estoria | [closed] too cold, too cold, vanilla

Entry tags:

[closed] too cold, too cold, vanilla

Who: Athena Cykes

psycholawgy & Simon Buttquill

shacklebreaker
When: Backdated to 26 Jan (?), post CERES tours
Where: Medical facility for now
What: Sailor Moon got owned by Jadeite and it's Tuxedo Mask's duty to save her
Rating/Warning: Simon likes to threaten people a lot

[ Right after the dumb tour at CERES, Athena heads straight for the medical facility looking like a total hobo. Her hair is wet, and so is her dress, and she has no shoes on. And is that blood? Yeah, that's blood dripping from her ankles. It's painful to walk, but what can she do? Oh, and she also reeks. Like garbage. Have you ever met the personification of garbage? That's Athena.

Eventually, she manages to arrive at the medical facility's ER where she immediately gets tended to. They also make her take a shower, or ten. The robot doctors disinfect her legs to prevent any diseases that might come out of it, and has bandaged both her legs for now. So... Walking isn't exactly an option yet. But at least she's been given some ankle support. It's still going to hurt when she walks, but it'll lessen the pain.

She's still in the ER wondering how to go home... Ryuko is likely busy with Nonon. . . Maybe she can text Simon? He'll be like a prince saving her from trouble. So dreamy. But since her CereVice is busted, she has to wait six hours for it to be back up and running again. Fortunately, the tests she had to undergo to make sure she was healthy. Not to mention they also had to check her psychological state of being. All of this took quite some time. ]

At the medical facility ER. Can you pick me up, pleaaaaaaase?
Also please bring a jacket because my clothes are dirty :(
And maybe some shoes too?

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[He looks down at her for a moment, and slowly shakes his head, folding his hands around hers.] No, that was my own folly. I should not have lost my temper, least of all with you... when the one I should truly be angry with is myself.

[What would Metis think? He vowed he would protect Athena, but time and again, he's failed to do so. The fact she's come so close to death here and he wasn't there to save her -- nor did he have any idea she was in danger -- is something that brings him deep shame.]

[ There's a shy smile that curls around her lips when she feels that Simon's at least calmed down. But the anger or guilt he feels for what happened to Athena does bother her, and she wants to make him feel better about it. ]

Don't be... [ A short pause. ] Please? It's not your fault.

Unless it's okay for me to be angry and violent when something bad happens to you, too. [ Her grip on Simon's hands just grows tighter, and her smile widens slightly. ]

I think I've begun to understand what you mean when you keep saying you're bound by your duty. Well, it's also my duty to protect you, and to care for you. I won't let anybody do anything bad to you... because you're Simon, and I care for you a lot.

Edited 2015-07-08 19:00 (UTC)

[He'd scoff at her claiming she has a similar duty, had she been anyone else. But this is Athena, and she's more than proven she means every word, after all she did to save him.]

Worry less about protecting me, when I am more than capable of keeping myself out of trouble, and be more concerned about protecting yourself... That is all I ask.

[He's got enough grey hairs as it is, without her continued near-death experiences giving him more.]

[ Simon's lucky she doesn't know about that time a vampire bit him... She'd totally flip if she knew. ]

Just because you can keep yourself out of trouble doesn't mean it still can't happen. So let me worry about you, please? I don't think I would know what to do if something bad happened to somebody very special to me.

[ There may be some underlying meaning to that, but Simon's free to figure that out or not. ]

[That's one thing he'll never breathe a word of, right along with the vast majority of his life on death row. He does, however, raise an eyebrow at her.]

You're being even more cloyingly sentimental than usual. Are you feeling all right?

[He'll even extract his (non-bloodied) hand from hers to pretend to take her temperature. Because how else does one deal with affection, besides being a huge dick about it???]

[ her whole face goes red when Simon checks to see if she's sick with something. her heart races, but she knows that she probably won't be able to keep just watching him from afar for so long. living with him for a week or so made her accustomed so the sound of his own heart - even though he was in a different room when they slept. she's picked up on his mannerisms (mostly), and knows just the right amount of sugar to put in his coffee. and the tea -- well, she's learned how he likes it, too. when he comes his hair, he starts from a certain side and makes it all the way to the other, but leaving the longer parts to be bushy like a samurai would.

there's a lot of stuff athena cykes has picked up on. and while it took her a while to pick up on her own emotions, she feels like she has it right this time. ]

I like you.

