Firsts ⇒ w/ psychometer

[psychometer]

[It's hard to believe, but it's already been a little over a month since Lien's life has taken a turn. But regardless, here she is on the week of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year a.k.a. Tết, anticipating on spending a day with Lindsey. This time, they were not friends though. It truly was a New Year with new changes.

Jonah was in the know and although he most definitely had his reservations, it didn't stop him from helping his partner in setting up a real date at a low key, but still energetic festival. It's fortuitous that Valentine's Day practically overlapped with Tết this year. That meant plenty of sights, sounds of Vietnamese mixed with English, the laughter of couples and some families and the smells of food and flowers overlapping each other.

Lien's pretty much ready to go. It's just like any other time they went out together, right?? RIGHT? She sounds a little nervous, but happy.]

"Chúc Mừng Năm Mới!"





Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day too. A day full of firsts huh?

Comments

[blindknight]

Not like I'm gonna say no to food.

[ Her excitement is catching, and he laughs ] Whatever you wanna do, Lien. I'm all yours.

[psychometer]

Alright, let's grab some bubble tea first and then let's see if I can nab a prize at one of those games.

[blindknight]

I have a confession to make.

... I've never had bubble tea before.

[psychometer]

Really?? I don't think I should be surprised... So let's fix that immediately!

[And she spots a bubble tea place right away and gets them in line before they have to fight a crowd.]

[blindknight]

[ Well, as they're standing there, he may as well ask ]

Hey Lien, can I ask you something?

[psychometer]

Hm? Sure, fire away.

[blindknight]

Would you be willing to teach me some Vietnamese?

[psychometer]

Oh! That's... But of course!

Worried I might say something to keep you out of the loop? [She's teasing of course.]

[blindknight]

Well duh. Why else would I ask? [ look, he can tease right back! ]

[psychometer]

The best way to start is to teach you some basic phrases and words, the ones you'd hear the most. Vietnamese is a pretty tough language to master, but you've got good ears, so I think you could pick up the weird inflections better than most people.

[blindknight]

Hey, I'm willing to try my best.

[psychometer]

I can teach you a phrase right now! Wanna hear it?

[blindknight]

Sure.

1/2

[psychometer]

[She's quiet or a second or two, deliberating over what to say. Or rather, she knows, it's just...]

[psychometer]

Em yêu anh.

[Lien hugs his arm as she says that.]

[blindknight]

[ a pause, as he turns the words over in his head ]

Em yêu anh.

[ his pronunciation's a little rough, but he has the basic idea of it ]

What does that mean?

[psychometer]

Heh. Actually if you're going to say that to me, you have to say it differently.

[blindknight]

What do you mean? I didn't think I did that bad.

[psychometer]

See, that's the tricky part. When you say that phrase, it'll mean the same thing, but instead, you say it like this.

"Anh yêu em."

[blindknight]

Anh yêu em.

Like that?

[psychometer]

[And around them, some random Vietnamese people in line who hear him say that let out an, "Oooooohhh!!" And some even cheer.

Lien turns pink and tries to hold back her giggle.]

Right on the mark. You wanna know what it means now right?

[blindknight]

... Uh, yes please.

[ because why did it invoke that kind of reaction????? ]

[psychometer]

[And she gets on her tip toes and whispers to him.]

It means, "I love you."

[AND WITH THAT, she turns to order drinks with a cheerful smile on her face.]

Jasmine and Thai bubble teas please!

[blindknight]

[ His brain is reeling to catch up to the rest of him when she says that. He just sort of stands there dumbly as she turns to order their tea, and it's a miracle that he manages to fork over the money to pay for it before she can. ]

That was a low blow, Lien.

[psychometer]

Maybe, maybe.

[She takes the teas and leads him to some benches that are set up at a nearby stage where there's going to be a performance.]

But if I'm going to teach you, I thought I'd let you learn the most important phrase of all!