video; un - usernamehere

[narcolepsy]

[ the video flickers online on before two wide red eyes fill most of the screen. ]

Oh! My apologies...

[ the camera pans back so a face is visible instead, showing a faint strawberry blonde wearing a fancy, high collared white shirt with a fluffy cravat. he looks a little pale, brows set into a vague frown, and with his bottom lip caught between his front teeth in thought. it looks reddish and like he's been nibbling on it for a while without thinking about it, and here and there there's a flash of small but sharp fangs. ]

Hello, my name is Baein. I was wondering if anyone knows whether people close to you would also get stuck in the time loop and come with you, or if you've found you always arrive alone? If it's possible to meet people you know here?

[ there's a distinct noise of his stomach grumbling and baein curls his arm around it, eyes widening even more before he looks up at the camera again before he takes a breath and straightens as if nothing happened. ]

Anyway, I'm looking for two people like that. They're of faery court and werewolf clan.

Comments

[fulldark]

...and you're Baebae no matter what.

[ the affirmation is quiet, maybe more for jasper himself than for baein, but it is there. eventually jasper pulls back a enough that he can really look at baein.

maybe his mouth drops open just a little bit.]

You are unfairly gorgeous.

[ aaaaand jasper turns the colour of his hair at that. it wasn't what he meant to say. it's true, yes, but-- well kind of weird to say? maybe?]

Ah, I mean-- well no not I mean, it's true, but I didn't!! [ give him a moment. ] It's been a long time since I've seen you. My you.

[narcolepsy]

[ if baein could go red, he would, but he hasn't eaten in a while, so there's no real show of blush or flush at all. as it is, his eyes just widen impossibly and dart around jasper's face, as he gapes in turn. his apparent fluster is revealed when he tries to speak though, stammering on every other word. ]

W-what? No that's— that's you! Your hair... [ he trails off, honestly a little in awe, but still unable to make the phantom heart beat stop rattling his ribcage. his feelings for jasper and daeshim have been forcibly pushed aside because he never thought they'd come to fruition, but hearing jasper say something like that... baein swallows hard and ducks his head. ] You're the gorgeous one.

[ only jasper and daeshim could make him feel like this. it only affirms the truth even more, that it is jasper no matter what. jasper's words register to him a second later, and baein looks up and frowns, confused. ]

Long time... how long?

[fulldark]

[ there are little things that jasper is noticing that don't add up. or the do add up but they also don't because-- well because jasper can't actually think logically at all in this moment, because he has baein right here and -- well what else does he need? nothing if you were to ask him.

his laughter is high pitched and giggly as he presses his face into baein's hair. it's familiar and intimate. and jasper shouldn't feel like he gets to do this because this isn't his baein at all...

he does it anyway.]

Nuh uh, gorgeous. And do I not have pink hair where you're from? Wait, and I the werewolf or the fae? [ his words are muffled, still amused sounding, into baein's hair. he doesn't actually move from there until baein's question registers.

oh..

shit. right.

baein can undoubtedly hear the way jasper's heart rate picks up, how his breath catches in his throat.]

...six years. Give or take.

[narcolepsy]

[ when jasper giggles, baein can't help but be pulled along with it, curling closer to the other because if jasper is going to press closer, if he's going to give affection of any kind... baein won't complain. he's never been very distant with his daeshim and jasper, but they've always had a certain wall between them called status and propriety. but here... here baein can be whatever he wishes.

he ducks his head a little at the repeated compliment, and revels in the warmth of jasper against him. but he absolutely feels the shift in mood, the way jasper's heart beats faster, and he seems to choke up a little at his words. baein quickly reaches out to take his hands, swallowing. ]

... that's long.

[ he grew up with daeshim and jasper from early on, and imagining more than a few days without them is heart wrenching. it already is, kind of, though most of it is alleviated by how jasper and daeshim are here too. sure, they're not the same, but still... they are. ]

Mm, in my world, you're of the faery court. And you're my advisor. Daeshim is the captain of the guard.

