#except ducks and penguins and flamingos...they're okay

[blackcatxmagic]

The way that Jinhwan saw the world made everything feel so magical, not literally in this case. It was like he saw the good in everything. Some people could be so pessimistic or cynical, and Winter could get like that too when he was feeling really low, when he was feeling bad for himself for his current state. But Jinhwan had such light inside of him, and it felt like it would be impossible to be in a bad mood with him. "That's such a nice way of looking at it," Winter replied, smiling at the other man. "I'm glad I can do it. I wonder if there's a limit though, like...I can't possibly know every language in the world." Unless it's magic, Winter thought, though he didn't say this out loud. Then maybe he could know them all, situationally if nothing else. "You don't speak any other languages, do you? Maybe we can test it, see if I know that one too. So far all I know for sure is that I can speak English, Korean, and ASL."

Winter felt better when Jinhwan reassured him. "You don't have to be embarrassed," Winter told the other man. "I think I can understand. It's probably hard being so far from home, but when someone brings a piece of that home to you, then...it probably touches your heart in a way you didn't even know you missed." When he said that, Winter sighed, shaking his head. "Maybe that didn't make any sense," he admitted. "I've never really been away from home except for vacations, and not even that since my accident." Winter's world was firmly in Cardinal Hill; it was hard enough to keep that straight, let alone other places outside of town.

Once his shift was finished, Winter met Jinhwan outside, and once they decided what to do with his bike, Winter helped get it into the back and then got into the passenger seat. "Luckily I remember how to get home," Winter said, trying to make a joke, but it didn't quite land. "That wasn't very funny, was it?" he acknowledged. "I actually don't have trouble with that. Maybe I would if I was coming from somewhere far away, but I've not tested that yet." They set off, Winter directing Jinhwan, and as they drove he said, "I'm glad I remember the things that I do, like how to get home, how to sew, beekeeping, all of that. But...I miss the other things even though I don't remember knowing some of them. Like driving for instance, I don't even remember knowing that, but I miss it, like...in a deep way that goes beyond memory. Maybe that doesn't make sense, I don't know." Winter ran his fingers through his hair, blushing. He continued directing Jinhwan, and it wasn't long before they reached his house. "It's just down this driveway," he told the other. Winter's driveway was long, and you couldn't see the house from the road because of all the trees, but partway down the driveway they emerged into a large clearing surrounded by still more trees. This was where Winter's house sat, a cozy sanctuary from the rest of the world.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The other smiled at Winter, his expression soft and earnest. “That’s really incredible, though, that you’re able to tap into something to express language.” His voice was warm with admiration, not a trace of doubt in it. Magic being a possibility never even crossed Jinhwan’s mind, despite being a Witch himself. To him, it simply felt like something beautiful that lived in Winter, something quiet and deep, like an old melody still echoing somewhere inside. "She's very kind." He smiled, in reference to Dori.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ But as soon as he saw the flash of worry in Winter’s face, Jinhwan’s smile faltered. “Oh, no, Winter, I’m sorry,” he said quickly, his brows drawing together. He looked down, suddenly self-conscious, his fingers curling slightly at his sides. “You didn’t upset me. That made me happy, I just… I got embarrassed about my own reaction.” He let out a soft, sheepish laugh, one hand rising to rub the back of his neck, fingers touching the ends of his dark hair. “It caught me off guard, is all. Hearing Korean like that… it’s like hearing someone call your name when you weren’t expecting it. It reminded me of home, and I think… I wasn’t ready for how good that would feel.” Jinhwan tilted his head a little, peeking back up at Winter with a small, bashful smile. “So really, thank you. That moment was special to me.”

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ He let the other finish his shift out, and then, when Winter was finished and came to find him, he turned around, having been deep within the fabrics again. “Oh? I did drive, and I don’t mind putting your bike in the back. Just tell me where to go.” He smiled, placing the fabric down, following the other out of the shop. "I parked just across the way, if you want to get your bike?" He offered.