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 Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 11:05 am
Phil laughed awkwardly. That was usually peoples' reaction to learning he had twelve siblings in total. Of course it was something strange although not as awkward -it wasn't as if they were a strange family, only unreasonably large- he didn't know of any people that had such a big family after all. But he wouldn't complain, he didn't complain. As awkward as it was to say it most of the time, as funny as it was to see how people reacted to it, it was still his family and he loved each and one of them separately and equally -although Theo had always claimed a slightly more special place in his heart, being his twin and all-. When he stopped to think about it he couldn't exactly discern what it was that he felt for Theo precisely. It was a strange case of affection and infinite worry, he thought.
"Some times it gets a bit hectic, what with so many people... and we had our fare shares of troubles... but you know, when you grow up in a family of this many you just have to learn to improvise." he stated studying Ophelia's expression trying to understand what she could be feeling. "As for my brother, well..." Theo was always his brother the one who stood out from the rest and the one he usually meant when he he spoke those words "I worry so much about him... all the time. Sometimes I think why; why did he have to be my twin? But I never mean it, even though sometimes I think I might die because I worry so much." he shook his head, he was making no sense and he was saying all those thoughts that were appearing in his head without even stopping to think about it. It was annoying that he couldn't control it at all.
He had turned his eyes elsewhere, namely the tips of his shoes, embarrassed, at least until Ophelia started talking about her family as well. Maybe it hadn't been as awkward as he had thought it would be or maybe the girl was simply in need to confide to someone about her problems; either way, Phil didn't really mind. "I'm sorry... about your family." he still wasn't sure if that was the right thing to say even though he kept running across people with family problems. Being the one who had managed to have a generally normal and carefree childhood in a loving home had started to make him feel rather guilty. Almost as if there had been only a set amount of happiness in the world and he had been sucking it up for himself all along. But of course that was nonsense.
"Y-You're a reaper?" he stuttered, unsure of how to react to that revelation. He had expected it but he didn't frown down upon it all the same. He could see why the Reapers would want to hunt witch eaters but by the looks of it they were now going after dormant Majin as well? And he was letting his brother close to that mess? He'd have to have a very serious discussion with him quite soon he feared. "I-It's okay. I promise I won't tell anyone. It'll be like I never heard it." he nodded his head since Ophelia appeared to be into a rather flustered state over having revealed her secret and Philemon had not once meant to make her feel uncomfortable. "Although... I do find it alarming if what you said is true..." he mumbled, lowering his head to hide worried eyes beneath the reflection of the lenses covering them. "The Majin aren't beasts to be hunted down." he clenched his hand into a small fist and bit his bottom lip in frustration. "Witch eaters I might be able to understand but at this rate they might as well as start hunting witches next." he didn't know what to believe anymore, and moreover he feared his reaction coming off as unnatural. This was crazy, however, no matter how you looked at it and it wasn't good no matter what you tried to make of it.
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 3:33 pm
Ophelia chuckled nervously and covered her face slightly. As confident as she would normally act...well when she was healthy...the fledgling reaper was very afraid to step on any toes in the organization. But she took the witchling's words to heart. He didn't seem like the type to tell everyone about her occupation. Yet he also seemed like the type that would clumsily let it slip, as she did. She smiled anyways, realizing she probably wouldn't be mad at him if that happened. But the smile faded as she thought about how far her organization would go. Hunting witches? It seemed hypocritical. It would go against everything they were supposed to stand for.
Yet knowing a few of the reapers she had met...she wouldn't put such a thing past them. And it frightened her. They'd become the very thing they were fighting against. But why? Everything she knew was beginning to confuse her. Ophelia put her hand on her head and tore her headphones off her neck. Maybe that was giving her a headache. Or the thought of her world turning upside down. Taking a gulp of tea, she set it down on the table and laid down.
"What would we do if that happened..." she thought aloud. She subconsciously included Phil in the matter, assuming it would eventually concern him. "Would I stay in the organization? I don't even know...It's really..all I've got going for me" she said, laughing pitifully at the end. She turned to look at Phil again and smiling warmly, she realized it felt odd to have a friend to confide in, even after losing touch with any friends she had in school.
