IC INBOX

[gothicgambit]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, CELESTIA LUDENBERG. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 888.06.111.44 *** VersaillesWitch has joined 888.06.111.44 <VersaillesWitch> Say what you will, but do say it quickly. (alt anon account) <whiterabbit>

Comments

[gothicgambit]

[Oh.
A thousand little pieces click into place. She would never describe Mukuro as cowardly either, in fact Celeste would gut anyone who ever tried. So she just lets herself be pulled closer, closing her eyes and just taking a moment to breathe in warmth and fur and rest.

Mukuro is one of the few people who's ever held Celeste like this in her entire life, and even between the two of them the affection is sparing. Both so unsure how to use the tool of it they often spend more time staring at the option and feeling guilty, instead of taking the comfort they know the other would offer.

Perhaps it was no ones fault, or hers, or Mukuro's. Did it really matter? Did they have to settle blame?]

I spoke to the Fog.

[She says instead.]

[dead_eyed_wolf]

[What a conversational pivot. She pauses, unsure how to react - is this a good thing, or bad? Is she upset at Mukuro for joining?

Was She nice to Celeste?]

...O-oh.
How - how'd it go...?

[gothicgambit]

[Celeste feels how Mukuro's body goes stock-still for a moment, a dog expecting a strike perhaps. It makes a nervous, manic laugh bubble up again.]

I asked her why Komaeda left. Why she had...

[taken him. In so many words. Though they had discussed a bit more than that.]

She said that it was outside her control.

[dead_eyed_wolf]

[Oh.

That makes sense.

When Mukuro spoke to Her... She didn't seem like the type of god to just disappear them at a whim. Komaeda hadn't done anything to earn her ire. Honestly, she's not even sure if he could; as far as Mukuro can tell, the Fog is very tolerant of Her children and all their shenanigans.

It makes her wonder. Mukuro's been trusting, but she knows she's stupid, knows she's easy to trick if her loyalty's won. And she's reminded of the betrayal, every time the Fog rolls in, as the weight of those jet-black spines settle along her back. Celeste... she's smart. She knows people, and he knows lying. She'd know better than Mukuro, probably, even from only one meeting. Right...?]

Do you--

[She pauses, unsure, nervous; her voice much too small to suit the black beast she's become. But she's always been a soft-hearted girl deep down, under the wolf mask. After a beat, a moment of nervous shifting, she tries again, unable to look up and meet the demon's eyes as she asks:]

She says - she does. But do you think - Sh-She really - loves us...?

[gothicgambit]

[No. Is Celeste's immediate instinct. It sits in the back of her throat and in her chest and she's almost so sure of it.

But she holds her tongue, keeps the word shoved behind her teeth as she thinks a moment. Mukuro... was obviously a creature of belonging. She didn't know any other way to be, and the Fog could certainly provide such a thing. The Fog admitted in her own words: she wanted Elias gone, she wanted monsters to become the most powerful creatures on the isle, and she wanted her own success.

She'd also called Celeste pet, and Celeste knows better than anyone exactly why one might choose such specific words.]

... I'm not sure. She might... If she is capable.

[Could gods love their creations? Perhaps as pets, as toddling creatures they see no real threat or power in. As objects.

But beyond it all, the Fog could be useful. So a bit of gratitude wasn't uncalled for.]

I haven't asked, so I don't know. She seemed regretful about Komaeda.

[dead_eyed_wolf]

[She waits, and she listens. Celeste is clever and perceptive, and she trusts Celeste will tell her the truth. Maybe that's stupid, too. But Celeste's had plenty of opportunities to hurt or lie to her, and she hasn't. Even when she'd be right to. Even when Mukuro would have let her.

So when Celeste says "I'm not sure" - Mukuro nods, after a moment.]

...That's what I think too.

[And that, knowing she'd guessed the same as Celeste, makes her all the more sure of her choice.]

It doesn't feel like She's - lying, when She says it. But She's not - She's a god. She doesn't feel things the way humans do. Right...?

[Mukuro's sure She does care, in some way. However She's able to, as a creature so vastly different from them. Mukuro doesn't follow her because she needs to be loved - as nice as it is, it's not something she can trust. Not completely. She follows her out of thanks, and in exchange for the power to keep her pack safe. That's enough for her.

Feeling cared for like that - it's a bonus. But - she's got that here, too.

She noses lightly at Celeste, unwilling to put her cold wet nose directly on the demon, but wanting to be close all the same.]

...Anyway. I'm glad you're back.

[gothicgambit]

[Celeste glances over, just for a moment, silently glad that Mukuro had seen what she saw. Of course, she reminds herself. Mukuro had been a soldier, the very best. So she needed to understand the more clinical side of emotions. She needed to not be fooled by easy promises and words.

Celeste leans her head into the touch, not minding the suddenly cold touch of Mukuro's dog nose. It was comforting, if anything.]

I'm glad too.