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[lunarborn]

[After the events of the previous week, the mature thing to do would have been to would have been to take the awkward stares and deliver his humble apologies like a man. Yet after spending a week steeped in the most negative emotions he'd indulged in even the darkest of fantasies, it was easier to keep to himself.

He'd been spending quite a bit of time along the southeastern banks of the river running outside the village, staying outdoors to avoid the all-encompassing yet entirely oppressive forgiveness that awaited him at home. He would make amends and pay his dues in time, but for now, there was still the matter of coping with what was within him that the experiment had tapped to affect his actions.

The man lying faceup on the riverbank would still be visibly bruised despite sharing living space with a mage proficient in the healing arts. He'd been grateful to have been pulled from the precipice of death, yes, but wished to let the tender achy muscles, dark bruises, and angry gashes heal on their own as penance. It was in this way that he watched the sky begin to darken, chronicling the sun's slow journey towards rest.]

Comments

[yoctograms.livejournal.com]

[...Hmmmm. Minamimoto is just walking down the street here looking for a new hat so he's just in the red bandanna thing which is under that thing usually and then is oddly amused here. Hmm.

A bruised guy on the ground...

his gut reaction is to kick him, but for now he'll just walk on over to lean in on him with a wolfish smirk]

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

[Well now honestly. How was a man supposed to get a good bit of Brood if people were going to go running around interrupting it?

Despite the searing pain produced by weight on his healing wounds, Cecil kept mindful of his manners and greeted the stranger with a polite, if somewhat wavering smile.] Well. Hello there.

[yoctograms.livejournal.com]

Hnn. [Appraising look... brooding, injured, polite.... the good-ish looks aside from that. Conclusion made, set phasers to troll]

You look like a kicked puppy.

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

You appear to be quite knowledgeable on the subject of kicked puppies, dear sir. Have you very much experience in the art? [Which was quite possibly the closest thing to "Go away I'm trying to hate myself and you're distracting me" he would be uttering aloud.]

[yoctograms.livejournal.com]

Mmm. ±Some. Binomials have different reactions though.

[And with that! Swift kick to the side for you, Cecil. Just because he can. Will you somehow stop it?!

[amber-arcangel.livejournal.com]

[Since Kohaku is..fairly sure this experiment is over, she's not too freaked out when she spots him. She'll float over, and lean over so she's in his sight]

..Hello.

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

[Well. This is uncomfortable. Cecil sits up at the sight of her so as not to be rude in addition to. Y'know. Trying to kill her a couple of days ago. So sorry about that.] Ah. Hello to you as well.

[amber-arcangel.livejournal.com]

[And with that, she'll move so she isn't hovering over him anymore] Are you feeling better now?

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

I am. More myself. ["Better" was such a strong word.] You've remained unharmed?

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[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[Another heat wave, another time to seek the water. Rydia wandered along the riverbank, intending to just wade. However, the temperature seemed to have risen since her original idea, and the humidity with it. Shrugging, she proceeded to strip off her clothing and leave it in the shade while she sought to immerse herself. No one was around, or so she thought....]

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[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

[Cecil's attention was taken by the sound of gentle splashing. He blinked softly, having also thought he would be left alone here. Still, he reasoned that watching a naked lady passing by would help ease his tortured soul.

The curiosity became horror quite quickly, though, as he noticed the telltale green hair that indicated the woman he'd planned on watching wasn't just any woman. He scrambled upright, turned his back to her, and frantically considered the traumatic implications of what it meant to know what Rydia's wet, nude figure looked like.

So far, it just meant that he needed to find a way to reverse time and throw the fight with Kain so he could manage to be dead right now instead of just wishing he was.]

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[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[Humming to herself and pleasantly devoid of thoughts that had been plaguing her recently, Rydia sank into the cool water. She sighed contentedly...then frowned, upon getting that sensation that she wasn't alone. Granted, being seen like this didn't faze her that much, but she preferred her company to be honest rather than sneaking around.

Rydia stretched and waded back out a little...only then spotting Cecil just as he turned around. Where it almost anyone else, she would have shrugged and continued as she was. However, this was Cecil and considering what had happened between them lately...she eeped, then froze.]

