When was the last time he sat and actually listened to someone else talk about their interests? Sure, he did that during the study session that Cater barged in on, but this was different. This was a situation where he didn't have to make conversation, didn't have to actually listen. Didn't have to make it anything that Cater would enjoy. With his roommate it was more of a necessity, to pass the time. With Cater...
The deal was that Rayne would go out on the town with Cater for a day. Not that he'd entertain him or make him happy. Some part of him wanted to see that one smile again. To watch Cater's facade slip up, to make him genuinely smile at him.
As he's thinking about that, he realizes he's staring a little too much at Cater. Where else was he supposed to look, when they were sat across from each other like this? Was there even a proper place??
"Have you considered starting a club?" Rayne asks, leaning back slightly in his chair. Not that there were that many students into music that he could think of. If anyone was able to manage to get something like that together, it'd be someone like Cater. Or maybe one of the newer first years.
"... You should do a reading for me sometime. Show me why it's so interesting to you. Maybe you'll be able to change my mind."
Cater hums. A club, huh? He could certainly get the interest up for one. "Not sure how good of a leader I'd be," he admits. "I'd probably run it right into the ground."
Just like most his classes, it seems like he's a little reluctant to put forth outstanding effort. Apparently, even some of his hobbies aren't free from this--or maybe it's just involving other people that makes him dial down his enthusiasm.
But at the thought of a reading, he perks up.
"Yeah, I'd love to! It's been a minute since I've used my tarot cards outside of class." Who knew, maybe even if Rayne didn't gain any particular interest in the subject, he'd still find something useful in a reading. If nothing else, it would be fun to do, maybe give Cater a bit more insight to the mysterious boy sitting across from him.
With the way that Rayne's eyes have been on him as they sat there, it's no surprise that Cater's ends up locking with his--and it's nice, to see him without that usual strain of disdain. Out of his element like this, Rayne almost looks peaceful. Almost. There's still a measure of rigidity, but Cater finds he doesn't mind it. That there's something endearing about how Rayne doesn't know how to hold himself.
Rayne could see it now, Cater standing in front of a microphone, his hair pinned back, as he sings some silly song, his fingers expertly working the chords as his other hand strums the guitar. He'd look so wonderful up on a stage with lights on him. His eyes would probably sparkle under the lights too, wouldn't they?
It's really hard not to daydream just a little about how he might look up on stage, before the conversation winds down to fortune telling.
Oh, he perked up so much-- was this what it was like to engage with someone else's interests?
"I need more practice interpreting readings," Rayne admits, as their eyes lock together. His heart pounds in his chest, breath catching in the back of his throat. What was it about Cater looking at him that made his body react this intensely? It wasn't like anything he'd felt for anyone else before... which scares him, really. "... So I could do a reading for you too, with my cards." He finishes the thought, taking another sip of his coffee, before resting the cup back down to adjust his hold on it.
Once it's down, Rayne's eyes break their shared gaze, falling down to Cater's hands. What if... How... would they feel...? What a stupid thought. And yet--
He finds that his hand slips a little further across the table, until his pinky and ring finger lightly settle over part of Cater's hand, as if testing the touch.
"You would need to make sure I was on point with my interpretation."
When Rayne's fingers brush against him, Cater doesn't dare look. No matter how much he wants to see what their hands look like together, it feels sort of like a spell that will stop being cast if concentration is broke. If Rayne sees his eyes shift down, will he spook and pull back? He keeps his gaze straight ahead, as if he hasn't noticed a thing, but he shifts his own fingers toward Rayne's, allowing their fingers to fold more fully against one another.
"I'd like that--I want to know what you see, when you draw cards for me." And it would be nice, too, to be able to be of any kind of help to Rayne. The guy was probably rarely the one who needed support, and Cater felt a sort of pride at being able to offer some.
"Any kind of reading you want, I'm happy to practice with you."
Was he just imagining it, or did Cater's hand shift to match his own hand's movements? Rayne's fingers almost shake with his own movements, as if he can't fathom the idea of grabbing someone else's hand like this. When he was normally so sure of himself, so sure what he should do and how to act, this was completely out of his comfort zone. Regardless, his hand continues to shift, fingers ending up slowly, carefully slipping against Cater's hand, to allow them to hold hands over the table.
