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 Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 7:20 pm
As expected. Better than expected, actually. It was a request from one professional to another, after all. The emotional factor didn't necessarily have to come into play at all, but that wasn't what had Miyabi wary anyway. More a matter of whether or not it would interfere. And it hadn't. It was a quiet sort of happiness, but she was still obviously smiling and clutching her gloved hands together anyway. He'd managed to pass all of her unspoken tests thus far. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if he managed to stick around. "She's in your hands, then." No scolding or anything afterwards. Of course Amarante would behave around the likes of him. Miyabi would've laughed if she wasn't sure it would be construed as ridicule. She was quick to bow her head, and Gumi followed suit. "I umm, hope the test results and documentation were satisfactory. We'll meet again." She flashed that bit of a smile at Amarante before dragging Gumi by the arm with her, out the door and out of the coffeehouse.
"Oh~" It wasn't unusual to see Miyabi happy, but it was still nice to see it. Something had caused her demeanor to change considerably over the past year. One could conclude that it was the result of holding an important position at a young age, but... Amarante knew better. Addressing it would be opening quite the can of worms, however, that neither of them would probably appreciate for the time being.
And there were more pressing matters at hand. Amarante's expression brightened at Erhard's approach. That they'd be lacking any more weird interference, at least for a while, probably helped as well. She looked to her hands for a moment. Her arms still trembled. "Just a bit shaken still, I suppose." She pulled them in close in an effort to ignore them. Wasn't really related to what she was recovering from anyway. "Maybe a bit weak from regrowing tissue." Her smile was definitely less energetic, but still nothing close to meek or exhausted. Though it was diminished as she seemed to be thinking something over. "Can you... can you come up here and sit by me?" Paranoia was quick to set in. "That's all, really! Just sitting!" Seemed that the disruption was too much even for the ultimate opportunist to build upon.
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 11:41 pm
As oblivious as ever to even the most obvious advances, he obliges her request, shuffling over to sit by her pillow.
"Oh yeah... Tissue regeneration. I don't think I've asked, but how fast does your tissue regenerate? Does it depend on the severity of the affected area or can it grow back no matter how much damage it has sustained?" Like a starfish? That was one insensitive way of putting it. Don't think about that. Did he ask that before? Couldn't remember.
And once again he had let his curiosity get ahead of that tactfulness that was a struggle to maintain. Better direct the topic to something else, something....
"Oh, and was there anything you'd like? A drink? A pillow?"
And he's also forgetting he is not in the hospital, where such things were in easy reach. But the thought of running downstairs to get a special order of hers from the counter was not objectionable. Duty calls, first and foremost - though not all the time.
Affection just seems so hard to deal with, that's what a near-lifetime of noses in books deals. And the lack of effort. That is easier thought about than done.
Someone's antenna had perked up at Miyabi's sudden departure from the building. Certainly that did not go unnoticed, if the sudden order for a cup of coffee for someone who cannot drink was anything to go by.
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Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2014 1:58 am
"Oh~" She was oddly enthusiastic about the subject matter, eye bright and expression eager. She liked talking to him, and for more than just the usual biased reasons. It was definitely nice to not have her answers or ardor instantly ridiculed, for one thing. "Likely depends on what it is. And different factors being involved!" Her grin was a little different in her current form, featuring delicately fanged canines. "Being that the injury is internal, it regenerates more quickly. But being internal, the stress from being highly prioritized makes it more energy-consuming. But being that no energy is being consumed by certain vanity processes while being in my natural form, it also takes less time." She nodded, satisfied at her own explanation. "If something isn't reattached in a day or so, it falls off and regrows. And whatever falls off just turns to ash, of course." Nope, no spawning more Amarantes from stray body parts, as hilarious as that would be. "And it takes far less time for something to fuse and stabilize than it does to regrow." So itchy and painful to regrow limbs. "Less gory, too." Black and veiny partial body parts were hardly an attractive sight, to be sure.
