2.2 ✞ dictated;

[bloodsugar]

[maybe you remember this guy's voice, eh? cheerful and polite? he was a little... uh, confused over the Christmas vacation -- and while he sounds much the same, he's more sure of himself this time around! (is this a good thing? ...for you?)]

Good afternoon, Paradisa...! It's been a while, hasn't it? Well, I guess... not as long as it had been before, huh?

Um-- it's Father Abel, and I have to offer my sincerest, deepest, and most humblest of apologies for the long radio silence! Things have been a little... strange, since coming back from Paris. I thought it was probably a good idea to get my head in order before saying hello again, but-- well.

~HELLO~! My fairest Paradisians, you have no idea how nice it is to be back and... well, myself again! [that part is half-right, at least, he swears...!! he'll just gloss over the whole, had-a-fake-life thing like a boss.] I never thought I'd say this with such enthusiasm, but... here I am, and it's quite true! I'm very sorry for leaving without much notice, but I suppose the castle doesn't really give warning about these kinds of things, does it? I'm just grateful I was able to come back... exactly how I left. Which is to say, veritably able to recall... everything, from before August of last year. I'm not sure how it... happened, or why, but...

I'm beginning to think ignorance is bliss, at times like these. [no really.]

[...]

And, might I add, while I'm at it... a little note for those of you who saw fit to convince me that the journal was some sort of possessed demonic VOLUME OF DEATH while I was, ah. Aforementioned 'blissfully ignorant?'

[here, my dears, is quite the dramatic pause... before his voice goes lower and takes on a more MENACING TONE.]

I may forgive, but I will not forget. What goes around, COMES around, my friends, and you too shall know what it is to live in incorrigible horror one day. It may not be by my hand... but karma? Has an even longer memory than an elephant, so just watch yourself. Next thing you know, you'll be in a tutu, clucking like a chicken atop the roof and singing the blues to the wind on some horrible loss, alright?! These things ALWAYS happen.

[HUFF. --oh right, moving right along:]

--Ah, and... thank you! To everyone else with moral fiber and a conscience who so kindly attempted to explain that I was not, in fact, stark raving mad and actually... a part of the castle's ministrations. Really... I'm very grateful... It's been a long while since I've been on that end of things, and it's reminded me of how scary it can sometimes be. We should be a little gentler on our newest faces, shouldn't we? Maybe we forget how crazy the prospect of all of this could seem.

--Oh, but -- before I ramble forever... Lilith, Caterina and I will be up-keeping the church again -- it's in the Satis Tower, for those of you who might not be aware -- and, I'm living on the sixth floor with Lilith, now! So you can stop by and say hello if you want, okay? If you forgot, or, if this is the first time you've heard my doubtlessly charming and suave voice over the journals... those doors are always open to anyone at all, so don't hesitate to come any time you'd like. I mean it!

And...

[a little pause, and then something of a contented exhale. his voice is a little softer.]

...It's good to be home.

[and for those of you who feel like catching up -- or just feel like investigating the church, he'll be hanging out in there today cleaning things up and tidying a bit, humming pleasantly. feel free to harass the lanky priest sweepin' a sweep.]

[ooc: open... for ALL THE THINGS over the journal or in the church. oh my god so much tl;dr i am so sorry slkdjgsdf... and a note!!: my apologies to anyone that was still backtagging with me on lj; it's died a horrible death and won't function on my laptop sob. if there's anything you need to sort out, don't hesitate to drop me a line!!]

Comments

[likethetragedy]

That I'd be falling all over myself to welcome you back? [She's looking at him now.]

I spoke with your wife weeks ago. Whatever welcome I had went to her. [She's going to tug her wrist free now assuming he lets her.]

1/2

[bloodsugar]

[...oh. he looks a tad guilty, and he doesn't hold her hand when she tugs it back.]

...I'm... sorry. I should have... said something sooner, shouldn't I?

[Elektra babby ;( all the apologetic.]

Please don't go, alright? ...It's... [......] I'm...

[bloodsugar]

[sdkljfsdg looks kind've embarrassed. and like he feels really dumb. because he does, ducking his head a bit in SUBMISSION.]

I missed you.

[likethetragedy]

You're right. You should have. [Some of the anger is leaving. Some. If only because she knows that he's being sincere. The fact she hasn't left should hint that's she's willing to hear him out for however long it takes.]

