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 Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 10:10 pm
Perhaps it wasn't necessary, but Xiu wanted to bring Vaith something as thanks for helping her out during the trip. She shuddered to think how much longer she would have been pinned by that dagger had he not removed it for her. Honestly though, she felt guilty for the injury that he sustained on his hand because he helped her--she hoped that it would heal cleanly and without any pain.
While the baku usually chose to bake sweets as gifts for others, the fact that her left shoulder and arm were bandaged up meant that she couldn't use it, making baking an almost impossible (or at least frightfully difficult) task to attempt. In the end, after considering how exhausted the reaper boil must have been, she settled for brewing him some tea. It was a meticulous process to pick out and blend together some of her herbs--she had to take note of both the effects and flavours of each plant--but in the end, she had managed to make a mildly sweet brew. Xiu wasn't sure if Vaith was one for insomnia or nightmares, but even if he wasn't, she certainly hoped that it would be of some help.
She made her way to the reaper dorms, clutching the tea thermos to her chest with her good arm. The moment she entered the dorms, however, the baku realized (a little belatedly, to be sure), that she wasn't certain where Vaith's room was. Perhaps if she wandered around for a bit...
Sure enough, she soon spotted a door that--almost doubtlessly--belonged to the boil she was looking for. "Vaith? Are you in?" Tucking the thermos under her arm, she lightly rapped at the door. If he was sleeping, perhaps it would be best if she came back later.
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Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 10:56 pm
Vaith hadn't been sleeping really. Sure, he had been lying on hsi bed .. but he wasn't sleeping. It was too hard to sleep. Regrets reached him, even in his unconscious mind, waking him up at the last two nights. It was too soon after the event. But time refused to hurry up. His arm placed over his eyes, his pillow flung towards the ground in an attempt to forget. He needed a distraction. Something betetr than staying and recuperating.
A distraction he got.
Vaith didn't have many friends to visit him. So he was mildly surprised that there was a knock at his door. There was a muffled sound behind the closed door.
"Hold on! Note, get my shirt, won't you?" There was a sound of something crashing and shuffling .. And Vaith opened the door. After a couple of minutes. He opened the door wide, revealing his mostly empty room and the little familiar curled up by the bottom of the doorway. Vaith was dressed in a simple black long-sleeved shirt and long pants, resembling his reaper uniform a bit. But the most drastic difference-- (GASP!)--
--- His hair wasn't styled.
Apparently, the boil put a lot of effort in it. Maybe it didn't look styled because that was how he looked all the time, morning to night .. but you could tell it wasn't styled, for the first time, now, when it hung over his face like a normal boil. He looked at the ghoul in front of him in surprise, red eyes widening.
"Xiu?"
Less of a question, more of a statement.
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Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 11:31 pm
Xiu blinked at the sounds coming from within the room. Oh, u-um...it sounded like Vaith was in and that he was awake, at least? She took a step back as she waited patiently for him to open the door, and when he did...
...
The baku couldn't help but stare at his hair. Not that there was anything wrong with it, but it was definitely the first time she had seen it unstyled. After a moment of pause, she shook her head and held out the tea thermos. "I...I made you some tea. I thought that it would help you relax, in case you haven't been sleeping well."
Had he been sleeping well? She couldn't really tell, but something told her that the answer was probably no. It seemed as if a lot of the students--particularly those who had been there on the field trip--were unable to get a decent night's rest. Xiu herself was a testament to that.
Though her lips were pulled upwards in a soft smile, her brows were creased in concern as she looked over the reaper, her gaze lingering on his injured hand. After a moment of pause, she added in a softer voice, "How are you?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 1:57 am
Vaith forgot his hair was down. Until his bangs landed on his eyes .. He gave a frustrated puff of air, his fingers running from his forehead, slicking his hair back. But with no gel, it simply fell forward again.
While Xiu stared. At his hair.
"Oh." He stared blankly down at the tea, opening his door wider, stepping back to let the ghoul in. No shame in his game-- his room was clean. Or more like, it had too little to be messy. The only thing that littered the room was his reaper clothes, placed over a chair.
