1207/A Christmas Meeting

A Christmas Meeting
Date of Scene:	24 December 2014
Location:	Boston-666
Synopsis:	Psyber and Homura have a special Christmas moment on the roof of the office.
Cast of Characters:	2, 253

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Psyber (253) has posed:
    It's a cold and rainy day in Boston, but Psyber is still up on the roof of his building. He's hanging out near the door of the building, under a big awning so he's not fully out on the roof and getting wet. He's still bundled up in a thick coat, though.

    The reason he's outside is two-fold. The first is for privacy. He wanted to ask Homura to meet him, and with so many people in and out of the office on Christmas Eve, it was easier to set up somewhere that people wouldn't want to go. A rooftop on a rainy day is a good place. The second is because he's allowed to smoke on the roof without upsetting people.

    So yeah. Psyber is up on the roof of Heaven or Hell, having a cigarette and hoping Homura managed to free up the time to head up to the roof and meet him like he asked. He knows she's been busy with the whole 'my brain is mush after finals' thing, so it's up in the air for him.

Homura Akemi (2) has posed:
    What an awful day to talk on a roof.

    Well, it's not like she has anything better to do.
    Gifts are handled (but the player isn't touching that until way later this month because it requires wanting to sit down and make a huge list), everyone at the loft is fine. She was just going to hole up in a room with Madoka and maybe watch a dozen movies or something, for all today mattered. Apparently it is being interrupted but that's fine, she needed a snack anyway.

    That's why when she appears on the roof with an umbrella it's with a chocolate bar in one half, half eaten. It's almost Christmas, she can indulge in pointless sugar and chocolate.

    "Hey. Merry Christmas and all that. Why the roof? It's raining."

    The critism stands on its own.

Psyber (253) has posed:
    "Less chance of being disturbed. Plus all that weird symbolism, I guess. Having a meeting at a high place when it's very important. Angels like to have important talks up in lofty places," He waves a hand back and forth, smiling at her and not minding the rain too much personally.

    "Really, it's that privacy thing, though," Psyber says, his hands falling into his pockets as the cigarette dangles from his mouth, "Merry Christmas to you too," Added as an afternote to his thoughts.

    "Iiii called you up here because I wanted to ask something, but I wasn't sure how you'd react, so I didn't wanna put you on the spot in front of people. I know how private you are about how you feel," Psyber notes, looking at her as he leans against a wall.

Homura Akemi (2) has posed:
    "I see. Where's the flaming bush and commanding voice, then?" Homura replies, brushing aside the whole symbolism angle because this is really an awful place even by angelic standards. There'd need to be at least 100% more psychological breakdowns going on here, and some music playing in the background.

    "But yes, you are correct. So what is so important it had to be today?" Of all the days to have a talk on, Psyber certainly picks his'.

    "How do Angels celebrate Christmas anyway?"

Psyber (253) has posed:
    "Flaming bush doesn't work in the rain, kept going out. And the commanding voice kept getting noise complaints," He smirks a little. He folds his hands behind his head and laughs awkwardly at his own dumb joke.

    "Ah, well. It's not a bad sort of talk, I hope," He hmms faintly, rubbing the back of his head with his hands, "I celebrate Christmas like any average person. He's my Messiah too, after all."

    "Ah, so, too the point," Psyber scuffs his foot awkwardly, "Just in advance, you can say no to this, my feelings won't be hurt."

    He squints a bit, "I know from your file about your parents. And... we sort of have a back-and-forth sort of thing," He turns his back to her awkwardly, staring out over the city.

    "I just figured I'd ask if you wanna make it official. You don't have to change your name or anything, but..." He has to ask this facing away from her because, for someone as closed off as Psyber, it's awkward to even broach this topic.

    He's dancing around the point with Homura, but his intent is pretty clear: Does she wanna actually be his daughter?

Homura Akemi (2) has posed:
    "T-That is..."

    Well, any attempt at humor is dead.
    That's too serious to joke about.

    "I... well, if you did not mean to put me on the spot, I still am. Given my age I suppose it's a symbolic gesture more than a legal one, anyway..." Technically 17 now, but as far as her Union ID goes and takes her places she's undefined and legal.

    "If that is what you want, I do not see an objection. You have been a better father figure to me than most, even if I've also picked up all of your bad, self-destructive heroism-related habits over time." She scratches the back of her head. "Does that make Arthur my brother more officially now?"

Psyber (253) has posed:
    "Sorry, there was no way to really do it without putting you on the spot to some degree. I figured better you and me than, you know, a crowded table of people all gawking at you?" Psyber offers, trying to point out how much more embarassing this talk could be.

    "You are, in many ways, an adult. And it's largely a formality and a symbolic gesture, but... one I wanted to offer," He notes, rocking back and forth on his feet before turning to face her again, "I don't expect anything mushy out of you like tears, we're both way too jaded for that. But... in some ways, making it official felt like the right way to go."

    It can mean a lot to feel like you have parents that care. Something Psyber wishes he'd had more exposure to. He then hmms, "I dunno what Arthur is. But I guess it might."

Homura Akemi (2) has posed:
    Mushy, yeah, that's not in Homura's repertoire anymore. Or at least, it's pretty hard to bring out. This is close! Probably closer than she's been in a while. Stuttering and voice breaking indicates it, even if she tries to keep a neutral facial expression and deflects the obvious implications by talking about Arthur.

    "I, erm, I hope you do not expect me to call you dad. That seems like it would be extremely awkward." Though she might save it for a time when it's appropriate and awkward for Psyber more than her.

    "I don't... see any reason to say no, really. For all intents and purposes I suppose it was already this way to begin with even if it wasn't acknowledged formally by some legal paperwork."

Psyber (253) has posed:
    "Psyber works fine," He says with an awkward laugh.

    He's smart enough not to call attention to any stuttering or tone breaks. That would just make her even more upset. He'll deliberately not call attention to it and instead rock on his feet a little.

    "Thanks. It means a lot that you'd accept. I was nervous to ask you, heh." He flicks his cigarette off the side of the building. He rubs his hands together and then kinda just says: "So... yeah. Merry Christmas, Homura."

Homura Akemi (2) has posed:
    "O-Of course. Merry Christmas, dad."

    See, there you go.
    Maximum awkward for Psyber. That plays right into Homura's comfort zone so it's okay! Normally wouldn't be. Probably won't be again in the future. But hey, alone on a rooftop, no witnesses-- sentient clouds excluded, they cheat.

    "You didn't answer though. Angels, do they celebrate? Surely there must be something up there on this day, if it's so important down here. Or would it be seen as a negative holiday? The sins of Man having needed shouldered by one, and it's a sort of reminder of that?" She wouldn't know. Though Psyber compared the Angels to automatons more than individuals, so maybe they really don't give a damn.

Psyber (253) has posed:
    Psyber makes a grousy and embarassed noise when she calls him that, but it's also easy to tell that it strikes a chord with him. Luckily for him, she supplies him an easy way to feel immensely less awkward.

    "The usual. Chorus of angels, praising the Highest. It's a big deal. He's the Son of God, after all. There isn't the gift exchange and all, but it's a day of praise." He thinks it over, "I never really fit in up there, much. I was more human in nature, so being down here and doing this stuff is more my bag."