[ He answers with that quickly, frustratedly, but then furrow his brow as he seems to consider it more. ]
These overseers of ours tend to have their sights set on personal growth of some kind. What they consider growth is questionable, but... if I had to guess, they would aim to have us discuss something more meaningful to us.
[ Does he fancy her? Of course he does. He was trying to ignore it, maybe bask in the detached and careless nature of flirting with someone who seemed to be getting a kick out of doing it with the assumption that it didn't really mean anything. But there was reason to believe that it shouldn't, after all. They're here, both of them committed to doing whatever it takes to find their respective ways back, and not to mention her age. He doesn't need to ask the exact number to know she's decades too young for him.
Rogue never seemed to let it bother her though. From the sound of it, her worries are more to do with her own limitations. Her past.
That revelation about her previous partner is a kick in the pants. Miller's shoulders tense with attempted restraint before he decides to ignore it, pulling his arm up to her shoulder to half-encircle her. ]
I would be a fool to say I felt any other way about you... but you must understand, I am not suitable to be any young woman's partner. My priority is my people, leading what's left of the Spartan Order to a place where they might finally be able to continue their lives. [ It's taken its twists and turns, but ] I have dedicated my entire life to that cause. That is the reason that my wife died fifteen years ago. She could not take my neglect of her any more...
[ It's raw, more than he wished to say, but keeping it to so close to his chest is not helping. He turns his head, straining his gaze so that he can make eye contact with her again through the hug. ]
The last thing I should be doing is opening you up to more hurt when you're already hurting.
[ Obviously Viktor would have found a proper workspace first thing, and obviously Jayce takes this in stride with zero surprise like it's a totally normal and expected course of action. It's what he would have prioritized as well, after all - arbitrary indulgences such as sustenance and income and housing all come second when there's so much research to be done. He's already halfway to turning his free temporary housing at the inn into a makeshift lab himself, so it's probably for the best that Viktor has brought up a real one before he wound up exploding another wall.
He's never met anyone else who just gets it, is the thing. Oh, there'd been plenty of enterprising inventors and scientists at the Academy, but it'd always been just work or future glory for them; none of them understood the need, the obsession, to breaking the world into bits by bits, taking apart every atom to reveal all its hidden secrets, then putting it back together again into something better. He'd never realized how lonely he'd been, sitting by himself on top of a cliff, staring up at a view that no one else could see.
At least, not until Viktor. ]
Hey, it's at least gotta be better than the rubble of a blown-up apartment building, right? [ He shoots Viktor a wry grin, heading to the entrance of the cafe to open the door for him. ] Lead the way.
[ His hand automatically drops to the small of Viktor's back to support him as they walk, a long ingrained instinct by now that he doesn't even notice. Subconsciously though, his shoulders relax from the stiff posture he normally holds himself in public; it's a little like a cog clicking in place, filling in the empty gaps, a perfectly matched gear that has him moving with a purpose where before he'd just been spinning aimlessly in place.
They're going to have to talk, he knows this. There's too much to be left unsaid, not after everything, too many secrets that should have come to light before it became far too late. But for now, at least, he can be content with finally having his partner back. ]
[ Somehow, even with his hand stuck the way it is, he still manages to mime zipping his mouth shut. ]
I've already said too much.
[ Caitlyn's definitely going to kick his ass, but it's worth it!! Not worth it, however, is Vi's further provocation, and Jayce really doesn't want to think about his surrogate little sister's needs so it's probably a good thing Vi's next words immediately wipe it from his mind as his eyes drop down to her fingers. ]
A ring? [ His voice goes high and wobbly, his eyes suddenly wide and suspiciously shiny. ] You two got married? I missed the wedding?
[ Is he about to cry? He's definitely about to cry. He can't help it okay, he's been planning his best man speech for years! ]
[her heart burns, not due to his somewhat rejection (quite frankly, she was fully prepared for it), but hearing the story of wife and why she is no longer with him due to his mission in life. and rogue can see now why his relationship with his daughter is as wobbly as he described. she doesn't draw away from his half-hug, in fact, she slants more into it as she listens to him attentively and patiently.]
I understand. My X-Men are my priority, my family, too. And I'll do just about anythin' to make sure they're livin' another day, even if it means sacrificin' myself. I am a hero, and I'll stay behind in a heartbeat if it means them and ya'll are free from all this.
[gingerly, she raises a hand to place against his cheek, caressing his stubble.]
... Then maybe we can be somethin' different, somethin' light. If ya hurting deep down from this hogwild place, I'd like to be the one to take care of ya. If ya need a shoulder, I can offer it. For as long as we're both here...
