RP LOG: Cafe Chat

[face_up_here]

Who: Allelujah, Sumeragi
When: A little while after Hallelujah finally gives Allelujah back control
Where: Cafe
Rating: G
Warnings: SPOILERS for 00 :O
Notes: None
Summary: Alle finds Sumeragi and they have a chat, after Halle's little chat with her a few days ago.

Allelujah closed the clothing store's door behind him as he left to find food. He was looking better than he had the past week, thanks to sleeping laying down and getting just a bit extra sleep. He still wasn't entirely happy with the arrangement, but at least people weren't bugging him about everything.

Sumeragi was on her way in that direction as well, seeking out the cafe once again. She wandered a bit as she walked, not really noticing the approaching Meister.

Allelujah soon saw the tactician and his steps slowed as he recalled what Hallelujah had allowed him to see, when the alter had been in control and had spoken with Sumeragi. But he knew that wasn't all of what had happened. He tried not to let thoughts of just what Hallelujah had done turn to horror, but he knew that at one point, Hallelujah had turned violent towards Sumeragi. No details, just the memory of something bad happening. He frowned, recalling Sumeragi hadn't replied to the post he'd made asking if Hallelujah had hurt her. He kept walking towards the cafe, undecided whether he should call out to her or not.

She stepped inside ahead of him, the blue Haro bouncing in behind her. The robot switched to rolling once inside because it was easier on the floor to roll instead of bounce. Sumeragi sat down and the little blue ball bounced up on the bench next to her.

He paused outside the door, gathering himself before stepping inside as well. He walked over to where Sumeragi was sitting and offered a quiet smile. "Hi."

She looked up at him, pausing her reaction for a moment to figure out which one was 'in charge', so to speak and then gave him a small smile. "Hi."

Allelujah noticed the hesitation before the smile, and guessed she'd wanted to make sure which of him it was. He couldn't blame her for that, he'd be wary too if their roles were reversed. "..May I join you?"

She nodded, waving for him to sit on the other side of the booth. The Haro hopped up on the table to watch.

He sat down across from her. He glanced at the Haro, before returning his gaze to her. "..How are you?"

"I've been better and worse," she said truthfully. "How are you holding up?"

Allelujah nodded slightly, a nagging thought wondering if the worse bit was because of Hallelujah. "I'm..about the same..Bit better than I was," there. He'd admitted that he was sleeping better, if in a roundabout way. Perhaps he'd get a cookie, was his sarcastic thought to himself, ignoring Hallelujah's inward snort.

"So you're admitting we were right about your sleeping arrangements?" she egged him a bit.

He smiled faintly, managing a quiet chuckle. "Yeah, I guess..."

Sumeragi smiled at him now. "Good." She chuckled a bit. "You needed it, and you know it."

Allelujah huffed out a quiet sigh. "Still don't have to like it.."

"Because it's quiet?" she asked, her tone concerned now.

"Lo...Neil fixed that..." He couldn't help the embarrased flush, and looked away, ducking his head a bit.

"How?"

"..A fan.."

She smiled. "That's perfect," she said. "It's not distracting, but it keeps things from getting too quiet."

Allelujah nodded, still not looking up.

Sumeragi reached over and poked him lightly. "What is it?" she asked him.

He blinked and finally looked back at her. "..I hate needing it.."

She gave him a soft smile. "It's okay to," she told him. "There's nothing wrong with it."

Allelujah sighed quietly before giving her a faint smile. "Then why do I feel pathetic?"

Sumeragi snorted slightly. "Probably because Hallelujah told you that you were," she said with an eyeroll. She looked away from him.

Allelujah frowned slightly. "..What did he do..?" He chose to ignore the comment, all too true, about where he got the feeling he was pathetic.

"He mostly just said things," she said with a sigh. "Touched a few raw nerves I've been trying to keep dull."

"...Mostly?" He smiled, a bit wry. "He does have a knack for that..."

She nodded, looking down at her hands for a moment.

Allelujah looked away, inwardly wanting to punt his alter across the island. "..I'm sorry.."

"It's not your fault."

"..What if it is..my fault that he exists at all..?" That was what happened when he had too much time on his hands. He thought too much. This one was an old argument that he occasionally started again. Only this time, he mentioned it out loud.