"As for damage..." Odd how quickly her enthusiasm was replaced with just... sadness. "It will regrow regardless. Because..." There'd be no harm in explaining. She'd wanted to, even if it was incredibly convoluted. Her hands ended up curled together under her chin anyhow. Partly of remembered fear, but mostly just a heaviness that came along with that distinct uneasiness. But, there was no need to dive in headfirst. Better to test the waters with some familiar language. "There's only one way to kill me. Sound familiar?" There was a bit of an amused smirk that curled at the corners of her mouth. "It's not fire. It's a little different than that." An accommodating smile followed. It was difficult to talk about. But she'd meant it when she'd said several times over that he could ask her anything he liked.
She shook her head politely. "I am not in need of any of those things. But..." Her red cat eye looked him over carefully. Opportunist mode had been reactivated. "May I... may I hold on to your arm?" An innocent request, but whether it was asking too much or not was unclear to her. "I don't have to. But I thought that maybe it would be easier if I asked first." Her kind smile made it clear that she'd be happy either way. It wouldn't have been wrong to assume that it was simple to please her. But under that layer of genuine kindness was a practiced war tactician that understood that was best to balance forwardness with kindness and consideration. Yet, still managed to be easily and incredibly flustered by things like the flighty words of teenaged girls. Experience in war definitely didn't lend itself to experience in romance all of the time.
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Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2014 4:31 am
So reattachment was still a priority to her, in the event of lost limbs or the like. That felt a lot better than leaving her to regrow anything that got chopped off by things like stray bullets, explosions or whatnot. Good, he had no intention to make her writhe in agony with incomplete limbs. Unless said limb got destroyed utterly. Then um, well... Care, then. Lots of care. Wait, why was he already jumping to - oh, never mind.
The effect the single word had was immediate, making his arms stiffen and his face drop a few shades of color. Oh yeah, she was aware of that. At least she isn't brandishing torches in his face for laughs. Anyway, if she could play with fire, then... Crosses? He distinctly remembered her laughing when he threatened her life with his weapon, however. Wrong guess. He never really did go through the log files at home, having all the knowledge of computers as a rock would have, and the roommate might have picked up something. Did he run into Amarante? Wait. Did he run into Amarante?!
"..... Holy water?"
It was not a far-fetched guess, but also something that he had a lack of. Which gave her a way to off him effectively, but he had not the same advantage. Which also meant careful treading, if it was on the mark.
Still troubled by that thought, his hand automatically reached out and rested on one of hers, the (slight? It's warmer?) chill unimpeded by the glove and sleeve it was wrapped in. Cheeky fellow, though the chance was not a loaded one, but still it was a chance to stir up a little joke.
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Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2014 7:28 am
"Sorry~" There was a tinge of remorse in her apology, but it had been a blunt way of making her point and getting him to listen. "Holy things hurt, but they can't kill me. I'd like to think that I've built up a light tolerance... but in actuality, maybe I just became accustomed to the pain." The indifference present in such a statement was probably a little eerie. But surviving for so long through so much meant being forced to cope, one'd suppose. "I was kept in a church for a... long time..." Remembering that time made the blank look in her eye increasingly so. "I can withstand being on hallowed ground pretty easily, actually. Even if it still hurts a lot!" It was a strange thing to attempt to be cheerful about, but she still did. "And you're forgetting~ I know I offered myself up to you at least once, in order for you to practice your skills for your job. It would not be simply practice if it could lead to my demise so simply, would it?" Citing something more recent and that he had previous knowledge of probably made her look at least a little less creepily compliant. Though still pretty bizarre in itself.
Her expression was nothing but grave as she addressed the heart of the matter. "It has nothing to do with any tools or level of skill you might possess. It is conditional. To successfully end one life, you'd have to end both at the same time. Because, in order to successfully save one life, they saved both." Even without the further details elaborated, just thinking about it had her heart sinking. "In order to end my life, you would have to end his as well. And the craven gods that tied us together in the first place would never allow that, as they consider us a weapon. The last line of holy defense." It was a dominion she only really began to understand as a result of her later actions. A crippling realization she'd been given to them from the very start. There was no dignity in bearing such a role, and she didn't pretend otherwise. "You could torture me endlessly, grind my body into a fine paste even, and he would still never show." Through the boredom and disgust she bore upon her face, it was plain to see that there was no sort of romantic sadness in that statement. "My body would regrow, continuing unending life, as it always has. Saving my life through his unwillingness to save me and endanger himself. Quite the joke, is it not?" She stared forth, a look in her eye that was exceptional in its desolation. Too sad to even cry.
