( video, un: lavieenrose )

[affectueux]

[ maybe it’s insanity. more likely, it’s the combination of the sanguis cycle and his upcoming birthday making him restless and impulsive. he can usually tamp down those urges when things are normal, but he also can’t recall a moment when things have ever been normal in lunatia.

maybe that’s a contributing factor, too. either way, here’s a video of serge—like the cycles before, he’s got little bear features. paws included, even if his hands are off-screen. ]

Er, bonjour. My name is Serge… I’ve cleaned many of your tables at Salon de Marie. [ it gets harder when he’s a bear, but that’s neither here nor there. ] My birthday will be coming up soon, and I—it—

[ he frowns, searching for the words. he should have planned this better, but again. the haste. ]

In my world, I’m set to inherit my family’s estate on my 18th birthday. I’ll be expected to get married and carry on the family name, as I’m the only child of my late father. [ he realizes something, and holds up a hand in brief fluster. ] I’m not saying this to brag! It’s relevant, I promise. I bring it up because there’s—a person. Someone I love. Someone I can neither marry nor produce a child with.

…this is quite heavy, isn’t it? I’ll try to get to the point. When your heart is in conflict with both duty and the expectations of society, what are you supposed to do? What can you do?

Merci, everyone. For your attention.

Comments

[wearingguess]

Why?
It doesn't seem as though I really managed to help...

[affectueux]

Not about… this, though it’s nice to talk. I’m just grateful that you’re still willing to speak to me after our, um, prior conversation.

[arrowroot]

It's a pain.

[She has more than just Rurik, after all. The Ackermann family is fairly large.]

But... I love them. Even Auguste, who I'm fairly certain would throw me under a caravan just as much as save me from one.

[perspicaciously]

[ Ozpin gives him reassuring smile back. ]

You may call me Ozpin.

[koboreta]

Really, I'd be happy to. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't mind playing a real piano again either... But I'd be even happier to hear you play.

[That isn't too much to ask, is it? Sougo can't help but laugh somewhat fondly under his breath, both at Serge slipping back to his naming conventions so quickly and simply because he's so elated about sharing music with someone.]

In that case, how about I look into it and let you know when I figure something out?

[affectueux]

[ there’s something briefly scared, maybe, in serge’s expression when she mentions the name auguste, but there’s no way it’s the same person. she’s from somewhere else entirely. ]

Aha… isn’t that how siblings often go? My friend Pascal has a large family, and they seem to bicker every time they’re together, but there’s no one I know who loves each other more.

[baitless]

I pray you will find a solution that will allow the both of you to be happy, whatever it may be. I wish I could give you something more concrete, but it's difficult given our circumstances here.

[arrowroot]

It is. I think he takes it a bit too far sometimes, but he loves us. It does surprise me, though. Rurik and I aren't biologically Ackermanns. We're adopted.

[affectueux]

[ sougo is so nice. serge has met plenty of nice people here, but a part of him never expects to be on the receiving end of kindness from strangers—maybe that’s his own upbringing. ]

Y… yes, please.

[ serge really needs to practice, if he’s going to be able to appropriately thank sougo for the opportunity. ]

I can’t thank you enough.

[affectueux]

It would be difficult even if you were standing next to me in my own world, I’m afraid. That is the depth of this complexity.

[wearingguess]

Oh.

Well...
You know, I would not normally ignore a post like this one. It seemed rather ungracious to do so this time merely because of something that was not actually under your control...
I was worried at first that it had been a mistake, but I am glad to hear it wasn't.

[koboreta]

Really, it's my pleasure. I'm looking forward to it.

[Serge wouldn't know it, but that buoyant sort of brightness to Sougo's voice means that he's awfully excited - far more than he's verbally letting on.]

I'll talk to you then.

[affectueux]

[ ah, he’s kind… ]

Non. It’s no mistake at all. It’s nice to properly meet you, though I have to admit that I wish this weren’t the topic…

[wearingguess]

Then shall we switch to a different one? Unless you are not quite in the right mood to be distracted...