shamelessness | Appointments

[It's really windy when they meet at the fountain. Shiemi is a bit bundled up just to protect herself from the wind. When she sees Shu there she'll wave at him.]

Hello!

Hi! Shiemi.

[Shu calls out to Shiemi and approaches her. He covered his wings to protect himself from the cold. They're both bundled up and ready for this weather.

He's really fortunate that Shiemi came out here to talk. Though, after some discussion with Elizabeth he doesn't think he's worthy of having friends. Shiemi is too nice to him and Shu doesn't feel that he deserves her friendship.]

I'm so sorry. I stabbed Gai. He shot me in the chest with his Void and I was hurt. It was out of self defense. [Shu was really frightened back then. Normally he'd slow down and explain more before he gets Shiemi lost again but thinking about this upsets him.]

I tried my best to call for you and Cross.

It was impossible for me to reach anyone until recently. I'm very sorry for worrying you. As for me and Gai, well. I understand him now. It's going to be okay.

I think I was only able to make it because I knew I wasn't alone. Shiemi, you've helped me so much. I need to repay you for it.

[...Wait, what? He was shot? He stabbed Gai? But it's all okay now? No. No, give her a minute to let this sink in-

No she can't handle this standing. Shiemi walks - her steps wobbly - to the fountain. She sits at its edge, and puts her hands to her face. She can't say anything. She just... has to absorb this.]

[Shu understands that it's hard to listen to all of this. He isn't in the best emotional state and he appreciates Shiemi's patience with him.

He keeps his mouth shut for the time being so she can have time to process everything. Shu tries to calm down as Shiemi walks to the fountain.]

...I'm not- [She cuts herself off. What does she even say? Shu stabbed someone. But it sounds like he was attacked first. Even if he did sound ready for a fight their first talk.]

I'm sorry, I don't know what to say.

[It's complicated. Shu wasn't about to let Gai insult Inori and it ended this way.]

I'm sorry too. [He's going to cry. Shu can't handle seeing Shiemi this way. He can't see Shiemi be upset over everything that's happened because of his own poor decisions. Is he going to keep hurting his friends this way? Elizabeth was right about him.]

Shiemi, it was my mistake getting you involved in everything without even knowing you too well. I'm nothing but a hypocrite!

Gai was only trying to explain his side of the story. You said you would listen to it if you were in my shoes...and I went and stabbed him. What I've done is unforgivable. [He's really sorry, Shiemi.]

Ev-everyone is okay, right? Are you still hurt?

We'll be fine. [Keyword: 'be'. Everyone needs time to rest after dealing with something that difficult. Shu understands that much and he knows Gai does too.]

It's okay Shiemi. You don't have to worry anymore.

Ri-right. [And she has no place to judge either. Their home world - if anything like here - must be more complicated than she can understand.]

I'm- I'm glad it will be okay. [Will be. It does sound like it has yet to completely resolve itself.] I'm sorry I couldn't help more.

You've done plenty to help. Thank you Shiemi.

[Shu's done talking about whatever went on with Gai and Elizabeth. He just wants her to feel better about it somehow.]

Are you alright?

Yes, I- I am just trying to wrap my head around this.

[He stabbed somebody. The boy right next to her stabbed somebody.] U-um do you think the man from the GHQ will do anything?

Most likely. [Shu's not going to let himself be led astray like that again. He's determined to put a stop to all of this because he hurt Elizabeth and Shiemi.]

He won't stay quiet after doing this. Shiemi...[Shu isn't completely over everything that Gai said and did. He thinks it'd be easier to explain the situation to Shiemi using a different method.

Shu takes out his right hand and plunges it into himself. He draws out a large scythe and shows it to Shiemi.]

This is what Gai shot out of me. It's my heart.

[WHAT THE ACTUAL EFF. Shiemi starts hyperventilating, and scooting away from Shu. HE JUST PULLED A SCYTHE OUT OF HIS- actually Shura does something similar, but-]

Shot it out of you?!

[He nods sadly. Shu can't blame Shiemi for being frightened.]

Gai and I have this ability. We can draw weapons from within ourselves. The gun he used took this out of me by force.

I'm so sorry Shiemi.

[This all must be shocking to her. He'd be able to understand if Shiemi didn't want to be friends after this.]

Does it hurt?

