appeale | ( KENOS ) COMMUNION.

( KENOS ) COMMUNION.

come on, wake up.	you have to be careful.
don't make mistakes.	you know how quickly kindness can turn into violence.

( CODE BY WHAMBAM )

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[ The Communion starts as things often do when Gen is involved -- roughly, abruptly, and unceremoniously. Ruby doesn't even get the basic courtesy of a warning. There's just the sensation of her attention being requested, like the sharp rap of knuckles at a door, followed immediately by the equivalent of the door being kicked down the instant she unlocks it. Gen barges in with all the good manners of a loan shark looking to collect what he's owed. ]

Where are you.

[ He's angry, she might note. Though -- not at her. That distinction is important. Gen's very presence across this psychic connection bristles with moody irritation and anxiety, but it seems to be aimless at the moment, merely coloring the air with an uneasy energy. Case in point: his manner of speaking is brusque and sharp, even moreso than usual, but there's no true vitriol or venom in his words.

Not that that caveat lessens how demanding he must come across when he deadpans, ]

You're gonna do me a favor. [ The way he just says this as a fact, instead of a request??? But whatever, she owes him one, anyway. Especially after her return to Meridian. Even if Gen can't exactly blame her for it, he still has no qualms about using that against her to extract some use out of her. ] Gonna give you something you gotta deliver for me. So where are you. I'm heading over.

[ there is a moment, when the Communion first connects, where Gen feels something: a sudden spike of pain, full-body agony like every inch of him is being stabbed with white-hot needles, muscles wound so tense they could snap, head swimming with nausea—only for a split second, and then it is gone, so brief that his senses barely have time to register what happened. Ruby shoves those sensations down with both hands as though she could separate from her own body. ]

Ah, of course! [ her own mental landscape remains gentle in the presence of his sharp edges, unquestioning and accepting of Gen much in the way of a submissive dog bowing its head. ] I owe you a lot, after all.

[ Minegishi Gen is such a strange figure to her. it made sense to affix herself to him when she was part of Zenith's ranks; someone that might hurt her could still be someone that might protect her, after all, so long as she behaved herself well. now that she has returned to Meridian, it seems more absurd than ever to count on any mercy from Gen, which makes him a threat without any value to offset it, but... here she is, holding onto that thread anyway. pleasantly surprised to hear from him at all after they had parted ways.

though she does wish it hadn't been now, of all times. ugh, this wretched illness of hers. and just what is he so pissed off about, anyway... ]

I'll meet you, um... Here? [ she shows him an image of a café in Springstar, with a broad enough view to put it in the context of its surroundings. ] —Or I could come to Highstorm, if you'd prefer?

[ It might have been brief, but there was definitely something there -- a sympathetic twinge of something sharp enough to cut even through the lingering exhaustion and aches of what he'd endured during the fight for the Oracle. Something that he knows he sure as hell didn't just hallucinate. It had been too lacking in malice or intent to be an active attack from Ruby (as if she could even manage such a thing), though. Which means ... ]

...

[ There's a moment of silence on Gen's end, and Ruby might feel her skin prickling ever so slightly, the way one feels a dubious stare boring into their skin. But after a moment, there's a quiet huff. Gen's anger lessens just a fraction -- not out of any kindness or mercy, but simply because the brief distraction's stoppered the momentum of his irritation -- and the edges of his words are faintly blunted when he speaks again. ]

Fine. I'm heading over. [ Of course, he doesn't even wait for a response before just cutting the connection. Rude!

At least he moves fast, motivated by irritation, anxiety, and the desire to get this entire matter over and done with. By the time Ruby shows up to the cafe, Gen is already there, seated at one of the little tables outside nursing a cup of black coffee. (Because of course that's his drink of choice.) On the table next to his cup sits a fabric sack containing ... something. No doubt the delivery he means for Ruby to make. ]

[ this bastard?! ugh, this is what she gets for being involved with a teenage boy.

as one would expect, Rudbeckia shows up at their meeting place in short time and without complaint; despite that foreboding flash of something Gen had felt, she looks the same as ever, though purged of her Zenith Discord and dressed in new attire. there's a warm smile on her face, an empty wicker basket hanging off her arm, and a pair of sha ears perched atop her head reminiscent of the mask that Set sometimes wears. if it were anyone else, she'd feign a more chirpy, excited demeanour, but— ]

Hi, Gen. It's good to see you. [ Ruby slides into the seat across from him with nothing more than that soft greeting. they have an understanding, and she doesn't want to annoy him any more when he already seems to be in a foul mood. there are no questions about his health, no tearful apologies about her betrayal or Zenith's recent loss, no simpering platitudes over how glad she is that he seems well.

she moves on, simply: ] What did you need me to do for you?

