Daniel/Emery

[choosetoforget]

It's a very typical weekend for Daniel. He takes a call from his sister, who very recently struck out on her own and moved in with friends, while he makes tea. He keeps Sasha and Zhenzhen from the counters as he tries to tidy up as best he can. He puts on a documentary for a while before deciding to walk down to the shop for ice cream.

He hasn't even changed much. Sure, his hair is in a bun and the vest is decidedly 2015-chic, but he carries himself the same, very unhurried. Confident now. The barge isn't completely forgotten, but if anyone can compartmentalize and push down unwanted feelings, it's Daniel.

He smiles to an elderly neighbor as he opens his door and walks out to the street.

Really, nothing too out of the ordinary.

Comments

[choosetoforget]

"It is," he promises. "It's a place I found that I always heard people mention, but never saw until my friends took me. It was dark, so I couldn't stay long, but it was beautiful and raw and I saw photographs of it later and it quickly became my favorite place. I still can't venture far in, but...I think I can with you."

He squeezes their arm.

"Don't tease me."

[cobbledtogetherenvy]

Daniel. Emery is going to tease you. They tip their head against his shoulder a moment before letting out a singsongy, "I'll protect you from the darkness." For form's sake. It sounds worth seeing, though scaring Daniel is so easy it hardly promises this'll be particularly exciting.

[choosetoforget]

"Shut up," he mutters, elbowing them in the ribs. He walks them both to the station where the metro station is, but he doesn't actually go inside. Instead, he leads him to the tunnels underneath.

The lights are on, but not reliably so, and it's growing dark outside, so the shadows inside are longer but the graffiti is still visible in the light. "People come here and change the art based on their own whims."

[cobbledtogetherenvy]

Of things Emery finds particularly unfathomable about humans, art is near the top of the list. The tunnels are, well, the sort of place he spent a lot of time. The color does make them... more interesting? At least she won't run into Sloth down here. Her saddest brother in many ways. "Which parts do you like?" Teasing Daniel is one thing. Being outright mean, well, that's for other humans.

[choosetoforget]

He clings tightly to them, glad that he can't actually harm them much because his own knuckles are white. "I like the colors. I like this history behind this place - it is a place where people can simply express their own lives and their own selves without any rules."

[cobbledtogetherenvy]

It's actually sort of nice, being clung to. Tension not caused by them but absorbed instead, all Daniel's weird little feelings made concretely manifest. Emery squeezes back. And doesn't even point out that if the only expression is coloring the walls, that's kind of a rule, isn't it?

"Did you do any of it?"

[choosetoforget]

"No, but I was thinking of what I could do," he answers, still walking close to them. "But this is the farthest I've ventured inside."

[cobbledtogetherenvy]

Emery thinks quietly for a moment, briefly lets go of Daniel's arm, and stretches instead so their arm is around his shoulders. "Scaredy cat. Pick a spot."

[choosetoforget]

Daniel looks to Emery with alarm, but then the arm goes back around him and he leans against him. "I'm not afraid," he protests feebly, though it's more of a reflex than something he truly believes.

"I don't know. It doesn't need to be big." He glances around, finding a place where the light hits the wall. "There."

[cobbledtogetherenvy]

Emery steers him closer, firm but not too quick. Time in the dark, after all. "I'm guessing you didn't bring what you need with you to get ice cream?" She doesn't know what Daniel would actually do, anyway, presumably... paint stuff. But their role isn't really the art. It's to make trouble in the right direction.

[choosetoforget]

He shakes his head. "No, of course not. But there are paint cans left over. I don't have the practice, though - what are you plotting?"

[cobbledtogetherenvy]

Emery's been in this universe for hours already and hasn't caused any problems! This is a very, very small bit of trouble, but why pass up the chance? He moves again so he's firmly behind Daniel, a hand on each of his shoulders. "Go on, try something. I won't let the shadows get you."

[choosetoforget]

Emery is both reassuring and frustrating in this moment, but Daniel picks up the first can of paint he can find. There's not much left in it, but it's an electric blue, and he makes as good of a lightning bolt as he's capable of. It's not perfect, but he does it and steps back with a giggle.

[cobbledtogetherenvy]

Nope. Doesn't get it at all. But getting Daniel to giggle like a human child is a satisfying result. "Next time you'll come back with a plan." And his bodyguard against... the abstraction of darkness.

[choosetoforget]

His hands are shaking, just a little, but not out of fear. The adrenaline running through him is pure - enjoyment. He wraps his arms around Emery in an embrace. As much a punishment as a reward.

"I will."

[cobbledtogetherenvy]

No resistance and, after a moment, a tentative return, though Emery doesn't know what to do with their arms, exactly. At least being kinda mean is always an option. "See? Now you have your own monster again. You don't have to worry about the other ones."

[choosetoforget]

Daniel takes a step back and cups their face for a moment, shaking his head. "You're - impossible," he says fondly. "Are you ready to go home?"

[cobbledtogetherenvy]

"You're the one with a schedule," they say noncommittally. "Home is fine." Home is a weird idea, but it has its advantages, and he can focus on the logistics for now.

[choosetoforget]

Daniel wraps his arms around himself and hands them the paint can. "If you want to make a mess before you go..."

It will eventually get painted over, but there's enough in it to do some damage, if Emery's feeling so inclined.

[cobbledtogetherenvy]

Emery takes a quick, assessing glance at Daniel. He's fine. But fine in a for now kind of way. Whatever happens next had better be fast. They consider, dip a brush, and dip it in paint, then stick it in their teeth and shift into a monkey. Not a very biologically accurate monkey. They've only seen one once or twice. Hopping strait up the wall, they scale it to the absolute top where no one ought to be able to reach. Still paint up here, but it's thinner, stunt jobs.

Lacking any real artistic inspiration, Emery paints the same winged ouroboros and star that still graces their thigh. Not sure how she feels about that, but it's the only signature she's got.

They let go, and by the time they hit the ground they're Envy again.

[choosetoforget]

Daniel stands under a flickering light, arms wrapped around himself. But when they change into a monkey, he can't help a giggle, even though he can feel his teeth chattering in the fear as the darkness sways. He forces himself to stare at the painting, tilting his head as he tries to interpret it.

Emery returns and Daniel wraps an arm around them.

"You did it!"

[cobbledtogetherenvy]

She's quick to replace the arm around Daniel, which feels less like a taunt and now that an anchor when they realize he's shivering. "Art is some first-class human nonsense, but at least I might confuse the next person."

[choosetoforget]

"What's wrong with art?" he wonders, glancing to the exit. It's dark, night, but at least there will be streetlights.

"Let's go."

[cobbledtogetherenvy]

"I'm sure you're doing a good job," they snark, only a little condescending as they start walking, firm because Daniel sometimes needs that. "I just don't get it."

[choosetoforget]

"Shut up," he huffs. "You don't have to get it. But everything that people make is - is a kind of art."