happyends | ic inbox/side-interactions for voidtreckerexpress

The girl moved... and Maru watched her, not sure what she was planning...

But then she bowed. On the bed. Head down. Apologising.

It was... awkward. Maru wasn't sure what to say or do. Maybe the old him would have walked away because it was just that awkward. But he'd learned. Mahiru had taught him enough. So instead of walking away he just looked away and lightly scratched at his cheek.

"... Technically I do. Now. You named me. At least for the next 24 hours... Then I won't be Maru anymore." That was simple enough, right? He sounded tired and bored with the whole thing, but even though he was looking away he kept shooting little glances to Madoka, waiting for her to stop being so weird.

"You... don't have to do that. Be sorry... You didn't know." It had happened the same way with Mahiru. He'd just not explained himself in time. Though in this instance he'd been so weak and tired he hadn't realised what was going on until it was too late.

What he's saying gets her to slowly lift her face again. The way he's saying it all with that odd kind of bored tone is weird, but the things themselves he's saying are even stranger. Slowly the girl moves back up until she's sitting normally again, staring at Maru.

"The next 24 hours..?"

Why would a name only last a day? There's not a single thing about this situation she understands, but Madoka is trying really, really hard to think. Her gaze drops down at her wrist, remembering that weird light from a few moments ago. Did that have something to do with it?

"Why won't you be Maru anymore after that?"

This was such a pain... Maru shifted and looked away again, having looked back when Madoka had started to sit up.

"... It's a contract thing. A temporary one. Because you gave me a name. It'll fade after a day. Unless I do something... But since I won't you'll be free of me in a day." He almost sounded apologetic then. It wasn't ask if she'd meant to name him, since she had no idea what that had meant.

He looked back then... and in the blink of an eye and a puff of blue smoke, Maru became a cat again. Sitting right where he had a moment before.

"... I suppose I should tell you... I'm a vampire." This he was expecting to be kicked out for, much like Mahiru had done to him. Or hit. Mahiru had done that as well. When he became a cat his voice was much softer and younger sounding than the bored teen he was as a human.

Honestly, with everything else he's saying the fact he's suddenly turning from a human form back to a cat form is the least startling thing going on here. Madoka's poor brain has so much to try and process here, and apparently the first thing that's fully processed is--

"A VAM--"

She realises she did raise her voice this time without realising, and quickly halfway through the word slaps her hands in front of her mouth again before looking to see if anyone woke up. Thankfully it doesn't seem like it...

Her eyes are so wide when she stares back at Maru. He's a vampire? But aren't those supposed to be dangerous? He said he wouldn't hurt her, and he's lived up to that so far.. And aren't there some other vampires here on the train? Maybe he's a friendly kind of vampire! Or a dyslexic one, considering she's pretty sure vampires are supposed to turn into bats, not cats...

But you know what? That's actually a surprise she can work through. Her eyes slowly stop being so wide as the rest of what he says hits her, which is frankly a lot more concerning than the whole vampire deal.

"Ah, wait.. We made a contract?" The forbidden c-word! She's pretty sure she didn't just become a magical girl, so it can at least not be the Kyubey kind of contract.. But that word still has a worrying kind of aftertaste, considering everything back home. "What kind of contract is it though..?"

Maru ducked his head, his ears falling flat against his head at the sudden shout that hurt his poor, delicate kitty ears. It had been an aborted shout but it had startled him. He was fully expecting her to throw him out now and braced for that.

What he hadn't expected was for her to ask him questions. Slowly he lifted his head, his ears lifting up again.

"Temporary." He repeated. Just a day. Then he could give the name back.

But that wasn't the question he was being asked, was he? He knew what he had to say and he really wished that Bastard-chan and the others were around to give this girl the explanations she wanted. He was too tired to do it himself...