[fulldark]

[ hang on, hang on a second. faerie court advisor. captain of the guard. baein is clearly really important. like--]

...are you a king?

[ it kind of trips out while he is still holding onto baein in a way that is not at all befitting of a king (but like, it's baein and its been too long and jasper is a selfish creature.

he at the very least tips his head back to stare at baein, wide eyed and a little awed as he squeezes his fingers.]

Definitely a king. A kind and benevolent one I'm sure, with more suitors than subjects. [ there is a teasing smile that is also a little... sad at those words.] Your me is incredibly lucky, and-- Daeshim too.

[narcolepsy]

[ baein's eyes widen, and then he huffs on a small laugh that almost sounds panicked. the prince only curls his fingers tighter around jasper's in case the other suddenly feels like pulling away and being "proper" or something. thankfully he doesn't, and the vampire just shakes his head. ]

No... no, I'm not a king. Not... yet. It doesn't matter anyway. I'm just Baein. Please.

[ studying jasper's expression and seeing the sadness there baein feels his heart jerk in pain and he just tugs the other closer to him instead. ]

I want to be your Baein too. Because you're still Jasper. If... if you haven't met me in your world in so long.

[fulldark]

[ should jasper pull away? probably. but the way that baein's fingers tighten against him lets him know the he does the right thing just staying where he is. jasper's laughter is soft as he considers him.]

Not yet, huh? So a prince. Even more befitting of you I think. [ just-- ignore the little noise he makes when he is pulled closer. he wasn't expecting that okay?] Ah, just Baein, okay okay. That works.

[ a pause where he tries to wrangle in his emotions and not sound like a complete mess.] Yeah-- I mean, not a faerie. But-- well I don't know how other versions of people work. But you seem-- you seem like Baebae at the core of you. That's what matters.

[narcolepsy]

Jas...

[ it's almost a whine, almost embarrassed at being called a prince, because he's trying so hard to appear normal, to not be treated like royalty for once. but he can't help the smile on his lips as he ducks his head.

something inside baein seizes a little at the mention of his other self, and he fiddles with jasper's fingers, tries to ignore how cold his own must feel against jasper's skin. ]

Really...? What is he like... the other me? The me you know.

[fulldark]

[ the look that he gives baein screams 'tell me i'm wrong'. because prince suits him. it really always has, even his own baein had that kind of air about him. someone that was easy to adore. someone easy to love.

the question makes him still, fingers flexing a little and his breath catching.]

Gorgeous. And loving. And kind to a fault. [ he huffs a quiet laugh.] I would steal him cookies and he would give them to the other kids without a word. Even the cake I made just for him when he turned thirteen... [ he knows he sounds fond, too fond. and yet, still a little hollow.] We were just kids, really, but-- I know he was my soulmate.

[ was.

not anymore.

don't mind jasper hiding his face in your hair a little.]

[narcolepsy]

[ baein looks up, studying jasper worriedly when the other stills. and then... it's like jasper talks about the prince's own childhood as he describes things baein would have done without second thought, things that seem perfectly normal to him. the vampire's chest seizes a little when the other says they're soulmates— no...

no.

was. his breath hitches as the implication dawns on him, and he makes a little noise he cannot even describe with the emotion that spills with it. and then baein curls his arms around jasper again, this time clutching at him, holding him as close to him as possible, tucking his face against jasper's shoulder. ]

I'm sorry.

[ his voice breaks a little, but not for himself but rather for jasper. ]

[fulldark]

[ jasper is fairly sure he would have been able to mostly hold it together if it were not for the way that baein reacted. for the noise that spilled from baein as he curls closer and holds jasper closer and--

fuck.

jasper has missed this.

missed feeling safe. feeling like he was home. there is a muffled cry before jasper is sniffling and trying his best to wipe the tears away from his eyes, laughter wet and thick in his mouth.]

It was a long time ago but-- I never really got over it I guess. I should apologize to you really, crying all over you...

[ not that he lets go...]

[narcolepsy]

[ squeezing jasper against him, gently but still as close as can get, baein mumbles against him. ]

No. No never apologize. I'll be here for it, for you. Anytime, whenever you want.

[ because he can be. because his heart aches with phantom pains with imagining how it would feel if he lost jasper or daeshim for real. it's unfathomable. because he loves jasper in any universe he knows. ]

[fulldark]

[ jasper's laughter is still a little wet when it slips out, but there is more life in him now that there has been. he smiles at baein, a crooked little thing.]

Just-- just getting to see you is really nice? Knowing that there is another you that-- just that is okay. I guess.

[ it sounds almost stupid when he says it that way, but it is hard to really put what he feels into emotions.]

But still really cool that you're a prince.

[narcolepsy]

[ baein can't help but smile back before he pulls his shoulders up to his ears, the tips a faint pink against the pallor of his skin. he shifts closer without thinking, curling his arms further around jasper because he's so warm and familiar and baein aches to just stay like this. ]

It's so nice to see you too. I mean... I... I cannot imagine what it's like to not—

[ his heart hurts, even if it's still in his chest. and then jasper's full sentence registers and baein ducks his head. he's... all right. he's not perfect, and he's definitely not alive in the sense of the word. and he's not sure what jasper will say when he finds out. but the vampire feels more alive now than he's felt in a while. ]

Mhm? It's not always very fun.

[ he directs a small smile up at jasper, feeling the corners of his eyes crinkling with it. ]

[fulldark]

[ well jasper certainly isn't going to be the one that tells baein to stop this. he has missed this, no matter how different it is, this is still baein.]

Mmm, it's been-- well, I've survived. And for that I am glad. Means I get to see you here.

[ there is a small smile that he gives baein then before he laughs, warmly.]

Really? So what you're saying is that I don't somehow convince you to skip important meetings for the sake of running around town in search of freshly baked goods? Because I feel like I have done that...

[ more than once, in the past actually. jasper is a thief through and through, and it all began with stealing baked goods for baein.]

[narcolepsy]

[ no matter what, jasper is still jasper, even if he's slightly different from the one baein knows. honestly, the difference isn't even that much either. ]

... I'm very glad you did.

[ he's trying not to get misty-eyed at the thought of jasper not— no, don't think about that right now, baein. he ducks his head again and swallows, though he still smiles. especially at jasper's next words. ]

I... honestly, I'm the one who used to do that. Skip meetings to drag you or Daeshim out to— yeah. You used to scold me for it too sometimes.

[ and rightfully so. now look at him. ]

[fulldark]

[ does he look a little shocked at that? perhaps. then he laughs, squeezing baein a little.]

Are you saying that I'm the responsible one for once?

[ a hum and a nod before:] I guess it has to happen somewhere.

[he supposes. he is sure that he has the ability to be the responsible one, at least a little bit. he was always making sure that baein was fed but-- daeshim. right.]

....there's no Daeshim where I am from. I mean, not yet? Maybe never I don't know. My world seems to be like that.

[ because this is now two other worlds where baein is still alive, and where there is a daeshim connected to them. ]

[narcolepsy]

You're my advisor... you've probably read every book in the royal library by now.

[ the chuckle baein lets out is fond with a tinge of... sadness to it. of course, he misses jasper too, but it's an odd thing to think about when jasper is also standing right there in front of him. ]

I don't... know. I cannot imagine a life without any of you in it.

[ the prince looks down and fiddles a little with the fabric of jasper's shirt, anything to keep his hands occupied. ]

I want to think you'll meet him eventually. I'd want you to... if... if I'm not there, I'd be happy to know you'd at least have each other.

[ when he baein meets jasper's eyes again he can feel the moisture at the corners of his own and he blinks to abate it. ]

I hope you meet.