[ her fingers are wrapped around the handle of the wicker basket she carries, knuckles white with tension. it's fine. she's used to having to endure this without showing it. ]

[ As Ruby approaches him where he sits, a pointy ear flicks first. Then Gen looks up as Ruby takes a seat across from him -- his expression remaining at his usual, surly scowl even as he takes another long sip of his coffee. Then, finally, after a pointed pause, he lowers his cup and rests a hand on that bag resting on the table. Gently, Ruby might note. At least, gently enough that it's obvious he's taking care not to jostle whatever's contained within. ]

You're going to get these to Set for me. [ Then his gaze dips away from Ruby, fixing on some indistinct point on the table; the thin press of his lips to a grim slash, accompanied by the gentle backwards cant of his canine ears, indicates this is a matter to take seriously. Gen pauses before continuing, his voice lowered but gritted roughly: ] Doesn't need an explanation or anything. He'll understand as soon as he sees what it is.

[ Why isn't he just delivering these objects to Set himself? That's for him to know, and Ruby to wonder about. Gen offers no further explanation on that front, though -- he does keep his hand resting on the sack as his gaze fixes sharply on Ruby once more. ]

I need'em to be moved carefully, though. [ Said as he gives an upwards nod towards her white-knuckled grip at her basket. He's always been more observant that people would assume, after all, and he'd noticed that pretty much immediately. Like hell he's going to risk Ruby taking these jars and then dropping them. ] What's with you.

[ I'm in so much pain I feel like I'm gonna black out, that's what's with me!

—but it wouldn't matter. even though there were visible symptoms the last time her illness flared up, that was abnormal, and Rudbeckia can't expect it to happen again. if she complains about it this time, it will be easily dismissed: she's lying to get sympathy or attention, she just wants an excuse to be lazy, she's crying about nothing and she should just suck it up. as long as she can't provide any proof, that's how it will always be. she's certain that Gen wouldn't have any patience for such things.

Ruby laughs off his wariness, the sound light and musical: ] Nothing, nothing! I have a bit of a headache, that's all.

[ it isn't carelessness. there's no way she would ever allow herself to damage something that is meant for Set, even more so when it is clearly precious in some way. she doesn't want to disappoint Gen, either. she just thinks—she should be able to endure it, right? however bad it gets, she's meant to be able to grit her teeth and carry on. how else can she expect to survive? if she relied on any kindness or consideration or mercy now, then it would be a sign that she's gotten too complacent. ]

I'm not sure what's going on, but I'll be really careful, I promise. [ she holds up the wicker basket triumphantly. ] And look, this is perfect! If I carry them in the basket, they'll be extra safe.

[ A headache. Right.

One of Gen's pointy dog ears flicks. Then Gen picks his cup back up, taking a long, obnoxious slurp from it as he fixes a flat stare on Ruby over the rim of it -- communicating without words: I don't fucking trust you.

It's not that he thinks Ruby is lying, necessarily. Maybe she's telling the truth, maybe she's not. But regardless, he simply doesn't trust her with this task -- not in the way he'd originally planned -- if she's so unwell that he can catch onto it. The stakes are too high for him to risk the possibility of her taking the bag, wobbling her way to wherever, and then crumpling like some delicate damsel and fracturing its contents as she wilts to her knees. Or whatever. Gen drains his coffee before putting the cup back down with the clack of ceramic against the tabletop. It's followed shortly by the scrape of chair legs against the pavement as he starts to stand, hand still on the bag as he drones, ]

Where're you planning on giving it to him. I'll take them there. [ Note: he does not say 'for you.' Rude little shit. ] You can call him after I leave.

[ Was Ruby planning on getting anything for herself at the cafe? Too bad, because Gen's not in the mood to linger and wait for her to get a drink. He simply says, as fact, that they're going to head out. ]

[ of course it's not a surprise to see that expression on Gen's face. she would never expect to be trusted in the first place. she's well aware of what she is, the place she will always occupy, a useless disappointment that can never climb up from the bottom. and yet, absurdly, it stings – a different pain entirely to the one racking her body, a single drop of water in the ocean that she is nonetheless keenly aware of. ]

Oh—I was just going to take it to his shrine, but... [ she stands too, fidgeting with the basket in her hands; bites down on the inside of her mouth to keep her expression from twisting at a wave of nausea. ] A-Are you sure? I really wanted to be useful to you...

