galactically | Catch-all overflow post

(OOC: Continued from here)

How is it funny if it's the truth? Your shoulders are broad enough.

[If Slaine leans any further back, his head will inevitably touch the soft cushions of the couch, sandwiched in between them and Sheryl. How he continues to stiffen up like iron rod is too noticeable that of course, she'll bring it up.]

Heeeh, you're still not used to this, aren't you? Here.

[Slowly, she takes his hands and rests them on her waist, making sure the placement is tasteful enough.]

[Sheryl gets far too much mileage out of teasing him, Slaine thinks, and not for the first time since having first met her. As soon as her hands let go of his, he draws them back, not quite comfortable with the notion of handling a goddess.

It's awkward enough that she's using him as a chair to begin with]

I wouldn't know where the humor is, only that you seem to derive amusement from it.

[Alto probably would've pulled his hands away like Slaine did just now, too. It's less amusing and more nostalgic, but just that simple action prompts a smile out of her. She really is enjoying teasing him too much.]

Try making it less easy next time.

[She pouts, taking his hands right back to her hips.]

You have to know how to hold a woman, Slaine! It's an important life lesson.

What purpose would I have in holding a woman?

[Slaine withdraws his hands once again, half-difficult and half-convinced that he simply hasn't any use for such knowledge. How would handling women have anything to do with being a proper shinki for Hope?

He can think of no purpose it could possibly serve]

To comfort her in times of need, to catch her in case she falls, to enjoy the sensation of her chest against yours as you kiss her. I can go on!

[With a frustrated groan, Sheryl grabs Slaine's arms and maneuvers them around her waist, this time keeping them hostage with her hands. Now he can't withdraw his hands, har har.]

Listen, I'm doing you a favor! You can't stay stiff in front of a beautiful woman forever. You have to take action in case you find someone to love, someday!

[Slaine could wrench free. He's quite sure that he is strong enough, after a handful of winded scraps with Hibari. But he also knows that he could hurt her in so doing, and he doesn't want to cause that.

And so, he huffs out a vexed breath, slumping back against the couch]

I'll never understand why it is that you're so concerned over the prospect of a shinki having relationships.

[Especially him in particular. Is she like this with everyone? Does he remind her of someone?]

[Satisfied, Sheryl pets Slaine's arms as though they are fluffy cats that need plenty of love and care. Such a stubborn individual. He's truly a walking challenge to a woman like herself.

Her expression changes, looking thoughtful.]

I know of a god who has a crush on my shinki. [A hesitant pause.] And just recently I discovered a god-shinki couple in secret.

[Sheryl won't say the identity of the gods in question, especially not when they might get in trouble for it.]

That may be so, but I find it irrelevant to myself.

[Slaine doesn't question whether these parties truly exist, nor who they are. Whatever the case may be, the bottom line remains the same.

He truly believes that Sheryl's efforts are a pointless exercise]

I've no interest in courting anyone, much less someone so far above my own station.

[The words feel strange. It's less about sentiment and more about the knowledge that such gaps couldn't be bridged, even if he were to have anyone in mind.

Of course, he doesn't]

Stubborn fool. This isn't a stuffy workplace! We're all in this together.

["Above my own station". Wow. It's as if Slaine thinks Sheryl is the boss and— well, he's not completely wrong. She's definitely in a higher position than him as far as rankings go, but that doesn't stop her from reaching out to people like him. It'd be hypocritical of her if say, she stopped Sonic from having a crush on Zoro.

Love is an unpredictable thing, as are friendships.

Her face falters and she lets out an irritated sigh, wrapping her arms around his neck. He's very soft despite his insistence otherwise.]

You're such an annoying guy, but do you know why I keep being so generous with you?

[with her embarrassing brand of affection]

[It's not the first time that she's called him annoying, or something else along these lines. Slaine doesn't know why anyone who becomes so vexed by him so routinely spends so much time around him, and so he doesn't think he has an educated answer to her question.

Unless, of course, she's trying to prove some sort of point. It could well be such a thing]

I wouldn't presume to guess your motives.

[Is the answer he ultimately settles on]

I'll tell you.

[Slaine isn't the first person Sheryl says the following answer to; he might not even be the last if she keeps meeting people who's as stubborn as she is. This is, however, the first time she says this while sitting on a guy's lap and holding on to his neck like a koala. Funny how trying to make him relax turns into this spectacle.

Her eyes droop a bit, a tiny smile forming on her lips.]

Because you treat me as Sheryl. [A pause. Wait, he might not know what she means] You don't treat me like trash or put me on such a high pedestal.

[Slaine is silent for several long moments as he contemplates that answer...

After which he puffs out a vexed breath]

Is that all?

