forget, forgot, forgotten

[mapmcker]

shincerer:

      the cat received a scrunched up nose and lightly bared teeth, along with a click of his tongue. still, he soon glanced back at the other, offering a soft shrug and waving his hand in the air for a while. ❝ there’s no RULEBOOK for witches, the path is pretty vague. you can technically do whatever you want. ❝ another light shrug at that– one of the things he LOVED about witchcraft; the freedom. ❝ —because i like you and it feels right. ❝

          Dar responded with his own teeth baring and a drawn hiss that had Map giving him a rather disapproving and disappointed look before he waved him off, turning back to Shin.  ❛ Yeah-- I mean, guess. But-- wouldn’t that technically make you my mentor of sorts? Or something? ❜ He wouldn’t have minded that, honestly. It always felt like Shin had a lot of knowledge underneath his thumb Map would happily take.

[mapmcker]

shincerer:

      all these questions. maybe he should get him a book, or offer his phone to let him roam the internet trying to figure out at least the very basics of romance. shin at least knew WHAT it was that he was so inexperienced with. once more, he cleared his throat. searched for words briefly and then released a SIGH. ❝ probably? it— it’s more of a mutual agreement kind of thing? you can keep doing that, though, honestly… ❝

         He knew there was a line between romance and platonic relationships, though he really didn’t know what would separate one from the other. If kisses and held hands weren’t it, then what was? He frowned, hummed and shifted until he faced Shin, his hand resting on his lap. Maybe he’ll visit the library later today and see if a book could help him understand.  ❛ So-- I can kiss you now? Or... or would you prefer we were alone when we do that? ❜

[mapmcker]

                    cont. | @shincerer

         ❛ Oh. ❜ He glanced at the journal from his lap and glanced at the lovers he spotted before, a light frown furrowing his brows together. They didn’t seem to be all that different from Shin and him, nor were they doing anything they hadn’t done either.  ❛ Are we not? Should I not do that in public, then? ❜

[mapmcker]

shincerer:

@mapmcker

❝  it is, ❝  he countered almost immediately, head held high in mild defiance and eyes narrowed lightly. the feline’s protests hardly drew his attention– he could very well defend his position if push came to shove. besides, he knew BEST, being a rather experienced witch.  ❝  they’re not necessarily animals— and they don’t have to choose a witch. plus you’re the closest thing to one anyway! ❝

           ❛ But... ❜ A distressed frown formed on his features his gaze flickering between the witch and the familiar still glaring and now dangerously mewling at the other. He whined again, placed a hand on top of the feline’s back in case Dar chose to pounce the other and turned back to Shin.  ❛ You have a point but--- you are a witch. I don’t-- think? Other witches can be familiars to anyone, witch or no? Why would you want to be my familiar anyway? ❜

[mapmcker]

❝ you know what? maybe I'M your familiar. it's totally decided, i'm your familiar now. ❝

             ❛ What? No. That’s not-- ❜ But it also WAS how it worked, wasn’t it? Familiars chose their witches. Still Map blinked bemusedly at his friend, a low whine rising from his throat as he glanced at the cat that had come to the same conclusion as Shin, now glaring and waving its tail agitated towards Shin. ❛ Familiars are animal companions and anyway you couldn’t be my familiar even if you wanted to, I’m not a witch. ❜ 

[mapmcker]

shincerer | witch

      he wasn’t a particularly good drinker, didn’t drink often and blamed it on his origin that he did not hold his liquor too well— but his company seemed to be even more of a lightweight than he was. sometimes people did better than expected when drinking alcohol for the first time, though the question map posed had him a little concerned. witches were curious people, their magic something difficult to contain, and nothing that should be put on a leash in the first place. if HE preferred to stick to a safe limit or stay with other witches while drinking, he was certain that the other would be best of knowing when to quit. ❝ already ? ❝ he questioned with mild surprise, though decided to at least down the rest of his own wine. ❝ — ah, you should stop once it feels too odd? drinking’s nice and all, but you should set a limit somewhere, right? ❝

