shacklebreaker | IC Inbox: cerealia

I saw her too. [ She breaks the news very slowly, still unsure of how to feel. She's both mad and disappointed at what happened to her, and just thinking about it makes her chest hurt a little. ] I just didn't want to talk about it.

...Do you wish to discuss it now?

[He's not sure what answer to expect. He thought things had been resolved with Athena's feelings towards her mother in their last trial together, but it seems he was wrong in that assumption.]

[ Just waves a hand dismissively. ]

It's fine. That won't be necessary.

[ Not like she'd be willing to talk about how she was called worthless. Hard pass on that one. ]

[He frowns, unhappy with that answer.]

As you wish... But if you change your mind, I am always here.

I guess I could tell you one thing, though.

[ Brace yourself!!!!!!!!!! ]

That day when we met at the mall. I didn't just fall.

[!!!!! PLOT TWIST. Except he doesn't look surprised at all.]

Did you think I believed that silly story? I simply did not wish to argue with you because of your injuries.

You could have.

[ She's certain that there's at least one person who believed her story. ]

I got hit by a car.

[That person is a dotard.]

Who would be foolhardy enough to drive in the midst of a blizzard?

I don't know, but that's the truth this time.

[ It's not the whole truth, but she's still so embarrassed. ]

...What is past is past, so I'll leave it at that. But I've had quite enough of your little white lies.

[And he's going to be concerned for her safety no matter how much she lies. The sooner she learns that, the easier it will be for both of them.]

[ She can't help butt let out a heavy sigh. ]

I'm not the only one who lies here. [ Hint, hint. ] At least that's out of the way now.

Everyone tells lies of some sort. [The difference between her lies and his are that he's good enough at it not to get caught. Usually.]

But if you insist on fibbing about any time you're in danger, you're going to make my duties remarkably difficult.

[With that, Taka flies over from his usual favoured perch, and begins inspecting the boxes of Athena's belongings curiously. What is all this new stuff???]

[ I'M SORRY TAKA THOSE ARE ALL DOLPHIN TOYS... ]

Duties? [ Maybe you should be more specific, when the person you're talking to can be dense when it comes to these kinds of things, Simon. Nevertheless, she groans. It's not fun being scolded. ] Right, sorry...? [ It seems that she shoul apologise, anyway. ] It's just weird? Nobody really looks out for me but me.

[Taka's going to inspect every dolphin!!!]

That's an ungenerous claim. [And it's probably just as well Aura isn't around to hear it, or she'd flip.]

What about all the people that took you to safety and healed you in the blizzard? Or if you cast your mind back to your trial, what of Wright-dono, who went to such lengths to prove your innocence? There are countless people who care for you... Even the likes of Ryuko and Archer look out for you in their own ways.

[They're just... not very good at showing it... And neither is he, apparently.]

[ Just as long as he doesn't eat them!! :'( ]

That's— [ Different? Only a little bit. She just harrumphs because he does have a point. Simon wins this round. ] It just takes a while to get used to.

[ There. Now Athena's perfectly honest about how she feels. And it's weird. ]

[He won't!! He'll just nibble one or two of them.]

And here's another way in which your assumption is false. Everything I've done these past seven years has been to look out for you... Nothing more or less.

[He may have saddled her with an unimaginable burden in the process, but that hadn't been his intent. And it was better than the alternative.]

[ Oh. Well then.

She isn't sure if feeling grateful for that is what she should be feeling, but that's what's happening. That, and she also feels an overwhelming amount of guilt. All this time, she thought that he was throwing his life away. She never really understood it, but it makes sense now. To say "you shouldn't have done that" isn't right, and is also years delayed. Should she even say something about it at this point? Nah, she just lets Taka do his thing and plops on the couch. Her eyes are fixed on the floor; best to look at her feet when she's trying hard to keep a brave front. ]

You are so silly. [ There! Take that! She totally has everything under control now. ]

[Totally under control!! Except not, because he's shooting her a smirk that says otherwise.]

Hmph... There's nothing silly about it. No one is more important to me in this hellish world, or in ours, than you.

[While he lets that sink in, he takes Taka away from Athena's belongings and onto his shoulder, before the inquisitive bird gets carried away. Normally he wouldn't be so open about himself, but if it helps Athena get the misguided ideas out of her head that she has no one to depend on, then he's willing to say it.]

[ That is so unfair!! She totally feels cornered now; that she should just accept everything that was just said, and she does. It's comforting to hear somebody important say something like that. That is, if the feeling of comfort is the one that's giving her a weird tingly feeling in her chest. ]

You can't say something like that and just stand there! [ She's still looking at the floor, but she's totally asking him to sit down next to her. ]

Should it matter where I say it? There's no need to make such a fuss.

[He's unfazed, but he'll stop teasing her and take the hint. He puts Taka down to perch on the back of the couch, then moves to sit next to her.]

[ It does make a difference!

She doesn't look at him or anything, but she leans on his shoulder once he's next to her. Gone??? are the days when she'd do something like this because she's tired, or feeling sick from hearing people's emotions. This time, she's leans on him to make sure he's real. ]

Thank you for thinking of me. [ She just murmurs it, slightly reluctant to say it out loud. She's grown up to be so exuberant and she's learned how to express herself openly, but she just ends up thinking it's okay to be quiet around Simon. ]

[He doesn't mind quiet. Exuberant Athena is nice to see, but this side of Athena is something more familiar to him.]

There's no need to thank me. As I said, I merely do as duty commands me to.

[As she lays her head on his shoulder, he puts his arm around her, resting a hand on her head. After so many years of prison, being close to anyone like this is still something of an unfamiliar experience to him, but he doesn't mind if it will bring comfort to Athena.]

[ Normally, she dislikes being treated like a child. Headpats make her feel like she's being looked down on! But it's relaxing and comforting this time, so she doesn't move Simon's hand away. ]

So... did you want to talk about mom?

[He considers her question for a moment, his hand leaving her head. Really, he should be the one asking her if she wants to talk about it, when she seemed so reluctant before, but he'll take the question as permission to do so.]

...Yes. How did she seem to you when you encountered her?

[ She didn't want to remember too far back into that specific memory, but she does. And she becomes slightly dizzy just thinking about it. ]

Mr. Wright said that the Feys are spirit mediums who can help me talk with the dead, so I wanted to talk to mom with Miss Maya's help. I wanted to apologise for thinking that she was just using me. But then I saw her here, and she seemed so glad to see me. She took arriving here rather well, and was really calm about everything. So... I told her what happened the past seven years.

[ Athena's vision slowly gets blurry as she talks, but doesn't say anything about it. Instead, she grows silent in case Simon wants to say something about her story so far. ]

IC Inbox: cerealia

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject