IC Contact - Exsilium

[maddeninghatter]

[ Thirty seconds of tuneless humming--beeeeeeeeep! ]

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[retraced]

[For a split second he's grateful that Break can't see his face go pale with guilt.]

W-well, I didn't - I mean, I -

[maddeninghatter]

[ He waves away Gilbert's protestations. He sighs. It's a wistful, happy sound. ]

You really have grown up, haven't you?

[ You kids. All you damn kids. ]

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[retraced]

[For a moment he wonders if he can really keep up this lie. Break is looking at him like he's proud, and he's upset at how glad he is to see it. It's like he's fifteen again and his superior has complimented his shooting for the first time and told him how well he's been doing. Such an embarrassing, mortifying memory and it's being replayed for him right here. It would be so simple to agree and play this for all it's worth, but - ]

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[retraced]

I'M CHEATING - I'M WEARING A PATCH!

[Guilt is heavier than stone.]

1/2

[maddeninghatter]

[ In that moment, Break's mind is wandering off into nostalgia, and he's dimly aware that he probably has some sort of embarrassing expression on his face. But it's okay because, after all these years, Gilbert has finally mastered himself enough to be able to cast aside the ridiculous addiction that he'd been tricked into. It's something Gilbert will be able to respect himself for, so that finally he might be able to — ]

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[maddeninghatter]

[ ...


wait. ]

A patch?

[retraced]

[He makes an awkward, embarrassed grunting sound as he attempts to snake his hand out of Break's grasp and roll up the sleeve of his shirt.]

It's a treatment for people who...ah, have trouble quitting on their own.

[maddeninghatter]

[ He lets go of Gilbert at once. ]

A "treatment."

[ He sighs, irritably. As far as he's concerned, Gilbert has quit, whether it's enforced by their circumstances or aided by some sort of crutch. But it's abundantly clear to him that Gilbert doesn't think so. ]

Of course it is.

[ Nothing has changed. He's the same old Gilbert, after all. Meaning that Break, himself, still has to worry.... ]

[retraced]

[Hands free, he rolls up his sleeve over his elbow and close to his shoulder, then takes Break's hand and guides it to where the patch is stuck to his arm. He might also smell mint, as these are all flavored in the future. Why? No one is really certain except for Ish.]

As long as I wear this, then the urge to smoke isn't as bad.

1/2

[maddeninghatter]

[ ...linking these "patches" to the chocolate... ]

You brought these... back from your mission.

[ ...and putting two and two together... ]

In fact, they were the whole point of your mission. You went into the past and risked the future to get these. Do you know what that means?

2/2

[maddeninghatter]

It means Gilbert is still completely useless~! ♥

[retraced]

It wasn't the whole point!

[And there's the screaming again. Really, he's exhausting himself with all of this screaming and stressing. Briefly, he wonders if he can use more than one of these at a time if he wants accommodate for the additional stress that Xerxes Break is so keen at dealing him.]

But I couldn't handle not being able to smoke! This was the only other option!

[maddeninghatter]

But do you really think it's helping? I must say, I think you're every bit as excitable as you were before you put that... that patch on.

[ The above is said with perfect innocence, as if he's not aware that he's the person riling Gilbert up: ]

But okay, fine. What was the point?

[retraced]

[It is helping, this is just his default level of excitable! He grits his teeth and ignores that question, as he does realize that this is just Break riling him up and that's one constant that will never, ever change.]

We went on a mission to restock the medical clinic. The country we went to is famous for its chocolate, I think.

[maddeninghatter]

Sounds lovely.

[ He reaches for the box once more and scrabbles inside for another chocolate. He nibbles at it thoughtfully (this candy is too rare and precious to gulp down). ]

You should have stayed there, you and Oz.

[ He holds the box out. ]

Want one?

[retraced]

If we'd stayed, then there'd be no point in going in the first place.

[He looks at the box, but quickly declines. He has other things to eat, and those were a gift. Plus, he's never been too terribly keen on sweets, especially those given to him by Break.]

No, I don't need any. [Hesitation.] If you want to get some fresh air, I can request a mission for the two of us again.

[maddeninghatter]

....are you sure about that?

[ He lets the question hang in the air for a moment. Then, clarifying: ]

If you like coffee, then you ought to like chocolate, too. The flavors are somewhat similar; and dark chocolate is bittersweet.

[ He shakes the box, invitingly. There are definitely dark chocolates mixed in with the assorted other kinds. ]

As for a mission...

[ You needn't force yourself, is what he was going to say. But what had Gilbert confessed under the influence of the Truth Hat? Break had asked him, "Do you like me?" expecting an enthusiastic - and truthful - denial.

... ]

Yes, okay. We can bring Oz along, too, if you like.

[retraced]

I got them for you to eat, not me.

[The answer comes easily enough, but at the mention of Oz, his voice dips a bit lower. Resigned. Depressed. Pathetic.]

He's leaving soon for another mission with someone else.

[maddeninghatter]

[ Gilbert you are so embarrassing on so many different levels. He flips the box shut; direct action won't be successful, he'll have to resort to deviousness. ]

Oz is...

[ Over a century old and not even human. But despite all of that, he manages still to be... an existence that is growing. Changing. ]

One day, Oz won't need you as much. He'll grow up and leave you. Is that what you're thinking?

[retraced]

[He winces.]

He was fine on his own for months before I arrived here.

[Already, Oz doesn't need him as much.]

[maddeninghatter]

That's true enough.

[ Oz wasn't completely alone in those months, but he'll leave that alone, for the moment. He sets the box aside and folds his arms, leaning on them. ]

So if he doesn't need you, then the only logical reason he spends time with you at all is that he wants to.

[retraced]

W-well, that's...

[All well and good, but Gilbert needs to be needed, whether Oz wants him around or not is only part of what makes him happy when the boy calls out his name.]

[maddeninghatter]

[ Cutting in quickly, before Gilbert can finish: ]

You don't need me anymore. Why are you still here?

[retraced]

Eh?!

[He's mortified at how painfully his stomach aches at those words.]

What are you talking about?

[maddeninghatter]

I'm saying, you'd be able to look after yourself if I disappeared. You're competent in practical day-to-day matters. You're tall and you're strong. You can think and make your own decisions. Your greatest enemy is yourself; but I think pretty soon you'll get over that, too.

[ He hopes so, anyway. ]

So you don't need me, not really.