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[ Being largely bound to his room immediately following his return from Venera is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because he's no longer forced to tolerate the busy halls of the Citadel and worshipful eyes from servants who still try to cater to his every desire; a curse because it gives him far too much time to brood over everything that had happened in Venera.
Not the entity, though he'd spared some time to try to analyze what information they've gathered as best he could, but the delusions, the daydreams, the memories belonging to both himself and his fellow Kenoma. One in particular returns to his mind over and over again, belonging to a girl whose peppy attitude stands in complete contrast to the heavy loss she's suffered. She'll never have her family to go on outings with again but...maybe he can make sure she feels a little less alone here in Achamoth.
He waits until his hearing has mostly returned before reaching out to her. No doubt they've all needed the time to recover anyway. ]
Misa. Are you busy?
Not the entity, though he'd spared some time to try to analyze what information they've gathered as best he could, but the delusions, the daydreams, the memories belonging to both himself and his fellow Kenoma. One in particular returns to his mind over and over again, belonging to a girl whose peppy attitude stands in complete contrast to the heavy loss she's suffered. She'll never have her family to go on outings with again but...maybe he can make sure she feels a little less alone here in Achamoth.
He waits until his hearing has mostly returned before reaching out to her. No doubt they've all needed the time to recover anyway. ]
Misa. Are you busy?
[ It seems like the better part of everyone is keeping to themselves, once the Kenoma make their return from Venera— and Misa's fine with that. She has her own things to sort out and come to terms with, thoughts that need ruminating on. And she has her own pride and ego to nurse, too. For the first time since coming to Horos, she actually feels... well, lonely, a feeling born out of a combination of the memories she'd re-witnessed, and the fallout from what she'd seen in others.
That's why it's a welcome surprise when he comes ringing through Communion, and she picks up quickly: ]
Oh, Eustace! Just the person I was thinking of.
[ She's careful to maintain an upbeat voice, not wanting to allude to any of her serious feelings, or anything even remotely within the reach of their experiences in Venera if she can manage it. Even to his one, simple question, she chatters away idly, as if trying to fill the space. ]
I'm not busy. Not anymore, anyway. What's up? I know— you need my help with something?
That's why it's a welcome surprise when he comes ringing through Communion, and she picks up quickly: ]
Oh, Eustace! Just the person I was thinking of.
[ She's careful to maintain an upbeat voice, not wanting to allude to any of her serious feelings, or anything even remotely within the reach of their experiences in Venera if she can manage it. Even to his one, simple question, she chatters away idly, as if trying to fill the space. ]
I'm not busy. Not anymore, anyway. What's up? I know— you need my help with something?
[ Just the person she was thinking of....? Sounds fake, but he won't comment on it.
Technically he doesn't need her help with anything but he latches onto that question all the same, because it seems like an easier road to take than outright admitting his original purpose in communioning her, which was just to Hang Out. That's embarrassing. ]
Ah—yeah. Meteion told me about a bakery in town that's famous for its sweets. I was going to pick up something for Gray but I'm not sure what she would like.
[ Guess Gray is getting free cake now. ]
You can pick out something too, if you come.
[ He will be the wallet today. ]
Technically he doesn't need her help with anything but he latches onto that question all the same, because it seems like an easier road to take than outright admitting his original purpose in communioning her, which was just to Hang Out. That's embarrassing. ]
Ah—yeah. Meteion told me about a bakery in town that's famous for its sweets. I was going to pick up something for Gray but I'm not sure what she would like.
[ Guess Gray is getting free cake now. ]
You can pick out something too, if you come.
[ He will be the wallet today. ]
[ Was it two or three days ago that he talked to Amos, after hunting him down with Misa? He's not sure. So he's not sure if it's been four or five days since he'd received that Communion call from Misa asking for help. ... or maybe it's even been six days? He's not sure.
Turns out it's quite hard keeping track of the passage of them when you sleep like shit at night, and you spend every day in pretty much the same way -- fighting with other guys under the pretense of sparring until absolutely exhausted, then falling asleep for a few fitful hours before watching the evening slip away with nothing happening. Rinse, repeat. Fuck, he's so tired. (Like back then. Like when he'd been trying so hard to go back to being 'normal' six years ago.)
So Gen's admittedly looking a little spaced-out and ragged as he trudges down the corridors of Achamoth, a cigarette that desperately needs ashing hanging from his lips and hair still a little damp from just getting out of the shower. He'll smoke on the balcony for a while before getting some sleep, he figures. Maybe a little sun will make him sleepier, so he'll rest better.
He almost misses it when Misa passes by him in the hallway, going the opposite direction. ]
-- hey.
[ His footsteps halt so suddenly there's the slight squeak of bootsoles against the flooring, and Gen jerks to a halt abruptly enough that a spot of ash drips from his cigarette to smear against the front of his shirt. He doesn't care. It was mostly a half-conscious, knee-jerk reaction that had led him to actually call out to Misa, made obvious in the way he hesitates for a moment afterward. But Gen does ultimately follow it up with a quiet deadpan: ]
... did you talk it out with him like you wanted to? With Amos.
Turns out it's quite hard keeping track of the passage of them when you sleep like shit at night, and you spend every day in pretty much the same way -- fighting with other guys under the pretense of sparring until absolutely exhausted, then falling asleep for a few fitful hours before watching the evening slip away with nothing happening. Rinse, repeat. Fuck, he's so tired. (Like back then. Like when he'd been trying so hard to go back to being 'normal' six years ago.)
So Gen's admittedly looking a little spaced-out and ragged as he trudges down the corridors of Achamoth, a cigarette that desperately needs ashing hanging from his lips and hair still a little damp from just getting out of the shower. He'll smoke on the balcony for a while before getting some sleep, he figures. Maybe a little sun will make him sleepier, so he'll rest better.
He almost misses it when Misa passes by him in the hallway, going the opposite direction. ]
-- hey.
[ His footsteps halt so suddenly there's the slight squeak of bootsoles against the flooring, and Gen jerks to a halt abruptly enough that a spot of ash drips from his cigarette to smear against the front of his shirt. He doesn't care. It was mostly a half-conscious, knee-jerk reaction that had led him to actually call out to Misa, made obvious in the way he hesitates for a moment afterward. But Gen does ultimately follow it up with a quiet deadpan: ]
... did you talk it out with him like you wanted to? With Amos.