Instinctively she grasped at his hand, too deeply within her own melancholia to really pause at any possible consequences for her actions. Picking up the hand, she used her own hand to press the cold of his palm against her face. "Would even the likes of you pity me now? I wonder..."
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Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2014 6:59 pm
Oh, she was more than safe. Not from the pain, but nothing he held could be a cause of death. Rewinding trauma and pain was another story, but also one he had no intention of using. Euthanasia was not about dragging on the process of death just for the victim to struggle against the inevitable. But it was true, would she let herself get attacked with his weapons if it did anything more than hurt? Certainly he was not going to let anyone try sparring with him with a torch, of course, so the same should apply to her?
Funny. Even with all the smashed mirrors in the house, he was still afraid of the one thing he tried so hard to stave off on others. He should get that seen to as soon as possible.
Jumping to assumptions... That might mean she was effectively unkillable. Doomed to walk the earth forever. Even the optimist got silenced at that, all of them only just realizing that they were in the same boat, just on different sides. And the stories he had filed away on that topic were hardly good ones.
Let's not dwell on that. There is enough broken glass in the house for the girl to complain.
Yet, somehow when she put things this way, it had a lot more impact than when she put things in a more clinical fashion. Which would he remember better? Or perhaps it was just the topic. Patients do have their own set of mental associations and - hey. Not in here, this isn't the hospital.
The hand nudged upwards slowly, tips of his fingers rubbing under the base of her little kitty ear in sympathy. And then he realized what it was doing, but stopping that felt... wrong. He was supposed to be comforting her. That was not a good point. Opening his mouth now would lead to something insensitive or blunt. So keep quiet, just let her have her moment for now.
And hey, maybe Gumi was right, she was nice to pet. Snuggling would have to wait, however.
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Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2014 12:30 am
Though the immediate reaction to such an action was for her body to tense up, it was merely out of surprise rather than anything else. The dead look in her eye giving way to a curious one said as much. Eventually the eyelid dropped to a half-lidded position as she relaxed, head leaning into his hand to make the most of the sensation. A small sound of contentment might have escaped from her throat just then. But otherwise, she was quiet for a while. A number of things could have been expressed regarding the matter at hand. Her curiosity towards just what he thought about it, her seemingly ever-growing fondness for him, her resentment towards the men that had made her life's situation was it was in the first place. But at that moment, it all seemed to be lacking significance in comparison to his small gesture expressing concern. Only really one thing that needed to be said. "I'm glad that you know."
She ended up musing further as she became increasingly more at ease. "Ah, to be killed in a million different ways... only to never die a single death. Almost a shame~" Well, she had to have some sort of morbid sense of humor about it. "Heh. For the most part, I lacked the capacity to feel anything but acceptance over it. What is the use in struggling against what simply... is, after all." At some point that acceptance must have started to crumble. "But, at that time..." She didn't enjoy thinking about that day. Better just to avoid it. But with him came an unusual feeling of safety that she found herself trusting rather easily. "Is that strange? To feel not only incredible sadness at what you have lost, but..." As the practiced coping mechanism kicked in she was compelled to smile, but the result could only be described as wistful. "Deeply ashamed, that you were the exception, and left behind." The pain dulled a little more with each year that passed by, but it never really went away.
"I just..." Careful not to lose the contact with his hand, she sprawled her back against the headboard in her exasperation. "Want to forget about all of it. Just for a little while~" She pleaded to no one in particular. There was no escaping from the many painful truths, after all. Just the occasional flicker of relief she was somehow fortunate enough to find. She ended up looking over him with a cautious eye. That much was enough to make a lot of the irritation subside. Those sweet feelings weren't a panacea by any means. Maybe but a moment's relief, but one that she awkwardly and clumsily accepted for sure.