Sumeragi raised her head back up to study him for a moment. "What do you mean?" she asked him. She didn't know the miniscule details on Hallelujah's 'birth'... just that he apparently came in as a way for Allelujah to protect himself after having been a test subject for the Human Reform League's Super Soldier program. He had given her the mission data, including all the details about his own involvement in the program. "Why would it be?" she asked him. "You weren't the one that put yourself in the position that made him."

Allelujah rubbed at his eyes as he organized his thoughts to attempt an explanation. He didn't look at her as he replied. "..What if I could have been stronger..? He'd never have..He'd not be here.."

"Allelujah..." She frowned slightly, a sad look on her face. She reached over and took his hand.

He looked at her hand holding his for a moment before shaking his head. "..Forget it..I've been thinking too much lately.."

"It's because you're a kind person," she told him. "You couldn't do it."

Allelujah finally met her gaze, grey eye a bit troubled still, even as he tried a smile, managing a pitifuly small one. "..You're biased.."

"And why is that?" she asked him.

He gave a real smile then, bit sheepish as he recognized what she was probably trying to get him to see. "Because we're friends."

Sumeragi smiled at him. "Mm-hm."

Allelujah chuckled quietly and lightly squeezed her hand. "Why do you put up with me?"

She raised an eyebrow at him. "You just said it," she said, squeezing his hand in return. They were at least that now... at least...

He shrugged slightly, conceeding her point.

She smiled again. "At least you know I'm right," she teased him.

The Meister chuckled. "About what?" He teased right back.

"Hey!" She swatted at him. "That's not fair."

He laughed, finally starting to relax.

She laughed with him, glad she'd gotten him to lighten up about his situation a bit. She just wished there was more she could do.

Allelujah smiled. He was just glad she was there, and didn't seem to mind too much about his situation. Now he had to wonder if she thought him insane at all, she didn't act like it at least. but that was a thought for another day. Deciding to change the subject, he asked, "since you've now been here a while, how're you finding this place?"

"I'm finding it very... quiet..." she said, wincing slightly at her choice of words, but it was really the only way to describe it. She could see why he was having trouble with it. There was a lot of time to think, and it bothered her, too.

His mouth quirked in slight amusement when he caught her wince. Perhaps she understood that part of his trouble, at least a little. "It is quiet here."

She nodded. "There's too much time to think, I guess," she said with a small sigh. "Oh... have you seen Feldt?"

"Feldt! Feldt!" the blue Haro said, flapping at them. It had been quiet through the entire conversation so far, just sitting on the table.

Allelujah sighed quietly. "I haven't..Hallelujah did though..didn't he?" He had to frown slightly, not used to having to sort through so many of his alter's memories. Some of them told him that Hallelujah'd spoken with both Feldt and Sumeragi after taking over in front of Lockon. But he couldn't be sure.

"I think so," Sumeragi said. "You... well, he was with her... when I saw she was here."

He nodded. "She's okay..right?" He needed to know for sure that his alter hadn't hurt yet another teammate of his.

Sumeragi nodded. "As far as I could tell," she said. "She didn't mention him having done anything to her."

Allelujah sighed in quiet relief. "That's good."

She smiled at him. "He's not bad all of the time," she told him, thinking back on the hug. She wasn't quite sure what it had been for, but she didn't look too much into it.

He smiled faintly, nodding. He had no idea that Hallelujah had hugged Sumeragi, much less why. "I know, just most of them time. I'm just glad he seems to be keeping his..energies..to fairly harmless pranks.."

"Fairly harmless," she said, her tone and smile keeping a lightness she didn't really feel about the conversation she'd had with the alter.

Allelujah was curious about what she and his alter had talked about, but recognized she really didn't want to talk about it. So, he didn't push. He glanced at the silent Haro. "Have you found anything for this Haro to do yet?"

"He seems to enjoy spying on me," Sumeragi said. "Maybe he's bored and thinks something interesting will happen if he follows. The only thing he's really done so far is work with Neil's on..." She paused and smirked a bit. "Locking Kyrios."

He couldn't help it, he pouted. "Well then, I hope he does find something interesting on you, then tells me."

The Haro flapped. "Can't tell! Can't tell!"

Allelujah reached out and poked the Haro. "Why not?"

"Pfffft!" was the response as he rocked to steady himself.

Sumeragi just laughed.

The Meister blinked in utter surprise before laughing and poking the Haro again. "You'll forever be upside down then." He smirked at the small robot, only half serious.

"Turn over! Turn over!" the Haro protested, trying to get back upright.

"Stop teasing my Haro," Sumeragi said, but she was still laughing as she picked up the blue robot to save him.