It hurt a lot.

You can try holding this weapon for yourself. [He reaches his arm out and presents the scythe to her.]

I wished that my heart took on a nicer form, but I've hurt people too. The fact that my heart's a weapon reflects that. It's okay if you don't want to speak to me after this.

[She keeps her hands pressed against her chest as she stares at the weapon between them. This is the form of his heart? Not simply an enchanted weapon summoned from inside his body, like Shura?]

You trust me to hold your heart?
[It's okay if you don't want to speak to me after this. Shiemi had considered that, however whenever Shu spoke to her she felt as if there was nothing to fear. He always seems so deeply remorseful of anything bad he's done - even if it's a small thing.]

[He nods and remains silent. Shu trusted Shiemi. She has always been the voice of reason to him and that's what made Shu decide that it was okay to trust her.

It's normal for Shu to blindly trust people, as long as they treat him well. He's still naive that way.]

[Shiemi reaches out. Hesitantly she curls her fingers around the staff to feel its texture and weight. Her heart beat fast. She was scared. What if she dropped it? What if she was so clumsy that it fell right out of her hands, and into the fountain. That would hurt him, right? She takes a deep, nervous breath before accepting the scythe from him. This gesture of trust makes only a little bit of sense to her, but she will comply. This - this is her answer. She refuses to stop talking to him. She will hold his heart, or at least the form of his heart, with care. Friends don't bail after a screw up. They pick up the pieces and try to mend.]

Shu? Do you know what a scythe's original purpose is?

[Shu isn't afraid of letting Shiemi hold his Void. He's already come to a decision and he isn't going to fall back on it because he's scared. He's tired of hurting his friends. Gai desperately tried to explain the situation and he jumped to conclusions. Shu didn't even listen to his childhood friend when he needed help the most.

He was trying so hard not to make another mistake.

Shiemi can decide what to do with his Void. He'd be okay with whatever happened afterwards.]

No, I don't. [He shakes his head.] What is it?

They were made to cut grass. Back when there was no tractors or lawnmowers people used scythes. I'm not sure how they got associated as a weapon, or with death. Maybe people thought the god of death "harvested" the souls? Ah, but it doesn't work like that.

[Shiemi gently sets the bottom of the staff on the ground, and the top half - where the blade is - against her shoulder. She doesn't want to risk fumbling what is precious to Shu. What might hurt him more than he may already be hurting. She wraps her arms around the Void, holding it careful and close. All Shu needs to do is ask, and he can have it back.]
So maybe your heart isn't so hurtful? Maybe if used right it can be helpful?

[A scythe that wasn't used for killing? Shu doesn't look entirely surprised to hear that Shiemi knows about this. She loves gardening and she studied exorcism. It seemed like a natural thing for her to know about.

Shu isn't going to ask for his Void back. Not yet at least. He's still trying to wrap his head around the fact that scythes weren't originally associated with death. He had the wrong idea about his heart.]

Will you give me a second chance? I've hurt you so much from all of this and I'm truly sorry. I can't apologize enough for getting you involved. [That includes Cross too. Shu still has to talk about everything with his roommates as well.]

I want a chance to find out if my heart is capable of doing things other than harm people.

[This wouldn't be the first time Shiemi has given someone a second chance. After seeing Rin go berserk in the forest, rejecting him out of fear, and then making up with him later... She can definitely give Shu a second chance ~~it's not like she was the one stabbed anyway~~. The blonde returns the scythe back to Shu.]

Mm, I'd like to see you find that out, too.

[As soon as Shiemi lets go of Shu's scythe it returns to his body. Shu hasn't mastered his ability yet and because of this he passes out. None of this is Shiemi's fault. He's emotionally exhausted and he can't keep his own powers in check.]

[When Shu loses consciousness Shiemi reaches out to catch him. The girl is pretty surprised when that happenes, and she calls out to him. That's when she realizes he's unconscious. She has to make sure he doesn't hit the stone, or worse fall into the fountain. In this chill with the wind blowing? That would be bad. She guides Shu's body to be sitting next to hers. She'll, uh... just let him lean on her all passed out like. A combination of the wind nipping at her face, her allergies, and embarrassment has her face tomato red. Shiemi sighs, and decides she'll give him ten minutes before she'll start making arrangements to get him back to his apartment.]

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