Oh, well, usually I don't eat sweets, but if you're buying...
[ The teasing lilt to her voice carries well over the Communion connection, with Misa buying his excuse hook line and sinker. This makes sense in her mind. Eustace doesn't seem like the type of guy who has any clue what girls want.
A part of her acknowledges that probably has to do with... you know, everything that happened to him, especially with regards to the little sister he'd talked about. So she's willing to lend a hand, surprised as she is that Eustace would actually ever ask for her help with something. ]
Should I meet you there? I'm kinda already out here in the city.
[ The teasing lilt to her voice carries well over the Communion connection, with Misa buying his excuse hook line and sinker. This makes sense in her mind. Eustace doesn't seem like the type of guy who has any clue what girls want.
A part of her acknowledges that probably has to do with... you know, everything that happened to him, especially with regards to the little sister he'd talked about. So she's willing to lend a hand, surprised as she is that Eustace would actually ever ask for her help with something. ]
Should I meet you there? I'm kinda already out here in the city.
[ Oh. That puts a wrench in his plans. Why drag her to a place she won't enjoy when the whole point was to fill her life with a little more joy and happiness? But they've already made it this far and he can't exactly just take back what he's said and do a complete 180. ]
Sure. I'll give you the name of the place.
[ Blah blah some more upscale bakery located in Y part of town, followed by a small visual map in case she needs help getting there. Too bad they don't have shard GPS yet. ]
Was there something you were picking up in town? I can walk you there.
[ Is this too obvious? He sure sounds a little more uncertain about this par, having absolutely no idea how to A) make any sort of smooth transition between topic A and topic B and B) hang out with someone who isn't a coworker. ]
Sure. I'll give you the name of the place.
[ Blah blah some more upscale bakery located in Y part of town, followed by a small visual map in case she needs help getting there. Too bad they don't have shard GPS yet. ]
Was there something you were picking up in town? I can walk you there.
[ Is this too obvious? He sure sounds a little more uncertain about this par, having absolutely no idea how to A) make any sort of smooth transition between topic A and topic B and B) hang out with someone who isn't a coworker. ]
[ It'd be a lie to say she wasn't surprised that he even called out to her— in her mind, she'd assumed their temporary little truce ended the moment Gen walked out of the bar they'd found Amos in. Not that she really felt particularly relieved or disappointed at that notion— it was just... confusing. All in all, Gen didn't seem like a bad guy, aside from his easily irritable attitude. He helped when she asked him to, and it's not like he left her for dead out there. And she's had time to think about what she saw, too. But, at the same time, it's not like any of that matters in the face of everything else that had happened in Venera. Misa has a habit of sticking her nose where it doesn't belong, bothering people who don't want her to be around. But she's not so stupid to go poking a wasp's nest when she already got stung.
So, yes, she did see him standing there, but she was fully intending to just walk past without bothering him, not at all like how before Venera when she probably would have hung around just to pester him for fun. Reluctantly, she turns back around to face him when he speaks up, already looking lightly bewildered at his question. ]
I mean... kind of?
[ Though her answer seems noncommittal. Sure, she got to talk to him, but she's not sure if everything can really be labelled "talked out." It's complicated - the draw of her shoulders and the slight sigh she lets out convey that completely. For what it's worth, she looks better than she had those several nights previous— done up the way she usually is, lace and silver jewelry, hair tied up. She's just come in from town, after all, so she looks her Sunday best. ]
Why? Did he not show up when you asked him to or something?
[ That has to be what this is about, right? That's the only logical explanation she can think of; Gen wondering if he's the only one who got avoided in the 'talking about Amos's enormous problems' department, or if Misa had similarly gotten shut out. That's the scenario she imagines in her head, anyway. ]
So, yes, she did see him standing there, but she was fully intending to just walk past without bothering him, not at all like how before Venera when she probably would have hung around just to pester him for fun. Reluctantly, she turns back around to face him when he speaks up, already looking lightly bewildered at his question. ]
I mean... kind of?
[ Though her answer seems noncommittal. Sure, she got to talk to him, but she's not sure if everything can really be labelled "talked out." It's complicated - the draw of her shoulders and the slight sigh she lets out convey that completely. For what it's worth, she looks better than she had those several nights previous— done up the way she usually is, lace and silver jewelry, hair tied up. She's just come in from town, after all, so she looks her Sunday best. ]
Why? Did he not show up when you asked him to or something?
[ That has to be what this is about, right? That's the only logical explanation she can think of; Gen wondering if he's the only one who got avoided in the 'talking about Amos's enormous problems' department, or if Misa had similarly gotten shut out. That's the scenario she imagines in her head, anyway. ]
Nah, he did. [ He takes his cigarette between his fingers as he speaks, glancing off to the side. His tone of voice is dismissive; he's not about to go prying for details in a matter that ultimately has nothing to do with him. ] He was a little late, but he looked like he got his shit together at least a bit. So I figured you did, but ...
[ His words trail off with a half-hearted shrug as he takes a long drag at his cigarette; he's smoked it almost all the way down to the filter during his thoughtless haze, he needs a new one. -- but that's not really the matter at the forefront of his mind, is it. Not matter how much he wants to pretend that it is.
The silence that he exudes is weighty, the furrow of his brow making it clear that he's considering something instead of just making Misa wait for no reason at all. But he does exhale after that long moment's pause before properly looking at her once more. ]
I wanna talk. [ It's a sign of the minimum consideration he's showing her that he poses it as a suggestion, almost a request, rather than a flat demand. And he pauses for a moment before looking her over. ] You on your way somewhere?
[ 'Is now good?'
