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[tsukihime]

"Just leave a message I guess. I dunno if I'll get it."

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[ex_seventh238]

Arcueid, stop being lazy and pick up. It's Ciel.

[SURPRISE PHONECALL]

[tsukihime]

[Arcueid DOES eventually pick up the phone.]

Whaaaaat? I didn't even do anything.

[ex_seventh238]

It's not about you, however you choose to view it.

[...]

Why don't you come over more often? For dinner or whatnot, in the evening.

[that is

NOT SUSPICIOUS AT ALL RIGHT

though ciel's tone stays perfectly neutral. SHE'S GOT YEARS OF EXPERIENCE...]

[tsukihime]

.....[Yea, Arcueid just falls silent for a moment.]

I'd rather come over for breakfast. What's with this all of a sudden?

[ex_seventh238]

I have work and Marisa has school in the morning. You can come over during the weekend, but there isn't time on the weekdays.

[...]

Hm?

[ciel

there are times when you need to stop pulling the obfuscate stupidity card

this is one of these times]

[tsukihime]

I asked where this was coming from all of a sudden.

...and I'll come by for dinner if you make breakfast stuff.

[ex_seventh238]

Ramen isn't supposed to be for breakfast anyway. If you insist on these stuff, I'll just make sure there's egg and bacon in dishes at dinner.

[...]

A noticeable amount of people have been getting droned of late. It's just Marisa and I at our house. What about you?

[tsukihime]

[Arcueid is happy about this development.]

Oh, yea I've kind of noticed it to. Maybe everyone's going home. Everyone's still in my house, but I guess I'm useless for making dinners and stuff like you do.

I guess I could come around and hang out, if you really want to see me so bad.

[ex_seventh238]

[a small groan, mixed with a sigh.]

You really don't pay attention to the people around you, do you? Then again, you are a selfish creature. [moving on...]

However, don't you dare let it slip that I'm the one who called first. This is for Marisa, she can sorely use the company these days. I'll even let you bring in alcohol, but no more than 6 cans and twice a week, if you're going to get the store-bought beer.

[tsukihime]

[Arcueid laughs nervously, just a bit.]

I guess so.

[Though, Arcueid hadn't actually seen or talked to Marisa since the day 5 portal. As such, Arcueid stiffens up a little bit.]

What's wrong with Marisa?

[ex_seventh238]

...

Do you know miss Patchouli Knowledge, and her relationship with Marisa?

[tsukihime]

...yea...I did...

[Arcueid doesn't really wanna say what she figures out loud. She's gonna make Ciel do it.]

[ex_seventh238]

[that's her job alright. Ciel, the one who's always tasked with picking the pieces up.

Her voice is neutral and smooth. There's no hitch, no nothing as she goes on.]

She's gone, along with every other member of the Scarlet Mansion from Gensokyo.

[letting that sink in, yes. Including Flan and Remilia, if Arc's came across those two. But put 1 and 1 together, Arc. This ain't rocket science. Do you see the situation now?]

[tsukihime]

[Oh...the tiny vampire was cute...and even Remilia was kind of cool.

Ouch. Man...that sucks.]

Okay. You still have to make breakfast stuff, though.

[Haha...ha...trying to lighten the mood at least.]

[ex_seventh238]

I'll even give you leftovers to take home. That said, don't make a big deal out of it. The worst thing you can do is to dwell over the matter after the facts. [speaking from experience much

but arc should know too. like when shiki left... >_>] Just be your usual self, goodness knows I'll never understand how the two of you can have so much energy doing senseless things on a normal day.

[tsukihime]

It's called being cool and fun.

You should try it sometime.

Oh, and we usually don't drink beers. It's always liquor...and I'll be bringing as much as it takes.

[Yea, you just let Arcueid handle this the way she knows how.]

[ex_seventh238]

[I G N O R E S...]

You will do no such thing. I can be flexible on the exact amount, but there will still be a quota imposed.

[a beat.]

There's another matter too, that I need you to speak to her about. [less chiding and more serious now, her tone... yeah, this is kinda important again.]

[tsukihime]

I'll do what I want.

[Though Arcueid at least quiets down when Ciel says she's got YET ANOTHER thing to talk about.]

What now?

[ex_seventh238]

Before she snapped out of her grief, she locked herself away doing research. Do you remember what Sion Eltnam Atlasia was trying to achieve, the descendent of TATARI who was slowly turning into a Dead Apostle?

[tsukihime]

Yeeeeessss...

[Please Ciel don't tell Arcueid she's taken up Sion's research and is going to have to start avoiding her now because dear God that's creepy as hell...]

[ex_seventh238]

The Brain of Atlas apparently left a sample of her blood behind. It's still potent, somehow. [Ciel's tone now is clearly reproachful - not directed to Arc, for once!! Though this isn't the usual 'stop playing around you moron' chiding tone either, it's legit 'I can't believe someone of her intellect would cast aside something so potentially dangerous to another', with an edge of suppressed anger.] Marisa has been tinkering with that when I caught her working herself crazy in her lab last Friday. You know the risks as well as I, do you not?

[tsukihime]

Do I need to go right now, then?

[Arcueid's tone says she understands.]

[ex_seventh238]

Not right now. We struck a temporary truce, she agreed to put everything on hold until we seriously sit down and take the time to discuss the risks at length. She won't resume as long as I don't intrude her workspace, and it's been upheld so far.

[...

Ciel quietly breathes out on the other side of the line.]

I'm the one who should be talking to her about this, but you're the one she's more likely to listen to. Can you... please speak to her?

[Dissuade her.

Ciel's not so keen to explain why playing around with Dead Apostle blood and openly embrace the risks of turning would just end up being terrible experiences for everyone... Arc may actually catch a hint of that one here too, wouldn't she?]

[tsukihime]

[She does, and she's not exactly pleased with the development.]

I'll talk to her. Just let me do it my way, okay?

[ex_seventh238]

[that feel when she's asking arc for favors again

WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO

except this case is really more like applying proper judgment because ciel knows marisa gets along with arc better. arc's the playful derp who enjoys having fun, so if arc takes it seriously, maybe then marisa will finally start to truly realize just how grave this matter is to anyone in their world.

An audible sigh.]

Thank you. ...Just let me know once you've had the chance, I'll tie up any loose ends after. Magi are naturally curious, her especially with such a rebellious and inquisitive spirit, but this isn't something that she should direct the whole of her focus on. [She already knows Arc doesn't need to be told twice, but... yeah. Vampire blood is serious business. Sion only settled for that of the Dead Apostle's - because she knew that the best sample to have, Arcueid's blood, is out of reach and out of the question.]

[tsukihime]

Just let me handle it...I can't guarantee she'll listen to me but I can try.

Though if she won't stop I'm probably going to have to do something about it.

[ex_seventh238]

Naturally we can't speak in absolutes, but if she hears what it's like coming from you instead of me, she should put more weight and consideration into the matter, rather than write it off as me taking everything too seriously again. That's all I ask, and... it should be enough.

['Going to have to do something about it', huh?

Arc's not the only one who feels that way, except if it can be helped, Ciel would truly like to avoid the alternative, if possible.]

[tsukihime]

I know, I know. Just leave it to me.

Don't nag her or anything.

[ex_seventh238]

[A small noise of irritation.]

I don't plan to, you should be the last person to give me advice. ...Anyway, how does this Friday sound?

[tsukihime]

Uh, yea that sounds fine, I don't think I have anything scheduled.

[The sound of papers being flipped around is heard. Really, Arcueid?]

Oh...should I try to talk to her about that before then or just wait 'til I'm there?

[ex_seventh238]

[if this helps


ciel is the last person who will tell her to stop]

You don't have anything ever scheduled, Arcueid. [:v what it's pretty much true...] I won't impose any specific time frame on you, just get here at a reasonable time so you don't miss dinner. ['before it gets cold' too, she doesn't need to tell this fattydingdong twice, does she?]

After may be best. She doesn't seem to be in any hurry to resume, so we don't need to push her either. [that, and marisa could prolly use a pick-me-up before breaching a topic that could potentially get everyone down again, but this tidbit might be best off if ciel doesn't voice it out loud in this case.]

[tsukihime]

I've got a schedule book right here, with all my important stuff in it. It's so full, you don't even know.

[Arcueid flips those papers around again, trying to add emphasis to her point.]

Alright, I'll bring it up later. I'm gonna have a special surprise for the party too, if this doesn't get a rise out of her I don't know what will.

[ex_seventh238]

Yes, I'm sure it's not a random book a member of your household has misplaced, or a particularly empty telephone book sitting by your side right now.

[...at least they are sort of just messing around...]

I suppose I have no choice but to leave it into your hands, now. [a small sigh of resignation, IT'S SO HARD BEING AN ADULT...] That's all I have to say. ...Until then?

[tsukihime]

Haha, you're wrong, it's just papers. Not so smart, are you?

[Yes, this is surely some kind of victory. FEEL SHAME IN YOUR DEFEAT, CIEL. YOUR NEW PRISON IS SHAME!!]

Yep, see you then.

[UNCEREMONIOUSLY HANGS UP THE PHONE because she's got a nap to get to.]