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[gravings]

I need this now apparently

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[gravings]

[ She took it for granted that Johnny came out alright because he seems like he would come out of anything alright in the end. Mention of Eustace is more of a surprise, and Johnny may feel a small pleased sunburst in its wake. ]

Yes, I know him. He helped me too... Actually, he's been very mindful of my well-being since I arrived here.

[ Eustace may or may not just feel guilty because he was the one who recruited her into the Kenoma, but she chooses to believe that he's a naturally kind and nurturing person behind that massive gun of his. ]

You two seem like you would get along. You're both very... cool.

[comelately]

[ he figured she'd know him, because Eustace has given Johnny the impression that he's the type of busybody who would immediately start looking after Gray. Smugly, he notes that it sounds like he was right. Johnny doesn't trust Eustace farther than he could throw him, but at least there's someone over who sort of cares about Gray - he can tell she thinks highly of him, anyway, which is a point in his direction.

What he wasn't expecting was for Gray to say he's cool?! He's very genuinely bewildered by that sentiment - enough that he's willing to overlook the comparison to Eustace, which irritates him for some reason. ]

Cool? [ if it came from anyone else, he'd assume he was being made fun of. ] Hah... First time I've heard that in a couple years. You're weird.

[ dismissive, but not unkind... he seems tickled. ]

You must've really hated that lady's sculptures.

[gravings]

[ She startles when he calls her weird, then again when he accuses her of hating the poor Veneran lady's art. ]

N-No, I... Well, I didn't understand very much of it, but...

[ Hate is a strong feeling to have toward what looked like children's drawings manifested into sculptures. She wouldn't have spent money on the stuff in a million years, but maybe it's just because she isn't artistic enough to get it...? ]

I meant that you have a cool demeanor... I think. If it sounded weird, please forget I said anything...

[ Wipe it from your brain like she's now trying to do... ]

[comelately]

[ poor Gray... she's very weak to teasing, apparently. He'd better go easy on her. ]

... Nah, I'm gonna remember it. I don't get many compliments from girls anymore.

[ it's nice that someone thinks he's cool even if he's a loser in a wheelchair. He doesn't believe it, but it's nice. ]

I'll forgive you for comparing me to Eustace. [ a beat. ] But I figured he was the kind of guy that might look after you.

communion; 26th of soviseri :)

[lockedon]

[ Hello Gray, guess who!!!!! ]

Gray. I have some business I have to take care of outside Venera today. [ To put things lightly. ] I should be back in Achamoth by nightfall, but if I haven't returned by then, assume that something's happened to me.

>:(

[gravings]

[ DISTRESS. ]

Assume...? What do you mean? Where are you going?

[lockedon]

[ There's just the nice ringing silence of Eustace NOT RESPONDING.... ]

[lockedon]

[lockedon]

[ Hi Gray, guess who's back, back again... ]

Everything's fine. I had to go to the Innocent's Shrine for a bit.

[ Where are the clarifying details????? Nowhere to be seen.... ]

[gravings]

[ The comment about compliments from girls seems to come from left field, and Gray's brain hiccups as it grapples with the statement being both funny (weird-funny) and quite sad. He's only been nice to her so far despite having very few reasons to be. She feels like that's proof enough of his praiseworthiness... She makes a note to compliment him more in the future. ]

Do you not get along with him?

[ She thinks being compared to Eustace should be a high compliment. She should be so lucky as to be compared to him someday. It will absolutely never happen, but if it did happen, she'd feel quite nice about it. ]

[gravings]

[ She would've tried poking at him more and with increasing levels of anxiety in the meantime... When he does finally respond, her emotions are a Jenga tower in endgame. ]

Mr. Eustace!!

[ Two exclamation marks!! One is for distress and the other is baby anger. ]

If you need to go somewhere dangerous, please take someone with you! I could have gone...

[lockedon]

[ BABY ANGER.....he would be so proud of her if only he knew. Though maybe he can hear it in all those voicemails she left him.... ]

It's better I went by myself.

[ So no one else gets labeled a TRAITOR. ]

How are you? Were things alright in Godsblood?

[comelately]

[ it could happen!! they have the same hair color, so there's one thing... ]

It's not that, exactly... He's one of those guys that's hard to read.