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Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2014 10:04 pm
"....... I see."
Was this what the diagnostician had felt like, listening to him rambling off every time he got called in for an appointment? Better him than now, however, at least he had a quip for whatever trouble he sounded out, while he had not the expressiveness to do the same for Amarante. At most someone who listened, taking notes and filing them off for the future.
Yet, he envied her. Envied her ability to accept. Maybe because it had been a longer time for her, and so he had to learn. For all the masquerades he put up he still had yet to solve the base problem.
A little while, he supposed that should be fine. The rubbing continued, his fingers picking up the pace just so slightly. He had no words to offer, no wisdom that she probably didn't already know, but perhaps just being there could help. He learnt as much before.
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Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2014 4:16 am
"Happy, so happy~" Her unabashed enjoyment of being comforted in such a way didn't exactly mesh with her insistence of not being a pet. That defensiveness seemed to have been completely forgotten if the contently closed eye and blissed-out smile were any indication. The careful consideration of her opportunist tendencies hadn't overlooked the simple fact that he was touching her, but no need to think too deeply about that and end up in a precarious sort of situation so soon. Behaving was good. Sometimes. Her eye opened to look at him as she attempted to mumble words in his direction. "This is helping. You are helping. Yes." Unintentionally answering an unsaid thought and barely intelligible in meaning, but confirming that he was helping with the forgetfulness she wished for. There was no reason for dwelling upon the painful past for any extended period of time unnecessarily. The question had been answered, and something important had been shared. Though of course, being able to feel safe and accepted enough to want to say such things in the first place just made her like him more. It was a dangerous cycle. More than enough to make a person's teeth hurt. She didn't seem to be too bothered over it, though, her eye reflecting that same irresponsible level of devotion for him as always. "You."
Regardless of any awareness towards the teeth she was definitely torturing, Amarante did seem to have at least a little self awareness towards her ridiculous sweetness. She cast a somewhat abashed look downwards at her still-mending body. "Ah~ You probably think I'm ridiculous for going to such lengths, yes?" If not for many other varied reasons. Of course, self-inflicted folly never seemed to keep her down for very long. A teasing tone had returned to her voice all of a moment later. "Or is it attractive when girls voluntarily have themselves cut up in an attempt to appease you~?" It was likely that he'd shrug off such a loaded question, but when did that possibility ever stop her from doing anything? Still, she contemplated the matter further and a little more seriously. "The ridiculous becomes reasonable, it seems, when dealing with something so... sublime." She'd been doing better with not overwhelming him with overstated and flowery declarations of endearment, but in lieu of other manners of expression a few still tended to make themselves known. "You never pay it any mind, but, I will. Whatever needs doing to prove myself to you is just a matter of being asked, really... never a thought of saying 'no'~" It was mostly just a mirthful little mumble to herself in her advanced state of relaxation, but no less meaningful.
Leaving really no time for him to consider that statement, she sat up and leaned in a little closer. "So~" She'd behaved well thus far, so the likelihood of him being hugged or something even more diabolical seemed low. "What should I wear for our date? What do you prefer? Something more soft and delicate? Sharp and sexy?" Still scheming, even if it was a different sort of scheming. The self-satisfied grin on her face said as much. "I like dressing however I like, but..." She hesitated. A definite mood of vulnerability had suddenly made its way into a conversation about clothes. "I would also like, to look like I belong at your side." It was very selective way of thinking that seemed to ignore not only the factors in their lives that were at odds but the fact that they pretty much had the same color scheme anyway. And he'd surely remind her that she hadn't actually won yet if it seemed like she'd forgotten. "Though maybe I should get started on winning such a thing from you in the first place, hnn~" A clever smile brightened her face. No use trying to hide that feeling of happiness, she supposed. Something precious, close enough to grasp. The delight was almost too much. "I can eat as I please, after all. Just have to avoid all of the other fun things in life for the time being. Mrr~" Being considerate of others and behaving was such a drag, sometimes. "Heh. It's nice to feel important, I suppose. I am, to that girl, I mean." A necessary clarification, but for who exactly was unclear. It was easy to declare someone else as important. But declaring herself as important to someone else? He'd shown concern on more than one occasion, but she wouldn't dare declare herself as a priority. She was brassy, but not entirely stupid. Pushing that quandary to the back of her mind, it was soon replaced with the responsibility of having such importance to anyone. "Even if it means being scolded... often..." Oh, the tribulations of being the irresponsible one in that situation.