And while it doesn't escape his notice that Misa sure seems to have bounced back fast from the more practical ensemble she'd been dressed in when they were searching for Amos, back to her blinged-up celebrity ways ... whatever. He sort of gets it by now. Clearly, at least a part of Misa's ditzy, blinged-out celebrity act is on purpose, and if going back to it is how she deals with what happened in Venera, sure. It's more understandable, at least, than if she really were so stupid and impervious that she'd actually just be cheerfully back to normal after everything. ]
[ His words trail off with a half-hearted shrug as he takes a long drag at his cigarette; he's smoked it almost all the way down to the filter during his thoughtless haze, he needs a new one. -- but that's not really the matter at the forefront of his mind, is it. Not matter how much he wants to pretend that it is.
The silence that he exudes is weighty, the furrow of his brow making it clear that he's considering something instead of just making Misa wait for no reason at all. But he does exhale after that long moment's pause before properly looking at her once more. ]
I wanna talk. [ It's a sign of the minimum consideration he's showing her that he poses it as a suggestion, almost a request, rather than a flat demand. And he pauses for a moment before looking her over. ] You on your way somewhere?
[ 'Is now good?'
And while it doesn't escape his notice that Misa sure seems to have bounced back fast from the more practical ensemble she'd been dressed in when they were searching for Amos, back to her blinged-up celebrity ways ... whatever. He sort of gets it by now. Clearly, at least a part of Misa's ditzy, blinged-out celebrity act is on purpose, and if going back to it is how she deals with what happened in Venera, sure. It's more understandable, at least, than if she really were so stupid and impervious that she'd actually just be cheerfully back to normal after everything. ]
There was. But it's kind of a secret.
[ Because she's not dumb enough to accidentally give Eustace a clue about the present she's worked so hard on by explaining what she'd been in town to get. Instead, she Communions him an image of where she is right then— including a clear view of the shop in front of her. ]
Just meet me here, okay? Let's go together.
[ And whenever he gets in the vicinity, he will be getting a big embarrassing wave from her from afar, about 80% to get his attention, and 20% to embarrass him. ]
[ Because she's not dumb enough to accidentally give Eustace a clue about the present she's worked so hard on by explaining what she'd been in town to get. Instead, she Communions him an image of where she is right then— including a clear view of the shop in front of her. ]
Just meet me here, okay? Let's go together.
[ And whenever he gets in the vicinity, he will be getting a big embarrassing wave from her from afar, about 80% to get his attention, and 20% to embarrass him. ]
[ Only the fact that he doesn't outright boss her around into talking with him gets her to consider humoring him. Consider being the key word. She's still not thoroughly convinced this won't turn into another spat, knowing herself, which makes her want to avoid him entirely, at least for the time being. Her gaze turns suspicious, heavier, as he asks that, and she doesn't move an inch. ]
I was going back to my room.
[ She says, honestly, a stubborn frown settling on her made-up features. Meticulously, she pores over every part of him— the disheveled, outgrown hair, the white streak marring it, the exhausted and not-really-there look in his eyes. There's the casual, deadpan drawl to his voice too, along with the surprisingly neutral way he'd handled things a few nights previous - all signs to her that he's at least not looking to start trouble.
Misa won't let herself think for a second that he actually feels bad for anything he said, but, she can at least see he's not doing this for no reason. And, well, she has things to say, questions to ask, too - she was only going to wait longer to say them. So she eventually relents, childishly blowing a puff of air out of her lips to move her bangs, in attempt to release some of the tension that she feels. There's nothing she can think of that'd be more dreadful than keeping the mood so grave and awkward. ]
You can come over, [ It's a tentative offer. Then, she rudely points to his cigarette. ] But you have to put that out. You'll make my furniture smell bad.
[ Is it the time to make such a whiny request? Probably not, but she has to smooth over agreeing to talk with him somehow. And if they're going to talk, she wants it to be in private, away from anyone else that might hear - so it's really her only option. No way she's going to his room. So she gives him a quick, expectant glance, before turning back to the direction she was going originally, letting him decide if he'll follow her or not after hearing her condition. ]
I was going back to my room.
[ She says, honestly, a stubborn frown settling on her made-up features. Meticulously, she pores over every part of him— the disheveled, outgrown hair, the white streak marring it, the exhausted and not-really-there look in his eyes. There's the casual, deadpan drawl to his voice too, along with the surprisingly neutral way he'd handled things a few nights previous - all signs to her that he's at least not looking to start trouble.
Misa won't let herself think for a second that he actually feels bad for anything he said, but, she can at least see he's not doing this for no reason. And, well, she has things to say, questions to ask, too - she was only going to wait longer to say them. So she eventually relents, childishly blowing a puff of air out of her lips to move her bangs, in attempt to release some of the tension that she feels. There's nothing she can think of that'd be more dreadful than keeping the mood so grave and awkward. ]
You can come over, [ It's a tentative offer. Then, she rudely points to his cigarette. ] But you have to put that out. You'll make my furniture smell bad.
[ Is it the time to make such a whiny request? Probably not, but she has to smooth over agreeing to talk with him somehow. And if they're going to talk, she wants it to be in private, away from anyone else that might hear - so it's really her only option. No way she's going to his room. So she gives him a quick, expectant glance, before turning back to the direction she was going originally, letting him decide if he'll follow her or not after hearing her condition. ]
[ Misa, please??
But you know what, even if there's something embarrassing about being singled out so obviously in a crowd, there's something also endearing about it. To be able to see her happy and excited like this, even if it's all a front. (And surely part of it must be, considering how she'd acted before for so many months, as if her life had always been perfect rather than mercilessly ripped apart one ordinary day.)
Eustace doesn't wave back because he sucks, but he does give her a small nod of greeting as he comes to a stop a foot away. (Lame.) Behind him, his mysterious new tail wags ever so slightly at the tip. ]
Were you waiting long?
But you know what, even if there's something embarrassing about being singled out so obviously in a crowd, there's something also endearing about it. To be able to see her happy and excited like this, even if it's all a front. (And surely part of it must be, considering how she'd acted before for so many months, as if her life had always been perfect rather than mercilessly ripped apart one ordinary day.)
Eustace doesn't wave back because he sucks, but he does give her a small nod of greeting as he comes to a stop a foot away. (Lame.) Behind him, his mysterious new tail wags ever so slightly at the tip. ]
Were you waiting long?
