There's a moment of silence, and with Oberon's back facing Ai, there's no way to tell what kind of expression he has on his face.
At least, until he sucks in a deep breath and turns around with his usual smile. ]
...would that trouble you?
[ His face, his smile, all completely still. He has it easier than Ai. It's unfair to compare them in their abilities to remain smiling no matter what, but that doesn't make it any less similar.
Blanca, the beautiful white moth who led her to him last night, sits perched on his shoulder. Not that insects have much in the way of expressions, but she is almost certainly staring at Ai. ]
[ All of a sudden, Ai feels like she can't breathe. She's gotten used to him turning that expression on the others, placating and warm, disarming and utterly void of any human feeling whatsoever. She knows that smile inside and out because it's the one she'd practiced every day since she was twelve years old up to the day she died. That's why having it turned on her now is so unbearably suffocating. The sight of it makes her want to-
Oh, Nino-chan, she thinks. No wonder you hated me so much. ]
Yes, it would!
[ The words come exploding out of her before she can control herself. She takes another step forward and without thinking at all, she clutches her hand in the other - the one marked with her Command Seal. The one he'd held tight enough to bruise, once. ]
Didn't you tell me not to lie to you?! I've been trying my best, so - how is this fair?!
[ It's not like Oberon knows about whoever "Nino" is. He saw the memories of her death, not her life. Yet as he stands there with his unchanging smile... as if mirroring that very same day. ]
Sorry, but you're right, it's not fair. But it can't be helped, Ai.
[ He doesn't take a step forward, he just continues to smile. ]
I am Oberon. The Faerie King Oberon. The Great Liar, Oberon. You may not understand what that means yet, but that's fine, you don't have to. Lies are love, right? Things will go back to normal, just like you want. Well, I won't deny that there might be an adjustment period, but you're human. You'll get over it.
[ "- want normal" is what she means to say but the words go dry in her throat before they can make it the rest of the way out. Because... that had been what she'd wanted. Right? An excuse to pretend that nothing had happened. Like part of her heart hadn't cracked open in his hands and bled all over him. Like he hadn't just let it happen. He's given her exactly what she'd asked for and now that she's being faced with it, she can't stand it.
Don't hate me. Don't touch me. Don't hurt me. Don't be kind to me.
"Decide on what you want already, damn it."
I don't know. Sorry. I've never been able to figure that out either. ]
... Maybe I did want that. Maybe I still do, but- this... isn't normal for us.
[ Us. It comes out more damning that she means it to. But it's the truth all the same. Whatever this bond is, forced on them by circumstance as it is, it's still a bond all the same. There's a person on the other end she'd started to think she could understand and now he's gone.
[ The smile drops. Whether that's a good thing or not is up for debate, though. ]
...that 'normal' is gone, Ai. It won't come back. Lie to yourself all you want, but that still won't change.
[ There's absolutely no way in hell. The human heart changes, but for better or worse, Oberon's heart—despite being that of a Faerie—has changed as well. What, she thinks they can go back to their original relationship without ever thinking about what happened? Wow, are you some kind of masochist? Because that sounds painful as hell. ]
This is what's best. For both you and me.
[ ... ]
...but if that's not what you want, then prove it to me.
[ There it is again. That horrible feeling of his gaze flaying her to bone and marrow, burrowing deep into muscle and tissue and every ugly, grisly part of her insides. Usually, she can't bring herself to hold it for more than a few seconds but this time she manages to hold her ground. This time, she manages to look right at him.
How is she supposed to say it? Telling people pretty lies they want to hear is her forte but what Oberon wants is the truth. And isn't that hilarious? He's just as much of a liar as she is - worse, even - and now he's asking her to say something real. He must know it's impossible. Maybe that's exactly why he's saying it.
But she can't bring herself not to try.
So she swallows. Wets her lips nervously, like she's about to deliver a line from a script she hasn't quite memorized yet. But there's no pretense in her gaze, nothing in the way of guile or flattery and the words she finally manages to find - ]
[ He's silent. His expression unchanging as usual. It's impossible to tell what he thinks of her answer as his eyes stare her down, flaying her down and stripping her of every single lie she's covered herself with until he sees the truth that she hides deep within.