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Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 1:48 am
Philemon was most conflicted. The prospect of the Reapers going as wild was driving him insane, making him anxious. He had never been supportive of the concept of fighting and he had never viewed the Majin as an immediate threat or enemy, only as creatures that hadn't been able to control themselves because of their lust for hearts. But that, of course, didn't mean that there weren't any Majin that were evil or some that consumed hearts just to further their own selfish ambitions. He might have been able to live with the prospect of his brother joining the ranks of the shady organization, he was even, almost alright with sitting back and watch him prove his strength to the higher ups in order to obtain the prestigious title of a Blackheart but what Ophelia said, what he had slowly began to consider as he sat there. It was almost too terrifying for him to even want to comprehend, never mind do so.
"I'm not saying that's the way it will be..." he spoke softly, yet unable to keep his voice from cracking a little in worry. He could clearly see that Ophelia didn't feel very well with the subject and she was a reaper herself. Maybe there were more of them that had doubts and could still think for themselves instead of striving to obtain even more power. "Well, it's already bad enough as it is." he mumbled looking away thinking of 'what would we do if that happened' as Ophelia herself had put it. "It would simply spiral further down, erupt into a full war-time emergency situation." he shrugged a little, sinking back against his chair looking for comfort even though he was afraid of all that he could think right now. "Nobody will be able to trust anyone be it a witch, regular human or majin. Everyone will be able to sell everybody else out. Peace will become a distant dream, society will collapse..." he looked away and sighed in utter defeat. "If something like this happen I doubt that there will be anyone strong enough to stand up and stop the chain reaction. I doubt anyone could, even if they were... I don't know, the best of all of us." he shrugged a little and made an attempt to smile all the same, to make Ophelia feel a little better all the same, even if he was just as worried that someday what he thought and what he felt might become a terrible reality. "That's too far-fetched however, don't you think? I doubt anyone would be as stupid as to fall so low and cause something like this to happen, don't you think?" he secretly wanted reassurance for his words. Fingers stroke softly at Desmond's fur and the rowdy Alchemia didn't deny him, possibly feeling the uneasiness that had crept under its master's skin.
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Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 12:00 pm
A full-out war, eh? Ophelia wondered how long she would last. Probably not very...and without trust, there would be only chaos.."I'd still trust you, I think" she smiled, looking up at Phil. He seemed like the type of friend that didn't have the heart to betray you. She could be being naiive, or foolish, but that's how she viewed him. And they were friends, yes? He's taken care of her in her sickness, and they've talked about many things. It made her smile, making a new friend.
The smile didn't last long as he further described the insanity that could ensue, society collapsing and what not. But to lighten the mood, she said, "I'm strong enough to stop it!" with a devilish grin. She wasn't. Not at this point, anyways. But it was still an amusing thought.
At his question, the reaper shook her head, "I don't think so. I think such a thing would threaten even their lives, so naturally they'd think twice." even though deep inside, she knew it was still a very possible event. But she didn't want to worry this witchling too much. He had school to concentrate on, not the end of the world!
Ophelia curled up a little, the drowsiness from her medicine starting to kick in. How lovely, she forgot to check and see if she was buying non-drowsy or not. Mentally sighing, she closed her eyes for a moment, as keeping them open was becoming labor-some.
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Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 7:39 pm
Phil pondered about it a little. Was he really a trustworthy person? Was he one people could look upon and say 'yes, I think I trust this man' when all he could do was cushion most of the important truths he had to reveal people with all sorts of possible subtleties? He found comfort in that, at least one person would think about him that way. Maybe he wouldn't really make such an unreliable medic after all. It somehow helped put his mind at ease. "I'm not sure I'd trust myself in such a situation, but I think I'd still trust you as well, perhaps." it was always a relief to know there was some things that wouldn't change, but no matter how hard he might be hoping for it, wishful thinking was usually not good enough for reality, most of the time.
