[ That's the only response he'll get for the time being. When he pulls his three cards, Fortune Teller draws back to spread them out and then flip them upwards. ]
Monts gazes at his cards with some piqued interest now. Without betraying her neutral expression, she asks about them. ]
So...? What does that mean for him?
[ Fortune Teller clasps their fingers together not looking at either of them in their direction. They stare off into the distance before making an assessment. First, they point to The Star. ]
The Star is reversed. You're a suffering man. A man of faith without faith. You let others criticize you and yet here you are, your harshest one.
[ Monts is silent, no longer feeling like she can make a snide remark. There's a bite to this and she holds her breath for Abel's reaction. ]
[ ah. and there it is, that Feeling he so dislikes. itās not a fun Feeling. itās the one he gets when heās swallowing something particularly bitter, and he makes a face as if thatās precisely what heās doing, nudging habitually at his glasses and exhaling through his nose in displeasure.
but he doesnāt flinch or falterā ]
Well, the suffering part is decidedly correct, I can assure you.
[ the petulant grumble escapes him with a side-long glance toward Monts. for no particular reason. he isnāt insinuating anything, just in case she wonders. ]
This is terribly cryptic. I mean, thatās why all of this gets a bad rap, you know...? Even I could wave my arms around and say a bunch of mumbo jumbo with pretty cards. Honestly...! [ and now heās leaning in, peering at the others heās pulled discerningly. ] āSay, um. ...Unless one of these says Iām certain to have some rich, newly divorced supermodel fall madly in love with me, eh? I might be convinced to take this more seriously if you throw me a bone, here.
[ Fortune Teller isn't irritated by Abel. If anything, they seem to be in their own trance as they continue to stare past the two. ]
Can't forgive yourself, can you? All you can do is walk farther, forward, as even what's precious is left behind. Well. Anyway.
[ They take a look back down at the table. ]
Hanged Man. Upright too. Well, that means there's some sense in your head somewhere. The upright meaning includes sacrifice, but I'd advise you not to go to extremes, especially since its other meaning is uncertainty and lack of direction. Repentance shouldn't be done blindly, not when there are others who will help you on your path.
And since you're asking about romance, fine. When upright, The Hanged Man means there's no romantic pressure. Probably better than saying no romance for you outright.
[ They scoff cause seriously, it's Father Abel. Monts is lost in thought thinking about how this relates to him cause this might be closer to the truth than he's willing to give her. ]
sometimes he permits himself to forget the things this island can do. dig at. uncover, and toy with. the friendships heās made here are precious, and some of the memories he has alongside its residents are some of his most treasured to date. it fosters complacency, doesnāt it? heās guilty of that, and... he canāt deny it.
but thereās also moments like this one, where he remembers thereās a cost, a balance, to everything. he can feel the weight of Montsā gaze at his side - whether itās on him, or his cards, he isnāt sure. either way, heās quickly schooling his face where the obfuscating idiocy had mildly slippedā ]
[ and heās lightly resting his hands on the last and pushing it back toward the deck, ]
The only sacrifice Iām contemplating is forgoing any more of this... kind drivel. Please, save your breath; with such a glowing picture youāre painting, whatās a man to do with himself...? I canāt handle all this flattery~!
[ Abel shoots Monts a withering look. light. genial, if exasperated. ]
I think we were better off with the clowns, personally. Can we go now...? Iād like to romance another funnel cake, if you donāt mind. Surely you donāt want to listen to any more of this nonsense, Miss Monts...?
[ She was about to ask about his last card, but it's Fortune Teller that lightly slaps Abel's hand away impatiently. ]
Settle down you beanpole. You should be grateful that Judgement is upright! This is the path forward you dolt.
[ With another 'hrmph' Fortune Teller leans back into their chair with crossed arms. ]
It is self-evaluation with awakening, not just old conclusions. Renew yourself in all ways including the future you see for yourself. Had this been reversed, you would be stuck with your pitiful perception of your being.
Just because all those years have passed doesn't mean it's too late. It just means you'll suffer more if the reversed Star is any indication.
[ The Fortune Teller's overall card reading for the priest has been oddly fruitful for Monts. She's barely remarked this whole time if only to really take in her companion's reactions to the cards and it's... It's telling.
