[the sudden blast of compliments mid-spin catches him off-guard, and Luke finds himself already shaking his head, laughter coming in short, embarrassed breaths.]
[Focus suddenly elsewhere, he missteps mid-reply—and they both start to go down. Twisting his body, Luke slams his shoulder into the sand, collapsing on his back—with Ion falling safely on top of him.
Wind knocked completely out, looks up, brushing sand off of his face, expression smilingly woozy—but still clearly concerned for Ion's wellbeing.]
[Ion gasps as they sway, realizing too quickly that his feet are in the air...but never feeling totally upended with Luke still within his reach. Still, the gentle shock of his body hitting a surface is too familiar, and before he can stop to process he props himself up on his hands, scanning Luke for scrapes.]
No, no, that was my fault. Are you alright? I'm so sorry!
Ha ha, how about we just call it even? [He's still smiling as he pushes himself up on to his right elbow, brushing sand off Ion's robes with his left hand.
For a second, he pauses, looks at Ion—looks away, and resumes sand dusting duty, cheeks still colored from their spin.]
...You really are incredible, you know. I think about it all the time. I mean, you learned a hundred times more than me in only a couple years!
Compared to you, I'm kinda... [lame. stupid. an idiot.]
[Noticing a few grains of strands on his cheek that he missed, Ion carefully reaches forward to brush them away, his smile softening--but then almost desperately grasps for Luke's hands, stopping them in their apologetic dusting.]
You're warm and caring and earnest. Our circumstances were different, so of course they shaped us in very different ways. The way that you see the world, it's motivated me for a long time. I learned friendship and trust, because you showed me what it was like when I'd never experienced it before. At least not in any way that I truly knew or understood. There were so many things that I learned very quickly, you're right. But they were just concepts with no meaning or feeling.
[More insistently, he squeezes onto those bigger, warmer hands.]
Don't ever doubt how inspiring you are, the effect that you have on the people around you.
[Hands caught in Ion's, unable to do anything to distract himself from his friend's second onslaught of kindness in so many minutes, Luke just bows his head, trying to ignore the heat rising to his ears. His expression isn't quite a smile—it seems more like he just doesn't know how to react, much less handle such a wash of praise.
Or maybe, it was just because it was Ion. Hadn't he felt similar when they'd first met? Even back then, Ion had managed to stop him in his tracks with a simple kindness. And every time after... every time.]
I-Ion...
[Slowly, he pulls his hands loose from their smaller counterparts--
[Instinctively, a few different responses come to mind. He could thank Luke, as well, in return. He could apologize for putting him in this place, under these conditions, even if they could ultimately lead to his survival. He could apologize for all the things that happened that led their respective paths on Auldrant.
But none of those are the right thing to say. Maybe there isn't a right thing.
So Ion returns the embrace with ease, breathing slowly.]
Except for the waves on the shore, and the breath between them, it's completely quiet. His mind, for once, is quiet, too. A pleasant white noise, and nothing else.
Ion was... soft. Or maybe that was his robes? It was hard to tell where everything started and stopped. Closing his eyes, Luke breaths in through his nose, exhaling a quiet, relaxed breath with a smile.]
[Unable to help being startled, Ion pulls back, but only enough to look at him properly, so his arms are still at Luke's sides. Even with the surprise on his own face, Ion breaks out in a smile, and then a laugh.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[Ion laughs as they spin, dizzy but comfortable, feeling flushed and elated.]
I wouldn't be who I am if it wasn't for you. No matter where you are, just the thought of you gives me strength.
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No way! You don't need me to--w-woah!
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Wind knocked completely out, looks up, brushing sand off of his face, expression smilingly woozy—but still clearly concerned for Ion's wellbeing.]
You okay? Sorry about that.
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No, no, that was my fault. Are you alright? I'm so sorry!
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For a second, he pauses, looks at Ion—looks away, and resumes sand dusting duty, cheeks still colored from their spin.]
...You really are incredible, you know. I think about it all the time. I mean, you learned a hundred times more than me in only a couple years!
Compared to you, I'm kinda... [lame. stupid. an idiot.]
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[Noticing a few grains of strands on his cheek that he missed, Ion carefully reaches forward to brush them away, his smile softening--but then almost desperately grasps for Luke's hands, stopping them in their apologetic dusting.]
You're warm and caring and earnest. Our circumstances were different, so of course they shaped us in very different ways. The way that you see the world, it's motivated me for a long time. I learned friendship and trust, because you showed me what it was like when I'd never experienced it before. At least not in any way that I truly knew or understood. There were so many things that I learned very quickly, you're right. But they were just concepts with no meaning or feeling.
[More insistently, he squeezes onto those bigger, warmer hands.]
Don't ever doubt how inspiring you are, the effect that you have on the people around you.
these icon keywords have never been more correct
Or maybe, it was just because it was Ion. Hadn't he felt similar when they'd first met? Even back then, Ion had managed to stop him in his tracks with a simple kindness. And every time after... every time.]
I-Ion...
[Slowly, he pulls his hands loose from their smaller counterparts--
--and wraps them around Ion, instead.]
...Thanks.
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But none of those are the right thing to say. Maybe there isn't a right thing.
So Ion returns the embrace with ease, breathing slowly.]
It's only what I see.
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Except for the waves on the shore, and the breath between them, it's completely quiet. His mind, for once, is quiet, too. A pleasant white noise, and nothing else.
Ion was... soft. Or maybe that was his robes? It was hard to tell where everything started and stopped. Closing his eyes, Luke breaths in through his nose, exhaling a quiet, relaxed breath with a smile.]
...You smell nice.
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Wait. Was that weird? Was that a weird thing to say? His eyes open again, suddenly strangely aware of his situation.
Was this weird? Was he being really weird?]
Uh.
In a good way.
[Idiot!!!]
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Is...that so? Can I ask how?
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...
he reflexively reaches one hand behind his head, scratching it nondescriptly, face slowly turning red.]
Like a... like fresh laundry?
[he groans as soon as he's said it, covering his face with a hand.]
...Could you possibly just forget I said anything at all?
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[He's arrived: Ion, sassy edition. He laughs again, bowing his head as his shoulders shake in mirth.]
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Arrgh! Just don't tell anyone, okay?!