"... Servamp..." He said, finally. "Servant vampire. That's what I am... it's so bothersome." A sigh. "You have me a name... you formed a pact with me. But it's just for a day. Like a free trial, I guess..." Game terminology worked, right? "... Unless I bite you and drink your blood in that day. But that would be a pain... and I don't like blood..."

He's definitely not being thrown out. Madoka doesn't look angry or even annoyed in the slightest, after all. Sure, she still looks kind of surprised, but she seems to be thoughtfully listening to what he's telling her. Even if it's confusing information, it's important information!

But then he finishes speaking and the look she's giving the cute kitty turns a little sadder - kind of bordering on guilty. She awkwardly folds her hands in her lap.

"I'm sorry.." At least this time she's not doing a ridiculous full on bow, but somehow this seems like a very genuine sentiment all the same just from her tone and her facial expression. "F-For making things so bothersome for you, I mean. I didn't mean to make a contract with you, I just thought you were a regular cat.."

If she's worried at all about him being a vampire or at the mention of drinking blood, it doesn't show.

"I-I mean, I don't even know what people would do with a vampire as their servant.."

"We fight for them..." Maru said with a little shrug, an oddly adorable thing when a kitty does it. "We fight for our Eve... Protect them." He was quiet for a few seconds as he remembered something that he had failed to tell Mahiru bit he'd apparently thought was important and had scolded him for. "... We give them a weapon. Make them stronger."

It was all such a pain... and the more he spoke the more he was afraid he would scare the nice girl and make her think he was a monster...

Honestly, at the word 'servant' Madoka was thinking of something more like a butler, honestly. (Which would be pretty hard for a cat to be, sure, but don't sweat the details!) She didn't think it'd involve this kind of angle instead.

It makes some of the guilt fade, immediately replaced with slight surprise. And interest. Because while it's very true that she'd never want to trap him to be stuck as her servant against his will or anything like that, the idea that he'd be able to help keep her safe and more importantly help her be able to fight herself is.. amazing. It feels like exactly the kind of thing Madoka has been waiting for all this time. Just how many times has she felt useless on this train, especially when it came to battle? Even though there are so many nice people who are more than willing to protect her, it still doesn't feel right. She's just been wishing there was a way she could do something herself too.

And now there's Maru. Or.. well, whatever his real name actually is, she supposes.. But he could help her reach that. He may be a vampire, but right now he seems much more like an angel sent down to help her.

Her hands remains folded in her lap, but they start nervously fretting a little.

"I.."

She starts, then stops, her gaze falling down for a moment.

"I know this will probably sound really strange.. But.. Is there maybe any way I could convince you to help me out with that..?" Maybe she should be more wary. The last time she was involved with a cat and a contract, things went so badly so quick.

But Maru doesn't seem bad. Despite what he may be. For some reason.. it feels like she can trust him. She wants to trust him. She's the one asking for something here, after all.

"Of.. Of course I don't just want to force you to be my servant or anything.. But it's just.. I really need help getting stronger. It's really important. And I'm not sure what I could give you in return, but.. I promise I'd do anything at all in return for that help. No matter what it is."

"... Help you?" Maru, even as sleepy looking as he was, managed to look surprised. "... You're not afraid of me...?" She wasn't throwing him out. No screaming or shouting. To be fair all he had to go on in his many years of life was Mahiru's reaction to him, he had managed to avoid people and Eve's up till that point. But this was on a different scale. This was surprising in many ways.

So surprising that Maru couldn't stop staring.

So surprised it made him wake up a bit more and take notice.

He moved forward a few steps, closer to the girl, and then sat down on his butt to look up at her.

"... You give me your resolve." Maru said softly. "If I give you strength... that is what you give me." He cocked his head to the side slowly, maybe he should explain more? Maybe that would scare her?

