❧ Cafe of London

@[A] Lee Seunggi ( A YEAR AND 3 MONTHS LATER. . . )
Yoona gave Seunggi a pointed stare, but avoided commenting what first came to mind in order to keep things light. Not that things had been very light in the first place under their current circumstances. Stargazing never killed anyone. Right. She knew Seunggi was different, and stargazing wasn't just stargazing to him. Stargazing, to him, literally opened up a world of possibilities. As well as a series of non-stop migraines and headaches. As if the headaches from the setting up of the circus itself weren't horrid enough.

Her face felt light today, not buried under the usual heavy amount of thick concealer and foundation. Light, but empty. However, what bothered her more than her lack of makeup was the deepening eye bags and hollowed cheeks of Seunggi. Despite his façade of relaxation, he could not hide his eye bags nor his hallowed cheeks. They were two people: Exhausted, yet ever persistent, and that was probably what made them the perfect pair of Ringmaster and assistant, along with the fact that Seunggi made up for areas where Yoona didn't want to exactly bother with. It was also their downfall; after all, constant tire was not good for anyone. Especially not when they had to be so active. They, as individuals, did nothing about it, yet Yoona had noticed that Seunggi kept her rooted when she could not root herself; it was his job though and Yoona couldn't make much of it beyond that fact. And to the best of her own ability and in her own silent way, Yoona (attempted in futile) to keep Seunggi from tiring himself out through stargazing, because even though Yoona was allowed to sleep at night due to her inactivity during Circus hours, Seunggi was always at the same place stargazing.

He was smiling, yet it was not the same smile that Yoona had grown to appreciate and look forward to. She still found his dimples adorable, though, so at the very least, there was that.The food came soon after the drinks did, and Yoona preoccupied herself with the food in the silence, only glancing at Seunggi from time to time. It was only when she saw him close his eyes in a distressed manner after drinking the orange juice that she furrowed her brows slightly. Her attempt to ask him whether or not he was okay was cut short as he cleared his throat. Having been shut down, Yoona quickly closed in hopes that Seunggi hadn't noticed her attempt.

"I don't believe a knight's armor to be fitting for event. Maybe something more befitting of a circus-- sans the Ringmaster, of course," Yoona said, smiling softly to play along with his joke.

( This is word vomit and I apologize. )

@[RM] Im Yoona “Stargazing never killed anyone,” Seunggi interjected, dissuading her concerns through an easy smile and fond chuckle, feigning an air of nonchalant reassurance as he smiled at her – dimple creasing his cheeks and causing a broader, more hopeful smile as she caught his expectant stare. Yoona seemed preoccupied, engrossed in consideration and noticeably perturbed, appearing pensive and almost apprehensive, dubious after prolonged observance. Seunggi could see the muted shadows underneath her eyes, obscured through indecorous amounts of concealer in the lightest shade, complimenting her fair skin but diminishing its natural beauty after repeated application. Seunggi hadn't understood the need as she sat before the mirror each morning, dabbing around her eyes and smearing pale tones across her jawline and cheekbones, more defined than on their first encounter.

Yoona seemed more fragile than before: slender and delicate and petite in her slimming, shrinking figure, remaining composed and poised as if she stood before audiences she sought to impress and – perhaps she had been – sitting rigid, proper and perfect in her seat although hushed, animated conversations murmured around them in place of padded footsteps and crinkled papers, noise a constant hum of laughter and transported equipment. The sound of forks chiming sharp and soft on plates, spoons scraping against plastic replaced the rustle of canvas as flaps were drawn aside and another guest entered. The palatable smell of pastries and coffee and breakfast on the grill mingled and saturated the air with a nostalgic scent, reminiscent of slow Sunday mornings, replacing the scent of trimmed grass and moist dirt and old butter and sugar from the kernels and wrappers strewn across the Circus grounds. The room was illuminated through polished glass and penned-in labels advertising exclusive deals from 9 to 11 instead of monochrome fabrics and diaphanous curtains. His eyes alone rested on her, observed her and required something from her that she could not grant within the perimeters of the Circus – a smile, tangible and genuine; one he longed to see after days of deprivation.

“Thanks,” His smile hadn't faltered, hadn't lessened in sincerity or expression or candid desire to see her features brighten in the expression befitting her appearance, sharpened through time when her face ought to have softened, rounding at the edges and crinkling at the corners of her eyes. She would be beautiful, regardless, and Seunggi purposefully brushed their fingers together in reaching for his drink. His fingers tightened around the glass and his stomach lurched at the mere thought of orange juice but Seunggi spared a loose-lipped smile and sipped at the drink to placate her, humming acknowledgment around the rim of the glass as the liquid slid slimy and sickening down his throat. Closing his eyes, he repressed the urge to retch as his senses dulled and erupted into a dissonant cacophony, surging pain across his forehead. Despite intense discomfort, Seunggi couldn't allow himself discouragement, clearing his throat and setting the glass onto the table, fingers habitually turning at the glass.