[ Alas, Jayce is the worst kind of good-looking guy who is completely unaware people find him a good-looking guy, so Shigeru's sudden shyness flies completely over his head. He's at least able to read the room enough though to realize maybe he's coming off too intimidating so he backs down slightly, doing his best to ease back into his chair even though every part of him is vibrating with nerves. ]
That's...incredible. [ So incredible, in fact, that it sounds almost too good to be true...especially the part about altering DNA, which immediately sets off alarms in his head. He's been considering the consequences of magic more thanks to recent events in his life - but then again, Hextech and a mage's natural abilities were two different things, right? ] There's really no consequences to curing even terminal diseases? Magic that powerful can sometimes come with a price.
[ And as convenient as this miracle doctor may be, he's not risking Viktor's life on something untested. He can't do that to him again. ] Have you tried using it at all here yet? How can you be so sure?
[And... the expected behavior is back. He knows he didn't imagine it, but he sets it aside for now. Instead, he lets out a sigh through his nose.]
I do, unfortunately—as fanciful as it sounds. I've met a number of people who claim to be from different planets... or circumstances I couldn't have missed in my own world. For us to all be from the same place, most of us would have to be lying.
[Is it technically possible? Sure. But he finds it unlikely.]
Iterations. Plural. [ At least twice, but maybe it was even more than that, Ange thinks. After a while you just start losing track of these things, especially when she has had to witness so many people showing up and then disappearing in this place.
Though Ekko seems like a person who is drawn here often. She can't help but wonder what it is about them, that this place just refuses to fully let go of him. Is he special in some way? ]
We keep meeting like this, with you not remembering me. It's really rude to do that to a girl, you know? [ At least it's said flatly enough that it's pretty obvious she's just being deadpan, rather than it being some sort of attempt at flirting. ]
[ Ange kind of figured this new person wasn't going to believe her. It's not even anything about Akutagawa himself or what he looks like - it's just that Ange expects most people to be cynical to some degree. She knew he was going to try it for himself.
And she doesn't mind. It's giving her a chance either way to see what sort of powers this new person has, and--
She blinks when it's like his coat seems to move. Like it's a weapon. Ange has seen many things, both back home and in this place, but this one is pretty new. Still - the girl doesn't look shocked or scared at all. Not even intimidated. She blinks calmly, as if she didn't just witness that entirely violent display in front of her eyes, nor that intense exclamation at the end there. ]
Huh. [ She sounds so calm. ] Is your coat magical?
Wh - the Hexgem's not even your kid! It's our kid! Mine and Viktor's! You just...abducted it!
[ What the fuck is he even saying right now. It sounded better in his head? Jayce's face turns dark red, but he powers through nonetheless, crossing his arms to try to seem more imposing. Given how hard he's blushing, it's not exactly the most intimidating sight. ]
Don't remind me of your targets. [ He was one of them?? Which okay, that's fine, but putting Mel and Viktor and Mrs. Kirannmen in the line of fire was not cool. ] And sorry, I don't buy that. You don't augment a gun with Hextech to make it safer.
[ despite the fact that he is scared out of his wits of the tiny little toads (which says more about how pathetic he is rather than, you know, the amphibian prowess), vash has to smile a little at the mental image of her offer.
after all, who'd think a trash can walking around isn't strange, even in such a strange place as this world? ]
Um ... no, it's okay! I think I can do it, if you're really sure!
[ besides, the owner of the garbage can might not appreciate that so much ... so with that, he cautiously climbs out of it, glancing all around him as he does so.
thankfully it's not actually garbage - evidently it's full of garden clippings, as the bits of branches and grass that stick to his coat are any evidence. ]
[ what're those scratching sounds .... kind of like mice, isn't it? vash however chooses to not mention that; just in case the occupant inside gets angry again. it must be hard enough being trapped in such a tiny box without someone comparing them to rodents, no? even if they are very cute! ]
Don't worry, it's not a big one at all! [ like the one a little way away that he can see, bright and roaring even from this distance ...
well, speaking of, vash will shift and get back to his feet to put a couple more logs into the merrily-burning fire, and then come back. ]
About three ... ish? I've just put a couple more logs on, it'll get hot soon enough!
[he swallows heavily at the reminder of the parchment. very few people know about what his parchment says, and it makes him wonder. that's not the only thing he wonders, though.]
Sorry, but...in most TV shows and movies, androids just do what they're programmed to do. Right? So...wouldn't anything you did be a crime of your creator instead?
[that's getting, uh, a little heavy for someone of his apparent age. but his tone is still light.]