They're so different, yet the same in some uncomfortable ways. ]
... You know that could have been worse Father Abel. Pretty generous reading if you ask me.
[ Silently, their host sweeps the cards into their hands and begins to shuffle again. ]
[ ...finding his hand swatted away and his request to forgo the remainder of the reading RUDELY and summarily ignored, Abel is grumbling to himself as he sits back in his chair, even if inwardly... the disconcerting feeling that's settled somewhere vague in his insides has grown. still, most of it doesn't make it to his face as he folds his arms over his chest and makes a good show of looking petulant and put-out.
he absorbs the last card, quietly wondering to himself if there is any validity in the tarot's - albeit vague - foretelling. 'just because all those years have passed doesn't mean it's too late.' ...ha. is that so...? what a bittersweet pang, even if he doesn't believe any of this to be real at all.
can't dny it's ironic, though. the 'Star'? is it him looking for signs where there aren't any? the 'Star of Istvan' immediately comes to mind, his all-too-precious redheaded friend; the prospect of 'suffering' is rather grim if it is in any way in relation to her. (would he care otherwise...?) --ah, it's really pitiful, for him to put any weight at all in the mindgames this sometimes-dreadful place could pull; he's fixing at his glasses before settling a dull stare at Monts. ]
Miss Monts, might I suggest you avoid tempting your fate with this OBVIOUS charlatan?? This is simply hogwash and this person is clearly going to ask for an arm and a leg in payment for their, ...'services.' Maybe literally?
[ he leans in a bit, whispering far too loudly, ]
Y-you don't suppose I'm already doomed, do you? What if she eats me, after all...? --I like my appendages where they are, c-cmon, maybe we should just go...
[ ...he doesn't want Monts to pick her cards.
just in case there is validity in any of this, he thinks-- it... wouldn't be right, for him to hear it. ]
[ His huffiness bounces off Monts as she keeps her eyes on the shuffled deck. The Fortune Teller quietly spreads it out on the table and pays no heed to the priest. ]
Choose your three now. We don't have all day.
...
[ Her hand reaches out to take three cards in no particular order. Fortune Teller gives a low hum before turning them over. ]
... Quite the cards you've chosen girl. I bet you'll have some interesting thoughts on these.
[ Monts stares at her cards. A reversed Tower. Upright Death. And lastly a reversed card of Temperance. ]
"The Tower..." [ Monts' attitude is hard to make out right now. Her expression is in between something akin to being troubled and calm resignation. Fortune Teller is rubbing their chin with one hand, amusement emitting from their person. ]
Aye, that's usually a troublesome one... You've been through the wringer haven't you girly?
[ his well-meaning warning goes unheeded. maybe Monts doesnāt mind; maybe sheās invested in hearing a portent the cards might reveal. either way, he finds himself softly exhaling and sitting back in his chair as the cards are selected and turned.
...Abel has very little experience with tarot; heās exchanging a glance from the Teller to Monts, and back again. through the wringer; well, considering what he knows about her life, that doesnāt seem too far off the mark. her expression, though... ]
When this is reversed, that means you have delayed a crisis, but don't be surprised for another one to loom on the horizon. I can tell by your face. You can play it cool and calm all you want; your heart is still weak.
The heart is the foundation of every living, feeling, and thinking being; a tower in itself. If your tower has faulty foundations, it will fall.
... I see.
[ Unlike Abel, Monts doesn't fight against the Fortune Teller's reading. In a way, it's not they're telling her anything new, but more like putting those words, she had in her mind this whole time into reality. Monts decides to move on, pointing at the grim reaper with its scythes. ]
What about Death?
Ah, that one. It evades you doesn't it? [ Fortune Teller laughs at their own joke. Gotta hand it to this island, it sure does conjure up beings that know too much about those that inhabit its shores. ]
Well, at least it's not literal; very misunderstood you see. People see it and think it is the end. But if things are to be new, something must die! Upright, means transformation, release. The Tower may spell another disaster, but you are in the middle of Death itself!
