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It does.
And makes one think of what they're capable of.
Let's not dwell on that though. That'll ruin our mood all day.
[It does make her wonder if they go by Durge...what was Dark Urge called as a child...?]
And makes one think of what they're capable of.
Let's not dwell on that though. That'll ruin our mood all day.
[It does make her wonder if they go by Durge...what was Dark Urge called as a child...?]
Edited 2024-09-13 19:37 (UTC)
"Clearly." She was smiling still, though that offer had her glance his way. To meet Alice...she did want to know her. She was curious about the woman Alan was clearly deeply in love with.
"I'd like that." She smiled up at Alan. "You'd have to take me on a full tour you know. I want to go to at least one greasy spoon."
"I'd like that." She smiled up at Alan. "You'd have to take me on a full tour you know. I want to go to at least one greasy spoon."
All right.
I do need to get back to work. I'll drop the book by your cabin later.
[ Probably near when Vincent expects Aerith to be 'home' so to speak. ]
I do need to get back to work. I'll drop the book by your cabin later.
[ Probably near when Vincent expects Aerith to be 'home' so to speak. ]
All right. Have a good rest of your work day. Hope the poison wasn't too bad.
[No doubt he knows because he knows the sound of her door...or checked to see what her routine is, very casually.]
Let me know if you want coffee or wine or just the book.
[No doubt he knows because he knows the sound of her door...or checked to see what her routine is, very casually.]
Let me know if you want coffee or wine or just the book.
Aconite, right?
[ Look at him, knowing his poisons and making an educated guess. ]
Thanks for remembering the honey. Hm. Coffee. But I won't keep you long.
[ Look at him, knowing his poisons and making an educated guess. ]
Thanks for remembering the honey. Hm. Coffee. But I won't keep you long.
Good guess.
That's why there was so little. And more honey.
You don't have to stay. You can return the cup when you're done. Anything in the coffee?
That's why there was so little. And more honey.
You don't have to stay. You can return the cup when you're done. Anything in the coffee?
Just sugar. One spoon's enough.
[ No more honey tonight. Besides, it doesn't taste the same in coffee. ]
[ No more honey tonight. Besides, it doesn't taste the same in coffee. ]
[Truth be told he doesn't mind how tactile she is. It's more that he isn't used to that kind of contact without it leading to either a fight or sex, and given he's not really looking for either of those things right now he struggles to fit it into an appropriate box.
He shakes his head.]
No, no sugar. Just black, as is.
He shakes his head.]
No, no sugar. Just black, as is.
[It's funny. She's in general tactile. But it's usually with friends, a way to show that she cares, that she trusts them. Fighting she keeps her distance, and sex? Well, that's still new but is only with one special person.
She'll have to tell Cain all about Zack when they're not muddled in Fog influence. He might want a spar with her beloved, see how it goes. She'd enjoy watching, knowing both were strong in their own ways.]
Sure.
[Black tea it is. She doctors her own tea, bag still in it to seep, before coming back with both mugs, setting his down in front of him.]
Here.
Also if I'm being...too much of anything Cain...? You can tell me.
She'll have to tell Cain all about Zack when they're not muddled in Fog influence. He might want a spar with her beloved, see how it goes. She'd enjoy watching, knowing both were strong in their own ways.]
Sure.
[Black tea it is. She doctors her own tea, bag still in it to seep, before coming back with both mugs, setting his down in front of him.]
Here.
Also if I'm being...too much of anything Cain...? You can tell me.
Got it. I'll make sure you get the cute cup.
[They're all the same. None of them are actually cute.]
[They're all the same. None of them are actually cute.]
[ Message marked read. But one can imagine there might have been a physical sigh. ]
Unconsciously, he began to rub at his wrist before it occurred to him what he was doing and he turned the gesture into a tug on his shirt sleeve as if to fix it's fit beneath his suit jacket. She had called him out and he knew she was right and fair to do so. He could do more damage with his hands than most people could manage with a weapon in theirs. He was not only trained but had years of experience and he enjoyed the act so much he'd definitely experimented over the years with his various targets.
That gave him joy. Today, when she looked at him, it almost felt like what he imagined guilt must be like to feel.
