` * ∞ optics
his feet are propped up on the arm of the sofa, nintendo switch in hand, eyes bobbing across the screen. it’s animal crossing, of course-- one of the only games he can play without getting frustrated, because it doesn’t exactly require skill to run errands for animals. he’s a little slow in hitting the button to catch fish sometimes, which is irritating, but he’s getting better. he can only dream those skills would translate into making his ability in other video games less abysmal.
it’s mainly so he doesn’t have to do his homework, of course, and because he isn’t enjoying the book he’s currently reading: historical fiction. sometimes the inaccuracies are funny, but this time, they grate on his nerves. he’ll have to go to the bookstore and get a new one soon.
mei steps into the living room, and kijung looks up briefly as she enters, likely to tell him to do his school work even though she knows he knows everything he could possibly learn in high school. maybe he’ll do it if he’s really bored.
it’s a strange time for the thought to surface, but the curiosity pricks at him regardless. it comes back around every couple of years, but he never asks because he figures it’s a sore subject. mei’s power to read and erase memories must come with a heavy burden. he can’t imagine; he knows she’s under enough strain, and has been for centuries, so he doesn’t pry despite kijung’s constant wanting to know. he has enough memories in 400 years on his own. he can’t imagine 800 years of other people’s memories.
it feels a little invasive, too. he knows her ability triggers merely by eye contact, and they’ve been together for centuries too-- more than enough time to meet each others eyes hundreds of times. he wonders if she knows his memories better than he does now, and if there’s anything he could ever hope to hide from her. does she just not say anything?
“hey, mei,” he begins, voice casual, yet likely anxiety inducing, clear indication that a question is coming. “when we first met...when you looked at me...what did you see?”
──────────────────── ` @meixfey *