[ Monts hasn't looked at Abel this whole time, but her hands are in her lap, gripping at her dress. It's like she doesn't believe it, but can't argue against it. ]
[ ...she already knows, whatever it is thatās looming in the horizon for her. is that it...? whatever the Teller has told her doesnāt seem a shock or something unexpected. that feeling that had settled in his chest earlier coils a little bit deeper for it, and he finds himself gently reaching out to rest one of his hands to lightly sit atop one of her own. seeing some distress in her posture, in her eyes, is...
...
...is she okay? he doesnāt want to ask what all of this might insinuate for her. if sheās going through something - if she needs help... would she open up? ask? he doesnāt think so. she seems the type to try and grin and bear it. ]
[ She freezes when Abel rests his hand on top of hers. Though she doesn't open up to hold his hand, her fingers loosen their grip as she regains her calm. ]
We're almost done, right? What's Temperance mean for me?
[ Fortune Teller shifts so that they're leaning forward and something about their presence has encompassed the whole of the tent they're sitting in. Monts' mark stirs on her neck. ]
Poor thing. You would have wanted this one upright, I'll tell you that for free.
[ Fortune Teller sounds much more menacing compared to the lighthearted voice they had sported at the beginning of their visit. They point at Monts with one gloved finger. ]
Excess. Imbalance. If given the chance you'll fall into the one extreme you've been trying to avoid this whole time. You're an all-or-nothing woman and with an attitude like that, the crisis from the Tower will define your fate. Think carefully, girl.
Priest. Or Father, as you're called.
[ The finger points to Father Abel next.]
This one's a complicated one. The parts that make up the sum are causing an imbalance. Prayers are all fine and good but tread carefully, you hear?
[ ...heās drawing to his feet, and his hand shifts with the gesture, coming to fall on Montsā shoulder instead of lingering at her hand. ]
āWeāre going, now.
[ gentle, but brokering no argument. whether or not he needs the Tellerās warning, thereās uncharacteristic sobriety and some unreadable neutrality on his face. it isnāt his place to hear the details of Montsā fate; her struggles and her nature are private parts of her he's sure she wouldnāt appreciate being laid out and exposed without her prompting.
this island has a way of being cruel and prying and catches one off their guard. and while he cannot begrudge her curiosity, he will not invite any more an invasion than this. ]
Come. Do you want something to drink...? It wonāt be as good as yours, but... we can make due.
[ ...come on, Monts. he isnāt sure about her, but he thinks heāll be glad to be rid of this tent thatās become abruptly suffocating, somehow. maybe a moment to... digest... is in order. ]
[ Without another word to add Monts stands up too. She does, however, nod at their Fortune Teller as a quiet thanks.
Fortune Teller doesn't say anything at first and doesn't even demand payment. As they reach the exit flap of the tent, they pipe up one last time. ]
It's as you said girly; the future isn't set a set thing, but a collection of possibilities. The both of you just have a troublesome collection to stumble into before you.
No need to suffer needlessly. That goes for you both.
[ There's something about that last sentence that sticks to Monts. She's not sure what it means for Abel, but based on his cards, she puts aside her own struggles and just thinks quietly to herself. ]
...
[ When they're outside, it's when Monts finally speaks up. ]
Hey. Father Abel, a question for you. Nothing to do with your tarot reading, promise.
[ ...itās difficult, to determine the best thing to do. does he ask her? try to gently leave the door open for her to step through, to broach the subject? he canāt deny heās finding an uneasy concern in his chest as they slip from the tent, nothing but one last wayward glance sent the Tellerās way before theyāre gone.
Abel is fixing the sit of his glasses with an uncomfortable fidget. the mood is a tad awkward and heavy, isnāt it...? but her soft question cuts through his increasingly restless silence - and he isnāt sure if heās glad she spoke up first, or apprehensive where she might be thinking. ]
...Mm? Sure, of course.
[ his eyes slide to her face, and though he canāt hide the pensive sit in those blues that are a bit sharper than normal, heās more than willing to hear her out. ]
[ Monts crosses her arms and looks at him right in the eye. ]
How old are you?
[ She might have asked him this before; it's one of those things that have probably happened, but brushed it off when there was no real answer given. ]
I'm asking because... Well. From the sound of it, you've been...