[ The look-over she gives him and the insistence on her room doesn't go amiss, but save narrowing his eyes, Gen doesn't bother protesting it. Yeah, he's definitely not looking for a fight right now -- and what would fighting with Misa even accomplish -- but it's not like saying that out loud would provide any actual comfort to her, and on a rational level he gets why she'd be so wary, so ... ]
Fine. [ Gen gives a brief sigh before calling out to her already-retreating back. ] Gimme a sec.
[ The 'sec' he needs is just go get to the nearest window so he can shove it open, toss out the cigarette stub and dust the smudge of ash off the front of his shirt before walking quickly to catch up to Misa. Though she might note that, unlike when they'd been searching Amos, this time Gen trails three, four paces behind, bootheels scuffing off the flooring as he follows listlessly with hands shoved in pockets.
He follows behind Misa quietly enough, shutting the door behind him once he enters. But he doesn't venture deep into the room. Gen barely gives Misa a second or two to settle in after the door's close before simply leaning against the wall near the doorway and saying, ]
I wanna hear about what happened to you. With your stalker.
[ The way he says it isn't flippant per se -- there's a quiet gravity to his voice that isn't usually present in his default, arrogant drawl. But there's no lead-in, no tact, no build-up, either. Gen simply lays that point out before watching Misa to see how she responds to that demand. ]
Fine. [ Gen gives a brief sigh before calling out to her already-retreating back. ] Gimme a sec.
[ The 'sec' he needs is just go get to the nearest window so he can shove it open, toss out the cigarette stub and dust the smudge of ash off the front of his shirt before walking quickly to catch up to Misa. Though she might note that, unlike when they'd been searching Amos, this time Gen trails three, four paces behind, bootheels scuffing off the flooring as he follows listlessly with hands shoved in pockets.
He follows behind Misa quietly enough, shutting the door behind him once he enters. But he doesn't venture deep into the room. Gen barely gives Misa a second or two to settle in after the door's close before simply leaning against the wall near the doorway and saying, ]
I wanna hear about what happened to you. With your stalker.
[ The way he says it isn't flippant per se -- there's a quiet gravity to his voice that isn't usually present in his default, arrogant drawl. But there's no lead-in, no tact, no build-up, either. Gen simply lays that point out before watching Misa to see how she responds to that demand. ]
Nope. I had some stuff to finish up.
[ She chirps, holding her purse's straps with both hands, swinging the bag slightly as she moves to be next to him. Truth be told, she's a little relieved to see Eustace looking pretty normal— or, normal by her standards, anyway. The same old gruffness, the same old serious expression, just the way he should be. Maybe she was worrying for nothing...
But she wouldn't miss that tail wag for the world. Unashamedly, she leans over to get a better look, ridiculously entertained. And, Eustace's adorableness factor just went up by 3 points in her head, and his intimidating factor just went down by the same. ]
Anyways, say, you didn't have this before, did you? You seem a lot cuter this way.
[ calling eustace cute trial #1 ]
[ She chirps, holding her purse's straps with both hands, swinging the bag slightly as she moves to be next to him. Truth be told, she's a little relieved to see Eustace looking pretty normal— or, normal by her standards, anyway. The same old gruffness, the same old serious expression, just the way he should be. Maybe she was worrying for nothing...
But she wouldn't miss that tail wag for the world. Unashamedly, she leans over to get a better look, ridiculously entertained. And, Eustace's adorableness factor just went up by 3 points in her head, and his intimidating factor just went down by the same. ]
Anyways, say, you didn't have this before, did you? You seem a lot cuter this way.
[ calling eustace cute trial #1 ]
Oh, really now?
[ She just can't help herself— the words come out with an edge, an indication of her offense at being demanded that. It's not really that she keeps any of it a secret— it's just that she can't believe he has the audacity to want to know, let alone ask her. Maybe it's the fact that he sounds so serious, too, that has her feeling even more defensive. ]
I thought you said it was my fault for being stupid enough to get caught by him? But now you want the full story?
[ Her arms cross loosely over her chest, and she leans back against her vanity, unwilling to sit down or relax anywhere despite being in her own space. She's still feeling like she has no idea what he's trying to get at, aside from the fact that he clearly is giving the conversation weighted consideration— a warning sign that she should absolutely not throw the metaphorical grenade at the ground and blow up this one attempt at being serious with her. But without a concrete understanding for his motive, she just assumes he's trying to learn about it to absolve himself of some of his own guilt, his own hang-ups about what Makina must have felt in those horrifying moments in that apartment. She looks him right in the eye as she speaks, a quiet, equally heavy challenge in her tone: ]
How about you give me one good reason why I should tell you.
[ She just can't help herself— the words come out with an edge, an indication of her offense at being demanded that. It's not really that she keeps any of it a secret— it's just that she can't believe he has the audacity to want to know, let alone ask her. Maybe it's the fact that he sounds so serious, too, that has her feeling even more defensive. ]
I thought you said it was my fault for being stupid enough to get caught by him? But now you want the full story?
[ Her arms cross loosely over her chest, and she leans back against her vanity, unwilling to sit down or relax anywhere despite being in her own space. She's still feeling like she has no idea what he's trying to get at, aside from the fact that he clearly is giving the conversation weighted consideration— a warning sign that she should absolutely not throw the metaphorical grenade at the ground and blow up this one attempt at being serious with her. But without a concrete understanding for his motive, she just assumes he's trying to learn about it to absolve himself of some of his own guilt, his own hang-ups about what Makina must have felt in those horrifying moments in that apartment. She looks him right in the eye as she speaks, a quiet, equally heavy challenge in her tone: ]
How about you give me one good reason why I should tell you.
[ —Ah. The heckin' tail.
His eyes close every so briefly, a short sigh escaping him at the reminder of his new (unwanted) appendage, which reflects his emotions even now, the slow wag turning into a brief irritable flick. ]
No, I didn't. I woke up with it one morning.
[ After a particularly wistful dream about home and all that he'd lost. But no one needs to know that, least of all Misa who surely already has enough on her shoulders. ]
It's annoying.
[ Not cute!! ]
His eyes close every so briefly, a short sigh escaping him at the reminder of his new (unwanted) appendage, which reflects his emotions even now, the slow wag turning into a brief irritable flick. ]
No, I didn't. I woke up with it one morning.
