[ Day watches Ginger, and when the bracelet is handed back to him, he carefully holds it as gets a feel for the enchantment Ginger gave it. Even now while they're preparing for the ritual itself he's still considering different factors on the fly and ways to make this respectful (or at least he hopes they are. Or else he's already failed Step One, and wouldn't that be a terrible joke).
He wouldn't want to smother something so delicate, but fortunately, Sidereals are used to working with delicate and intricate abstractions anyway. He can support something this delicate with something that endures like the plum blossoms blooming at winter's end, he thinks.
Day gently puts away the bracelet in the satchel for later. After that, he pulls out a silver cup and a dagger, before passing the latter to him. ]
And for the blood. I'll be givin' mine durin' the ritual.
[ The dagger makes him wary; Ginger has a very healthy sense of self-preservation, so pain = fear for him. But this is for Mika. This is something Day wants to do. And Ginger thinks: this is something he wants to do, too. Despite everything. ]
Alright...
[ He takes the dagger, eyes it for a long moment. To make this work, he calls upon his determination. That's how... magic works here - everything is determined by the strength of his feelings. A slash, quick and sure - a faint pink line appears on his palm that bleeds darker and darker until small rivers drip off the side of his hand into the cup. He lets it fill the cup syrup slow until Day gives the okay.
[ It's in observing Ginger's reaction to the dagger that Day finds himself realizing that Ginger is reacting the way a normal person probably would. When he's spent the past five years in the bureau, where the sense of duty runs strong, and the past two with various people who either don't feel pain or are too used to it, his perspective is a little skewed. Day himself would have done it with almost no hesitation.
...He feels like he must be the weird one here when the half-angel, half-demon is the one with the reasonable reaction.
Day keeps an eye on the blood flow, and once enough has been spilt, he wordlessly reaches over with two fingers to gently nudge at Ginger's hand, carefully sliding them near the cut while muttering his incantation to heal it. ]
[ Gratitude is murmured as he brings his hands together, thumb rubbing the once-there, now-gone line. Day’s magic settles over him with ease, as though even with all Ginger’s hesitation, Day knows how to slot himself in. It’s not intrusive; it’s… comfortable. Hm. ]
… Day.
[ Just - before they get into the complicated parts of this. ]
[ ...Day has to wonder for a moment if he should give the honest answer to Ginger, because while he's personally confident in the odds, he knows Ginger's a worrier.
Then again, even if he lied, Ginger would still find a way to worry, he thinks. So there's no point in entertaining that idea further. ]
It ain't gonna kill me, if that's what you're askin'. [ Even Day's not that reckless.] It'll prob'ly take a lot out of me, but I don't imagine it'll leave anything lastin', or even all that severe. 'Less I make the spirits mad or something, but that's what I'm doin' this show for.
So...it should be safe. Though, uh, if I fall down afterwards I'd appreciate it if you catch me or something.
[ He makes a face, dismayed by the implication that he wouldn’t always catch Day - that it has to be something said. ]
I should let you bump your head just a little for that comment. Day, I care - of course, I’m going to catch you.
[ There are a million things to worry about, but the question of whether or not Ginger cares enough should not be one of them. They’re still working on the question of whether or not Day deserves to matter to people. ]
[ Day is making a similar face to the one he made earlier that day, where he's clearly caught off guard that Ginger cares about him enough. Because keeping his expectations low is second nature by now, because expecting the moment his hand is let go is such a habit that he's always braced for it without thinking. Because he knows the enormity and intensity of Ginger's feelings for someone else, and it's hard to not feel small if he dwells on it.
He's like the morning mist, anyway, so...even if they've said they're possessive, even though he wishes to try staying in their memories, even though he wants to believe love endures, even if he'll keep loving them in some manner no matter what—
The tired, wounded part of Day always manages to get the first word in: don't assume anyone's going to care enough, and don't assume you'll matter in the end. You won't be thanked or cursed by then, after all. ]
I'll forgive you when you stop acting like you don't matter enough.
[ He's means it, though it probably would have been more accurate to phrase it as: I want you to know you matter. If not now, then soon. And if not soon, then eventually. Don't let it be never. ]
It'll prob'ly be a while. Work-in-progress. ...But thanks for remindin' me.
