You & I.

WC: 287
Tag: @Johann  

The sun was already descending, giving way to the certainty of a nightly twilight that returned day after day. It was somewhat of a relief. While days had not yet begun to get shorter again, the sunset meant that temperatures would reach a bearable level once more. Not to mention the fact that, once the celestial body touched the blanket of summer clouds, it had begun to fill them with its orange glow, giving them a breathtaking appearance as they hung low in the sky. A perfect evening, the Ambassador of Dies Irae thought, though today, he would not be Ambassador von Weiss. Instead, he hoped to be simply Johann. In truth, the continuous and ever-increasing work that had to be done for the guild, now that, after a while of Dies Irae maintaining its operations and people witnessing first-hand the positive effect they had on their lifes, the guild had become more accepted in the ranks of Earthlandian society. The ranks of the guild filled with recruits, and more contracts had started to trickle in, more than ever before, in fact, and while the silver-haired man appreciated that the organization of Soldiers seemed to be doing well, it also meant more work for him and his officers, most notably, of course, Sivvy and Amalie.

All the more surprised had he been when Amalie's quirky assistant had managed to track him down in the middle of his operations in the guild hall with a message from his Commander, that, much to his delight, turned out to be an invitation to Hosenka. Admittedly, the man couldn't help but feel instinctual relief and excitement. Would it be okay to leave guild matters be guild matters for just a short while? Well, he had no other choice. If he kept working like he had, he was certain that eventually, he would actually lose his mind, as, much like Amalie, the silver-haired man lamented the fact that all he, and more specifically, the two of them together would do these days seemed to consist of jobs, missions, guild work, contracts, and other descriptions amounting to the same thing.

So, instead of donning the onyx-black uniform of his usual persona as the guild's Ambassador this day, he was wearing a dark striped suit, the fresh evening breeze blowing through his argent streaks as he walked along a gravel path towards the unquestionably pompous hotel building that they were supposed to meet at, a spark of excited anticipation that was normally absent beating in his chest. This was anything but routine, which made him appreciate all the more. With certain steps, the man would push open the doors to the building, looking around briefly before spotting her. A smirk, coupled with an expression of pleasant awe finding their way onto the man's face as he got closer before reaching her.

"I didn't expect this to be something so ... grandiose. Not that I am complaining, though. You look wonderful, Amalie", the silver-haired man joked in an unusually casual manner, holding out his hand to help her from her seat and, once she had taken it, pull her closer and kiss her. It was a distinct greeting, of course, but he did not think it out of place. Indeed, this night wouldn't be for anyone else. Just the two of them, something that, in truth, he had been missing for a little while.

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Word Count: 566
Personal Word Count Total: 566
Thread Word Count Total: 853

WC: 386 Thread WC: 1,239
Tag: @Johann  

The man definitely appreciated the kiss they shared, giving in to the fleeting moment of closeness, comfort, and passion  as long as he could. How long had it been since they had greeted one another in such an anticipating, but gleeful manner? He didn't know, and truthfully, it didn't matter. What mattered today was the moment.

"I agree entirely", the man would reply after they'd parted from their brief embrace only to be met with another passing, momentary kiss, his smirk briefly transitioning to a small grin. Truthfully, the woman looked especially gorgeous today, the silver-haired man letting his eyes wander over the attractive dress before returning to her face and eyes, nuanced by just the right amount of make-up. Letting her grasp intertwine with his own, he would take a position at her side, looking forward to what this night had to offer. "I can't wait to see what you have planned", he would answer her with a satisfied, content tone. He honestly welcomed her efforts, and was determined to make the best of the plans she had made so that they both could enjoy time off together. That, and he was eager to, for once in a blue, spend a good time with the woman he loved.

"If you're interested in talking about the same old monotonous paperwork, then I suppose. Let's rather not. I'm more interested in where we'll go tonight", the man would answer with overt excitement, following her eagerly as she led him to another section of the hotel. From there, it wouldn't take long untilt he two would be seated at their table, Johann letting his gaze wander across the extravagant Midi-themed restaurant. The space reeked of excellence, something that Johann had consciously sought to distance himself from over his life, though he had to admit that this was not just impressive and imposing, but also quite the enjoyable atmosphere. He had never tried Midian food, and as such, had to say that the prospect of sharing this with Amalie was enticing. Promptly, a waiter would begin to serve the two, delivering what smelled like alcohol in small, fancy clay cups that, just like the rest of the place, were entirely too fancy in their decoration. Johann, similarly impressed with the aesthetic of this event, watched as the man poured them each a drink, the man keenly taking the container into his hand when the blue-haired woman across the table did. "Cheers-", he would reply swiftly, similarly raising it to hers, "-to a night for ourselves".

