kibounovaiorin | (no subject)

[ Madsen bites her lip, taking a deep breath. There's more to this, but she doesn't know just how far she can push it at this point, and even then, she's still trying to sort out why she's getting as worked up as she is in the first place. This isn't the first time someone's tried telling her that they didn't need someone to be there for them.

So what exactly is making this so different? ]

You don't deserve to be alone. Nobody deserves to be alone - yeah, it sounds stupid and naive.

Just. Shut up and hear me out for a second.

Loss is something we have to face no matter what, human, phoenix, whatever. That's just a fact of life, unfortunately. You and I both know that. But for the first time in ... how long, you have people that are actually making a fucking effort to try and help make your existence just a little less miserable.

Sejun - your assistant - wants to make sure you're happy, that's what both of us are trying to do. Hell, me being what I am now, maybe you didn't get it through your thick fucking skull before, but didn't it ever occur to you that I'm not going anywhere anytime soon? Even outside your "acquaintanceship".

You have people that are willing to be there for you and want to see you be happy for fucking once.

... so maybe don't take that chance for granted.

[ She straightens out again, back almost ramrod straight, feet slightly apart. ]

If you change your mind, I'll be around. But right now maybe it's best if we don't hang out for a while.

[he's taken aback by the lecture he just got.

why is she so insistent in being in his life? to be a friend? he doesn't get it nor understand.

there is one thing he can finally agree with her; staying away for a bit]

Fine.

[he stands, heading back to his desk to continue working]

Sejun! Escort Madsen out!

[upon hearing his name, one tall, big-eared man immediately enters the office and boy, times like these he regrets ever taking the job.

madsen looks upset and his boss....still looks the same but he can tell he's not entirely himself]

Uh...noona?

[ She watches him go to his desk before she slowly turns to face Sejun, her expression softening if only slightly. ]

I'm fine. I'm just ... heading out.

[he takes one last look at his boss before glancing back at madsen, offering a warm smile]

I'll walk with you.

Thanks.

[ She gives him a small smile, very pointedly not looking back at Taeseok while she walks out. ]

Sorry if you heard any of that.

Huh? No! No, no, no!

[he waves his hand rapidly while answering]

You don't have to apologize! I get that he's hard to deal with. Trust me. I know.

[ She lets out a sigh, shaking her head ]

And yet here both of us are, trying to get him to not work himself to death and actually enjoy life. Even for being what he is.

[ Though while she's divulging that she knows his secret, she has no idea if Sejun's been kept in the loop enough to know that she's in a similar boat with her situation, especially considering hers is just as weird if not weirder of a situation ]

...are you not human too, noona?

[as far as he knows, there is only one other possible non-human being and that's the person taeseok is trying to go after.

...maybe two. boy, it was a bitch to clean up burnt skin]

[ He inclines her head a little. ]

Not fully, anyway. Born human, just ... with some upgrades, if that makes any sense?

I think I get it. And you're similar to my boss, right?

A bit, yeah. Though I'll admit I have a small head start on him in knowing what I am, just ... not sure how to go about doing things because of it.

[ Madsen lowers her head, frowning and biting her lip again for a brief moment. It's then that she sets her jaw, straightening back up with a deep breath. ]

I just wanted him to know he's not alone and that he doesn't have to be paranoid all the time. I've been there before and it's ... not fun. Nobody deserves to have to end up living like that.

[ She realizes what she just said and gives a weak chuckle. ]

Sorry, I realize I'm probably preaching to the choir here.

Yeah, he can be a pain to deal with especially since he's stubborn and all. I think he's not used to it. From what I got, people did what he asked and left him alone. He'll come around eventually. Besides, you're not alone in this.

[he smiles at her encouragingly and gives her the thumbs up]

You got me to back you up!

And I thought I was stubborn. [ She shakes her head, but at his grin and thumbs-up, she laughs a little and gives one right back. ]

I'll be counting on you.

Gotta stick together. Won't get far doing it alone.

Exactly. Besides, doubled persistence might be what it takes to get him to crack.

Without any allies on his side, he won't win.

That we know of - but it's highly unlikely considering who we're talking about here.

Nah, we're good, noona. So far, the people he knows are the ones who annoy him.

If he'd stop being a prickly bastard, he might find that there are some people who don't actually try to annoy him.

In his eyes, that's really the case.

So I'm noticing.

Don't worry too much about it. You'll get wrinkles real quick like that and that's something we can't have. You gotta continue to look pretty for the boss.

I-

[ What is it with you guys and making her very glad she's not drinking something for fear of spitting it out. On them. ]

What the hell are you talking about?

[they're walking so he's surprised she's not tripping over something that wasn't there]

Huh? Did I read that convo wrong?