"I'd have to bite you... When I fight. I'll have to drink your blood. When I fight, you can't waver. I'll take your resolve to fight, to be stronger, and I will fight till the end..." And yes, it was such a pain to do that. He hated fighting. But he would do it, if that was what his Eve wanted. "... I am not responsible for what happens. I'll fight as you want me too... If your resolve wavers for any reason..." He remembered what had happened the last time and lowered his head. He didn't want to go through that again. If this girl wasn't sure in what she wanted. "... You have to be sure. Really sure..."

Madoka just sits there. And she listens. Even as he comes closer, she doesn't move away, and even as he tells her all that stuff, she doesn't start to look noticably scared. Sure, her facial expression is a little hard to read, but it's more since it's leaning towards being blank than for any other reason.

She's only quiet for a moment or two when he finishes, but then she just says: "I'm sure."

She even sounds sure. For how hesitant and self-conscious as Madoka can be about some things, she doesn't sound like that about this at all. Sure, it's not like being bitten or him drinking her blood or fighting can't be scary. But..

"I want to become stronger. Strong enough so I don't always have to be protected.. and so I can help keep the people important to me safe too if it's needed." There's just no doubt about that. It's been her hope even back home, way before she ever arrived here, but things here only made that more clear.

"So if you can help me with that.. then of course I'm not afraid of you. If anything, I'd just be grateful to you.." It's only now that her voice weakens a bit. Not in a way that's hesitant, but more in a way that's more gentle than just now. "R.. Really, my only worry is that I don't want to force you into it or anything.. If you don't like fighting, then I'd feel mean for making you do it, you know?"

He did seem pretty tired and was calling things bothersome, after all.

"I'm not sure if just giving you my resolve in return is a fair enough trade."

She looked sweet and innocent. But Maru was beginning to wonder if maybe she wasn't a little broken. He couldn't understand wanting a Servamp, though having met the Eve's of his siblings he knew that it was true that some humans welcomed it. But he thought they were a bit crazy as well.

He listened to her quietly, because what else could he do? And realised that she was going to be even more troublesome than Mahiru had been.

Maru sighed heavily and slowly slid down to lie on the bed. There was one thing she said that pleased him though. She wasn't afraid of him. It was that alone that was making him consider the idea.

He supposed it wasn't a bad thing to have an Eve... It would save a lot of trouble for him in the long run. He didn't really know where he was or what was going on but he knew it was going to be a pain one way or the other. So he looked away from Madoka, taking stock of his surroundings for the first time since he had arrived there, and then looked back at the girl.

"... We should go somewhere else." Because if Madoka wanted to make a contract with him. If she wanted to be his Eve. Then they couldn't do it in such an enclosed space with other humans around.

The girl holds her breath as she watches the cat go silent for a bit after she stops speaking. Madoka knows it has to be a lot for him to consider as well, and like she said - she really doesn't want to force him. On the other hand, she can't help but feel so hopeful after having the opportunity to be able to feel less useless being dangled right before her eyes.

She's waiting with so much anticipation that she immediately nods once Maru utters those words, despite not knowing for sure what the answer means. Although it's probably leaning towards a 'yes', right? Why would they need to go somewhere else only for him to turn it down?

(Granted, a more suspicious mind might think he'd want to be alone somewhere for more malicious reasons, but of course none of those pass Madoka's mind.)

"Okay.. Let's be careful."

Madoka isn't too sure she'd want to answer questions as to why she's sneaking around in the middle of the night with a cat, okay. Especially since she's usually never the type to do that kind of thing. But she's already stepping out of her bed, moving to gather Maru back up in her arms like she carried him earlier, back when she thought he was still a normal cat.

She quietly slips out of the room, starting to head through the various sleeper carriages in the direction of the rest of the train.

"Um, were you thinking of any particular kind of place..?" She doesn't know how much of the train he was able to see before (maybe not too much with how weak he had seemed), but at least it'd give her an idea of where to head.

Maru was fine with being picked up. But once they were out of the room he was on the move and he jumped up onto the girls shoulder. Here he was able to look around, his sleepy gaze taking in the place as if for the first time. When he was brought in from outside, he hadn't really taken much notice of anything. But now...

