But in many ways, it makes sense. How many people has he talked to already here, who have casually mentioned their untimely demise without so much as blinking an eye? How many scars had he seen across her body back during that chaotic photoshoot, back when they'd known little more about each other than their names?
And yet there's something about the plural she uses - death - that has him frowning deeper, all traces of his usual good cheer completely gone. No one should have to die more than once, for any reason at all. ]
That's nice of you to say and all, but we are teammates. [ Friends even, though he's not going to overreach beyond what she's comfortable with. ] I'm not particularly keen on seeing either of you [ or anyone, really ] die any time soon. Your 'nonsense,' as you call it, is my nonsense by virtue of the fact that we share a common goal here.
[ Even if that goal is the LILITH-assigned one of fighting kaiju and protecting the city. ]
Is there anything that snaps you out of this...corrosion faster than other methods? Or anything else I should know in case it happens again?
[ she'd like to correct him that technically they're in differing teams, but decides against it. she isn't one for cooperation at first on the bus either, preferring to take over when others are slacking off and isolating herself from the rest when her mind takes a hit - but she's no longer that person anymore. also, the fact that he's actually a tad upset at this revelation has reminded her that not everyone here came from horrible dystopian worlds. aren't they all lucky?
at that question, she gives him a mere shrug of her shoulders. ]
Just try not to get hit? [ very helpful advice 100/10 ] Sorry. If I knew, I'd have told you by now. I don't want to use that E.G.O anyway unless we're facing something huge, and I guess I was reminded of our recent voyage at sea before coming here that I held nothing back.
[ she sighs. she really gave him chocolate then traumadumped on him, huh. nice going, ish. ]
I didn't realize this was going to be a heavy topic. So much for being a good visitor. I don't want to add more to your burdens as you're healing up, so I'll be on my way if you want.
[ Should he roll his eyes at that? He's not going to roll his eyes at that. He is, however, going to let out a small sigh. ]
I'll do my best not to get hit then.
[ Don't mind the very teeny smidge of sarcasm creeping out into his voice right then. It's fine, he's been given worse pieces of advice. At least that one makes sense, even if it's functionally useless.
Ishmael gives her apology and he waves one hand, brows unfurrowing now that worst of the revelations are over. ]
You forget that I used to work in a prison. This is standard fare for me.
[ Maybe not the dying multiple times part, but the heavy topics part at the very least. Sure, it's a little worse coming from someone he talks to on a regular basis than a stranger he'll (hopefully) never cross paths with again, but it's still nothing out of the ordinary. ]
So there's nothing to apologize for. Besides, [ and here his tone shifts to something more pointed as he grabs one of the still-steaming mugs and holds it out to her ] you haven't had your tea yet.
[ Surely she wouldn't leave him so bereft as to mosey out before even having tea with him??? That's bad bedside manners. ]
[ she blinks like oh, right. she almost forgot. she gingerly takes the mug with two hands, giving it a bit of a wiff before blowing off the steam and taking a sip. ]
What flavor is this?
[ might as well provide a little bit of levity after that topic. she did consume the tea he gave her last christmas, but that was a long time ago and she did like all of them. either way, she already feels nice and warm after a couple more sips before setting it down and turning her attention back on him. ]
And by "standard fare", [ complete with airquotes ] you mean you've met other people who can rise from the dead too? That makes me feel a lot less special then.
[ she's kidding, of course. maybe treating death like it's a crapshoot shouldn't be normalized at all, but it's too late for her. ]
[ He flashes her a quick smile at that, though it doesn't reach his eyes. ]
Sorry, but you're still one-of-a-kind there.
[ Unfortunately not the world's greatest compliment, because no one should be dying that often. One day is he going to bring it up again because there is really so much to unpack with that, but not today. They've already talked about enough today. ]
And it's something called hojicha. We don't have it where I'm from. [ Because he's fantasy French. ] It's not what I'm used to, but it's nice.
[ A little nutty, a little sweet. Not an ideal tea for pairing with dessert, but enjoyable all the same. ]
But if you're more of a coffee person, I'll try and stock some for next time.
