009 | [Voice/Action]

[screwthegods]

What would you be willing to give for a second chance?

[Take the question as you will, Luceti. Homura's purposely vague, wanting not only to see what answers he receives, but how people interpret the question itself. After he poses the question, he'll be making a trip out to House 50--unannounced, of course. Ayumu has yet to contact him after the experiment, so Homura will take it upon himself to go see her. Better that than leaving the issue unresolved.]

[Afterward, he'll head to the Battle Dome to practice. It's been some time since the last draft, and he refuses to let his swordsmanship suffer during the lull. So he'll be going at it while completely limited, fighting the targets offered by the program. Unlike others he's seen, Homura moves with cool efficiency, and aims to kill with almost every blow.]

Comments

[Voice]

[consultmybooks]

I'm not sure what it would take.

[ayu_nee]

[With all the new arrivals lately, Ayumu has had quite a bit to keep herself busy. Of course, she could have made time to contact Homura if she'd really wanted to— but she still hasn't quite decided what to do about that particular situation, so avoiding it was much easier.

When he decides to show up at the house she'll be out front, industriously sweeping off the porch and pretending she can't see him approaching. She should have realized that he wouldn't simply let things lie, but it doesn't mean she's eager for the meeting.]

[king-en.livejournal.com]

It depends what it is.

...but for the important things? A lot.

Re: [Voice]

[screwthegods]

It's better not to think of the question in terms of actual possibility. More the idea of being presented and offer, and a price. How far would you be willing to go in that situation?

[screwthegods]

[No, Homura doesn't suspect she will be looking forward to the encounter. But that he's given her this much time is actually fairly considerate on his part. While he can be patient, Homura doesn't tend to let things linger on if he can do something to resolve the situation. In his mind, at least, this is a suitable compromise.]

I know you're aware of my presence. [The few times he's seen her true face tells him that much, and Homura would hope that Ayumu realizes it.] Are we going back to this, then?

[screwthegods]

That could be a great deal, coming from a king. What would you give up for those things you consider most important?

[ayu_nee]

[There was always the possibility that he was coming to the house to speak to another one of the residents — Okita, perhaps, or maybe he'd intended to finally meet Hijikata — even though Ayumu had thought it rather unlikely. And when he speaks it eliminates that chance entirely, though she doesn't even falter in her work, keeping her attention focused on the section of porch she's sweeping.]

Was there something you needed, Homura-san? I have quite a bit of work to do today.

[screwthegods]

[So is this how she intends to handle what happened? Homura watches Ayumu's back, the steady back and forth motion of her broom, and shakes his head.]

I have an idea of how long your household chores take, you realize. Do you plan on avoiding me until one of us is sent home?

[ayu_nee]

[She's hidden everything for what seems like her entire life, never showing what she truly feels about anything except in a very few, very brief moments of weakness. It seems best, then, to try to simply ignore what doesn't fit and pretend all as it had once been— even if it's been far more difficult to do than she'd expected. It's something about this place, she knows, the way it would be so easy to drop the pretense that has no reason here but for her own determination to keep it.

At his comment, though, she finally stills the steady whisk of the broom and looks over at him, showing nothing but a faint hint of exasperation.]

We have several new additions now, if you hadn't discovered that. And I was hardly avoiding you; I simply had no reason to seek you out.

[screwthegods]

Then you're avoiding the issue. [If not Homura himself, then what he represented in that life, surely. He has no doubt that Ayumu is supressing whatever she might be feeling in regards to the last experiment, in the same practiced manner that she moves through her chores and her routines.]

What good does it do to pretend nothing at all happened? Explain that to me.

[ayu_nee]

[One brow quirks just slightly in response.]

None of that was of my choice, but rather forced on me. What good does it to do pretend there was any value in it other than what amusement the Malnosso derived?

[screwthegods]

Because if something can be gained--if you can grow stronger from what you experienced, then there is something of value there. It's the only form of power we have against the Malnosso.

[And one Homura himself places great value in himself, if the seriousness of his reaction is any indication.]

Refusing to face what they forced you to go through is merely another form of bowing down to them. If you can't even face me, then your will is significantly weaker than I expected.

[ayu_nee]

I'm facing you right now, Homura-san.

[Literally, perhaps. Though she still isn't certain just what he wants. An acknowledgment that they'd spent that time together under a similar delusion? If so, that's simple enough. If he wants anything else — or is interested in discussing what he'd learned from her — she isn't terribly interested in either option.

And still she shows none of her inward thoughts, though she allows just a hint of confusion to enter her tone and shifts her hand on the broom's handle as though impatient to get back to work.]