...still nothing, no change. Is he disappointed? Upset? Relieved? It's impossible to tell.
But then finally... finally... he lets out a sigh. ]
[ In exasperation, he finally breaks eye contact and practically groans as if in defeat. ]
It could use work. Average score at best, but fine. I'll take it.
[ Black insects start to appear from the ground and swarm his body... a grim sight, the complete opposite of what you would expect from the Faerie King, surrounded by butterflies and moths and various other, prettier insects. With that said, as grotesque as it might be, it'll be familiar to Ai. ]
[ ...and as the insects finish swarming him completely like they would a corpse, they begin to retreat, skittering off onto the ground and disappearing, leaving exactly what Ai wanted. ]
[ Though her skin crawls, Ai doesn't let herself look away. Maybe it's a trick, a lie to placate her and keep her quiet. It's not until the cloud of bugs parts and she sees him properly, scowling and miserable that something comes unfurled in her chest.
Relief. Gratitude. And whatever you call the feeling that settles into your lungs when you step inside and say I'm home.
When she beams at him in return, her smile isn't a lie either. ]
[ What the absolute hell is wrong with... no, not with her. What the hell is wrong with him.
He's pissed, he's definitely upset... but that damn smile. Objectively it looks the same as any other smile, but...
...his heart rises.
...this is exactly why he tried to do what he did. ]
Oh, shut it. What kind of person actually prefers this? I know you already said that you idols aren't sane, but you're on another damn level, you know that?
[ His usual barbs. There really isn't anything different about his words now compared to any other time he's casually tossed an insult her way, but... ]
[ It's not even a little funny but she almost wants to laugh. She manages to bite it back - he definitely wouldn't be happy to hear it when he's in a mood like his - but it makes her smile wobble so obviously all the same. ]
You were the one who wanted me to tell you the truth. I just think, if I'm gonna do that, shouldn't we both do the same? Ah, don't get me wrong, I know you're definitely still lying now... but at least this way, fair's still fair, right?
[ She gives him a little grin, evidently pleased with her little victory and finally breezes past him to make for the apartment - but then she pauses and glances back, her expression still bright. ]
Come on. Let's go home. I haven't eaten anything since yesterday and I'm starving.
[ Fair's still fair, huh? Well, she's not wrong about that... though Oberon sure doesn't feel that way. There's nothing fair about the way he makes him feel, he thinks.
Though, then again, that probably just evens it out when it comes to dealing with him. ]
Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, my pain-in-the-ass Master.
[ So he follows, follows his Master who still thinks it was mere coincidence that brought them together. He has no clue what to do now that she's rejected their easy-way-out to their feelings, but...
...well, it's not like he's unused to having to improvise on the fly. ]
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no subject
Oberon, the Fairy King, stops in his tracks.
There's a moment of silence, and with Oberon's back facing Ai, there's no way to tell what kind of expression he has on his face.
At least, until he sucks in a deep breath and turns around with his usual smile. ]
...would that trouble you?
[ His face, his smile, all completely still. He has it easier than Ai. It's unfair to compare them in their abilities to remain smiling no matter what, but that doesn't make it any less similar.
Blanca, the beautiful white moth who led her to him last night, sits perched on his shoulder. Not that insects have much in the way of expressions, but she is almost certainly staring at Ai. ]
no subject
Oh, Nino-chan, she thinks. No wonder you hated me so much. ]
Yes, it would!
[ The words come exploding out of her before she can control herself. She takes another step forward and without thinking at all, she clutches her hand in the other - the one marked with her Command Seal. The one he'd held tight enough to bruise, once. ]
Didn't you tell me not to lie to you?! I've been trying my best, so - how is this fair?!
no subject
Sorry, but you're right, it's not fair. But it can't be helped, Ai.