"T-Thanks. Yeah, sleep seems to be elusive these days." He took the thermo from her, laying out an extra cup on a small box that consisted as a table. Like the reaper dorms, it was a comfortable, if not a little empty. There did seem to be several figures of what could be called "noise animals" though.. The thermo rested on the table, as Vaith rolled up his sleeves to immediately pour him and Xiu a cup. His injured hand remaine dhidden by his side, when he noticed Xiu looking at it earlier.
He didn't want to tell her that he had purposely chosen for it to scar.
"I'm .. as fine as I can be, I guess. You?" He gestured to a spot on the ground for her to seat herself, beside him, as he leaned against his bed post to relax his back against. The tea tasted good. Except he drank it a little scalding without thinking. But that pain was nothing compared to his hand before.
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 8:08 am
She shuffled forward almost shyly when he invited her in, a little surprised to find that his room was quite orderly. Perhaps she had had the misconception that most boils had messy rooms (even if some of her friends, like Shun, already broke that mold).
Kneeling down beside Vaith, Xiu bobbed her head in thanks as he poured out the tea. Before speaking, she first reached out to take the cup, taking a small, careful sip before looking over to the reaper. "I'm...okay. Probably the same," She admitted, smiling weakly, "If...if you're having nightmares or anything of the sort...please let me know, okay?" As a baku, that was one of the few things that she could actually help with.
Xiu took another sip of her tea, growing silent for a moment before emitting a soft sigh. "Vaith, I...I have a question to ask you." Setting the teacup down, she angled herself so that she was actually facing him. Settling her hands in her lap, she stared down at them as she spoke."If there was another field trip in the future--one just like this, where we would going into the human world--would you...would you sign up for it?"
For the past few days, Xiu had thought long and carefully about this question, considering what her own answer would be. Had someone asked her this question a year ago, the baku wouldn't have even thought about it: her answer would have been no. However, things were different now--for one thing, there were people who she wanted to protect now.
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:37 am
Nightmares .. Oh. Vaith dumbly registered that Xiu was a demon who ate dreams. It was easy to forget, that Xiu was a demon period. The tea tasted really good, warming the reaper as he drank it. He wasn't aware that he was cold. Physically and emotionally.. He tipped his cup downwards for his familiar to drink, his good hand absent-mindedly running over the familiar feel of Note's spine, enjoying the occasional flicks of Note's long tail swishing gently against his arm.
If there was another field trip in the future--one just like this, where we would going into the human world--would you...would you sign up for it?
Her question surprised him. His hand returned to run his fingers through his hair, shaking his head. Not in a gesture of dismissal, instead, clearing his head to free himself of other parasitic thoughts concerning the topic of field trips. He didn't turn to face Xiu as he spoke, staring at Note instead. He sighed.
And another sigh.
"Well Xiu. I guess that depends." Vaith thought about it.
And wondered why she was asking this so soon.
"Isn't that question a bit premature? We barely got over this one."
Was it better that she was asking sooner though? They never knew when the next field trip was going to happen.
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 2:03 pm
Xiu didn't look at Vaith. Instead, her eyes were fixated on Note--a welcome distraction--as she reached out to pet the familiar. Was it too early to think about such things? Who was to say that there would be another field trip at all after what happened in this one? Of course, the boogeymen had covered up Red's death--"retired from Amityville"? Really?--so the possibility of future trips was still there.
"Maybe it seems a little early," She admitted, her voice so soft that it was only just audible, "But I...I'm going. I know that I will be." There was a hint of determination in her voice, though her expression and the tightening of her fist betrayed the fear that she felt as well. She would be lying if she claimed to be unafraid--there was a lot to be frightened of. Had she not been able to control her dreams, Xiu was certain that the memories of being stabbed and Red's death would have played in her mind every night.
"I just...I don't want anything to happen to anyone else." Assuming that there would be another field trip, Xiu had promised herself that she would go. That being said, her feelings on the whole thing were a little conflicted--on one hand, she definitely felt stronger when she was with her friends, but on the other hand...