Allelujah started laughing again. "Nah, don't think I will."

She narrowed her eyes over the top of Haro, who flapped at Allelujah. "He knows how to lock you out now..." she threatened.

He blinked. "Neil's Haro needed a second Haro to do that. You know I won't hurt your Haro.."

"And Neil won't lend me his as a return favor for lending him mine in the first place?" she asked, giving him a somewhat surprised look. "You know I could do it." There was an odd look on her face, though, that suggested she wasn't all that serious about the threat.

Allelujah didn't entirely believe she was serious, but he shrugged anyway. "I could always ask that he didn't." He smiled slightly, "Miss Sumeragi..I have the feeling you could do pretty much anything if you set your mind to it."

She couldn't help the giggle that came with that, then. She put Haro back on the table, and the blue ball rolled back to where he had been earlier, giving Allelujah a flap that almost seemed indignant.

He chuckled at her. He watched the Haro and snickered at the rather indignant flap.

"I think you've upset him," she said, amused.

Allelujah chuckled, "seems like it."

"No fair! No fair!"

He smiled at the Haro. "Some things aren't fair."

Sumeragi smiled as well, then put her hand on top of the Haro. "Did you come to get something to eat?" she then asked Allelujah. After all, they'd been sitting here just talking the entire time so far.

Allelujah nodded. "I did. I don't mind, I like talking with you." He smiled at her.

She smiled a bit in return. "That and I'm thinking we needed it," she admitted softly. "Still, I am sort of hungry."

"Yeah.." He nodded. He knew that was true, and was glad she thought so too. Chuckling quietly, he nodded again. "I'm hungry too."

"Well, we are in a cafe..." she said and got up. "I don't know about you, but I'm going to get something to eat."

Allelujah pretended to look around in surprise, standing up as well. "We are, are we?"

"Oh stop..." She swatted at him again, walking over to the counter.

He chuckled lightly and followed her to the counter.

After ordering what she wanted, she leaned on the counter to wait for him and their food.

He ordered after her, adopting a similar posture as her, feeling better for having talked with her.

"You look more relaxed," she remarked.

"I'm feeling better," he admitted.

"Good." Sumeragi smiled. "I'm glad."

Allelujah smiled and nudged her teasingly. "Just so you know...I blame you for making me relax."

"I gladly accept it," she said. "But, I have to talk to Neil as to why he didn't try anything sooner."

"He didn't know until a couple days before you did. And..I don't think he knew about the cot in the clothing store." He shrugged slightly, "don't think he wanted to push to much."

"Mm..." She nodded a bit. "I didn't know about it, either. That was all Miss Pluto's idea."

Allelujah sighed, only half serious as he commented. "You three are ganging up on me.." More, if the Haros and Hallelujah were included.

"It's for your own good, you know."

He shrugged slightly. "I'd still prefer some choice in what I do."

"Even if that choice is only wearing you out?"

"It kept me from thinking too much."

"Maybe... but you were really running yourself ragged," she said. "I could see it."

Allelujah sighed, looking away. "Yeah well...You know me..Most people here don't.."

"That doesn't mean it's right." She poked him.

He squirmed at the poke, half heartedly swatting at her. "I'm not sleeping in Kyrios anymore unless I have to for a mission back home.."

"Good." She smiled.

Allelujah smiled faintly.

"Of course, I do hope there's a hut shift soon... maybe putting you somewhere that there's less of an issue and you can sleep in a proper bed," she said. She turned, taking her food as it was brought out and giving thanks for it.

He nodded in agreement, also turning to take his food with a slight smile of thanks. "I hope so too."

Sumeragi smiled at him. "It would save a lot of trouble."

Allelujah nodded, starting back to the table. "Yeah."

She sat down with him. "Other than that, though... how are you finding this place?"

He shrugged slightly. "All things considered, it's not bad."

She nodded. "Yes... I have to agree with you on that one," she said with a small chuckle. "It's nice to see you and Neil again."

Allelujah smiled. "It is nice to see you both too."

"I really thought that was it... that I'd never see the two of you again. For all intents and purposes, I wouldn't have," she said. "But, I'm here. You're both here. It's so strange, but... at the same time... a relief."

He nodded slightly. "We won't be seeing Neil again after leaving here..that much I'm fairly sure of..But the two of us? I..I hope so.."

"Me, too."

Allelujah smiled faintly before he started eating.

Sumeragi smiled softly in return and turned to her own meal.