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Post by Lili Walser on Mar 17, 2012 19:30:12 GMT -5
"O-oh... I-if I remember correctly, he served under Gilbert in the military, for a while. I met him because he and Gilbert are friends... and... a-and Gilbert is... is my guardian..." She fell silent again, fidgeting slightly. If only she'd listened to him that night... if... if only...
Sarah, noting her charge's hands trembling, reached over and took one. "Miss Lili, isn't this the gentleman that you mentioned helped you in finding Herr Beilschmidt's gift?" She'd mentioned that someone did... and then later that she thought it was the same gentleman... and if that was the case, this would distract her.
That caught Lili's attention, pulling her thoughts away from the more recent traumatic events. "O-oh! Yes. I... I never really did get a chance to properly thank you, for that... Gilbert often carries that particular gun with him, now. It suits him perfectly."
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Post by Cpt. Arthur Kirkland on Mar 17, 2012 19:50:48 GMT -5
"Aah, I've.. I've heard he's done a lot in his time..." He remarks, thinking for a moment. He raises an eyebrow. He'd found out about Gilbert properly from Francis and that they were roughly connected, but he'd never had it clarified. He was sure the militarist had tried to capture him before. He just gives a nod, and can't help but slip a soft smirk. He gives a nod.
"That's very nice. He must think it very valuable, then. He must be very close to his heart, even if he doesn't show it that much."
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Post by Lili Walser on Mar 17, 2012 20:34:40 GMT -5
Lili smiled slightly, nodding. "Y-yes. Perhaps he does... Or perhaps he just does it to make me happy." Her smile disappeared as she spoke. "Perhaps it's not that he likes the gun, but that he doesn't wish to upset me by letting me see it laying around carelessly..."
The maid frowned. "Miss Lili, you know good and well that Herr Beilschmidt isn't the sort to do something like that." What on earth had gotten into her? She'd been different, ever since she'd come home from her captivity. And she wouldn't speak of it to anyone... not directly. It was as though she didn't wish to burden those closest to her.
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Post by Cpt. Arthur Kirkland on Mar 18, 2012 4:35:14 GMT -5
Arthur frowns himself, hiding it behind a sip of his tea. "Well, if that's the case, it's pretty stupid, considering how good a gun that actually is. Either he has a lot more money laying about than he can afford and can throw it away on the most expensive models, or he actually really likes the gun."
He looks at her for a long moment, and there's a brief flash in his eyes. Of anger, of hurt, of frustration. Alfred really did this to her? He might have to find him again and really kill him at this rate. He sniffs.
"You've changed tremendously since I last saw you -- well, the time before that."
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Post by Lili Walser on Mar 18, 2012 16:42:50 GMT -5
Lili looked down, clasping her hands in her lap. That was the only way she could prevent herself from folding pleats in her skirt, the napkin, the tablecloth... anything to not have to think too much. Thinking, anymore, caused her distress... she always had to question things, now, whether they ought to be questioned or not. The fact that Gilbert carried the gun she'd given him shouldn't have ever given her pause... but it did. And it was because of her time with the Ruthians.
The same group of people that had killed her parents and terrorized the government and other citizens... the people she'd spent several days with and escaped mostly unharmed from... the... the normal people, trying to live their lives as they saw fit. No! They... they were wrong... w-weren't they?
Arthur's statement caught her off guard enough that she looked up at him, eyes wide and, for a moment, very vulnerable, before parlor manners caught up with her and she smiled ever so faintly, though the smile was sad. "Yes... I suppose I have." It wasn't as though she'd had much of a choice.
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Post by Cpt. Arthur Kirkland on Mar 18, 2012 16:56:49 GMT -5
This was unnerving to Arthur. To see someone's innocence so shattered, to see someone so unsure of themselves, it hurt Arthur. It reminded him of himself.
His expression softening, he gently leans forward, reaching a hand across. His voice his low, but sincere.
"Lili. Please. You can talk to me." He remarks, looking at him worriedly. "I'm not going to blab to Gilbert or anyone else about this."