He huffed in annoyance but there she went again. Apologizing to him. After all his snarling and teeth-baring like a vicious wolf-like animal. He looked away as if in irritation. Truth be told, he couldn't stand that pained look in her eye. That couldn't be for him. She was just...she was just kind to everyone. It didn't matter.
"Don't go worryin' about that," he said and his voice was gruff from some underlying emotion that he was barking through with stubborn doggedness. "It was a one time happenstance. Ya won't see me doin' anything so foolish again."
The idea in his head was that it had been stupid for him to bother protecting her. That wasn't like him at all. He was a lone wolf and had no attachments. Such things were weaknesses and he didn't need them. He was content with his life as it was.
It would never happen again.
Yet when he looked back at her the stubborn set to his jaw faltered as the flute warbled plaintively at him. The glare that he had intended to pointedly fire at her died before he even had a chance to truly aim it. He swallowed around the sudden lump in his throat.
It was almost impossible not to sigh in a huff again. "Now don't go lookin' like that, petal. You'll ruin yer pretty little face with a look like that and there ain't no reason fer you ta over an old dog like this one." A beat passed. "You just do as you see fit in tha future. That's what yer here fer. I ain't got no say in what you wardens do anyway."
That gave him joy. Today, when she looked at him, it almost felt like what he imagined guilt must be like to feel.
He huffed in annoyance but there she went again. Apologizing to him. After all his snarling and teeth-baring like a vicious wolf-like animal. He looked away as if in irritation. Truth be told, he couldn't stand that pained look in her eye. That couldn't be for him. She was just...she was just kind to everyone. It didn't matter.
"Don't go worryin' about that," he said and his voice was gruff from some underlying emotion that he was barking through with stubborn doggedness. "It was a one time happenstance. Ya won't see me doin' anything so foolish again."
The idea in his head was that it had been stupid for him to bother protecting her. That wasn't like him at all. He was a lone wolf and had no attachments. Such things were weaknesses and he didn't need them. He was content with his life as it was.
It would never happen again.
Yet when he looked back at her the stubborn set to his jaw faltered as the flute warbled plaintively at him. The glare that he had intended to pointedly fire at her died before he even had a chance to truly aim it. He swallowed around the sudden lump in his throat.
It was almost impossible not to sigh in a huff again. "Now don't go lookin' like that, petal. You'll ruin yer pretty little face with a look like that and there ain't no reason fer you ta over an old dog like this one." A beat passed. "You just do as you see fit in tha future. That's what yer here fer. I ain't got no say in what you wardens do anyway."
Maybe she was kind to everyone. Maybe she was kind even to people who showed her music that brought her joy. Who grabbed her wrist hard enough to bruise. And who even risked their life for her sake.
Life and injury was not something she took lightly. Even if she had been able to save herself, over and over, he had pulled her out of the way and dealt with her monsters.
"You don't know what the future will hold Mr Collins. Not unless you've got some sort of future vision I don't know about."
She stepped forward slowly. And another step. She didn't like the idea of him getting hurt again- even if he might have deserved it with whatever action he took.
But her hand still slowly reached to touch him on the arm.
"Just remember. I might do what I want, but that's as me. Not the warden. Not the witch." Her voice was softer still. "You don't have to keep putting barriers between us Dennis. You know what would be great? If we could be friends."
Life and injury was not something she took lightly. Even if she had been able to save herself, over and over, he had pulled her out of the way and dealt with her monsters.
"You don't know what the future will hold Mr Collins. Not unless you've got some sort of future vision I don't know about."
She stepped forward slowly. And another step. She didn't like the idea of him getting hurt again- even if he might have deserved it with whatever action he took.
But her hand still slowly reached to touch him on the arm.
"Just remember. I might do what I want, but that's as me. Not the warden. Not the witch." Her voice was softer still. "You don't have to keep putting barriers between us Dennis. You know what would be great? If we could be friends."
Collins's eyes dipped to watch Aerith's hand reach out to touch his arm, but he didn't make any move away. If anything he seemed to relax with the contact.
His eyes returned to hers. A retort formed on his tongue but before he could get it out she had continued in her faint voice. His chest constricted though he wasn't altogether certain what for. Maybe it was just another new line from the music. It was doing everything it could to confuse him today.
