originallutece | (no subject)

Sena. He was properly contrite afterwards, I suppose that's something.

And now Noctis is sleeping on the couch, which I don't actually mind, but which rather limits where I can go at 2 AM when I don't want him to see me in my pajamas.

Noctis. I'm drawing a blank — he goes with Prompto and Professor Izunia somehow, doesn't he?

He's very much attached at the hip to Prompto. But he's more connected to me than Professor Izunia; I used to teach him when he was a child. His father gave me one of my first professional jobs, and as I worked, he used to follow me around. I eventually decided it was better he learn something while he was watching me.

Your very own duckling. How charming.

He even has the hair to match. Though I know I'm getting older; I keep looking at it and get an urge to tell him to cut it.

It's in his eyes, Christopher. I don't know what the point is, he doesn't even slick it back properly.

He'll learn his lesson when it leads him to a forehead full of breakouts from the natural oils.

And I say that as someone who acknowledges his own hair as fairly ridiculous, myself.

Your hair is both well cared for and deliberate. His is in die need of a trim; he's going to end up running into a damn wall.

I'm sure behavioral contingencies will lead him to the natural conclusion sooner or later.

You really do have an insatiable compulsion to fuss, don't you?

I'm not fussing. When have I ever fussed?

You just used the phrase "dire need of a trim" unironically.

[Okay, no, you know what, bugger this-- Fawkes get a blurry picture of a young man asleep on her couch.]

Does he or does he not need a trim?

...

He looks like Hiei.

The one from my hallucinomemories?

Good god, does he really? In what way?

The way his hair sticks up. Black and sort of vertical spikes — that's how Hiei had his, too.

Is it a mere resemblance, or do the faces match up?

Edited 2017-08-12 18:04 (UTC)

No, it's not the faces. And Hiei had...white in his hair, I think. Somehow.

Let me keep looking at it a bit. Maybe I can...

Take your time. Tell me if you need another photo.

[it's fine noctis is like her baby, it's fine, she's allowed to take pictures of him and then them to her boyfriend]

Tell me your thoughts-- you can call, if that's easier.

If I call, I'll only be distracted by the sound of your voice.

Then keep texting me. And when we're done, call me.

I will.

...I've been trying to practice. With the plants. I've started carrying a branch with me when I go anywhere so that there's always something I can...use.

How has it gone?

Has your appearance changed at all since that day?

Never permanently. But I've seen my hair start to look silver-white a few other times since.

You running into danger is what made it work the last time.

Is there any pattern to the other times it's turned white?

Danger and fear for me prompted you. I'd wager it'd do it again - it sounds almost like a defensive mechanism. A last resort for your body, when all the chips are down. Not something you can easily fake, but something that's still there regardless.

Edited 2017-08-12 19:23 (UTC)

I think you're right. It seems to be a sort of...stress response, of some variety. Tapping into something inside me, in a time of great need for it.

I'd suggest testing it, but even I tire of danger.

[. . .]

Though I wonder if you can trick yourself. One doesn't need to be in real danger in order to feel fear, after all, and if it's just the sudden rush of a flight or fight instinct that kicks it into gear, we can certain stimulate that.