[Guy is relaxing against the tent's side as he waits, looking relatively relaxed and well all thing considered. He's exchanged his usual colorful attire for the more somber uniform of the CDC, though it's suffered some wear from the drop. His blackglass is out. Every now and then he looks up to check for Xion, but he's otherwise preoccupied.
When he finally does spot her, he's quick to rise to his feet with a warm smile.]
[ Xion hadn't worn her team uniform during the drop; her Organization cloak had protected her well enough when her Juggernaut had run out. But like Guy, she's changed now, too. It was nice, to have the chance to clean off and get changed into fresh clothes after the long march here. The sombre uniform somehow suits her small frame well.
His smile gets an answering one, though it's faint. ]
Good to see you too, Guy. What did you want to show me?
You'll see. [What an enigmatic response. But he doesn't intend to leave her in the dark--he wants to see how she is, first and foremost. He inclines his head towards a path leading away from the center of the camp.]
Let's walk around for a bit. There's a patch of flowers I saw on our way in I want to find.
... okay. I'm just ... not sure I'll be good company, but as long as you want me here. [ Her smile this time is a little better, a little brighter, though still deeply self-deprecating. ]
[Her response and smile rings a little too close to those of a good friend. Maybe that's why he's trying so hard to keep her spirits up. He remembers what Zelos told him during the Christmas feast, with words as hard as his look had been: Don't use me to cope. But he knows this is different.
Xion is young and kind. It's impossible to shield her from what the CDC does, but he wants to make coping with it easier, somehow.
All these thoughts run through his head as he begins walking, his steps slow and even.]
Sorry if this is out of the blue, but have you read my file, Xion?
[ The idea of using another person as a coping mechanism would be a deeply uncomfortable one for her, for reasons she'd be hard pressed to pin down. The thought that she could inflict herself on someone in such a way... would be something she'd never want.
But then again, she's always thought of being able to go to her friends for anything. She's never had any reason to think otherwise. Not yet, anyway.
His question wins a startled look before she cuts her gaze away. Her discomfort is clear in the sudden tight line of her shoulders. ]
... no. I don't like reading them. I know I probably should, but...
[Whatever her response was to be, Guy was ready to accept it. He isn't exactly happy at the idea of all that information bared to the public, but he understands it's impossible to demand complete privacy from a huge group. Her answer is something he prefers, and he tries to show it with a shake of his head.]
It's your personal preference. There's nothing wrong with it. Honestly, I'm glad to hear that. It means I can tell you what I've wanted to tell you without any preconceptions.
[A beat.]
Did you know I spent most of my life as a servant to nobility?
[ She tries not to sigh in relief at his response, but can't help the quirking at the corners of her mouth anyway. Her shoulders relax, too, and she clasps her hands behind her back. ]
... a servant?
[ That gets her to blink, staring upwards into space. Social class is an almost-total mystery to her. What little she knows of it is from Beast's castle, and his strange servants. ]
You mean, like ... a maid, or a butler, or something?
Kinda. [He admits, some days at the manor did have him feeling like a maid. Guy's clearly amused with how broadly he grins.] I was permitted as the personal companion to the duke's son. On top of my duties as a servant, I had to attend to and entertain my master.
[He drops his voice, as if telling a secret. He covers his mouth partially with a hand.] Between you and me, he had a big, soft heart he tried to cover up by being tough. He was the sort of person who'd take in a stray kitten if it meowed loud enough.
Edited (I DECIDED TO ADD MORE) 2015-02-18 08:25 (UTC)
[ Xion ducks her head, but that does nothing to hide the little giggle that escapes her. She smiles up at him from beneath a loosely curled fist held over her mouth. ]
He sounds a lot nicer than he pretended to be. So... you attended him? What does that mean?
It meant I was his friend. [And father, and brother. Whatever Duke Fabre couldn't provide for his son, Guy was to provide. Luke always protested he wasn't just a servant, and in a way he'd been right.]
For most of his life, my master wasn't allowed to leave the grounds out of fear for his safety. Being locked up for years can be lonely, even with company. I was supposed to make it easier on him by being there for him. You could say we were inseparable.
[He chuckles.] Sure, he could be a spoiled brat because of his upbringing, but the years we spent together was valuable to me. If I could handle him, I could handle anyone.