[ After a particularly wistful dream about home and all that he'd lost. But no one needs to know that, least of all Misa who surely already has enough on her shoulders. ]
It's annoying.
[ Not cute!! ]
[ His gaze sharpens at that. ]
Yeah, cause you were talking to me so nicely before I said that, weren't you.
[ As if she can criticize him for being mean to her when, in his mind, she'd pulled the trigger first. 'If you wanted to die, you should've just died by yourself.' Her words from back then still echo clear in his head, making an acrid sensation churn in the pit of his stomach, and Gen restlessly crosses his arms, fingers twisting into the fabric of his sleeves. It's not that she's wrong per se, but the fact that she'd dare to say that to his face, like she knows anything at all about his situation ...
Still, his tone of voice is more bitter than it is angry -- cold, and above all else, tired. He has neither the desire nor energy to start an actual fight with her right now, and he only lets his words linger for a moment before sighing. Though his brow furrows deeper, his tone of voice is reeled back to that weary deadpan when he speaks again. ]
... there's no reason. I'm not planning on doing anything with that information, or to you. S'just that I wanna know what happened. [ He slouches slightly further against the wall as he looks at her. ] Figured you wouldn't want me to keep thinking you were just that much of an idiot, either.
[ Or, what, is she so petty that she'd rather cling to her anger and let herself be seen as that much of a moron? It's not even like he actually really believes whatever happened to her is her fault. ]
Yeah, cause you were talking to me so nicely before I said that, weren't you.
[ As if she can criticize him for being mean to her when, in his mind, she'd pulled the trigger first. 'If you wanted to die, you should've just died by yourself.' Her words from back then still echo clear in his head, making an acrid sensation churn in the pit of his stomach, and Gen restlessly crosses his arms, fingers twisting into the fabric of his sleeves. It's not that she's wrong per se, but the fact that she'd dare to say that to his face, like she knows anything at all about his situation ...
Still, his tone of voice is more bitter than it is angry -- cold, and above all else, tired. He has neither the desire nor energy to start an actual fight with her right now, and he only lets his words linger for a moment before sighing. Though his brow furrows deeper, his tone of voice is reeled back to that weary deadpan when he speaks again. ]
... there's no reason. I'm not planning on doing anything with that information, or to you. S'just that I wanna know what happened. [ He slouches slightly further against the wall as he looks at her. ] Figured you wouldn't want me to keep thinking you were just that much of an idiot, either.
[ Or, what, is she so petty that she'd rather cling to her anger and let herself be seen as that much of a moron? It's not even like he actually really believes whatever happened to her is her fault. ]
Really?
[ She blinks, surprised, watching it flick once or twice before returning her gaze forward so she doesn't walk right into a pole or something. The streets of Achamoth can be unforgiving, after all. ]
What, does it hurt or something from where it grew out? I kinda thought having a tail would be fun. [ because everyone likes dogboys and catgirls??? She continues filling the space with her inane chatter, already jumping to consider other theories about why having a tail might be such a predicament. ] I guess it might be annoying to get used to...
[ She blinks, surprised, watching it flick once or twice before returning her gaze forward so she doesn't walk right into a pole or something. The streets of Achamoth can be unforgiving, after all. ]
What, does it hurt or something from where it grew out? I kinda thought having a tail would be fun. [ because everyone likes dogboys and catgirls??? She continues filling the space with her inane chatter, already jumping to consider other theories about why having a tail might be such a predicament. ] I guess it might be annoying to get used to...
[ Her arms wind tighter the more he goes on, growing restless herself. Admittedly, she does feel like she misinterpreted what had happened between him and Makina, and had reacted more volatilely than she really should have. All things considered, it's like he said. She really doesn't really know anything about the situation he was in, aside from a few striking similarities. Not that she regrets what she said, exactly... but now she's left wondering if he'll react poorly to how dissimilar the two events really are. ]
...Fine.
[ She huffs, staring hard at some trinket on one of her shelves - refusing to look at him. ]
If you want to know so bad, it happened a few months after my parents died. My career really needed to take off back then— obviously I couldn't afford to live in our house anymore.... I had a lot of late shoots that I'd walk home alone from.
[ The first thing she feels like she needs to do is give an excuse as to why a then-eighteen year old like her was just strolling around past midnight by herself. And even then, the flippant way she'd talked about her parents' death on the boat to Achamoth seems lost, now, the words sounding much sorer than they had before. Before Venera, it was easy for her to talk about these things. Now she isn't so sure anymore, with the image of their deaths fresh in her mind. As she talks, she fidgets with one of the rings adorning her fingers, her heart beginning to beat unsteadily, wildly, in the confines of her chest. Sure, her voice stays even, calm, but she goes a bit paler recounting that night, unwilling to acknowledge it as she is. ]
He just kinda... popped out one night after following me for a while? I'd never seen him before. He was super old... and obsessed with me. I tried to let him down gently, but, well, he just went crazy the more I tried to get out of it. Next thing I know, there's this huge knife pointed at me...
[ For a moment, she closes her eyes, picturing the moment for herself in her head. The cold sweat that had been all over the man's face, his greasy hair, his unwashed clothes. She thinks about Gelus, who had saved her life that night, about Rem, who changed her life forever as a result, and her beating heart, too. What luck to still be breathing. Her voice is smaller when she talks again, scuffing her shoe on the immaculate floor. ]
You already know what he said next.
...Fine.
[ She huffs, staring hard at some trinket on one of her shelves - refusing to look at him. ]
If you want to know so bad, it happened a few months after my parents died. My career really needed to take off back then— obviously I couldn't afford to live in our house anymore.... I had a lot of late shoots that I'd walk home alone from.
[ The first thing she feels like she needs to do is give an excuse as to why a then-eighteen year old like her was just strolling around past midnight by herself. And even then, the flippant way she'd talked about her parents' death on the boat to Achamoth seems lost, now, the words sounding much sorer than they had before. Before Venera, it was easy for her to talk about these things. Now she isn't so sure anymore, with the image of their deaths fresh in her mind. As she talks, she fidgets with one of the rings adorning her fingers, her heart beginning to beat unsteadily, wildly, in the confines of her chest. Sure, her voice stays even, calm, but she goes a bit paler recounting that night, unwilling to acknowledge it as she is. ]
He just kinda... popped out one night after following me for a while? I'd never seen him before. He was super old... and obsessed with me. I tried to let him down gently, but, well, he just went crazy the more I tried to get out of it. Next thing I know, there's this huge knife pointed at me...