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Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2014 5:42 am
If relaxation made her mouth this loose, then he could probably probe her for even more questions, maybe learn enough to use later on, both the bad things and the good things. Now, see, this would be what he had thought of had - ah, no need to bring that up now. Breaking down in front of Amarante is not going to happen, certainly not at this time, certainly not for some reason he had not told her or she had not seen and anyway this was her time to be sad and not him, he could wait his turn. One day. Doctors were not supposed to cry, even on the way out from the mortuary to bear bad news. Steel the thoughts and freeze the tears and -
Just shut up. She is good enough as is, he was not some kind of fluffy-haired robot out to make people conform to his own ideas. He still noticed her all the same. Who wouldn't? It was making him blush again. Same problem as last time, and he still had not gotten around to trying to reroute that. Maybe he should, it had cost him quite a bit before. Ah, hold that thought. This is a different situation, and so he had to play by different rules. Therefore doing that might be of no consequence, or worse, a negative one. But...
Already she was thinking about the date?! Ah... She could have at least given the possibility that she would lose a chance first.... But he had come to learn that is her style. Don't pass up the opportunity to have him around, that was probably why he was seeing more and more of her recently. Not that he complained, it was a nice break from everything else. And admit it, he was starting to enjoy the little bits of peace he had when he popped by. No sudden obje - obstructions, for one. Or wacky happenings every second. Hectic, but when you have someone leading an extraordinary life and someone leading an ordinary one and you're caught in the middle... Things happen.
"... Whatever you'd like. I don't have any outstanding preferences on that."
Shouldn't he be more worried than she was? Chances were that his wardrobe was smaller than maybe a quarter of hers, even. The problem was looking for something for him to wear without digging in stiff clothes, ratty and comfy things or frill-overloaded garments. Or borrow clothes that did not suit him at all.
"But still, let's leave that until we get there. Don't push yourself. If you do fall sick from eating all that I can't take you out."
He'd end up sitting all day at her bed with a stock of antacids and books, then. That was preferable than staying at home, though maybe work would still be a higher priority. It was nice spending time outside that was not work, he had to admit. Even if he had to work a lot more on the socializing part.
Downstairs, a spoon clatters on the floor, the hand that was supposed to be holding it trembling from the amount of sweetness, the absolute sappiness, drowning in the wave of feelings that should not have been programmed in, quickly drained away and replaced with anger enough to melt circuitry. Betrayal, was it? Oh, very well, Erhard!
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2014 1:32 am
She never minded how quiet he could be at times. Maybe she seemed too understanding in that regard but despite appearances she didn't necessarily agree with the human adage that talking through things always made them better. If wanted to talk, he would. Very simple. Acceptance didn't equate to a lack of concern, however. Her options were limited when dealing with someone that was rightly wary of being touched, but she still did her best. Showing support through a soft but sunny expression was something, at least.
She'd opened her mouth to teasingly accuse him of once again refusing the responsibility of making a decision, only to realize that he had in fact answered. And why was such a noncommittal answer making her all red in the face anyway? Whatever it was, the difficulty level of the situation she'd requested as a prize seemed to have gone up. What strategy she could plan was increasingly more limited, though anything regarding clothes had long since become inapplicable anyway. Due to many bizarre circumstances he'd already seen her in various states of dress and undress. It almost seemed like a waste. Such a simple and effective tactic, too. Making something more tantalizing by changing the packaging just so. Though mostly it was just going to make her overthink it to excess. What could be special enough? Pretty enough? Oh. Overthinking already in process. She nodded, anyway, indicating that she understood.