[ crying would be too far when it comes to what Gen is willing to tolerate. to someone else, it might convey sincerity; he isn't the type to accept that, and he'll only see it as lying or, at worst, deliberate manipulation. instead, Ruby hangs her head to present herself as appropriately contrite. honestly... more than anything, she's annoyed with herself – this wouldn't be enough to ruin their fragile relationship entirely, he wouldn't even hurt her for this kind of mistake, but every little thing adds up in time. she should have done better, tried harder not to be a liability. when he runs out of tolerance for her, it will be because of moments like this.

blood drips onto the surface of the table, a sudden splash of red. ]

S'fine. [ It's said gruffly, but not untruthfully. Because Gen really doesn't mind legging it to wherever it is Ruby plans on handing the jars over. The busywork of moving the jars around was never the issue. ] As long as you're the one who calls him over and hands'em over, I don't care. S'useful enough for me.

[ He's not saying it to coddle her, of course. (As if an insensitive shithead like him is capable of coddling anyone.)

It's just that ... the prospect of seeing Set face to face right now really does have an anxious knot twisting in the pit of his stomach, his emotions unable to find a proper vector. He's still furious at Set, hating him for interfering during the battle for the Oracle -- but a part of him also wants to make things right. A part of him still clings to memories of moments spent in Set's arms; a part of him still wants to believe in the promise of happiness in another lifetime, in another world. And so long as he's struggling to reconcile those two jagged halves of his mind, what Ruby can offers him is invaluable -- a surefire way of communicating to Set without actually having to look at him. ]

[ ... is what's he's thinking as he looks to the streets, considering what's the quickest route to the nearest cornerstone. Then he looks back to see Ruby bleeding. ]

-- what the fuck.

[ Sorry Ruby, but his first move is to jerk the bag containing the jars out of the way of that blood splatter; he told Set he'd keep them safe, after all. And then he awkwardly steps closer to Ruby, looking at her with clear confusion and ... maybe just that tiniest little hint of concern. ]

What happened. Why're you ...

[ ah, her damn cursed luck. Rudbeckia was so pleased to hear that brusque dismissal. this should have been a moment of relief – Gen really isn't angry with her, she's still useful to him, nothing will change, she hasn't ruined everything yet. but of course, as soon as she has one thing to be happy about, something else goes wrong. she recoils from Gen's approach, shifting back on instinct as he moves towards her. ]

Ahaha! [ the burst of laughter is too loud, too high-pitched. Ruby's hand hides her nose and mouth, more to conceal it from Gen than to staunch the bleeding. ] H-How embarrassing! I'm okay, I'm okay. It must be something in the air. I just need to...

[ stepping away from Gen means stepping away from the table, too, and that's—

—a mistake. it feels like someone knocks her on the back of the head with a hammer: there's a crack of pain, the dizziness that sends her reeling, her vision goes black. without the table to lean on, Ruby staggers, and then her knees buckle. it is not a gracious, ladylike faint. that split second of unconsciousness sends her pitching forward without any chance of catching herself. ]

[ They're all lucky that Gen, despite his many flaws, at least has good reflexes.

Ruby suddenly buckles, and Gen lunges forward without even thinking. And while Ruby doesn't get a gentle catch, she at least does get a catch. Gen's hand latches around her wrist hard enough to leave bruises, then yanks back hard enough to send an ache ripping through her shoulder. At least he catches her as she inevitable stumbles back from the hard pull, grunting as he supports her (delicate) weight with the same arm.

Too bad whatever style points he earned with that quick catch are mitigated by the fact he'd jostled the little table from the hasty movement. It has the jars wobbling atop the table where they sit, and Gen has to move just as hastily to grab at them to secure them where they sit lest they topple off and smash onto the ground below. ]

You moron! [ Sorry Ruby, but Gen's quick to snarl that rebuke practically into Ruby's face, given the way he's propping her up in his arm. At least it's followed by a marginally less terrifying -- ] The hell're you thinking, tryin' to run? The hell's that supposed to accomplish?!