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[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

[Judging by the squeak and the lack of splashing, she'd noticed him. And wasn't moving. Which meant she was still right there in all her nakedness. He spoke to her without turning to see her.] Ah. Rydia. Are. Have you been well? [Awwwwwkwaaaaaard.]

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[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

[Stealth is not something Golbez is good at. Wearing a suit of plate armor does not exactly aid in this. So Cecil will probably be able to hear his brother coming by from quite a great distance.

He doesn't say anything at first, just sits down cross-legged next to Cecil and looks him over. After some time, he speaks up, his voice calm and understanding.] Atoning, are we?

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[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

[Though he heard Golbez coming to join him, Cecil didn't move to acknowledge him until after he spoke, even then without taking his eyes from the sky.]

I did terrible things. It warrants atonement.

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[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

Even if it wasn't truly your will? [It's mostly a rhetorical question. Golbez knows full well how Cecil would think in a situation like this.]

I should have interfered.

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[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

And if it was my will? [It was a quiet admission, one he would never be able to bring to someone other than Golbez. Nobody else would have understood it.] What if, somewhere deep inside me, that's the person I really am?

[seedprodigy.livejournal.com]

[Oh Cecil, you thought it was easy to escape your shame? Not in this place, where every horrible coincidence can come true in the blink of an eye. And another one has come to light - Quistis, walking along the river with a book in her hand, dressed completely normally now (and armed with her whip), looking for a place to read. Compared to most, she was enjoying the weather - she was always too cold, so she was finally comfortable. But the direct sun was agony, so she was searching for a shaded place near the spray of the water to be a little more enjoyable.]

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

[It took a moment for Cecil to notice that he had company. It wasn't difficult to recognize the Lady Quistis, though, one of the handful of girls to whom he'd nearly committed unspeakable acts. He faltered uncertainly, knowing he'd most likely be able to continue on without her recognizing him from their earlier altercation. But that would be the coward's way out.

Cecil approached her, head bent in respectful deference.] Well met, Lady Quistis.

[seedprodigy.livejournal.com]

[If he'd left well enough alone, she would have continued on without recognizing him at all, or possibly even seeing him. But once he'd spoken up, there was no way she could pass him by - especially since she didn't recognize the voice now speaking her name.

Turning in that direction, she also wasn't entirely certain this was a man speaking... but she was mostly sure, at least. At least she only looked a little confused and not totally contemptuous?] I'm sorry, but have we met?

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

[As expected, there was nothing to visibly connect him with the monster controlling his actions so recently. Sighing, he stared at the ground between them, unable to meet her eyes while he revealed himself.] Several days prior, you experienced an altercation with a man in black armor.

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[holyblade.livejournal.com]

[Rosa had been very... well, blank, as of late, considering what had happened. She had mostly stayed in her room, but today, the woman had decided to go out and wander for a bit.

It was a bit too hot for her liking, but that was an afterthought at the sound of the river. The river meant it would be cool! So, Rosa went off toward the river, kicking off her shoes as she went along, as to wade in the water (what Rydia DIDN'T do). She traveled along for a bit in the water, occasionally slipping on smooth rocks (but not falling completely into the water) before she came upon someone on the riverbank.

Slowly, Rosa made her way toward the figure, and before she knew it, she was close enough to see who it was: her husband. Of course she knew that he was no longer mad with jealousy, nor would he attack her, but it was still almost painful to see him.

...but she couldn't ignore the fact that he was hurt. Not now, and not ever. So, she focused a small Cure spell on him, at least for the moment. Rosa let her gaze linger on him for a moment, before she began on her way again.]

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[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

[Cecil was too busy wallowing in his concerns to take great notice of Rosa's presence. Until, of course, there was less ambient pain to indulge said wallowing. Puzzled, he checked his surroundings for an extra, unannounced person. He frowned softly as he was met with the physical manifestation of his angst. Hey there wifey. Sorry about the whole calling you a slut thing.]

R--rosa.

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[holyblade.livejournal.com]

[Oh. He was speaking to her. Rosa paused in her steps to glance back at Cecil.]

...Cecil.

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[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

Sit with me? [Though he'd come here partly to get away from interacting with Rosa, it would have needed to happen anyway. Better sooner than later, he supposed.]