![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Summer 1 - Welcome dinner
[ It's the very first dinner on Norrhamn and the kitchen staff (???) has really gone all out. The counter is covered by a variety of the finest cuisine Sweden has to offer — sandwich cakes of every variety, from the classic salmon and shrimp to ham and horse radish or more modern, vegan varieties with avocado and cherry tomatoes. There's a smaller table set out with strawberry and cream cake, and the traditional spread of seven different types of shortbread cookies. Of course there's coffee and tea by the bucketload, along with other drinks such as elderberry or lingonberry squash. The community center has been decorated for the occasion with bunting and strings of lights leading out into the garden. It's still early summer so the nights are mild and surprisingly bright — the sun has yet to fully set by the time the celebrations kick off. Better get used to the light, it's not getting darker anytime soon. ]
no subject
Is this some kind of weird time paradox thing? This is some kind of weird time paradox thing, isn't it? That's way beyond Hyunseok's ability to comprehend if that's the case.
He presses his fingers against his temples, letting out a frustrated sigh as he tries to wrap his head around this whole mess. ]
I'm not making sense to me either, but we saw that movie a year ago!
no subject
His head is spinning and he takes a staggering step back as the realization of what this could mean hits him. There would be no possible way that he'd have been left alone for a whole year. His uncle would have passed the talisman off to someone, and Haein would have disappeared for some time. That's how it usually went.
His eyes dart from one side to the other as he replays his conversation with Hyunseok over in his mind. There's no way he can make sense of it now with this knowledge. ]
It... it must be the multiverse thing. [ He tries to keep his tone steady even as unease grips at his heart. ] I don't know how it's possible, but...
[ His voice falters, gaze stuck to the floor. ]
... it has to be this place.
no subject
Hyunseok nods along with that explanation without much understanding. Time travel he gets in the very crude way often presented in children's cartoons, but multiple universes is another matter that Hyunseok has never really considered on any deep level.
Even now he's struggling to understand what Haein is trying to say with that, but... ]
Wait, are we not... Are you not the Haein I know?
[ He is, but the minute universe was mentioned in any way Hyunseok immediately jumped to what seemed like the simplest conclusion he could concoct. ]
no subject
No, it's not that. If this place can bring people from multiple universes, maybe it can bring people from different points in time too.
[ Though why it would do such a thing remains a complete mystery. ]
As far as I know, we're most likely from the same... universe.
[ That sounds so weird to say. ]
no subject
Gaining full control of someone else's magical abilities at the extent of the other person's freedom and being made to suffer for it really drives home the point of being careful what you wish for. It also does a pretty good job teaching you to maybe not be an asshole that only thinks about yourself.
And yet here Hyunseok is still only thinking of himself as he runs through possible scenarios of what happens if he tells Haein everything that happens in the future.
Nothing he can think of ends pretty, and it might just be in his best interest to lie like his life depends on it, and minimize conversation with Haein while he's here.
Man, for an escape from reality this vacation is already falling pretty short. ]
What the hell even is this place?
[ This whole thing is just... wild. ]
no subject
Not that Haein would admit it. They've only known each other for a short while, after all... and he doesn't get attached. Ever.
He watches Hyunseok process the information, having already come to accept how weird it is that they're from different points in time. Bizarre and abrupt occurrences are just another day for Haein, but for other, more normal people, it probably takes some time getting used to it.
There are so many questions that he wants to ask, and he's never been all that patient. But for Hyunseok's sake, he holds back... Just for a moment. ]
It's an escape.
[ Haein's gaze turns inquisitive, his voice expectant. His earlier conversation with Kieren comes to mind. ]
People here seem to want to get away from something.
no subject
He's called Haein his friend before too, even after all that Haein has put him through because Hyunseok has lost everyone else that he considered a friend before, but it's still hard to say that Hyunseok actually likes Haein.
It makes this whole situation that much worse. He did like Haein at first. From the point in time that Haein is from Hyunseok genuinely liked him a lot, but he can't really fake feeling the same way about Haein that he used to. He's never been a very good actor.
He's reflecting on how to handle being stuck here with Haein when the comment is made, and he makes a vague noise in agreement with the statement before the implications hit him.
Hyunseok's eyes snap to Haein's face, and his lips form a tight, closed line.
He's fishing for details on why Hyunseok is here... ]
no subject
Right at this moment, though? There's a lot of frustration going on. He watches Hyunseok's expression, the way he clams up and allows silence to take over between them. It isn't... fair. Haein's supposed to know. Hyunseok had said so not too long before.
He's not used to this sort of thing. He doesn't know what to do. Years of fucking with people rather than getting close with them has left him floundering. He feels tense, nervous... upset that he's being kept in the dark. ]
... You're not going to tell me.
[ He tries to keep the hurt and anger from his voice, but it still manages to slip out. Having secrets kept from him? That's not how he operates. Haein has his own secrets that he'd take to the grave, but he's allowed to be hypocritical. He's given himself that right. But other people? Especially Hyunseok and when Haein is supposedly involved? That's unacceptable. ]
no subject
But he can't. The risk of telling Haein what becomes of their friendship seems too great. Haein could easily turn on him again here, and he doesn't want to deal with that a second time. ]
Sorry.
[ He should at least offer something small in way of explanation though. ]
It's just... it's not really my thing to tell anyway.
no subject
Fine.
[ The word is practically spat out, the venom in his voice hard to miss. He's been more than patient. Some friendship this was turning out to be. ]
Keep your fucking secret.
[ Haein turns sharply, heading for the exit. As far away from Hyunseok and his bullshit is where he wants to be. He needs some time to cool off. It'll be more than beneficial for the both of them, but there's no way in hell that Haein isn't going to be petty about this every chance he can get later on. ]
no subject
Hyunseok sighs and runs a hand through his hair. He doesn't feel good about how this all went down, but maybe it's better if Haein doesn't want to talk to him.
But it feels bad. They are friends in a weird, bitter and constant fighting sort of way. Now it feels like he might not even have that. ]