[ For a moment, she closes her eyes, picturing the moment for herself in her head. The cold sweat that had been all over the man's face, his greasy hair, his unwashed clothes. She thinks about Gelus, who had saved her life that night, about Rem, who changed her life forever as a result, and her beating heart, too. What luck to still be breathing. Her voice is smaller when she talks again, scuffing her shoe on the immaculate floor. ]
You already know what he said next.
[ To his meager credit Gen listens quietly, his gaze fixed on some indistinct point on the floor and flickering up only briefly to study Misa's demeanor before drifting away once more. And while, yeah, the clear differences between what Misa had been through and what he'd attempted to do with Makina does have a prickle of annoyance bubbling at the back of his throat ... When Misa finishes and silence fills the air between them, Gen waits for a moment before unfolding his arms just so he can make a vague gesture towards her. ]
Sit down. [ It's not said harshly enough to be an order, more of a brusque suggestion. ] You look like you're gonna faint.
[ Then he crosses his arms and leans back against the wall. Somehow, he gets the feeling this indication that he has no intention of stepping any further into the room will do more to put her at ease than any attempt to just shove her into the closest chair. That said, he thinks, head thumping lightly against the wall when he lets it roll back; he's aching for another smoke already and instead chews on his lip to keep himself distracted.
... to be honest, he can't help thinking it's still her fault in part. A celebrity walking around alone that late at night? Stupid of her not to have gotten someone to tag along with her. Don't celebrities have managers and shit? But he's not so tactless that he'll say any of that out loud. Especially not given what she'd said about her circumstances -- the death of her parents, something she sounds much more hurt by now. ... what, was she just playing at being strong the last time she brought it up? For what purpose? ... idiot.
Ultimately, regardless of whatever mitigating factors he wants to nitpick at, the conclusion he's forced to reach is the same -- what she went through was fucked up, on top of an already fucked-up life. No wonder he's constantly gotten the sense that there's something fundamentally wrong with her. ]
... must've been hard.
[ It's said quietly, but his words are spoken clearly, with no further hesitation.
He won't apologize for what he said; what else could Misa have expected, after saying something like that to him? But -- he'll at least walk back how much he'd downplayed what she'd been through. It's difficult for him to fully visualize how Misa must have felt, but on some abstract level, he gets it. Her plight isn't one he should have trivialized. ]
How'd you get out of it. Cops?
Sit down. [ It's not said harshly enough to be an order, more of a brusque suggestion. ] You look like you're gonna faint.
[ Then he crosses his arms and leans back against the wall. Somehow, he gets the feeling this indication that he has no intention of stepping any further into the room will do more to put her at ease than any attempt to just shove her into the closest chair. That said, he thinks, head thumping lightly against the wall when he lets it roll back; he's aching for another smoke already and instead chews on his lip to keep himself distracted.
... to be honest, he can't help thinking it's still her fault in part. A celebrity walking around alone that late at night? Stupid of her not to have gotten someone to tag along with her. Don't celebrities have managers and shit? But he's not so tactless that he'll say any of that out loud. Especially not given what she'd said about her circumstances -- the death of her parents, something she sounds much more hurt by now. ... what, was she just playing at being strong the last time she brought it up? For what purpose? ... idiot.
Ultimately, regardless of whatever mitigating factors he wants to nitpick at, the conclusion he's forced to reach is the same -- what she went through was fucked up, on top of an already fucked-up life. No wonder he's constantly gotten the sense that there's something fundamentally wrong with her. ]
... must've been hard.
[ It's said quietly, but his words are spoken clearly, with no further hesitation.
He won't apologize for what he said; what else could Misa have expected, after saying something like that to him? But -- he'll at least walk back how much he'd downplayed what she'd been through. It's difficult for him to fully visualize how Misa must have felt, but on some abstract level, he gets it. Her plight isn't one he should have trivialized. ]
How'd you get out of it. Cops?
[ She lets out a breath at that, not quite a laugh, as she pushes herself off the vanity. ]
He died suddenly. Of a heart attack.
[ The words come quickly, and blunt - so short that it must nearly sound like a joke to his ears. Only her follow up makes it crystal clear that she's being dead serious: ]
It's probably the only reason I'm still alive, actually... ahaha.
[ It's an odd feeling, knowing her time had come so close to running out - one she tries not to think about often. It'd made cutting off such large chunks of her remaining life easy, after all. As much as she can, she tries to erase the thought of how long she has to live from her mind, the perfect fodder for her typical erratic, reckless behavior.
Still, she's not feeling quite so reckless right now, temper placated temporarily by his muted reaction. So, she agreeably makes her way to some nearby chair, plush and velvety, hands on either side of her. Misa finds the more she sees this side of him, the more she's certain her image of him has thoroughly changed, the pensive, melancholy facets of his personality coming through more prominently now that that initial light had been shone on them. Why else would he go through all this trouble to find out about this night? Unless he really wants to understand why things had turned out in Venera the way they did between them, the way she feels she understands. ]
That's pretty much it. I know now that it's not really the same thing... but, that's what happened.
[ She admits, genuine, brow knitted, and shoulders weighed down by the burden of her brush with death, their brush with death. What had happened between him and Makina was a cruel twist of miscommunication and tragedy, not the predatory advance that had been made on her. But she'd reacted abrasively to those words, I'll kill myself right after all the same. A reaction she still feels is a given, after what she went through. It still leaves a sour taste in her mouth, knowing that he could be driven to such an act. But if she owes him anything, it's an affirmation that she understood his motive didn't come from the same sick place, but from somewhere deeply lonely and sad, instead. It's the closest thing to an apology that she can really offer— admitting on some level that she had been wrong to overlay the two so closely. ]
He died suddenly. Of a heart attack.