[ Her voice trails off and her eyes glance to the side as if trying to choose the right phrase that won't make him avoid giving her a solid answer. ]
Well. We're both difficult to deal with. We have that much in common.
[ ...ah. he canāt say he wasnāt expecting something he wouldnāt want to answer - considering just about everything ever falls under that umbrella. but as far as questions went, that was not the worst she could have leveled.
opened up the can of worms rather throughly, though, didnāt it? heās frowning, softly, as he scratches absently into silver hair. well... ]
Iām not sure how much weight you should give what that person said, Miss Monts.
[ because thatās why sheās asking, right? because of what that creature said.
...this, is... less than ideal. he wants so badly to ask things of her after the proverbial hornets nest had been stirred up by those premonitions. if he avoids openness, it isnāt like he canāt see itāll seem hypocritical, distrustful, even if thatās not his intention at all.
...irritating. ]
This place... it likes to rattle our cages. Feed on fears or worries. Iām sure thatās all this was, but...
[ but she had taken it to heart, hadnāt she. and that was quite worrying for the message it conveyed. ]
āDidnāt you know itās rude to ask a lady her age...?! Goodness, you really need a lesson in manners, Miss M... Monts, owā
[ .......
heās rubbing his face with a glower, leaning away to protect his face from further abuse. donāt bully him!!!! stoppppp, heās baby, heās fragile, heās SENSITIVE!!!
...but heās looking a little admonished, sheepish... and after a hesitation, ]
Iām... [ mmmph... he starts - hesitates again, and starts over. ] Please donāt say that. I donāt want to lie to you, of course... Or hide things, or make you feel like I donāt trust you. ...I really mean that.
[ ābut,ā
as there is always a but, huh? but, he feels no good could come from answering the question. even so... maybe failing to answer is an answer in and of itself and just as telling. so... ]
[ Abelās regarding her for just a moment, as if internally debating something - before inevitably, his shoulders deflate just a bit. ]
Old enough to regret having to talk about it, but not so old that Iām wise enough to make up for it, I suppose. āPlease donāt make a crack about the hair; I promise, I was born this way, alright...?
[ an awkward fidget, before he glances sidelong at her - trying to gauge whether or not sheād be irate with his not entirely forthcoming response. this... even just this, was so impossibly hard to justify to his guilty conscienceā
so heās rapidly following up with his inquiry, before the disquiet can linger. ]
...You knew what she was talking about? Something in your future. Ah, it just... it looked like it struck a chord in you, and...
[ There's a surprising amount of understanding in her eyes when he answers her. He didn't give her an exact number, but knowing that there are people who are centuries old (i.e. Oren and Rokuro, and all witches that weren't Iona), she can make a good guess that it's more than his outward appearance suggests.
She doesn't pursue it any further; all she does is listen, waiting for him to finish and present his question to her. ]
... I don't know.
[ There's honesty in the way she responds. ]
I was in trouble before, but then I got out of it. Or rather, I was stopped.
[ Reversed Tower; disaster avoided, but the inevitable delayed. ]
As I am now, I think it's safe to say... I can live a normal life if I tried.
Abel is paying particular attention to the choice in wording. āstopped,ā rather than a situation naturally resolved. āif she tried,ā rather than actively trying. ]
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no subject
[ That's the only response he'll get for the time being. When he pulls his three cards, Fortune Teller draws back to spread them out and then flip them upwards. ]
... Hm. I see, I see...
[ First is The Star. Second is The Hanged Man. And finally, Judgement.
Monts gazes at his cards with some piqued interest now. Without betraying her neutral expression, she asks about them. ]
So...? What does that mean for him?
[ Fortune Teller clasps their fingers together not looking at either of them in their direction. They stare off into the distance before making an assessment. First, they point to The Star. ]
The Star is reversed. You're a suffering man. A man of faith without faith. You let others criticize you and yet here you are, your harshest one.
[ Monts is silent, no longer feeling like she can make a snide remark. There's a bite to this and she holds her breath for Abel's reaction. ]
no subject
but he doesnāt flinch or falterā ]
Well, the suffering part is decidedly correct, I can assure you.
