A Day In The Fated Future
Location - Unknown
(Dazai Crowley's POV)
"You know, there's another reason as to why I wanted to talk to you..." I led on, making sure to subtly speak in a casual yet rather mysterious tone.
For this particular "trick" to be effective, the less eye contact we shared, the better. So as I spoke, I kept my eyes focused on my lap.
"Oh? What's up?" She replied.
Although I wasn't looking at her for the moment, with Blair sitting close to me, I could sense her curiosity. But in the corner of my eye, I think I saw lean a little forward towards me, hoping to hear what I was going to say.
"I once had a friend who was just like you. Since your story reminded me a little of her, I couldn't help but want to know more. My bad."
"No, you're fine. I'm just glad you clarified that."
After believing that I fell under scenario number one, Blair presented me with a forgiving smile and acted accordingly.
While apologizing, I could even tell that she felt a tad guilty for subtly accusing me for something else.
In any case, we both subconsciously agreed to look past that situation and keep the conversation moving.
"Wait a minute. What do you mean "just like me"? Don't tell me she proclaimed to be your wife too…" She asked, with a strange sense of disappointment.
"Nah, she was too elegant to make such jokes. Then again, she was also pretty lazy to be playing around like that." I replied.
"Oh, that's good~....Whew~"
Oddly enough, my answer came off as reassuring to Blair when she wiped metaphorical sweat off her brow and breathed a quick sigh of relief.
Seems like she didn't want anyone else, let alone a female friend, to be taking her character "niche".
"So when you say she was like me….."
"She was once a noble. One of the best ones out there, no less…"
"Once…..? Do you mean….?"
As I was speaking, I couldn't help but get engrossed in some of my lost memories of the past.
Because the memories I saw were inchorrent and came with no rhyme or reason, I experienced many different yet rather nostalgic emotions.
Some good, others, not so much.
So when Blair asked that question, my hands clenched my thighs out of grief and other like-minded emotions.
"She chose to quit the nobility. Turning her back on her family, she went as far as to even sacrifice something precious to her."
"Oh…."
Considering my tone and Blair's speechless response, it seemed like my words hung heavy in the air. It wasn't exactly tension per say, but the mood was far from jovial. I think the room also grew two or three shades darker too which was fitting.
I could feel Blair's gaze being directed elsewhere, as if she was now looking at herself…Even her upbeat aura grew more reserved and less pronounced.
"W-...Why did she leave?" She asked me.
For a second, I didn't answer. Instead, I let her question hang over a cliff for a half a minute or two.
When I was ready to reply, I didn't do so until after I reclined back on the bed and stretched my left palm outwards towards the ceiling.
"She wanted to live a life of freedom."
To Blair, this was a soul crushing answer. One so tragic, she couldn't help but look away. She hid her face, preventing me from seeing her expressions.
Though, I'm sure she was just trying to fight back some tears of sympathy.
"What became of her afterwards…..?"
"Not sure. At the time, we were too far away to talk to each other. Not to mention, she later disappeared into who knows where after the fallout. Though I'm sure the answer to that lies somewhere in the memories I lost in my amnesia." I replied.
Recollecting a bit of her bearings, Blair laid down on the bed beside me. Aside from the time we kissed and her whispering into my ear, this was the closest we ever got. From here, I could feel her warmth and smell that same heavenly fragrance from before.
Albeit, this time, her presence felt similar to that of a dying star. Like the very essence of her beauty was flickering in and out of death.
Bearing no smile or happiness, her expression seemed to be reminiscent of certain pains. It was so gut wrenching, it almost broke my heart in two.
So I did what she did and looked towards the ceiling above instead.
"Being of royalty….i-it's not as easy as many make it out to be. One moment, people will be singing your praises to the here after….but piss the wrong person off….and you'll be left dead in a ditch."
In contrast to the heavy words she dared to utter, she could only scoff at what was said.
"It's a constrictive hell hole and one I know all too well. To want to leave behind such a world of luxury for a life of freedom in exchange….I understand it more than anyone else."
Her eyes continue to lose their original luster, as they gazed into the painful voids of the past. Her breathing grew slightly ragged, similar to a child recovering from a traumatic beatdown.
Scars. Wounds. Emotional damage. Trauma. That's exactly what all this was, and Blair was trying her hardest to not be buried by the pain.
Perhaps either sensing my unintentional gaze or wanting to see nothing at all, Blair covered her eyes with her forearm.
With a pitiful smile born from likely hysteria and a near inaudible mumble, she asked a dangerous question to which I would never forget.
"I wonder…i-if her people saw her as a monster…."
The question itself left such a huge impression on me, to the point it left me speechless.
Unable to answer, I look towards the ceiling yet again, all the while trying to comprehend the meaning of what she asked.
It took a moment, but when I twisted my sense of logic a little bit, I think I came to understand the reason behind her question.
At the same time, I think I learned just a little more about her.
With a blank stare, I gazed towards Blair yet again, and began to read in between the lines. Taking context clues while applying my own knowledge on the matter, I formulated an opinion of my own.
"Personally, I think "monster" is a little overboard." I said, while propping my head upon my hands.
With these words catching her attention, Blair moved one part of her arm away from her face, allowing her left eye to meet my gaze.
"Oh? Why do you say that?" She asked, her voice so empty with emotion, it was like I was talking to a vampire or ghoul.
"It's quite simple, really. Comparing the nobility and the middle class is no different than making the contrast between heaven and earth. In that respect, wouldn't you consider the nobles to be angels and the commoners to be mortals?"
"I-I guess…?" She replied reluctantly.
"If you used that same context, then this "angel" willingly chose life on earth over the fabricated happiness in heaven. She threw everything else away…..only to fall from grace. A "fallen angel", if you will. Don't you think that's more fitting?"
Blair's eyes widened with realization and great surprise. Left speechless, she began to process the meaning behind my words before understanding what I truly meant a mere instant later.
"A fallen angel?....Ha…Haha…"
It was a dry yet rather light hearted chuckle at first. But one that would slowly build up in tone, as her brain would come to unravel my words.
Until suddenly….
"HAHAHA! AHAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHA!!"
As if succumbing to the comedy of a well timed and perfectly executed joke, explosive amounts of laughter had burst forth into existence, even catching me a little by surprise.
Bearing the brunt of her air cackling chuckles, I observed her yet again, and what I later witnessed brought great joy to me for a variety of reasons.
The luster in her eyes swiftly started to return, leaving behind a gorgeous splendor as beautiful as the cosmos outside. Like an air balloon deflating pressure, her expression was met with relief, even becoming reminded of what true happiness was. Her heavenly aura was starting to return, and her lovely warmth grew brighter than ever before.
"What's so funny?" I asked, with a very subtle grin.
"Oh, nothing special. It's just me falling in love with you all over again." She replied, while returning my gaze with an even more passionate expression.
I'm sorry, but that smile was a critical hit.
"You-…..idiot…."
With a little blush forming on my cheeks, I couldn't help but look away out of slight embarrassment.
Have I ever mentioned that Blair was a dangerous woman? Yeah, with a smile like that, I stand strong with what I said. At this rate she'll kill me with diabetes before I can even uncover who she is.
But seriously, what's the deal with those eyes?
They were filled with such intense emotions and what seemed to be genuine affection. Both eyes bore such a brilliant purple luster, it made me wonder if pocket realites were stored inside.
They were so mesmerizing, I would have mistook Blair for some sort of god by now, had I not been none the wiser. Well, not like I didn't before…
Actually, now that I seriously think about it…
No, nevermind... It's still too early to say anything.