song than it was before.]
♪ You followed me through changes
And patiently you'd wait
'Til I came to my senses
Through some miracle of fate... ♪
[He doesn't remember this song hitting so hard before, but now? Now it feels so on point that it could have been something they wrote. These are words Ryan can imagine himself writing and singing...all with Min. And it feels right.
Before the chorus comes back, Ryan can't help himself. Standing still in this moment is agonizing so he starts to sway with Min, like they're preteens at a middle school dance.]
♪ I was living for a dream... ♪
no subject
Then when Ryan starts swaying with him... he almost forgets to breathe.
Once he does start to join in he feels giddy and light, though he knows he's reading into it more than he should.]
♪ Loving for a moment
Taking on the world
That was just my style ♪
[It only feels natural to lean in closer now. It doesn't feel weird like it had before. Even though they're still separate, they still feel almost as united.]
♪ Now I look into your eyes ♪
[Everything feels brighter than it had before. Softer.]
♪ I can see foreveeeer ♪
[It isn't his voice anymore. It's theirs. They laugh, looking down at purple hands. They aren't so worried this time, now that they'd been hoping for it. Although there's no one else there to hold, they don't mind that now. They wrap their arms around themselves, approximating a hug.]
Ryan! We did it!
[Strut doesn't seem so worried about it this time either. She doesn't love it, but she doesn't flee either. Not that they notice, too wrapped up in themselves.]
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[That little self-hug feels so, so good. They are warm and light and full of every fuzzy feeling the two have had in the last several minutes. If they smile any bigger their face is going to start to hurt, but they laugh in relief anyway that it actually worked.]
Woah...
[They look down at their hands again - there's no sadness in slipping out of the hug because the feelings inside of it still course through their entire being. It's really amazing though - they aren't quite Min and they aren't quite Ryan. There's so many things they could do or say or BE - it's incredible! But it's so much.
Suddenly, a gasp!]
I should-- We? We should find a mirror!
[Vogue is somewhat reluctantly out from under the couch because he refuses to be seen as more of a baby than Strut, but he's very prickly and keeping a good distance.]
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[Which is still scary, but not so much now that they were expecting it. It's a good idea. They have no idea how they look right now, and while there's some trepidation they aren't so worried about finding out as they were when they were just Min. They take a step towards the bathroom, then another slower one because it turns out their centre of balance is a little different now they're taller.]
Be careful.
[Min thinks he's the one controlling their legs right now, but it doesn't feel totally the same as when he's on his own. They figure it doesn't hurt to warn them. They're still not used to being one person after all.]
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But it's fine. If it makes a part of them feel more secure, then they can work with that!
So they slowly and clumsily make their way to the bathroom. Even so, there's an small undercurrent of excitement. They're walking!
They catch the door frame and with maybe an odd amount of trepidation for someone who was so excited about the idea, they shyly peek into the bathroom...
...And a tall purple person looks back at them in the Mirror, with two sets of eyes and two sets of gems.
The truly odd part is that even though this person doesn't look like either Ryan or Min, there's still a ping of recognition in the back of their mind. They are Purple Jade, in the same way that Ryan is Red Jade and Min is Blue Jade - not that either name has gotten any use.]
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[That sends him reeling for a moment before they're back to them. They really are one person. They step closer to the mirror, reaching out to touch their reflection in wonder.]
It's us...
[They're scary yet familiar. And they're not really a them, are they?]
It's... me?
[That sends a shiver through them. They still feel like separate people almost despite occupying one body. Are they still them? Are they... them?]
This is confusing.
[But he's determined to hold himself together this time. To hold them together. At least for longer than they had before. This is how they should be. At least that's how they feel. They've always been Min-Gi and Ryan, for longer than either of them can remember. There were so few people who thought of them separately as they grew up it almost makes sense this would feel so right to them.]
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[You know, because that's how the song that help fuse them together goes? It's a bad joke though, and they're a lot more interested in what's in the glass anyway. One hand reaches for the mirror, and the other lifts up to their face, as if touching and looking at the same time will make it all more real.]
...It's super weird. But cool too?
[There are parts they can see that they recognize from before. Ryan's nose twitches. They run their fingers along Min's jawline. All these little bits and pieces that combine to make them.
But who are they? Purple Jade, they've established, but no one is using their gem names it seems - Ryan and Min-Gi have perfectly good names already, after all. All four eyes squint at their reflection, trying to sound out something better.]
Ry-Gi? ...Min-An.
[No, both of those suck. Hm...]
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