live_ringer | ☆020- And the nameless names on the misspelled graves grow tall.

[She looks up as he pets Mugen, giving a soft, humorless laugh. For his part, Mugen ignores Lyle, now fully focused on his beer. Once again, she leans back into the couch, curling her legs beneath her.]

So. [She sighs] Here we are again.

[She leans forward for the wine, tapping her fingers on the glass as she holds it. It seems so surreal, that this could happen so many times. It's as if the fact that she's letting her guard down around him is a signal to the Sphere that it's time to take him away again.]

[She knows that's ridiculous, and that Neil’s disappearance is hurting far more people than just her. Still, she can’t help but be a little bitter.]

[Better ignored than clawed, really, so Lyle leaves Mugen to his drink.]

Here we are indeed.

[He's holding his own drink up but rather than imbibing it, he's looking through it. He ponders whether he should ask something. It's that or the silence, which is getting a bit heavy.] You were there the first time, right? [The glass is lowered and he looks at her in earnest.] Right there, I mean.

[She's lost in brooding, not quite minding the silence when he speaks again. When she looks over at him, the level, open look on his face wrenches her, just a bit.]

Yeah. So was he. [she waved a hand at Mugen] We'd just moved to Section 2 a couple of weeks before.

[If Lyle had seen his brother vanish...well, she'd seen it twice, and even dulled by time, she remembered it hurting like hell. Her eyes briefly go wide with realization.]

[She'd say she was sorry, but he'd likely heard more than enough of that recently.]

It...takes some time to deal with.

[Lyle shakes his head as she confirms. He knows the various incidents involving Neil had stung for Bastet, but it is easy to lose the scope of just how raw that sort of thing can leave a person. Now, he has all too clear an idea.]

[If he knew she was holding off on 'sorry' he would be grateful. As is the previous openness is already retreating behind a wry expression when he sees her eyes widen.]

It's strange. Surreal enough you almost can't be sure you actually saw what you thought you did.

[She nods]

I must have stared at the spot he'd been sitting for--well, it felt like forever, but it was probably just a few seconds.

[It felt odd to recount this; she never spoke about it]

Then I tore the house apart looking for his journal.

[Mugen had been frightened by Neil's disappearance and her sudden frenzy, and had darted beneath the sofa to hide.]

[Funny, she muses, looking briefly down at Mugen; the cat's been the most stable presence in her life for most of her stay.]

[It was kind of funny how the Sphere mandated its own strange little protocol for this sort of thing. Any other place, looking for a journal right after someone's departure would be a strange practice. Here it became a default.]

You too, hm? I found this one under some of his clothes that were lying around. Damned slob.

[The insult held no real sting and his mouth quirked up into a wry half smile as he said it. It was easier to rag on Neil for his bad habits (ones Lyle could be every bit as guilty of) than to keep dwelling on the bizarre reality of his disappearance.]

[She snorted, her lips twitching the barest amount at the sight of his faint grin; she recognized his efforts and was happy enough to try to play along.]

I didn't mind that so much, but I hated the way he'd use up the milk for his mashed potatoes.

[Not that she didn't like mashed potatoes, but she liked milk more; running out was guaranteed to put her in a foul mood.]

Mm? He wasn't some kind of potato fiend, was he? That just plays right into the stereotypes.

[He shook his head and it was hard to tell if the exhale that escaped him was a laugh or not.]

Are you kidding me? I never knew you could eat them so many different ways; I used to try to get home with takeout before he started cooking.

[She stares down into the glass with the faintest curve of her lips, then takes another drink.]

[Lyle snorts.] I suppose the versatility is admirable, but that lack of variety is just shameful.

Oh, there was plenty of variety. As long as you didn't mind variety that included potatoes. Stews, mash, pasties...

[She purses her lips]

I do really like pasties, though. I can't always find them in the Bazaar.

Could you ask the shops you do get them from for a recipe? [He paused for a moment, giving every indication he actually expected her to cook it herself before adding.] So you can make that Crimson guy cook it for you?

[She snorts]

I don't make him cook. Apparently, it just offends him to see me living off takeout.

[He'd all but moved into her kitchen within a few weeks of his arrival, and still did most of her cooking now.]

My apologies. Suggest it, then. He might be grateful for the new recipe to play with.

I'll see what I can dig up, then. Maybe they'll actually part with the recipe.

[sips her wine, then motions to his glass]

This isn't too sweet for you?

I'm sure you could convince them. Possibly using blackmail if they're really stubborn.

[He lifts his glass, peering at it.]

It's not my usual, but it's good to change things up from time to time.

[Translation: Yes, it is too sweet for me, but that wasn't the point of bringing it.]

