Maybe something a little more personalized would be nice.
[It's said with a somewhat joking tone, like she wasn't actually all that put off by the nickname, but she wouldn't say no to a better one either! And speaking of...]
Like Jinbug. See? Because I put your name in instead of Junebug? It's cute, right? Yeah, it's definitely cute.
[SOMEONE SURE IS FEELING HERSELF.]
If you're going to come up with a nickname for me I think it's only fair I have one for you too, right?
[ There's a sharp intake of breath that he tries to quickly muffle by covering the mic on his phone. He feels warm, but at the same time, his heart aches. It's been so long since someone called him Jinbug. He misses his mom.
Normally, he would be mortified if anyone other than his mother called him Jinbug, but...it's so nice to hear the nickname again that he can't even find it in him to be embarrassed.
He clears his throat, his voice thick. He tries to play it off. ]
Yeah. Yeah, it's only fair. Gotta say, you've got a way with nicknames. Jinbug really is, uh, the cutest.
[ HMMM. He really should think of one for her now. Otherwise Chicken lady is going to stick, and...that won't do, right? Let's see...Rapunzel...There are a few obvious options, but he doesn't really want to go that route. He'd like to come up with something a little more special, since she inadvertently gave him the gift of his childhood nickname.
Rapunzel's a fairy tale, right? The name was based on the Rampion plant, also known as the bellflower. ]
Rapunzel is immediately concerned, regardless of the attempt to cover up. It's the thickness in his voice that clues her in, rather than that sharp intake though. That's why when he shifts gears and starts going through possible nicknames she's only half listening. She's paying more attention to his tone than his words.]
[ Looks like he didn't do a stellar job covering up that little surge of emotions. He feels a little bad for worrying her, but it's admittedly nice to be worried after.
He takes a breath and clears his throat to try and shake the heaviness from his tone. ]
Yeah...yeah, I'm fine. It's just nice to hear that nickname again. It's been a while since I heard it.
It brings back good memories, not sad ones. Don't worry.
[ And he means that. ]
It was the nickname my parents used to call me. [ His mom mostly, but his father would use it on occasion. ] It used to embarrass me when I was younger, but I don't think I'd mind hearin' it from you.
[There's a soft expression of relief for a moment. She's glad that she hadn't opened up a more serious old wound, but she wonders what he means. Is he simply homesick or was he separated from them when he was young, too?]
Well if you're sure it's alright, I think I'll stick to it. It's a pretty good one, if I do say so myself.
Glad to hear it, because you're right, it's an excellent choice.
[ He finally manages to find an even keel and shake the remnants of homesickness from his tone. ]
Now then, how should I personalize your nickname...? I should figure that out before "chicken lady" ends up stickin'. You're allowed to veto anything you don't like.
[ Jinhai doesn't usually ask for input on the nicknames he picks for people. The only time he'll change things up is if hey have a really bad reaction to whatever he picked. Rapunzel is different, though. He wants her to like whatever he ends up calling her. ]
[Having JUST gotten out of that little dark spot she really doesn't want to pull them back down there. She's glad to hear him back to his usual self, and more importantly she's glad to know that her using that nickname would be something that brought him joy rather than pain.
That being said, she hadn't missed the suggestions earlier, and she feels like it wouldn't be fair to either of them to keep quiet about the truth. So as much as she'd like to start disassociating flowers from Gothel's abuse... this... probably isn't the best way to start.
She's reluctant to admit it, but she tries for a more easy going air than she strictly feels.]
Well, it's not because I don't like it, but I'd like to avoid nicknames that have to do with flowers for now. I promise I'll explain later.
[She sounds just a little smaller and more subdued than usual, but not upset or dejected, just a little lower energy than before. It just takes a lot of energy to think about everything that she went through with Gothel. She's also pretty close to being back to normal right after, though!]
Hmm.... maybe something art related? Since we have that in common?
[ Even though she tries for a more easy going air, he picks up that there's probably more to it, something complicated most likely. Or emotionally straining. Maybe she was called something flower-related by a former partner or loved one. He trusts that she'll tell him when she's ready, so he doesn't stick on her discomfort easily moving past it to the more neutral territory of what he can call her. ]
Sure, no problem.
