[ Perhaps surprisingly, she doesn't try to dodge him again. She stays where she is, letting him capture her, and instead gives him a narrow, thoughtful smile. Unlike a moment ago, now there's an edge of danger to her, razor sharp and begging for blood. ]
I'll fight you again, Kyoya. But you'd better not bore me, or I won't go nearly as easy on you as I did last time.
[ Except it's not weird. This is Tsuna. He's one of the biggest, squishiest bleeding hearts she's ever met in her long, long life. Of course he'd be this nice to her. She could flay him alive and he'd smile at her before he died, probably. Freak.
His offer still gets her to recoil, and she looks disgusted, unnerved, and deeply offended all at once. After a moment of profound discomfort she frowns severely and looks away from him. ]
No.
[ Flatly. She works this out on her own, or with someone she actually trusts. But not with Tsuna. He has too much he needs to prove to her. ]
Wait, you know what? Actually, there is something you could do for me. Just shape the fuck up. That's all you need to worry about. Got it?
It's all true! I saw it. I mean, I didn't care that much a8out it, 8ut when I was 8ored once I 8rowsed the humans' timelines and it was exactly what you said.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Their 8onds with their guardians aren't even sym8iotic! The guardians get nothing out of the exchange. 8affling.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
If I'm impressed 8y anything, it's the massive amounts of sheer dum8 luck they must possess as a species.
Oh, there's one more instructor you should 8e careful around.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Gliese!
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
She's not a mean person or anything........ I hear she can 8e pretty nice. She wouldn't 8ite your head off either unless the reason you contacted her was completely dum8.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
8ut she is completely 8rutal. Make sure you never, ever cross her. Not even a little!
There are reasons! Gross reasons. Fine, I refuse to 8e an immature little wiggler about this!
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
I'm not all that clear a8out how human procre8tion works, 8ut we trolls put our genetic material in pails after m8ing.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
So, pailing! There you go.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Yeah, you are. 8ut it's kind of cute? It works for you.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Not really? We were never close. I think he is completely o8noxious and a lot of the time totally fucking useless, 8ut he isn't a 8ad person or anything, I guess.
[ His response is humble, but it's falsely so. Sebastian absolutely considers himself better than very nearly everyone here, but that doesn't mean that he's so incautious as to express that or think they don't pose a threat. It's perfectly in line with Sebastian's manners, and that makes it easy enough to guess by his indirect statement that he does agree, but won't say as much.
So long as he's outwardly polite and charming, his thoughts can remain hidden behind as many layers of masks as he cares to put on. At least, that's how he tends to think of it. It represents the perfect butler's aesthetic. ]
Though I can understand why it is a difficult lesson to learn. Pride is a difficult thing to swallow, especially when faced with matters of rank, to simplify the issue. But there is importance in knowing when to bow your head in response rather than cause a fuss, though it is not often a lesson people truly learn to accept.
That's the thing. They're not dumb. It's not dumb luck. They're creative. One of the more creative species out there. And maybe that's how they made it work.
FROM: vakarian.garrus@cdc.org
There's jokes about the power of imagination, but they've actually got something there. Every species that's survived is creative, has ingenuity. Humans seem to take it to a different level.
[ and this was where his journey to the top of shape-up mountain truly begins. maybe it already started before, but—
now marked the point of no return. ever since he made that choice. it wouldn't be easy, none of it ever would be— and if it did, maybe people should start to worry. for now, tsuna just nods with carefulness.
this would be a long, long journey. and he would succeed. there were no other options. whether he cracks a little on the way, well— ]
Got it.
[ he had to. tsuna shifts, unwrapping his knees and straightening them, beginning to lift himself up. ]
You should 8e! It's really rude and inconsider8. If you were thoughtful you'd never speak to me again! ::::(
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Oh my god. You're like the only person left that won't let that whole mountain thing die! Do you enjoy the thought of little girls in pain, Novem8er? That's kind of fucked up!
Page 39 of 46