Croix Meridies (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
roombamastermind) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
jigokulogs2022-09-13 07:28 pm
roombamastermind) wrote in jigokulogs2022-09-13 07:28 pm
OPEN; SUB-STORY THREAD
Who ⬤ Croix Meridies and you [OPEN]
What ⬤ Substory: Can't Download a Clue
When ⬤ September
Where ⬤ Executive's son's internet cafe
Content Warnings ⬤ Theft? Will Update as needed.
This was almost too easy.
Security at this cafe was, frankly, as embarrassing as its attendance. All Croix had to do was show up and claim to be from the "head office" and explain that someone had complained about one of the computers malfunctioning. She was here to provide "tech support", but she had to take it in to the "head office" to ensure it was working properly.
And so she was walking out of said place of business carrying a box with the computer tower, monitor, and all associated accessories in a box, and was being trusted to bring it back. This had gone off without a hitch, and Croix was practically almost home free.
It'd be a bad time for someone with reason to question her to immediately question her to walk in, wouldn't it?
What ⬤ Substory: Can't Download a Clue
When ⬤ September
Where ⬤ Executive's son's internet cafe
Content Warnings ⬤ Theft? Will Update as needed.
This was almost too easy.
Security at this cafe was, frankly, as embarrassing as its attendance. All Croix had to do was show up and claim to be from the "head office" and explain that someone had complained about one of the computers malfunctioning. She was here to provide "tech support", but she had to take it in to the "head office" to ensure it was working properly.
And so she was walking out of said place of business carrying a box with the computer tower, monitor, and all associated accessories in a box, and was being trusted to bring it back. This had gone off without a hitch, and Croix was practically almost home free.
It'd be a bad time for someone with reason to question her to immediately question her to walk in, wouldn't it?
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It was enough of a distraction that even Chariot missed the shift in Croix's look. Her face burned red and the magic in the ord began to become unstable, fitzing out like bad radio reception. ]
H-hold on, It didn't necessarily mean someone in the cafe!
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That's right. Didn't I tell you I needed to repair one of your computers? Who exactly sold you these machines, hm?
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Unfortunately, Chariot's embarrassment and mild panic at just how south the situation had gone caused the stellar magic to whack out entirely, backfiring and causing a small blast behind her, sending the table and astrolabe into one of the other computers, knocking over a whole row of of still working computers down to the floor with a massive crash.
... Suddenly, all you could hear were the porn sounds as everyone else went deathly silent. ]
Um... S-sorry...
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...I'll repair all of these. Free of charge.
[She could do no less, even if saying so left her feeling as though she'd been punched in the heart.]
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At a slothly pace, he moved to the old man's computer, shutting it down hard-way and silently directing the old man to leave, whom thankfully did so without another remark. With that same deliberate sluggishiness, the owner moved back to their desk, and slumped down. ]
"I'll still pay you. But I think I'd really just prefer it if you both leave. I'll call you tomorrow about the machines."
[ Chariot, for her part, looked like she could shatter at any moment, seized by anxiety and guilt. She'd lost control of her magic like she was 15 all over again... ]
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[Croix frowned deeply, and turned towards Ursula. She saw the look on her face, and felt like she'd been stabbed in the heart. With a knife she herself was holding.
Quietly, she tried to usher her out, and once they were out of the cafe.]
That wasn't your fault.
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Croix's words were heard, understood even, but... she couldn't accept them, all the same. Not in the state she was in at the moment, just shaking her head. ]
I'm the one that lost control...
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[She placed her hands on the other woman's shoulders.]
The owner made an assumption and caused a scene. That perverted old man made it worse by doing something so indecent in a public place. You were using a spell that requires absolute focus...no matter what caused the reading [read: me], they escalated it. Anyone would have had trouble holding it together in there.
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[ She... hadn't meant to yell back at Croix, and immediately winced at her own raised voice, once more drawing into herself, clenching the backpack as if it were a life preserver, keeping her from drowning in a black sea... ]
I can't just shrug off my own culpability...
[ In the end, she was the one that lost control. She had needed to be better, and she wasn't.
Same as it ever was... ]
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[Croix let out a sigh.]
You want to talk about culpability? Fine. The person your reading identified was me. I was going to steal that computer, until you walked in. Everything bad that happened in there? Was because I was too selfish to stay on the right path again.
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Croix...
[ It wasn't just disappointment in her voice, but... a great, many turbulent things, things that she hardly had the wherewithal to express in that moment with words, but... no doubt Croix could feel them in the way her name sat on Chariot's lips, in that moment. ]
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I've still not changed. I have...a ways to go. But I'd rather confess every dark emotion and intention I've ever had that see you blame yourself for something that's my responsibility. You can hate me as much as you want...
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[ The grip on her backpack loosened just slightly, finally able to find her breath again. ]
The old you... wouldn't have done this. Owning your own guilt, to spare mine...
[ It may not have seemed significant to Croix, but... it meant the world to Chariot, to hear that. ]
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I...I suppose that's true...
[She thought about how she once said she wanted to steal or crush Chariot's dreams. That had been arrogance and pride blinding her at the time, but...they truly did feel like a lifetime ago. Had she truly changed more than she thought she had.]
Chariot, I want you to know. I'm serious about helping the owner. I. I will return later to fix everything...!
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... Then another.
... And another. ]
In truth, Croix... I would probably not be that upset if you didn't.
[ Fuck that guy. ]
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That's...certainly not what I expected to hear you say.
[And yet a certain part of her is...appreciative.]
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That star reading was a total disaster. I was trying to be kind about it, but the fact is, this man isn't just destined for failure, he's destined to bring others down with him. He's a scumbag! Just a rich brat trying to scam his way out of taking responsibility for anything!
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Well...I'm glad that you're looking at such things with this new sensibility, I suppose. I don't have to worry about such people taking advantage of your better nature. That said, I am going to repair those computers...
...but one will be [ airquotes ] "unsalvageable", and I'm going to charge a healthy fee for it as well.
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It's not as if I was going to let him walk all over me... But even if he's a loser, I still don't feel fully right after causing so much damage...
[ She swallowed, sighed. ]
I'll just... try not to think about it. I tried to be helpful to him, at least...
[ Even if she hadn't realized, at the time, she'd been warning him about Croix. ]
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It was also too fast. She needed to give Chariot space for this. ]
I see. Well, I have faith that you can overcome this setback, Chariot. I'll give you your space.
...But. If you need someone to talk to, I'm there if you need me. As are other members of the Alliance, no doubt.
[ And she's going to try to smile encouragingly. Because once again, when all is said and done, this is really all her fault. ]
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Never had she thought they'd be back to this. To something that felt... so much better, again. She could feel that nostalgia again, just as she had when setting up the table. The wonderful warmth that she'd set outside her heart for so long... ]
Thank you, Croix. All this effort you're putting in... I appreciate it.
[ She felt like, for the first time in years, she was looking at her best friend again, her partner, her companion... They'd get there, fully, again. She had faith. ]
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Think nothing of it. But you're welcome.
[ She did a small bow, before turning to leave. ]
Have a good night, Chariot.