(no subject)

[stalking_horse]

[Once again, there's a disgruntled, bloodied Hakuba with bloody holes in his clothing grumping downstairs in the Inn.]

[Oh, he's got spare clothes that aren't mauled, he's just not going to worry about them at the moment.]

[If anyone saw him last time, it looks like his impalement this time was even MORE excessive.]

[Stupid Pyramid Head. Stupid angel.]

Comments

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

...she might have that idea in her head.

It just takes getting her to truly believe it. But it'd be nice if we could get rid of her fear of Bernkastel as a witch as well. But baby steps are good.

[stalking_horse]

If her definition can be shifted so she has some understanding of the weaknesses of the mechanisms, that might take away that fear of Berkastel - which is most of Bernkastel's power over her; as long as she's afraid, she isn't stopping to think about how she can shake off that power, or how ephemeral it is.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, I think I can do something for that.

[Pauses.] By the way, keep in mind Bernkastel has probably ordered her to spy on us. Bernkastel's been too quiet about us taking hr.

[stalking_horse]

[He gives that a small snort.] Of course. Not only keep an eye on what we're up to, but quietly reinforce her own power; make Erika think she's only around us because Bernkastel is allowing it, and if she can use Erika to destroy us, that would reinforce the idea that Erika can't turn to outside help.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

That it does.

How much does she trust you? Does she think of you as a person whose 'helped' her?

[stalking_horse]

...

I'm not sure.

I've tried, and I was standing by her when Bernkastel and Lambda killed us - I've thrown in vouching for her reality, but I don't know how much she was thinking about at the time, and there wasn't much I could do, with how little I knew.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

...yeah. It'll probably have helped.

But it's still probably me she'd trust more for any really confusing things. Keep working to befriend her some more.

She's a good girl. She really does deserve a chance.

[stalking_horse]

She does, and I don't mind risking whatever Bernkastel's plotting to try to help her; she deserves a chance, and needs people to help her find it, and show her that there is more to life than what she's been given.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

Yes.

Though be careful. She's rather arrogant and prideful.

I think I've been having as easy a time of it so far because of the kid thing. People aren't as defensive with an eight year old.

[stalking_horse]

[Think carefully. Have you ever seen Saguru pull his usual smug bastard routine in the direction of a female? Ever? Well okay technically he did at Beatrice once but that was him being paranoid and recognizing that she was a witch and therefore Incredibly Dangerous.]

I will be - but it shouldn't be too hard, as long as I treat her as a proper lady, right? [You can feel free to remember and cringe/eyetwitch at memories of past dealings with Saguru now.]

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

[The gentleman thing can rub tsunderes the wrong way, depending. Just being cautious.]

...just be careful. She had a bad relationship, so too flirty and she might dislike you.

[stalking_horse]

I'll be careful. [Depends on how long it takes her to realize that he's kind of a sucker in situations like that, he just hasn't realized it yet.]

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

[Pauses.]

...you can recognize when you're flirty, right?

DON'T BELIEVE HIM.

[stalking_horse]

... Yes?

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

....did you flirt with Ran?

[stalking_horse]

....No?

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

Or that girl detective from the koshien?

[stalking_horse]

... No, although I may have been a touch intentionally backhandedly obnoxious.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

....

You don't know what flirting looks like.

This ... should be as terrifying as it sounds.

[stalking_horse]

.............. [something is not quite computing here.]


.... You haven't actually seen me trying to flirt.

[AND SOMEHOW AOKO STILL DIDN'T SEEM TO REALIZE THAT HE WAS FLIRTING.]

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

....

If you....

Hakuba, if that's not you flirting, I can only think you stop just short of me under the influence of those berries during that freaky love week when you do!

[It's AOKO. She's just...Aoko.]

[stalking_horse]

I don't go THAT far - I wasn't trying to get in her pants. Skirt. Whatever.

[He might actually be grumpily picking up an interesting shade of red.]

[You know the grumping is probably all the more obvious since you're still being held like an oversized plushie and he doesn't seem to have thought about this fact.]

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

Well, I'd hope you'd stop before reaching the point of sexual assault! [It's what he did. He knows it. It was just...minor. Sort of.]

[....]

Just...how...how can you NOT have realized it?

[And you know...plotting distracts him from dignity. So hasn't quite acknowledged this fact yet.]

[S-sob, so used to tiny body.]

[stalking_horse]

Baaya would've strung me up by my lower intestine if I did something like that. [And it's clear he's sure it would've been deserved, not that he's going to blame you, since you were, you know, Not Yourself.]

[PS there might be a clue to the problem in that statement.]

... ... [His normal behavior toward girls being "flirting" still may not be entirely computing.]

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

Any woman I know would do the same. [He pretty much let's it go without more punishment to himself due to the fact he's pretty sure there's nothing worst that can be done to him that didn't already happen aside from Ran finding out.]

Baaya?