[her calm tone doesn't set him on edge so much as the words she speaks, and he finds himself answering in more of a clipped tone than he had intended; he'd originally figured the best course of action would be to set this Christmas rubbish aside and forget about it.]
In person, I assume. Shall I pay you a visit, then?
[he takes the invitation without hesitation, intent on keeping the distance between them small. the borderline-mocking tone doesn't grate him as much as it normally would, especially since her following sentence invokes more anger than irritation. he had hoped the two might get along, and obviously that won't be the case.]
Saya could only be considered dedicated to Diva if her bullheaded intent to kill counts. [another step - he's close enough to reach out and touch her now, though he doesn't do so yet.] But only an idiot would attempt to harm her here, isn't that so? [insults aside, his tone is almost hopeful.]
[her hands lift as if to cup his face, but don't quite touch him.] ...I suppose so. It would have been stupid had you been there.
[flicking her eyes up to the ceiling.] But you weren't. I am still not sure why Saya came between us, but how much better can one twin be over the other? It didn't really matter to me, then.
[even now he doesn't reach for her, though his fingers flex at his sides and there's the barest unnatural ripple of tension running under the surface. he keeps his eyes fixed on her face, watching carefully and in silence for a few moments. when he speaks again, his voice is alarmingly soft in pitch but no less harsh in tone than it had been earlier.]
It was Saya that you injured, then? Or was it both?
...From everything I'd heard about her, I thought Saya would be harder to kill. [She looks like she regrets it. But that doesn't really matter when her voice is so detached.]
[the feeling that follows is strange and something he can't fully place. there's a part of him that's pleased to hear that Saya has died - and at Vietnam's hands, no less.
but the larger part feels angry, hurt and cheated. she didn't have a score to settle with Saya. she hadn't lost her arm, her dignity, her name to Saya. what right did she have to do such a thing? to take that satisfaction away from him? he could still kill her himself, but logic hardly applies here.
he finally moves to reach for her hand, wanting both the comfort of its warmth and to crush the bones inside to dust.]
[she takes his hand... But it's only to bring it up to her throat.] I'm human, too. So what are you waiting for? [it's a test, she tells herself. That's all. A test.
But she's not sure just whose will, just whose self-control she's testing here. Charles doesn't have to show it; she knows she's wounded him almost as much as she might have had it been Diva. But better he hear it from her than from Saya.]
[the guided hand closes over it almost instantly, and it's only with decent restraint that he keeps his hold loose enough to avoid damage. it'd be easy to soothe his anger, to squeeze the life from her or rip that throat out entirely-
but he can't. she'd come back tomorrow and surely deserves punishment for stealing something so important, but he can't bring himself to tighten his hold, though he continues to stare at her like he might. should he feel disgusted with himself for growing so soft? just a few months ago he had killed someone whose company he enjoyed because of his strong belief in taking an eye for an eye. ...but Minato hadn't come back afterward, and the thought of the same thing happening to Vietnam terrifies him to the point of overriding his anger.]
Things must be as they were that day to mean anything, and she's worthless as a human because of it. [his thumb gently presses against the soft hollow under her chin before he releases his grip, fingers ghosting over her cheek instead.] ...How strange. It would have
( ... )
[For a moment, she really thinks Charles will do it- really thinks he'll crush her throat. And then he doesn't, and she's left standing there staring at him... but unsurprised. Her eyes narrow; a part of her is disgusted by him now, whereas another part is thankful. Her voice is soft.] Please forgive me. [And she means it. She brushes her hand across his fingers, cups them to her cheek.] I told you. I don't want to hurt you.
[his anger fades momentarily and he remains quiet, enjoying her words and warmth. but he can still hurt even if he can't kill, and he pulls his hand away abruptly, clasping both behind his back.]
It's fine. Such things are inevitable, are they not? ['you're no better than anyone else who has broken promises' - it's not true, but he wants to lash out and cause equal pain.] How was it, then? You haven't told me much at all.
An apology? Why would you bother with an apology? [he leans forward to study her expression before turning to stare into the house in a display of disinterest.]
Ah, what a waste. As the first to spill her blood here you could have at least made it memorable, you know? It shouldn't have been hard for you at the time.
Maybe at the time, but... [No. She stops herself here. She can't tell Charles that, somehow, she can see that Saya's life has value on its own. Not as something that should be ended.]
Even so, an apology certainly wasn't necessary. Does one apologise to the ants they tread upon when walking through the park? [he's still angry, of course, but has now adopted a 'dealing with a particularly dense toddler' tone]
If you're going to take the honors from me, you should do things properly.
[She notices this, but she lets him condescend to her, because, really, what else is she going to do? Nothing else is going to make it better for him.] ...
[a dismissive hand wave] Well there's not a thing you can do about it now. Taking back an apology that's already been issued is hardly effective, and I won't be kind enough to give you a second chance to start over from the top. You understand, I'm sure.
In person, I assume. Shall I pay you a visit, then?
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Saya could only be considered dedicated to Diva if her bullheaded intent to kill counts. [another step - he's close enough to reach out and touch her now, though he doesn't do so yet.] But only an idiot would attempt to harm her here, isn't that so? [insults aside, his tone is almost hopeful.]
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[flicking her eyes up to the ceiling.] But you weren't. I am still not sure why Saya came between us, but how much better can one twin be over the other? It didn't really matter to me, then.
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It was Saya that you injured, then? Or was it both?
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but the larger part feels angry, hurt and cheated. she didn't have a score to settle with Saya. she hadn't lost her arm, her dignity, her name to Saya. what right did she have to do such a thing? to take that satisfaction away from him? he could still kill her himself, but logic hardly applies here.
he finally moves to reach for her hand, wanting both the comfort of its warmth and to crush the bones inside to dust.]
...Saya is worthless as a human.
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But she's not sure just whose will, just whose self-control she's testing here. Charles doesn't have to show it; she knows she's wounded him almost as much as she might have had it been Diva. But better he hear it from her than from Saya.]
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but he can't. she'd come back tomorrow and surely deserves punishment for stealing something so important, but he can't bring himself to tighten his hold, though he continues to stare at her like he might. should he feel disgusted with himself for growing so soft? just a few months ago he had killed someone whose company he enjoyed because of his strong belief in taking an eye for an eye. ...but Minato hadn't come back afterward, and the thought of the same thing happening to Vietnam terrifies him to the point of overriding his anger.]
Things must be as they were that day to mean anything, and she's worthless as a human because of it. [his thumb gently presses against the soft hollow under her chin before he releases his grip, fingers ghosting over her cheek instead.] ...How strange. It would have ( ... )
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It's fine. Such things are inevitable, are they not? ['you're no better than anyone else who has broken promises' - it's not true, but he wants to lash out and cause equal pain.] How was it, then? You haven't told me much at all.
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Ah, what a waste. As the first to spill her blood here you could have at least made it memorable, you know? It shouldn't have been hard for you at the time.
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If you're going to take the honors from me, you should do things properly.
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So tell me. Tell me what to do.
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