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

[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!

[blindknight]

All right, but here's the question: Were you teasing, or did you really wanna say that to me?

[psychometer]

Well, think of it this way. I'm kind of teasing, but I wouldn't have said it myself without meaning it for real.

And I do. I mean it.

[blindknight]

I was hoping you'd say that.

[ he reaches over to tug her closer, leaning in to whisper in her ear- since she so kindly deprived them of an intimate moment earlier ] Anh yêu em. I mean it too.

[psychometer]

[Oh damn, her heart is racing and this is an entirely new experience and and and... Okay, she's calm and she mutters with good humor]

You're catching on too fast.

[blindknight]

Maybe.

[ he gives her a quick kiss ] I don't know how many ways I can say you're the best thing that's ever happened to me.

[psychometer]

[Pfff. She leans against him, taking a sip of tea.]

I don't know how either. And I can speak a ton of languages when I put my mind to it.

[blindknight]

Hey, how do you say "light"? Like daylight or sunlight or something like that?

[psychometer]

The most literal translation? Mm... Oh, it's "ánh sáng."

[blindknight]

Mm... ánh sáng. I kinda like it.

[psychometer]

[The sound of stringed instruments can be heard and the performers play a soothing melody and a woman begins to sing a joyous song in Vietnamese.]

Man, this reminds me of back home. They must be partying hard over there right now.

But, this is home too. And I'm really glad I decided to move here.

[blindknight]

I guess it goes without saying how glad I am, but I'll say it anyway.

I'm really glad.

[psychometer]

It goes without saying, but this really is a first for me.

[The song continues and as it goes on, memories are springing up in her head, bittersweet ones.]

I think growing up, I didn't exactly feel wanted. And the reason I decided to be a PI was so that I could fill in the blanks.