[Her shoulders-- slump, a little, as she sighs. She'd expected as much and knew not to get hopes up, but she nods in understanding. She's sure he's fine, she would never let harm befall him. Ten years is a long time. He's be grown and likely out wandering himself, or maybe with his father because surely they would have found a cure or something.
She tears her thoughts away before she overthinks too much about what she can't do anything about right now.]
Tear down the-- [Morrigan flinches in shock, turning to face Neve fully, expression baffled] Him? Does his love of the Fade go that far? Did he go mad?
[Miu makes a 'huh' noise of disbelief as Taash tries to say humans are so bad. Please!! Miu knows better. They suck. Honestly, she thinks everyone sucks so it's not like humans are special there.
Taash is okay though, and interesting, so that makes them an exception for now.
Their question makes her blinks slowly and consider. It's not like it's a secret or anything, and it's not like she cares much about talking about it]
I was supposed to be a sacrifice. It didn't stick though. I think I was stuck in there for a while though--a lot, lot longer than the one here. But I was mostly asleep for that one. [Sort of. It's more complicated than that but this is the simplest explanation. She was trapped in that reliquary for anywhere between a couple days to a couple weeks, she has no sense of time from that period.] Then someone saved me and it's been fine since then.
[SHRUG. Very nonchalant. Like, yeah yeah, being a sacrifice, we've all been there right??]
[Kissing Kotone is as easy as breathing nowadays. It still doesn't erase the somewhat dopey, but fond expression that appears on Scott when she steals a kiss from him, letting his girlfriend continue their conversation without his input for a few seconds. She's good at explaining... okay, not really, but she certainly tried!
And unfortunately, at least for Ange, the goop doesn't release any of them.
It's only because of Ange's genuine anger and discomfort that Scott snaps back to reality, prompting him to try and lessen the blow of all this to some degree. She's definitely having the most unhappy reaction to these toads and Scott actually cares a lot about her, so he's less flippant now. The only reason why he's not fully insulted is because he's pretty sure Ange would have the same reaction right now to pretty much anyone.]
We could try kissing your hand... or just your cheeks. You can close your eyes the entire time, pretend it's uh... Phoenix kissing you or something.
[What!! He just remembered how much Ange liked his small companion, so that's his first thought.]
[ Sorry Jayce. Shigeru is just thirsty don't mind him!! ]
Not for the patient, no. It wouldn't be very good healing magic if the person being healed had to deal with more stuff, right? [ He says it with a small smile. ] Phrobiests...I mean p-people like me have been using this kind of healing power for over a century and they've recorded no lasting effects in those that were healed, so you don't have to worry about that!
[ He does tap his pencil against the table in thought. ] I've healed someone here for minor bruising from those, um, coffins? He didn't seem to note any effects either, so I think it should be fine.
[Well, guess it's only fair that he shows the other teen his powers when he's already done so. It helps that a lot of fellow Chosen in this world are already aware of him and there hasn't been any negative reactions so far. It feels like there's nothing to really be afraid of. Time and time again, people have just accepted Scott without any hesitation and it's helped a lot in the whole feeling okay about his own powers, even though he can't control them.
So, instead of answering Kuwabara with words, he decides to do it through action.
Scott looks up at the sky for a few seconds, as if double checking to see if there are any birds or whatever up there, before taking a breath and reaching for those ever present sunglasses on him. And with a small tug, two bright red beams instantly emit from the mutant's eyes, a sound resonating through the air as they continue to pierce upward. Kuwabara might not be able to tell, but there's no heat coming off from them, just a pure physical force that doesn't stop until Scott shuts his eyes against it, those blasts immediately disappearing and kept safely hidden behind his eyelids.]
[ Her voice is dripping with sarcasm as she goes fishing into her pockets, and sure enough... There's the tablet and paper. She gives the latter a once over, nose wrinkling. Cute. Not cute enough to say it, as it seems now she's being held captive but-- ]
This isn't even a real crime. [ Well, it can be, she guesses. The negligence part. But she's never seen a single person be charged with something like that long enough to stick.
And what does that even mean? What has she neglected so badly? ] Does this...thing holding us ever make itself known? Has anyone tried talking to it?
[Levi closes his eyes briefly at Miller's frustrated tone but doesn't say anything. Just beat himself up inside about disappointing a superior officer.]
That's...true. M-maybe we could talk about our crimes? Um.
[Though it was the first thing to pop into his head, he does not feel comfortable asking Miller about his.]
I, uh, mine is real. I deserted. Before the war ended.
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expiationlogs2024-12-09 08:17 am
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