messianic | IC

[Oh my god Lupin. Minato watches it crash off into the darkness, blinking slowly... and then finally drags in a slow breath when he's put down. P... phew. That was a thrill, and he's not used to experiencing crazy things like that out of nowhere.

Thanks for that, Lupin; you've definitely managed to startle him the most out of anything here thus far (sans Ryoji existing).]

Well... I can't deny that that was pretty charming all around, too. But I definitely never expected to be kidnapped by a gentleman thief.

[Dang.... words are hard, and eventually he has to admit:]

I think I'm still a little overwhelmed...

[ this can be considered a victory, he thinks. Lupin shakes out his arms a little bit, then plops backwards into a sitting position on one of the boat's bars, grinning widely at his victim under his asymmetrical mask. ]

In other words, it was "something you've never done before?" [ he's not going to outright say what he was doing unless Minato asks - that would feel too crass for his tastes - but he calls back to that conversation with a knowing look in his eye. ] Normally, I'd show you something more exciting than that, but there's not much to work with in this place. You can consider yourself lucky, though. I'm not in the habit of stealing people.

[Lupin's so happy too... and it strikes Minato that it must feel a little cramped sometimes for Lupin, in a small town without anything of great importance to steal or anything to mess with.

Hm...]

It was definitely something I've never done before. [Minato smiles a little in response, and:] You granted my wish, Lupin-san.

[...And he adds, amusedly:]

I'll also feel extra special, that Arsène Lupin stole me away instead of a special gem or something like that.

[ what a cute thing to say... he can't help but grin even wider at that, laughing a little bit. It looks like his message was received, one way or another - and it felt good to get out and actually do something like this, as frivolous and silly as it was. ]

It was my pleasure, monsieur. [ he doffs his hat theatrically, although it's a bit muted - the first suggestion that he actually did get tired out by all that, if only a little. ] Rest assured that our friendship is worth as much as a special jewel to me.

[Lupin is definitely a bit tired out, but also, who's the one saying cute things here? God damn, Lupin. Their friendship is worth just as much as a special jewel?

Lupin is dangerously charming, and Minato's torn between amusement and being legitimately a little swept off his feet by it.]

... Wow. [He'll admit it!!] That was... very charming, Lupin-san. Do sentences like that just come to you naturally?

[ honestly, these things just come out of his mouth, and he doesn't care to stop them - especially not when he's still riding out the adrenaline rush coming from sailing out over a (possibly cursed) lake on a hastily-constructed glider. Minato's reaction seems to entertain him. ]

That? Charming? That was nothing more than my honest feelings. [ he wasn't even trying... but he keeps that to himself. ] Even in a situation like this one, you've been nothing but cool, kind, and reliable. People like you aren't easy to come by.

[He thinks it's charming...!! It's also endearing that Lupin seems to think that Minato's inability to emote makes him reliable or special in some way; his lips quirk at that.]

Hm... well, I'm just glad you don't think it's weird.

[Because he sure...remembers when people did, when he was tossed from household to household after his parents' death because nobody wanted to keep someone as peculiar and unnatural as him.

It's still nice sometimes to hear when people think more highly of his natural traits.]

But you really did surprise me, even if I didn't look like it.

[ he honestly just thinks Minato is just super level-headed... maybe it's because Lupin's known a variety of oddballs in his life already, but nothing about his quiet demeanor strikes him as particularly abnormal. He's just quiet and calm. And, to be honest, he thinks they could use more people like that around here. ]

Heh. Well, I did steal you out of your own bedroom. I'd be a little worried if you weren't. [ he picks up one of the old oars sitting in the boat and starts rowing it back towards the dock. ] -- By the way, you sleep like the dead.

[Let's leave it at that, okay... It's for the better.]

Mm, yeah.

[He will...not argue that at all?]

I really like to sleep. [Understatement.] And I got used to people trying to wake me up in the middle of the night over the last year, so...

[Sleeping like the dead is a self-defense mechanism.]

[ that must have something to do with fighting Shadows, like he mentioned before. Lupin chuckles warmly at the admission, shaking his head gently. There's something sort of endearing about it, somehow. ]

Sorry for reopening old wounds, then, [ he says lightly. ] I'll have you back and tucked in before anyone even notices you're gone.

[The gentle teasing makes him smile, at least, if a small smile.]

Hm... that's probably for the better. Vriska-chan would probably yell.

[Y...yeah.]

There's no rush yet, though. This was worth giving up the sleep for.

[ oh... vriska. It's easy to forget she lives with him. Lupin makes a slightly difficult expression at the mention of her name, but shakes it off quickly enough. ]

She definitely would.

[ and she'd hate him more for kidnapping Minato, probably, even if it was just for fun... ]

No rush, though... Don't tell me you're trying to prolong a moonlit boat ride with me. I suppose it is a privilege.

[Oh my god Lupin....... He definitely notices that expression, but... Vriska is a difficult person, so difficult expressions are to be expected when she comes up, probably...]

It's not like that, Lupin-san. I'm pretty sure we're not each other's type. [So, so dryly.]

... But even so, I can't deny that it does feel like a privilege. This entire situation, I mean.

[ excuse you, Minato, he's everyone's type!!

as usual, his answer is charmingly sincere, and he just smiles, shaking his head. he's going to get stuck in a positive feedback loop of flattery, at this rate. ]

It's one I wanted to give you. Just keep it in your memories for me - that's all I ask.

[ the boat gently bumps against the dock, and he springs up and out without missing a beat, as if he hadn't just been catching his breath a few moments ago; naturally, he leans down to offer Minato a hand. ]

Watch your step.

[Hey, for the record, "Just keep it in your memories for me" is also charmingly sincere. But Minato just flashes Lupin a small smile at that, and obediently takes Lupin's hand, standing up carefully to get out of the boat and onto solid ground.

And.

Quite frankly, he has to ask:]

How did you plan all of this...?

[That was all very impressive.]

Heh heh. How do you think I became a famous thief? This was easy to plan. You should see some of the heists I've pulled before. Sneaking a teenager out of his room is much easier than sneaking royal treasures out from a secret stash in the sea.

[ don't question his skills, Minato, they're the real deal!! Once Minato's got his footing, Lupin swiftly ties the little boat back to its place at the dock, then puts a hand on his back, guiding him along off the dock. ]

That'll have to wait for another night, though. Come on.

[He doesn't get it... .how...? How!!

Minato goes along willingly, but:]

I definitely want to hear more about it another night, though. [Honestly...he's fascinated.] Getting the chance to hear how you can do these things from the source seems like a lucky opportunity.

[Minato is not sneaky at all so he cannot emulate it in the least, but.

He'd love to hear about it anyway.]

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