Ryslig: IC Inbox

[alchefist]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, ILLUMINAUGHTY. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 015.03.003.96 *** ILLUMINAUGHTY has joined 015.03.003.96 <ILLUMINAUGHTY>You've reached Cagliostro~! <ILLUMINAUGHTY>Please leave a message ♥♥♥♥!!

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[alchefist]

"Huh?" Cagliostro replied, surprised that her line didn't work. She sat up and crossed her legs, looking at Saint-Germain curiously.

"I'm just saying, you're all I need! Is there anything wrong with that?"

1/2

[alchepistol]

...A-all.....?

Saint-Germain flushes. She can't deny being treasured so dearly by Cagliostro, knowing she makes Cagliostro happy, makes her happy in return, but at the same time, all she needs......?

Oh, this isn't good. It's her responsibility. She has to clear up this misunderstanding, before it hurts Cagliostro!

2/2

[alchepistol]

"It won't free Ryslig from oppression," Saint-Germain replies. "And it puts me above you. I don't want that. Besides....."

If she's going to take Cagliostro to task for not treating her like an equal, as they'd agreed, Saint-Germain needs to do the same thing herself. She's been having a struggle of her own, hasn't she? And it's something Cagliostro is good at.

Something she thinks....Cagliostro needs, too.

"I'd like your help."

Re: 2/2

[alchefist]

"Huh?" Cagliostro said, tilting her head. Puts Saint-Germain...above her? How had what she said done that? She couldn't fathom, but...she knew that this would be important to their relationship, so she decided to listen.

Frowning, she looked up and nodded.

"Okay? Whatever it is, I'll try to do my best..."

[alchepistol]

"You have a skill I don't."

Saint-Germain has to look away for this, as she's a little embarrassed. "I've told you before. That we'll need power from beyond Ryslig to liberate it. If possible, I'd like to seize the ability to import that power on behalf of mankind, but as a first step, we can purchase alchemy. With our monthly coins."

She's staring at nothing. Today she'd gone to a cafe with a book on how to socialize, but many of the tips had made no sense for her situation; there is no point, for example, in asking "is this seat taken" when one's anatomy precludes the use of chairs. The book was written for humans! A fatal error.

"We earn coins by interacting with others. I'm - attempting, but....."

"Hey! You! Why are you staring?!"
"I was debating how to begin a conversation."
"What a creep!"
"She sooooo wanted to eat you....."
"We're not scared of bugs!"
"No, I-"
"Ma'am, you're disrupting the other customers."

Saint-Germain grimaces without realizing it. Is it possible....that she.....she, who has lived untold centuries.....

.....has drifted so far from the typical human experience.....

........that she's bad at interacting?

[alchefist]

"..."

Oh. She saw now. And she felt a pang of guilt, as well as shame. Had she really become so wrapped up in their relationship? Why, in her previous life, she'd been such a social butterfly, and as an alchemist, she would always be off doing her own thing and bringing it back to share with Saint-Germain.

Had love really made her so insular?

"I see what you mean, don't worry," Cagliostro said, quietly. "I need...I need to be doing my part, too. Not just for the sake of the mission, but for myself, too..."

[alchepistol]

Saint-Germain nods, smiles. "A world we liberate together, in which you flourish. That itself is also part of my ideal!"

She just. She just says it. Like it's not the most ridiculously sentimental nonsense ever uttered. Because to her, it's a cold hard fact. Saint-Germain will free the world from oppression by herself if it comes to that, but she'd rather do it alongside Cagliostro. And....

And being a girlfriend means it's permissible to prioritize one's girlfriend in turn, right? It's.....it's within reason, to selfishly wish for a single person's happiness in particular, in addition to the good of all.

[alchefist]

Cagliostro smiled wider, and leaned forward, embracing Saint-Germain.

"I'm so glad I could be part of your wish...I'll do my best to help fulfill it!"

[alchepistol]

Saint-Germain has been embraced more in the past two months than she has been in the past two hundred years. She's adjusting, slowly, and even sort of learning to reciprocate, though in her case it's more the light, reassuring wrapping of her upper two spider-legs over Cagliostro's shoulders, above the faerie wings. More efficient to embrace from this angle.

"I'm counting on you," she says, in a tone of voice that's more like "thank you". Or perhaps "I love you." For Saint-Germain, the two sentiments tend to intertwine.

[alchefist]

Cagliostro just wants to stay like this, at least on a base level. Wrapped up in Saint-Germain's arms.

But she also realizes how counterproductive it is, given what she just talked about.

So, she pushes up, grabs the sides of Saint-Germain's face, and kisses her as hard as she can before pulling away moments later. Then, she tries to stand up, pull away, and saunter towards the door.

"I'd better get started~!" she says, looking back and winking.

[alchepistol]

Saint-Germain blinks, dazed after the suddenness (and the severity) of the kiss. "Where will you...."

Except there is no need to ascertain that, does she? No matter where Cagliostro heads, as she is Cagliostro, a reliable comrade who can do things Saint-Germain cannot, she's bound to find people to converse with. Experiences to treasure, that will help them resist the forces of subjugation. Saint-Germain has utmost faith.

So she cuts herself off. "No. Have a good time."

[alchefist]

Cagliostro let out a giggle, and nodded.

"You know I will," she said. "See you in a bit!"

And she pranced right on out of the apartment.

[alchepistol]

A sense of peace settles over Saint-Germain, watching the air where Cagliostro had been. This is it....This is how it should be. Cagliostro should feel free to be Cagliostro, in her entirety. Yes, Cagliostro's typical penchant for flitting off in pursuit of her own whims has caused Saint-Germain no end of headaches in the past - and she's certain it shall do so in the future, as well. But that very capriciousness is what makes Cagliostro Cagliostro, and Saint-Germain wouldn't change a thing.

Now. Perhaps while Cagliostro is gone, Saint-Germain can spend her own time pleasantly. When she returned the erstwhile-pilfered library book, she'd checked out another, on various forms of solitaire. Perhaps she shall try this "spider" variant.

.....Not because of the name. Because its complexity intrigues.