[ the petulant grumble escapes him with a side-long glance toward Monts. for no particular reason. he isnāt insinuating anything, just in case she wonders. ]
This is terribly cryptic. I mean, thatās why all of this gets a bad rap, you know...? Even I could wave my arms around and say a bunch of mumbo jumbo with pretty cards. Honestly...! [ and now heās leaning in, peering at the others heās pulled discerningly. ] āSay, um. ...Unless one of these says Iām certain to have some rich, newly divorced supermodel fall madly in love with me, eh? I might be convinced to take this more seriously if you throw me a bone, here.
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Can't forgive yourself, can you? All you can do is walk farther, forward, as even what's precious is left behind. Well. Anyway.
[ They take a look back down at the table. ]
Hanged Man. Upright too. Well, that means there's some sense in your head somewhere. The upright meaning includes sacrifice, but I'd advise you not to go to extremes, especially since its other meaning is uncertainty and lack of direction. Repentance shouldn't be done blindly, not when there are others who will help you on your path.
And since you're asking about romance, fine. When upright, The Hanged Man means there's no romantic pressure. Probably better than saying no romance for you outright.
[ They scoff cause seriously, it's Father Abel. Monts is lost in thought thinking about how this relates to him cause this might be closer to the truth than he's willing to give her. ]
1/2
sometimes he permits himself to forget the things this island can do. dig at. uncover, and toy with. the friendships heās made here are precious, and some of the memories he has alongside its residents are some of his most treasured to date. it fosters complacency, doesnāt it? heās guilty of that, and... he canāt deny it.
but thereās also moments like this one, where he remembers thereās a cost, a balance, to everything. he can feel the weight of Montsā gaze at his side - whether itās on him, or his cards, he isnāt sure. either way, heās quickly schooling his face where the obfuscating idiocy had mildly slippedā ]
no subject
The only sacrifice Iām contemplating is forgoing any more of this... kind drivel. Please, save your breath; with such a glowing picture youāre painting, whatās a man to do with himself...? I canāt handle all this flattery~!
[ Abel shoots Monts a withering look. light. genial, if exasperated. ]
I think we were better off with the clowns, personally. Can we go now...? Iād like to romance another funnel cake, if you donāt mind. Surely you donāt want to listen to any more of this nonsense, Miss Monts...?
no subject
Settle down you beanpole. You should be grateful that Judgement is upright! This is the path forward you dolt.
[ With another 'hrmph' Fortune Teller leans back into their chair with crossed arms. ]
It is self-evaluation with awakening, not just old conclusions. Renew yourself in all ways including the future you see for yourself. Had this been reversed, you would be stuck with your pitiful perception of your being.
Just because all those years have passed doesn't mean it's too late. It just means you'll suffer more if the reversed Star is any indication.
[ The Fortune Teller's overall card reading for the priest has been oddly fruitful for Monts. She's barely remarked this whole time if only to really take in her companion's reactions to the cards and it's... It's telling.
They're so different, yet the same in some uncomfortable ways. ]
... You know that could have been worse Father Abel. Pretty generous reading if you ask me.
[ Silently, their host sweeps the cards into their hands and begins to shuffle again. ]
no subject
he absorbs the last card, quietly wondering to himself if there is any validity in the tarot's - albeit vague - foretelling. 'just because all those years have passed doesn't mean it's too late.' ...ha. is that so...? what a bittersweet pang, even if he doesn't believe any of this to be real at all.
can't dny it's ironic, though. the 'Star'? is it him looking for signs where there aren't any? the 'Star of Istvan' immediately comes to mind, his all-too-precious redheaded friend; the prospect of 'suffering' is rather grim if it is in any way in relation to her. (would he care otherwise...?) --ah, it's really pitiful, for him to put any weight at all in the mindgames this sometimes-dreadful place could pull; he's fixing at his glasses before settling a dull stare at Monts. ]
Miss Monts, might I suggest you avoid tempting your fate with this OBVIOUS charlatan?? This is simply hogwash and this person is clearly going to ask for an arm and a leg in payment for their, ...'services.' Maybe literally?
[ he leans in a bit, whispering far too loudly, ]
Y-you don't suppose I'm already doomed, do you? What if she eats me, after all...? --I like my appendages where they are, c-cmon, maybe we should just go...
