At Home In Santiago

[Selina Taylor]

    Selina found herself completely speechless. Honestly, she could refute him and keep on insisting, but the way he said it just left her without words. Cruelty, abuse, and the harsh realities were what she knew how to respond to. Anger was familiar and comforting friend to her that she could easily access and without the need for that constant aggression, she had no idea what to do. Genuine kindness wasn't something she knew how to deal with. Seiji completely baffled her. But I don’t deserve this Seiji, she wanted to reply, but she couldn’t force the words to leave her.



    Selina blinked as he dared her to be cruel. She studied him briefly and said the first thing that popped into her mind, “I’ve killed a man, Seiji,” she admitted. She couldn’t force herself to actually cut into him. She just couldn’t, so instead she told him what she thought would scare him away. “I don’t regret it either,” she told him honestly. “I’m not sweet or gentle,” she repeated, unsure of what else it was that she could say. All she knew was that she couldn’t take him up on his dare. Was she a coward then? Perhaps, but she just couldn’t force herself to be cruel to Seiji.



    Selina almost felt tears come to her eyes when he claimed that he would accept her regardless, but she blinked them back easily enough. Hiding her emotions was always simple enough when it came down to it. Instead she just looked at him and shook her head, “But what if I end up really hurting you? I can get angry and emotional, even irrationally so sometimes. I lash out, and overreact even for minor things that shouldn't matter, and the consequences aren’t pretty,” she tried. Why was she being so damn honest? Because he’d said it was ok, and because she'd believed him when he’d said it. “I… have so many issues Seiji. I break down and it’s ugly. There’s so much hatred and anger within me Seiji, and I’ve got a good enough rein on it most of the time, but I’m afraid I might end up losing control and harming you.”

[Seiji Lockard]

He could see that she still didn't really know how to handle all of this and wondered if he should back off. he didn't want to upset her but he didn't want her sitting there thinking that she had be one way around him when that way might not have made her feel like herself or comfortable. He wanted her to be happy, to feel that it was okay to trust someone, and that was in part why he was doing all of this. Then she came out and said something that for a moment he was not sure was true. Then again, the way she said it, and how sure she was of it didn't seem like she would say such a thing just to get him upset with her.

Not like such news would have gotten him upset in the first place since he was already thinking there was a logical explanation for it. "Did her deserve to die?" Seiji could not help but to ask. Was it wrong that even with the way he viewed people he did think some deserved to die. He could not help but to think this man she killed must have done something to her for her to do such a thing or it could have been an accident. He just could not picture her killing someone for the sport of it. "You are to me." He pointed out when she said that she was not sweet and gentle, but she was kind to him.

She talked to him, didn't ignore him, and didn't mind how sort of an odd ball he was. That alone made him feel that she really was a good person with just some bad luck and things that happened to her that caused her to be this way. That was the logical conclusion behind it all and that was why he refused to believe that she was some kind of monster as she seemed to be so certain of. "That’s okay. You are a human being, you are expected to have emotions and not have every day be rainbows and sunshine. That is why you need friends. People who you can let out all that pain with and are able to be yourself without any fear of what will happen." Seiji assured her as he could not help but to open his arms up, inviting her into a hug if she would take it.

"I have been bullied and ignored for so many years of my life and I have a high pain tolerance. I'm certain I can take whatever you dish out to me. It might hurt physically or emotionally, but it will make me stronger." Seiji assured her, giving a nod with his words. "So long as you don't hurt my snakes, I'm not worried." Seiji added, still smiling and tried to go a little humor with that since he highly doubted she would do such a thing. He was still serious about it, but still.

[Selina Taylor]

    Selina was slightly surprised at his question. She hadn't thought that Seiji would ever ask such a thing, but she found herself nodding, her expression completely serious, "He did," she replied simply. "And so much more painfully than the death I managed to give him," she added with a wry grimace. She wasn't sure why, but for some reason telling someone that, of her own accord was... almost freeing. She'd been carrying around the burdens of her past for so long, that it felt good for someone to finally know. When he rebutted with her kindness to him she couldn't help a small smile, "You're good to me as well," she replied quietly. "Probably too good," she admitted, but she knew he would likely disagree.

    Selina looked up at him and listened. She... couldn't refute a damn word of what he said. Selina stared at him, pausing as he opened his arms to her, unsure if she should do this or not. Slowly she unbuckled her seat belt and stood to embrace him. It felt so strange, being able to hug someone without there being some sensual reason underneath it all... but it felt good too. She was so tired of being used. Sure, she was using others in turn and she purposefully kept her relationships shallow so she wouldn't have to deal with the pain of betrayal and loss, but for some reason, with Seiji, she didn't fear that. Maybe she was opening herself up to be cut open and stepped on, but right now, it felt too good to not believe that this was real. She actually believed Seiji, and she wasn't doubting her decision this time. 

