2nd Light ▫ [Voice]

[arlia_angel]

[No filters because Rena doesn't know how to filter. Yet.]

Claude? I know it's been a while... but can we sit down and talk? What are your plans for today?

Leon, Ashton? Is there anything you'd like me to pick up at the shops? I'll be going out as soon as I can. ... I think we're running out of carrots.

[There's a slight pause as she

Comments

[Voice]

[mirrorslice]

[Claude had been avoiding this, but now that she's brought it up... can't hide.]

No plans for me. Do you just want to go to the living room and talk?

[Voice]

[arlia_angel]

[She was avoiding it as well, but she realized she couldn't run away from it anymore either.]

I'd like that. I can meet you there? Um, unless you wanted a little more privacy... [Although she wasn't sure either if they should discuss it in the privacy of one of their bedrooms either. It was still a bit awkward.]

[Voice]

[mirrorslice]

I don't think anyone will bother us in there, don't worry. I'll see you in a few minutes.

[And he's already rolling off of his bed and heading for the living room.]

[Action]

[arlia_angel]

Okay, I'll see you there.

[She made it to the living room first, and she thought it was appropriate that she should have, seeing she was the one who invited Claude to talk. After sitting on the couch, she placed her journal on a nearby table, keeping an eye on it to make sure it wouldn't open and record anything.]

[Action]

[mirrorslice]

[Claude's decided to stuff his journal into his sock drawer just in case. He enters the living room and goes to sit down next to her, hands clasping together in his lap as he leans forward.]

Hey...

[Action]

[arlia_angel]

[Once he sat down beside her, she glanced over at him with a small smile, then down to her own lap.]

Hi, Claude...

[She thought hesitating or putting it off for any longer would only make it worse. After taking a deep breath in and out, she spoke up once more.]

It... That was what an experiment is like? It... it felt very real. It was like that for you too?

[Action]

[mirrorslice]

Looks that way... it's the first one that's really effected me since I arrived here. [He pauses before answering. He loved Rena regardless of experiment, but he knew the really mushy way he was acting wasn't really him.]

Y-Yeah... it definitely felt real.

[Action]

[arlia_angel]

I wonder what the point of the experiment was. They have strange ideas on what they're testing. [She didn't want to dwell on that so much. But she knew now that he had felt the same way she did during the experiment. It was her feelings before and after that she needed to sort out.]

I mean, I think... You didn't mind, did you?

[Action]

[mirrorslice]

No idea... maybe they just like to see how we pick ourselves up after everything is over. [He rakes fingers through his hair, sighing softly.]

Mind? No, I didn't.

[Action]

[arlia_angel]

Hm, I guess so. I heard a lot of people were unhappy about it after it ended. [But then she quickly caught herself, not wanting him to get the wrong impression.] ... Oh, but not me! I wouldn't want you to think I wasn't happy!

[It came as a relief to her that he didn't mind. She laughed a little as she thought back about herself.] I must've acted a little silly. But I was happy, and I still am. It was you, after all.

[Action]

[mirrorslice]

[The look of relief on his face is apparent. Just because they were together in his time, he would never force anything on Rena if for some reason she now felt differently.]

I think we both did, to be honest. But I'm the same... I was happy then and I am now. [He reaches over and very gently takes one of her hands in his.]

[Action]

[arlia_angel]

[Seeing that relieved look made her just as relieved. She knew how she felt toward him, experiment interfering or not, and it only made her more sure of those feelings.]

Claude... [She held onto his hand gently, knowing how lucky she was and had been.] I know I wasn't sure at first, but things changed along the way. With you here with me and always by my side, it means everything to me. Thank you...

[Action]

[mirrorslice]

[His free hand comes up and rests lightly on her cheek.]

You don't have to thank me. I'll always be with you Rena. Experiment or not, you're still... the one I care about most.

[Action]

[arlia_angel]

[She tilted her head slightly into his hand.]

You're that way for me too, Claude. I care so much about you. I know... it's like.. [She laughed softly and turned bright pink.]

... I really do. Feeling this way about you, how much I care, it just makes me so happy, I can't describe it! It's been that way for a long time already too.

[Action]

[mirrorslice]

I'm glad. [Somebody's grinning like an idiot, but he's happy. He knows they're together in his time, but you never know what one tiny difference in time could do. And now, even if it makes him sound like a doofus, he has to ask.]

So, does this make you my girlfriend?

[Action]

[arlia_angel]

[She had to get over the initial shock, but it was a good shock, the kind that made her heart flutter. For the longest time she remembered getting flustered when anyone even implied that she may have had any feelings for him.]

Before I can be, I should tell you something first.

[After a deep breath, she finally said it, what she had been wanting to say for so long.]

... I love you, Claude.

[And an even brighter smile appeared on her face.] Now that makes it official, right?