[ she says it as flatly as possible, eyes averting the older man's gaze. ]

I like you. It's-- it's not a joke. Or it's not like how I used to say it when I was younger.

[ And again: ] I like you.

[The prosecutor looks stunned. He quickly withdraws his hand at that, and his usually deathly-pale complexion flushes pink. She can't mean that, can she? But she says it isn't a joke.]

...Then I've been doubly foolish. I never realised.

[Simon Blackquill, the master of psychological manipulation, never realised the charge he'd sworn to protect was developing a crush on him. Had he realised, maybe he could have distanced himself from her, kept her at arm's length. Not that she'd let him without a fight, but it would be better that way. He could still uphold his duties, and not risk anything... complicated.

So why is his heart racing? He looks away from her, still flustered, but attempting to keep a cool demeanour.]

For how long have you felt this way?

[ Now she feels bad for saying it, but at the same time, her chest feels a lot lighter. Simon may have scolded her earlier, but that's been resolved now, hasn't it? And she hasn't said it outwardly, but she promises to herself, and to him as well, to be more careful. She doesn't want to see him angry the way he was just back then; that was probably the worst side she's seen of him, barring all incidents related to the Phantom.

Her voice has grown softer, and it's cracked, but she manages to speak. ] I don't know. I don't know... [ And she shakes her head. ]

It- It was fun at first, and we were spending time as friends. But I started thinking of you all the time. I've never. . . It's never happened to me before. Something like that.

[ She's obviously had crushes on say, movie stars before, but on people very close to her? No... she was far too busy studying and trying to graduate as fast as she can to be able to get her badge. She didn't have time to fool around. ]

And then when Ryuko left, and I stayed here. . . I just wanted to stay here forever. [ Another pause, as she starts crying again. ] I liked it when you'd put your arms around me. It felt so warm, and it made me feel safe... and I-- Ryuko's hugs weren't like that. They didn't make my heart feel like it was being twisted.

Athena... [Now she's crying again, and he can't think of anything to say that won't make this worse. He pats her back in an attempt to soothe her.]

Never doubt that I think the world of you. You've grown into a vibrant, strong young woman of unmatched tenacity. But... [He's sure he's too old for her, too cynical, and too damaged besides. What could she possibly see in that?] There are plenty out there far more suitable for your affections than I.

[ She just shakes her head in response. ]

I-- Even if you say that, my heart won't listen. You can be scary, but you're smart, and caring, and... I just-- my heart gets excited when I see you. Or when I talk to you. Or... when I think about you.

I'm weird, aren't I? [ But at least she laughs a bit. ]

... Y, You don't have to reciprocate my feelings, but I just couldn't take it anymore. I wanted to tell you, even though you were mad at me. And I guess. . . it's okay if we don't talk anymore after this.

What, What I said and what I did... I shouldn't have done it.

Edited 2015-07-09 11:39 (UTC)

[He looks away from her, brow furrowing. This is still a lot to take in, and truthfully, he's suddenly unsure of just what it is he feels toward her. He's so used to pushing his feelings aside and discarding them -- a carryover from prison. What, after all, did a man resigned to death need with attachments?

And yet...]

I don't want to hurt you... That is the one thing I'm certain of.

[What he isn't certain of is not hurting her means casting his feelings aside as always... Or listening to them, for once.]

Do you truly trust me not to hurt you again, after everything you've already endured?

[ Athena can get hurt all she wants, if it means the people around her will be happy. That's- That's just how she is. She wasn't like this; she used to be selfish and just wanted to be alone. Who cares about other people? Definitely not her.

But growing up, she's learned a lot of things, the most important thing being that you should put on your biggest smile at the toughest of times. Which makes sense. If you're hurting so much, you just have to make sure the people around you aren't affected by it.

