Voice Mail

[snapekillsedgar]

This is Eliot Nightray. I can't answer you right now. I'm busy. If it's really that important, leave a message and I'll respond as soon as possible. If it's not, then don't waste my time.

Comments

action. BACKDATED TO FEBRUARY 14TH

[unsureazure]

[So, Noel's been handing out chocolate to her housemates! While this would be admirable gesture, there's one tiny little problem... she made them.

In fact, the atmosphere may have gotten a bit more ominous as approaches the door to Elliot's room with a cellophane bag filled with... something that defied description... tied off with a pink ribbon.

Knock knock!]

[snapekillsedgar]

[There was at least one thing that was working towards Noel's advantage on this day... Valentines Day wasn't ever a big deal to Elliot, so he hardly registered that the holiday was coming. He hadn't prepared himself for it, so without any hesitation, he went to the door and answered.]

Need something?

[unsureazure]

[Oh, that was quick! She's glad that it's a good time to do this...]

U-Um, not really... I just...

[Smiling shyly, she holds up her little gift of certain death.]

H-Happy Valentine's Day! This one's for you, Elliot... I know that you don't really like sweet things, but I figured that it's the thought that counts!

[SAVE YOURSELF AAAAAAAAAAAAAH]

1/2

[snapekillsedgar]

Valentines day?

[His voice is full of confusion, but it doesn't take long before his face shows his realization. His eyes tracked down to the present that Noel was holding out.

... What was she offering him? Are those..... Chocolates? They're green! And CHARRED black! Already his stomach churned in horror as he remembered the last time that he had sampled one of her confections.]

Oh.

[His mind was screaming at him to reject them, and possibly find some way to incinerate them, destroying every last speck of their existence before they could poison anyone.]

2/2

[snapekillsedgar]

[But... He couldn't. That look on her face was so sincere and hopeful. She really wanted him to enjoy them. Trying as hard as he could not to grimace at the thought of even touching the things, Elliot reached out to take them.]

Th-thanks.

[unsureazure]

Ah! You're welcome!

[She is blissfully unaware of his reluctance, and her increasing cheerfulness is much like a dog that just got praised. Hopefully he can dispose of them... discreetly...]

Sorry, they got a little burnt, but... I really worked hard on it! [Understatement of the year.]

[snapekillsedgar]

I'll bet.

[And that's all he can say about it. He's biting his cheek to keep himself from commenting further.]

Y'know, you didn't have to make these.

[No, REALLY! The word he should have used was 'shouldn't', but he knew why she did it at all. Maybe it wasn't her fault that her cooking was toxic.

... Nah. It was all her fault.]

[unsureazure]

[Noel shakes her head.]

I did it because I wanted to! Everyone's been nice enough to let someone like me stay here, so I wanted to do something as a small 'thank you'...

[That's right. No one here is safe.]

[snapekillsedgar]

[Those words should have been heartwarming, for someone who indulged in girly stuff like that. To Elliot, it made him feel guilty.]

You had to pick today to do that?! I'm the last person you should be 'thanking' right now!

[unsureazure]

[His reaction makes Noel quickly drop her smile. On her face is now both confusion and concern. Good feeling's gone.]

H-Huh....? I didn't see anything wrong with---

1/2

[snapekillsedgar]

No! There wasn't anything wrong with it! It's just--!

[... Damn it! Of course she took that the wrong way. It was stupid to even mention it! Now she was going to get all unconfident again and think that she did something wrong! That's what she always did.]

2/2

[snapekillsedgar]

[And that was totally his fault. Ever since that dream he'd had, she had been on his mind even more then usual, and as stupid as it was, she would not get out of his head.]

Noel, there's something I've got to ask you, and I expect you to answer me completely seriously. Do you understand?

[unsureazure]

[She was about apologize profusely again when she gets cut off, but no words of such nature had time to leave her mouth when he changes the subject. Something... he wants to ask her? With her eyes wide with confusion, she wordlessly nods twice. Yes, she understands... she thinks.]

1/2

[snapekillsedgar]

[Good, because he was going to finally just stamp his foot, be a man, and address his damn elephant in the room once and for all!]

2/2

[snapekillsedgar]

[Or at least, he was intending to. He opened his mouth to ask, but then a horrifying thought came to his mind. The thought of his sister, or even Leo, hiding around the corner, watching their every move. This wouldn't do. The house was too small. It wasn't private at all.]

Actually... This is gonna take a while. I was just about to leave to go to the station anyway, so... Mind if we talk about it on the way?

