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--V.S.
WAAPT@tropi.us Legacy → WAAPT: In-Universe → Herbert40k's Wrap-Up Thread
Crow: <...Yeah.>
<Anyway, you might want to get some grunts over here for salvage because they mentioned bringing in more Illusion people for salvage later.>
-Sarah blushes even more, a hint of shyness taking place.-
Sarah: You really are sweet, you know?
Titan: I've already made the arrangements. Reinforcements will be on-site shortly. You may stand relieved. I imagine that you are hardly keen on spending any longer out in the desert than you have to.
-Now it's Lucius' turn to blush intensely. He rubs the back of his neck.-
Lucius: ...Am I really? I mean, it's just the truth, as far as I'm concerned... you know, that sounded far less sappy in my head.
-Bashfulness takes hold.-
Sarah: Well, um... th-thanks, I guess.
-She smiles more.-
-Lucius chuckles slightly.-
Lucius: ...Remember when I used to be the shy, stammering, awkward one?
-Sarah giggles-
Sarah: Yeah, I do... and now here I am, in your shoes. A lot can change in a year and a few months, huh?
Crow: <Alright. I take it I should get going now rather than wait for them to show up?>
Titan: That was the unspoken implication, yes. I would rather not have to explain to the rank-and-file how a bird managed to do their job for them.
-Lucius gives a rather broad grin.-
Lucius: Indeed it can. I actually grew a spine, for a start.
-And more giggles-
Sarah: Yeah, you did. It's a nice change.
-She clasps his hand, whether he'd let go of her hand prior or not.-
Sarah: I really did miss this side of you, though. I know I mentioned it a couple weeks ago, after the Croagunk thing, but it's worth saying again.
Crow: <Fair enough. Bye, then.>
-He hangs up, recalls his team, then heads back toward Vien Forest-
-Finn still stays there, mumbling about the thing with S-
-Lucius smiles again.-
Lucius: I guess we're both seeing sides of each other that we'd like to see more of. Have I mentioned that the colour in your cheeks really comes out when you blush like that, by the way?
-What, like the blush that just filled Sarah's cheeks again right now?-
Sarah: Er, um... thanks, uh...
-She smiles, kinda unsure what to say.-
-Thankfully, Lucius steps in to fill the gap for her.-
Lucius: ...Say, I know this is going to sound kind of sudden, but next time I head back to Unova, do you want to come along with me? My therapy sessions take up most of the day, but we'd still have the evenings to ourselves. Who knows, maybe they might be able to help you deal with some of your own problems.
-Sarah brightens up noticeably-
Sarah: I'd love to!
-But then she considers something, and it fades a little bit.-
Sarah: That said... I did just meet one of my cousins recently, and I promised to spend some time with her, since it's been years since we saw each other last. Would you mind if I waited a few weeks before visiting you there?
-Lucius looks rather taken aback, but then shakes his head slightly.-
Lucius: Oh, uh, not at all... that reminds me, I never really asked. What have you been up to whilst I've been away?
Sarah: Well, um... like I said, I met my cousin. And her girlfriend. Um... well, Ren had his birthday party three days ago, on the subject of cousins. And... well, yesterday Shingeko and the Squad jumped into my mind and fought a psycho Toxicroaky version of me and her team of five actual Toxicroak. Which I saw from psycho-me's point of view. So... yeah. That happened.
-Beat-
Sarah: But I'm doing better now! I got decent sleep after that for once.
-Lucius blinks.-
Lucius: Uh... man, now I feel kind of bad about not being around to help deal with that. But I'm glad to hear that you've been sleeping well, at least. My nightmares also seem to be clearing up ever since I started therapy, though Dr Yamada still insists that I keep a dream journal every night.
Sarah: Don't worry about it, your therapy was more important than something that the Squad handled just fine.
-She hugs him-
Sarah: Let's focus on the good parts, though. You're doing better, I'm doing better, things in general are getting better...
-Lucius gives a small smile as he's hugged.-
Lucius: ...That's true, I suppose. I can't remember the last time we were honestly able to say that.
-Sarah sighs wistfully-
Sarah: Way too long ago...
-She lets go, still managing a smile.-
Sarah: But now we can. Maybe a "happily ever after" isn't too far from being possible after all.
-You'd have to look very closely to see the traces of doubt and melancholy in Lucius' smile.-
Lucius: ...Maybe. We'll have to wait and see. Anyway... you're probably keen to get back to your cousins. I'm not going to keep you. It must be nice to have family again after so long.
-Sarah doesn't see it, but she does feel it empathically, and her smile slips ever so slightly-
Sarah: Yeah, I am... maybe you could meet her some day. She's fun.
-She kisses Lucius's cheek again-
Sarah: See you around, Herby.
-Lucius replies to Sarah's peck on the cheek with one of his own.-
Lucius: Catch you later. If you don't see me tomorrow, then I'll make sure to pay you another visit next weekend. Who knows, I might actually be sane by then.
-He turns and starts walking back into the town.-
-Sarah smiles, and returns to the hotel.-
-Lucius is back in the therapist's office at the conclusion of another long bout of psychotherapy. Dr Yamada takes the time to slide her notes into her desk drawer before looking over her glasses at the boy sat opposite.-
Dr Yamada: Before we wrap up our session for today, may I ask where you were yesterday? You weren't present for our afternoon appointment.
Lucius: ...I was busy.
-Dr Yamada raises an eyebrow.-
Dr Yamada: How so?
Lucius: All I was doing was helping a friend out. You don't have to sound so suspicious.
-Yamada sighs.-
Dr Yamada: ...Lucius, I'm afraid we're not going to get anywhere if you don't feel comfortable discussing your thoughts, feelings and activities with me.
Lucius: Tough. I don't feel comfortable discussing them with anybody save for a couple of my closest friends.
Dr Yamada: That would be people you believe to be unlikely to betray you, correct?
Lucius: ...That's a pretty funny definition of "friend".
Dr Yamada: Yet it appears to be yours, given what you've told me so far. Not that I can make a diagnosis with any degree of accuracy without knowing the underlying cause behind your state of psychological distress. I'm not going to try and rush you into disclosing information that you aren't comfortable with telling me yet, but I will warn you that confiding solely in one or two people is generally considered to be detrimental to your emotional health.
-Lucius remains silent. Dr Yamada gets up and hands him a prescription.-
Dr Yamada: I'm going to prescribe you some antidepressants. Hopefully they should help to counteract your current mood swings. If you notice any side effects, tell me immediately. You have my X-Transceiver number, correct?
Lucius: Yeah.
-One trip to the nearby pharmacist later, and Lucius is walking out of the building with a clear bottle of tablets in his hand, a dark frown creased across his face.-
Lucius: (As if I need her to tell me not to trust anybody... after what happened to Lyuri and Crewe, I know better than to open up to people. Letting them in on my fears just makes it easier for them to turn that information against me. I'm not going to let Orre repeat itself, not again. I'll do anything to keep that from happening...)
-His eyes absent-mindedly drift down the the bottle in his hand.-
Lucius: (She sure did give me a lot of pills... if I took all of these at once, I could probably...)
-He shakes his head.-
Lucius: (No. Don't even think about that. I dealt with that creep who was blackmailing Crewe. I'll find Titan. I'll find Allen. I'll make everyone who deserves justice pay for their crimes. I'm going to keep fighting for my happy ending if it kills me, dammit.)
Maul: ~Knowing your luck, it probably will.~
Lucius: (...Ever the optimist, aren't you, Maul?)
WAAPT@tropi.us Legacy → WAAPT: In-Universe → Herbert40k's Wrap-Up Thread
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