Women's Bathrooms (F01-F40)

[no_dont_go]

[from here]

Aigis arrived at the rendezvous point in good time, her mind still whirling with thoughts on the I.R.I.S. She was thankful for the distraction from the rash that blushed her arm and caused her heart irregular palpitations, though the transformation was always tickling at the corner of her mind. If she did change she only hoped it would be after she managed to help her fellow patient. And also, she hoped it would be slow enough to give her time to track down Aidou for his assistance in the matter.

Taking a deep breath and attempt to still her mind, Aigis moved to the sinks and turned on the faucet. To her dismay, the water that poured out was dingy at best. No good if they actually did have to flush a wound. Unfortunate.

Comments

[she_is_ruin]

The sesshouseki didn’t understand happiness. It didn’t comprehend gratitude. There was only clawing, black malice and the desire to ravage the world with hundreds of years’ worth of venom. Before, the old Yomi might not have found the female’s pleasure to be so odd, back when she knew happy emotions. But the sesshouseki was a part of her now, and seeing someone smile like that was little more than a distant curiosity, like watching clouds settle into funny shapes.

A small smile appeared at the corner of Yomi’s mouth, a little amused and a little nonplussed all at once. Getting an odd duck had been her win, she supposed. Someone who didn’t want anything, didn’t expect anything, and only wanted to help… well, that kind of person was easy to deal with. It meant Yomi could walk away without an agitated prisoner hounding her for compensation.

That wouldn’t have ended well for the other party, so in this case everyone won, right?

“'Helping others', huh? How admirable. Careful with that, or you might have people taking advantage of a nice girl like you.”

In the low light, Yomi’s smile grew, becoming slightly cat-like. Oops, too late.

[no_dont_go]

Aigis considered her words, missing the intent in Yomi's smile.

"I suppose. But that is not much of a concern for me." She lifted a hand, studying her own palm. "If I am able to fulfill what I set out to do, unless someone had determined to betray me then I would not care if they took advantage of my skills."

It was as simple as that. "As long as my powers are put to use, then that is all that matters."

[she_is_ruin]

The smile withered ever so slightly, taking some of the humor with it. Aigis’ speech sounded not unlike exorcists’ idea of duty--or the duty Yomi had thought exorcists believed in.

So long as they were needed, so long as they were able, then exorcists would fight and defend those who couldn’t defend themselves. A flash of steel in the darkness, toiling away in anonymity while the rest of humanity rested easy. That had been her life for the longest time--fighting and fighting and fighting, expending all of her skills on a world that barely knew she existed.

She’d been content with that, hadn’t she? Being useful.

Yomi remembered that feeling.

“Hm,” she said after a moment. “Maybe I understand. Such a simple way to live, following a single path without fail. It’s when you hit a fork in the road that things get tough.” But she hadn’t come to feel empathy, or to deliberate on life. She’d come for a practical, physical reason, and that reason had been fulfilled. “Well, never mind all that. I should get going, then. Long night ahead of us, ne?”

[no_dont_go]

Whether Yomi understood or not, Aigis would probably never fully know. The human mind still confounded her at times. What seemed so simple and honest to her was often seen as foolish to others, or even reckless. But she pressed on, only knowing what she believed to be true, and doing her damnedest to live a "life" that would be worth living. And that involved sometimes letting others take what they needed from her, even if that meant nothing in return.

"Yes, indeed." Aigis spoke softly, giving her client a final bow. "I am thankful I managed to help you, then. If you have any further healing requirements beyond tonight, do not hesitate to contact me."

And with that, Aigis took her leave, wandering back into the hallway without as much as a backwards glance.

[to here]