[He makes a noise in the back of his throat and snaps one hand up in alarm.]
S... soundtrack? [No, the tips of his ears aren't turning red in embarrassment you're imagining things.] L-look, I didn't think anybody was listening, okay? [Doesn't everyone sing in the shower??]
[ That pout gives way to something much closer to a grin as she leans in. ]
Unless you count the one-woman audience that is little ole me, of course! What, did you think you were singing quietly or something? That your roommate would ignore those dulcet tones?
Whaddaya mean, what's it supposed to mean? [He gives her a puzzled look.] Half the time you're not here. And don't tell me you got a job, either; at least my absences are putting food in the fridge, sheesh.
[He steeples his hands and taps his fingertips together, then meets Ryoko's eye.]
You know, you actually don't do a bad impression of me.
[Axel that isn't what she asked.]
[He draws in a slow breath and then sighs softly, leaning forward to set the little cup she'd given him down on the table before he sits back against the couch. He's done his best to avoid this subject, but ultimately he knows he should be honest with her; she's his friend, and he cares about her--as much as he's capable, anyway--and he's already learned the hard way that lies of omission are still lies and still have the capacity to really hurt people. This isn't quite the same, it isn't like he's not telling her about herself, but somehow lying about his nature just doesn't sit right with him. He hadn't really meant to say what he'd said, and he hadn't even really thought about his use of self-effacing sarcasm until she'd picked up on just how odd his words had been. She's more perceptive and clever than he'd given her credit for, and he probably should have been more careful.]
[Well, change has to start somewhere, right?]
I meant what I said, when I said I wasn't exactly human. I mean, I guess you figured that out already. [He folds his arms a little uncomfortably.] I don't smell like your dirtlings 'cuz I'm... not one, not really. [Ugh, why is this so hard to explain?] Ah... so... You know how they say there's two sides to everything? Well, the same kinda goes for people. In a way, you could say I'm... only half a person.
[It's a start. He's still working on his presentation, okay?]
[ Look, she takes her impressions very seriously. Probably could've stood to give her hair a fluff for good effect, but her performance remains flawless. If he hadn't continued, she might have ventured a bow, but continue he did and she watches, listens. ]
Half a person?
[ She echoes, wondering at that. There are some straws she can grasp at in trying to understand that statement, but something tells her he's not quite finished. ]
[Now that he's spilled these beans, he's starting to regret it, less because he doesn't trust Ryoko with the information and more because it's just difficult to explain. He hesitates a moment, then blows a sigh up toward his hairline.]
It's a little complicated. Ah... Where do I start? [He gestures vaguely with his hands.] So most sentient living things, in my experience, anyway, have a fairly comparable sort of makeup. Brain, lungs, stomach... [He makes a fist with one hand and holds it over the left side of his chest.] Heart.
Now... admittedly, the heart is kind of a special case, because there's the organ, the thing that pumps blood through your body, but there's also a more... ethereal heart, you know? The heart that drives your emotions, the heart that holds the things dear to you. The heart that can be full of light, or full of darkness. [He rubs his thumb against the ridge of his collarbone awkwardly, then sighs again, softly this time.] If a heart becomes consumed by the Darkness--either by choice, or by outside forces, like the Storm, for example--the person it belongs to gets split into two parts: the heart itself, which becomes a shadowy creature driven only by desire and hunger and emotion, and... the other half. The half that has the personality and the body, but... no heart.
[This time he sort of gestures to all of himself, hoping she gets the point.]
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[ She's got several of his little shower concerts recorded on her phone. Been thinking about making a playlist out of it, maybe. ]
The water thing isn't happenin -- hey!
[ Someone is deserving of a pinch? She's trying to be serious here!!! She may be pouting. ]
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S... soundtrack? [No, the tips of his ears aren't turning red in embarrassment you're imagining things.] L-look, I didn't think anybody was listening, okay? [Doesn't everyone sing in the shower??]
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[ That pout gives way to something much closer to a grin as she leans in. ]
Unless you count the one-woman audience that is little ole me, of course! What, did you think you were singing quietly or something? That your roommate would ignore those dulcet tones?
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You don't know how right you are.
[He leans back a little when she leans in close, and makes a nervous noise before pulling at the back of his neck.]
I guess I just didn't figure you'd care, sheesh. Half the time you're not home during the day anyway, so...
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Well, half the day you're at work, anyway, so I'd call it even.
[ Sort of.
Wait. ]
What's that supposed to mean?
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You don't know how right you are. What's the deal?
[ Totally ignoring that whole her not being there during the day and the job remark... ]
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You know, you actually don't do a bad impression of me.
[Axel that isn't what she asked.]
[He draws in a slow breath and then sighs softly, leaning forward to set the little cup she'd given him down on the table before he sits back against the couch. He's done his best to avoid this subject, but ultimately he knows he should be honest with her; she's his friend, and he cares about her--as much as he's capable, anyway--and he's already learned the hard way that lies of omission are still lies and still have the capacity to really hurt people. This isn't quite the same, it isn't like he's not telling her about herself, but somehow lying about his nature just doesn't sit right with him. He hadn't really meant to say what he'd said, and he hadn't even really thought about his use of self-effacing sarcasm until she'd picked up on just how odd his words had been. She's more perceptive and clever than he'd given her credit for, and he probably should have been more careful.]
[Well, change has to start somewhere, right?]
I meant what I said, when I said I wasn't exactly human. I mean, I guess you figured that out already. [He folds his arms a little uncomfortably.] I don't smell like your dirtlings 'cuz I'm... not one, not really. [Ugh, why is this so hard to explain?] Ah... so... You know how they say there's two sides to everything? Well, the same kinda goes for people. In a way, you could say I'm... only half a person.
[It's a start. He's still working on his presentation, okay?]
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Half a person?
[ She echoes, wondering at that. There are some straws she can grasp at in trying to understand that statement, but something tells her he's not quite finished. ]
You look pretty whole to me.
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It's a little complicated. Ah... Where do I start? [He gestures vaguely with his hands.] So most sentient living things, in my experience, anyway, have a fairly comparable sort of makeup. Brain, lungs, stomach... [He makes a fist with one hand and holds it over the left side of his chest.] Heart.
Now... admittedly, the heart is kind of a special case, because there's the organ, the thing that pumps blood through your body, but there's also a more... ethereal heart, you know? The heart that drives your emotions, the heart that holds the things dear to you. The heart that can be full of light, or full of darkness. [He rubs his thumb against the ridge of his collarbone awkwardly, then sighs again, softly this time.] If a heart becomes consumed by the Darkness--either by choice, or by outside forces, like the Storm, for example--the person it belongs to gets split into two parts: the heart itself, which becomes a shadowy creature driven only by desire and hunger and emotion, and... the other half. The half that has the personality and the body, but... no heart.
[This time he sort of gestures to all of himself, hoping she gets the point.]