020 // video/action for Ilex Forest
[ The camera feed comes on with a jolt, and to the sound of moderate chaos. A man is shouting (though 'raising his voice' might be more accurate), sticks and bushes are cracking and crunching, and something large and deep-voiced is rumbling loudly. Close to the camera, a Pokémon's voice sounds excitedly. ]
Char! Meleo char char!
[ For those who ( Read more... )
Char! Meleo char char!
[ For those who ( Read more... )
Was punching her really needed...
A-are you alright, Sebastian-san? [She feels a little awkward, wary with talking to him after...well. After she ran off like that. But better sooner than later]
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Instead, he puts on an only-slightly-chilly smile. ]
Yes, I'm quite fine, Miss Chrome. Thank you.
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She wants to apologize again, force some sort of reaction out of him but...such a thing isn't in Chrome's nature. So with a slight reluctance she returns her gaze back to him.
Now what is she supposed to say?]
I'm glad. I... Are you moving on already, or... have you just been training? [There's a feeling of dread, that they might be leaving her behind because she left them for Mukuro]
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Sebastian doesn't take his eyes off her. ]
We're training, at the moment. The young master has expressed a desire to move on quickly, once he's defeated the Azalea Gym.
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...Ah. I...I thought as much. [But it still hurts, even though she knows it's selfish of her to wish they would wait.
After another moment of uncomfortable silence, Chrome sighs again]
You're still upset with me, and that's alright. I deserve the cold shoulder from you for what I did. But you can't say you don't know how I felt, or that you don't understand my reasons for leaving as I did.
I've already apologized-- [Again. She's been doing that a lot lately, hasn't she? Chrome falters and stops, losing her momentum then. Her gaze lowers and her shoulders slump a little.] ... 'I'm sorry' isn't enough, I'm afraid.
What can I do to have you forgive me?
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I never claimed that I didn't understand why you left, and it hardly surprised me that you wished to return to meet up with your master. However, as I believe my own master made clear to you, there was nothing preventing you from informing any one of us in person that you intended to leave.
[ He leans back against a tree, still breathing carefully and shallowly, although his face betrays none of his pain. ]
I'm not certain that there's anything in particular for you to do, Miss Chrome. If you'd like to continue traveling with us, of course, you're welcome to. I'm quite sure that the young master misses your company. [ A beat. ] As do I.
[ He says nothing about Mukuro. Really, he'd rather she not bring him along, but he can hardly refuse her. Only Ciel is in any position to, and he's sure the boy won't. ]
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I miss you too. [She smiles a little, with a look about her that suggests she wishes she could reach out and touch at him like she normally does when they talk]
We've... grown fairly close, I think. And I'm glad for that. I... don't want to lose it, just because Mukuro-sama is here now. I care for you, and Ciel-san, very much. [She pauses, looking unsure of herself and what she's saying. It's not a confession, though it sounds like it's working its way up to one and she sighs]
I don't like it when you or Ciel-san are angry with me, or worried. What I'm trying to say is, I want to keep traveling with you, for as long as you'll have me. Us.
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That decision is up to the young master. It's not my place to object.
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[ That was a bit passive-aggressive, wasn't it? But she is a servant, in a way - bound to her master, Mukuro-sama, as he is to Ciel. ]
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I suppose, in a way. I can offer my own opinions, though I don't often choose to, but he's free to disregard them as he pleases.
But...he's careful as well. He doesn't like to see me scared or cry. So...I suppose he takes that into account at times.
[but she's quiet again, shaking her head] But between us--servants--opinions should matter.
But then, I can't force you to share your thoughts on the matter.
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It might please him to hear that Mukuro is so delicate with her, but he's disinclined to believe that the other man is altogether sincere about it. He likens it, in his mind, to the way Lizzie must see his relationship with Ciel. Ciel can unfortunately see right through him most of the time, but he's the only one. To people like Lizzie, with no power to see his true intentions, he knows that he seems quite dutiful and devoted.
And hell, maybe he is. Is it better or worse if Mukuro genuinely cares for Chrome? Worse, perhaps, because Sebastian then has no excuse for hating the man, outside of hatred being his favourite flavour.
Chrome is far from hateful. Why, precisely, is Sebastian so displeased that she's out of his reach? There are a thousand answers to that, most of them complete bullshit, so he disregards them all.
The important thing is, she's not wrong. ]... I ( ... )
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She closes her eyes, smiling gently in a picture of peace]
You did. I'm sorry, again, that I didn't go to you. I was afraid if I did then you would stop me. I...
[She wants to say more, and opens her eyes, moving her hand to brush her fingertips over the screen. Her smile turns a little sad and she drops her hand back into her lap]
I look forward to meeting up with you again.
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[ It's not especially chiding, just matter-of-fact. His expression has mellowed by degrees again, but he isn't smiling. The effect isn't unfriendly, but it is somewhat somber. ]
I look forward to it as well.
[ Even if you are bringing that douchebag with you. ]
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But at least it's getting somewhere and she wonders if she should bring up the fact she ran into Alois again-- then decides it's better not to.]
I'm afraid I can't think of anything else to say, but I don't really want to leave yet either. [At least it's an honest confession]
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After a soft silence, he lights carefully on a topic. ]
I trust that Onix of yours is making travel considerably quicker?
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