Taking the cup against his lips, the man would readily drink the contents, the taste of alcohol filling his mouth, though it was worth noting that this drink was incredibly smooth, with the usual burn of his drink taking a rather secondary role. It was surprisingly delicious, to say the least. Closer to his taste than a cocktail or wine was. "This is delightful", he would comment out loud, smiling as he looked over to Amalie. "If this says anything about the rest of their menu, then I believe we are in for a treat".

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Word Count: 517
Personal Word Count Total: 1,083
Thread Word Count Total: 1,756

WC: 363 Thread WC: 2,119
Tag: @Johann  

As the familiar warmth of alcohol settled in the silver-haired man's torso, he would immediately find himself wanting a refill of the small clay cup before him. It wasn't often that a drink would surprise him so much, and even then, he wouldn't often enjoy exploring his tastes a little bit, as he was sure several people around him had found out at this point, though this had been a thorough success. "I can understand why. This place is just ...", he paused as his thoughts seemed to trail off for a second before he would catch himself, "-Ah, you know ... it's just that we haven't had a moment like this in a while. I think it's been long overdue", the man would finish his sentence with a genuine smile that perhaps made obvious some of the happiness he felt.

The fact that Amalie had organized all of this just for the two of them was admittedly moving the man a little more than he'd thought. It was quite considerate of not just herself and him, but also their relationship as a whole. Admittedly, maintaining such a thing had proven harder than he would've guessed, especially given the fact that both of them seemed caught up in guild work most of the time. The fact that they had moved in together, of course, had helped somewhat. Perhaps, the man thought, the two just needed to take some time off more regularly. Simply leave behind their responsibilities and duties for a weekend and be amongst themselves like they would now. He would like that.

"A deluxe suite, huh?", Johann would repeat with a playful grin, taking one of the menus as well before leisurely scanning it for anything that particularly stood out to him, though not without turning his attention back to Amalie intermittently. "How exquisite. I'm sure that I would thoroughly enjoy that", he would chuckle under his breath while following the movement of her fingers with his eyes. He appreciated the back and forth between him and the woman. It almost felt casual, normal, as if they were nothing more than a regular couple on a night out, a feeling that was all-too-often lost, not least due to their particular line of work. When she talked about the next day, Johann looked up from the menu once more, a sheepish grin on his face. "That sounds ... interesting, but I have to admit that I'm not really sure what kind of activities one can indulge in around here. Maybe you can fill me in?". Well, apart from eating Sushi at a train statio corner shop. That had been about the only experience he'd had with Hosenka, Midian food and, concidentally, it had also been where he had met the girl who was now his fellow Ambassador.

Thinking of sushi, though, he would return his attention to the menu. Perhaps it was about time to pick a starter? "Do you have your eyes on something?", he asked curiously, eagerly trying to find an item that interested him especially.

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Word Count: 509
Personal Word Count Total: 1,592
Thread Word Count Total: 2,628

WC: 312 Thread WC: 2,940
Tag: @Johann  

"You're right", the silver-haired man would agree wholeheartedly, nodding his head as Amalie had made the statement about the nature of their work for the guild at large. It was undeniable that their efforts were herculean, especially given the rigidity of established systems. The world had to adapt to their presence, and the man had expected no less, especially given the fact that they were not only endorsed, but also sponsored by the Magic Council of Fiore ... at least for the time being. "I hope that it will all be worth it in the end, though. It's a massive task, it's a demanding task, but if we can make the world at least a little better, then I think we have accomplished our mission", he would follow up in an almost unconcerned, matter of fact manner. He believed wholeheartedly that the work they were doing was good, that his intentions were good despite the fact that the nature of their work could be ... more than just a little grim, at times. Someone had to do it, though, and he knew that the Soldiers of the guild were willing to make sacrifices to accomplish this goal. He himself certainly was. Still, despite devoting almost all of his time to Dies Irae, it felt good to let its matters rest, even if it was only for a little, fleeting while.

Once more setting the clay cup to his lips and emptying the container in one fluid motion, he would thoroughly enjoy and indulge in this beverage one more time. "A pool bar?", Johann repeated back, honestly surprised that such a thing even existed, though intrigued by the prospect of what he assumed was a bar ... by a pool? In a pool? He'd never seen one for himself, making a mental note to give that some attention. "I'm sure we'll figure something out. I'll have to admit, I don't really know much about Hosenka, either. Well ...", he would pause briefly, reminiscing old times for a short moment. "... I was here before, this city is where I met Sivvy when I was still the Vice President of the West Fiore Trading Company. That was a short stay, though, and it's been a while", he would explain his past with this particular population center.

