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Date & Time: June 10th
Location: Hospital
Characters: Emil Castagnier, Seles Wilder
Summary: Emil takes a visit to Seles at her brother's request, and also to introduce himself.
Warnings: Sick people.

[Emil has to admit he doesn't know a lot about Seles. She's Zelos's sister, she's weakened without an Exsphere, and she was gracious in giving him the core even after all the trouble it brought her. That's enough to leave a favorable impression and a desire to see her well, but he hardly knows her like she does Marta or Sheena. This is a good a time as any, though - the best, really, given that he won't be seeing anyone but Richter and the Centurions once he returns home.

Despite how little he feels he knows, Emil finds that he doesn't feel a lot of apprehension about going to see Seles. He thought he would, but now that he's in the hospital he just feels worried, especially looking around at the other sick here. It must be really depressing here, on top of the illness; Emil's glad he can at least provide a little company, at least if she wants it.

He reaches the room Zelos told him soon enough and knocks, hoping that the person inside is (sort of) all right.]

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[Unfortunately, at this point Seles has required assistance for breathing and so she can't help but feel she looks completely unpresentable with tubes in her nose and whatnot. (Yes, she's worried about that of all things when she hears the knock.)

But it makes things easier, and her coughing is less frequent this way, even if that's mostly due to the fact that it hurts more now and she'd rather suffer the feeling of needing to. So things are pretty quiet when Emil knocks, Seles simply sitting in her bed and looking out the window, but when she turns to the door...

It wouldn't be her brother, would it? He'd come in without knocking, and she'd scold him for it teasingly. So who...]

Yes? ...You can come in, if you'd like.

[Emil comes in slowly, not yet sure if Seles is far enough in time to know him. He's not expecting it at this point, and in that case she'd probably be confused if he were to just walk in and act like they knew each other. The sight of the tubes surprises him (what are those for?), but he figures it's more important to see if he needs to introduce himself first just in case.]

Excuse me. Do you know who I am?

[She doesn't recognize the boy at all, which is startling enough-- but that question? It's completely confusing, and she sits up a bit more, as slow as she is. She doesn't want to be laying down with visitors...]

...No, I don't. [A bit blunt, but when she's shocked like this it doesn't come to mind not to be.] Who are you?

[As expected. Now comes the hard part, then.]

My name is Emil Castagnier. I'm probably from a time later than yours in our world, two years after the world regeneration if you remember that. I'm a--

[Friend? He's not exactly friends with the Zelos here yet.]

Your brother traveled with me for a little while. I also met you back then, but just for a few minutes. I heard you weren't well, so I came to see you...though I can go if you'd rather not have company.

So... After the worlds became one.

[Two years after? She takes a moment adjusting to that thought before she eyes him more directly. The fact that he traveled with her brother at some point captures her interest even more, as if the time he was from wasn't enough, or simply that he was from their world to begin with.]

I don't mind the company at all. Um... [Awkward pause, but it's a well timed coughing fit at least before she begins again.] ...The worlds were just joined into one. I'm sorry that I don't recall meeting with you, but if you traveled with my big br-- ...The Chosen One... [Well.]

You... wanted to see me?

Yes. I didn't really get to know you in my time, but I - I think I'd like to.

[Also Zelos asked him to, but Emil would have considered coming even if he hadn't. No matter what Seles says, putting himself out there like this is starting to feel natural again. Nice.]

And I wanted to see how you were doing. The first time I met you you'd just gone through a lot of trouble, and to see this now...I'm sorry that this sickness is happening.

[The words are so strange to her that the flush makes its way to her cheeks quicker than she can realize. And after that comes a rush of defensive worry that he'd notice, and-- honestly, why was this so difficult?!]

A small little illness isn't going to hold me back for too long! I'm quite used to dealing with these things, so I don't require any worry or apologies from you.

[...And immediately she's realizing she snapped at him. Ahhh...]

[That shakes Emil a little. Yeah, he can see why she got angry. That was more insensitive than he meant it to be, in retrospect.]

Sorry. I didn't mean for it to sound that way.

I've just said I don't require any apologies from you.

[She can't stop, she can't help it, but she knows enough to press on past that harsh comment.]

...You can have a seat, if you'd like.

[Emil hesitates for a second. Despite everything that's happened there's still a part of him that's always shocked when people don't reject him for his outbursts and screw-ups, but he's willing to accept it.]