[ The words come quickly, and blunt - so short that it must nearly sound like a joke to his ears. Only her follow up makes it crystal clear that she's being dead serious: ]
It's probably the only reason I'm still alive, actually... ahaha.
[ It's an odd feeling, knowing her time had come so close to running out - one she tries not to think about often. It'd made cutting off such large chunks of her remaining life easy, after all. As much as she can, she tries to erase the thought of how long she has to live from her mind, the perfect fodder for her typical erratic, reckless behavior.
Still, she's not feeling quite so reckless right now, temper placated temporarily by his muted reaction. So, she agreeably makes her way to some nearby chair, plush and velvety, hands on either side of her. Misa finds the more she sees this side of him, the more she's certain her image of him has thoroughly changed, the pensive, melancholy facets of his personality coming through more prominently now that that initial light had been shone on them. Why else would he go through all this trouble to find out about this night? Unless he really wants to understand why things had turned out in Venera the way they did between them, the way she feels she understands. ]
That's pretty much it. I know now that it's not really the same thing... but, that's what happened.
[ She admits, genuine, brow knitted, and shoulders weighed down by the burden of her brush with death, their brush with death. What had happened between him and Makina was a cruel twist of miscommunication and tragedy, not the predatory advance that had been made on her. But she'd reacted abrasively to those words, I'll kill myself right after all the same. A reaction she still feels is a given, after what she went through. It still leaves a sour taste in her mouth, knowing that he could be driven to such an act. But if she owes him anything, it's an affirmation that she understood his motive didn't come from the same sick place, but from somewhere deeply lonely and sad, instead. It's the closest thing to an apology that she can really offer— admitting on some level that she had been wrong to overlay the two so closely. ]
Edited 2022-06-10 08:51 (UTC)
Heart attack?
[ His words are edged with the start of a breathy laugh, almost disbelieving, but could he be blamed for it? A crazy stalker finally tracking down his target, some cutesy celebrity, and threatening to kill her then himself, only to keel over of a heart attack. It sounds like something from a shitty B-tier drama, or maybe one of those daytime talkshows about unbelievable internet legends.
But no, she's serious, isn't she. Her tone of voice and demeanor are far too blunt and subdued for this to be some sort of shitty joke. Gen stares at her with brow furrowed dubiously for a moment before speaking flatly. ]
... yeah it was different.
[ It's a good thing she acknowledged that. Now knowing the details of what exactly had happened to her, he would've been really pissed had she maintained the impression that his motivations had been at all similar to those of her stalker. That's not really his main focus at the moment, though.
At the time, he'd been too distraught to think much about how the situation might have seemed from Makina's point of view, and after ending up here, he'd simply avoided thinking about the subject at all. Had willed himself not to dwell on it. Even more than what Misa says, the change in her demeanor as she discusses the subject and the lingering, pallid color of her face speak volumes about what being on that end of the knife must have felt like. His and Makina's relationship had ultimately been one of mutual benefit and opportunity, rather than any genuine sense of lifelong attachment, but still ... it's not like he'd ever wanted to scar her, especially not with this sort of quiet, subdued pain that Misa is showing hints of now.
He'd been thinking quietly for a moment, staring past Misa out her window, but Gen gives a slow exhale. Looks to her once more as he shifts his weight on his feet; for better or for worse, at least he's managed to clear up his thoughts a bit, and it helps him keep his words calm when he speaks again. ]
It worked out for you though, didn't it. If the guy dropped dead. S'good. [ 'It's good that you lived.' ] And s'not like you gotta worry about anything exactly like that ever happening again here, with how the folks treat us like gods, so ... at least there's that.
[ His words are edged with the start of a breathy laugh, almost disbelieving, but could he be blamed for it? A crazy stalker finally tracking down his target, some cutesy celebrity, and threatening to kill her then himself, only to keel over of a heart attack. It sounds like something from a shitty B-tier drama, or maybe one of those daytime talkshows about unbelievable internet legends.
But no, she's serious, isn't she. Her tone of voice and demeanor are far too blunt and subdued for this to be some sort of shitty joke. Gen stares at her with brow furrowed dubiously for a moment before speaking flatly. ]
... yeah it was different.
[ It's a good thing she acknowledged that. Now knowing the details of what exactly had happened to her, he would've been really pissed had she maintained the impression that his motivations had been at all similar to those of her stalker. That's not really his main focus at the moment, though.
At the time, he'd been too distraught to think much about how the situation might have seemed from Makina's point of view, and after ending up here, he'd simply avoided thinking about the subject at all. Had willed himself not to dwell on it. Even more than what Misa says, the change in her demeanor as she discusses the subject and the lingering, pallid color of her face speak volumes about what being on that end of the knife must have felt like. His and Makina's relationship had ultimately been one of mutual benefit and opportunity, rather than any genuine sense of lifelong attachment, but still ... it's not like he'd ever wanted to scar her, especially not with this sort of quiet, subdued pain that Misa is showing hints of now.
He'd been thinking quietly for a moment, staring past Misa out her window, but Gen gives a slow exhale. Looks to her once more as he shifts his weight on his feet; for better or for worse, at least he's managed to clear up his thoughts a bit, and it helps him keep his words calm when he speaks again. ]
It worked out for you though, didn't it. If the guy dropped dead. S'good. [ 'It's good that you lived.' ] And s'not like you gotta worry about anything exactly like that ever happening again here, with how the folks treat us like gods, so ... at least there's that.
[ Rest assured, he will be more than happy to rattle off all the reasons why having a tail is so miserable. ]
It's hard to sleep on your back. You can't control what it does or how it moves. [ HOW is he supposed to concealdon't feel his emotions like this? ] It's a pain to have to modify all your pants.
[ All said in the tone of an aggrieved mother complaining about her unruly child (or in this case, unruly tail). But he's well aware that he didn't com here to moan about his personal problems. They are here to ensure that Misa has a good day and nothing else. ]
Did you already pick up what you needed?
It's hard to sleep on your back. You can't control what it does or how it moves. [ HOW is he supposed to conceal
[ All said in the tone of an aggrieved mother complaining about her unruly child (or in this case, unruly tail). But he's well aware that he didn't com here to moan about his personal problems. They are here to ensure that Misa has a good day and nothing else. ]
Did you already pick up what you needed?
