And yet, through all that, we persevere, do we not?
[Standing, Claudia works her way around the desk with their hands still clasped together, so she can stand more closely to her friend.]
Regardless of how anyone may view you, you are as insightful as you are strong.
[It can't be denied that Diva can be prone to flights of fancy, but Claudia is finding more and more that underneath all of that, the other woman has a litany of experiences she can call back upon. Perhaps that's the virtue of living for a couple of centuries, but still, it's valuable.]
[The surprise on Diva's face is almost comical as she stares back at Claudia, still processing the compliment she just received. Insightful? She thought that of her? In all honesty, Diva can't exactly remember anyone calling her insightful.]
Really? You think so?
[Initial surprise gives way to a smile as she tilts her head slightly, delighted.]
Most people don't have a good opinion of me, let alone think I'm insightful. A lot of people think I'm stupid.
[The Chiropteran's smile splits then into a wide grin, fangs pointy and pearly white as she lets go of Claudia's hands, only to tug the other woman into her arms for a squeeze. It's a big, dramatic hug, but it's a genuine display of gratefulness out of Diva.]
[Claudia isn't a hugger. She's hardly much for even holding hands. She accepts the embrace--as surprised as it takes her by, and her own touch to Diva's back is hasty and unpracticed before she pulls back, holding her at arm's length, but with a gentleness to the way she keeps her hands on Diva's arms.]
Enough of this anger, then. It's the holidays, is it not? Tell me of happier things. You talk of children as if you are expecting them. Imminently?
[Thankfully Diva isn't really all that aware of Claudia's discomfort. She's much too pleased over the praises she's just been given. Arms length is still acceptable so long as the contact isn't broken, which it's not.]
Oh! [She presses the tips of her dainty fingers together.] Well not imminently...I don't really know how long it'll take for them to hatch.
[It's the second time that Diva's used the term "hatch" and Claudia ushers her back to the loveseat, sitting down with her. She's eager both to learn about this strain of vampirism that Diva possesses as well as to stray away from the topic of her own family. There's no jealousy at the idea of the other woman having a family; only the curiosity of a scholar.]
Will you tell me about them? I'm sure you're well aware, vampires like me are unable to produce biological children. I've always wanted to learn more about our species in all ways--and that includes all that you are, as well.
Of course! If you really wish to know about them and of what I am.
[Ah yes, Diva's favourite topic - herself.]
Let me find a picture...[She picks up her device to start scrolling through the picture gallery, before finding one of the more recent images she's taken of her and Tsurugi's brood. She hands over her phone so Claudia can get a better look.] Ah, here! Aren't they soooo cute?
[If two creepy cocoons wrapped in blue bows could be considered cute? Sure. Then they was adorable.]
The left one is Kanade and the right one is Hibiki. Tsurugi cut them out of me over a year ago...but they still haven't hatched yet. I'm not worried though. I mean, I don't know how long it took for Saya and I to hatch from ours.
[Her expression seems to turn a bit more reflective then, as her hands settle between her knees.]
Although...I'll admit I'm worried Tsurugi might not be around to see it happen someday.
[Which would unfortunately be the case. They were ultimately empty husks, much like two unfertilized eggs from a bird, but made from a peculiar silk that had hardened into an unbreakable barrier. Nothing would be coming out of them...but ignorance is bliss, is it not? For Diva and Tsurugi it surly was.]
[They've apparently reached a certain level in their relationship, and Claudia isn't so sure what to make of it. She looks at the digital photograph in a mixture of confusion and wonder. So, she produces eggs, of a sort, that need to be removed from inside of her body.]
Diva, you truly are a wonder.
[And, truthfully, she'd love to document everything she could possibly discover about this particular species of vampire. Still, she tries to keep her curiosity contained, considering the personal nature of the conversation between them. Claudia hands back phone.]
You think it may take longer than a mortal's lifetime? Could you not simply turn him?
[It seems the logical choice, as far as she can tell.]
There's something about her being called that that has her face growing warm, a soft pink taking hold of her cheeks. It's been some time since someone has seen her in such a regard and it feels nice to have such recognition. The question though has her gaze falling onto the screen of her phone, staring at the photograph of what had been the result of her and Tsurugi's first union together.]
Admittedly...I don't know how long my twin and I were inside our mother's corpse. Trust me, there's nothing I want more than to turn him! But...he's not ready for that. I promised I'd give him time so I'm trying to give him what he asked for. I'm afraid of losing him but I don't want him to hate me for eternity either.
[Claudia couldn't...wouldn't want to understand what it would be like to experience having a corpse for a mother. She's glad that she couldn't remember what her own mother had been like, how the woman had died. It feels like it would be too much to bear, having that loss to recall.]
I see...
[She has no advice to give. Her experience in love was ill-fated, to put it gently.]
He's still young. Hopefully he will come to understand how hard it would be for you, to watch him grow old, knowing you would one day lose him completely.
[Claudia hesitates. Choice is not something that she's known much of, in her lifetime. She's well aware she would have likely repeated history in that regard, had she been strong enough to turn anyone herself, before coming here. That knowledge puts her on edge.]