Cater had to have noticed. He was the type who'd comment on it, right? Rayne's eyes flick up to his face and-- Cater didn't seem to notice, let alone even mind. Good. The touch was... comfortable.
With a soft nod, Rayne finally speaks up again, "What type of fortune telling is your favorite? Do you have a favorite?"
It's working! Rayne's actually holding his hand right now! Keep it cool, Cater. Don't smile too widely. Pretend nothing out of the ordinary is happening, even if this is definitely not ordinary for two guys who are barely friends just having coffee together. He is so hype, but he can play it down when it really counts.
"Well, I think all types have different merits to them. The stars are important to me, so astrology is my favorite, but aside from that...I really enjoy the kind of connection one gets with tarot readings, I think they're the most insightful. And there's something soothing about palmistry, as well."
Not that he wants to put too much attention on hands, right now, lest Rayne get spooked.
How was he expected to hold himself right now? Was this okay? To hold Cater's hand, even for a second-- it was soft to the touch, warm from how they'd both been holding their cups. For once, it felt like it really was only him and Cater in this room, even if they very much were not alone in the cafe.
A thought slips into his head, one he's unable to shake. Rayne shifts, setting down his cup again - it's almost empty by now - and leaning slightly over the table towards Cater, his expression even more serious now.
"Cater," Rayne seems like he might be able to say something serious, to possibly scold him -- but what for? Nothing he did was wrong, was out of the ordinary, aside from accepting the hand in his. "There's this supply store, tucked away within one of the darker alleys of town. Near where a few of the bars are. It's almost magical in itself, how it appears and vanishes at certain days or times. Or seems to. It's called Court of Hearts Curios."
Just how long had the two of them been at this table, talking and just watching each other? Cater barely remembered drinking his own coffee, which was also nearing empty. It feels like so much of his attention is focused on their intertwined hands, on making it seem like none of his attention is on them. And then, suddenly, Rayne leans in.
Cater feels his heart skip a beat--what was happening? When Rayne speaks, he lets out a slight breath, unsure if he was relieved or disappointed that all he had was a suggestion on where to go next.
"That sounds like fun! I'd love to see what kind of things it stocks."
Shops like that were so mysterious, he didn't often get to look for them when it wasn't concerning school supplies--but those were usually made more readily available for the student body at large.
Rayne didn't often go out shopping, really. Not enough that he even needed to know of a shop like this. In his few excursions out, he found himself wandering into a few different shops, just to look around. On occasion, he'd buy something for Finn, leave it in his dorm. Something he needed, something he could use in his studies.
Somehow, he seems relieved that Cater accepts his suggestion, nodding as he leans back in his chair. They'd been so close, that if he'd gotten even a little closer--
Pushing that thought away, he brings his cup up, polishing off his drink.
"I'm ready whenever you are... I do hope this doesn't ruin any of the plans you made...?"
"No way!" Feeling full of energy as Rayne sits back--because he needs to let that built-up tension go somewhere, Cater knocks back the last of his own coffee before standing--pulling Rayne up by their joined hands without thinking. "The best kind of plans are the ones that we come up with, together."
Anything else he'd thought of would always be there for another day. And maybe there would be other days, with Rayne, after all.
That is when Rayne realizes their hands were still together. That Cater knew they were, with how he was tugged up by their joined hands. His chest tightens as he's tugged along. Once they reach the door, Rayne lets go, shoving his hand into his pocket instead. Sorry, Cater, but... he can't risk it.
Opening the door for Cater, he ends up leading the way this time, not mentioning anything about the way they'd held hands, or the way he'd dropped them the moment he thought people could be looking at them. He does, however, actually talk a little more as they walk this time, explaining how he'd wandered through town in his first year at the academy and happened upon this shop. It's... really not the most interesting story, but a story nonetheless!
When they reach a spot of town that doesn't seem to have shops within it, Rayne begins to lead Cater towards a half blocked off alleyway, that was hidden by a bramble of a rosebush on either side, with white roses blossoming on them. Court of Hearts Curios was further down the alley, almost tucked away among the strange plants and things that grew within this space. It's weird, considering they're in the city and all, but Rayne keeps pushing them on, until they reach the little shop, with it's sign and all.
The sign features a playing card - the Queen of Hearts - with the words 'Court of Hearts Curios' painted on.