[ Followed by an irate huff before Gen carefully parts his hand from the jars, making sure that they're sitting safe atop the table. Only then, he returns his full attention to Ruby, squinting at the blood pouring from her face; though he tries to maintain his usual brusque, uncaring demeanor, his voice is just a little tighter than usual. ]

Are you dying? [ Maybe a silly question to ask! But he means it in pragmatic fashion. ] I'm callin' someone on your side to come deal with this if you don't tell me what's going on. [ Mental correction: even if she does tell him what's going on, if she actually is dying, he's still calling someone. Like hell he's dealing with her dying in his arms and getting saddled with the blame. ]

[ it's a sudden flurry of motion that comes to an abrupt halt with a better ending than it could have had, thanks to Gen's fast reflexes. but the fallout does not seem to settle as it should. once he has her safely secured, it comes into focus that the way that Rudbeckia is looking up at Gen is an expression he's seen on her before, when their relationship was something different. it's the intense fear of a child cowering before a raised hand, a beaten dog caught at the end of its chain. perhaps there is a second where he could think that it's an overreaction to his flare in temper, that this is just meek cowering because someone dared to yell at her – but it's when he says I'm calling someone that her hand latches onto his forearm in a claw-like grip, and she cries out, desperate: ]

No! [ that one word is the most she's ever raised her voice at Gen. the times he'd pushed her around, she had kept quiet as a mouse, even her pleas for mercy held in check by that obsequious politeness. but she just—she thinks of the way that Father would look at her. Are you unwell, my daughter? the outstretched hand that should have been gentle, the bruises it leaves behind. You're not lying, are you? ] —No, I'm not. Please don't tell anyone, I'm not sick at all. I-I just fell, I'm sorry, I'll get up. I don't need anything.

[ no one will ever believe her. she must remember that. just because her symptoms are clearer right now doesn't mean that anything will change. if she allows herself to be taken to a doctor, they won't find anything wrong with her, and she'll be nothing more than a nuisance overreacting to a little blood. even if they accept she's sick, they'll say that she should bear with it, that the pain can't be that bad. it's just her. and the next time it happens, there will be eye-rolling, complaints: why are you always like this? or they'll push her harder, the way Cesare used to, the way her family in her previous life did, because she's just lying and faking to get attention or pity or she's that lazy and she needs to be taught a lesson...

in a small, small voice— ]

I'll be good.

[ Indeed, Gen does promptly freeze when he hears Ruby's voice raise and feels the dig of fingers into his forearm. Not because it hurts, but because it's so out of line with Ruby's usual (annoyingly meek) demeanor. What, is this something she has to keep secret? Why the hell would she need to keep this secret? His brow is still furrowed deep in confusion, and Gen opens his mouth to give some brusque retort, but --

I'll be good.

(So that's what he's vaguely reminded of. The look in her eyes -- it reminds him of the way Yuko had flinched sometimes, back when he was much younger. Back before that problem was solved.)

Though Gen's expression remains scrunched dubiously, he ends up closing his mouth without saying anything, instead just giving a huffed exhale through his nose. And, after a moment's consideration with eyes narrowed and lips pressed together thinly, he deadpans. ]

Fine. I won't tell anyone. [ Pause. ] But if you're gonna lie to my face, do it properly. People don't just start bleeding out of the face for no reason.

[ Whatever's up with her has her badly shaken if she's saying something this stupid, he presumes. So -- what now? The easy answer is to tell her to fuck off back to wherever it is she stays so she can rest up and so he doesn't have to deal with it. But for how long? Even waiting another full day before getting Set's belongings back to him isn't an appealing option; less because he's afraid of whatever bullshit Set might pull, and more just because he wants to get this done and off his plate. So. ]

... don't squirm. Or scream. [ That very reassuring command is the only warning Ruby gets before Gen abruptly bends down so he can simply tuck one arm against the back of her knees to topple her over, catching her with his other arm in a scruffy princess carry. Not his preferred method of having to carry anything, but he's also not in the mood to deal with it if he tries to carry her luggage-style and has her puking blood from the pressure on her stomach, so a bridal carry it is. Gen grunts as he adjusts his grip, then lowers himself a bit -- so she can reach the bag on the table. ] Carry those. An' don't drop'em.