"... What's this place anyway?" Maru asked and turned to look at Madoka. "... And somewhere open. Probably. Just in case..."

He only had the one time to go on. Madoka would be his second Eve. Though in a twist of the ironic, this one he would be picking himself. He had a choice here. He could say no and he didn't think Madoka would press the point. She didn't seem the type.

"Why do you want to be strong anyway?" Maru asked. "It's such a bother... why would anyone want to fight?"

"Oh, it's a train.." If Madoka is bothered at all by him sitting on her shoulder like that, she doesn't show it at all. And that's mostly since she actually isn't bothered. Kyubey used to do that so much back home that she kind of got used to it.. She wonders if she should explain more about the place they're in, but that might end up kind of long, huh.. Maybe she should grab one of the leaflets for him later?

Instead she just keeps on walking with him sitting on her like that and focuses on the other thing he's asking her. After a moment of thought it just makes her let out a sound that almost sounds like a very soft laugh, though it doesn't sound too happy.

"I think it'd be better too if no one would ever have to fight." Madoka is an idealist at her core, after all. She'd love to live in that kind of world. "But.. with the way things are, fighting really is unavoidable."

Especially since these missions seems to always involve fighting in some way here.

"And I-- I don't want to be the kind of person who just lets others fight for them. Even though there's a lot of people here who are really nice to me, and who'd gladly help protect me.. I don't just want to shift that burden to them. So that's why I want to become strong enough to take care of myself when it's necessary. And strong enough to help them too if they need it. That probably sounds kind of silly, huh..?"

"Mmm... you don't want to let people fight for you... but me?" Maru asked, there might have been a teeny but of amusement in his sleepy tone. Really he didn't mind that part. He thought he understood her sentiments. She wanted to be strong. While Maru could fight for her he could also lend her strength she didn't have before. And that was the attractive factor for her. And that was fine.

"My last Eve was like you..." He spoke slowly, always looking around because this was a very new place for him. "... He wanted to be someone who could protect people. And himself. It's a common thing with humans then?" Maru turned to look at Madoka then, curious.

Maybe it was a human thing. Or maybe he seemed to find the ones who needed him the most? It was bothersome... But for little bits of time, knowing he could make some kind of a difference, made him feel less of a monster.

Maybe they could help each other...

The thing he asks about humans is a pretty good question. Madoka has never really thought about it before now, but now she's curious enough to quietly contemplate it for a moment as they quietly walk.

".. I think it is. Human life.. can be so fragile." It's not something she thought about much before. Her life had always been so normal. But if she learned anything while finding out the hidden truth behind her world, it's exactly that fact. How quickly things can be over. How happy you should be just to be alive. It must be different from vampires.. if they're so strong, they probably don't die as often or easily either, huh? "So I think there are probably a lot of people out there who want to become stronger so they can protect it."

Everyone has people they're close to, after all.

Madoka opens the door of the last sleeper car, finally leaving the halls of those to emerge into the greenhouse. She just stands there near the doorway for a moment, like she's giving him time to take in the sight. This should probably be a good enough open place for it, right?

Besides, there's still that other thing he said that makes her look a little bashful as she replies. "B-But it's not like I'm going to make you do all the protecting, that wouldn't be fair..! I.. I just thought that maybe we could be more like a team.." Maru doesn't seem as opposed to her fighting as much as quite some other people around her seem to be, after all. And there's no way Madoka is just going to stand around and watch him get hurt for her sake.

Humans were very fragile. They could be broken so easily. And this one, Madoka, she seemed very fragile. But the more he listened to her the more Maru was starting to realise that the fragile looking body hid a core of strength. Maybe... just maybe...?

