high_seas | (no subject)

Oh, I dunno about that. I'm pretty sturdy, but I don't think the door was, ha ha!

[Joking aside, he's still... not really seeing the problem with what he said, at all. But that's Henry for you...]

I probably shouldn't have been pushing you that far, y'know? Or, uh, possessed-you, I mean! So it was a little bit my fault, at least.

[No, it really wasn't. But good luck convincing him otherwise.]

I'm glad everything turned out mostly okay, though! Things could've gotten really ugly!

[She gives him a worried glance.]

No, it was not. Please, Henry-san. Too many people are taking blame for things they could not control. It isn't something anyone should be doing, right now.

[She sighs, still not meeting him eye to eye and instead looking out at the sea.]

What did happen was already terrible... but it could have been much worse, yes. If not for you and the others, then Rikka...

[She shudders. She wants to think that Rikka could have handled herself. That their powers would have given out in time. That ... she would have some how avoided the dire fate of what would happen had Alice really gotten her hands on her in that state. But she also knows that Cure Diamond was already in trouble when Henry and Jade showed up.]

Hm... well, okay, if you say so!

[Mostly he's just saying what she wants to hear, but that's probably as good as it'll get for now. He shrugs a little as she continues.]

Yeah, no kidding! That was pretty close! But we've had a ton of close calls, with everything that happened.

I'm just glad no one ended up dying.

[He stops abruptly there, looking a little confused at his own words for a moment.] Ah... [He smiles awkwardly and, perhaps, just a little half-heartedly.]

Ahaha... That feels kinda strange to say... Normally I'm all for death.

[ Okay, so yes... Henry's ideas on death were clearly skewed. It bothered Alice some, but he had refrained and continued to abide by their wishes on that regard. He obviously was not necessarily a bad person, just...

One with a very different world view.

She turns back to look, still appearing worried.]

I would like to hope that wouldn't extend to friends, Henry-san.

Well, yeah, sure!

[Even that's kind of a recent development, though. It's not like he really had friends before he joined the Shepherds, after all.]

But I dunno if I can say that every single person on the ship is my friend, so it's a little surprising to me. Death's totally normal to me, so usually it doesn't really faze me. Ah, but... that probably sounds weird to you, doesn't it?

[He might not be good at figuring out what about what he's saying is weird, but he at least knows that it is. So... progress?]

I really am glad, though! Not just that no one died, but that none of you killed anyone while you weren't yourselves.

[Alice attempts a small smile, but it still comes across as saddened.] I do not think you will encounter many people who can take such a thing that lightly, no.

[This coming from someone who often had very unique ways of looking at things, herself.

She stops at the last part, though, eyes casting themselves downward, the smile quickly fading.]

No, for that matter... You stopped me from getting hold of Rikka, in all of that. Had I gotten any closer...

Edited 2014-02-05 01:35 (UTC)

Heh, yeah, I know! I'm used to that by now.

[He says it very casually... perhaps a little too casually, actually. He might be used to people not understanding or agreeing with his view of the world, but that doesn't mean he likes that.

When Alice looks down, Henry just smiles as encouragingly as he can at her.]

You don't have to worry about what-ifs. It doesn't matter, 'cause It didn't happen and it wouldn't have! I would've definitely stopped you before you could kill Rikka or anyone else, trust me!

If you keep worrying about it, you'll just make yourself crazy. And that's my thing already, nya ha!

That...

[Was strangely comforting, actually.

She sighs and looks up a bit, the smile returning just a tad.]

Thank you, Henry-san. I know that you would- well, that you did stop me from doing just that. I really never would have forgiven myself had I hurt Rikka any worse...

[As it was, having given Gaius the opening to hurt her at all was a hard enough thing to still grapple with.]

Sure, no problem!

[Hurray, some progress! Henry himself brightens a little when Alice's smile returns. He's obviously very happy to be of some help.]

Just remember that even if you had, it wouldn't have really been you! It's not like you could've helped being possessed, after all. It was just bad luck that it ended up being you, that's all!

I'm glad it wasn't me who got possessed, though... That would've been really, really, reaaaaally bad for you guys.

I am aware it was not really my own choices, but... It was still my own hand. Knowing that was being directed to harm someone I- [She hesitates for only a second.] -someone I love, if the rest of you had not stopped us... Facing her would be even more difficult than it is now.

[Her cheeks burn a bit, because although that whole relationship had not exactly been kept secret, they also hadn't really gone parading it about. Saying it aloud is something else entirely.

Still, Henry's last comment gives her some pause. She frowns again.]

Yes, well... Let us be thankful that was not the case. And that... I was stopped from really getting too close to anyone.

[She looks down at one hand, flexing it.] I had always been afraid of what would happen should I lose control of my own strength, Henry-san. I very nearly did as a young child. After this... It will take some time to remember how to use that strength properly again.

Well, I get that you would've felt really bad about hurting someone you love! [Sorry, was that supposed to be weird or awkward? Because Henry cares not.] I'm sure she feels really bad about you blaming yourself too, though!

I don't care if you don't completely blame yourself anymore or anything, because you shouldn't even a little bit. Okay?

[He leans back a little.]

Ah... I know a thing or two about losing control, though! That happened to me as a kid too, when my magic first awakened.

[His face darkens a little at the memory.]

...I don't regret that one bit, though, so in that aspect we're totally different.

...yes, she has... reprimanded me quite a bit. It is one of the many reasons I am trying to... well, I must push myself forward. Not just for myself, but for them. For everyone on board here who must share one another's strength.

So... thank you, Henry-san.

[She stops and stares at him a bit. She doesn't want to pry, and there's a part of her in the pit of her stomach, knowing how Henry was about certain things, that wonders if she wants to know what he means.]

...everyone must... approach things differently, I suppose...

No problem! Just try to cheer up, 'kay?

[It is indeed safe to assume that when it comes to Henry, ignorance is most definitely bliss.]

Yeah, probably! But back then things were really different for me. I didn't have any friends or people that I cared about, so whatever happened was fine by me. I didn't really care at all! [Because that's normal, right?] But that's totally different now, so I wouldn't want to accidentally hurt people!

[The key word here being 'accidentally', of course. On purpose is a whole different matter.]

Edited 2014-02-20 01:08 (UTC)

[She manages a small smile, and nods. He certainly had an odd way of approaching things, and his outlook on matters may even be questionable, but... She was very glad to have him on board this ship.]

Of course, Henry-san. I will... I will try my best. With friends and the people I care about here, I think that I will...

[Eventually.]

Yeah, friends make that kinda stuff a lot easier! And we're friends too, so if you need help with anything at all, you can ask me. I'm always happy to help!

Especially if you need a curse for something, nya ha ha!

[That was so close to being almost normal, but nope, slipped at the end.]

[Alice... manages to ignore that last part, and just keeps on smiling.]

Of course, Henry-san... and the same goes for me, as well.

[She looks at her arm.] Well, once I am capable, anyhow.

[Just smile and nod, Alice. Just smile and nod.]

Haha, right! You make sure to get better quickly, 'kay? You just take it easy 'till then!

[Henry, you got thrown through a door, got stabbed, then re-opened your wound like an idiot. Don't you dare lecture people on taking it easy after getting hurt, you hypocrite.]

[That seems like the best course of action, she now realizes.]

I will... I do not think Mana or Rikka will let me do otherwise, anyhow.

[It's fine, it's not like she's going to ARGUE at this point.]