[ he keeps showing up when Johnny is in trouble - and Johnny, being Johnny, finds it suspicious, especially since Eustace's bearing is never particularly friendly. ]

When I first showed up here, he's the one who found me, technically.

action; post unsanctioned step-papi visit

[expiera]

[The trip down the hallway is done in silence. The Achamites reverently part ways at their passing, and it's only once the large doors leading to the main hall are soundly closed behind them that Ciel takes the lead from Gray. Shedding away the earlier saccharine airs she had put on regardless of how jarring it was in the moment, a somber sort of sobriety takes its place. She doesn't say a word though, and they keep walking instead.

Does Gray have anything to say? Or will she continue to obediently tag along? They're headed towards one of the Citadel's side exits, if Gray is familiar enough with the layout by now to tell.]

[gravings]

[ He shuts her down with such finality that it's frustrating. How much easier it was to tell these things to her mentor, who was painfully aware of his shortcomings. ]

I... We weren't able to stop the Pleroma from rescuing the prisoner. A lot of us were hurt, but I don't think any Aions were killed.

[ Achamites, on the other hand................. ]

How was it in Venera...?

[lockedon]

[ At least when it comes to this subject, he's more willing to talk, voice loosening up a smidge. ]

Not as successful as it could have been. Many of our number were injured, and a few were outright attempting to sabotage the mission.

[ But he doesn't sound resentful of the fact, or angry. Just tired and a little sad. ]

Were you hurt?

[gravings]

[ Sabotaging the mission? That surprises her, but to be fair it was unsavory work. She could easily see some of the more soft-hearted Kenoma disliking it. When she thinks of who the saboteurs could be, a whisper of anxiety floats a few names through her mind. ]

Someone... um, put me through a few walls, but I'm okay now.

[ Nothing a little magic can't fix. ]

... Are your ears okay this time?

[gravings]

[ Despite Ciel's earlier smile, Gray has no doubt that the older girl is displeased. It's a wholly different side to Ciel (in Gray's experience), and it cows her into following along silently with the same morbid air as a lamb trotting off to its slaughter.

Abel's parting advice still hangs in a loose cloud in her head, though it's boxed in by the oppressive air that emanates from Ciel. Gray walks along stiffly with dread in her step, her gaze fixed to the backs of Ciel's shoes. She'll go wherever Ciel takes her without complaint, take whatever discipline Ciel has in mind for her. ]

[expiera]

[They leave the Citadel.

Once outside, Ciel pulls her hood up and continues walking, not stopping as long as Gray is still following along.

They leave Achamoth, too, and it's only once they're outside of the city that she finally speaks up.]

Gray.

[Her tone is plain, neutral. She doesn't sound happy or cross, consoling or disappointed. She doesn't turn either, and continues leading the way down a path... Towards the beach actually, it may become recognizable the further they go.

Does Gray still think she's in trouble?]

[gravings]

He's very hardworking.

[ Can he hear the approval in her communion voice... because it's there. ]

He doesn't say much more than what he needs to, but he's always thoughtful. And if you seem like you need help, he'll always be there for you... He isn't as scary as he looks.

[ Her experience might be slightly skewed. But. ]

[lockedon]

[ …………………………….Hang on just one second. ]

'Put you through a few walls?'

[ Like, literally???? ]

[gravings]

[ It's a long time that they're walking, and as they leave the confines of the city, Gray truly doesn't know what to expect anymore. The buzz of Achamoth gives way to the twin cadence of their footsteps, which measures out their otherwise silent journey to wherever Ciel has in mind.

When Ciel finally does speak, Gray looks up just enough to see the back of Ciel's head from under the peak of her hood. She isn't sure why, but she feels like an apprentice gravekeeper again, nervously awaiting the first instructions of her austere master.

In any case she isn't sure how she should speak, afraid that her response will be too casual or too apologetic or too defensive, so instead she elects to say nothing at all and follows along in tentative silence.

(She definitely still thinks she's in trouble.) ]

[gravings]

[ Maybe she didn't communenunciate well enough? ]

Yes. So I wasn't able to follow quickly enough...

[ She might have lost consciousness for a bit, but again, nothing magic won't fix. ]

[expiera]

[...

Well, can't blame her for being apprehensive. But she had to stop her, lest they risk far worse.]

How long have you been here, since Eustace brought you back from the Innocent's shrine? Have you been keeping track?

[They continue walking.]

[lockedon]

[ Maybe his (mind) ears are having technical difficulties. ]

I'm glad you're alright.

[ If she says she is fine he will put his trust in her and believe her….. ]

My ears are fine, as is the rest of me. I just need some rest.