[ Day has the kind of smile where he's grateful for Ginger's sentiment, but he also feels helpless because... He's spent the past five years living with that reality, and it's not going to go away so easily, unfortunately. But he can try.
Day pauses for a moment, to set the cup of blood down in the circle, and to wipe the blood on the dagger clean. He is going to be using it himself in a while, after all. Then, he snaps his fingers to don a different outfit, something which he discovered was in his selection a while after he came back from the Southern mission. ]
Hopefully, the spirits will find this to their tastes...
But it's your face. I think I'm gonna be pretty disappointed if I ever meet another angel and they don't stack up.
[ His sample size is just one (1) yet Day sounds so confident saying this... ]
Aight, we should prob'ly get this done while the night's still young. [ He clears his throat. How long has it been since he's had to perform like this? ] You good with watchin'?
[ It's honestly... nothing special at all; it's the opposite. ]
The neighborhood kids used to call me a freak, actually.
[ But he waves that away. At least this banter has eased up the tension a little. He is still very aware that the bulk of responsibility tonight is on Day's shoulders - and the knowledge sits awkward in his belly. If he can't help, he can at least be here for Day, right? He can witness this ritual and hold this memory within him. ]
I'm not saying this will happen, but is there a warning sign I should look out for? If something goes wrong?
[ Day has this look on his face that could be aptly described as "You can't just say something like that and then try to wave it away? The fuck? Who do you think I am?", compressed into a smile that is just a smidge too serene. Like how Ginger asked him that night whether he was angry because he kept smiling.
He also says, equally serenely, tone even and in blatant contrast to its actual content: ]
[ And then without skipping a beat, he lapses into a more thoughtful look as he considers Ginger's question as if he didn't just Say Shit literally 10 seconds ago. ]
I guess if on some off-chance somethin' happens and it don't look like somethin' out of the night sky, maybe start worryin'. And if I can't heal my cut, maybe that means the spirits ain't happy with me.
[ Otherwise, he's not sure what else to watch out for? Idk my bff, this is uncharted territory and he knows he's kind of just bullshitting his way to a result. ]
[ He just looks vaguely amused and nods. They really were a bunch of idiot kids - and so was he… for letting that insult bother him even now. ]
Okay. [ Said on a low sigh, all levity washed away, like he’s the one preparing for this. ] I’ll get you to safety if something happens that doesn’t look right.
Thanks. [ He gives a small smile, though he pauses at how whatever levity there was just disappears. He knows that Ginger must be uneasy because he's still the one handling most of this, while Ginger can't contribute much else. Day feels a little bad about it, especially because he's also doing this for somewhat selfish reasons.
Perhaps, it's a little absurd for him to say this, considering what he's about to do and what Ginger is supposed to be watching, but—
First and foremost, Day wants to live by this maxim, and tries his hardest to do so: "Love is smiling at your troubles." At the very least, he doesn't want this to become a sad or painful memory for either of them. ]
...I know this is gonna sound kinda silly since we're 'bout to do a blood ritual and all, but try and enjoy the show? [ He wraps his prayer beads around his right hand and wrist. ] It ain't like I get to use magic like this every day.
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no subject
He wouldn't want to smother something so delicate, but fortunately, Sidereals are used to working with delicate and intricate abstractions anyway. He can support something this delicate with something that endures like the plum blossoms blooming at winter's end, he thinks.
Day gently puts away the bracelet in the satchel for later. After that, he pulls out a silver cup and a dagger, before passing the latter to him. ]
And for the blood. I'll be givin' mine durin' the ritual.
no subject
Alright...
[ He takes the dagger, eyes it for a long moment. To make this work, he calls upon his determination. That's how... magic works here - everything is determined by the strength of his feelings. A slash, quick and sure - a faint pink line appears on his palm that bleeds darker and darker until small rivers drip off the side of his hand into the cup. He lets it fill the cup syrup slow until Day gives the okay.
Have as much as he needs. ]
no subject
...He feels like he must be the weird one here when the half-angel, half-demon is the one with the reasonable reaction.
Day keeps an eye on the blood flow, and once enough has been spilt, he wordlessly reaches over with two fingers to gently nudge at Ginger's hand, carefully sliding them near the cut while muttering his incantation to heal it. ]
...Thanks.
[ Now for the Fun (citation needed) part. ]
no subject
… Day.
[ Just - before they get into the complicated parts of this. ]
You’re sure it’s safe for you?
no subject
Then again, even if he lied, Ginger would still find a way to worry, he thinks. So there's no point in entertaining that idea further. ]
It ain't gonna kill me, if that's what you're askin'. [ Even Day's not that reckless.] It'll prob'ly take a lot out of me, but I don't imagine it'll leave anything lastin', or even all that severe. 'Less I make the spirits mad or something, but that's what I'm doin' this show for.
So...it should be safe. Though, uh, if I fall down afterwards I'd appreciate it if you catch me or something.
no subject
I should let you bump your head just a little for that comment. Day, I care - of course, I’m going to catch you.
[ There are a million things to worry about, but the question of whether or not Ginger cares enough should not be one of them. They’re still working on the question of whether or not Day deserves to matter to people. ]
1/2
He's like the morning mist, anyway, so...even if they've said they're possessive, even though he wishes to try staying in their memories, even though he wants to believe love endures, even if he'll keep loving them in some manner no matter what—
The tired, wounded part of Day always manages to get the first word in: don't assume anyone's going to care enough, and don't assume you'll matter in the end. You won't be thanked or cursed by then, after all. ]
no subject
I'm gonna have to ask for your pardon this time. [ ... ] Been a long time since I didn't have to say this kinda thing.
[ ...Not since his sister, now that he thinks about it. That feels forever ago now. ]
no subject
[ He's means it, though it probably would have been more accurate to phrase it as: I want you to know you matter. If not now, then soon. And if not soon, then eventually. Don't let it be never. ]
no subject
[ Day has the kind of smile where he's grateful for Ginger's sentiment, but he also feels helpless because... He's spent the past five years living with that reality, and it's not going to go away so easily, unfortunately. But he can try.
Day pauses for a moment, to set the cup of blood down in the circle, and to wipe the blood on the dagger clean. He is going to be using it himself in a while, after all. Then, he snaps his fingers to don a different outfit, something which he discovered was in his selection a while after he came back from the Southern mission. ]
Hopefully, the spirits will find this to their tastes...
no subject
[ He manages a snort at that, weary but real. Because of course, Day’s a good-looking man. ]
They seem to appreciate the pretty things. Every… wizard… here is striking in some way.
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[ He feels like he should at least say this before he gets this show on the road. ]
no subject
[ Nothing special! ]
no subject
[ His sample size is just one (1) yet Day sounds so confident saying this... ]
Aight, we should prob'ly get this done while the night's still young. [ He clears his throat. How long has it been since he's had to perform like this? ] You good with watchin'?
no subject
[ It's honestly... nothing special at all; it's the opposite. ]
The neighborhood kids used to call me a freak, actually.
[ But he waves that away. At least this banter has eased up the tension a little. He is still very aware that the bulk of responsibility tonight is on Day's shoulders - and the knowledge sits awkward in his belly. If he can't help, he can at least be here for Day, right? He can witness this ritual and hold this memory within him. ]
I'm not saying this will happen, but is there a warning sign I should look out for? If something goes wrong?
1/2
He also says, equally serenely, tone even and in blatant contrast to its actual content: ]
Then they're a bunch of idiots.
no subject
I guess if on some off-chance somethin' happens and it don't look like somethin' out of the night sky, maybe start worryin'. And if I can't heal my cut, maybe that means the spirits ain't happy with me.
[ Otherwise, he's not sure what else to watch out for? Idk my bff, this is uncharted territory and he knows he's kind of just bullshitting his way to a result. ]
no subject
Okay. [ Said on a low sigh, all levity washed away, like he’s the one preparing for this. ] I’ll get you to safety if something happens that doesn’t look right.
no subject
Perhaps, it's a little absurd for him to say this, considering what he's about to do and what Ginger is supposed to be watching, but—
First and foremost, Day wants to live by this maxim, and tries his hardest to do so: "Love is smiling at your troubles." At the very least, he doesn't want this to become a sad or painful memory for either of them. ]
...I know this is gonna sound kinda silly since we're 'bout to do a blood ritual and all, but try and enjoy the show? [ He wraps his prayer beads around his right hand and wrist. ] It ain't like I get to use magic like this every day.