[ ...he doesn't want Monts to pick her cards.
just in case there is validity in any of this, he thinks-- it... wouldn't be right, for him to hear it. ]
no subject
Choose your three now. We don't have all day.
...
[ Her hand reaches out to take three cards in no particular order. Fortune Teller gives a low hum before turning them over. ]
... Quite the cards you've chosen girl. I bet you'll have some interesting thoughts on these.
[ Monts stares at her cards. A reversed Tower. Upright Death. And lastly a reversed card of Temperance. ]
"The Tower..." [ Monts' attitude is hard to make out right now. Her expression is in between something akin to being troubled and calm resignation. Fortune Teller is rubbing their chin with one hand, amusement emitting from their person. ]
Aye, that's usually a troublesome one... You've been through the wringer haven't you girly?
no subject
...Abel has very little experience with tarot; heās exchanging a glance from the Teller to Monts, and back again. through the wringer; well, considering what he knows about her life, that doesnāt seem too far off the mark. her expression, though... ]
no subject
When this is reversed, that means you have delayed a crisis, but don't be surprised for another one to loom on the horizon. I can tell by your face. You can play it cool and calm all you want; your heart is still weak.
The heart is the foundation of every living, feeling, and thinking being; a tower in itself. If your tower has faulty foundations, it will fall.
... I see.
[ Unlike Abel, Monts doesn't fight against the Fortune Teller's reading. In a way, it's not they're telling her anything new, but more like putting those words, she had in her mind this whole time into reality. Monts decides to move on, pointing at the grim reaper with its scythes. ]
What about Death?
Ah, that one. It evades you doesn't it? [ Fortune Teller laughs at their own joke. Gotta hand it to this island, it sure does conjure up beings that know too much about those that inhabit its shores. ]
Well, at least it's not literal; very misunderstood you see. People see it and think it is the end. But if things are to be new, something must die! Upright, means transformation, release. The Tower may spell another disaster, but you are in the middle of Death itself!
[ Monts hasn't looked at Abel this whole time, but her hands are in her lap, gripping at her dress. It's like she doesn't believe it, but can't argue against it. ]
no subject
...
...is she okay? he doesnāt want to ask what all of this might insinuate for her. if sheās going through something - if she needs help... would she open up? ask? he doesnāt think so. she seems the type to try and grin and bear it. ]
Miss Monts...?
[ a quiet but earnest inquiry.
is she alright...? ]
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We're almost done, right? What's Temperance mean for me?
[ Fortune Teller shifts so that they're leaning forward and something about their presence has encompassed the whole of the tent they're sitting in. Monts' mark stirs on her neck. ]
Poor thing. You would have wanted this one upright, I'll tell you that for free.
[ Fortune Teller sounds much more menacing compared to the lighthearted voice they had sported at the beginning of their visit. They point at Monts with one gloved finger. ]
Excess. Imbalance. If given the chance you'll fall into the one extreme you've been trying to avoid this whole time. You're an all-or-nothing woman and with an attitude like that, the crisis from the Tower will define your fate. Think carefully, girl.
Priest. Or Father, as you're called.
[ The finger points to Father Abel next.]
This one's a complicated one. The parts that make up the sum are causing an imbalance. Prayers are all fine and good but tread carefully, you hear?
no subject
āWeāre going, now.
[ gentle, but brokering no argument. whether or not he needs the Tellerās warning, thereās uncharacteristic sobriety and some unreadable neutrality on his face. it isnāt his place to hear the details of Montsā fate; her struggles and her nature are private parts of her he's sure she wouldnāt appreciate being laid out and exposed without her prompting.
this island has a way of being cruel and prying and catches one off their guard. and while he cannot begrudge her curiosity, he will not invite any more an invasion than this. ]
Come. Do you want something to drink...? It wonāt be as good as yours, but... we can make due.
[ ...come on, Monts. he isnāt sure about her, but he thinks heāll be glad to be rid of this tent thatās become abruptly suffocating, somehow. maybe a moment to... digest... is in order. ]
no subject
Fortune Teller doesn't say anything at first and doesn't even demand payment. As they reach the exit flap of the tent, they pipe up one last time. ]
It's as you said girly; the future isn't set a set thing, but a collection of possibilities. The both of you just have a troublesome collection to stumble into before you.