    Selina listened to him as h talked about his past and realized that perhaps why she could believe him was because he could genuinely understand on some level. As he mentioned hurting his snakes though, Selina smiled, "I can promise you that I won't," she replied honestly. She would never dream of it. "And Seiji, I also... will try my best to be able to be there for you if you ever need to dish out anything of your own," she offered in turn. "I have a high pain tolerance as well," she then added with a small laugh, "And I want to be able to give you something in return," she finished honestly.

[Seiji Lockard]

He did. That was all Seiji needed to know. The rest of what Selina on the matter just showed that the guy had to have done something to her to deserve it. he must have hurt and perhaps was the reason why she felt the need to be so guarded and unsure what it felt like to actually trust someone outside of just sex. He didn't know and he didn't want to pry too much into her personal life. "Then I can't hate you for doing what you had to do. Some people in this world do deserve to die. Especially those who have done a great deal of bad things to others and show no room for change." Seiji pointed out.

"You deserve it. Let me at least spoil you a little bit, I promise I won't do this sort of big thing all the time." Seiji said, chuckling a little. He had a lot of money but he was not going to just go tossing it around. He would do this for her now and then small things from time to time to still allow her to feel important and know that he did care. He didn't think that he was being too good to her, just being himself with her and treating her a little bit special because he could tell that there were a lot of walls up around her. He waited, not wanting to force the physical contact, but felt like she needed it and she took it.

He hugged her tight, wrapping his arms around her and ensuring to get his feelings across of wanting to make her happy. He even moved to give her a kiss on her forehead, being able to do so with ease do to his height and a kiss on the forehead was innocent in his books. "I know, that is why I said I could never hate you." Seiji responded back, chuckling and watching Akiko even get in on the action by waking up just to nuzzle Selina under her chin again. He looked at her when she spoke of wanting to be her best for him and how she would work on it and how he could talk to her. Yet again proof that she was actually kind deep down and just needed the chance for that side of her to come out.

"All I need is for you to smile and be open with me. That will make me the happiest and feel like you just gave me a million bucks." Seiji assured her. There was a moment of turbulence that caused him to sort of stumble forward. Managing to catch him on her chair and also hold her from falling. He was pleased by his height coming into play here. "We should probably sit back down now." Seiji pointed out, chuckling at them almost falling as he let her go.

[Selina Taylor]

Selina looked up at him and just nodded, "Yeah, I don't think he was planning on changing anytime soon," she admitted, her tone slightly bitter. He didn't judge her for it. He didn't judge her for her hatred either, which had made itself relatively evident in her second statement. He just seemed to be able to accept it... to accept her. Selina felt the walls that hadn't yet crumbled soften and she just took it in in slight shock.   

Selina looked up at him and a small smile crossed her features as she nodded, "Thank you Seiji. For everything," she replied. She would repay him in her own way. She knew he wouldn't ask, but she would still try. Selina didn't even want to do it out of a sense of having to repay a debt anymore, but merely because she wanted to something good for a friend. And yes, she most definitely considered him a friend.  

Selina hugged him in return, almost surprised when he kissed her forehead but closing her eyes as he did. The emotions running through making her voice a bit thicker than normal even as she smiled at his response, "Well then, I suppose I'll just have to live with that," she teased as she gently ran a finger over Akiko's scales. Selina smiled up at him as he claimed that was all he needed, unable to help herself. He was just so sweet and sincere and... she just loved him for it.   


Selina then literally fell into his arms as there was turbulence and smiled lightly... a kiss for a kiss seemed fair didn't it? Before he could truly let he go and make his way back to his seat, Selina stood up on her tip toes and placed a kiss on his lips, "Sincerely Seiji, thank you," she murmured as she held onto him. If there was more turbulence, she was ready and could easily maintain balance for the both of them.

[Seiji Lockard]

Seiji nodded when she added a bit more detail, yet again making it very clear that this person had hurt her. Seiji was curious as to know what had happened but he had already gotten her to open up a lot to him already and didn’t' want to push he too much. He would save it for another time or just wait until she was ready to talk about it. Such a thing to be holding onto had to be eating her alive and he wanted him to be able to let go of the burden all the way. Not yet, he knew he could not expect her to let it all just yet. She was still building trust for him and the worse thing he could do now was pressure for her to tell him everything, so he was not going to.

