bubblywishes | Appointment Post

[Mihawk shrugged elegantly, completely unruffled by her commentary.]

You have yet to give me a reason to be.

[Which didn't necessarily deny the fact he could be or that he was choosing not to be.]

Even though I kicked you hard, and spectacularly, enough to make you fall out of bed when you're probably three times as much as I weigh myself? Nah, no reason at all.

[Which is to say he is a literal brick wall of solid muscle and Norma managed enough leg strength to move him that far is a feat in and of itself. Again, her lips twitch upwards, and there's a hint of triumph sounding in the words she says, but it doesn't last long.]

...Even if you did deserve it. [SHE NEVER HEARD AN APOLOGY FOR THAT, BY THE WAY.]

[She gets a snort out of him with that. Admittedly, he's more prone to flow than to act like a rock, when he's barely awake and someone's already trying to kick him out of bed. But he's not about to dampen her remarkable feat with petty corollaries.]

Even then.

[There's a pause.]

...in my experience, one should wait until the lady is at least a little receptive, before apologizing.

[He arches an eyebrow, expression wry.]

Lest one finds himself at the end of a well thrown vase.

[He's totally not speaking from experience. Like. At all. Nuh huh.]

[Much the same as him, Mihawk actually manages to wrangle a snort out of Norma, too. Maybe he's better at this whole "cheering up" thing than he thought. Or maybe it's just the fact that she happens to be a visual thinker and can very clearly see him getting nailed in the head with a vase. A beautiful image indeed, all things considered.]

I wouldn't waste a perfectly good vase like that. Especially since mine was a gift. [She leans forward toward her journal camera and actually smiles an honest smile. It's tinier than her usual ones, but she can see that he's trying, and she is happy to know that.] ...Maybe a wine bottle though, but I'm afraid I only know of one place that stocks those.

[That could be an invitation to get a drink. Norma feels the need for a drink. Or just a breath of air.]

From what I heard, the lady in question thought it was a very good use for a very expensive vase.

[Mihawk smiles wryly at her, and just for a moment, a split second, you can see the scrawny, lazy, couldn't-care-less-I'm-in-it-for-the-fun brat he'd been, before. It's gone soon enough, though.]

...I'm sure I could procure it, perhaps as an offering of peace?

[Norma laughs, a quiet and breathy one, but the first since a long time ago. He's really not a bad guy at all, is he? He's sweet, even if he doesn't act or look it at all. Sadly, though, her smile withers into an awkward hunching of her shoulders the moment Mihawk smiles. Ugh, they're...they're so similar. She can see his younger self in him plain as day, and the memories just come right back around like a boomerang of unease and sickness.

She likes him, she really does! He's a nice guy, but...well, the things they did together (though thank goodness they didn't escalate as high as they could have), considering his actual age...it's enough to make her want to hide her face in embarrassment. Not like this isn't new or anything, and she usually bounces back from this stupid Shift, but this time she crossed a boundary she never thought she would have crossed. She's embarrassed, and ashamed of herself. She thought she had a little more control than that. And on top of everything else, this is not what she needs to be dealing with.

Plainly, love in Luceti sucks.]

...You're not gonna leave me alone unless I agree, are you?

[He shakes his head, the wryness receding somewhat.]

That would not be very conductive to an apology at all, I'm afraid. But if you'd prefer, I could leave you be and inquire about this at a later date. I dislike leaving loose ends lying about, if I happen to be at fault.

[And that's as close as he'll get to admitting he feels in any way responsible for upsetting her.]

Edited 2013-03-10 07:16 (UTC)

[...Wait, seriously? She's being given a choice? Like...she really doesn't have to go out if she doesn't want to? That's actually really generous, considering how she treated the poor guy for something he didn't necessarily have any kind of control over. Chewing her lower lip, Norma stares at the ceiling. She's not exactly in a great mood right now, but he's trying really hard to tie up loose ends, and half of this mess is her her fault, too, so...]

Can you give me an hour? I can meet you somewhere in an hour. I think I just need that time to clear my head a little bit first. ...Sorry.

[Mihawk inclines his head, almost graciously.]

I will hardly begrudge you if you need to gather your bearings. Simply state a time and a place and I'll endeavor to meet you there.

[Norma leans her head back, staring at her ceiling as she tries to think of a place they could meet. Somewhere a little reclusive, so they could hopefully have a little privacy, just in case. She doesn't want all of Luceti seeing her getting angry or whatever, if it does happen. Her fuse is so short right now, it's terrible.]

...You know where the Barracks are? [Not a lot of people use those anymore, what with the battle dome being so popular now.] Think you could meet me there exactly an hour from now?

I can find my way.

[At least he's not as prone to getting lost as a certain other moron he could name. Mihawk nods one last time.]

I will see you there in an hour, then.

[Nodding, Norma bids Mihawk goodbye, and shuts her journal, sighing rather loudly before falling backwards onto her bed. Man...now she's actually got to get ready, and plan what she should say, and how to act, and what to do. Damn it all...she was content with forgetting all about what happened, and just letting time run its course as it usually does and wipe the memories clean. Oh, and avoidance in between then, that was always fun.

With a groan, Norma rolls off her bed and picks out something appropriately warm outfit before heading out not a minute later. Ugh...cold...ugh. Why? He better show up soon, even if Norma was a little bit early - she can't stand sticking around in the cold and snow for very long. She is not built for this season at all, and will never, ever acclimate to it. At least her fretting and pacing around is keeping her somewhat warm, though.]

[He is punctual, scrupulously so. He's there within five minutes to the hour, looking as unruffled as ever. His only concession to the cold weather is, apparently, to button up his shirt. And not even all the way up. He slows down as he approaches her, coming to a stop a few steps away from her.

In person, the height and age difference is kind of a lot more striking.

He nods in greeting.]

Norma.

[Her head lifts up once she hears Mihawk's approach, and she blinks all the way up at him when he finally approaches, taking in just how tall he really was. Jeez, the man's a giant! And...ugh, he really was so much older than her, wasn't he? She can only guess his age (being wholly incorrect, by the by), and feels her stomach plummet, as she recalls just what they almost did together when he was her age. Ugh...jeez. She is so, so embarrassed...

But, at the same time, she actually takes a look at his attire and sighs openly, shaking her head as a small smile appears on her lips.]

...Nice to see some things don't change! Jeez, you're hopeless. C'mere. [She unties the scarf from her neck and stands on her tiptoes to curl it around Mihawk's loosely.]

[Though he approached the girl with aplomb, he found himself blinking in surprise as he was berated, and then bowing down slightly to let her wrap her scarf around his neck almost on reflex.

Silly girl.]

I do not really mind the cold, to be honest.

Shush.

[Sharp, quick, and serious. Norma's still angry with him, though she can't help but worry, and care, too. It's annoying, most definitely - especially when she wants to be all tough and intimidating and stuff. But at least he's wearing it, so Norma pulls back and crosses her arms over her chest. The look she gives Mihawk is expectant.

Well?]

[He let her fuss for a moment, before he stood up straight again. He let a heartbeat, then two pass, before he nodded.]

I believe I owe you an apology.

[That's...it? Really? Well, Norma can't exactly ask for more than that, but she doesn't know what she was really expecting. She takes a minute to avert her gaze from Mihawk's eyes and take a deep breath. Norma can still remember what happened - it wasn't really either of their faults, not necessarily. It wouldn't have been a situation they'd have been in if not for the Malnosso's interference.

And as much as it still bothers Norma, she can't stay mad at Mihawk for something he couldn't exactly control, or had nothing to do with. And he did come out here in the cold to apologize.]

...I forgive you. It didn't end up as bad as it could have, thankfully, and it's not like either of us planned what would happen. [They stopped, just in time. She wouldn't go further, thank her lucky stars for that. Norma still had her head on her shoulders even through the veil of...whatever it was.] Just keep it to yourself what happened, if you can help it. Deal?

I make a habit of keeping my personal affairs private, so you should be no concern for you.

[He shrugs a little awkwardly, watching attentively the small changes in her expression. He's not entirely sure what he's expecting, except perhaps walking out of here with the certainty that she won't be pouring rat poison into his drinks.]

Is there something else you would want to discuss?

[Just to get everything out of the way. Chop chop, let's be efficient about this whole interpersonal relationship crap.]

[Norma nods her head, staying rather quiet - an uncharacteristic trait for such a blabbermouth like her. She's still not quite her real self, and she can still feel the tension and awkwardness hanging in the space between herself and the older man, and that's what's keeping her so hushed. What should she do? What should she say? A mere apology won't change the fact that they nearly "got together" during valentines day, so to speak. And...that's what it is. That's what's bothering her. That stupid thing changed her perception of her friend.]

I--...uh. [She exhales, her eyebrows knitting together, then she shoulders droop and she looks down, uneasily rubbing at one arm.] This isn't gonna, y-y'know...change anything, right? I mean, we...w-we can still be friends, right? Normal friends.

Appointment Post

[Video, February 27th]

[Video, February 27th]

[Video, February 27th]

[Video, February 27th]

[Video, February 27th]

[Video, February 27th]

[Video, February 27th]

[Video, February 27th]

[Video, February 27th]

[Video, February 27th]

[Video, February 27th]

[Action, February 27th] - okay, for real this time.

[Action, February 27th]

[Action, February 27th]

[Action, February 27th]

[Action, February 27th]

[Action, February 27th]

[Action, February 27th]

[Action, February 27th]

[Action, February 27th]