No need to suffer needlessly. That goes for you both.
[ There's something about that last sentence that sticks to Monts. She's not sure what it means for Abel, but based on his cards, she puts aside her own struggles and just thinks quietly to herself. ]
...
[ When they're outside, it's when Monts finally speaks up. ]
Hey. Father Abel, a question for you. Nothing to do with your tarot reading, promise.
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Abel is fixing the sit of his glasses with an uncomfortable fidget. the mood is a tad awkward and heavy, isnāt it...? but her soft question cuts through his increasingly restless silence - and he isnāt sure if heās glad she spoke up first, or apprehensive where she might be thinking. ]
...Mm? Sure, of course.
[ his eyes slide to her face, and though he canāt hide the pensive sit in those blues that are a bit sharper than normal, heās more than willing to hear her out. ]
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How old are you?
[ She might have asked him this before; it's one of those things that have probably happened, but brushed it off when there was no real answer given. ]
I'm asking because... Well. From the sound of it, you've been...
[ Her voice trails off and her eyes glance to the side as if trying to choose the right phrase that won't make him avoid giving her a solid answer. ]
Well. We're both difficult to deal with. We have that much in common.
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opened up the can of worms rather throughly, though, didnāt it? heās frowning, softly, as he scratches absently into silver hair. well... ]
Iām not sure how much weight you should give what that person said, Miss Monts.
[ because thatās why sheās asking, right? because of what that creature said.
...this, is... less than ideal. he wants so badly to ask things of her after the proverbial hornets nest had been stirred up by those premonitions. if he avoids openness, it isnāt like he canāt see itāll seem hypocritical, distrustful, even if thatās not his intention at all.
...irritating. ]
This place... it likes to rattle our cages. Feed on fears or worries. Iām sure thatās all this was, but...
[ but she had taken it to heart, hadnāt she. and that was quite worrying for the message it conveyed. ]
no subject
...
...
[ And suddenly, she reaches up to pinch Abel's nose. ]
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H-Hey...!! OW!! Wh... what is THAT for?!
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I don't like liars or people who can't give me a straightforward answer Father.
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[ .......
heās rubbing his face with a glower, leaning away to protect his face from further abuse. donāt bully him!!!! stoppppp, heās baby, heās fragile, heās SENSITIVE!!!
...but heās looking a little admonished, sheepish... and after a hesitation, ]
Iām... [ mmmph... he starts - hesitates again, and starts over. ] Please donāt say that. I donāt want to lie to you, of course... Or hide things, or make you feel like I donāt trust you. ...I really mean that.
[ ābut,ā
as there is always a but, huh? but, he feels no good could come from answering the question. even so... maybe failing to answer is an answer in and of itself and just as telling. so... ]
...If I answer, can I ask you something, too?
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Go ahead. I think it's only fair if you do.
I'll try to be honest this time too.
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Old enough to regret having to talk about it, but not so old that Iām wise enough to make up for it, I suppose. āPlease donāt make a crack about the hair; I promise, I was born this way, alright...?
[ an awkward fidget, before he glances sidelong at her - trying to gauge whether or not sheād be irate with his not entirely forthcoming response. this... even just this, was so impossibly hard to justify to his guilty conscienceā
so heās rapidly following up with his inquiry, before the disquiet can linger. ]
...You knew what she was talking about? Something in your future. Ah, it just... it looked like it struck a chord in you, and...
[ āand Iām worried.ā ]
Are you... in trouble?
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She doesn't pursue it any further; all she does is listen, waiting for him to finish and present his question to her. ]
... I don't know.
[ There's honesty in the way she responds. ]
I was in trouble before, but then I got out of it. Or rather, I was stopped.
[ Reversed Tower; disaster avoided, but the inevitable delayed. ]
As I am now, I think it's safe to say... I can live a normal life if I tried.
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Abel is paying particular attention to the choice in wording. āstopped,ā rather than a situation naturally resolved. āif she tried,ā rather than actively trying. ]
And... do you?
[ ... ]
Want to live a normal life.
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