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[nerine]

UN: Monts
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[nerine]

No.

[She answers him... Cheerfully? Monts is smiling even as if nothing is wrong at all, nothing is wrong at all. Except something is totally wrong because this is the kind of smile she puts on when she is concealing extremely burning hot rage.

Straightening herself up and smoothing out her dress, Monts stands up, hands behind her back, waiting for Abel to get up. When she speaks, the chipper tone remains, but it's. Ah, well, it's concerning.]

Father Abel? You still there? Do I have to preserve your body in the snow?

[expio]

[ he's holding the back of his head and looking up at her with the expression of a man who is well-versed in dealing with Terrifying Women Who Wear That Face, and thus, He Knows What It Means. ]

Ah. Miss Monts.

[ his spine is tingling. his fight or flight instinct is kicking in. his life is flashing before his eyes. ]

A-ah. What? N-no, I'm fine, h-haha! S-sorry, did something happen just now...? Everything seems to be s... so foggy, I...

[nerine]

Maybe... [Insert what seems to be a long pause for dramatic effect here.]

You should just ask before putting your hand around my neck. Now, I don't necessarily object to that kind of play, but I believe you said, in-text even, that you took a vow of celibacy??

[Hell yeah she's gonna make it sting further.]

Do we have an understanding Father Abel??

[expio]

[ F..... FLUSTERING-- he looks like he just SWALLOWED a bug, and his mouth works for a second or two before he's lurching to his feet, emphatically flailing his hands in a 'NO' gesture ]

W-WHAT?! E-excuse me, I am-- NOT trying to-- I thought there was a-- y... you---

[ wow, he's. so eloquent. ]

[nerine]

[The black mark Abel had seen moves around her collar and then across her face before hiding away on her neck once again. Monts sighs and shakes her head at him.]

I made it clear, didn't I? You have your good points and a decent face, but your priesthood is a barrier and quite frankly a turn off for me.

[She is out to kill one way or another apparently.]

Now where were we...? Ah, yes. Anime. Well, those snacks aren't going to eat themselves.

[Is she gonna help him up... Well, she'll stand there waiting to see if she's in the mood for forgiveness.]

[expio]

[ okay admittedly? a lot is happening right now. backhanded compliments, mentions of SEXUAL DEVIANCY, a sudden and abrupt attempt at going back to business as usual--

but he's still fixed on the fact

he definitely saw

that 'tattoo' for lack of a better term moving on her skin, and-- ]

...I-- I'm. I think, I h... hit my head too hard, o-or--

[ ??? HELLO???? does she not?? know that there's a tattoo creepin' around on her or??? ]

[nerine]

...

[Another sigh. She walks over to him, squats down, and offers her hand.]

I'm not trying to make throwing people around a habit you know. Are you hurt badly?

[expio]

[ he looks at her offered hand, hesitating only a moment or two before taking it, but... he doesn't make an effort to get up just yet. Abel studies her face and throat, looking for that strange... tattoo; it wasn't the right shape for the mark of the Silence, but even so... ]

M-Miss Monts, do you-- [ ah. he stops himself, trying to figure out the best way to broach the subject. ]

Um. I guess, what I mean to ask, is... What was it I saw on your neck? [ and it's rather clear from his expression this is an actually Worried question, and he's forgoing the usual terrible amounts of idiocy in lieu of something more sober. ]

[nerine]

[Talk about awkward. For Monts who values having composure and has spent her time building it up in the past year, she's uncomfortable when it's challenged by other people (but hey it's totally okay when she does it obviously that's not great).

She promptly answers him.]

It's not the thing that's making people sick on the island if that's what you're wondering.

[She tugs on him lightly, indicating to him to pick himself up.]

As for what it is, I can't tell you because frankly, I don't know. No one does.

[There's bitterness in that statement and she doesn't try to hide it like she usually does.]

[expio]

[ hearing confirmation it had nothing to do with the Silence was a relief, but short-lived for the next part of her answer.

I don't know. No one does.

...he belatedly obliges her tugging, pulling himself upright and the quizzical and gently concerned expression lingering on his face. ]

You don't know...?

[ he isn't sure how much she's comfortable talking about it, but - it's an open-ended prompt for whatever she'll tell him, all the same. ]

[nerine]

If someone has the answer, I haven't met them yet.

[She drops her hand once Abel is off the ground.]

Why do you think my sense of pain is so dull? Or how I just threw you easily even with my build? My body isn't normal thanks to... This thing. I'm human...

[I think.]

... But for better or for worse, I have this. I can't be completely ungrateful though if I wanted to be more optimistic. Still...

[expio]

[ 'can't be completely ungrateful,' she says - and he wonders if she's saying it for his sake or her own. to save him worry, or to convince herself.

he watches her quietly a moment, before gently nudging at his slightly lopsided glasses to right them. ]

...Did something happen? Or, was this something you were born with?

[ perhaps he's prying, but... he trusts that she wouldn't be shy in telling him enough was enough if she wasn't comfortable talking about it. ]

[nerine]

[She makes a sideways glance, mildly agitated.]

"Things" have happened. And no to the second question.