[ she tilts her head. she's not opposed to the idea, but how many times is she going to follow this guy's whims? as if the obligatory compliments aren't enough...
at least the hojicha is nice. too nice to have in the middle of a morbid topic, so she decides not to press it for now. the guy's definitely heard enough even as a hardened prison warden. he did provide a nice segue for a topic change and thus: ]
[ Next time.....but he doesn't reply, choosing instead to take a sip of his own tea. Gotta maintain that air of mystery, yanno. But at least he answers her other question without too much hesitation. There's no point in keeping his hometown a secret, not when he's already talked about it with other people. ]
A place called Fontaine. [ Well, technically he doesn't know that for sure, but all clues seem to point to him being from there. ] It's a series of islands surrounded by the sea. Nice place to be, especially during the summer. Take a stroll out by the water, grab a bite to eat at Cafe Lutece, then spend your afternoon fishing out in the sun.
[ Not that he really sees the sun all that much, but. He sounds fond enough anyway, words rolling out at an easy pace. ]
Not a bad life, as long as you ignore the looming future where the water level rises to insurmountable levels and floods the entire nation.
[ Wait, they were supposed to move on from morbid topics, his b. ]
And I thought we're supposed to move on from the doom and gloom.
[ still, she leans back in her seat and lets her thoughts wander. it does sound like a nice place; very idyllic, like the picnics he wished he could have. the Great Lake of District U isn't exactly ideal for such activities unless you live in a Nest, and ishmael has long since abandoned that place in society. ]
But apart from that, it does sound lovely. Makes me wish I had the chance to do those things back home, too.
[ The present doesn't make up for the past, but there's no harm in adding newer, better memories on top. Not that he assumes his company is a gift she should appreciate to the fullest (despite all the jokes he may have made) but she hasn't gone running from him yet, so surely he's at least tolerable. ]
I did say I'd take you out for a picnic after this [ with a small lift of his injured arm ] heals up all the way, but if there's something else you'd rather do I'm all ears.
she blinks owlishly at him, as though she's hearing this the first time. it isn't, but the fact that he still likes her company despite the horrors she just dumped on him surprises her anyway. ]
It's fine. I don't know where else I want to go but the ones that dating app came up for me. It's just...
[ she looks at her reflection on her mug to help recompose her thoughts. it's a habit of hers, to gaze upon the nearest body of liquid whenever she's feeling contemplative. ]
Do you do this often? Ignoring the fact that you must be a busy man back at the prison. I still feel like I'm getting my feet wet when it comes to going out and having fun for once.
You mean have fun? Or spend time with other people?
[ In truth, he doesn't - hadn't - done much of either, kept busy by his various duties as she'd correctly surmised. But he's always believed in balance and equality and, unlike some other ranked officials in Fontaine, had never particularly enjoyed working himself to death without a single break. Beyond that....
He takes another sip of his tea before setting the mug down. ]
You know, I almost died a long time ago. I didn't for some reason, and for the longest time I used to think it was because the gods or fate or whatever higher power wanted me to live with the burden of my crimes. [ Murder is murder after all, no matter how justified. ] I don't think that way anymore, and while I also don't think it's some sort of miraculous second chance at life, I'm more open to appreciating the extra time I've been given.
[ ALL OF THAT TO SAY (wow why is he such a verbose bitch): ]
Honestly, I'm not an expert at letting loose either but I firmly believe it's all a matter of attitude. So I'm sure you'll do just fine.
[ of course he'd committed a crime before. somehow that didn't cross ishmael's mind till now - though to be fair, if someone were to break a taboo back in the city they'd immediately be hunted down and killed on the spot. so in a way, it is a miracle that wriothesley has survived this long in life. ]
Gods don't really exist where I'm from. So if I choose to live on despite the sins I committed, it's because that is the path I have chosen.
[ and it was a liberating, to be able to choose for herself after years of self-doubt.
she takes one last sip of her tea, and casts a small smile at him. ]
...Thanks. For believing in me. But I hope the place you've chosen to have a picnic in better be worth it. [ don't disappoint her now...]