[He was only half-lying. He was in absolutely no hurry to get to the Police Station, even if he did plan to go in to work. It was the only way he could think of to get them out of the house, without completely dropping the ball on the conversation.

There was no way he was going to let himself dodge around this now.]

voice.

[unsureazure]

[It's been a few days since they arrived back in Somarium. Though it's not completely rebuilt, she still got the same feeling as returning home.

Still, sitting around until she was allowed to work again wasn't something she could simply do. So, she couldn't think of another way to spend the day other than...]

Hi, it's Noel! Um... I was wondering if you were free today? Maybe we could walk around the city... or something?

I-I-It's fine if you don't want to, though! Really!

[snapekillsedgar]

[Home was a strange word for it, but that was what it was. Somarium had been destroyed and rebuilt time and time again. Elliot had witnessed it with his own eyes. Every time, it only served to reiterate all the the reasons he had to hate the place... And yet, he didn't. Coming back to it felt, dare he even think it, nostalgic.

At the sound of her voice, Elliot immediately stopped what he was doing with a shuffling of papers as he rapidly swept up the several sheets that had been lying before him to hold them to his chest. Upon realizing that it was coming from his phone, he relaxed and set the sheets down on the couch beside him. The title of the music that he was writing, or rather re-writing, was Statice.]

No one has anything actually productive to do. [He grumbled, but then followed up with a quick.] ... Why not. Fine. I was getting bored anyway.

[unsureazure]

Really?!

[Noel's nervous tone quickly brightens upon him accepting the invitation.]

Yay! Um, I was... [writing poetry] doing target practice outside. Meet me here, maybe...?

[Speaking of outside---]

Ah! I almost forgot the barrier is down... You should probably bring your sword along, just in case we run into something...

[snapekillsedgar]

What? You thought I'd say no?

[He half-smiled. The past few weeks had been way too serious. It was nice to see her being like her usual self... As annoyingly protective as she could be. ]

I'm not stupid! I know just as well as you do that the thing's gone! When have you ever seen me go out without my sword anyway?!

[As he spoke, he was putting the sheets of music into a drawer in his desk. He paused briefly, spying another few sheets that already occupied the space, but he quickly shook his head and shut both compositions in. He'd have to work on the other piece when he got back.]

[unsureazure]

[Noel couldn't help but give a small giggle at his reaction.]

Hehehehe! I guess you're right. Anyway, I'll see you there, okay?

[With that, she hangs up. Once Elliot ventures outside, he would find Noel sitting atop the brick wall surrounding the property, idly looking at the blue sky that stretched above them.]

[snapekillsedgar]

[He headed straight out, only pausing to briefly smooth out his jacket out of the pure habit of making sure he was presentable. The gesture seemed pointless, when he thought about it. He was just going to take a walk with Noel, not about to go on duty... But then again, maybe it was specifically because of her that he was doing it.

It was easy enough to spot her. For a moment, he hung back and watched her. It had been a long time since they had enough peace to enjoy something as simple as the sky.]

How long've you been up there?

using a new journal because i don't want to dig through 100 expired icons :'D

[stillflat]

[It's really been a long while... Despite the barrier being down, it almost felt like none of the things from before ever happened. She knew better, of course, but still...

Elliot's voice brings Noel back into reality, and she looks down at him.]

Not long... The sky is really nice today.

[She hops off the wall, and brushes the dust off her skirt.]

Um... Shall we get going...?

Excuse to use a previously unused icon~

[snapekillsedgar]

[Yet, he hadn't been interested in the sky. Even before the mess had started, he rarely had the chance to just get a solid look at her. All the time, he was distracted. He had work to do, or his sister was being difficult. Finally, he could just focus on her. A man would have to be plain ignorant not to realize that Noel was a rather beautiful young woman...

... Or stubborn enough to refuse to admit it to himself. Thankfully, Elliot wasn't that stupid anymore.]

Yeah... [He agreed mindlessly, knowing that he hadn't really seen it.] Did you have any plans for where? Or are we wandering?

[stillflat]

[It's been a while since they had time together alone like this. Though this time, it's a little different. Before, they were just friends who had very clashing personalities, but now...]

I think wandering around is just fine. I want to see whatever's changed...

[Noel giggles sheepishly, a small smile on her face.]

Plus... the truth is that I just wanted to spend some time with you, Elliot!

[snapekillsedgar]

[... They were significantly less awkward friends who admitted they had feelings for each other and then got distracted by the world blowing up several times over?]

You see me all the time at work.

[Of course, that also meant they were working, which was the exact opposite of spending time.]

Let's just hope the street layout hasn't changed.

[He's already taking a few steps to get going. That would just ruin the day if they got lost.]