             Shin’s ‘already’ had him humming softly, his brows furrowing at the cup once his head tilted to the side. WAS he tipsy already? Was this it?  His head head felt a little heavier but his thoughts spun around it a little lighter, a feeling of loose freedom swaying his body left & right for a moment before he shrugged nonchalantly & took another, slightly smaller sip of wine before he set the cup onto the suddenly flat & rock free ground before him. Maybe he should have taken smaller sips from the start, though this didn’t seem to be all that bad, just a little different than what he was used to. ❛ I guess I can’t handle alcohol all that well, huh. ❜ He stated, fingers burying softly into Dar’s fur. ❛ Mh, I’ll drink this, then see if I’ll even want more. ❜ Scooping up the kitten that was about to sink her claws into Shin’s thigh, he muttered a soft spell underneath his breath causing her to fall asleep in his palm before he sat her on the sun kissed patch of grass behind him. ❛ I haven’t met that many witches here, just you. Is magic not that common here? ❜

[mapmcker]

shincerer | witch

      it was nice to relax like this every now and again, especially when it provided a chance to get to know someone a little better. a hand reached out, poking one of the kittens’ cheeks and running along its head for a few moments before he playfully poked its side, hoping to throw it off balance— to no avail. instead, he glanced at the other, noted that he had taken a large sip and promptly decided to drink half of his own beverage in turn. ❝ i mean, not this one particularly, i guess. it’s not that expensive— i like the sweet one better, too. i’ll get better one next time~ ❝ assuming there would be a next time, of course. a drawn hum escaped him, then, and he leaned his head to the side. ❝ so! you’ve really never had any booze before? what if i get you drunk and you embarass yourself? ❝

             He had alcohol before, probably. He had done a lot of  things before, probably, but none that he could recall or that he could safely say he would know. It didn’t leave him embarrassed as one might think it would or anxious, just left him feeling a little lost & confused when searching for his answer. He was old, older than he seemed with his seemingly naive outlook or softspoken words but with the tragedy that struck him, everything he tried or saw was something new, something he could explore ❛ I’ll get the alcohol next time. ❜ He offered politely, & actually meant it now that he thought about it, picking up things from the shelf that seemed or looked good just to share it with Shin. Taking another long sip from the cup, he felt his body shake at the bitterness that washed over him, causing Dar to mewl in protest & him to look at the plastic cup accusingly.  ❛ I mean-- I probably had booze? Before, I just can’t remember, you know I feel... odd. Hazy? Is that normal? ❜

[mapmcker]

shincerer | witch

      he had had a feeling this would put both of them in the lightest of moods. it was easier to spend time with another witch, considering that the other probably wouldn’t find it odd that he preferred the park, loved staring at the sky and generally adored fresh air more than any pub or restaurant. he watched the kittens by his feet, tilted his head and wondered whether they’d manage to damage the laces permanently— he didn’t feel like spending money on new shoes any time soon. then again, he also thought it would be all but mean to shoo them away. as the such, he returned a bright grin to the other instead, cup raised briefly before he snorted at the rather helpless ways map showed. ❝ geonpae, we’re i’m from. cheers works, though. ❝ –and with that, he gently bumped the cup against his company’s before taking a few sips from it and humming in approval.

            He wasn’t completely clueless regarding alcohol; he knew what it was, how it affected people & why humans tended to gravitate towards it but simply never felt the need to try it himself. Of course he was curious but having been alone for the longest of times or surrounded by people estranged to magic, he didn’t really trust himself to keep his powers in check or to remain completely neutral. It was easy to let his guard down around Shin; he was kind enough & friendly enough for him to feel safe to indulge in a little mischief.  ❛ Geonpae, then. ❜ He offered, leaning his cup slightly once Shin reached to bump it with his & smiling widely at his bright grin before he tilted his cup to his lips. The first thing he noticed was that the liquid was cold & fuzzy, the second, that it was bitter & sharp, leaving him with an odd impression on his tongue that had him grimacing but continuing to drink until one quarter of it was missing.  ❛ Ah. Bitter. People drink this regularly? It feels like it’d be better with some fruit. Refreshing though. ❜

[mapmcker]

shincerer | witch

       ❝ it’s a THING, or, like, a profession or hobby or something. ❝ it seemed too much like naming your child WITCH or maybe HATTER or POLICEMAN. still, he would call him by it, or a nickname for it anyway. ❝ a korean first name~ and nothing anyone’s ever questioned, ❝ came his mused response, tongue peeking out quickly and briefly in a playful matter. the repeated motion earned a grin and a stifled chuckle from the witch, then, along with a light shake of his head. he evidently had NO idea what he was doing. ❝ mh— maybe i should check it out, might be worth a shot. ❝ a small nod at that. ❝ i thought you had an idea about how to make them? it’s a bit trickybut i should have some stuff in my tent you could probably use. ❝

