021 • action

[grimreaping]

[ It's the middle of the night, and someone's not sleeping. But there are light footsteps on the rooftops, and a whisper of black cloth trailing just along the edge of your window as someone's checking up on you. Why tonight? You might have to ask, or guess. ]

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[ OOC: Dated to the night of the 19th. Kid is looking through windows like a

Comments

[action]

[demonicbookworm]

[Ruca doesn't seem to notice anything, while he's reading a really thick book.

...And if one will take a good enough look they might notice that there's a lot of books in Ruca's room actually... Just as expected from a bookworm.]

[action]

[demonicbookworm]

[Ruca's gaze drops to the floor. He doesn't say anything.

He's too afraid to ask Kid what he thinks about all of this... He doesn’t try to explain anything either. Because what can he say? That he's a reincarnation of the Overlord Asura?

...He couldn't say that. He just couldn't.]

Re: [action]

[grimreaping]

[ Disappointment wells strongly in Kid -- not anger, or fear, but disappointment. For the briefest of moments, he'd felt a connection but with the way Ruca had closed himself up right after...

Looking at his friend, he can't press the issue now. And he feels guilty for having caused Ruca such fear. ]

Ah, of course... you're human. What an unusual mistake for me to have made. Please disregard what I said.

[ sits quietly and stares at his teacup ]

[action]

[demonicbookworm]

K-Kid...

[He knew. He saw his soul, so of course he knew! But then why isn't he asking of anything? Why is he saying something like that instead?

Ruca also sits down, his gaze is fixed on Kid. He looks confused again, unsure of what to do now.

Then he looks at the floor, almost as if he's expecting an answer to appear there.]

... Why? Y-you... you saw it... didn't you? Then why...? Why aren't you...?

[He shakes his head. He had to know.]

...D-do you... hate me now?

[action] 1/2

[grimreaping]

Regardless of what I saw, someone whom I consider a friend told me I was wrong, so I will accept that.

[action]

[grimreaping]

Hate you? Don't say ridiculous things.

[action] 1/3

[demonicbookworm]

[Blink, blink.]

"Someone you consider a friend"...?

[action]2/3

[demonicbookworm]

Y-You mean... you consider me a friend?!

[action]

[demonicbookworm]

B-but... that’s... I-I thought-!

[obviously has no idea what to think anymore.]

[action]

[grimreaping]

Of course I do. Incidentally, your comment about being a burden is completely false.

You thought what?

[action]

[demonicbookworm]

...I thought... that what you saw would change everything.

[He doesn't understand any of it. But he sure starts to look guilty.]

Kid... I... I really am human.

[pause.]

...Even though my soul isn't... a human soul.

[action]

[grimreaping]

Yes, you are. I think that's why I didn't notice anything different until now.

[ Natalia's and Luke's recently revelations are still fresh in his mind as he answers. ]

I don't believe there's anyone in Splendor who isn't hiding something about themselves from other people. That's a choice that everyone makes. And while I cannot speak for anyone else, it'd be rather hypocritical of me to think differently of someone for not being human, don't you think?

[action]

[demonicbookworm]

Kid...

I... it doesn't matter to me either, if someone's human or not, but... back home, people like me weren’t treated in the best way... [they were treated in a worst way possible actually.]

But... you saw... my soul, right? You should know.

[If he was that startled, then he should've seen that Ruca's soul is that of an arch-demon. And that should mean something.]

Re: [action]

[grimreaping]

It's not easy to break the kind of habits that you use to protect yourself, and I'm not asking you to. But you do a disservice to yourself if you automatically assume -- especially here, in a place where so many are gathered -- the absolute worst outcome.

I "should know"... yes, I know now. Is there a particular reaction you'd prefer I have, to make you feel better?

[ the last part is added a little sardonically, but Kid is actually being serious ]

[action]

[demonicbookworm]

[But after Kid says it like that... the guilty look is back on Ruca's face.]

That is... I... I'm always like that... I-I'm sorry!

[He bows his head in guilt.]

I'm really sorry.

[He then adds quieter:]

...I... I didn't expect anything... because I didn't know what to expect.

Re: [action]

[grimreaping]

The first thing you responded with was to ask if I hated you, Ruca. Whether you admit it or not, you expected me to agree, didn't you?