[ He doesn't take a step forward, he just continues to smile. ]
I am Oberon. The Faerie King Oberon. The Great Liar, Oberon. You may not understand what that means yet, but that's fine, you don't have to. Lies are love, right? Things will go back to normal, just like you want. Well, I won't deny that there might be an adjustment period, but you're human. You'll get over it.
no subject
[ "- want normal" is what she means to say but the words go dry in her throat before they can make it the rest of the way out. Because... that had been what she'd wanted. Right? An excuse to pretend that nothing had happened. Like part of her heart hadn't cracked open in his hands and bled all over him. Like he hadn't just let it happen. He's given her exactly what she'd asked for and now that she's being faced with it, she can't stand it.
Don't hate me. Don't touch me. Don't hurt me. Don't be kind to me.
"Decide on what you want already, damn it."
I don't know. Sorry. I've never been able to figure that out either. ]
... Maybe I did want that. Maybe I still do, but- this... isn't normal for us.
[ Us. It comes out more damning that she means it to. But it's the truth all the same. Whatever this bond is, forced on them by circumstance as it is, it's still a bond all the same. There's a person on the other end she'd started to think she could understand and now he's gone.
How could that possibly be 'normal'? ]
no subject
...that 'normal' is gone, Ai. It won't come back. Lie to yourself all you want, but that still won't change.
[ There's absolutely no way in hell. The human heart changes, but for better or worse, Oberon's heart—despite being that of a Faerie—has changed as well. What, she thinks they can go back to their original relationship without ever thinking about what happened? Wow, are you some kind of masochist? Because that sounds painful as hell. ]
This is what's best. For both you and me.
[ ... ]
...but if that's not what you want, then prove it to me.
[ His Fae Eyes stare into hers. ]
Say it.
no subject
How is she supposed to say it? Telling people pretty lies they want to hear is her forte but what Oberon wants is the truth. And isn't that hilarious? He's just as much of a liar as she is - worse, even - and now he's asking her to say something real. He must know it's impossible. Maybe that's exactly why he's saying it.
But she can't bring herself not to try.
So she swallows. Wets her lips nervously, like she's about to deliver a line from a script she hasn't quite memorized yet. But there's no pretense in her gaze, nothing in the way of guile or flattery and the words she finally manages to find - ]
I want you the way you always are.
[ - aren't in any way a lie. ]
1/3
...still nothing, no change. Is he disappointed? Upset? Relieved? It's impossible to tell.
But then finally... finally... he lets out a sigh. ]
2/3
[ In exasperation, he finally breaks eye contact and practically groans as if in defeat. ]
It could use work. Average score at best, but fine. I'll take it.
[ Black insects start to appear from the ground and swarm his body... a grim sight, the complete opposite of what you would expect from the Faerie King, surrounded by butterflies and moths and various other, prettier insects. With that said, as grotesque as it might be, it'll be familiar to Ai. ]
3/3
...there? Happy now?
[ ...oh he looks like he's in a bad mood, huh? ]
no subject
Relief. Gratitude. And whatever you call the feeling that settles into your lungs when you step inside and say I'm home.
When she beams at him in return, her smile isn't a lie either. ]
Mmhm. Black hair suits you best, you know.
no subject
He's pissed, he's definitely upset... but that damn smile. Objectively it looks the same as any other smile, but...
...his heart rises.
...this is exactly why he tried to do what he did. ]
Oh, shut it. What kind of person actually prefers this? I know you already said that you idols aren't sane, but you're on another damn level, you know that?
[ His usual barbs. There really isn't anything different about his words now compared to any other time he's casually tossed an insult her way, but... ]
...don't complain to me later.
no subject
You were the one who wanted me to tell you the truth. I just think, if I'm gonna do that, shouldn't we both do the same? Ah, don't get me wrong, I know you're definitely still lying now... but at least this way, fair's still fair, right?
[ She gives him a little grin, evidently pleased with her little victory and finally breezes past him to make for the apartment - but then she pauses and glances back, her expression still bright. ]
Come on. Let's go home. I haven't eaten anything since yesterday and I'm starving.
no subject
Though, then again, that probably just evens it out when it comes to dealing with him. ]
Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, my pain-in-the-ass Master.
[ So he follows, follows his Master who still thinks it was mere coincidence that brought them together. He has no clue what to do now that she's rejected their easy-way-out to their feelings, but...
...well, it's not like he's unused to having to improvise on the fly. ]