Weren't you even curious about what happened to me?

[bloodsugar]

--Of course! Of course... I was... worried. I guess, I was just...

[...curious, she says? afraid, too. maybe he had been hoping she would come to him. it's not like he's a coward or anything... and that he's been secretly dreading to hear something terrible had happened while he was gone, or that she decided in his absence that she hated him. NOPE.]

I wasn't sure if you wanted to see me. [just because he still cared about her and remembers the bond of being family, didn't mean she did... right?]

1/2

[likethetragedy]

You thought... [She finds it astonishing that's where his mind went. Needless to say the hurt feelings are effectively put behind her due to that.]

[likethetragedy]

Abel. [She just sighs.] I've been waiting for you since the second I found out from Lilith that you were here.

[She adjusts her shoulder bag.] I missed you too. I just didn't want to go see you myself. Not after what happened last time.

[bloodsugar]

[Elektra ;; to say he's relieved is an understatement. she always had this way of making cold and hard judgments about things... he supposes maybe some part of him was just WAITING AROUND for her to make the right one about him.

but... she still hadn't.

looks like some tension is easing out of him, and he offers a small smile of gratitude and relief.]

...Thank you. [missed him, huh...] For looking after my rings, and... for being here when I got back.

[likethetragedy]

[She gives an exasperated smile.] I don't think it's letting me go anytime soon.

[bloodsugar]

[ahhh... you know what, he doesn't much mind if he gets punched -- it really is good to see her, and he -missed- her... even if he might not have been aware of it, until he'd seen her again.

LITTLE SISTER, deal with a hug. it's a nice tight squishy squeeze.]

Good. It better not, or I might... cry. I'm really ugly when I cry, little sister.

[likethetragedy]

[She's letting him get away with it this once. One of her arms is definitely not going around him to return it. Nope. Just his imagination.]

You're such a sap.

[bloodsugar]

I know. [he doesn't make any apologies. instead, he might be hugging her a little tighter. babby... ;;] Don't act like you don't like it.

[likethetragedy]

I'm never going to like it. [Sorry Abel. She'll never stop.]

[bloodsugar]

You like it already...! Call it brotherly intuition. [he's just going to so subtly remind you he still considers them family. by bringing it up every five seconds.]

[likethetragedy]

[It's really not subtle. She's going to glance up at him.]

Do you want me to say it?

[bloodsugar]

...Look, I won't beat around the bush. It'd be nice to hear.

1/2

[likethetragedy]

You're like a needy child. [Because that's exactly what he is.]

But as far as I'm concerned we never stopped being a family. Charlie is still your problem though. I can't deal with him.

[She gives way too much thought to how nice it would be to put one of her Sai in his chest.]

[bloodsugar]

[oh, Elektra. never change. ...except for many the Sai in Charlie's chest part. that could actually be bad.]

...I was hoping you'd say that. But you didn't have to add the needy child part, you know. Some flattery would've been nicer... Just keep that in mind for next time, okay?

[likethetragedy]

Next time I'm knocking you out instead over instead of stopping.

[Hard to tell how serious she is about this so don't test her. This next part is serious though.]

A lot changed while you were gone. Don't overreact to it.

[bloodsugar]

A lot changed? [don't overreact? HAVE THEY MET, ELEKTRA.

he pulls away just a bit to look at her questioningly. like what, dearest widdle sister?]

[likethetragedy]

I had to move on in a lot of ways. It took time after you left but, I'm in a good place now. I have people I know I can trust. They're important to me.

[This is where the awkward pause comes in.] I'm living with one of them.

[bloodsugar]

[move on... in a good place now...

he seems to relax a little further, the smile tugging again at his lips. fondly.]

...Elektra... that's-- wonderful! I'm really glad to hear that...!

[likethetragedy]

[She looks a little relieved.] I'm glad you're okay with it. I know it must be weird for you to come back and suddenly the people you know have these new lives...

I just didn't want to catch you off guard.

[bloodsugar]

No, no... no. How could I be anything but happy that you're doing well for yourself? [look at the dumb smile, Elektra. clearly he is all the pleased.]

[likethetragedy]

[Okay that earns one of those rare, amused smiles.] I don't know.

[She honestly thought he'd want to harass them to death.]