Moving to the door, Rayne opens it for Cater, motioning lightly.
That flutter from earlier falls into a despondent crash when Rayne snatches his hand back to himself. He can't really blame the guy...they weren't even supposed to be friends, let alone close enough to walk around holding hands. And beyond that, Rayne was a bit of a public figure. It made sense he wouldn't want to be seen that way. He forces himself to shake off the feeling, his hands in his own pockets as he follows easily by Rayne's side, nodding along to the explanation. The guy is usually so tight-lipped, it's hard not to follow along with every little word. As if at any point he might simply stop talking altogether.
And it's fun, too, being led through the town in a way that only someone who's been there for much longer could do. Cater liked exploring the nooks and crannies of the places he moved to, but it usually took much longer than he had time for, to find the real hidden gems. This feels like one of them, and his eyes are all alight as they reach the Court of Hearts Curios.
"This place is so cool!"
As soon as he steps in, he wants to look at everything. But where to even start, OMG!
For Rayne... it felt like a loss of warmth. Both for his hand, that craved the touch of another, and his chest, which had felt so warm and tight, now felt cold. That tightness stays, but transitions to something else. The tightness of desire, of need, of childish wants and pleas. Rayne pushes down those feelings, in favor of enjoying the moment. In favor of not breaking apart those thoughts of his, not unpacking the feelings that he'd thought were buried so low no one could ever wrench them back to the surface.
The way Cater's eyes light up isn't missed at all. Rayne steps in behind him, letting the door close. The store is small, lit up mainly with the careful light of flaming lanterns, allowing a soft glow around them and the shelves within the store. One wall was filled with books on different crafts, different aspects of magic and the history of different places around their world. Other sections of the store seemed to be set out for their respective supplies. Crystals, herbs, different potion base liquids, sets of cards, candles, wax, blends of tea-- you name it, it was probably here.
Rayne offers a slight wave to the elderly woman behind the counter, who greets him by name, seeming surprised that he'd brought someone along. Rayne seems to half shrug. "One second, Cater. You can start looking around. I'll be back."
With that, Cater's abandoned for the moment in the front of the shop, as Rayne moves over to the counter. He speaks with the older woman - whose name is apparently Alice - briefly, asking her if she needed help with anything while he was here. Sure, she could use magic, but this seems to be something that Rayne did often, helping where he could. The woman accepts his offer-- and Rayne ends up slipping behind the counter, through a door to the back room with her.
It's a few minutes before he's coming back out with a large cardboard box, carrying it over towards one of the shelves of crystals. There, he pulls out his wand, going about the quick task of unloading the box onto the shelf. With that done, he nods to Alice, before shifting to move back to Cater's side, wherever he might have gotten off to in the store while he'd been busy.
"Have you found anything that caught your eye?" Rayne asks, slipping his wand back away. Was he going to explain? No.
Left to his own devices, Cater certainly spends time browsing--but he has to admit, Rayne still has his attention. It's hard not to notice and appreciate just what he's doing, offering to help the shopkeeper without provocation. It's sweet, and he feels himself light on his feet as he turns back to the shelves, not wanting Rayne to feel as if he's being watched and judged.
No, no, everything here is the most normal thing in the world, nothing to comment on whatsoever!
"So much here is totes sick," he replies as Rayne rejoins him, giddy smile wide across his face. "I don't even know what I'd take with me, I feel like I could get lost in here all day!"
Gods, why did Cater speak like that? 'Totes sick'... what does that even mean??? Rayne seems to stare for a second too long, confusion written in his eyes, before he lets it fall away, resting both of his hands on his hips as he peers at the items on the shelf nearest Cater.
It's easy to tell that he gives Cater a few glances, even as he's peering at the items.
"I agree," He thinks, at least, if 'totes sick' was... positive. "It's one of the quieter places, too, when it's around."
He did seem right, given that they were really the only customers. "I have something I want to buy before we leave. But take your time looking around." They had all day, didn't they?
They may have had all day, but Cater still didn't want to get too carried away. He only had so much spending money, and he didn't want to risk Rayne getting tired of waiting for him to finish browsing. "KK," he agrees as the other teen heads off to make his purchase. Maybe he'd be more curious if he wasn't so distracted. At least for now, he does take his time, appraising and considering a few different things--sometimes waving over Rayne in his excitement to share the find in question.
Finally, though, he has a winner. "OMG, dope! No way am I leaving without this!"
Rayne will find Cater cradling a beat-up device with a crank on the side and multiple lenses. He's practically giddy. "I forgot to mention when you were asking about hobbies--duh, I love photography! I take pictures with more than just my phone. This is a super retro magical camera."
Thankful that Cater didn't ask, Rayne slips off again to make his own purchase. Once it's made, the woman behind the counter wraps it in a brown paper for him. The teen then ends up following Cater around the store like a faithful puppy, looking at the different items around the store with him. He doesn't talk much throughout their little visit, even if he does make a comment on one or two of the items Cater was looking at.
This camera, though....
Rayne looks to Cater at the exclamation, blinking a few times at him. Oh-- look at him-- he looked so excited, so happy, so-- bright, like the sun. Rayne's expression is damn near soft as he looks at Cater.
"You have to get it." He agrees, looking down at it. "... I could help you repair it, if there's any damage to the internal components."
"It can't be much harder than some of the objects I've had to repair or restore." Oh. Cater was. Very close. Rayne can feel his cheeks heat up-- would Cater be able to see the dusting of pink, in the low light of the shop?
Those questions, insistent, almost like he wouldn't stop asking until he got his way. It almost feels like a spell washes over him, as he replies... "Alright."
Cater Diamond, you've already begun to have Rayne wrapped around your finger and you don't even know it yet.
Mercifully for Rayne, Cater's too abuzz to seem to notice any kind of effect he's having. Tugging briefly on his sleeve, he steps out of the aisle to flag down the shopkeeper at the counter.
"I'm ready to check out, ma'am!"
Clearly, he was ready to test things out. He thanks the woman profusely, complimenting the store and chattering cheerfully as he makes his purchase, and then waits for Rayne to make any last minute goodbyes before they head out of the store together.
The tug makes Rayne follow along easily, stepping in line behind Cater. As the two chat, he waits patiently, noticing a look that the woman gives him near the end. With a few blinks, he makes a face.
It's not like that!!-- his silent look begs her, as Cater's already working on heading out. With a roll of his eyes, Rayne lifts his hand in goodbye, stepping out of the store with Cater.
"What type of picture are you going to try and get?" Rayne asks him as they step out of the store, bringing his free hand up to push it through his hair.
Cater giggles as they exit the store, whirling around on his heel to look at Rayne directly. "Just act natural! I'll get a picture of you in front of the store, it's a perfect background."
He puts the bag he was given down to carefully retrieve the camera from inside it, testing a few things and setting it up at chest height.
"Isn't it cool? I don't even look at you, I look down through here, and see your reflection. Since it's a magical camera, it should record your movements into the memory...but I don't know just how many seconds it captures, so let's try it out!"
Act... natural. Rayne seems to think for a second, his hand coming up to his face in thought. To act natural.... was such a hard task, when TOLD to do it. Rayne shifts, stands a bit more comfortably, turning his head away while focusing his eyes back on Cater.
"How exactly am I supposed to act...?" He thinks to ask, his head tilting a bit further to one side, his brows furrowing. It wasn't as if he was a model, who knew how to pose for a camera.
"How will we even know if it works? Is there a way to see the image once it's done capturing it?" Rayne then asks, moving to hide the wrapped box behind his back, bringing his other hand back to his hair, playing with a few strands of his hair. He did know how to pose, enough to not look like a fool, but it was definitely awkward.
Fortunately for Rayne, Cater's already rolling the camera as Rayne's thinking about it. The thing won't record sound, so that's nothing to worry about. All that matters is that he gets an image of Rayne, however short and awkward of a snapshot it is. "Nope," he confirms as he turns the crank, watching the image in the mirror. "I can see through the lens fine, so that's good, but I won't know if this even comes out until I try and develop the film, since it isn't an instant camera."
Magical, yes, but still an old model.
"But that's so exciting, isn't it? It means we can revisit this later! I'll let you know how the film turns out, and we can investigate from there."
Once he's satisfied with the amount he's recorded, Cater looks back up at Rayne--he hasn't stopped smiling, but it's clear that this is still a real smile.
"For now, wanna get something to eat? I'm getting pretty hungry."