"I don't know about that, Miss Aerith." He said. He looked as though he considered saying more and then decided to keep his mouth shut after all.
His eyes returned to hers. A retort formed on his tongue but before he could get it out she had continued in her faint voice. His chest constricted though he wasn't altogether certain what for. Maybe it was just another new line from the music. It was doing everything it could to confuse him today.
"I don't know about that, Miss Aerith." He said. He looked as though he considered saying more and then decided to keep his mouth shut after all.
It seemed that Aerith was doing everything to turn his head. At lest she was trying to be careful and gentle with him. Even if it meant he could bark and snarl all he wanted.
"It's a choice." Aerith told him. Her hand went down his forearm to grip his hand. "None of this worthy or not nonsense. You are who you are. Friendship is a choice we can make, again and again."
"It's a choice." Aerith told him. Her hand went down his forearm to grip his hand. "None of this worthy or not nonsense. You are who you are. Friendship is a choice we can make, again and again."
Edited (Missing word) 2024-09-16 23:21 (UTC)
Being able to bark and snarl all he wanted was probably one of the biggest bonuses that a person could give him. That leniency went a long way with Collins. (However, the hard part was then drawing the line and, for Collins, not hurting someone was rather hard even when he liked that person. He would have to be careful with Aerith lest he finally cross that line and create a rift that could not be mended with time.)
The fingers of his hands twitched at the contact but again there was no indication that he wanted to pull away. Instead, after a hesitant moment, his fingers curled slightly as if to quietly accept. "I do like you, lass. You've a mettle some men on tha battlefield don't even have and a temperament fit fer an angel." He said with a faint smile. "And tha music is always sweeter when yer around."
The fingers of his hands twitched at the contact but again there was no indication that he wanted to pull away. Instead, after a hesitant moment, his fingers curled slightly as if to quietly accept. "I do like you, lass. You've a mettle some men on tha battlefield don't even have and a temperament fit fer an angel." He said with a faint smile. "And tha music is always sweeter when yer around."
Alan's smile comes easy to him in return.
"Of course. And a real bodega. John Doe can make a great bacon egg and cheese, though, you should talk to him. You'll at least get some of the experience."
It's nice, he thinks, to offer that to someone. A place. It's one hell of a motivator. He just wishes he knew what the fuck the magic thing to do to graduate even is. A thought occurs to him, a quiet whisper at first but he starts to broach if after a few seconds.
"You've had a few months of wardening under your belt now, right?"
"Of course. And a real bodega. John Doe can make a great bacon egg and cheese, though, you should talk to him. You'll at least get some of the experience."
It's nice, he thinks, to offer that to someone. A place. It's one hell of a motivator. He just wishes he knew what the fuck the magic thing to do to graduate even is. A thought occurs to him, a quiet whisper at first but he starts to broach if after a few seconds.
"You've had a few months of wardening under your belt now, right?"
Edited 2024-09-17 15:43 (UTC)
"Oh." Her eyes lit up. "I didn't know he could."
Now she had to bug John for food. Well, at least she was happy to make foods for others. She was ready to make sure that Alan had sandwiches in the fridge, if he didn't mind her trying to fuss over him again.
"But I'd like that. I'd like a visit- and have Zack come along too. I don't think he's been to a Bodega."
She was pretty sure she hadn't either. But she'd like to.
But the rosy thoughts were interrupted by Alan's question.
"Yeah? I haven't been permanent paired yet, but soon maybe. What's up?"
Now she had to bug John for food. Well, at least she was happy to make foods for others. She was ready to make sure that Alan had sandwiches in the fridge, if he didn't mind her trying to fuss over him again.
"But I'd like that. I'd like a visit- and have Zack come along too. I don't think he's been to a Bodega."
She was pretty sure she hadn't either. But she'd like to.
But the rosy thoughts were interrupted by Alan's question.
"Yeah? I haven't been permanent paired yet, but soon maybe. What's up?"
Sometimes, he needed to learn where the line was. And she needed to know where he needed to draw the line for himself. Some might have said in his snapping and growling, that he went too far in trying to scare her but...they were all right. They would both learn where would be too much as they got to know each other better.
As Collins noticed, Aerith was not exactly a shrinking violet. There was still a lot that she could handle.