         ❛ But. It’s mine. ❜ Fingers curling into loose fists, he felt anxiety slowly creep over his shoulders and wrap around his throat, a shuddered breath quietly taken. Charlie had said the same when she pointed out it was only just a placeholder, a nickname she and Jackie used to give him some identity, but Map clutched  to it. It had been the first thing that gave him a sense of existence & maybe one day he’ll be comfortable enough to discard it, maybe once he remembered his actual name but THAT DAY was not IT. He didn’t want to press further though, knowing it was a futile fight & few would understand why he clung to such a ridiculous name so he let it slide, focused on the other’s words instead.  ❛ Yeah, my charms, or what I can remember anyway, but yours are different & your magic is a little different. There’s no harm in branching out & studying outside of the already learnt, right? Besides, I might get a few things back this way, it never hurts to try. ❜

[mapmcker]

shincerer:

@mapmcker

       these days, he quite enjoyed drinking socially. admittedly, his travelling usually didn’t bring in many friends, but the acquaintances he made tended to suffice to share a few stories over some glasses of alcohol. he figured it would be fun with the mysterious witch, particularly since he wanted to gently coax out some more information about him. as the such, he had invited him into the park, sat there on a blanket with the other, along with a bottle of white wine and some bottles of beer— the first of the which he had carefully poured into two plastic cups, soon offering one to his company. ❝ alright, ready to get going ? i promise it’ll be cool~ ❝

         The park was his home & he belonged to it just as much as every flower pushing through the ground did & he could feel life swaying in the warm May evening once he pushed his fingers through the blades of grass. It was healthy & happy & blooming & it made Map smile to feel it pulse vibrantly, made only more energetic with the other witch sitting next to him on the warm blanket. The cats were there -- as they always tended to be -- the old familiar, which he named Dar, curled in his lap & the nervous cat, Svita, pressed tightly to the side of his leg, peering over at it at Shin every now & again while the two unnamed kittens played energetically with the laces of his shoes. He straightened up once the other addressed him, gingerly taking the offered cup into both of his hands before he carefully sniffed the bubbly, yellow liquid inside. ❛ Ah. Alright, I trust you. ❜ He mused, smiling over it at Shin, tipping the glass before jerking it away.  ❛ Oh right. Cheers, right? That’s what people say? Ah-- I’ll just... drink this. ❜

[mapmcker]

ikewashing | kind enough

      she had had a cat, once; back in her teenage days, her family had kept two of them, though one fell to old age and the other was left with her parents back at home. she never did quite learn not to stop for most pets she encountered, finding that the thought of her abilities affecting them, too, was too comfortable to be passed up on— then again, some might claim a soothing voice and the right posture won over most animals anyway. her explanation suited her better. once isaac spotted the abundance of felines surrounding the stranger, she made it her quest to lure at least one away from him. with that in mind, she moved behind him, a metre or two, took off her jacket and placed it on the ground, only to sit on it a moment later. the cat behind the male twitched at the sight of her; she ducked her head, tapped her fingers against the ground and cooed softly. ❝ it’s fine, sweetheart ! i just want to spoil you a bit, come on over here, ❝ she offered softly, lips pursed and eyes locked on the cat. once it did move, cautiously at first, she extended a hand, soon found it sniffing her fingers and her hand a moment later softly running along its back and head. 

          The strange voice close enough to him bounced his attention from the kitten in his hands, having him turning carefully around to notice the nervous cat slowly approaching a woman not too far from where he sat. The kitten on his shoulders perked at her coo as well, mewling softly before he decided he also wanted to say hi to the new arrival, preparing to jump off of his shoulders with a few, careful wiggles of his behind. But Map, knowing the older cat would frighten at the younger’s intervention caught the curious kitten in mid air nuzzling his nose between his twitching ears while still keeping a close look on the nervous one.  ❛ Careful. ❜ He spoke softly, his voice carrying a hint of  a soothing melody as his head cocked to the side, the two kittens in his hands curling into his palms instead. He smiled firstly at the stranger, then encouragingly ( & a hint proudly ) at the cat enjoying her pets.  ❛ She frightens very easily.  Please don’t raise your voice too high.❜

[mapmcker]

            Cats seemed to like him more than humans did -- & it likely didn’t help his odd behaviour & odder aura that strays seemed to flock towards him whenever he found himself sitting on the grass in the park, carving & bending wood to his will with the minimum use of his magic. Though the charm had been laying forgotten in front of him for good ten minutes by then, the cats -- already four in number -- claiming his full attention as two had managed to climb on top of him, one sitting curled on his lap & a kitten sitting upright & pressed to his face on his shoulder while he played with his sister; the fourth, a timid one sniffing carefully around his leg before a group of people scared her to cower behind his back, earning her a light scratch behind his ear from the demigod. He was too lost in his element for the moment to pay any attention to the world surrounding him, giving the various felines around him split attention.

                                                                           @ikewashing

[hennyramen-deactivated20200802]

Are you gay or straight ?

im stressed

[mapmcker]

shincerer | witch

       ❝ nah. naaah. ❝ a hand waved through the air, dismissively– though the other’s statement was not as easily brushed aside, considering that he himself lacked even a surname. still, SHIN was more of a name than MAPMAKER— and a given one, at that. he pointed at the other’s shoulder, as if to draw attention to the way he held it, finger circling through the air momentarily. ❝ —- is there really a pet store ? because i was thinking about getting, like, a puppy or something. ❝ a few nods at that. ❝ be chill about it, no pressure to remember the guy with the amazing charms from that one time. ❝

               ❛ It is. ❜ He spoke a little softly, feeling somewhat cornered & defeated. It WAS his name, as strange as it was; no other seemed to fit, Giles certainly felt like it was several shades off of his entire being.  ❛ What kind of a name is Shin, then? ❜ He challenged, too stubborn to completely let the topic go as his eyes followed the movement of his hand, a confused expression setting on his features. He repeated it, more out of question then anything else, emphasising it with a shrug of his shoulder.  ❛ Yeah-- there’s two more. One on the west side of the city, the other is in the shopping mall near the outskirts. Can’t forget the guy with the coolest charms, though. Do-- Do you think you could show me how you make them? I’d love to learn. ❜

[mapmcker]

shincerer | witch

       ❝ it’s not a first name~ ❝ a soft poke to his shoulder, more of a light, half-hearted shove than anything— a means of emphasising that he was teasing him. ❝ why, can you show me the next pet store ? or air port ? hmm ? ❝ he snapped his fingers, then, soon pointing at his company. ❝ yep, i guess. ah, it’s WHATEVER, honestly. you almost got it right anyway ! ❝

                ❛ It is mine. ❜ The soft pout deepened, the unexpected touch startling him softly & leaving him with a moment of pause, a hand rising and placing over the shoved shoulder. He was still so very new to humanity & touches were odd at times.  ❛ Um, the pet store is two blocks from here, between a coffee shop & post office. If you take the backalley to the right, there’s a short cut & the airport--- ah. Right. The name. ❜ Sheepishly, Map scratched the back of his head, teeth sinking into his lip.  ❛ I mean yeah. I can tell you that, too. I’ll try better to remember yours though. ❜

[mapmcker]

shincerer | witch

      how EXCITING, to be recognised by a fellow WITCH– of sorts. ❝ yooo~ ❝ he began, quite easily, swaying left and right softly, a hand soon waving through the air dismissively. at least he was HALFWAY there, right? ❝ nickname guy~ mapper or something, hm? eh, it’s shin~ almost had it. what’s up ? ❝

             ❛ It’s not a nickname. ❜ A light pout formed on his lips, though his hand still waved halfheartedly through the air.  ❛ Just a name. Mapmaker. Or you know, Map. ❜ Shrugging, he offered a relieved smile once he reminded of his name.  ❛ Ah yes, like the bone. I should remember it next time but ah-- I do have some memory issues though so forgive me if I forget again. ❜

[mapmcker]

             ❛ Sh-- ❜ It was there, on the tip of his tongue, his NAME weighing on his lips but for the life of him he couldn’t remember how it ended. The excited recognition that at first coloured his expression turned into one of sheepish embarrassment & he lowered his pointed index finger, palm instead curling around his oversized sleeve.  ❛ Ah-- I know your name, I swear. I can’t-- ah, remember it? ❜

                                                                @shincerer