Cater's smile-- reminds Rayne of all the things he wanted to protect in this world, joining the long list. It might not be a conscious decision, the way it settles into his mind, into his heart, but it does regardless. It's almost impossible not to smile with him. Rayne manages to bite back a smile, to hold it back for now. His emotions needed to be kept in check, even in a place like this, in an alley where the only two who were there were him and Cater.
It's with a nod that he agrees on food. As they walk, his hand would occasionally brush against Cater's free one ... without being pulled away. If Cater tried to grab his hand, he would pull it back, but it seemed like Rayne was accepting of the tinier 'accidental' touches they would share.
The day was slowly coming to an end. After getting food, it was already getting pretty late. The walk back to their dorm building within the Academy would be enough for the sun to dip down under the horizon. With nothing else on their plans for the day, it was time to head back.
The streets seem far quieter now as they walk back to the Academy, a calm settled over both the city and its people. All there was left to do was get Cater back to his dorm and call it a night.
Eventually, they've made it to the dorm's building, Rayne continuing to lead them even as they walk side by side.
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splitmemory2024-05-20 12:26 am
no subject
The deal was that Rayne would go out on the town with Cater for a day. Not that he'd entertain him or make him happy. Some part of him wanted to see that one smile again. To watch Cater's facade slip up, to make him genuinely smile at him.
As he's thinking about that, he realizes he's staring a little too much at Cater. Where else was he supposed to look, when they were sat across from each other like this? Was there even a proper place??
"Have you considered starting a club?" Rayne asks, leaning back slightly in his chair. Not that there were that many students into music that he could think of. If anyone was able to manage to get something like that together, it'd be someone like Cater. Or maybe one of the newer first years.
"... You should do a reading for me sometime. Show me why it's so interesting to you. Maybe you'll be able to change my mind."
no subject
Just like most his classes, it seems like he's a little reluctant to put forth outstanding effort. Apparently, even some of his hobbies aren't free from this--or maybe it's just involving other people that makes him dial down his enthusiasm.
But at the thought of a reading, he perks up.
"Yeah, I'd love to! It's been a minute since I've used my tarot cards outside of class." Who knew, maybe even if Rayne didn't gain any particular interest in the subject, he'd still find something useful in a reading. If nothing else, it would be fun to do, maybe give Cater a bit more insight to the mysterious boy sitting across from him.
With the way that Rayne's eyes have been on him as they sat there, it's no surprise that Cater's ends up locking with his--and it's nice, to see him without that usual strain of disdain. Out of his element like this, Rayne almost looks peaceful. Almost. There's still a measure of rigidity, but Cater finds he doesn't mind it. That there's something endearing about how Rayne doesn't know how to hold himself.
no subject
It's really hard not to daydream just a little about how he might look up on stage, before the conversation winds down to fortune telling.
Oh, he perked up so much-- was this what it was like to engage with someone else's interests?
"I need more practice interpreting readings," Rayne admits, as their eyes lock together. His heart pounds in his chest, breath catching in the back of his throat. What was it about Cater looking at him that made his body react this intensely? It wasn't like anything he'd felt for anyone else before... which scares him, really. "... So I could do a reading for you too, with my cards." He finishes the thought, taking another sip of his coffee, before resting the cup back down to adjust his hold on it.
Once it's down, Rayne's eyes break their shared gaze, falling down to Cater's hands. What if... How... would they feel...? What a stupid thought. And yet--
He finds that his hand slips a little further across the table, until his pinky and ring finger lightly settle over part of Cater's hand, as if testing the touch.
"You would need to make sure I was on point with my interpretation."
no subject
"I'd like that--I want to know what you see, when you draw cards for me." And it would be nice, too, to be able to be of any kind of help to Rayne. The guy was probably rarely the one who needed support, and Cater felt a sort of pride at being able to offer some.
"Any kind of reading you want, I'm happy to practice with you."
no subject
Cater had to have noticed. He was the type who'd comment on it, right? Rayne's eyes flick up to his face and-- Cater didn't seem to notice, let alone even mind. Good. The touch was... comfortable.
With a soft nod, Rayne finally speaks up again, "What type of fortune telling is your favorite? Do you have a favorite?"
no subject
"Well, I think all types have different merits to them. The stars are important to me, so astrology is my favorite, but aside from that...I really enjoy the kind of connection one gets with tarot readings, I think they're the most insightful. And there's something soothing about palmistry, as well."
