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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

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[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

Is that where he's hidden himself now? [Cecil murmured distantly, having only listened to half of what Rydia had just told him.]

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

[A pause. Overcoming the mysteries of Luceti's "indoor plumbing" was one thing. But this. This was not a language he understood. Rather than anger, though, his brow furrowed curiously, though he spoke with the caution of a person approaching a bear, since incomprehensible language was generally linked to violence with this one.]

I'm sorry, what was that?

[He genuinely did wish to understand the gibberish. That whole 'toilet' concept hadn't yet lost its charm.]

[yoctograms.livejournal.com]

The FACTORING HECTOPASCALS here have an IQ > 90.

[That one part was yelled, of course. With this pose]

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[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

...it's likely. He speaks of that whenever these experiments have been too hard on him. Which is often.

(ooc: Aww, cute icon. <3)

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

[Well. Cecil was so glad he'd gotten that clarified. It aaaallll made sense now. Talking to Sho was *exactly* like poking a bear. This was a frame of reference he could follow.]

I'm. Quite sorry you feel that way. [He wasn't sure what Sho was angry about, but he was certainly angry enough.] You seem... Frustrated.

[yoctograms.livejournal.com]

Hnn. Minor variables in the overall equation. Zetta lame one too.

...This is subtracting from my work time.

[...A pause, and then she smirks one more time before he teleports out of there. HE vanishes in a weird little shadowy blur thing. Bye Cecil. PFft]

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[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

I see. [The thought of being unable to rescue Kain's happiness hit him as yet another failure; he'd betrayed the only brother he knew, and the Guilt was strong.] We'll just have to see to it that Kain isn't overtaken by another of these experiments. Time is critical. [There was no trust in his own words, though. As much as he tried to appear positive for Rydia's stake, his confidence remained shaken.]

((OOC: Nowhere NEAR as cute as Rydia/Cecil DRAWING awwww ;_;))

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[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[Rydia noticed that, and she hugged him again. She couldn't claim any great success with Kain either, thanks to the dragoon's stubbornness, and that bothered her.]

At least we can show him that we care, and are around if he needs or wants us. You know he won't say it, but he doesn't always want to be alone....

[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?

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[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

[owowoOW too tight on the recently dislocated shoulder SOOOOOOOOOOB being a Man hurt sometimes. ;_;

He endured her hug patiently.] If he seeks solitude, his wishes ought to be respected. It is his decision alone. All we can do is support him upon his return.

[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.]

[seedprodigy.livejournal.com]

[And her expression changed from one of puzzled but listening acceptance to one much more guarded and wary.] ...If you want to call it that. I call it assault and battery and attempted rape. If you were there, why didn't you stop him?

[She's assuming he was there and didn't intervene, which gets him even lower marks than the truth will.]

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

[Cecil swallowed hard and forced his eyes to meet hers.] Because I was him. [He sank to one knee, head bowed from the weight of disgrace. The behavior in his past was inexcusable, and thus he offered no excuse for it, prepared to accept whatever retribution she saw fit.]

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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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[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[She felt him stiffen and immediately moved away, enough to concentrate and send some healing energy in his direction.]

He can't always be left alone to brood, too much of that isn't good for him. Everyone needs balance. Besides, I think he's used to me checking on him.

[seedprodigy.livejournal.com]

[...For the moment, there was no retribution. The divide between the two men was so great, such a wide gulf, that she could not line them up together as one and the same - not to mention there was almost no way in hell all that hair could have fit in that helm. It was almost as long as hers.

So Quistis just stood there for the moment, arms folded and still holding her paperback, watching him with the same wary expression.]

It was you.

[It wasn't a question.]

That thing was you.

[If his behavior was the result of that horrid "experiment" that changed... basically everyone else she'd met, well, that was an explanation. But still.]

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

[A soft nod.] That "thing", as you call it, is a part of my past I've spent quite some time attempting to put behind me. I am not proud. I simply.. [He stumbled over the words.] I wish to apologize for the unfortunate transgression and assure you that such a thing will never happen again.

[Hesitation.]
And, if I may so dare, perhaps I shall also beg forgiveness, if it is conceivable.

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[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

Please don't. [He murmured as he felt himself begin to feel better.] I'd like to heal on my own. I deserve this pain.

[seedprodigy.livejournal.com]

...Not proud? You're not proud you were once something like that?

[Oh dear. Run and hide, Cecil, run and hide - because Quisty's getting louder by the word, though she never quite reaches shouting level-]

Not proud you were once someone that walked all over women and tried to force them to your will and would even consider forcing yourself on a woman who CLEARLY WASN'T INTERESTED-

[-okay, except for that part-]

and would even CONSIDER that it was you male right to have every girl around just for your personal pleasure?! And now you have the temerity to sit there and wallow in your angst and not doing anything to actually make up for it or make the world a better place or maybe protect women Hyne forbid?! You're just going to sit next to the water and moan and be pathetic in silence away from everyone until someone else stumbles over you!? GROW UP, Cecil! Grow up and wake up to the fact that life won't let you do that and if you don't try and make amends for what you were and what you did, no one else will either! Forgiveness doesn't just come because you want it or feel like you deserve to be struck down where you stand! If you want things to be better then you have to work at it!

[-and she finally runs out of breath and steam at the same time. She's thrown her book on the ground at some point during that whole thing and is standing there with her hands clenched. Be proud, Cecil! Not everyone triggers a Quistis lecture!]

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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.]

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

[Cecil tensed from the sheer volume and intensity contained in Quistis' lecture. Truthfully, it triggered memories of a time he'd slepped another man for mourning his dead bethroved too long. Was that the level of spinelessless he was displaying? If that was the case, it was indeed wholly unacceptable!

Being closer to the ground than she at this moment, he took her book quietly and passed it up to her without raising himself.] I have journeyed great lengths to rid myself of that stigma, Lady Quistis. It is unfortunate you were forced to meet me in such a state. I would truly wish to redeem myself to you, if you will allow it.

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[holyblade.livejournal.com]

All right. [He was safe to do so with now; there would be no pinning her to the ground, and she wouldn't have to use Hold on him once more. So, slowly, she makes her way toward him, and once near, sits down with him.

Still, there's lots of happy funtime awkward silence!]

[seedprodigy.livejournal.com]

[No, Cecil was displaying a higher level of spinelessness than the man he'd berated. Some "hero" he was - hiding off away from others and cringing whenever consequences were presented to him.

Quistis took the book from him, only to throw it down again immediately in extreme emphasis - it didn't hit him, but it came pretty close.] I. Told. You. Grow up. Grow the entire set of male appendages and start actively trying to fix past mistakes rather than just sitting here brooding. You're nothing but a spineless fool if you don't.

[And she didn't have to stay here! Him abasing himself more would only get her more annoyed, so she grabbed for her book and turned to walk off. Seriously Cecil, if you want to have a conversation with her, stop sounding like a passive emo idiot.]