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[nerine]

UN: Monts
text; voice; video; action

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[nerine]

I don't think you should be proud of that.

[Although there is the implication that... She doesn't dislike him? But she definitely pushes him away unlike with other people.

Monts has to wonder if she's reverting to her more aggressive personality when it comes to others who test her otherwise stable patience. Hm.]

I'm doing fine.

[She heads over to the area with the TV and couches. The coffee table has the small stack of cooking anime DVDs all ready to go and she takes a seat, ready to settle down.]

It's been a while since I've seen any snow. Walking through it with thick boots takes some effort.

[expio]

[ he lays the snacks and goodies out on the coffee table, before coming to flop down enthusiastically with an "ooph" ]

I'm the first person to get excited for a good snow day, but this is a little excessive...! [ SIGHing, but he reaches for one of the DVD boxes to nosily peek at the cover. ] Then again, I'll take it over all that water from last month. Snow is a walk in the park in comparison, right? Sometimes you just have to see the silver lining in things!

[nerine]

So it's a choice between drowning or freezing then? Ice would actually preserve our bodies instead of bloating them up I guess. If that's how it works.

[With a shrug, Monts takes a DVD (a cute shojo anime about baking since that's what they're trying to aim for) and goes over to the DVD player to turn it on and insert the disc.

From where she's kneeling, the back of her neck is visible and a strange dark ring can be seen, slightly illuminated by the glow of the screen.

But you know, it's all normal. Monts continues to speak as the DVD loads.]

Father Abel, I don't think I asked you if you came from a certain time period. Care to answer that?

1/3

[expio]

Bl... bloating them up, eugh... m-morbid?! Please don't talk like that right before snack time!!

[ he's waving his hands in front of his face NO NO-- ]

2/3

[expio]

[ --hey, what's that? on the back of her neck? tattoo...? hm, maybe? he can't tell from this lighting, but... there's only one way to find out ]

3/3

[expio]

M-MISS MONTS!! Don't move, th--

--it's--

B-BUG!!

[ he is clamping his hand on the back of her neck. SO CHIVALROUS

SO VALIANT

so brave.


nailed it. ]

1/2

[nerine]

[It's so sudden that Monts doesn't react fast enough. His hand is on the back of her neck and she freezes.

A bug?? Is that what he thinks it is?

Three.

Two.

One.]

2/2

[nerine]

[The dark halo slides under her skin and moves to her collarbone. It spreads across her chest as Monts grabs Abel's wrist.

Barely letting out a grunt, she turns, her hand around the wrist like a vice and she pulls, then throws the priest forward so that he collides into the couch and considering how much force she purposely put into it? Probably into a shelf.

She is deadly silent, no apologetic expression whatsoever. And she stands there glaring at Abel as if daring for him to get up and try again.]

[expio]

[ ah. ah, ah. ah. mistakes were made.

he barely has time to register what he's done, precisely, before what she's done hits him like a ton of bricks -- or a couch and then some shelving, actually! the squawk that rips its way out of him would be quite comical, if he weren't the one making it-- and there's an ungodly clattering as DVD's tumble atop his head where he's landed beneath them.

he cradles his noggin, rocking back and forth a bit.......





quietly: ]

Ah, s-so... not a bug, then.

[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?