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Post by Lili Walser on Mar 18, 2012 17:24:58 GMT -5
Sarah frowned lightly. Who was this Arthur, that he thought Lili would speak to him - and who wouldn't tell Herr Beilschmidt what was troubling her? Herr Beilschmidt needed to know... Lili was his ward, after all. And after the experience she'd had... well, he was going to need all the help he could get. At least she would be there to hear whatever it was Lili would say...
Lili fought with herself for a moment. Perhaps he was only doing this for some sort of personal gain for himself - though what he could gain from knowing what and why she was so distraught and distracted over, she didn't know. But... but she had to talk to someone... and perhaps Arthur would have some insight about the whole thing that she hadn't considered... Hesitantly, she met his hand with her own and nodded.
She just... she wasn't sure how to begin...
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Post by Cpt. Arthur Kirkland on Mar 18, 2012 17:30:46 GMT -5
Arthur looks at her softly. He was glad that she seemed willing to open up, but he could she that she was still quite hesitant. He gazes gently at her.
"If it makes it any easier, I will tell you all about my life, if you want me to. I don't mind."
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Post by Lili Walser on Mar 18, 2012 19:48:59 GMT -5
Lili was lightly biting the inside of her lip. Should she send Sarah away...? Sarah would tell Gilbert everything... Would he be angry that she'd confided in Arthur, who was all but a stranger, instead of him...? Would he be hurt...? Would he - but... but wouldn't he be glad to know what was troubling her, even if it did come from another person...?
Why was it so difficult to tell him?
At Arthur's offer, she tilted her head slightly. "Y-you... You would...? I... I w-wouldn't want you t-to tell me anything you'd... y-you'd rather be kept secret..." There were many other people here, after all. She suddenly felt more insecure than she had before. She was tensed, looking around with trepidation. Oh, gods, if she saw him...
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Post by Cpt. Arthur Kirkland on Mar 19, 2012 12:52:09 GMT -5
Arthur smiled.
"It's okay, just.... tell me if you don't want to hear anything, and don't be too shocked. I haven't had the smoothest road." He pauses, making time to have a sip of his tea and allowing for the other's tea to be placed down before them, before he began.
"I don't have any family. At least, I can't remember them. I grew up on the streets -- I didn't have a home, or anything. I got food by learning to cook and hunt for myself out in the forests. Sometimes the kinder women would give me food and somewhere to rest.
At age 14 I was at the docks, and wanting to explore more I crawled onto a ship in it's loading area -- and it turned to be a Pirate Ship. When they found me they nearly killed me, but decided to keep me on the ship, as a Cabin Boy. I, er. Wasn't treated well, at all." He looks to the side, opting to skim over certain details.
"But I learnt a lot while I was there, but when I was 17, three years after I became a pirate, we got caught in the crossfire between a Military and Ruthian ship. While we were trying to save ourselves, I looked for the Captain, and he was trying to escape. I ended up fighting with him and killing him, and I eventually became Captain at 17, and I still am."
He sighs, and runs a hand through his hair.
"I brought up someone as my own son on that ship -- Alfred. He left me two years ago without a word or a trace, but I found out sooner or later what became of him. I also know of Antonio, through my time as a Pirate, and, eh... Francis."
He blushes again.
"Francis saved my life after I was ambushed in one of the darker alleyways and left for dead. We were both strangers, yet he saved me and nursed me back. When I awoke in his house, I was suffering from amnesia and didn't remember a thing. And even though he nursed me back to health, when I remembered who I was I hated him and stormed out.
We ended up coming across each other a few more times, all very interesting accounts, and we, er. Fell for each other. It's funny, really. When I was living on the streets as a kid he actually gave me some bread when he saw me, because it was raining and it was horribly cold."
He shakes his head, and leans forward, hands clasping over Lili's own. He's serious, but his expression is more soft and gentle.
"Whatever you've learnt lately, Lili, I want you to know. I want you to know that no matter how much bad there is in the world, there is so much more good in it, and that there always will be. Take it from someone who has experienced what I have."
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