"Hello, this is Oz! I'm away right now, so I'll call you back when I get back to the phone. If I'm not at the phone, then I might be in my room, but if I'm not at my room then I might be downstairs on the first floor so if you need anything you can --" [beep]
Mm, he's been looking after me. [the quietest of smiles. He moves toward the bed, gesturing] Please, take a seat. I'm sorry about the mess... And I don't have much to offer in the way of refreshments.
[victorian manners: the lyfe] I could ask Gil to help with tea once he comes back though.
Please, it's not messy at all, and I'm the one who came up on very short notice, so don't worry about tea or refreshment. In fact, I hope Gilbert wouldn't mind if you had more sugar in your diet? [she follows, but stops to hand him the tin first.
spoiler: they're pumpkin brownies, to get in theme with fall...]
and oz pls she's getting points left right center to like 95% of your cast the moment she produces any type of sweet, lbr.]
I did, yesterday! [a certain witch consented to make the grocery run as long as they got a good share out of the bargain too, WHICH WORKED FOR EVERYONE.] I'm sorry they're not as fresh as they could be, but some sugar should still do anyone some good after everything, I think. I know I haven't asked for your preferences, but I hope you're okay with pumpkins, Oz?
Of course...! I'm happy just by the gesture alone, so thank you. [he smiles, a genuine one this time. now all he needs is to hide these from break] It's been so long since I've gotten to eat something sweet.
You're welcome, please let me know if you've any comments! I'm used to baking for people with a very fierce sweet tooth, so hopefully it's not too sweet, hehe.
[wow taking brownies from kids, THAT WOULD BE ULTRA RUDE]
[!!!!!] It's good...!! [there's even some of that old MAGICAL SPARKLE going on here, the miracle of pumpkin brownies] It's really delicious, miss Ciel!
[that's it HE'S NOT SHARING THESE WITH ANYONE...besides gil and alice and sharon and elliot and reim. aka only vincent and break are excluded...]
[she laughs back lightly with a shake of her head.]
Thank you, but I'm fine. This is a gift, after all. You should let me know if there's anything you'd like in the future, too. Gilbert normally takes care of those, right? If we mitigate the work, that should help him too, wouldn't it?
[there's a flicker of something at the mention of Gil and it looks suspiciously like guilt. Oz swallows after another bite, and moves to place the tin next to the alarm clock near the bed.]
Mm, Gil likes to bake, but I'm sure he'd appreciate your help. [yours rather than ours.]
Haha, is that so. Well, you're not a plant, thankfully, so you can eat sweets and won't wilt without some sun.
[ciel what kind of joke is that... but she sounds satisfied with that conclusion!]
How about mentally, then? It's ok if you don't want to talk about it, but it's important to tend to those kind of scars, too. Even more than the physical ones, I'd personally argue.
[lmao ciel.... He avert his eyes, shifting into that same old 'if I ignore my problems maybe they'll go away' except]
[It's not really only his problem is it? It involved someone else too, someone who didn't deserve to be ignored or avoided, even if that's what Oz has been doing for the past day or so. He's quiet for a while as he considers what to say, because the last thing he wants to do is tell everyone what happened to Izumo. He's not sure she'd appreciate that either.]
It's not mine I'm worried about. [quietly. and it's true. Oz is the last person to think about his own problems or his own wounds.] There's someone else...
I'm not sure she'd want people to know. [hesitantly] She tries to be strong by not depending on anyone else, and I think concern is something she doesn't like to have, even from well-meaning people.
Of course she wouldn't, which is all the more reason that these things shouldn't be kept hidden. Especially in a place like Haven that thrives off of everyone's fears and insecurities, pain and doubt aren't things people should bear, but instead speak up about. That person may be prideful and value her independence a lot, but she's still human, prone to weakness and hurt and in need of support from others willing to reach out, no different than anyone else. [Ciel's staring out a nearby window now, but her tone is firm and her eyes seem quite focused, despite looking out at a distance.]
It's impossible to do everything alone. What do you think, Oz?
[for some reason he's surprised to hear that from Ciel. Maybe it's because of what he's seen of her so far, cheerful and willing and mischievous and clearly helpful and housewife moe, and he realizes that all of those are sides to Ciel that he's had the fortune to see. He just hasn't seen this part. ]
...I'm not sure I have a right to say. There was a time when I wanted to deal with it on my own, and not tell Gil or Alice or Sharon even though everyone was worried about me. It's -- definitely impossible to deal with it on your own, but I wasn't clever enough to see it for myself.
[Those are her favorite sides too, if she's to take a moment to be honest... The serious side is more like an old, weighted glove, but to her credit, if any, it's also offset by a sort of experience she's full well willing to use to help others, backed by an earnest desire to see them become better towards others but especially facing themselves.
She offers a small smile.]
Then let's look at it exclusively at this other person's case, since we're talking about her right now. We would both like to help her, right? So what do you think would be, the right thing to do?
[there's no need to put himself up on the spot! ...at least, not yet.]