"I'll be honest-", he started after Amalie had listed a few things she was interested in, smiling a little sheepishly once more. "-the only thing I really know is Sushi, and only because I've tried some before. Tempura- what is that?". He would briefly look at the menu once more. "I think a bowl of Ramen noodles sounds like something I would be interested in to start off with". That was an understatement, of course. Johann was an excessive eater. Not quite as proficient as Sivvy, but his metabolism was something else, and if it was up to him he would simply try all of these things tonight. That would likely be anything but classy, a social faux-pas, considering their fancy location, he imagined, narrowing down his choice for dishes to pick from a little more than he otherwise would.

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Word Count: 524
Personal Word Count Total: 2,116
Thread Word Count Total: 3,464

WC: 448 Thread WC: 3,912
Tag: @Johann  

"Positively more busy, I want to assume. She's an immense help", the silver-haired man would answer the question, even though it might've been of a more rethorical nature than he had understood. In truth, Sivvy, or Seven, as she had introduced herself on that day, had been of great assistance to Dies Irae, not just as a Soldier, but also as a leader. She had grown into her role, something that felt the man with a certain sense of pride in his friend and former mentee.

"Really? I see ...", the man would respond with a certain intrigue, once more finding himself perusing the myriad of entries on the restaurants menu in a bout of indicisiveness. Perhaps Tempura would be a better option than Ramen, though, then again, both of these options sounded very tempting in their own right. As much as he wanted to hold himself back, he would just have to take both, after Amalie had placed her order with the returning waiter, ordering his own food, perhaps with a little too much excited anticipation in his voice. He couldn't help himself.

After that had been dealt with, though, he would focus his attention on his date once more as she begun bringing up another matter, the silver-haired man already fearing something bothersome when she talked about "work" and the matter at hand being "important". To his surprise, however, her explanation would contain a twist as she went back to the Kenrojima expedition, something that Johann still vividly held in his memory. How could he not? On a practical, professional, and humanitarian level it had been a complete and utter disaster for the guild, but at least, as she had mentioned, they had managed to rescue the remaining civilians, despite the fact that the island was, and probably would remain, in ruin. Johann's eyebrows inched closer together. The man took a deep breath, expecting some grim or dark news, though instead, he was met with something ... decidely less so.

His expression would shift into one of surprise. Had she been thinking about this the entire time? The man couldn't help but think back to his own time on the streets after his parents had died. How he had fought for his survival. How miserable he had been. How insiginificant, how alone he had felt. He chuckled softly, looking up at Amalie with a grin. "I think that that's a fantastic idea!", he exclaimed in a genuine and sudden burst of ardor. "Honestly, we should've considered that from the start. We would be finished by now! Ah, no matter. We can still work on it. Oh, well-", he would pause briefly, a certain consideration briefly putting a stop to his enthusiasm. "-We'll have to, uh, take great care to keep them away from our work. I wouldn't want the children to, you know, ... have to go through the same things ever again".

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Word Count: 485
Personal Word Count Total: 2,601
Thread Word Count Total: 4,397 (4,000 words used for 2x C Rank Free Forms - 397 Words excess)

WC: 551 New Thread WC: 948
Tag: @Johann

"I certainly agree!", the Ambassador would nod vigorously with a wide grin. He was quite enthusiastic about the prospect of a thing such as an orphanage, especially given the fact that the guild seemed to always have a need for the services of one. Their work was dangerous, of course, and people accepted that fact, though it was often that Soldiers would witness the murder of a child's parents, with them being the only survivor. It was an unfortunate and deplorable fact of their work, of life in general, but a fact nonetheless, and if Dies Irae wasn't there to prevent every such scenario, well, at least they could soothe the pain and aid the victims, offer them a little bit of safety in an uncertain and hostile world. "Yes, let's get started right away, as soon as we return. I can facilitate the allocation of all necessary resources immediately. If we need financing-", he would pause briefly, thinking back to his excursion to the Royal Bank of Minstrel not too terribly long ago, as well as the fact that their vaults were now a significant portion emptier than before, "-well, that shouldn't be a problem, either".

