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['I don't want your apologies'

A long silence. Light filters in- Daedalus gets a third of the way though his tea, meditative and fighting to keep his consciousness aloft and not just sinking into sensation, an uncomfortable lull, before he dares another word.]

Would you prefer I raise a fuss?

It's...only dinner.

You didn't need to raise a fuss. I don't expect you to act like Yosuke or Raul Creed. [She sighs, taking another sip.]

Your tone said it all.

[She's gotten much better at picking up on his subtleties. Daedalus is satisfied enough with that thought alone, though it's a little bit unnerving-

Then again, that's to be expected. Perhaps that comes with having an investigator sharing living space for...nearly two months now, and she must be watching his habits much more attentively in close quarters than she ever had before. And that's a pleasant thought too- although it leaves him feeling apprehensive about just how vulnerable that leaves his private feelings.

He swallows, keeps his voice measured steadily, careful.]

I'd feel better about it, maybe, if you weren't going to his private residence. That was...a very forward invitation, from someone you don't know so well.

[She closes her eyes and sips idly at her tea, trying to calm herself so she doesn't get angry with him. Daedalus is her friend, has known her all her life. He's concerned, he's protective-

He cares about her. It's only natural for someone like him to become upset that she's going to a stranger's house.

But he also did this because of Vincent Law. And it's a little unnecessary.]

I'm not going unarmed. I never do.

Yes, but-

[You don't have an entourage-

He'd point out warily, except he really doesn't want to bring up Iggy now. But that's valid, isn't it? She'd never been out on dangerous missions without someone to mind her back very close behind. Without an autoreiv he could quietly patch to and check in on, every once in awhile.]

Tensions are high, things are still dangerous.

[That was a rational reasoning. Would he be as bothered, if this was a peaceful city, and she was invited out by a stranger? ...Probably.

He sent a smile in her direction, trying to shrug it off loftily, taking up his mug and heading for the bedroom.]

You know, I never really took you for the vanilla custard type.

Edited 2010-08-05 21:21 (UTC)

I know you're worried. You have every reason to be. But I'd like to have a little trust, in a situation like this.

[She didn't want this to turn into an argument, nor did she want to begin to question what trust she had in Daedalus. He was the only one here she could trust, albeit begrudgingly. She couldn't forget what had happened between them.

She brushed her hair behind an ear, going out to the living room to sit.]

What type do you think I am, then?

It isn't you that I don't trust.

[Have faith, Daedalus Yumeno....have faith. A mantra, drilled by statues who were considered all-knowing, but not the best vizers in matters of human nature. Things like love.

Had that trust been justly lost, when she hadn't returned with the proxy specimen? Yes...to some degree. Enough, growing bitter and losing hope, over the weeks, that he'd called her traitor.

(Daedalus changed quickly, one set of scrubs into another- he'd shower later, in the afternoon, after the nightly rust had run clean out of the building's piping.)

But then, he'd held his own secrets from her- out of necessity, and out for fear for the risk.

(Looped the drawstring twice and settled his arms across his stomach, returning to watch her from the doorway.)

Still. No one alive cared for Re-l Mayer as he had. No one, spare perhaps her entourage, had given her such complete devotion. Not her grandfather, not any passing man who might have fancied her at face value. It was a point of pride.

Not Vincent Law. Or Sosuke Aizen.

He sighs, still considering, till his mouth turns up, fond and knowing.]

Well...you'd always finish your chocolate mousse. You'd pick at birthday cake, but never touch the frosting.

...and you used to be fond of frozen raspberries, when you were young, until Iggy pointed out that the seeds would get caught in your teeth. Since then I've never seen you touch them.

[He'd offered to go see the city botanists about cultivating seedless raspberries just for her, too. That might have accounted for the bulk of her embarrassment.

He remembers that day with an exquisite clarity, because it had been the first time he'd really spared a curious thought for why the Creators ever chose to cultivate seedless people.]

But it still involves me. I'm properly armed, I'll be cautious.

[She had done everything they had asked until Vincent kept her going. She needed the truth. It was a part of her as much as her Amrita cells and her very blood.

Coming home to her friend despising her wasn't anything she had wanted. Half of her still felt guilty, while the other half of her felt vindictive and angry over what had eventually happened.

She sighed.]

I've eaten a few since then, if I have something on hand to pick out the seeds. I've never tried vanilla custard. I haven't been one for sweets in a long time.

[Re-l looked over at him.]

Iggy used to say that it put weight on me.

And Iggy often teased.

[He reminded her gently, shaking his head with a softer laugh. For a capable entourage, Iggy had interesting settings, the occasionally foolish conversational patterns. He couldn't really understand why Re-l liked him that way.]

You were always within the ideal parameters.

[With a reassuring smile, and some measure of restraint to release the reluctance still tugging at every instinct, he bowed back into the bedroom with the forced discipline to let her have her way.]

You can try all the vanilla custard you want. I'll be waiting.

Have a good day at work.

He may have teased, but it was always better to not indulge myself too much.

[And still she was selfish. She turned back to him, getting up and taking his arm gently before he left.]

Daedalus.

The collective might have called you wildly irresponsible, but you were always well self-disciplined when it came to your health.

[He glanced down at her hand, then leaned in with a furtive murmur, affectionate, nearly secreted against her hair.]

...maybe because you had me to answer to. I'm going to sleep, Re-l. I'll see you later.

I wouldn't disobey you. You never gave me a reason to question.

[Until she returned to Romdeau the first time.]

...Rest well. I'll bring home dinner.

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