[You know what, if he's gonna make her talk, she's going to indulge in snacks and beer any way even if it does nothing to her. So Monts goes over to the couch, using both of her hands to effortlessly put it back in place, and then sits down grabbing a beer can.

Without looking at him, she calls over to Abel while cracking open the tab.]

It's not that interesting of a story.

[expio]

[ he remains where he is for just a beat or two, but... seeing as how she’s making herself comfortable, it seems silly not to do the same.

he’s gently sitting a comfortable distance beside her on the couch, but he doesn’t immediately go for the temptation of snacks and sugary drinks, yet, his eyes resting on his company. ]

Is it common where you’re from...? I know, things are. Well. Different everywhere, so...

[ maybe it was normal for people where she calls home? ]

[nerine]

[She takes a large swig of beer, wrinkling her nose as she swallows. Ah, that's cheap. Her head shakes in reply.]

When I said no one knows, that means there's no one else that has my condition.

[That's just the facts. Iona had asked around and as far as the witch knew, it wasn't related to any magic or supernatural force found on earth.]

But, we know it's not a bug.

[expio]

[ he thinks this over, briefly... before he’s reaching for a bag of pretzels from the table and leaning back into the sofa. ]

And you’re okay with it?

[ is it dangerous to her? has she just accepted it, by now...? he wonders what it feels like - if it feels like anything at all... ]

I guess what I mean to ask, is... are you okay?

[nerine]

[There's a sigh of resignation. Monts doesn't look at the priest as she takes a smaller sip this time.]

I've made it this far haven't I?

[The remote is on the floor, but she doesn't move to pick it up yet.]

Although to make it clear, it's not like I was hiding this deliberately. Some people here already seen it since it's not something that can stay hidden.

[It's plain as daylight and its presence is unnerving to those who have stronger sixth senses.]

So what I know is that I lack a sense of pain, my physical strength is way too much... And the last thing.

[expio]

[ “I’ve made it this far, haven’t I?”

it isn’t reassuring. it only makes the uncomfortable pit in his stomach settle with more definition... hmm...

and he isn’t making any moves for the remote, either — it seems he’s all but forgotten about what he came here for. as it turns out, Abel is quite easily distracted, especially by the plights of others. ]

...the last thing?

[nerine]

[And very simply put, without much emotion, she says:]

I heal quickly.

[She almost said, "I can't die," but her doors are remain shut, and saying that would reveal too much in so little words.]

My grandfather told me this when I was a kid; the reason why people feel pain is so that they understand that they're in danger and that they need to take care of themselves.

You saw it already when I had tea at your house. I forget that there are things that can hurt me, but I can barely tell. And even if I notice, I'm patched up again and it's like nothing ever happened.

[expio]

[ he isn’t sure what he expected, and if this response is better or worse than most she could have offered, but... he hesitates only a second before nodding his understanding ]

And what is the cost?

[ because there is always a catch, isn’t there? he is eerily familiar with situations of this nature — and no matter how prettily dolled up something might seem on the surface, there were always flaws beneath. “if something seemed too good to be true,” then...

... ]

[nerine]

...

[Holding the can by the top, she makes a circular motion, dawdling on her answer before shrugging.]

I don't know.

[The cost only comes about in the most extreme of circumstances and so far she's only experienced that once. Was it a cost though, or a sweet release by justification, unhindered by conventional reason?

She doesn't want it to happen again anytime soon but would it be so bad if it happened again?]

The witch I told you about, the one I work for, helped me work through... Whatever this is. She told me that she'd help me live a peaceful life for as long as she was around.

[And Monts truly believed it, believed her even. It's not an impossibility.]

[expio]

[ there’s a lot hanging unspoken, isn’t there? he can feel it, but... he feels this subject matter is a delicate one and he doesn’t want to upset her by prying too deeply. ]

She sounds like a good friend... and, for what it’s worth— it’s good to hear you have people like that at home with you.

[ to watch her back, and help her sort through it. whatever it was. ]

It doesn’t sound like the sort of thing you’d want to figure your way through alone.

[nerine]

No. No, it isn't.

[Her eyes look distant as she stares at the blank TV screen.]

I suppose I'm used to it though.

... What about you? Are you used to being lonely or do you like bothering everyone you meet?

[expio]

...You don’t have to be.

[ ‘alone’ and used to it. his look is a surprisingly sincere and sober one.

but he lets it pass; the offer remains unsaid, though he’s sure she got the message regardless. fool though he might be, he would be around if she ever needed anything. ]

Hm. That question is a little loaded, isn’t it? Are you trying to insinuate I’m a bother? That isn’t very nice, you know.

[nerine]

[She is and she isn't. It took too long for her to realize that she didn't have to be around people who would hurt her heart and can be instead be surrounded by those who cherished her and didn't want to see her suffer inwardly.

But she'll be alone in never knowing what exactly is in her body and how and why her mind is the way it is. That said, Abel's words are a comfort even if she won't reply to it directly.]

You are very troublesome. You woke me up to go watch anime and then grabbed my neck. Although you're kind of right. I'm not totally nice.