...Well, wouldn't it endanger their lives as well if they went? She obviously couldn't stop anyone else from signing up, but the thought of losing anyone as they lost Red made Xiu terrified. Those Hunters had been ruthless, and she was certain they would be all the more confident after their "win" in the final battle.
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 6:37 pm
Siiiiiiiiiiiigh.
Did Vaith .. just.. sigh? To Xiu's innocent confession of her feelings towards the last battle? Was he rude enough to belittle her words with a sigh?
Apparently, he was.
Before she knew it, his hand reached out to flick the ghoul squarely in the forehead. He crossed his legs, the familiar running up Xiu's hand. His previous sigh could almost lead to the prediction that his next lines would be something along the lines of a refusal or harsh words, concerning Xiu's uncertainty and hesitance. But it wasn't.
"Train." Wait, what? What did training have to do with it?
"Get stronger. Then you can come back and ask me if I'm going. By that time, we'll both have made up our minds, right? For sure." Vaith's tone almost sounded like he was grinning until one looked up to still see his forever perpetual frown. Vaith took a sip of his drink, a careful one. His tongue was already partially burnt and he had no desire to repeat that experience. His head lifted slightly, as if he remembered something else he had to say to the ghoul. Hm.
....
........
"By the way, I like my tea with a hint of pumpkin spice."
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 7:00 pm
Wha--did he just sigh?
She had been completely serious with what she said, and the fact that he simply sighed in response made her Xiu want to puff out her cheeks and pout childishly. However, before she could do so, she was caught off guard by the suddenly flick-attack. Eyes widening, she raised her hand and rubbed at her forehead. "...Ow." What was that for?
Staring at the reaper with large red-pink eyes, she offered him a puzzled glance when he uttered a single word to her. Train? What did he mean by--
--Ah. Lowering her arm, the baku mulled over his words silently. She did need to train more, didn't she? That was, if she actually wanted to be able to be of some use in battle--those hunters has proved to be tough opponents. "Y-you're right. I'll work harder, and...and I'll come ask you again then." She would have said more, but she paused as it looked like Vaith wanted to say something.
A long pause, and then...pumpkin spice?
That had come out of nowhere at all. Still, Xiu was a little grateful for it as the sudden comment seemed to lift the heaviness of the mood. For what was probably the first time since they got back, she laughed, her tail swishing behind her. "I'll keep that in mind and make you another brew sometime, then."
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 10:28 pm
"Good." Vaith's sigh of satisfaction as he took the last few sips of his drink, setting his cup down softly on the table. Leaning forward, he pointed towards Xiu's shoulder, eyebrows furrowing in concern.
"How's the shoulder wound? Will it scar? I've heard girls are pretty worried about that kind of thing." Vaith asked the ghoul, knowing that her shoulder wound from Caelius's had penetrated far deeper than the burn on his hand. She had it stabbed into her-- Out of everyone he knew, Xiu was at the bottom.. No she wasn't even on the list to be stabbed so viciously. With his hand still pointed toward her, he shifted the direction toward the bandages and painkiller medicine he was given.
"You need some? I told Malcolm not to give me any because I didnt want to end up like Junko. She was seriously loopy." Pain medication, relaxants .. Vaith didn't want any of that stuff.
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 10:59 pm
Xiu's hand automatically flew to her shoulder as her injury was brought to attention. "Oh, it's...it's fine! It shouldn't leave a scar. At worst, it just...hurts a little." Not nearly as much as it had before, though. She tried to lift her arm experimentally, but only ended up wincing and hastily lowering it again. Training would have to wait until she was, at the very least, capable of moving her arm without cringing at the pain.
"I'm okay, but thank you!" She shook her head at the offer of bandages and painkillers--she had plenty in her own room right now--before her gaze fell onto Vaith's hand. Xiu fidgeted uncomfortably then, her ears and tail drooping.
"H-how about you? I'm sorry that you had to get hurt because of me."
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 6:48 pm
"How many times do you want me to say this? Don't apologize Xiu. I just happened to be there at a really bad time to be in a really bad spot by pure coincidence. Which happened to get you out of your bad spot." Vaith was jumping loopholes now. Bullshit.