"Even if by some random chance did I concede to defeat~" She'd humor him a little. Evidently being her heart's desire still didn't provide him much in the way of concessions regarding the matter. Anyone else probably wouldn't even get so much as that. "You are still coming over to visit sometime, are you not?" With any luck it'd be the first visit of many visits, but no need to get ahead of herself. Any more than she already had, anyway. "Mostly, I had wanted to show you how grand I look in an etching in an old manual to infernal leaders and royalties." Helpful with an edge of selfishness. To be expected of her. And she wasn't being the least bit ashamed of it, smiling all the while. "You could have it, really. It is outdated, as I said, but... well. Not much changes, when unending lives are involved. Some destroyed, some missing, some abdicated~" She wasn't forthcoming about her own status but oddly the idea of being questioned over it didn't bother her much at all. Though having to sort through that chaos in an attempt to make sense of it to someone else just seemed tedious from how much of an all-encompassing mess it was overall. With a sigh she shrugged it off for the time being. She'd deal with that descent into depravity if and when it happened to come up. "There are many other books, of course~" She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Just about anything one could think of, and the number seems to ever increase. Though I never remember getting more." Whether it was a lapse in her memory or just an ever-filling library it probably should have troubled her more than it did. "Should libraries be like gardens? One book is placed and more turn up~" Apparently the idea was one that she found quite fun, too. "I've given up keeping track in there. There are too many, so whatever you like is--" Ah, wait. "You probably should stay out of the black books, though. Unless you wanted to go away for a while. And probably be driven insane." The shrug that went with that statement was far too casual. No taking responsibility for the terrible book realm for the likes of her, it seemed. "But~ If such an accident occurred, I'd retrieve you no matter what." One less terrible possibility for him to worry about. Hurray!
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2014 6:50 am
"If I have the time, yes." Of course, given his work there was no guarantee he was exempt from having to deal with emergencies, if they ever popped up, that is. They didn't, usually, but he dared not take his chances, so a vague answer could only be given at best. "And if I get the chance to weasel out a little more time, of course." Well, visiting Amarante was kind of the only socializing thing he did other than walking around in that strange place and talking to the people there, otherwise it was just staying in the house and left alone to his own devices. It was a good change, if nothing else.
To think Amarante had a manual on her kind, now that was pretty ironic. If only humans were that easy to understand, it would be all there in the manual. Suppose that was what made humanity all the more unpredictable as a whole, then.
"But shouldn't that manual be passed to someone who requires it for a reason other than solely for information? I don't mind taking a look through it, but perhaps you might need to save it for someone in case you can't make a copy." It was likely that he had no idea about any double meaning there was in his words, maybe he should have caught that before he opened his mouth. "Maybe someone else got them for you, then? It's a good thing though, you'll never have reading material that runs out."
At the sole mention of black books he had to rein in the sudden curiosity that sprung up, filtering out protests and cries of dismay. Who's the older adult here, huh? But the excuse he got back was pretty much non-applicable to him, opening a tome of what man was not meant to know wouldn't send an already insane man off to the asylum, would it? But do keep in mind that there is more than one (person?) that would be driven insane upon opening those books, so no. And that was final.
"I didn't know you were well-read in psychology, Ama. Retrieving someone who just jumped off the deep end is quite a feat." Said with a slight amusing lilt, but still no expression change. Good enough, she did not need to see any arguments. Or the horrified versus off-the-hinge looks of amusement. "Though, I don't mind if you pull just me out."
Oooh, spiteful! Shots fired! And for that he earns a slight headache. Great. And no matter what he said Amarante would always have to pull all three along. Familial ties were like that.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2014 8:34 pm
She was looking quite pleased, for receiving another noncommittal answer. "I'm glad~" Any answer other than 'no' was more than acceptable, after all. "I'll take any time that I can get with you, of course." That much was already obvious. It was an incredibly greedy and fairly selfish standpoint. But, oddly understanding and not very demanding at all. The result of being so smitten, one'd suppose.
"Oh, it's an old edition." Would she even be more than a footnote in the most recent one? "I had asked if you had a use for another outdated book, did I not?" The chipper expression that went with the reply was quick to dissipate as she explained further. "They... aren't books for internal use, so much. Produced for and by individuals that are more, let's say, involved than yourself. Full-time professionals. And, well, hobbyists..." That was a nice way of putting it. "The ones that are less likely to destroy and more likely to enslave, whether for reasons of power or their own depraved agenda." Her expression was solemn as she leaned her head into his hand a little more.