"For ... you?", the man would raise an eyebrow with a questioning tone, considering the implication of her words. "Ah ... I didn't know that ... you know. I'm sorry, I didn't realize ...". He took a deep breath. "No, they shouldn't have to, I certainly understand that". Johann felt like he had gained a little more insight into the woman's motivation. It added up with the things the woman  "It ... It isn't easy on the streets, I know that. It would be ... would've been helpful to have a system like this". It wasn't easy talking about this, he knew. He had been through similar things, after all, though his response was ambiguous enough to be interpreted as addressing what she had said or his own past, depending on how one looked at it. He preferred not to talk about it. The smile would vanish briefly as he spoke, but would return swiftly as he returned to the topic at hand. "It's a splendid idea, for sure. I think it's a step towards our end goal, making the world just that little bit of a better place", he would say with a gleeful undertone.

Still, now that Amalie had mentioned it, he had become a little curious. It was something that she had never really gotten into, her past, that was, and the man wanted to know about the fact that they seemed to share this aspect of their teenage years. "Forgive me if this is a little too direct, and don't feel obligated to answer me, but ... I didn't know that you spent time on the streets. How did ... how did that happen?".

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Word Count: 475
Personal Word Count Total: 475
Thread Word Count Total: 1,423

WC: 831 New Thread WC: 2,254
Tag: @Johann

The mood had shifted from one moment to the next, and the silver-haired Ambassador knoew that the question he had asked was a heavy one. His eyes would leave hers and sink to the table before them for a few moments before rising back up again, the regret he felt for manifesting his curiosity in a more or less direct inquiry obvious in his expression. He knew that this was a day they were supposed to enjoy, but through his desire to know what had been on his lover's mind, he wondered if he had already brought this original intent to a state of ruin. Still, now that she had begun to tell her story, he wasn't going to interrupt her, out of respect for both the story she was telling, her past, as well as the courage Amalie had mustered to even share her experiences with him.

And they hit home.

Her words invoked imagery within his mind, emotions, scenes that flashed past his inner eye. The feeling of hunger, of cold, overwhelming uncertainty, pain, and most of all, anger. The sheer unending feeling of frustration, the knowledge that all of this was someone elses fault, and the hate that was born from it. He supposed that this was where his philosophy differed from that of the woman. He didn't know if she still hated her mother, but the Ambassador, even just thinking about it, was reminded of his hatred for his own family. He remembered the day some 30 years ago quite clearly, but he quickly sought to rid himself of that particularly disappointing memory, the emotions that welled up within him hidden under a fassade of carefully practiced stoicism as he listened, breathing a soft sigh when she finished before taking a deep breath. His emotions had subsided somewhat, though he was still frustrated. Frustrated that this had happened to the woman he held so dear, frustrated that stories like these seemed to be more common than he thought. Well, they couldn't change the past, but they could combat the latter fact. The Orphanage was the first step to this goal. The mission of Dies Irae was another one. They just needed the time and means to realize their vision.

For the time being, however, that was a thought that was not yet rooted in reality. His head would best remain in the situation at hand, the man instinctively stretching out his hand to take hers. He wanted to show her that he was here for her if she needed it, perhaps give her a certain sense of comfort in what she had told him. "I see", he would begin initially, finding that another expression of apology and regret would be inappropriate in this setting. Instead, he would continue with a reassuring tone and hopefully compassionate expression. "Thank you ... for telling me, Amalie. I'm sure it wasn't easy". He could empaphize with her and the emotions she felt, the shame, the weakness, but it just made her stronger in the Ambassador's eyes. The fact that she could talk about it, that she could bring this issue that had weighed her down to him, that she could admit her moments of uncertainty, of weakness, anger, and frustration, it was admirable, and once more, the man found himself reminded of why he loved her. The woman he had before himself was someone who had succeeded, despite the things that life had burdened her with, and in a certain sense, he wished that he could've been the same. Of course, that was in the past, and things were different now. While the past was undoubtedly heavy and dark, the future would be all the more bright in contrast.

"I'm sorry that I brought it up. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable", he would follow up, seeking to try and ease tension a bit, though unsure over how to proceed. It was a difficult topic to navigate, and he, from experience, realized that there probably had been a lot more inhibitions to discuss this in a setting like this one. "I think your story shows that your suggestion is important for people like, well, us, right? We can prevent things like these from happening again. We'll help those that need our help the most", he would attempt to instill comfort through reassurance, though, of course, unsure how Amalie would react to his words.