“Sure.” Indulging her request, Seunggi nodded studiously, feigning an expression of intense concentration. “Shall I order my shining armor while I'm at it?”

@[D] Dane Dehaan Jinri took a deep breath before cautiously opening the door to the Cafe of London. It was a quaint little place, and the young journalist was pleasantly surprised. Not, of course, she was expecting to interview a pretty famous model in a crapped, tiny space. This was much more to her taste, and she looked around a bit, admiring the decorations.

Spotting a table for two, Jinri smiled and made a beeline towards it. It wasn't far enough back that she would be hidden from sight if someone walked in. Saying thank you to the waiter that came by and gave her menu, she pulled out her journal and flipped to a blank page. She then pulled out a pen and wrote on the top of the page in flowing script, "Dane Dehaan". She knew that once she actually interviewed him and started writing, that neat handwriting would turn into a messy scrawl that was barely legible.

When the waiter came back to take her order, her eyes flicked over to the empty seat across from her and told the waiter that she wasn't ready yet.

@[A] Lee Seunggi .
It was a mix of emotions, unsure of whether or not she wanted to stay or wanted to go back to the Circus, feeling that pushing her responsibilities aside was wrong yet wanting to just sink into the cafe's chairs and freeze time – not that she had those powers. Offering but a simple nod to Seunggi, Yoona turned to look outside the windows, admiring the hustling and bustling city of London. She wondered what it was like to be normal, but she could no longer say she wanted to be normal, accustomed to what was now a frequent routine to her. "No, it's okay. We can stay, maybe go somewhere else after? As long as we're back within the third hour." Yet they both knew that after this, they were most likely to go back to the Circus after their mini rendezvous. She didn't like the worry in his eyes, it made her feel just a bit bad yet she couldn't help herself from worrying.

"I told you one hour was enough. You're going to have suffer death by migraines if you watch stars for so long." Pump bottles of concealer had wasted away one after another for the preparation of the Circus' opening so that people wouldn't worry. But once again, everyone knew Yoona; the one who'd attempt at pitiful all-nighters for the sake of paperwork, only to fail three or four hours into the day, succumbing to a slumber even if it was on her desk. Yoona was being just a bit of a hypocrite with the overworking thing, but never had she gotten migraines as serious as Seunggi's and she worried for his well-being even as she completely disregarded hers. Her firm gaze doesn't waver even when Seunggi jokingly hund his head but she only sighed. "We could cancel the order for orange juice and order for coffee, I suppose." It was too late though, beverages always came quickly and there they were; as if on cue the orange juice and black iced tea were sit in front of them, Yoona presented with an array of different sugar packets.

Too tired to come up with a snarky reply or even bother to glare and bump his toes right back, Yoona lazily ripped open a sugar packet, hoping five packets of it would help if not caffeine. "Concealer. Concealer in the shade of 'Ivory' would be appreciated," because Yoona had wearing thin on concealer and in busy times such as these, she literally lived off of concealer and caffeine.

@[RM] Im Yoona Years of observance and silent assistance attuned him to changes in her mood and behavior, from the slightest hesitance to the habitual movements shuddering through her legs, heels tapping periodically against the floor in successive intervals. “You sure?” Shortened to succinct, comprehensible syllables, her speech seemed irregular – an unnatural emphasis on the ending syllables, different from her regular speech patterns. She spoke with her usual eloquence and direct statements yet her words seemed unnatural, uncharacteristically unsystematic, as if her second statement was a rhetorical confirmation for the first. Their date had been the product of chance – a sudden, indulged whim and an unpredictable, ignorant gamble – and Seunggi understood the potential repercussions, addressing the subject with deliberate caution. “I'd say we could go back... but...” He stared at her in reluctant acceptance, eyes solicitous, sad and searching in genuine concern, desiring to understand but resigning to her false securities. The questions and implicit assumptions had been difficult enough to decipher and further discussion would only upset her more or trouble her unnecessarily, adding to the imponderable burden that lingered oppressive and daunting between them.

Considering another approach, Seunggi rested both arms on the table and leaned his weight against the surface, nodding courteously at the waiter before focusing on Yoona's perturbed expression. Smiling seemed inappropriate and Seunggi tilted his head instead, capturing her gaze in his own and exaggerating an expressive sigh, hanging his head in mock shame. “You got me.” Admission was the preferable alternative to denial, encouraging honesty and dissuading suspicion, though she'd undoubtedly confront him about his lack of concern towards himself. He rubbed at his stinging eyes and muffled a appreciative laugh into his forearm, massaging under his eyes as he wiped away the gathering moisture from sleep deprivation. “Perhaps I should've ordered a coffee instead.” Sniffling and habitually rubbing under his nose, Seunggi maintained a casual posture: chin in hand, arm propped up and head tilting sideways. He couldn't hide the physical signs of fatigue but he could detract from its apparent severity by changing the somber atmosphere to one more lighthearted, possibilities quirking the corners of his lips.

“How about you?” He asked in good nature, purposefully moving his knees forward to bump against hers, shoes toeing hers in a challenge of immaturity. “Shall I retrieve gifts grander than the stars to awaken my beauty from her sleep? Dark circles aren't befitting her fair complexion.”

@[A] Lee Seunggi .
Yoona slightly jumped in her seat when she felt a slight bump to the menu and her toes, before peeking over her menu to look at Seunggi, only to scoff and roll her eyes at his remark, yet trying to hide an amused smile. "Please, I am completely fine." Her leg began to shake underneath the table once again, until she stopped herself, clearing before speaking again, in reassurance to both him and herself. "Everything's okay." His little 'predictions' had become a regular routine, and they never failed to amuse her -- each and every single time she had to stop herself from smiling, usually by scoffing instead or turning away when it was absolutely necessary to block a giggle with the heel of her palm.. Their days wouldn't be complete without them, ranging from her outfit of the day to her choices in food.

Her eyebrows furrowed at the seeming uncertainty of Seunggi's tone, wanting to question whether or not he had stayed up too late last night stargazing -- she knew of the downsides to his power and felt the need to prevent the migraines as much as possible, but she never knew how. Even if she did, it was hard to separate the male from his galaxy. She was about to ask him, but as she saw the same waiter who had given them their menus, her words were lost to a curt call to the waiter whilst waving him over.

"We'll have a grilled cheese sandwich, a chicken caesar salad, orange juice and black iced tea." Yoona snuck a glance to Seunggi as she recited their order, as if expecting him to take back his order and make a new one. When he didn't, she turned her attention back to the waiter, nodding when he manually asked her if that was all they wanted. She watched silently as the waiter took their menus and left to give their orders to the kitchen. And after a few moments of silence, Yoona spoke the first thought that was in her head -- "You didn't stay up too late stargazing did you?" Because she definitely hadn't failed to notice the dark eye bags that seemed to be getting progressively darker and deeper as the weeks passed by. Normally, she was always there to know whether or not he overworked himself, standing there in the shadows to make sure he didn't faint of the brightness of the stars (not that she ever knew what to do about it when he stayed up two hours too long). This time, however, she had had her own matters to attend to, but knowing Seunggi, he had probably stayed up anyway.

@[RM] Im Yoona “Of course it is.” Indulging her apprehension, Seunggi suppressed an amused smile at the rapid succession of her unnecessary concerns, responding in turn a nonchalant shrug and an arm braced against the glass door, heel wedged against the decorative buffer as Yoona hurried past him. He caught up in several easy strides, rejoining her side and observing her changing expressions in leisurely entertainment, unable to smother his smile any longer. Grinning at her insistence and endearing independence, Seunggi compliantly sat across from her and took the accompanying menu, slumping against his seat and purposefully raising the menu to erect a boundary between them. She'd likely slap him if she caught him smiling needlessly again and Seunggi ducked his head forward to avoid suspicion or detection, occasionally peering across at her furrowed brow and pursed lips – an expression of intense concentration that had neither ceased nor eased throughout the previous months, demanding in brevity and presenting in each task, significant or otherwise.

Obligations – delegated to herself in her precedent responsibility – consumed her attention, time and waning endurance, tirelessly striving toward her preconceived notion of excellence; one Seunggi couldn't dissuade through any means less than assistance and support. However, his support didn't equate to approval and their excursion had been intended as a form of relaxation. His attempt at temporarily alleviating the stress and pressures of expectations they'd shouldered together; an opportunity for enjoyment before they resumed their duties, diligence manifesting itself in dark bags underneath his swollen eyes, crinkled at the corners as he nudged his menu against hers.

“Calm down. I foresee anxiety attack in your future.” His words harbored implicit concern, phrased as teasing instruction as Seunggi bumped their toes together, eyes averting to his menu and selecting at random his meal. "I'll have... uh... a sandwich." He squinted at the fine print to discern the specifics, straining to read the aggravatingly small labels and relenting as his pupils stung in protest, instead defaulting to the first food that came to mind. “Grilled Cheese? And... orange juice.”

.
"You realize we can't be out for too long? At least, technically only I can't but there's still a lot for both of us to do for the circus. Is it really okay for us to be out in the city?" The door swung open in front of her, causing her to close and sigh as she sat herself down at a table for two, assuming Seunggi was right behind her. She opened to say something to Seunggi, only to close it again as she took one of the menus that a waiter had just laid onto the table.

The Circus was in it's Prologue stages, and what Yoona had said was true; there was a lot, not just for her as a Ringmaster, but for Seunggi as well, to do. After what had seemed like forever, Yoona was out of the Circus tents, free from planning and checking every single little thing. Even if it did take a lot of convincing to take a break. Even if it was only for four hours maximum. Sighing, Yoona straightened her back, taking a deep breath and allowing herself to relax. Yet, as hard as she tried, worries lingered in her mind as her leg shook underneath the table.

"I'll have a chicken caesar salad and iced tea. What about you?"