I try not to coerce the people who are fixing me food. It's just safer that way.

[She eyes him, her lips twitching, then sets her own glass down and gets up, heading for the kitchen.]

[She's back a few moments later, with a mostly-empty bottle of whiskey (there's enough for three more drinks at the most) and a short tumbler with a couple of ice cubes.]

[Sets them on the table in front of him, sounding faintly amused.]

Better?

[Lyle's brows raise slightly when he sees her leave for the kitchen.

When she returns with whiskey he has to shake his head, but he's smiling. It's really kind of scary how well she can read him.]

Thanks.

[The glass of wine is swapped out for the tumbler. Mugen looks up curiously as Lyle pours himself a new drink and mewls.]

Mm? Don't get greedy, now. You've still got your own saucer to tend to.

[She tosses him a smile in return, then refills her glass of wine while she's still standing.]

No, none for him, he'll get sick.

[Settles back on the couch, drawing her legs beneath her. Mugen has just about finished his beer. He licks his whiskers, then gives a slightly wobbly jump onto her lap, where he curls up in contentment.]

[Sitting back, Lyle hides his chuckle at Mugen's inebriated wobbling behind his glass before taking a sip.

They sit in companionable silence like that for a while, breaking it here and there with snatches of conversation and the occasional joke or story at Neil's expense. When both their glasses have emptied Lyle stands and stretches.]

I'd best head out. [He bends down to scratch the head of a now sleeping Mugen before giving Bastet a slight smile.] I'll see you around.

All right, then.

[She sets her glass down, standing up to walk him to the door.]

[She pauses before he opens the door; looking up at him in a rare instance of comparing him with Neil. There was the physical resemblance, of course, but Lyle really was more like him than he'd ever admit, or care to hear.]

[Still, though, in just as many ways, they're very different people. And he'd become very dear to her, in ways his brother never had.]

Lyle--

[She breaks off, then pulls his face down, kissing his forehead in a rare, affectionate gesture. Her eyes are squeezed closed for a moment; when she opens them, they're a little wet, and very bright, and her voice is husky with restrained emotion]

You're my family, Lyle. For as long as we both remember.

[As fond as they are of each other, that's more overt affection than either of them has ever shown the other. This may well make him uncomfortable, and they don't ever need to talk about it again...but in light of Neil's third disappearance, it's something she needs to say.]

Edited 2011-04-14 06:36 (UTC)

[When she hesitates he glances up down at her and catches her expression. He is all too used to studying looks, both here and in a time beyond his memory, but this has somewhat of a different quality.

Before he can decide how to ask about it or pretend he didn't see it, there is a very confusing moment where she pulls his face down. The puzzlement soon ebbs away at the brief but tender display of fondness, though his eyes are still a little wide with surprise. They are seldom ever this direct.]

Edited 2011-04-14 07:16 (UTC)

[That said, it's hardly a bad thing to be direct now and then. He allows himself to relax fully and the small smile that crosses his face is genuine, if bittersweet at the circumstance.]

Of course. [Despite the easy tone in which he says it, this is not a concession Lyle makes lightly. His relationship with his blood family may be complex and largely a mystery to him, but the title of family had still remained reserved. Even Jack and Bell, men he'd been 'born' with and gotten along with well didn't get any reciprocation to their use of the term "brother" in anything other than joking terms.

But Bastet has been there through the toughest times of his life here, a dependable constant (and, quite honestly, someone he can bitch with on a similar level when it is needed). It can't be denied, she really does count as family, one of the closest things he has to it right now.

So, what the hell. One good surprise deserves another, so the hand he places on her shoulder actually ends up pulling her forward for a loose hug.)

Edited 2011-04-15 02:33 (UTC)

[If Lyle is surprised by the kiss, Yoruichi is just as surprised by the hug. He could have just as easily smiled and taken his leave, and she wouldn't have thought any less of him for being uncomfortable with the display; he's a very private person in spite of his easy manner, and so she's touched that he feels strongly enough to reciprocate.]

[Instead, she loops her arms around his waist, squeezing him back. The top of her head brushes his chin, and she idly wonders why she knows so many oversized men.]

Edited 2011-04-15 05:02 (UTC)

[Hey, he is a perfectly normal height. She's just 'fun-sized' is all.]

[After a bit he does disengage, giving her a lazy salute as he heads towards the door.]

I'll see you later. Take care of yourself.

[That last statement does feel necessary to make, because as nice as their touching moment was, he hasn't forgotten the grief that kicked the whole meeting off. And yeah, she's strong, and he expects her to be all right, but that doesn't mean it's gonna be easy.]

☆020- And the nameless names on the misspelled graves grow tall.

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