constellates | [ anya and hunter gonna be besties ]

[As the memory ends - the pain, the scale of that loneliness brings one of his hands to his chest, frowning as he does. There’s outright concern in his expression as he does, both because of what he saw, and - what she had to see.]

Anya, that was... [Well, before anything else:] Are you okay?

[she blinks when he asks her - and you'll have to excuse her if she doesn't answer right away. it doesn't really seem to occur to her that the touch was what spurred the last memory

because she's already just going to rush to give him a hug, tight and - a little scared, based on how she seems to be trembling just a bit]

[He returns the hug, because - well. For most people, experiencing something like that...]

Sorry. I'm sorry, you weren't supposed to...

[See that. Feel that. He still wants to ask about what he saw in turn, but - it feels more important to stop that trembling first.]

It's okay. I promise.

[ . . . ]

Promise?

[she repeats the word, even as she presses her face into his shoulder, muffled. and then when she raises her head to look up at him again, she seems somewhere between desperate and stubborn - ]

Promise? You are okay? You will not go anywhere? You will -

Эластичные? You will be here? You will fight to stay - alive?

[you won't go without a fight?]

I...

[He hesitates for a short moment before he seems to realize that might be the worst thing to do in this situation, and forces the words out.]

I mean, I just - this place is dangerous. You know that. I can't promise that nothing's going to happen. But it's not like I... I mean, of course I don't want anything to happen to me.

[ - yeah, the hesitation manages to just get her to hold onto him all the more tightly, as if that'll keep him from disappearing right in front of her eyes.]

But if in dangerous place - you will not accept.

If in water, you will try. If in fire, you will try.

[she sounds almost like she's ordering, if not for the way that she looks scared in her eyes, turning to almost a whisper]

... Пожалуйста. Please try.

...Yeah. Of course I will.

[It's soft, almost as if he's thinking of something else - but he comes back to himself after a moment, blinking down at her.]

More importantly, Anya - what I saw... You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but - I'm sorry you had to go through that.

[ . . . the agreement gets her to settle - a little. it seems like she's still a little hesitant to believe him, but will try regardless.

but when he brings up her own memory - she falters]

.... Old memory. [is it - it had to be a year or two ago at most] ... Умеренная. Not that bad.

[though her second statement is softer, like she's still trying to keep people from worrying about her]

...You don't have to say that. It hurt, right? I mean - I felt it.

[...]

Did they stop treating you like that?

[ . . . Slowly, she shakes her head.]

I did not talk... for long time. Because... напугана. Scared.

But if I did not talk... no one would come to me either.

[ . . . ]

Anya moved to Tokyo - later. Since someone said... I should be idol.

[and maybe she wanted to be someone worth something]

[He frowns.]

Did it stop once you did? I mean, the... not talking. The whole being scared thing. [All the same—] By the way, you can stop me if it's something you don't want to talk about.

[she shakes her head]

... I can talk now.

[to which she offers a soft smile - almost sheepish]

... I did silly things. Like at first um... autograph sign, tried to ask Producer to let me speak only in Russian, because I did not want... Неуклюжий. I did not want cool idol to sound... [she hesitates around the word, 'stupid' rests on the tip of her tongue - ] Not good.

But... is better now.

That's not silly. I mean, not to say you should still think that, but... I get why. It must have been tough for you.

[He might not understand how the language barrier can factor into it, but - that feeling of self consciousness, of embarrassment, is something he can sympathize with. A little bit softer:]

But, hey. I can promise you, you always sound cool.

[ . . . ]

Do not think so, but thank you.

[the words at least get her to smile] Непосредственный. I like... to have words to express my heart to people. Not through translator, just... me.

[so she looks a little embarrassed but - ]

Will learn more, so I can tell what I want to feel to people I want to hear it.

[He nods.]

I wonder if there are books for that in the library. I mean, if you ever wanted any pointers, I could totally help you out. Not that I'm, like, a teacher or anything, but - well, you get it.

Oh... I already study, but I could study more.

[she offers a soft little smile]

Заинтересованы? Could teach Russian or Japanese too - if you want to learn.

[He nods.]

Yeah, that sounds great! I mean, if you don't mind that I'm not really the best student.

[there's just a little laugh at that]

Hunter is very smart. I believe that.

Учитель. I will be happy to teach no matter what.

[i hate you so much]

Cool! How's tomorrow? Or later on in the week?

[ :^) ]

Mm... later? I will make notes to be easy to follow!

Отвлечение. If we are thinking of others things, we will not worry about Friday.

Thursday, then? I bet we'll both be ready for a distraction by then.

Thursday.

[she says, with confidence, because what could happen between now and thursday]

We will have a study party - like nothing is different.

[ anya and hunter gonna be besties ]

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