[ HMMM something art related.... ]
Give me some time to think. I want to come up with somethin' you'll like.
[Moving forward is definitely good, and it spares both of them from possibly feeling awkward, guilty, or at a loss for how to move on. She wouldn't want anyone to linger and fret unnecessarily on her account.
Excellent!]
I'm looking forward to hearing what you come up with, Jinbug.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ Though he might still crack it out from time to time. Just try to stop him.
He chuckles again. ]
And I'm glad you like the idea. I figure two heads are better than one, and besides...makin' art's definitely more fun in enjoyable company.
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[It's said with a somewhat joking tone, like she wasn't actually all that put off by the nickname, but she wouldn't say no to a better one either! And speaking of...]
Like Jinbug. See? Because I put your name in instead of Junebug? It's cute, right? Yeah, it's definitely cute.
[SOMEONE SURE IS FEELING HERSELF.]
If you're going to come up with a nickname for me I think it's only fair I have one for you too, right?
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Normally, he would be mortified if anyone other than his mother called him Jinbug, but...it's so nice to hear the nickname again that he can't even find it in him to be embarrassed.
He clears his throat, his voice thick. He tries to play it off. ]
Yeah. Yeah, it's only fair. Gotta say, you've got a way with nicknames. Jinbug really is, uh, the cutest.
[ HMMM. He really should think of one for her now. Otherwise Chicken lady is going to stick, and...that won't do, right? Let's see...Rapunzel...There are a few obvious options, but he doesn't really want to go that route. He'd like to come up with something a little more special, since she inadvertently gave him the gift of his childhood nickname.
Rapunzel's a fairy tale, right? The name was based on the Rampion plant, also known as the bellflower. ]
How about Bell? Bells? Goldbell? Florabell? Hm...
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THAT'S suspicious....................... THAT'S weird.Rapunzel is immediately concerned, regardless of the attempt to cover up. It's the thickness in his voice that clues her in, rather than that sharp intake though. That's why when he shifts gears and starts going through possible nicknames she's only half listening. She's paying more attention to his tone than his words.]
Jinhai...? Are you okay?
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He takes a breath and clears his throat to try and shake the heaviness from his tone. ]
Yeah...yeah, I'm fine. It's just nice to hear that nickname again. It's been a while since I heard it.
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[Who called him that before, she wonders?]
I don't want to if it'll bring up... sad memories.
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[ And he means that. ]
It was the nickname my parents used to call me. [ His mom mostly, but his father would use it on occasion. ] It used to embarrass me when I was younger, but I don't think I'd mind hearin' it from you.
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Well if you're sure it's alright, I think I'll stick to it. It's a pretty good one, if I do say so myself.
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[ He finally manages to find an even keel and shake the remnants of homesickness from his tone. ]
Now then, how should I personalize your nickname...? I should figure that out before "chicken lady" ends up stickin'. You're allowed to veto anything you don't like.
[ Jinhai doesn't usually ask for input on the nicknames he picks for people. The only time he'll change things up is if hey have a really bad reaction to whatever he picked. Rapunzel is different, though. He wants her to like whatever he ends up calling her. ]
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That being said, she hadn't missed the suggestions earlier, and she feels like it wouldn't be fair to either of them to keep quiet about the truth. So as much as she'd like to start disassociating flowers from Gothel's abuse... this... probably isn't the best way to start.
She's reluctant to admit it, but she tries for a more easy going air than she strictly feels.]
Well, it's not because I don't like it, but I'd like to avoid nicknames that have to do with flowers for now. I promise I'll explain later.
[She sounds just a little smaller and more subdued than usual, but not upset or dejected, just a little lower energy than before. It just takes a lot of energy to think about everything that she went through with Gothel. She's also pretty close to being back to normal right after, though!]
Hmm.... maybe something art related? Since we have that in common?
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Sure, no problem.
[ HMMM something art related.... ]
Give me some time to think. I want to come up with somethin' you'll like.
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Excellent!]
I'm looking forward to hearing what you come up with, Jinbug.