View source for 3157/Talking in the Aftermath

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/10/05
|Location=Heaven or Hell Tower <HoH>
|Synopsis=Duet gives Psyber some closure after a traumatic day.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=92, 253
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There were two things to note about the aftermath of yesterday. The first: Psyber didn't break pace or stop working. In fact, he had gotten up at the same time as always and started right back to work the day after it happened. Impressive, if slightly worrying as to the nature of his personality. The second is that he apparently got the letter from Elliana with Backbiter. He's not fully sure what to make of it, or how to process it, but it's been opened and read and is sticking out of the sheath of the weapon. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As for Psyber himself, though? He's in a desk in his room, with the door unlocked, scrawling away on a piece of paper while managing something on a touch screen Union Command-Issue Computer that is likely related to his rank in the faction. There's a few energy drinks scattered around the table and he's managing a lot of work at that moment. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's not hard for someone who really knew him to realize that he's hiding from his emotions with work.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:92|Duet Fortuna (92)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's noticed that the note has been disturbed, at least. Good, that gives her something to work with. Duet doesn't come directly in, choosing to lean on the doorway at first. She's very, very direct in what she says, though. "You have the look of someone who doesn't want to talk, but needs to. Mind if I come in?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She asks the question with that tone which says she's going to anyway, so it shouldn't be a surprise that she just walks right in and pulls up a chair. "So, we're going to talk."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Psyber looks up from his work, looking at the girl as she walks in. He takes a long moment to stare at her, as if judging what he wants to say, but then decides to put down his work and turn his chair towards her when she just elects to come right in, "I should have seen it coming. She warned me. You warned me, too. And the most I could do when it happened was focus my rage on the cause, and avoiding hurting my friends like the last time she trusted me with her plan." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That's his opening statement to Duet, looking at the mask the woman wears and seeming somewhat more willing, perhaps, to talk to her due to her forceful approach.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:92|Duet Fortuna (92)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Duet lays her hands in her lap and listens, at first, but she just shakes her head. "Words are only words. I doubt anything could have prepared you for that. It's far too emotional... even now you aren't thinking too clearly about it, I would bet."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She seems remarkably calm for this, but then she didn't know Elliana well... or did she? Himei did accuse her of knowing it would happen, and maybe there's some truth to that. She doesn't say this, though. She focuses on something else. "It was just not really possible to stop it. The Heaven Guard were keeping everyone busy, and she went ahead to handle the Emperor herself. I'm sure she had a very particular plan, though. When was the last time she ever rushed into something like this?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Mm. I don't think she's dead, though," Psyber says as he looks towards Duet, and then lets his eyes slip to the sword with the note, "I think she's... gone, though. And I still lost one of my best friends," He adds, sighing a bit and watching her calm nature. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It wasn't possible, in our setup, to prevent it. But perhaps that was her plan. I never could follow her intellect, truth told," He confesses, then leans back in his chair, "What hits me hardest is I had something I needed to tell her, and I won't get to now."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:92|Duet Fortuna (92)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If Duet is surprised at the suspicion, she doesn't show it. In fact she plays right off of that. "So you trust her to survive, and that she knew that you'd take it this way." She sighs. "That's a very deep trust in someone who betrayed you like that. Maybe undeserved, but maybe it isn't wrong either."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She sits up and gives a light touch on Psyber's hand. "If you trust her that much, to know she found a way to survive, maybe you should just extend it a little further and trust that somehow, she found a way to keep an eye on you. She had a lot to gain by being dead, if you consider her position, but what does she gain from hurting you?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Mn... of course I trust her," Psyber says as he looks down at his lap, "She was... still is, if she's alive, one of my best friends. I spent years trying to get her to trust me and that's a two-way street," He notes to Duet seriously, curling a hand into a fist. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A fist that promptly uncurls when she puts her hand on top of his. He looks almost embarassed by the gesture, so used to being the strong one that someone else lending him support takes him by surprise. He lifts his eyes to her as she says her next words and then watches her carefully. Something that Nathan said, weeks ago, snaps into his mind: <br /><br />&lt;X-Union-Chatter&gt; 2-XO Exhausted monotone, Nathan Hall says, "You can narrow her identity down to individuals, factions, or points of origin that have the capacity to act as she does, but who would have a strong, vested interest in avoiding connection to the primary identity." <br />&lt;X-Union-Chatter&gt; 2-XO Exhausted monotone, Nathan Hall says, "Internal factions that wish to project a public image that is counter to the one she acts on, individuals who would stand to benefit from her agenda but most benefit if their participation is not known." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He remembers even further back than that. <br /><br />PHONE: Elliana Fairchild says, "Some things that will happen will likely hurt you, emotionally. I really regret this, and ask that you trust I will make it better in the end." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And there was Duet, the day after it happened, telling him that Elliana would keep an eye on him. His eyes narrow slightly more, "Are... you..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:92|Duet Fortuna (92)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Before he can finish, Duet does a familiar gesture. She lifts a single finger at presses it to Psyber's lips. "Never finish that thought. My name is Duet Fortuna, and I am a wanderer. An adventurer. And, at times, someone who helps out around the office. My only claim to fame is participating in the most grandiose scheme that Elliana Fairchild ever managed. Her very last, most impressive plan... as she would have it said."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The finger lifts away, and Duet smiles. "Exactly how much of a success that was... well. We'll have to see, won't we? I look forward to working with you, Mister Sinclair, and I think I've taken enough time for today. I'll let you get back to your work."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Psyber looks baffled at the touch to his lips, staring at her with widened eyes. The half-angel watches her carefully as if sifting through numerous thoughts before she explains the situation. He slowly nods and then seems to ponder on something. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Wait!" He half-shouts as she indicates she's about to leave, "Before you go." He takes a slow breath, "You may not be Elliana Fairchild, but you're someone I can trust, Duet Fortuna. I'd like to tell you what I was going to tell Elliana. It would mean... a great deal to me." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He awkwardly rubs the back of his head, "If you can spare me just a bit more of your time."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:92|Duet Fortuna (92)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She was just starting to turn away, but Duet turns around again, facing Psyber with a tilt of her head. "If you want. You're the busy one, not me, boss." Her lips turn into a faint, yet sad smile. "Really, actions speak louder than words, and you don't have to tell me."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She doesn't leave, though, and she continues after a beat, "But I think by now we both know the power that words can hold."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I think, in this case, it would do better for me to finally say it," Psyber notes with an awkward laugh. But he does smile back at her, resolved to get this out, to any iteration of Elliana he can. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I wanted to tell Elliana that I'd fallen in love with her. And not... puppy-love, but like... actual love, I think. And that, no matter who she chose to be, I wasn't going to feel differently about that," He notes, the words coming easily to him once he's finally saying it, "Few people had so profound an impact on my life as she did. Even in her worst moments, she grew me as a person. And at her best, she was someone I could rely on. Whoever she became, however she acted, she was so important to me." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"That's why, whatever her plan was, I couldn't be mad at her," Psyber says to Duet carefully, "And wherever she is, I'd want her to know," He notes, watching Duet almost as if fearing her response as he says. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"But she's dead. So if she wanted me to move on, it might take me a while, but I think I could find someone to be just as important to me, if I really tried," He finishes, watching to Duet to see if she can pick up on his unsubtle subtext. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"What do you think?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:92|Duet Fortuna (92)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I think she knew it," Duet replies, after a long silence. "And in her own way, shared it. But I also don't think that Fairchild could... return it in any way that would make sense or be understood. Fairchild had pushed away her humanity, whether she realized it or not, to become a focal point for her goals and nothing else. In the end, I think that's what killed her. Knowing what she missed, feeling what she felt and unable to express it. Maybe it made her falter when she shouldn't have."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She tucks her arms back, taking on that smiling, youthful appearance that she sometimes gets. "If she could have left all that baggage behind, maybe something could have happened. I can be sure she felt something for you though. Enough that if you could find happiness with someone, she'd be glad."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Psyber nods his head to Duet and considers this answer. It's clear, in one way, and murky in others. As is always the case with anything related to her, the answer is just beyond his reach. But he's taken this much of a risk, so he has no reason not to step into full vulnerability. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Hey, I'm feeling better, honestly. And I could probably use a break. Maybe you'd like to hang out and play games. Maybe grab some dinner?" He asks as he slides his chair out a bit and looks at her hopefully.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:92|Duet Fortuna (92)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That question gets a brighter, less enigmatic smile. "Let me get changed, and I'll meet you down in the lobby in five~" She starts to turn around, then suddenly stops and holds up a finger. "Oh... on one condition..."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She lets that hang in the air before finishing with, "No place that serves Manhattan style clam chowder is acceptable."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Alright. I'll get my coat and meet you down there," Psyber says as she agrees to come, pausing as he starts to stand up. He pauses when she says she has a condition, tilting his head. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her response actually... gets him to let out a real laugh, "Bestill my heart. Someone with taste in seafood. We'll make a Bostonian out of you yet."<br> <br>


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