"You are most certainly welcome." Seiji responded, that friendly and warm smile still remaining on his face the whole time. He was happy that he had gotten this far with her and that she had opened up at least a bit. It was a step in the right direction and he would be able to use it as proof for her later to show that deep down she was a good person. He already thought of her as a friend the moment she started to dance with him, so the fact that she now viewed him as a friend made him pretty much over the moon happy. It felt nice to hug her and the kiss also had been nice to add that extra 'I'm here for you' feeling that he was trying to go for.

He nodded when she said that she was just going to have to live with it, and he hoped that she would. They still had a whole trip ahead of them but he could tell that it was going to go well. That she was going to enjoy herself, he was going to get to see a lot of things, and that she would just grow to trust him even more. That was his goal, so in a way she could have called him selfish. Selfish for wanting to make her smile, happy, and come to trust him no matter what. He managed to keep the two of them from falling and before he could probably stand the two of them up, there were lips against his own.

Instantly Seiji was super red and quickly standing up as he stood her up all the way too. Akiko was practically celebrating around Selina's neck now, wiggling around, and happy that she did not miss such an event. "Y-yeah, n-no problem. Make sure you buckle up and if you need anything feel free to let me know. I hope you enjoy the trip. Thank you for flying." Seiji said, almost sounding like a flight attended, just ten times faster as he stumbled back a little bit as she moved to quickly take his seat and buckled up.

[Selina Taylor]

    Selina was so grateful that he didn't push. She'd already told him more than she felt she probably should, but she didn't really fear him being a gossip who would go around talking about her behind her back. For some reason, she actually trusted that he would keep this between them. Selina didn't know why she was suddenly opening up to him like this, but it felt right. She didn't feel like she was going to have to defend herself from him, and that was something that she couldn't appreciate enough.  

    Selina just melted into his hug further. She had a real actual friend in this god forsaken school, and she wouldn't give that up for anything. She found her nerves slowly calming, and that she was starting to look forward to this trip for a whole different reason. Not only was going home, but she was also going to be able to get to know this man who seemed to be everything she'd never dared to hope for. It was partially just genuine happiness that had her leaning up to kiss him. She let out a small chuckle at how quickly he stood up and at just how red his features were. 

    Selina felt Akiko's joy against her skin and she couldn't help but smile at the snake's enthusiasm. When he started talking so fast she could barely understand him, she grinned, "It's alright Seiji, I promise not to do it again unless you really want me to," she offered sincerely, though there was a small smirk lifting the corner of her lips. "And I'll be sure to let you know if I need anything else," she promised, a definite sensual lilt in her tone. She just couldn't resist. She then sat down and calmly buckled herself into her seat, smiling for the rest of the plane ride. This trip would be fun indeed. 

[Seiji Lockard]

The trust that she placed in him was a good thing, because he was not going to break it no matter what. He figured everything she had told him was personal and thus would not share it with anyone even if someone tried to make him. He was good at holding a secrete and in fact the perfect person to tell your secretes too. Overall, he was just so happy that she had already given up so much to him and he could practically feel some of the eight on her shoulders being lifted. He had to keep at it, not all at once, but over time until he was certain that she would be okay in those times where she had to be alone and he could not be there to cheer her up.

Not like there would ever be a time when he could not cheer her up because he was fine being called up at any time of night if his friend needed him. It was what friends were for and if she needed him, he was certain she got the message across that she could depend on him. It felt nice to hug a girl like this, even if it was totally pure and innocent for Seiji; it was not like he didn't enjoy being close to a woman. They generally smelled really nice and had soft features so it was always a pleasant experience. However; the kiss had caused his mind to go to a not so pure and pure friendship place.

He was still a young man after all so it would have been unrealistic for him to not feel a little warmed by the display of affection. Especially since it didn't happen that often and when it did he always needed up...well acting like he just did. "I mean...it's your choice. Not like I don’t want you to but you know, I'm me and you are you." Seiji said, pretty certain that it didn't make any sense. He didn't know how to explain to people that he thought they could do a lot better than him. There was also the fact that he was a virgin and was really embarrassed by that for obvious reason at this point in his life.

There was that tone too. Okay, she was certainly messing with him again. It didn't make the blush go away but he smiled all the same. She was being herself again, having fun, and that was what he wanted. This trip really was going to be a fun one and he was looking forward to every aspect of it. Now he just needed to work on not getting so flustered by her words so he never creeped her out or anything along those lines.