[ there's a startled squawk out of Rudbeckia as he scoops her up, but she seems to be somewhat accustomed to getting manhandled like this: she doesn't struggle or jerk away, gone pliant and leaning into Gen with what must be either trust that he will support her or resignation to whatever happens. the bag is retrieved from the table without protest, and she clutches it to herself with both hands, careful of the objects inside. even if he dropped her, she would have to protect this above all else.

it doesn't sit well with her that Gen isn't asking anything. of course, it makes sense that he wouldn't – she's sure that he doesn't particularly care about her wellbeing, and he certainly has no reason to be curious. she only worries that it will be an annoyance. because she did lie to him, and she's inconvenienced him. people have hated her for far less. to be honest, it shouldn't really matter, but... even so. even so, hadn't she already realised it? however foolish it is of her to feel this way, it does matter to her. hasn't she already accepted that she's going to hold onto Gen for as long as she can until he kicks her off the ledge himself? even if it doesn't make sense, even if it's not for her survival, even if she is only ever clinging to his sleeve like a child.

somehow, she has to explain herself to him. not to be forgiven, but at least so that she doesn't come off as arrogant. the silence stretches out a long way before Ruby is finally able to draw a breath and speak— ]

... I don't know what it is either. I just get sick for a little while, once or twice a year... [ no more details of the nature of her illness are necessary; Gen wouldn't be interested, anyway. Ruby leans her head against his collarbone, her dark expression safely tucked away beneath his sight. ] But when Father called a doctor for me, they said there was nothing wrong.

[ she had been fortunate, in Britannia, to catch a "real" sickness at the same time as her chronic pain. that's the only reason the Omertas' doctor bothered to treat her, she has no doubt. the next time, it would not have been so kindly received. ]

So... I didn't want to be called a liar again...

[ He waits for a moment to make sure Ruby has a good hold on the jars before carefully adjusting his hold on her -- gripping tighter, but not too tight, shifting the way her weight is distributed across his arms. And then he starts heading in the direction of the closest cornerstone. His boots thump steadily off the pavement below them, one foot in front of the other. A good few moments pass in that fashion, with Gen silently trudging along, expression fixed in his usual frown with brow lowered and lips pursed, before he speaks up. ]

I don't know shit about medical stuff. [ Probably unsurprising. ] And I don't get sick often. [ Probably also unsurprising. ] So it's not like I'm gonna know enough to call you a liar if you just say you got a nosebleed 'cause you're sick.

[ He wouldn't have doubted her, in other words. ]

Don't just say whatever lie first comes to mind, dumbass.

[ It would be a stretch and a half to say he's comforting her in any way. That's not his intention, and it's probably not the result he gets, either. But it's just that it's always annoyed him when people just go acting like they know him and make completely incorrect assumptions. He doesn't know who the hell it is that Ruby's previous had such shit experiences with, but they're not him, so he'd rather not be treated like them.

... still. He does get it, does understand why Ruby did something so stupid. Which is why Gen 'mercifully' ends his reprimand of her there, giving a small sigh as he rounds a corner (no doubt startling some poor passerby who definitely wasn't expecting to suddenly be faced by an enormous, sour-faced teen carrying a delicate little girl in his arms). ]

Whatever. Just don't lie to me like that again. [ And now that she'll hopefully just give him a goddamn straight answer: ] So are you dying, or is this like a cold where you can just sleep it off?

[ ... ahh. this is why she can't let go of him easily. even without Rudbeckia explaining herself, Gen understands, at least to some extent. that calm acceptance is like a salve, cool and refreshing, where saccharine words of comfort would have only left the wound to fester. kindness, love, compassion – none of those things can be relied upon, and all of them run out sooner or later, leaving behind only resentment. if someone understands her, then she wouldn't ask for anything more.

getting this attached to someone that couldn't give a damn whether she lives or dies—she really is such a pathetic fool. ]

Somewhere in between? It normally lasts for about a week. [ the tension unwinds from Ruby's body, and she relaxes against Gen with a sigh. only her tight grip on the bag remains, whether that's from a fear of dropping it or the same sign of white-knuckled pain that Gen noticed earlier. ] It's not that bad... Mostly the symptoms are just nausea and some pain.

[ some, she says. the physical agony is the worst part, but she can't shake the certainty that she would only be dismissed for trying to explain the severity of it, to anyone. just a stupid little girl whining about something that probably doesn't even hurt that much. besides, she can bear with it alone, so it isn't necessary to discuss. ]

I never used to pass out or bleed – that only started recently, so I wasn't expecting it again. I really thought there wouldn't be any problem.

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( KENOS ) COMMUNION.

communion ; about a week after the exalt oracle fight

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