[scarletspeedstr.livejournal.com]

I dunno, it kinda depends how the first try went, right? I mean, did she shoot me down out the starting gate or did I end up saying something stupid and ruining everything that had been great before then? You gotta give me some more details than that.

[screwthegods]

Because I came here. How long would you have delayed it otherwise?

[Forever is Homura's suspicion. Of course they could pass by each other and exchange casual greetings, but a deliberate meeting such as this? Less likely.

But the silent question of what exactly he is asking of her is one that even Homura himself can't answer fully. The implanted feelings lingered for some time after the experiment, true, but now, what does he stand to gain from forcing the issue?]

What do you think will happen now that I know more about you?

[screwthegods]

Not really. The question is meant to be taken however you wish.

[ayu_nee]

[She has no answer to the first question, so Ayumu simply ignores it in favor of the other.]

I can't imagine. I thought that perhaps you now know so much you'd lose interest.

[He had seemed quite interested in ferreting out secrets the last time they'd spoken before that experiment. If all he wanted was answers, he should have plenty of them by now. The fact that he's here, though, implies that perhaps he still wants more than that.]

What did you expect to happen?

[scarletspeedstr.livejournal.com]

...is this one of those psycho-thingy questions, where they see how you interpret it and figure out stuff about you from that? I hate those, I never know how I'm supposed to answer.

[screwthegods]

[Now that he knows--Homura finally grins at that, though the smile isn't a happy one.]

Learning so much like that isn't at all satisfying. You might not believe it, but that frustrates me as much about this experiment as anything else.

[Because to Homura, it's more about the challenge, which on many levels has been taken away.]

As for what I expect--I don't know either. But I do not like what exists now, and I'd prefer to change it if at all possible.

[screwthegods]

That's because there is no way you're supposed to answer--aside from however you think is honest.

[ayu_nee]

[In truth... she can understand that. There's a certain satisfaction that comes from finding truth where it's been hidden, in collecting bits of information just for the sake of having it, because you never knew when it might be useful. When it might connect to something else, and something else yet. If it was simply the game that interests him, then, well, she can understand being disappointed to have someone ignore the rules and drop it all, unearned, unasked-for.

Ayumu doubts that he's nearly as upset as she is at giving such information without hesitation; she'd had no intention at all of telling him about Susumu or anything of what she'd done back home, no matter how much he'd pried. But if he's telling the truth, if he takes no satisfaction in it — and she suspects that he is telling the truth, difficult as he can be to read — then perhaps she can at least listen to him.]

Mm. I suppose.

[For a moment her study of him is just a little too intent to suit her current pretense, eyes narrowing slightly as she considers his words. Then she turns away again, moving to finish sweeping off the section of the porch she hadn't finished yet.]

What is it that you don't like, Homura-san?

[screwthegods]

[Even as Ayumu asks, her eyes have already given Homura something he's been seeking. For the first time since his arrival, he notes her own searching by way of that gaze--as if she's finally decided to see him, instead of all the aftermath she's been left to deal with.]

Your preoccupation, to start. [There's a tease to his voice as he says it, and he takes a step back from where he's been so far. Judging the angle and the distance, Homura silently punches out into the air, using enough force to cause a substantial breeze to flow over the porch from the force in an attempt to finish off her sweeping. Being a demi-god could prove useful by way of doing household chores, perhaps?]

[He won't say anything, but if she turns, Ayumu won't be able to miss Homura's smug grin.]

[ayu_nee]

[Despite all that she's seen since coming to Luceti, displays of supernatural power are still enough to unsettle her slightly. Ayumu hesitates for an instant before turning, one brow arched in a somewhat exasperated expression that asks if that was entirely necessary. The grin is answer enough, though, and she just shakes her head and turns back toward the door.]

Well, then. It might be easier to speak inside.

[Inside, where there's less of a potential audience. Just in case she has to say or do something she doesn't want anyone else to see.]

[screwthegods]

As you wish. [Although Homura has to immediately call the motives for Ayumu's invitation into silent question. While she might have simply relented in the face of his sheer stubbornness, he knows better than to underestimate her. If he's learned nothing else, even before the experiment, it's that she's crafty.

Still, he follows her inside quite willingly. It's strange to be back in the house, now that he is once again a guest instead of its "owner." He stays near the door at first, letting Ayumu lead him where she wishes. How much exposure to those closest to her she's willing to risk is entirely up to her to decide.]

[king-en.livejournal.com]

[Laughs just a little.] Many things. Anything.

Except my kingdom. Luckily for a foolish human like me, there are measures to keep me from trading my kingdom away.