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[neutral ground?]

Arthur, do you have nothing more to tell me? What is this about? If you are familiar with Jeanne d'Arc, you should know I can handle hearing anything.

Not over this.

[ The rest of the message is just a time and an address - an empty building he's been considering. ]

[she's... miffed. and she doesn't bother replying because of that, as if giving him the silent treatment is her only avenue of rebellion, to assert her independence.

if this wasn't about charity, she doesn't know that she would go. but it is, and he's asked for her assistance with something to do with worshiping god. so she will go, but she won't be happy.]

Edited 2018-12-17 22:54 (UTC)

[ Part of it is about the charity side of things, yes. The place itself is his top choice given it has a number of rooms that can be converted. He plans to contact Lucrezia after as well, but she doesn't seem as interested in actually making the place as having a place to go to in times of need.

He arrives a little early, already having turned on the lights inside so that they'll be able to get straight into this. So he can get it over with. ]

[jeanne is perfectly on time. she even raps on the door when she arrives to announce her presence, although soon enough she welcomes herself inside. at first, she simply looks around, thinking that arthur must be here if the lights are on—

... and then she sees him. her expression is a little hard to read, neither smiling nor bristling with anger, and violet eyes take him in, like this would reveal what he has to tell her.]

Arthur. I hope we can get this out of the way quickly, because I have no intention of being led around. You have your neutral ground, so please, speak.

[ He doesn't even need to look to know that she's bidding her time to find out what is going on. Her words are quite logical, but he can tell she isn't really happy with the way he's done this.

He isn't either, but guilt is something that can eat you up inside. Jeanne, after all, was perhaps an innocent bystander in a feud that lasts centuries.

It's even worse now that France has come to him with a peace treaty of sorts. Worse that Brexit is his nearest memory of home. ]

Firstly. [ He pauses, tugs at the gloves on his hands. ] I had hoped you would give me your opinion on the place. I'll ask Lucrezia as well, of course, but given I'm the one funding it I had to look around on my own first.

[ Is he procrastinating? Maybe. ]

The rest you shouldn't be so eager to hear.

Edited (html...) 2018-12-17 23:54 (UTC)

—I would prefer it if you did not tell me what I should and should not do.

[that said, the look in her eyes is more disappointed than upset, even if the firm line of her mouth gives the impression she's attempting to seem hard-edged. she did not come here for this. there is a point, though, when other things take precedence over quarreling, and jeanne is mature enough to understand that. she allows her gaze to comb across the size of the place, again, before she nods.]

Yes, it will do. I can tell with just this much.

[but she isn't finished yet. without asking permission or uttering a word, jeanne lowers to her knees in the center of the floor.

the saint links her hands together and begins to pray. was the sun shining before? the rays filter through the upper windows, covering her with light that appears to be sent by god. the whole affair is silent, but it probably doesn't make his guilt feel any better.]

Quite. [ He doesn't meet her eyes though, not that he ignores her disappointment, but rather doesn't accept it just yet. He'll accept it when she's more aware of what's going on. ]

Then I'm glad. Take... [ She's down on her knees now, and he almost bites his tongue. ] ...your time.

[ It's a shame, really, because if it hadn't been at such a time when he and France were warring for fuck knows how long anymore (does it ever really end?) he would have been impressed by her dedication, her loyalty.

Under the light she looks radiant, almost like she is an angel sent back from heaven instead of whatever hell duplicity is.

He turns his head away, fiddles with his gloves until she's ready. ]

[her dedication is to not only france, but god.

that isn't the kind of bond that dampens over time, regardless of what era she's summoned into.

time certainly passes. it's probably minutes. however long she prays, arthur would feel the wait more than jeanne, perhaps. eventually, she awakens as if from the most comfortable oasis for a saint trapped in duplicity, and she rises back up to her feet—almost lighter, her hair glowing because of the sunlight.

she glances at arthur again.]

It has been blessed. The space is now sacred.

[ Honestly, he was thinking more of God there than France anyway.

But it does feel like time has dragged on, and for a moment he ends up speechless when he looks back at her. She really does look radiant in the light, something that makes his eyes dip away almost instantly. ]

Ah, thank you. I'm sure Lucrezia will appreciate it. [ He lets out a breath. ] That said and done, will you walk with me? The matter I wish to discuss... should not be done in a place you've just blessed.

Arthur... [she opens her mouth, likely to utter something else reproaching him, but then thinks better of it and stops herself.] Certainly.

[jeanne steps closer to him with that, her composure the same as that he would have witnessed in any jeanne d'arc being dragged to her prison cell.]

I know. [ He says it softly, a small smile that shows he does feel sorry for putting her through this suspense. He locks up once they step outside, though while he may offer an arm to other people, he doesn't offer one to her.

Almost like he thinks he'll taint her by offering such a thing. ]

Have you met someone named Francis Bonnefoy here?

[ He starts straight from that, stepping close to her with his voice lowered, aware of the fact that people may overhear as well. ]

[don't worry. she wouldn't have accepted his arm, anyway. this is what happens when he acts so suspicious. she blinks, however, somewhat in surprise, when he edges nearer to her with his voice lowered like that.]

... Yes. I have. What of him?