She couldn't help but protest, at least a little. "But, it's impossible to enter my home without my home willing as much." Despite all sorts of strange happenings saying otherwise and being allowed for the sake of fairness and hilarity. "And it isn't the work of the staff, so is it the house itself? Or who is it letting in without my knowledge?" She'd do well to accept her strange knowledge powers as someone still found the random reference too funny and it was unlikely to go away any time soon.
Oh, he was being unintentionally attractive again. Well, she thought he was attractive regardless. But especially when he was making clever comments like that. Her mind tripped and fell upon the idea of pulling things out. Silly perverse creature. She was visibly flustered, quiet with a red face and all, but it seemed that she hadn't been too overwhelmed just yet. A cursory check that looked like she was simply scratching her right grey ear confirmed that she'd been spared from any comical body malfunctions for the time being. Body and dignity still in tact, it was time to retaliate. "Heh, well. I'm willing to do all manners of things to soothe your soul." It was said quite plainly. She knew what she was doing, saying that. But, she didn't linger upon it for long. "That is a curious thought. With anything that is composite, does it stay composite in different realms? Or is the stability based on the realm itself?" One moment, checking for illogical earbleeds. The next, pondering scientifically and almost philosophically. Typical. "I wouldn't know~ The people that go in there tend to not come back." Another careless shrug for the minds she'd corrupted and lives she'd destroyed. Though that insouciant inclination was suddenly saddled with a disturbing deduction. "And the one that does... just keeps stacking up the resulting hidden knowledge abilities!" Accursed often naked overpowered elf. "I should really stop giving her those. But sometimes, it's either that, or shoot her... and it's absolutely deserved, every time! It's not like it hurts her, anyway~" Anyone assuming there was any guilt creeping out in those words would have been mistaken. Not in the least bit true. Just a roundabout way of attempting to assure him that he wouldn't suffer similarly, really.
With a sheepish sigh her composure was regained, as well as her catty curiosity. "If I may ask..." Well, she was going to anyway. There was some hesitation, but it wasn't as if it were a particularly offensive question. "Your situation, with that other guy I talked to that day. Is it intentional, or just something that sort of... happened?" While it was still unlikely she'd get an answer, the question itself was fairly innocuous. No inquiries of why or how or unwelcome suggestions for 'fixes.' Wasn't without some backtracking though. "Not as if I need to know, necessarily. Just..." She clasped her hands together as if that would help the words come out. "I don't want to pry, but I always want to know more about you, so..." It was futile to try to fight off feeling flustered yet again, as the current source was her own sweet excuses. "Don't be afraid to say anything, okay?" There was that cheerful expression again, complete with her tail curling happily in the background. Ever the unnecessarily helpful one.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2014 11:43 pm
Think about that for a while. He was denying access to what might potentially be an information mine - even if it was outdated - at this point, whatever he could get was going to be whatever he could learn. Without most of the books he consulted with in the past, cross-referencing was going to be pretty much impossible unless he had a source to start with. So, why not?
"... Alright then, if you're fine with it. And um, if it makes you feel better, I'll only read, not use." Not like anyone else in the house would be a mini-exorcist at any point in time. And the chances of getting looted by some rogue were next to none, with the reputation his roommate had made for himself. Besides, who would think of looking for an ancient tome in a modern apartment?
"Would that result in people getting booted out if your home deems them 'unworthy', then?" Could not resist that, huh. But the image of himself getting bodily manhandled and flung out a front door was funny, if a little humiliating too. Note to self, do not drop in uninvited, then. And if he happens to have a need to, bring pillows to cushion the fall. Or get ready to piece himself back together, depending on where he lands.
