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 Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 5:51 pm
A week had passed, and Ingrid wasn’t going to go back on her word…but. She needed a little more time.
Hopefully Valjean would be willing to extend it.
She arrived at their meeting place, a little nervous, and a little fidgety, but kind of excited to see him. She wasn’t sure how he would react…but she hoped that he had missed her.
Looking up when she felt the chaos aura approaching, Ingrid smiled brightly and made her way over to him, reaching out and clasping his hand in both of hers. “Valjean. It’s very good to see you.” And it was just.
“...I’m here, obviously, but I do need to ask for a favor of just a little bit more time…I know…I know I said a week, but a lot has happened in the week…” She chewed her lip and managed a small, hopeful smile. “...Please don’t be angry with me.”
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 5:57 pm
At least Ingrid was here. Valjean supposed that was a step in the right direction. He took a breath, grit his teeth. Faustite wouldn't like it if he delayed, and he knew that; would probably think he wasn't holding tight enough, and that he was risking the whole thing.
But, well. Valjean would come up with a reason that they needed to delay, he thought.
Especially with her looking at him like that, and taking his hands in hers, and...ah. Damn it. Feelings.
"It's good to see you, too, Ingrid," he said, voice soft. He searched her expression for any chance that this might mean she wanted to back out completely, that he would have to go for the much, much less ideal plan, but...he wanted to hope not.
"What's happened?" He asked. "Is there anything I can help you with, to make things easier?"
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 6:04 pm
Ingrid couldn’t help the shy smile that spread across her face and gave a little, breathy laugh. “No…no not really! It’s not anything really bad. My sister’s giving me grief but, it’s okay. I’ll bring her one way or another, honestly, that’s not even the big thing…my brother? I uh. I found out he was a senshi, and then found out that he was also brought into the Negaverse! I’m going to meet him soon, General Ashanite is going to have him meet with me, and I just…want to see him while I still remember him, that’s all.”
She licked her lips and hesitated before pressing herself close to him, clearly wanting a hug. “...It’s been a crazy, hellish week. And I fought with another one of my sisters who knew he was a senshi and just didn’t bother to tell any of us…truthfully, I hope…and please don’t quote me on this ever, Valjean or I won’t speak to you again either. But I half hope I forget her and take her starseed at some point…”
Grimacing, Ingrid pulled off of him and looked a little unhappy. “...Guess that makes me sound like a complete monster, yeah?”
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 6:40 pm
Valjean raised his eyebrows, but there was a more than slightly pleased expression on his face. So, it seemed that a few things had clicked nicely into his favor, then. Her brother was a Corrupt already. This General Ashanite would be working to ensure things came together for all of them.
When she pressed close to him, he wound the fingers of one of his hands with hers, holding them close to his chest, and slung his other arm around her waist to pull her in tight.
"That sounds wonderful. It seems you'll have more people looking out for you here than you expected." He squeezed her hand, gently, but frowned when she pulled away.
"I think that you're angry, and hurting," he said, "and sometimes we say things in anger or hurt that we don't mean. That doesn't make you a monster, Ingrid. And I certainly won't hold you to that." He tugged her back in. "It'll be alright. And since you're going to come knowingly, you could always leave yourself a note, in case you do forget. If you don't want to hurt her, or if you want to see if you can bring her over too."
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 6:46 pm
Oh. When she was pulled back against Valjean, Ingrid relaxed without question, sighing softly and closing her eyes. “...I’d rather not. I don’t know how you could watch your family suffer for five…six years? I don’t even know anymore…but then yell at me for being upset that I was lied to…all because she wanted to play the hero…that’s. I’m not sure how I got turned into the villain in the situation, but so be it. You see? I found out about him and found him within a week! She’s an idiot.”
She turned in his arms and rested with her back against his chest. “...They say that I’m reckless. That I shouldn’t have just promised myself to you. Tell me, please. You didn’t go take his starseed back, right? You swear to me that you didn’t? My sister said I was a fool and that you must have because…that’s what the Negaverse does but. God. Do they even realize that the more they call me an idiot…the more I just want to run away?”
God, he was so easy to talk to…and thus far…he hadn’t told her she was wrong. Or stupid. Or selfish…
It was so nice.
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 7:05 pm
Valjean exhaled. "I'm sorry, Ingrid. That was cruel of her." He couldn't remember having a family, couldn't guess if he'd even had siblings--but if one of his teammates had kept something like that from him, he would be absolutely furious. He imagined it was like that, but worse.
When she turned around, he bent to nuzzle affectionately at her hair. Ingrid was so lovely--it was ridiculous of him to get attached like this, but he couldn't help it.
"Ingrid, I swear, I returned his starseed and left him be. I'd get nothing out of lying to you except a chance that you'd find out later and be furious with me." He exhaled. "I understand why your sister was worried, but--I talked to her, actually." He huffed, and hoped that Ingrid wasn't angry. "I hope I assuaged some of her worries, but--you aren't stupid. You're making a decision about yourself, for yourself. And you want to bring your sister with you because you care about her, yeah? Maybe seeing your brother will help her understand that this is the right choice."
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 7:09 pm
The simple act of having her feelings validated like that was enough to cause Ingrid to almost melt, and she gave a small, surprised laugh. “...I…I never doubted you. And hearing you say it just proves that you’re as honorable as I had figured you to be. I will keep up my end of the bargain, I swear it. I just…I really want to see my brother first…and I hope you can spare me one more week, Valjean?”
She turned again, suddenly wanting to see his face…and when she did, she was terribly close to it, and her own cheeks flamed. “...Oh. Uh. Hi there. You…you met Godiva? We haven’t really talked since I asked her. But…how was she? Do you think she’ll come?”
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 7:23 pm
"I understand," Valjean said. "And I want you to be able to do this on your own terms.
When she turned to face him, his heart jumped. Some small part of him got a slightly reckless idea, and he gently put it aside to turn over the potential implications.
She was cute when she blushed. He sort of wanted to give her something to really blush about.
"She seemed more amenable than I feared," Valjean said, voice dropping low with her so close. "I think she can be persuaded."
And then, he bent, and kissed her.
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 7:26 pm
Ingrid gave a noise of surprise, her eyes growing wide, and then closing as she melted against him. He understood. He didn’t think she was selfish or bratty or reckless…he understood and now he was kissing her. He had spoken to her sister and though that there really might be a chance..
As the kiss continued Ingrid’s mind grew blissfully blank, and she gave a pleased, happy sigh.
Godiva could be persuaded. Valjean would wait for her.
…She was being kissed.
…Nothing in her life could be better than this moment.
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