[ Only when he starts speaking at length do her eyes return to him, and she watches him carefully, noting down each word. When she thinks about it, this is probably the longest string of non-inflammatory words he's said to her at all - she can see what he's trying to do, much as there's a veneer of indifference over his speech itself. A tiny smile tugs at the corner of her lips, and she leans back into her seat more comfortably. ]
"At least there's that."
[ She repeats, wry, faintly amused, though she doesn't push the envelope further than that. Misa can be petty, and she can hold grudges. But she's also quite simple to distract or win over, given the right nudge, and after thinking about the big picture as much as she's had time to, between after everyone left Venera to this very moment.... she settles on the fact that he's not really a bad guy after all. Just a sad one, with an impressively short fuse. That, she could forgive, could learn to look past. It'd been a shock of course, seeing what she had, but some part of her is relieved that she'd misjudged things— and she's relieved Makina didn't die for real, too, or they'd really have a moral conundrum. ]
Trying to make me feel better or something? Things worked out. I'm glad he died.
[ She shrugs, leaning an elbow on the armrest of her seat. Misa could say that with confidence, a detached kind of apathy towards that man's life. There's still a seriousness in the air, after all, despite her lighter words. ]
Guess I never thought about it much more than that. There wasn't really a reason for me to— until, you know.
[ In the end, it's true— she really wasn't, and isn't worried about it, at least not the way someone probably should be after such a traumatic event. She wasn't scared of doing the same thing she'd done before, walking around late at night. But the vividness of his memory had given her that reminder; what it was like to think of your life being forfeited because of someone else's feelings, the unadulterated alarm and panic she'd felt on that random street on the way to her apartment. She's sure Makina felt it too, even if things were different. Maybe in knowing that, he could begin to actually face that night, the one he'd hidden from her all this time. ]
"At least there's that."
[ She repeats, wry, faintly amused, though she doesn't push the envelope further than that. Misa can be petty, and she can hold grudges. But she's also quite simple to distract or win over, given the right nudge, and after thinking about the big picture as much as she's had time to, between after everyone left Venera to this very moment.... she settles on the fact that he's not really a bad guy after all. Just a sad one, with an impressively short fuse. That, she could forgive, could learn to look past. It'd been a shock of course, seeing what she had, but some part of her is relieved that she'd misjudged things— and she's relieved Makina didn't die for real, too, or they'd really have a moral conundrum. ]
Trying to make me feel better or something? Things worked out. I'm glad he died.
[ She shrugs, leaning an elbow on the armrest of her seat. Misa could say that with confidence, a detached kind of apathy towards that man's life. There's still a seriousness in the air, after all, despite her lighter words. ]
Guess I never thought about it much more than that. There wasn't really a reason for me to— until, you know.
[ In the end, it's true— she really wasn't, and isn't worried about it, at least not the way someone probably should be after such a traumatic event. She wasn't scared of doing the same thing she'd done before, walking around late at night. But the vividness of his memory had given her that reminder; what it was like to think of your life being forfeited because of someone else's feelings, the unadulterated alarm and panic she'd felt on that random street on the way to her apartment. She's sure Makina felt it too, even if things were different. Maybe in knowing that, he could begin to actually face that night, the one he'd hidden from her all this time. ]
Yeah, I did! I can show you when we get there. Well, when we sit down there, I mean. I want to eat what I pick there, while it's fresh....
[ Ramble ramble ramble. Mostly as an effort to divert him from asking too much about what she'd been picking up. Her surprise for him that she worked so hard on! She can't have it getting revealed before its time comes. Actually, hearing him complain so much about his tail problems makes her start to wonder if he'll find her gift just another nuisance to add on top of everything else, but... too late. At least they're making good progress through the streets of Achamoth, with Misa keeping her eyes peeled for the storefront he'd Communion'd to her. Is that it on the horizon...??? ]
You haven't been modifying them yourself, have you? The pants.
[ Ramble ramble ramble. Mostly as an effort to divert him from asking too much about what she'd been picking up. Her surprise for him that she worked so hard on! She can't have it getting revealed before its time comes. Actually, hearing him complain so much about his tail problems makes her start to wonder if he'll find her gift just another nuisance to add on top of everything else, but... too late. At least they're making good progress through the streets of Achamoth, with Misa keeping her eyes peeled for the storefront he'd Communion'd to her. Is that it on the horizon...??? ]
You haven't been modifying them yourself, have you? The pants.
Edited 2022-06-11 08:21 (UTC)
[ Is she giving him a second tail....
With the subject of his newfound tail now buried in the past, the worst of his annoyance melts away. His conversational tone drops back to something more even and modulated, the minor wrinkles between his brows smoothing out. ]
Sure. I'd like to see it.
[ Even if he's bad at taking an interest in people normally, surely if he just applies some effort it'll get easier with time, right? Just like every other skill in the world.
As for his pants... ]
Not yet. But I did ask someone [ Ernesto ] for suggestions on how to modify them. It doesn't seem too difficult.
[ Even if he's never picked up a sewing needle in his life. It's fine. He'll figure it out. In the meantime the storefront looms closer, a surprisingly elegant-looking bakery quickly growing in size. (Unfortunately not very bright and welcoming, because they're still in Achamoth. But maybe they'll have something other than depression cupcakes....) ]
With the subject of his newfound tail now buried in the past, the worst of his annoyance melts away. His conversational tone drops back to something more even and modulated, the minor wrinkles between his brows smoothing out. ]
Sure. I'd like to see it.
[ Even if he's bad at taking an interest in people normally, surely if he just applies some effort it'll get easier with time, right? Just like every other skill in the world.
As for his pants... ]
Not yet. But I did ask someone [ Ernesto ] for suggestions on how to modify them. It doesn't seem too difficult.
[ Even if he's never picked up a sewing needle in his life. It's fine. He'll figure it out. In the meantime the storefront looms closer, a surprisingly elegant-looking bakery quickly growing in size. (Unfortunately not very bright and welcoming, because they're still in Achamoth. But maybe they'll have something other than depression cupcakes....) ]
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