[Something so simple, so elementary? Surely she hadn't been denied such things before. It couldn't have been so unique to the experience of one with so much confidence in herself]

I see no cause to project an image onto the actuality of an individual.

[If only he remembered viewing Asseylum as his savior, because that's a damned high pedestal]

Don't look at me like that!

[Her cheeks puff up with a look of disbelief at Slaine, lasting for one hot minute... before she lets out a heaving sigh as she rests her head against his shoulder.]

When you have a high profile reputation like I do, there will be lots of people who only see me as a celebrity to fuss over, for better or worse. [A shrug.] The occasional fussing is fine, but you're not shallow, right?

[Or else Sheryl would've given him a very hard time.]

Edited 2016-09-09 19:22 (UTC)

I don't understand the allure of celebrity very well.

[He shrugs, because this is simple truth. Slaine doesn't get why people are fixated on people being famous, simply because they're famous. It's a strange phenomenon to him, and has led him to question what sort of background he must have had.

Glancing aside, he watches a picture hung on the far wall]

Ultimately an image is only that. Who someone is should be much more complicated.

Neither does Alto. Or rather, he never cared for it to begin with.

[Her words are soft, a thoughtful expression flashing on her face before she closes her eyes. Damn it, she's still thinking about him again.]

People are always more complicated than someone would expect. He'd definitely agree with you.

I'd like to think that most would, but it doesn't seem the case.

[As contrary to common sense as that seems to him. But people can love the idea of someone rather than the person, so isn't that the same notion?]

Never underestimate a person's ability to either love or tarnish an image so badly that they become blinded to it.

[An image, not a person. Being in the show business for years allows Sheryl a certain kind of perspective for a celebrity's point of view, one who's also seen how obsessive certain kinds of people in the media can be — from paparazzi to low-brow tabloids.]

That strikes me as deeply unfortunate.

[Seeing people as an idea rather than a whole.

Of course, he doesn't recall his lone friendship in his life may well have been deemed this]

It is.

[Sheryl pauses, knitting her brows as she changes the subject. While the two of them are being serious like this, it's only a matter of time before she inevitably brings up a certain topic.]

Slaine... when I told you about what happened to me a while ago, you didn't pity me. That's why— [A pregnant pause.] It took me some time to understand what you meant, but thanks.

[Slaine is silent at first, as he considers those words. He finds himself once more surprised that Sheryl has dwelt on something that he'd said some time ago, thinking his opinion nominal at best in terms of importance.

Surely, gods have more pressing matters to focus on]

...I see no reason that you should thank me. [A beat, before he thinks to add-] I was simply being forthright in my opinions.

[As that is all that they are]

Don't misunderstand. I still think that it's perfectly acceptable to rise above your circumstances.

[One thing that, it seems, they'll always disagree on. If she can get out of poverty, then surely anything is possible. Being prideful will be a thing for Sheryl quite often.]

It's just, well... [She grumbles, burying her face against his shoulders to muffle it.] What happened in the past stays in the past for a reason. I hate getting pity.

I don't think it unacceptable — I merely acknowledge it isn't always possible.

[And on that, Slaine understands they disagree. He'd never say that people shouldn't be able to do better, especially if their merits should warrant it, but he's quite certain that isn't always within the realm of possibility.

No matter how one might strive or achieve, some things remain beyond reach]

It seems to me that pity is looking down on another. Sympathetically, perhaps, but looking down all the same.

Why not? Explain.

[As in, explain what he means by that. Sheryl groans, moving her face just a little to narrow her eyes while her cheek remains squished against his chest.]

That's why I hate it, Slaine!

Let's say someone with considerable power saw fit to use it poorly. Perhaps he uses it to deny those with less any resources or means, or actively oppresses them, threatening death should they oppose. Under such conditions, with no one and nothing, an individual may have no viable opportunities.

[He's quiet after saying this, seeming to have nothing further to say. But he does speak up, after puffing out a tense breath.

The subject is difficult, even if he doesn't know why]

If people were to pity you... Do you not suppose that reflects on something within themselves?

[Something about his reply is disconcerting to Sheryl, a very depressing example for a simple question she asked of him. Her brows knit tightly, lips pressed into a thin, firm line, remembering Galaxy's law for mandatory implants for every citizen within that fleet. It's... eerily similar, only Slaine makes it out to be something worse.

She stays quiet, seeming to lack an answer until her lips part. A sigh.]

How unfortunate, for anyone who live like that... [She closes her eyes.] I would've found a way out of there, no matter what it took. Even if... [Her eyes slowly open, half-lidded, voice low and quiet.] Even if I have to die trying.

[Hesitation lingers as she speaks for once, feeling her fingers tremble until she forces them to curl inward.]

That's why, anyone who looks down on me means nothing to me.

Catch-all overflow post

Slaine

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