IC CONTACT | Mask or Menace

[animated]

"Hey, you've reached Charlie Maxwell. Leave me a message. Or just text me. I might get back to you faster that way."

Comments

feel the full force of his puppydog eyes

[animated]

I think that's an answer enough.

Come here, I feel like I need to give you a hug.

it's over 9000

[stealwithit]

[ The sound she makes is pretty much a half-laugh, half-about to choke up with tears, and her voice shrinks. ]

You really don't need to--

[ Don't listen to her, Charlie. She really needs a hug. ]

[animated]

[ The tone of her voice damn near breaks his heart. ]

Oh no you don't. Get over here.

[ and he does pull her into a hug. He'd stroke her hair if he could, so he just sort of settles for running a hand along the back of her hood, careful not to dislodge it ]

[stealwithit]

[ This... is new.

Kasumi honestly isn't sure when the last time anyone's comforted her like this was. Possibly, never, at least not about Keiji's death, because she went into hiding afterwards to make sure she wouldn't be found, and she didn't have anyone to turn to.

To have that now, after all this time, all of a sudden--it pushes her over the edge she didn't even know she'd been on, and she feels her vision blurring from the tears that brim in her eyes, and her body shakes with a sob. ]

Oh, god--

[animated]

It's okay, Kasumi. You're allowed to cry.

[ Because he knows what it's like to lose the person you love, to have no time to mourn them or even consider how their loss might affect you. It took him more than twenty years to do his crying, and even after all that time, it didn't hurt any less. ]

[stealwithit]

But--

[ She's not allowed to cry. Even in front of Shep, when she had been on the brink of it, she managed not to--because to an extent, their relationship is a professional one. And how unprofessional is it to cry in front of your boss?

But Charlie's different, isn't he? Charlie's the first real friend she's made in god knows how long.

She doesn't realize how much she's needed one of those until now. ]

It's my fault he died, Charlie. I wasn't fast enough--and then I left him there.

[animated]

So you dive into the graybox out of guilt? Because you think that living in the past will somehow make up for it? Because you're wishing so hard for a chance to say you're sorry that will never, ever come?

I don't know what happened, Kasumi, so I can't say whose fault it was, but I can say that if he loved you- really loved you- then he wouldn't blame you for a second.

And I think seeing you like this would break his heart.

He was important to you, so mourn him. Mourn him for as long as it takes. No one would begrudge you that. But living in the past only denies you a future worth living.

[stealwithit]

[ There is nobody in the galaxy--neither of the ones she's apparently been in--that has said anything like that to her before, that has been so right about what she was going through without her even realizing it.

Probably because she never let herself get this close to anyone back home. Shep had been getting to it, but he was never really one for sentimentality, and again, there was somewhat of a professional barrier, there. Other than that, well--no one even knew she nor Keiji existed. There was no one to reach out to, and Kasumi didn't particularly feel a need to.

Which is why she's been rendered speechless, essentially, and she finally looks up, glassy eyes locking onto Charlie's. ]

I... I don't know what to say.

[ She really doesn't. ]

[animated]

You don't have to say anything.

I just want you to know I'm here for you, no matter what. If you wanna cry or talk or just sit in silence that's fine. You just don't have to do it by yourself.

[stealwithit]

[ His sincerity and just, genuine kindness are pretty unfamiliar to someone like Kasumi, and she can't help but look away again. ]

I don't think I've ever had a friend like you, Charlie.

[animated]

Clearly you've been missing out. I'm pretty much amazing.

[ he says it with a smile, trying to lighten the mood a little ]

But seriously, anything you need, you name it.

[stealwithit]

[ That earns him a small, soft laugh as she reaches up to wipe the tears from her eyes and cheeks. ]

God--

[ with another little sniff and one hand still at her eyes, she moves the other hand and, after a moment's hesitation, pulls her hood back slowly. ]

You were supposed to tell me how your night with the Iron Bull went. How did this happen?

[animated]

[ For a moment, Charlie doesn't know what to say. Coming from Kasumi, the fact that she lowered her hood is... significant. Perhaps beyond significant. ]

Hey, you. [ smooth, Charles ]

[stealwithit]

Don't "hey, you" me.

[ finally, some semblance of a smile. ]

I'm gonna get what I came here for, Charles.

[animated]

You will, you will.

I just... thanks. For trusting me with this.

[stealwithit]

[ she looks down again. ]

I'm pretty sure I'm the one who should be thanking you, silly wizard.

[animated]

All I did was hug you.

[stealwithit]

Yeah, well, you have no idea how long it's been since I've gotten a hug from a cute guy.

[animated]

Let me give you another to make up for lost time. [ INCOMING HUG ]

[stealwithit]

[ She actually hugs back this time, although it takes her, like, a second, because seriously what are hugs?

He'll even earn a little laugh for his efforts. ]

You are such a sweetheart, Charlie.

[animated]

I try.

It's good to see you smile.

[stealwithit]

You mean in general, or now that you can see what's going on with the rest of my face along with the smile?

[animated]

I mean in general, but I won't complain about the latter. You're a lovely lady, Kasumi.

[stealwithit]

[ She quirks a brow. ]

Flatterer.

[animated]

[ He shoots her a grin. ]

Just calling it like I see it.