[ She is not going to steal the man's name from him. If he'd had one for himself, that would have been different, but it isn't her place to steal anything from him. Of course it's going to hurt - everything about him does. That doesn't mean she isn't going to do it. Watching Alicia struggle with her injuries hurt: The worry made her sick. Watching her parents' unmoving bodies hurts - dusting them like they are furniture in the manor. Seeing Monoco and Noco try to find Verso and only find her hurts.
It all hurts.
It's all necessary.]
Do you know how many Pierres there are in Paris? Two people can have the same name.
If you're so stupid, I suppose I have to keep an eye on you to make sure you don't break yourself. Or someone else doesn't break you.
[ Everything hurts. That smile hurts. She feels as though her Dualliste has stabbed her between the ribs. It's his smile, and the last time she'd seen in, Clea hadn't known to hang on to it, to memorize what it looks like so she can hold it forever and maybe, sometime in the future, Paint that feeling. Not as the man in front of her was Painted, but a Painting so others can see that light. A tribute, not a mockery.
She isn't sure if he wants her around.
Is he telling her to say goodbye because he wants her to leave?
Selfishly, Clea decides she doesn't care. He's stupid and needs to be watched so Maman's creation isn't taken apart by anyone except them. But he's right. They don't know where they are or how long he can be here. Maybe it's only her brother's soul keeping him alive, and that's the part of him that wants to rest.
Sometimes, she imagines the piece of his soul like Verso when he'd barely learned to walk, toddling around the manor and crying when he would be lost in the dark at night looking for Maman. She'd hear him and go out to guide him back to bed.
She can guide him back to bed.
Clea steps forward and wraps her arms around the man who isn't her brother. If this is the last time she sees him, there are things she can say. Who is he going to tell that she's this weak?]
Thank you. Thank you for helping Maman. Thank you for looking after Alicia, and for trying to help me. I'm sorry you were made. Thank you for being a friend to Monoco, Esquie, and Francois.
[ She stays still for a moment, remembering what it feels like to hug him. She hadn't hugged Verso enough. ]
It isn't going to hurt. I know Maman made you able to feel pain, but the Gommage won't hurt.
[ Finally, she steps away, blinking a couple of times in quick succession to remove the tears that threaten to ruin the moment. ]
You'd better die soon so nobody knows I said those things.
[ The Versos may be the best, but they are not the only ones who wear masks. ]
no subject
[ She is not going to steal the man's name from him. If he'd had one for himself, that would have been different, but it isn't her place to steal anything from him. Of course it's going to hurt - everything about him does. That doesn't mean she isn't going to do it. Watching Alicia struggle with her injuries hurt: The worry made her sick. Watching her parents' unmoving bodies hurts - dusting them like they are furniture in the manor. Seeing Monoco and Noco try to find Verso and only find her hurts.
It all hurts.
It's all necessary.]
Do you know how many Pierres there are in Paris? Two people can have the same name.
If you're so stupid, I suppose I have to keep an eye on you to make sure you don't break yourself. Or someone else doesn't break you.
[ Everything hurts. That smile hurts. She feels as though her Dualliste has stabbed her between the ribs. It's his smile, and the last time she'd seen in, Clea hadn't known to hang on to it, to memorize what it looks like so she can hold it forever and maybe, sometime in the future, Paint that feeling. Not as the man in front of her was Painted, but a Painting so others can see that light. A tribute, not a mockery.
She isn't sure if he wants her around.
Is he telling her to say goodbye because he wants her to leave?
Selfishly, Clea decides she doesn't care. He's stupid and needs to be watched so Maman's creation isn't taken apart by anyone except them. But he's right. They don't know where they are or how long he can be here. Maybe it's only her brother's soul keeping him alive, and that's the part of him that wants to rest.
Sometimes, she imagines the piece of his soul like Verso when he'd barely learned to walk, toddling around the manor and crying when he would be lost in the dark at night looking for Maman. She'd hear him and go out to guide him back to bed.
She can guide him back to bed.
Clea steps forward and wraps her arms around the man who isn't her brother. If this is the last time she sees him, there are things she can say. Who is he going to tell that she's this weak?]
Thank you. Thank you for helping Maman. Thank you for looking after Alicia, and for trying to help me. I'm sorry you were made. Thank you for being a friend to Monoco, Esquie, and Francois.
[ She stays still for a moment, remembering what it feels like to hug him. She hadn't hugged Verso enough. ]
It isn't going to hurt. I know Maman made you able to feel pain, but the Gommage won't hurt.
[ Finally, she steps away, blinking a couple of times in quick succession to remove the tears that threaten to ruin the moment. ]
You'd better die soon so nobody knows I said those things.
[ The Versos may be the best, but they are not the only ones who wear masks. ]