[there's a hard look in her eyes—protective. she knows that man's true identity.]

[ He can't help it. He doesn't know how to approach this -- it's the first time he's had to properly own up to doing something fucked up in his past. People don't normally show back up once they're dead, okay???

But the look she has from it is a sign he can go on. She likely knows. ]

And I assume he's told you of his true identity, given who you are?

[time to face consequences, arthur. now it's really not such a wonderful kind of day for you.]

I knew it deep inside.

[not in the kind of... deep inside france might someday prefer, but still, her meaning is clear and truthful, even if she didn't exactly confirm his identity until he already mentioned it.]

[ It's never a wonderful kind of day for him. ]

I suppose he is a little... obvious.

[ He winces. He isn't ready for this, but-- ] With that in mind, [ Why is this so hard. ] I should reintroduce myself as well.

[ His hand reaches for her arm to stop them from walking. ]

My alias is Arthur Kirkland, however, I'm also known as England.

[ Despite not really wanting to do this, he doesn't turn his gaze from her as he says it. His voice remains firm. ] I assume you know what that means?

[ What it means for her that is. ]

[wait.

the moment he says he should reintroduce himself, jeanne's magically-formed heart freezes in a way she hasn't experienced since she was alive. her eyes widen, and her lips hang open, her expression partially frozen in one of near-horror. the thought of it only struck her just now, but with this much hesitation from him, he has to be—

england.

his hand on her can easily stay there. she's not moving anywhere soon. her feet are planted into the ground, and it's like the weight of her body is heavy, her form lifeless. her utterly astounded eyes fixate on his and never leave his gaze, but for a few long seconds she's unsure of how to respond.

then, with energy flowing back into her weak lips—]

... Why didn't you tell me before? When I asked?

[she doesn't look angry, her eyes clouding with emotion; she looks sad.]

You can't tell me that all this time... you think I have held a grudge against you, England?

Edited 2019-01-12 21:13 (UTC)

[ He knows the kind of person she is, yet is still feels like a surprise that he doesn't get punched or slapped for this. At first he doesn't know whether to say more, mouth opening and shutting a bit like a goldfish--

but it's best to just let her have it sink in for now. He gives her time, while his own stomach tightens and he almost feels like he's going to throw up. A ridiculous notion, given what he is, but guilt and regret are two things he's very good at playing over in his own head. ]

I... was not ready to see your reaction, honestly. [ He doesn't look away at the start, but after saying that he does. Answer enough of what he thinks in response to that question.

Whether or not she does, she should. ]

Though that may have been some of the concern as well. You probably should have. [ His hand drops away from hers, like he'd forgotten he was holding onto her to begin with. ]

[he and france seem to be very good at replaying the regrets of history, which maybe is just part of what they are.

but now, even if he looks away, even if he doesn't touch her, it feels like a bond is there—imperceptible, special. it's not every day she finds herself face to face with a living, breathing man who just so happens to be an embodiment of the force she fought against in life. and he was her adversary, but—

he has to know. she cried for his fallen men just as she did for france's. she lowered their eyelids to allow their corpses peace after death, she prayed for their safe passage into heaven.]

You shouldn't be afraid of me. [she crooks her head.] How can you say that I should have, when it would have served nothing? That you're here with me proves I was right to forgive you.

[ It is completely just a part of what they are--they are the best at it though out of most of the countries.

But it doesn't even occur to him that this is probably not a healthy way of living. It's all he's known for a long while--regret and guilt and heartbreak. They feel like something that never leaves.

But maybe, just maybe, he doesn't really know that at all. Not lately, anyway. Time has made him more cynical and bitter, it's hard to believe someone as perfect as she is could exist anymore.

It's why he laughs lowly under his breath now. ]

"Afraid of you" isn't how I'd put it. [ Then softly, under his breath: Fuck.

He wants to take this back and abort already. ]

[she's not perfect. she's just a girl born in domremy, at the end of it all.]

—Then, intimidated?

[you are not walking away from her, arthur!]

[ Compared to either he or France she is.

Which is why he doesn't quite meet her eyes anymore, looking off behind her. To the side. Anywhere but at her face. ]

...Guilty, perhaps.

I see...

[fruitlessly, jeanne tries to meet his gaze again but simply sighs when she's unsuccessful at getting him to look at her.]

Well, we all have reasons to feel guilt. It is a sign of our imperfections.

It's a sign of how much has changed. [ He murmurs that under his breath, as though perhaps if things had been more like the past maybe he wouldn't have felt as bad about this.

Passing on the blame, so to speak. ]

Even so— [it's automatic. despite his desire for distance, now it's she who closes that between them, softly clutching onto his arm with her hand. of course, he can easily nudge her away, but she hopes this conveys her forgiveness more clearly.

maybe he will be able to feel it.]

Some things do not change. I can assure you, my feelings have never been different about you. Please accept that. And act in a way that treasures the life you have been given.

(duplicity) ic inbox

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do you wanna do a log!! or action thread here. anything is cool w/ me!

action thread here if that's cool! just bc... i'm lazy... sweats...

that's totally fine!

ty for dealing with my lazy butt

likewise

:*

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this hurts me

good c:

i see how it is :(

:)

rip

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