He found himself laughing when Ophelia claimed she could stop it and he grabbed from it, trying to elevate his own mood as well. "I suppose there's no helping it then! I shall offer you my assistance, oh great hero Ophelia." he bowed his head deeply as in respect and snickered at his own train of thoughts. "Although, I'm not sure my herbs can do much harm to enemies. Perhaps I should throw them the whole jar and wait for results?" he went on, kidding. He'd make a miserable sight if he actually tried to do that; at least jar injuries would hopefully be non fatal.
"I certainly would hope so, though..." he mumbled thinking about it and having second thoughts himself. Normally anyone would think twice before messing with some things, however the Reapers were a strange organization to begin with. They claimed to want to eradicate the witch eaters and were also targeting Majin as of lately and from what little things he had researched or found out about them through asking around and small talk indicated that they were more or less draining Majin from their power and utilizing it in the same way Majin drained witches off their hearts. What if there was the slightest possibility of becoming just like them? That was his problem there.
"Why... did you join the Reapers, Ophelia? If I may ask of course." he added the last sentence in haste just in case she didn't feel like answering him or couldn't answer him for that matter. There must have been something, though. Anything that had made her take the decision to pick up that scythe and devote herself into such a cause. In a sense, he could relate her a little to his brother, so he knew some things -or thought he knew them- almost by instinct. He smiled weakly over at her form curling up and sighed. "You can nap if you feel drowsy, by the way." he offered making a gesture toward the couch where she had been sitting on. "It assists recovery." he noted without taking into account that, well, it might be a slightly awkward proposal to make.
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 1:54 pm
Ophelia laughed as Phil continued her little fantasy of sorts. "But your herbs would help me if they managed to land a hit~" she added.
As the subject turned to her joining the reapers, Ophelia's smile faded, yet still lingered on her lips. "I was asked to, by one of the higher-ups. He told my parents and I that he saw potential in my abilities, despite not being very offensive-oriented." she said, staring into space. She never really got to know the reaper who initiated her into the organization, but he was right up there with Professor Intrecias as one of the few people to really believe in her. "I was given an opportunity...to do -something- with my life...I wasn't lying before when I said I wasn't sure where life will take me. I didn't always want to be a reaper or anything. I still don't know if this is the best choice for me. But for now it's my only choice. I have to do something that will make them proud." she added, rambling on without even noticing. Half-asleep, she continued a little, "More than anything, I just want them to be happy for me..." Her hand clutched the blanket for a moment as her voice trailed off. Eyes slowly closing, Ophelia drifted off into sleep.
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:05 am
Phil smiled brightly, nodding his head to underline. "Yes! That they can do, I'm sure. I'll try to make potent medicine that heals faster if you ever need me to." he promised. It was the only thing he knew how to do right so why should he fret and reconsider?
Phil didn't reply right away although he had more than enough things to say. He wanted to object, wanted to say that nobody should follow a path they didn't choose for themselves. What good was there if she made others happy if she weren't happy herself? His own path was also dedicated to giving but he didn't just help in order to be thanked afterwards; just knowing that something he did was making someone else feel better was reward enough for him. Why would someone like Ophelia, anyone really, not have a goal in life? How could someone just skim through their days, letting life pass them by? Phil simply failed to understand and it hurt more than he thought it would. So, he bit his lip and didn't speak afraid of saying something that could cause fragile balances to strain and eventually break -he had always been so very bad with words.
"I think I understand." he spoke and there was a smile even if his eyes were cold as he uttered those words, more withdrawn than they had been for the entire evening. He spent a few moments more, stroking Desmond's fur as Ophelia slowly drifted away in the land of peaceful dreaming. "I do wish that, one day, you will too find your own way, Ophelia." he spoke quietly in the nothingness even if his words weren't heard by anyone but himself. "Rest well, for now." he mumbled as he went to adjust the blanket better so she wouldn't get cold while sleeping on the couch like this.
Lifting his eyes to look at his dim reflection on the room's window, Phil wondered about himself and if, he as well, was slowly becoming lost the further down he ventured.
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