Not that he wants to put too much attention on hands, right now, lest Rayne get spooked.
no subject
A thought slips into his head, one he's unable to shake. Rayne shifts, setting down his cup again - it's almost empty by now - and leaning slightly over the table towards Cater, his expression even more serious now.
"Cater," Rayne seems like he might be able to say something serious, to possibly scold him -- but what for? Nothing he did was wrong, was out of the ordinary, aside from accepting the hand in his. "There's this supply store, tucked away within one of the darker alleys of town. Near where a few of the bars are. It's almost magical in itself, how it appears and vanishes at certain days or times. Or seems to. It's called Court of Hearts Curios."
"Can I take you there?"
no subject
Cater feels his heart skip a beat--what was happening? When Rayne speaks, he lets out a slight breath, unsure if he was relieved or disappointed that all he had was a suggestion on where to go next.
"That sounds like fun! I'd love to see what kind of things it stocks."
Shops like that were so mysterious, he didn't often get to look for them when it wasn't concerning school supplies--but those were usually made more readily available for the student body at large.
no subject
Somehow, he seems relieved that Cater accepts his suggestion, nodding as he leans back in his chair. They'd been so close, that if he'd gotten even a little closer--
Pushing that thought away, he brings his cup up, polishing off his drink.
"I'm ready whenever you are... I do hope this doesn't ruin any of the plans you made...?"
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Anything else he'd thought of would always be there for another day. And maybe there would be other days, with Rayne, after all.
no subject
Opening the door for Cater, he ends up leading the way this time, not mentioning anything about the way they'd held hands, or the way he'd dropped them the moment he thought people could be looking at them. He does, however, actually talk a little more as they walk this time, explaining how he'd wandered through town in his first year at the academy and happened upon this shop. It's... really not the most interesting story, but a story nonetheless!
When they reach a spot of town that doesn't seem to have shops within it, Rayne begins to lead Cater towards a half blocked off alleyway, that was hidden by a bramble of a rosebush on either side, with white roses blossoming on them. Court of Hearts Curios was further down the alley, almost tucked away among the strange plants and things that grew within this space. It's weird, considering they're in the city and all, but Rayne keeps pushing them on, until they reach the little shop, with it's sign and all.
The sign features a playing card - the Queen of Hearts - with the words 'Court of Hearts Curios' painted on.
Moving to the door, Rayne opens it for Cater, motioning lightly.
no subject
And it's fun, too, being led through the town in a way that only someone who's been there for much longer could do. Cater liked exploring the nooks and crannies of the places he moved to, but it usually took much longer than he had time for, to find the real hidden gems. This feels like one of them, and his eyes are all alight as they reach the Court of Hearts Curios.
"This place is so cool!"
As soon as he steps in, he wants to look at everything. But where to even start, OMG!
no subject
The way Cater's eyes light up isn't missed at all. Rayne steps in behind him, letting the door close. The store is small, lit up mainly with the careful light of flaming lanterns, allowing a soft glow around them and the shelves within the store. One wall was filled with books on different crafts, different aspects of magic and the history of different places around their world. Other sections of the store seemed to be set out for their respective supplies. Crystals, herbs, different potion base liquids, sets of cards, candles, wax, blends of tea-- you name it, it was probably here.
Rayne offers a slight wave to the elderly woman behind the counter, who greets him by name, seeming surprised that he'd brought someone along. Rayne seems to half shrug. "One second, Cater. You can start looking around. I'll be back."
With that, Cater's abandoned for the moment in the front of the shop, as Rayne moves over to the counter. He speaks with the older woman - whose name is apparently Alice - briefly, asking her if she needed help with anything while he was here. Sure, she could use magic, but this seems to be something that Rayne did often, helping where he could. The woman accepts his offer-- and Rayne ends up slipping behind the counter, through a door to the back room with her.
It's a few minutes before he's coming back out with a large cardboard box, carrying it over towards one of the shelves of crystals. There, he pulls out his wand, going about the quick task of unloading the box onto the shelf. With that done, he nods to Alice, before shifting to move back to Cater's side, wherever he might have gotten off to in the store while he'd been busy.