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Word Count: 734
Personal Word Count Total: 1,209
Thread Word Count Total: 2,988

WC: 490 New Thread WC: 3,478
Tag: @Johann

When the woman opposite to him offered her reassuring response to the ardent-haired man, he couldn't prevent the onset of a warm smile. Indeed, the prospect of sharing his life with her, as she had put it, was a thought that was more than welcome to Johann, even if that did include the unsightly parts. After all, he was certain that he could accept her in her entirety, and that obviously included her past. He would pause for a single moment, a second passing as he took a breath and his thoughts went silent before resuming, the small break in the trail of words that fluttered through his mind serving to remind him of the time that had gone by. They had come so far together. Much had happened, and he was confident that the path towards the future would continue to be filled with events, though he couldn't suppress the twinge of happiness that seemed to distract him. He was glad that she would be there, in fact, even if hardships would wait for him, for his endeavors, he would look forward to them based on the fact that she would be by her side. This feeling of warmth, of acceptance, of comfort, he wouldn't wish to trade for anything else. His smile would widen slightly more still.

That feeling, of course, extended to her hands within his own. He shook his head. He knew that apologies wouldn't get him very far, but there was little else he felt he could do in this situation, the reflexive urge to respond in the manner he had getting the better of him. "Well, in that case, I have no choice but to thank you for your trust, Amalie", the man would reply, the warm smile and a corresponding tone still on his expression. His eyes were shut momentarily as he spoke, the man waving his other hand as if in silent dismissal, his other palm intertwining with that of the blue-haired woman. His gaze would wander once more, eyes lifting towards hers with the intent of meeting her gaze anew. Still, when she began to continue, her words somewhat different from the way she had spoken before, Johann's smile would slowly fade, his expression steadily shifting to the practiced stoicism he had displayed before, although his eyes carried a glimmer of stern strictness within them.

He did not like speaking about the things that had occurred in his past. Amalie was right, it was much easier to bury all of the misery, all of the pain and anger in the days that had long gone by, but he knew that those emotions still seeped through the cracks in plentiful qualities, distorting the otherwise calm and focussed mindset of the Ambassador. He knew that he had never dealt with, much less accepted the things that had happened. He thought about it briefly, his gaze shifting to the table before him once more. He could feel his eyes glaze over for but a brief instance, a slight shimmer within them as he held back the emotions that instinctually overcame him, pushing them back as he had so many times before. With the next blink, a simple, small motion of his eyelids, the shimmer, along with those same emotions, was gone.

"I appreciate your concern-", he began, somewhat absent-mindedly shaking his head, though the motion appeared uncharacteristically weak, "-I really do, but ... it's a complicated matter. I don't really know what to tell you, much less where to begin". He didn't know what the woman knew or what she had heard, apart from what he had personally told her. "My ... burdens, as you say-", his voice grew unsteady, shaky at the mention of the word "burden" for but a single moment, and so quickly was that moment over that most without a finer perception would undoubtedly miss it, though it was unmistakably there, "-they lie so far in the past that I don't really know what to make of them. I don't wish to trouble you with old business, but ... I'm sure it would begin to explain some things about my person, would it not?". He knew that Amalie wouldn't pry or pursue the matter further if she sensed that talking about it would only serve to hurt the man, he could guess that much and she had said so herself, after all, but he felt like he owed her honesty after she had explained to him the things that troubled her, and he was determined to return that favor and answer any question truthfully. The man would ignore the constricting feeling that wrapped around his ribcage and coiled around his throat, trying to pay the sensation no mind.

"I'm sure you noticed that I don't particularly appreciate my family, for instance, no? There is a reason for that, beyond the simple fact that I just cannot seem to get along with them, of course. I can ... I mean, I will explain it to you, if you would like to know how matters progressed to this point". Still unsure over whether or not he would really possess the strength to lay open his entire being before someone else, the story that affected him not as the God of Ishgar or Ambassador of Dies Irae, but transformed him back into nothing more than a hurt boy, petty and filled with seemingly unending anger. He admired her that she had done so in a fashion that made it almost seem easy, he really did, but it felt as if there was some form of barrier that simply prevented him from making the first move in that direction, and he felt bad that he made it dependent on her to make the first move in order to break down said barrier, but for the man, for the boy that was consumed by agonizing frustrations, there was simply no other way at the moment. While he had done much to forsake his humanity and acquire strength, in this moment, it seemed that it had all been for naught, the silver-haired man still being weak ... still just another human being.

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Word Count: 1,026
Personal Word Count Total: 2,235
Thread Word Count Total: 4,504

WC: 517 New Thread WC: 5,021
Tag: @Johann