Like her holding the hand that could have hurt her so badly with such utter gentleness.
"I like you too. I like being your friend." Aerith told him, smiling. "I always learn something new around you. You're going to fuss, but I know with you- I am safe."
She paused. Well, that was not completely true. "From everyone else at least."
As Collins noticed, Aerith was not exactly a shrinking violet. There was still a lot that she could handle.
Like her holding the hand that could have hurt her so badly with such utter gentleness.
"I like you too. I like being your friend." Aerith told him, smiling. "I always learn something new around you. You're going to fuss, but I know with you- I am safe."
She paused. Well, that was not completely true. "From everyone else at least."
Collins wasn't used to feeling flustered much less over something as innocent as a few compliments. Still, he felt awkward receiving the kind words from Aerith and for a moment it seemed he like he didn't know what to do. That was frustrating but in a mild way now as he settled into a calm demeanor with their conversation having moved past the hardest parts.
He looked away and for a moment he looked more like a grumpy cat turning its back on someone than a fierce wolf. Fortunately for him, her final comment broke the ice.
Collins laughed. "You've learned half yer lesson, I suppose." His voice grew quieter. "It'll have ta do. But don't you forget." Then after a small beat of silence to let that sink in and then dissipate into the air, he allowed his tone to relax again. Lightly, "Sounds like I'll have ta keep charmin' you with new things ta learn. Are you really tryin' ta learn how ta defend yerself without relyin' on magic? You think yer learnin' tha right kind of self defense fer you?"
He looked away and for a moment he looked more like a grumpy cat turning its back on someone than a fierce wolf. Fortunately for him, her final comment broke the ice.
Collins laughed. "You've learned half yer lesson, I suppose." His voice grew quieter. "It'll have ta do. But don't you forget." Then after a small beat of silence to let that sink in and then dissipate into the air, he allowed his tone to relax again. Lightly, "Sounds like I'll have ta keep charmin' you with new things ta learn. Are you really tryin' ta learn how ta defend yerself without relyin' on magic? You think yer learnin' tha right kind of self defense fer you?"
Too much?
[He blinks at her, shaken out of his thoughts by the question and the assurance, and he shakes his head with faint half-smile.]
It's not that. It's...
[Cain trails off. He reaches out for the mug and pulls it close, curling his fingers around it and letting the heat warm his palms. Ah.]
You kinda remind me of my sister, that's all.
[He blinks at her, shaken out of his thoughts by the question and the assurance, and he shakes his head with faint half-smile.]
It's not that. It's...
[Cain trails off. He reaches out for the mug and pulls it close, curling his fingers around it and letting the heat warm his palms. Ah.]
You kinda remind me of my sister, that's all.
Alan's nodding, encouraging the other as she peaks. He doubts John will mind if Zack comes along--he's the kind of guy who offers his bathroom if an inmate needs a shower. No way he'd mind.
"What do you think separates you guys from us? Not just power or responsibility wise, but... Do you think it's just atonement?"
"What do you think separates you guys from us? Not just power or responsibility wise, but... Do you think it's just atonement?"
There's some other things that she and John needed to cover. She'd be happy to bring him tea or muffins or something because breakfast foods were great.
But Alan poised an interesting question. Aerith tilted her head, and considered.
"I think there may be a mindset. Or maybe...a responsibility we take for what we've done." Aerith shook her head a little. "We're for sure not perfect. That's for sure."
But Alan poised an interesting question. Aerith tilted her head, and considered.
"I think there may be a mindset. Or maybe...a responsibility we take for what we've done." Aerith shook her head a little. "We're for sure not perfect. That's for sure."
"No," Alan agrees. They aren't perfect at all. "But that's what makes it work." A half-smile.
"I've been trying to figure it out, the inmate-warden thing. It's a very thin line."
"I've been trying to figure it out, the inmate-warden thing. It's a very thin line."
"Well...maybe...let's make it a thought exercise."
Aerith spread her hands. "If you were a warden, who would you be? What have you become in order to take responsibility and show someone what to do? Who do you want to be?"
Aerith spread her hands. "If you were a warden, who would you be? What have you become in order to take responsibility and show someone what to do? Who do you want to be?"
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