[It's something Diva hopes for, in all honesty, that Tsurugi will eventually come around and see the light. She keeps Armand's words in her mind, as if to remind her. He had said it would be selfish of her to simply expect him to give up his mortal life when he'd only spent a fraction of it with her.]
It's hard to Claudia. Truly, it is...but he'll let me some day. I know it.
[Or at least that's what she tells herself. Patience has never been a virtue of Diva's and Tsurugi is the most patient she's ever been with anyone.]
[Claudia, though well spoken, has never been one for many words. The things she can express have always been more meaningful in silence. And so, as she had done before, instead of offering any further words of sympathy or advice--Claudia takes Diva's hand once more, holding it between her own.]
[Diva may be a chatty creature but her words aren't always coherent or nice to hear. Well spoken isn't something one could attribute to her. Even so, this quiet understanding the Chiropteran receives from the other woman has her calming, to revel in the silence as well, as her hands are held.]
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[Standing, Claudia works her way around the desk with their hands still clasped together, so she can stand more closely to her friend.]
Regardless of how anyone may view you, you are as insightful as you are strong.
[It can't be denied that Diva can be prone to flights of fancy, but Claudia is finding more and more that underneath all of that, the other woman has a litany of experiences she can call back upon. Perhaps that's the virtue of living for a couple of centuries, but still, it's valuable.]
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Really? You think so?
[Initial surprise gives way to a smile as she tilts her head slightly, delighted.]
Most people don't have a good opinion of me, let alone think I'm insightful. A lot of people think I'm stupid.
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[She considers herself to be quite perceptive, after all. There's more to many that meet the eye.]
Those who treat you that way, let them carry on with their false assumptions. Let them underestimate you; it will be far easier to destroy them.
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I'm glad Claudia...I really, truly am.
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Enough of this anger, then. It's the holidays, is it not? Tell me of happier things. You talk of children as if you are expecting them. Imminently?
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Oh! [She presses the tips of her dainty fingers together.] Well not imminently...I don't really know how long it'll take for them to hatch.
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Will you tell me about them? I'm sure you're well aware, vampires like me are unable to produce biological children. I've always wanted to learn more about our species in all ways--and that includes all that you are, as well.
cw: for creepy cocoons and fucked xenobiology
[Ah yes, Diva's favourite topic - herself.]
Let me find a picture...[She picks up her device to start scrolling through the picture gallery, before finding one of the more recent images she's taken of her and Tsurugi's brood. She hands over her phone so Claudia can get a better look.] Ah, here! Aren't they soooo cute?
[If two creepy cocoons wrapped in blue bows could be considered cute? Sure. Then they was adorable.]
The left one is Kanade and the right one is Hibiki. Tsurugi cut them out of me over a year ago...but they still haven't hatched yet. I'm not worried though. I mean, I don't know how long it took for Saya and I to hatch from ours.
[Her expression seems to turn a bit more reflective then, as her hands settle between her knees.]
Although...I'll admit I'm worried Tsurugi might not be around to see it happen someday.
[Which would unfortunately be the case. They were ultimately empty husks, much like two unfertilized eggs from a bird, but made from a peculiar silk that had hardened into an unbreakable barrier. Nothing would be coming out of them...but ignorance is bliss, is it not? For Diva and Tsurugi it surly was.]
tfw your friend shows you her cocoons
Diva, you truly are a wonder.
[And, truthfully, she'd love to document everything she could possibly discover about this particular species of vampire. Still, she tries to keep her curiosity contained, considering the personal nature of the conversation between them. Claudia hands back phone.]
You think it may take longer than a mortal's lifetime? Could you not simply turn him?
[It seems the logical choice, as far as she can tell.]
bonding experience
There's something about her being called that that has her face growing warm, a soft pink taking hold of her cheeks. It's been some time since someone has seen her in such a regard and it feels nice to have such recognition. The question though has her gaze falling onto the screen of her phone, staring at the photograph of what had been the result of her and Tsurugi's first union together.]
Admittedly...I don't know how long my twin and I were inside our mother's corpse. Trust me, there's nothing I want more than to turn him! But...he's not ready for that. I promised I'd give him time so I'm trying to give him what he asked for. I'm afraid of losing him but I don't want him to hate me for eternity either.
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I see...
[She has no advice to give. Her experience in love was ill-fated, to put it gently.]
He's still young. Hopefully he will come to understand how hard it would be for you, to watch him grow old, knowing you would one day lose him completely.
[Claudia hesitates. Choice is not something that she's known much of, in her lifetime. She's well aware she would have likely repeated history in that regard, had she been strong enough to turn anyone herself, before coming here. That knowledge puts her on edge.]
It is...good of you, to respect his decision.
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It's hard to Claudia. Truly, it is...but he'll let me some day. I know it.
[Or at least that's what she tells herself. Patience has never been a virtue of Diva's and Tsurugi is the most patient she's ever been with anyone.]
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...Thanks for listening to me.
[Not many do.]