"Have you found anything that caught your eye?" Rayne asks, slipping his wand back away. Was he going to explain? No.
no subject
No, no, everything here is the most normal thing in the world, nothing to comment on whatsoever!
"So much here is totes sick," he replies as Rayne rejoins him, giddy smile wide across his face. "I don't even know what I'd take with me, I feel like I could get lost in here all day!"
no subject
It's easy to tell that he gives Cater a few glances, even as he's peering at the items.
"I agree," He thinks, at least, if 'totes sick' was... positive. "It's one of the quieter places, too, when it's around."
He did seem right, given that they were really the only customers. "I have something I want to buy before we leave. But take your time looking around." They had all day, didn't they?
no subject
Finally, though, he has a winner. "OMG, dope! No way am I leaving without this!"
Rayne will find Cater cradling a beat-up device with a crank on the side and multiple lenses. He's practically giddy. "I forgot to mention when you were asking about hobbies--duh, I love photography! I take pictures with more than just my phone. This is a super retro magical camera."
no subject
This camera, though....
Rayne looks to Cater at the exclamation, blinking a few times at him. Oh-- look at him-- he looked so excited, so happy, so-- bright, like the sun. Rayne's expression is damn near soft as he looks at Cater.
"You have to get it." He agrees, looking down at it. "... I could help you repair it, if there's any damage to the internal components."
no subject
Really, Cater's like a little kid in a candy store, light on his feet as he leans in to smile widely at the other teen.
"It looks like there's still film inside, so after I buy it...can I take your picture? Please? To test it out?"
no subject
Those questions, insistent, almost like he wouldn't stop asking until he got his way. It almost feels like a spell washes over him, as he replies...
"Alright."
Cater Diamond, you've already begun to have Rayne wrapped around your finger and you don't even know it yet.
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Mercifully for Rayne, Cater's too abuzz to seem to notice any kind of effect he's having. Tugging briefly on his sleeve, he steps out of the aisle to flag down the shopkeeper at the counter.
"I'm ready to check out, ma'am!"
Clearly, he was ready to test things out. He thanks the woman profusely, complimenting the store and chattering cheerfully as he makes his purchase, and then waits for Rayne to make any last minute goodbyes before they head out of the store together.
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It's not like that!!-- his silent look begs her, as Cater's already working on heading out. With a roll of his eyes, Rayne lifts his hand in goodbye, stepping out of the store with Cater.
"What type of picture are you going to try and get?" Rayne asks him as they step out of the store, bringing his free hand up to push it through his hair.
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He puts the bag he was given down to carefully retrieve the camera from inside it, testing a few things and setting it up at chest height.
"Isn't it cool? I don't even look at you, I look down through here, and see your reflection. Since it's a magical camera, it should record your movements into the memory...but I don't know just how many seconds it captures, so let's try it out!"
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"How exactly am I supposed to act...?" He thinks to ask, his head tilting a bit further to one side, his brows furrowing. It wasn't as if he was a model, who knew how to pose for a camera.
"How will we even know if it works? Is there a way to see the image once it's done capturing it?" Rayne then asks, moving to hide the wrapped box behind his back, bringing his other hand back to his hair, playing with a few strands of his hair. He did know how to pose, enough to not look like a fool, but it was definitely awkward.
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Magical, yes, but still an old model.
"But that's so exciting, isn't it? It means we can revisit this later! I'll let you know how the film turns out, and we can investigate from there."
Once he's satisfied with the amount he's recorded, Cater looks back up at Rayne--he hasn't stopped smiling, but it's clear that this is still a real smile.
"For now, wanna get something to eat? I'm getting pretty hungry."
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It's with a nod that he agrees on food. As they walk, his hand would occasionally brush against Cater's free one ... without being pulled away. If Cater tried to grab his hand, he would pull it back, but it seemed like Rayne was accepting of the tinier 'accidental' touches they would share.
The day was slowly coming to an end. After getting food, it was already getting pretty late. The walk back to their dorm building within the Academy would be enough for the sun to dip down under the horizon. With nothing else on their plans for the day, it was time to head back.
The streets seem far quieter now as they walk back to the Academy, a calm settled over both the city and its people. All there was left to do was get Cater back to his dorm and call it a night.
Eventually, they've made it to the dorm's building, Rayne continuing to lead them even as they walk side by side.
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