"Which means I am extremely uncomfortable at your unwarranted apology or gratitude for our mutually bad timing with that shitfaced hunter." Vaith didn't bite back remarks about Caelius-- He had one-on-one time with that knife and if it was his choice, he'd make sure that knife was gotten rid of for good.
s**t, he should have made sure of that in the last battle. Forgetting the fact, Vaith couldn't touch that knife without frying like a cheesy vampire in the sun.
"You got it now, Xiu?" Vaith's forehead met gently with Xiu's, frowning red eyes glanced into her worried drooping ones. "Or I'm going to use Vaith chop this time. Trust me, I believe in gender equaliy. I'd hit girls. If they were hunter girls. Otherwise, for you ghouls, it's just a tap."
Okay, that sounded sorta wrong. But Xiu knew what he meant!
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 8:03 pm
Despite Vaith's words, she was still feeling a guilty--just a little. However, when he touched his forehead to hers and looked her straight in the eyes, the baku finally gave in and smiled. "I got it. Please don't--um--Vaith chop me." It took all her willpower not to giggle. As it was, she had to raise her hand to hide the growing smile on her face.
Vaith chop. Heehee.
Drawing back, she tilted her head at him thoughtfully before reaching out and brushing the hair from his forehead. "Doesn't it bother you that it's flopping in your eyes like that?" Humming thoughtfully, she slipped her hand into her obi, drawing out a small hair clip. She opened it with a little snap, and before the reaper could protest--because she was certain that he probably would--she leaned forward and clipped his hair back as best as she could with one hand.
...Okay, the clip was a little feminine--it was a tiny black flower on the end of a red clip--but it did it's job, right?
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Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 12:35 pm
"You'd better remember it." Vaith warned Xiu, her laughter contagious, lightning his mood up. Like a butterfly. It was hard to explain but it was sort of like a rainy day, until one saw a colorful butterfly fly across. The idea was a little fruity. Kooky, in Vaith's opinion too. But maybe he could use the analogy of finding a really good noise pin out of so many battles. Either way, it was a bright note out of the dim notes so far.
He met her thoughtful gaze quizzically, tilting his head and mirroring hers. Before he knew it, Xiu was surprising him with her hand on his forehead. Not in a flick but soon his golden bangs disappeared from his view .. Huh. Vaith had gotten used to this obstructed view during the morning, it was nothing new. In fact, it felt weirder to have his vision cleared. His hand patted the clip curiously, feeling the little bump of the flower at the end.
"Huh."His red eyes glanced upwards, even though he clearly couldn't see his clip from hid blindspot to the side, he experimentally shook his head. His bangs didn't fall out. A clip was like a foreign object to him, considering boils never went to that hair section of the maul or bothered even examining it.
"Oh." His reaction wasn't against it. It was actually a little..
"Can I wear it when I sleep?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 1:45 pm
Xiu struggled not to grin at the reaper's question, which had come as quite the surprise to her. Something about it was rather...sweet, but it was probably best if she kept that thought to herself. She could just imagine Vaith's frown deepening if she told him that he was sweet aloud. "You can," She confirmed with a little nod of her head, "And you can keep that clip if you'd like? Or I can go out and buy you a pack that's a little less..." Xiu trailed off thoughtfully, trying to find the right words.
"...One with less flowers." She finished finally. Not that Vaith was probably going to be walking around in public with that flower clip of hers, but still! If it bothered him in the least, she could go and pick out something less feminine for him.
It was kind of nice just talking about casual things again. For the first time in a while, Xiu allowed herself to relax completely, picking up her tea again and taking another sip now that it had cooled slightly. Maybe it was because Vaith always seemed so composed, but it was calming being in his presence.
This fact, coupled with the relaxing properties of the tea and her lack of sleep, made Xiu realize just how tired she was. She immediately set the teacup down as her eyelids began to flutter. "A-anyways, I...I should probably leave you to your rest." And she had better go lest she fall asleep here and now. It would probably be awkward to have a dozing baku ghoul on one's floor.
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