Okay.

[He sits down as suggested and tries to think of what to say next. The truth about who he is would probably good about now, since the longer he waits the harder it'll be. And since coming out to the others from his world, he's resolved not to keep it from people again.

...Well, people he trusts anyway. But Seles is certainly among those people, even if he hasn't known her long.]

I think there's something else I should say first.

[Oh. He listened. She stays quiet herself as he sits, and then finally as he speaks again, she looks away from the window she had let her glance stray to to face him again.

Something he should say?]

I'm listening.

I'm not human. Not the same way you are.

[He's very calm, very direct about that part. Emil's spent enough time worrying about who he is that he's comfortable stating that straight out.]

I'm the summon spirit of the Giant Kharlan Tree, the one that was destroyed four thousand years ago. It's a long story, but I was asleep most of the time since then and when I was reawakened I eventually took on a human identity.

A summon spirit?

[Questions are whirling through her mind immediately. How? Why? They could be brought here, too? And was he then both human and a summon spirit?

It takes her quite a long moment to process before she speaks again.]

A human identity... Does that mean your body is human? Or are you part human in some way?

I appear human, but there are subtle differences that even elves and half-elves wouldn't be able to tell. I...didn't want to be noticed, when I took this form.

...I see.

[She's quiet for a little bit after that. Why is he... telling her this? It's strange and she's not sure what to make of it at first. But that slowly forms into wanting to give something in return, and the words of his repeating in her mind.

Not human. Not the same way you are...

...She shifts a bit, staring down firmly at her lap.]

I'm not exactly human, myself. ...My mother was a half-elf. [This is certainly not something she'd ever tell most people, but with Emil just out and saying that like that... It just came out, and she's surprised.]

Why...

[Seles's answer isn't so unexpected as the fact that she told him something like this at all, after everything he's learned about how half-elves are treated. (Does the same apply to their offspring? Either way it's still got to be significant.) It's a moment before it occurs to him why she did it.]

You didn't have to tell me something like that. I just wanted you to know because - well, I once took this form to deceive people. I don't want to do that again, even for a little while, so I wanted to tell you right away. But...thank you, for telling me about yourself.

[...She's not sure what the whole story behind that is, but it sounds pretty noble. He wanted to make sure he didn't deceive people even for such a short time? By exposing himself like this.

She finds it admirable. And she doesn't even notice the small smile that forms at the thought of it.]

...It only seemed fair to share a bit about myself, as well. I can't be like that-- as open as you are, I mean. [Or he seemed to be.] I appreciate you not reacting poorly.

[She thinks he's open? He wishes.]

I couldn't think badly of you for being who you are. Whoever your parents were doesn't change who you are now.

[Although does that mean Zelos...? Same deal, though.]

[Not everyone thinks that way. She knows that much. So this is comforting. She pauses though.]

...It's unfortunate that I recall nothing of our meeting, but perhaps in this place at least we can get to know one another. [It should be noted that this is incredibly hard for her to say and it's all too audible in her voice...

And the way she blurts out after it.] J-just for the sake of it, that is! I mean... It only seems to make sense.

[Emil's confused by that. Would there be any other reason in their situation?

He opts not to comment on it, though. Who knows with girls? He sure doesn't want to test it.]

Of course. I was only able to talk to you for a moment before, anyway, so our places aren't all that different right now.

Ah... yes, of course.

[Right! That makes sense. It's good to hear. Um... What does she say now?

She doesn't seem too sure, but it's well enough since shortly after there's a harsher coughing fit than usual and she has to bend over herself a bit to deal with it.]

[Oh, no. Emil instinctively takes a step forward, ready to take action if only he knew what to do.]

Are you all right?

Y-yes...

[Easing herself out of the fit, she raises a hand to keep him back. It's fine, it's fine.]

Don't worry! I'll... be fine. It's just frustrating.

Take it easy.

[Emil doesn't actually know how to deal with sick people, but that sounds like a safe response.]

If you need to get some rest, I can come back later.

[Seles pauses at that. On the one hand, it may be for the best. She doesn't want him to be sick, or see her be sick, or any of that... And on the other? She never did like being alone.

But it was something she grew pretty used to.]

...That may be for the best. You're welcome to visit any time you'd like.

[He's worried for her, but Emil smiles.]

Okay. I'll be back soon, then.

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