They left the hallway and entered a larger area that had grass and the smell of soil. Madoka stopped and Maru looked at her searchingly. This was it? He supposed this would do. He launched off of her shoulder and as he arched through the air to land, he changed back into his human form. His hands were shoved into the pockets of his orange hoodie when he turned around to Madoka. He cocked his head to the side, looking somehow bored with the whole thing. Bored and maybe a little uncomfortable.

"A team... I can give you the strength you want. Probably even a weapon if that's your thing... But..." He looked at her then. "For a permanent contract I have to bite you. Are you alright with that...?" He didn't know many people who would be alright to with that...

For a moment seeing that expression on his face makes her a little worried. What if he doesn't want this after all? There's no way she's intimidating enough for him to feel like he has no way out of this, and she did say she doesn't want to force him.. But maybe he feels too bad to say he'd rather back out? Maru sure doesn't act the way Madoka expected any vampire to, so it's a little hard to read him.

But then there's that question pulling her out of her thoughts. Her gaze turns back to him, and it only takes a moment for the girl to nod.

"It's alright. I mean.. of course getting bitten sounds a little scary. Most people would probably think that, right..?" And even if they wouldn't, Madoka knows she's probably kind of a scaredy cat anyway. Of course it'd sound a little scary to her. "But if that's the only price to pay for this, then I'll bear it."

Was that why he looks so awkward and kind of reluctant? Is he maybe worried about the biting too..? Madoka ponders it for a second, and then quickly adds--

"It's okay because I trust you. I don't think you'd hurt me more than you have to. You don't seem like a bad person.." Maybe that's too quick a call to make. She's only just seen his more human-like form and talked to him more extensively than just fulfilling requests for food and sleep. But it's just the impression she gets from him as she talks to him like this.

"... Where...?" He rubbed the back of his neck and looked away from the girl. This was the awkward part. Where was he supposed to bite her? He really didn't want to hurt her, even if she said she trusted him. That was a big responsibility and he just didn't have the energy to deal with that... Having her trust him like that? What if he betrayed it? She'd be hurt. He would have done that. That kind of pressure wasn't fair...

And yet it was something he wanted to hear. The fact that this girl, this stranger wasn't afraid of him and didn't think he was a bad person. It felt... good.

Would she still feel that way if she knew more about him?

Maru didn't want to find out. He didn't want her to be afraid of him... Though he knew, eventually, it would always come out...

Talk about an awkward question. Madoka has a quick answer as to the question of whether she's okay with it, but this one is on another level entirely. Just thinking of a spot where she'd have to get bitten is.. kind of weird? Enough so that her face starts to grow slightly red as the question fully dawns upon her. This really is the awkward part.

"W-Well.. Um.."

How is she supposed to know what would be good! She doesn't know where it'd hurt more or less.. At least she supposes it'd be good if it was in a place that wouldn't be too obvious..

"M.. Maybe on my arm..? I don't know.." Her gaze nervously darts around before landing back on Maru. "How did you do with your l.. last, um.. what did you call it.. your last Eve..?"

Maru leaned his head to the side and again rubbed at the back of his neck. "He would use his arm too..." Usually by just shoving it at him and making Maru bite.

He moved closer and knelt down beside her. Madoka was a good deal shorter than himself. He was surprisingly gentle as he took her arm. He hesitated, about to ask if she was sure this was what she wanted to do, but Madoka had already made it very clear that it was. But now he was there, and her arm was in his hands, Maru hesitated for another reason. He had never done this before... He'd never deliberately done this. It felt wrong. Didn't biting someone and drinking their blood make him a monster?

But the girls words came back to him. She trusted him... He didn't know why. He couldn't understand it. But if she trusted him then he would trust her.

Maru bit into her arm. He tried to be as gentle as he could, but it would have hurt. The sting of an injection with a little more pressure behind it. And then he drank.

He didn't need much. A drop is all. No sooner had he bit the girls hand had he pulled back. The light from before, the blue white band that had connected them returned, solidifying between them. Maru lowered his head as the chain locked at the back of his neck with a resounding clang and a matching one hooked itself around Madoka's wrist.

