@voltadcmar
Him âliking itâ definitely is an understatement - because what Kim holds in his gloved palms here is more than just a mere toy, more than just a small thing made of plastic and metal⌠at least for him, a man who has always been fascinated by aerostatics, both the real ones and the model versions which heâs been collecting ever since heâs been able to spend his ReĂĄl in such a way.
And this one right here - the one Harry has managed to dig up from post-war rubble, which really just means dumpster diving in Du Bois-speech - is just so very special on his own. Whoever had aquired this model before, used to be the owner, surely hasnât thrown it away just like that - simply because those special models hadnât been bought to be handled carelessly, as they used to be expensive and rare from the get-go.
Means it must have been loved and cherished beforeâŚ
The Lieutenant swallows as he pushes the thought away that starts to form inside his head - blinks himself back into reality instead, carefully turning the aerostatic this and that way with his hands to take a better look at the craftsmanship and the dedication that has been poured into this little thing. Only after what feels like a solid minute of him just staring (and admiring), he looks back up to meet his partnerâs gaze with the dark of his own irises - his usually so very well-kept composure still unable to hide the surprise from displaying on his features, eyes wide, lips slightly parted.
âHarry - Iâm⌠not just liking it. This is⌠âI never expected to ever own one of those exact models!â
It almost feels wrong to hold it - like he is stealing it from someone - but deep down he knows that, whoever this aerostatic has once belonged to, is most likely not around anymore.
Clearing his throat, Kitsuragi takes a soft breath through his nose - trying to get his shit together, to stop himself from acting like a kid being offered to have some extra dessert after dinner. ItâŚsomewhat works, but not as effectively as he would have hoped to - because when he speaks next, he can still hear himself talking like the utter nerd he secretly is, buried beneath layers of polished professionalism.
ââOh, I have a dedicated spot in one of my shelves, where I keep all of my aerostatic and motor carriage models. It will fit perfectly next to the Senamese 4-33 model I managed to get my hands on a few months ago - because it is widely seen as the successor of the one Iâm holding right now, with itâs improvedââ
Oh holy Dolores Dei - listen to yourself, Kim! He stops himself mid-sentence, then - once he realizes that he is rambling, that he has, in fact, not managed to get his shit together - and clears his throat a second time, straightening his back, feeling the tips of his ears starting to burn with embarrassment. â⌠Anyways, yes, uh - I do know where I would put this. â-Thank you, Detective. I am glad you found it ⌠it would have been sad to lose it within the dirt and debris, as it is truly⌠well, rare.â
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EMPATHY [Easy: success] -- Kim only barely contains his enthusiasm, and his glasses only serve to further magnify already widened eyes. He desperately wishes to maintain his professional visage in the eyes of others, failing almost miserably.
PERCEPTION -- The tips of the Lieutenant's ears are tinged red.
And it's one of Harry's favorite places to look now that he knows how blushing manifests in Kim. It always causes his heart to skip and sends a radiating warmth all throughout his body. If he could, he would listen to Kim talk all day.
"I'd like to see your collection some time. I wouldn't mind a history lesson." Harry grins as he tries to encourage Kim's interests. If this is how Kim reacts to a singular aerostatic, he can't wait to hear how he talks about his entire collection. And maybe Harry isn't a gear-head necessarily, but motor carriages offer a point of interest for him, too.
ELECTROCHEMISTRY -- You're just trying to get into his apartment. Clever boy.
RHETORIC -- Why can't it be both?
VOLITION -- C'mon, now. Be civil for once.
Harry clears his throat and nudges a bit of rock with his boot as his face begins to flush as if Kim could hear his thoughts and see his desires. Kim can't. Or, not in the way he can. Kim's a great detective, but he is still no match for Harry's otherworldly abilities. He has to wonder now, what are the chances he could locate another model? Another aerostatic? A motor carriage? Maybe even a naval vessel of some kind?
SHIVERS -- All across the city are hidden trinkets, things that were once so beloved but have been lost to time. You cannot hope to retrieve even a fraction of what's out there, as the heavy weight of concrete and iron and steel crush them out of sight. Many are irreparably damaged. Rusting. Rotting. Dissolving into war-torn ruins. But, if you turn your ear to the winds every now an again, you might just find another.