[what would be the right thing to do? Gil had told him he should talk to her. It was the least he could do, right? And yet, and yet, he can't forget the look of fear Izumo had when he had approached her in the hospital. The pattern of bruises around her neck. He swallows, looking panicked for just a moment, before it melts away back to his usually composed face.]
[She glances back at him. Putting the focus on this 'other' person was an attempt to lighten the pressure on him, but for him to claim this despite that and talk about himself...
...
It spoke volume, doesn't it? He was used against her.
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notvessalius) wrote2012-11-26 10:55 pm
that too....
[victorian manners: the lyfe] I could ask Gil to help with tea once he comes back though.
i wanted to be helpful
spoiler: they're pumpkin brownies, to get in theme with fall...]
don't worry u are the MOST HELPFUL
Miss Ciel -- did you make these yourself? [she's steadily accruing points already]
oh thank u i will continue to endeavor my best
and oz pls she's getting points left right center to like 95% of your cast the moment she produces any type of sweet, lbr.]
I did, yesterday! [a certain witch consented to make the grocery run as long as they got a good share out of the bargain too, WHICH WORKED FOR EVERYONE.] I'm sorry they're not as fresh as they could be, but some sugar should still do anyone some good after everything, I think. I know I haven't asked for your preferences, but I hope you're okay with pumpkins, Oz?
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Of course...! I'm happy just by the gesture alone, so thank you. [he smiles, a genuine one this time. now all he needs is to hide these from break] It's been so long since I've gotten to eat something sweet.
[because yuck cafeteria food]
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You're welcome, please let me know if you've any comments! I'm used to baking for people with a very fierce sweet tooth, so hopefully it's not too sweet, hehe.
[wow taking brownies from kids, THAT WOULD BE ULTRA RUDE]
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[he's going to bite into one then, hehehe, chewing and swallowing in the politest way possible--]
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[that's it HE'S NOT SHARING THESE WITH ANYONE...besides gil and alice and sharon and elliot and reim. aka only vincent and break are excluded...]
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(AND OZ!! just get her to make another batch sheesh THEY'RE YOURS FOR A REASON)
oh no let her cup a chin delicately and giggle bashfully like a legit maiden--]
Please, you don't have to put it that way... But I'm glad that you like them!
[but you know what if he was depressed before the sparkles are a good indication of recovery
SHE CAN SETTLE FOR THAT]
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[don't mind oz as he takes another bite, belatedly realizing that he should offer the tin to her too since it's only polite!]
There's no way I could dislike sweets as good as these. [absolutely no way!!]
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Thank you, but I'm fine. This is a gift, after all. You should let me know if there's anything you'd like in the future, too. Gilbert normally takes care of those, right? If we mitigate the work, that should help him too, wouldn't it?
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Mm, Gil likes to bake, but I'm sure he'd appreciate your help. [yours rather than ours.]
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[small talk done, however, although the relaxed demeanor doesn't leave her.]
Have you been mostly resting since everyone came back, Oz?
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[avoiding people and everything yeaah]
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[ciel what kind of joke is that... but she sounds satisfied with that conclusion!]
How about mentally, then? It's ok if you don't want to talk about it, but it's important to tend to those kind of scars, too. Even more than the physical ones, I'd personally argue.
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[It's not really only his problem is it? It involved someone else too, someone who didn't deserve to be ignored or avoided, even if that's what Oz has been doing for the past day or so. He's quiet for a while as he considers what to say, because the last thing he wants to do is tell everyone what happened to Izumo. He's not sure she'd appreciate that either.]
It's not mine I'm worried about. [quietly. and it's true. Oz is the last person to think about his own problems or his own wounds.] There's someone else...
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She grows quiet at that though, "someone else" is a start!]
...Then we can do something to help that person, I'm sure. May I ask, Oz?
[shifting the focus is actually an excellent start, all things considered...!]
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I'm not sure she'd want people to know. [hesitantly] She tries to be strong by not depending on anyone else, and I think concern is something she doesn't like to have, even from well-meaning people.
[have u guessed who it is ciel]
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Of course she wouldn't, which is all the more reason that these things shouldn't be kept hidden. Especially in a place like Haven that thrives off of everyone's fears and insecurities, pain and doubt aren't things people should bear, but instead speak up about. That person may be prideful and value her independence a lot, but she's still human, prone to weakness and hurt and in need of support from others willing to reach out, no different than anyone else. [Ciel's staring out a nearby window now, but her tone is firm and her eyes seem quite focused, despite looking out at a distance.]
It's impossible to do everything alone. What do you think, Oz?
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...I'm not sure I have a right to say. There was a time when I wanted to deal with it on my own, and not tell Gil or Alice or Sharon even though everyone was worried about me. It's -- definitely impossible to deal with it on your own, but I wasn't clever enough to see it for myself.
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She offers a small smile.]
Then let's look at it exclusively at this other person's case, since we're talking about her right now. We would both like to help her, right? So what do you think would be, the right thing to do?
[there's no need to put himself up on the spot! ...at least, not yet.]
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I think... I need to apologize.
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...
It spoke volume, doesn't it? He was used against her.
Her stare gains focus.]
You also have to forgive yourself, Oz.
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-- I can't. [he doesn't think he'll ever allow himself to]
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