[ She's invested now, visibly a little cheered and paying attention to his story as he describes his life with Luke. So invested is she, in fact, that his last sentence doesn't really sink in for a moment. And when it does, she is physically taken aback with surprise. ]
You mean... Guy, by anyone, do you mean ... me?
[ She's not sure. But she suddenly remembers that she'd told him not a few minutes ago that she wasn't sure she'd be good company... ]
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Day 91
Hi, Guy.
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Hey, Xion! How're you doing? Did you make it camp okay?
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Mhm.
FROM: xion@cdc.org
There was a lot going on, but I'm safe now. I had a lot of help.
FROM: xion@cdc.org
How about you?
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I'm relieved to hear that. From what I heard, none of the teams had it easy.
FROM: cecil.guy@cdc.org
I'm all right. I'm just glad we've got the chance to finally catch our breaths.
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Me too.
FROM: xion@cdc.org
I feel exhausted, and all we've done is make it to camp...
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You've got to consider how much ground we had to cover to make it here in the first place, too.
FROM: cecil.guy@cdc.org
Don't worry about it. Taking time to recover is just as important as working.
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I guess so.
FROM: xion@cdc.org
I know it's dumb, but I almost don't want to rest.
FROM: xion@cdc.org
I ... jeez, I need to stop saying stuff like this.
FROM: xion@cdc.org
I don't want to make you upset too.
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Whoa, where's this coming from? You do't have to feel guilty about it.
FROM: cecil.guy@cdc.org
Trust me, it takes a lot to get me upset.
FROM: cecil.guy@cdc.org
Besides, if something's bothering you, it's better to get it off your chest sooner rather than later.
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Sorry... I was just talking to Garrus a little while ago, and we talked about some of this stuff, too.
FROM: xion@cdc.org
I was just going to say I don't really want the time to think. Whenever I stop, I think about what we're doing here, and...
FROM: xion@cdc.org
The more I think about it, the worse I feel. I'm just trying to focus on my duties, instead.
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FROM: cecil.guy@cdc.org
Hey, Xion.
FROM: cecil.guy@cdc.org
How about I show you something? It sounds like you've got a lot on your mind and too much time.
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Huh?
FROM: xion@cdc.org
I mean ... sure, of course. I'm always happy to see you, Guy. Where do you want me to meet you?
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How about that tent in the middle of camp?
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Sure. I'll see you soon.
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When he finally does spot her, he's quick to rise to his feet with a warm smile.]
Hey, good to see you.
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His smile gets an answering one, though it's faint. ]
Good to see you too, Guy. What did you want to show me?
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Let's walk around for a bit. There's a patch of flowers I saw on our way in I want to find.
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Xion is young and kind. It's impossible to shield her from what the CDC does, but he wants to make coping with it easier, somehow.
All these thoughts run through his head as he begins walking, his steps slow and even.]
Sorry if this is out of the blue, but have you read my file, Xion?
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But then again, she's always thought of being able to go to her friends for anything. She's never had any reason to think otherwise. Not yet, anyway.
His question wins a startled look before she cuts her gaze away. Her discomfort is clear in the sudden tight line of her shoulders. ]
... no. I don't like reading them. I know I probably should, but...
[ I have secrets of my own. ]
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It's your personal preference. There's nothing wrong with it. Honestly, I'm glad to hear that. It means I can tell you what I've wanted to tell you without any preconceptions.
[A beat.]
Did you know I spent most of my life as a servant to nobility?
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... a servant?
[ That gets her to blink, staring upwards into space. Social class is an almost-total mystery to her. What little she knows of it is from Beast's castle, and his strange servants. ]
You mean, like ... a maid, or a butler, or something?
[ sorry guy. ]
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[He drops his voice, as if telling a secret. He covers his mouth partially with a hand.] Between you and me, he had a big, soft heart he tried to cover up by being tough. He was the sort of person who'd take in a stray kitten if it meowed loud enough.
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He sounds a lot nicer than he pretended to be. So... you attended him? What does that mean?
no subject
For most of his life, my master wasn't allowed to leave the grounds out of fear for his safety. Being locked up for years can be lonely, even with company. I was supposed to make it easier on him by being there for him. You could say we were inseparable.
[He chuckles.] Sure, he could be a spoiled brat because of his upbringing, but the years we spent together was valuable to me. If I could handle him, I could handle anyone.
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You mean... Guy, by anyone, do you mean ... me?
[ She's not sure. But she suddenly remembers that she'd told him not a few minutes ago that she wasn't sure she'd be good company... ]
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