Unfortunately, that logic may not pass with Simon Blackquill. Athena remains quiet for a while, thinking of a mature way to respond. Simon... he'd want to be with someone mature, wouldn't he? She's not the kid she used to be, nor does she want to be treated like the eleven year old she used to be. ]

I trust you, [ a beat .] with everything. Because... you're the only person I can rely on, for everything. And if you do hurt me or the people around me, I'd understand that it's because you're just doing what's best for me.

[ Her lips curl into a shy smile. ] I don't— I don't know what kind of answer you wish to hear, but... I'll accept whatever you want to say. As long as it makes you happy.

[ Even if it hurts her, but she doesn't think that it would be intentional if he does. ]

I can only say that I don't want to hurt you anymore than I already have, though... [ It's okay if she gets hurt, but she'd rather not Simon get hurt even more. ]

Edited 2015-07-09 13:27 (UTC)

You've never done anything to hurt me. Though you do have a continual habit of making my life more complicated, Athena Cykes. [Despite his apparent exasperation, though, he's not drawing away. Just the opposite -- he leans in closer, his voice growing quieter.]

But... That's not such a terrible thing. It has always been my own choice.

[He trails off, steel grey eyes less guarded than usual, and perhaps even a little curious, as he studies Athena. How she interprets that, he leaves entirely to her.]

[ her eye stare right back at simon's curious and weak. should she say something? she wants to know truly if he's mad, or upset with her. will they still be friends after this? athena just wants to know... and maybe hear what his heart truly has to say. ]

I can-- I can try to make things simpler, [ she at least tries to appease him before leaning in closer. perhaps there's something she wants to do, but only if she has the consent of the other. ]

[He's surprised she can't hear his heart already... but then, he's always been skilled in hiding his true feelings, even from her.

In this instance, though, she's uncovered something in he didn't realise was there, something he can't just rationalise away. Maybe it's worth trusting her with his heart once again, and seeing where this unfamiliar road leads. Even if it doesn't simplify things at all.

So he closes the distance between them, and kisses her.]

[ The kiss definitely takes her by surprise, but whatever hurt she's been feeling immediately goes away as she feels Simon even closer to her than before. She doesn't intend to make the kiss last long since it might be awkward, but she does let it linger for as long as SImon does.

And once she pulls away, she just stares at him, unsure of what just happened. ]

Simon kissed Athena! Simon kissed Athena!

[ ... ah.

She just looks away now, covering her whole face. ]

W- Widget...!

Edited 2015-07-10 09:09 (UTC)

[It's a brief kiss, lasting no more than a few moments, since he has no idea just how Athena will take it. Widget's exclamation, though, makes him pull back, looking away in embarassment.]

Enough of that, you silly robot.

[ She's silent for a few moment before she smiles. ]

I heard your heart.

[His embarassment seems to fade, at her response, and he looks back at Athena.]

Hmph. I should curse you for outwitting it a second time. [A pause, then, and with more uncertainty:] Or perhaps I should apologise, if that was excessively bold.

[ She shakes her head, her smile not faltering. ]

Can-- Can we do it again?

Not if you feel the need to ask for permission.

[He's joking, of course, although he does mean it -- she doesn't have to ask. He holds her hands, leaning in to kiss her more deeply than before.]

[ Mm, no, she removes her hands from his, and moves her arms to wrap them round his neck as she locks lips with his. And eventually, she nibbles on his lip gently. But again, she doesn't want this to be too long, so she doesn't give any signs that this should go any further than what's already happened. ]

[As she links her arms around his neck, he'll pull her up and onto his lap, breath hitching involuntarily when she bites his lip. Still, he's following her lead and at her own pace, so he breaks off the kiss as soon as she wants to.]

[ When she pulls away, a hand moves down to Simon's chest, stroking it a bit. Their faces are so close to each other, they can practically hear each other's breaths.

She grins at him the moment the kiss is over. ]

I think I got too excited. I'm sorry.

Edited (I CAN'T SCENARIO...) 2015-07-10 15:08 (UTC)

[He sits back, and shakes his head. He's a little dazed at what just happened, but for once, he looks genuinely happy.]

I'm just pleased to see you smile again, Athena.

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