[ Hers is honestly a far more preferable approach to handling all the curveballs life throws at them, and the confidence behind her statement makes him smile, a surge of respect running through him. ]
I hope more people choose to adopt that mindset, instead of placing all their faith in invisible gods that might not even exist.
[ But also wow?? Way to lay on the pressure. ]
But I see you don't have much faith in me and my ability to choose fine dining [ picnic ] locations. [ He sighs, dramatically and without any sort of real emotion. ] Looks like I'll have to put in extra effort not to disappoint you.
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no subject
But in many ways, it makes sense. How many people has he talked to already here, who have casually mentioned their untimely demise without so much as blinking an eye? How many scars had he seen across her body back during that chaotic photoshoot, back when they'd known little more about each other than their names?
And yet there's something about the plural she uses - death - that has him frowning deeper, all traces of his usual good cheer completely gone. No one should have to die more than once, for any reason at all. ]
That's nice of you to say and all, but we are teammates. [ Friends even, though he's not going to overreach beyond what she's comfortable with. ] I'm not particularly keen on seeing either of you [ or anyone, really ] die any time soon. Your 'nonsense,' as you call it, is my nonsense by virtue of the fact that we share a common goal here.
[ Even if that goal is the LILITH-assigned one of fighting kaiju and protecting the city. ]
Is there anything that snaps you out of this...corrosion faster than other methods? Or anything else I should know in case it happens again?
no subject
at that question, she gives him a mere shrug of her shoulders. ]
Just try not to get hit? [ very helpful advice 100/10 ] Sorry. If I knew, I'd have told you by now. I don't want to use that E.G.O anyway unless we're facing something huge, and I guess I was reminded of our recent voyage at sea before coming here that I held nothing back.
[ she sighs. she really gave him chocolate then traumadumped on him, huh. nice going, ish. ]
I didn't realize this was going to be a heavy topic. So much for being a good visitor. I don't want to add more to your burdens as you're healing up, so I'll be on my way if you want.
no subject
I'll do my best not to get hit then.
[ Don't mind the very teeny smidge of sarcasm creeping out into his voice right then. It's fine, he's been given worse pieces of advice. At least that one makes sense, even if it's functionally useless.
Ishmael gives her apology and he waves one hand, brows unfurrowing now that worst of the revelations are over. ]
You forget that I used to work in a prison. This is standard fare for me.
[ Maybe not the dying multiple times part, but the heavy topics part at the very least. Sure, it's a little worse coming from someone he talks to on a regular basis than a stranger he'll (hopefully) never cross paths with again, but it's still nothing out of the ordinary. ]
So there's nothing to apologize for. Besides, [ and here his tone shifts to something more pointed as he grabs one of the still-steaming mugs and holds it out to her ] you haven't had your tea yet.
[ Surely she wouldn't leave him so bereft as to mosey out before even having tea with him??? That's bad bedside manners. ]
no subject
What flavor is this?
[ might as well provide a little bit of levity after that topic. she did consume the tea he gave her last christmas, but that was a long time ago and she did like all of them. either way, she already feels nice and warm after a couple more sips before setting it down and turning her attention back on him. ]
And by "standard fare", [ complete with airquotes ] you mean you've met other people who can rise from the dead too? That makes me feel a lot less special then.
[ she's kidding, of course. maybe treating death like it's a crapshoot shouldn't be normalized at all, but it's too late for her. ]
no subject
Sorry, but you're still one-of-a-kind there.
[ Unfortunately not the world's greatest compliment, because no one should be dying that often. One day is he going to bring it up again because there is really so much to unpack with that, but not today. They've already talked about enough today. ]
And it's something called hojicha. We don't have it where I'm from. [ Because he's fantasy French. ] It's not what I'm used to, but it's nice.
[ A little nutty, a little sweet. Not an ideal tea for pairing with dessert, but enjoyable all the same. ]
But if you're more of a coffee person, I'll try and stock some for next time.
[ What next time..... ]
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[ she tilts her head. she's not opposed to the idea, but how many times is she going to follow this guy's whims? as if the obligatory compliments aren't enough...
at least the hojicha is nice. too nice to have in the middle of a morbid topic, so she decides not to press it for now. the guy's definitely heard enough even as a hardened prison warden. he did provide a nice segue for a topic change and thus: ]
...Where exactly did you come from, anyway?