"Save that thought for the one who specializes in that field, why not. I admit I don't know much about that myself, the only two people who know anything about it refuse to explain it to me." One out of laziness, the other out of 'protocol', verbatim. He could learn (another self-experiment? Again?) by reading some and taking notes on what happens afterwards (could he even pull that off?) but maybe the consequences would not be worth it. Certainly not if he ended up being a total grump who did nothing but rage at the skies, unlike someone! But for curiosity's sake, maybe he should have a chat with Hyde, now that she mentioned it.... A little knowledge about that shouldn't be too mu -
- On second thought, maybe not. The last (group of) (human) (s) that decided to dabble (not delve, mind you!) in that sort of thing ended up, well... Definitely not unchanged, for sure. Going into that field was a downwards (upwards?) spiral.
".... Oh. That. Um." Bang goes that train of thought.
Well, he had freaked out. Should he be honest and say it? But then he couldn't make that excuse that he had no idea what to do, since it was not the first time someone actually declared their heart to him - or got close enough to, for that matter.
"... Apologies. That was... I agree, that was most uncalled for. But... um..." Stammering was of no use, yet the words still won't come out. Until someone forced them to form, that is. "... I p-panicked. Sorry. That shouldn't have h-happened." His eyes shift to the floor instead, trying to hide both embarrassment and frustration. There were more words behind that, but he drew the line at telling her any more, even if one party was more than willing to spill his entire life story to his cute girlfriend and of course he could not leave the narration alone either.
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Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 6:22 pm
She found his consideration incredibly sweet. It was getting more and more difficult to restrain that devious urge she always had to hug him. But aside from that, in the interest of preserving their safety she was more than content being an exception. An exception above any others, she hoped, to him alone. Anyone else? Meh. Didn't matter. Simple enough to avoid those fools, despite what fear they thought they drove into entities that couldn't care less about them. "Don't let your guard down on my behalf, by any means. If you come across anything you've seen in that book that isn't me, you should probably run." Bad phrasing considering who she was talking to, perhaps. "Well~ That's pretty unlikely anyway, as it is. What you come across generally attempts to possess or corrupt humans, yes? All merely minor entities with no fleshy bodies of their own. More than enough of them around to make it so the more important entities don't have to be bothered with such trivialities~" Her perspective was one that was pretty pampered and spoiled, but always being assumed as one of the lascivious types that only sought to corrupt wore at her royal bearing. Her principles were strange and decidedly different from that of a human, but she did indeed have them.
"Oh~" Her eye was bright as he seemed to be amused by the functioning of her home. "More a matter of lack of entry. People tend not to break into creepy houses like mine, as well." Not even meddling kids. "Especially if they've seen said creepy house traipsing about the city. Or in battles with other houses!" There was too much excitement in that odd statement. Why she lived in a spiritual, sentient, mecha house was anyone's guess. A lot of jokes that piled up and ended up sticking, one'd suppose. "Of course it would let you in. You can come over any time you like!" If he wasn't now more terrified of said house than he might've been previously.
She might've stopped breathing for a moment, eye wide in the realization of what she'd unwittingly done. Without a moment's hesitation a grey hand shot up to grasp at his. "It's all right, it's all right." Awkward to be sure, petting a hand that was presumably still petting her ear. But how strange it might've looked or seemed wasn't so much as a thought as the panicked state that had set in urged her to do something. "More along the lines of, the situation in general. Some people call the spirits to themselves. Some are overtaken by them. That sort of thing." She could only muster a bit of cheerfulness in an attempt to comfort him. Mentally she was already kicking herself too hard to even pretend to be happy about anything. "I'm sorry. I should have been more clear. Or perhaps, shouldn't have asked at all." There was a look of shame that went along with that statement. Curiosity killed the... nevermind. "It's not as if it affects my opinion of you... I even tried to make nice with him, surely you saw that!" Not really an important statement in itself, but she'd long since accepted that he was a person that bore quite a few unusual burdens. She'd like to say that she knew the feeling, but she'd also had ages longer to become accustomed to all of her respective nightmares. In a way that slight understanding made making such an error more unbearable than it would've been otherwise. "But I really..." Her voice had become unsteady, and the hand that touched his trembled. "Really hate upsetting you, so if there's any way I can make it up to you, you've but to ask."
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