givesherflower | backdated to 12-28 | text | locked to friends and castmates

[Even with someone as stoic as Setsuna F. Seiei, its hard for him to hide his surprise at that revelation.]

Your father... was a Gundam Meister...

[Once the surprise wears off, however, he's still left to deal with what that means. Namely, that the reason she wanted his Gundam had little to do with him at all. His expression falters, going from surprised to thoughtful, then eventually downcast as the guilt started to well up.]

All this time, I thought... [He stops himself there, catching himself in this less-guarded-than-usual moment before he says anything more. It doesn't matter that he thought Feldt didn't believe in him anyway (and why that thought ate at him so much was something he chooses not to dwell on), he was wrong.]

I misunderstood.

Both of my parents were. He showed me how his Gundam worked-- how all of them worked. But I knew his the best.

[It's explanation enough as to why she knows so much about the Gundams and their GN Drives. Two parents in the organization, surrounded by the stuff since birth... and if she had never left Celestial Being at all, even while growing up. Well. A lot about her could be explained. She turns her head back toward him partway, still not completely meeting his eyes.]

...You thought what?

[Its not important is what he wants to say, because dropping the subject and leaving strikes him as a good mission plan at the moment. But... they ended up so distant because they didn't understand each other, so not answering her question probably wasn't going to help clear up this misunderstanding. Honesty would.

Besides, she offered up something about herself, he could return the favor.

Still, this was awkward for him to admit, and he turns away from her slightly. And even when he speaks, its not the usual, empty monotone; its a little quieter, softer.]

I thought... that... you didn't believe that I could do it. That I couldn't eradicate war. That I couldn't become a Gundam. That's why you wanted to take it away from me.

Setsuna....

[And now it's her turn to be surprised. Mostly because she had expected her question to be brushed off. But the answer... it wasn't quite what she expected. After a long moment of silence, she finally looks at him directly. One hand starts to reach out toward him, but it stops short and comes back in front of her chest. A thought to lay a comforting hand on his shoulder stopped. A few words would be enough. ~~The fact that he's strung together four sentences in one go hasn't sunk in.~~]

I do have faith that you can do it. And I hope nothing will ever happen again to make you question that.

[She wished she could guarantee it, but the community and its viruses were still an unknown x factor. Even after four years, no block to the viruses could be found. Tieria had apparently tried a long time ago, but... obviously it hadn't worked. So wishful thinking it was.]

[He had noticed her movement in periphery, and mentally braced himself for contact that never came. Her words do touch him, though, and cause him to glance over at first, then look at her fully.

That she believes in him it... well, it doesn't cause him to smile, per se, but his normally blank expression has brightened. Why her opinion matters so much one way or the other, he doesn't know, but he'll ponder that later.]

Nothing ever will.

[He sounds incredibly confident about that.]

[Well, well. Cue more surprise before her face softens to a small smile. It was strange how it felt so easy to believe that he was right. That somehow his words could override how the community's viruses worked. She relaxes, her head tilting down for a moment.]

Maybe you're right....

[As far as he's concerned, there is no maybe about it.]

You're Gundam. [By blood, no less.] Nothing can change that.

[And if you ignore the fact that that makes almost no sense at all, its probably the nicest thing he's ever said to anyone.]

[She looks confused for a moment because... um. wat. But since his tone hasn't really changed and he said something about becoming a Gundam himself barely a couple minutes ago, she thinks it's a compliment.]

Thank you....

[He nods, because it is a compliment. At least in his head. Though he's... glad that she understands.

Actually, this whole conversation turned out better than he expected. Its actually quite a load off of his mind. But now that he's gotten answers for his questions, he no longer has a reason to be there. Given that he has no idea how to do small talk, in any capacity, that just leaves him standing there quietly (and perhaps a touch awkwardly) for a moment before he decides]

I'll leave. [And he'll let her get back to her thoughts.]

Are you sure?

[Without even realizing it, her eyes probably look a little disappointed. THEY MADE SUCH PROGRESS IN ACTUALLY TALKING TO EACH OTHER. Also she's coming to realize how much being all on her lonesome sucks.]

[That made him pause, as does the look she's giving him.]

I... [Well, he has no reason to stay, but he maybe? Kind of??? Wants?????? To?? And he doesn't want to make her sad.]

Do you want me to stay?

U-unless you have something else to do. I don't want to interrupt any plans you might have.

[Because really, duty comes first. But it's her birthday and she's entitled to be a little selfish. Right? That's how it works, right? Maybe? Just a tiny bit???]

But I like talking with you. I missed it.

[Because even though that sounds absolutely weird, whatever short conversations they had outside of work-related stuff, she had missed. It had been at least half a year, maybe longer.]

[His eyebrows quirk up slightly in surprise, mostly because talking has never been his forte. Ever. Its part of why he keeps everything as short as necessary. So someone deriving any kind of enjoyment out of talking to him does take him a little off guard.

Its the weirdest compliment he's ever gotten. But if she likes talking to him, then...]

I don't have any plans.

[So, yeah, he'll stay. And since he is, he decides to move a bit closer to Feldt, as if to drive home the point via sheer proximity.]

Thank you.

[She does notice the proximity shift and manages to relax a little more. And despite what she said, she doesn't have much else to say. Just standing there in silence is fine with her. It's really more his lingering presence that she's enjoying. Not that she fully understands why.]

[He nods, but doesn't say anything else. The silence that follows between them is comfortable, at least to him. Far more comfortable than the silence that's been between them since the incident.

With nothing to break, he turns towards the window to see what's out there. He doesn't move away from his spot, though, as if to assure her that he's not going anywhere.]

[She does appreciate it, but she realises a little late that "talking" was the wrong word to use. Perhaps "communicate" would've been better, since you don't necessarily have to talk to communicate.

Feldt's happy to keep up the silence at any rate. Looking out at the scenery beyond the window was good enough for her.

...Until something in her pocket buzzed a few minutes later. Her communicator? With a message patched through from the community. From the Doctor. Plans to come visit them. The words on the screen made her smile so bright, her whole face lit up. But at the same time, it brought a couple tears to her eyes. How peculiar.

So far her birthday was looking up. She made up with Setsuna and now a possible visit coming up with the Doctor. So time to write a response to him.]

[How peculiar indeed. It causes him to tilt his head, and he gives her a curious look as he notices the odd mix of emotions.]

Feldt...?

[He's not sure what to ask, which is why he doesn't finish that question. Instead, he reaches over, and wipes away a couple of her tears, asking that way.

She seems otherwise happy, but she's also crying. So, what's the deal?]

[His action robbed her of an explanation for a few seconds. But she finally looks over at him, still smiling.]

It's the Doctor. He's coming to visit us again. It's been so long... and I know I said I didn't wan any birthday presents. But I miss having him around, even if this will be temporary.

[She looks back down at the screen and types in her response to him.]

I see.

[Setsuna still owes the Doctor a good stabbing.

...though he'll probably wait until after Feldt visits with him. It would be too traumatic otherwise.]

How soon?

[Damn right you better wait. B| That's her community!papa.]

He didn't say. But if he's mentioning this now, he might even be planning on arriving today.

[Waiting will also lure the Doctor into a false sense of security...

Though if the Doctor might be visiting today...]

You should go.

[She had to get things ready for his arrival, after all. Though that would mean that this... extended moment was over. Which was disappointing in a way, but life never really stopped.]

Thank you.

[It felt a little rude to be running out on him after she already said she wanted him to stay. So she smiles and nods and heads for the door.

She pauses at the door to turn, still smiling. It had hit her that the thank you didn't encompass everything she was thankful for. For his acceptance of her apology, for talking with her, for staying a little longer....]

Thank you for everything, Setsuna.

[Her communicator signals she has another message in the few extra moments that she lingers. Whatever's written there makes her eyes go wide as she uses the doorway to propel herself forward quickly.]

backdated to 12-28 | text | locked to friends and castmates

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