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A place called Fontaine. [ Well, technically he doesn't know that for sure, but all clues seem to point to him being from there. ] It's a series of islands surrounded by the sea. Nice place to be, especially during the summer. Take a stroll out by the water, grab a bite to eat at Cafe Lutece, then spend your afternoon fishing out in the sun.
[ Not that he really sees the sun all that much, but. He sounds fond enough anyway, words rolling out at an easy pace. ]
Not a bad life, as long as you ignore the looming future where the water level rises to insurmountable levels and floods the entire nation.
[ Wait, they were supposed to move on from morbid topics, his b. ]
no subject
And I thought we're supposed to move on from the doom and gloom.
[ still, she leans back in her seat and lets her thoughts wander. it does sound like a nice place; very idyllic, like the picnics he wished he could have. the Great Lake of District U isn't exactly ideal for such activities unless you live in a Nest, and ishmael has long since abandoned that place in society. ]
But apart from that, it does sound lovely. Makes me wish I had the chance to do those things back home, too.
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[ The present doesn't make up for the past, but there's no harm in adding newer, better memories on top. Not that he assumes his company is a gift she should appreciate to the fullest (despite all the jokes he may have made) but she hasn't gone running from him yet, so surely he's at least tolerable. ]
I did say I'd take you out for a picnic after this [ with a small lift of his injured arm ] heals up all the way, but if there's something else you'd rather do I'm all ears.
[ All two of them because Mihoyo was a coward. ]
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she blinks owlishly at him, as though she's hearing this the first time. it isn't, but the fact that he still likes her company despite the horrors she just dumped on him surprises her anyway. ]
It's fine. I don't know where else I want to go but the ones that dating app came up for me. It's just...
[ she looks at her reflection on her mug to help recompose her thoughts. it's a habit of hers, to gaze upon the nearest body of liquid whenever she's feeling contemplative. ]
Do you do this often? Ignoring the fact that you must be a busy man back at the prison. I still feel like I'm getting my feet wet when it comes to going out and having fun for once.
no subject
[ In truth, he doesn't - hadn't - done much of either, kept busy by his various duties as she'd correctly surmised. But he's always believed in balance and equality and, unlike some other ranked officials in Fontaine, had never particularly enjoyed working himself to death without a single break. Beyond that....
He takes another sip of his tea before setting the mug down. ]
You know, I almost died a long time ago. I didn't for some reason, and for the longest time I used to think it was because the gods or fate or whatever higher power wanted me to live with the burden of my crimes. [ Murder is murder after all, no matter how justified. ] I don't think that way anymore, and while I also don't think it's some sort of miraculous second chance at life, I'm more open to appreciating the extra time I've been given.
[ ALL OF THAT TO SAY (wow why is he such a verbose bitch): ]
Honestly, I'm not an expert at letting loose either but I firmly believe it's all a matter of attitude. So I'm sure you'll do just fine.
[ Just ✨ believe ✨ in yourself. ]
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Gods don't really exist where I'm from. So if I choose to live on despite the sins I committed, it's because that is the path I have chosen.
[ and it was a liberating, to be able to choose for herself after years of self-doubt.
she takes one last sip of her tea, and casts a small smile at him. ]
...Thanks. For believing in me. But I hope the place you've chosen to have a picnic in better be worth it. [ don't disappoint her now...]
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I hope more people choose to adopt that mindset, instead of placing all their faith in invisible gods that might not even exist.
[ But also wow?? Way to lay on the pressure. ]
But I see you don't have much faith in me and my ability to choose fine dining [ picnic ] locations. [ He sighs, dramatically and without any sort of real emotion. ] Looks like I'll have to put in extra effort not to disappoint you.
[ It's on now. ]
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[ and with that, she stands from her chair. ]
Anyway, I've already overstayed my welcome. Hope you like the chocolate.
[ and with a wave, she makes her leave. see you at the fake dating, oomfie ]