The chain rattled even as it floated in a fainly glowing arch between them.

The wound upon Madoka's arm was already starting to heal.

"... It's done. You're my Eve now." Maru said and finally looked up at he girl. "And I am Maru."

She's definitely a little nervous about the whole biting deal. But as he comes closer and kneels down, Madoka is trying really hard to not look as nervous as she's feeling. She doesn't want him to have to feel bad about doing this, after all.. Not when she's the one asking Maru for it to begin with.

But he's the one agreeing to it. And being so surprisingly gentle with her. The bite does sting, and although she's trying to react as little as possible, a girl like Madoka just can't help but wince a little when she feels the teeth sink into her skin. Thankfully it's over soon enough, and when it is, the girl is very much distracted by the chain suddenly forming between them.

At least Madoka has seen enough magic to know it's more a magical than a very literal chain, but its presence does make the fact that they're really doing this firmly settle into her mind. It feels a little bad to see the chain locked to his neck like that - if she had a choice, she would have gone for some more gentle imagery rather than something that really seems to reduce him to a servant with its look - but at the very least it's a symbol of their new connection.

When Maru starts to speak to her, Madoka just looks back at him. For a moment or two she almost seems dazed as the thoughts are hitting her all at once. They really made a contract. He's really nice enough to have agreed to help her out. To let her be his Eve out of all possible people on the train.

She's hardly even noticed that her arm is healing already. She's not paying attention to it right now - all of it seems to be aimed at him instead.

And after a moment, perhaps even without really thinking, Madoka suddenly moves. Just a little bit though. Just enough to wrap her arms around him (while trying to not get the chain in the way) and hug him.

"Thank you.. Really."

Maybe some people would think it's too early to hug someone the day you meet them, but.. seriously, they made a contract he literally had to bite her for and now they are also quite literally connected, what's a hug in comparison? How else is she supposed to show him the full extent of her appreciation and gratitude?

"This means so much to me.."

Maru was not used to being hugged. At all. He could count on one hand the amount of times he'd been hugged in his very long life, and still have fingers left over. So when small arms went around his neck, Maru wasn't sure what to do. He just remained there, kneeling and looking a bit surprised.

It took him a handful of seconds before he awkwardly moved a hand to even more awkwardly rest it upon the girls back. Maybe she would be able to teach him how to hug as well?

"You're so strange..." Maru mumbled, looking down at pink hair. "... Actually wanting to fight with a vampire... But if it's strength you want. When you're ready. I can give you a weapon, too..."

It's funny. Madoka is usually so shy, especially around strangers, yet there seems to be so very little awkward feelings about the hug on her side. Even though she only met him today, and has only seen him in human form and heard him actually speak tonight. The hug feels weirdly comfortable all the same, even with only one hand of his on her back. She wonders if it's because of their new connection or something else. (It's definitely due to her being a little bolder for once and showing some of her inner strength, but there's no way Madoka could credit herself for that.)

She stays like that for a few moments until he starts speaking up. It's the part about the weapon that makes her pull back a little before slowly fully releasing him. Apparently being called strange by him doesn't bother her, since Madoka doesn't mention a thing about it.

Instead she blinks up at him with big eyes.

"How can you give me a weapon?"

These hoodies may be pretty comfy and wide, but there's no way he can hide some hidden arsenal in it.

When she pulled back, Maru almost regretted speaking, though he remembered Mahiru's reaction to him having not known. If he didn't tell her when she wanted strength, would he be unhappy with him? He didn't want that. So he thought he should say something.

"It's... uh... you see..." Maru sighed. It was easier just to show her.

"Is it something you'd want?" He asked quietly, not quite meeting her eyes. "... Showing you would explain it better."

ic inbox/side-interactions for voidtreckerexpress

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject