xp_logs | Cecilia and Paul

Trouble in paradise. Later in the day, after Cecilia returns from Harry's to find this comment from Paul waiting for her. She reacts about as well as one can expect when he comes looking for her.

Paul wasn't going to apologize when he went to see Cecilia. Or, no, he was going to say he was sorry if he sounded harsh. Yes. That was true. He wasn't going to say he was wrong, because in his experience, he wasn't. Besides, if she was angry at him, she should get to yell at him and he was fairly experienced in being yelled at. He knocked on her door and waited for a response.

There was a pause before the door opened a crack, just enough for someone to peek outside and see who it was. Apparently, they were not happy with what they saw. "Go away," Cecilia snarled, wasting little time before trying to shut the door in his face.

Paul put his hand in the way, stopping her easily. "You sure you wouldn't rather yell at me or something? It's better for your health," he pointed out, unoffended by her irritation. "May I at least apologize for apparently being unfair to you?"

"For apparently being unfair?" Cecilia echoed disbelievingly, all the while shoving futiley at the door. Damnit, why couldn't she spontaneously manifest super strength, just for a second? "Apparently?!" Rather than tire herself out with the door, she abandoned it and spun on her heel, quickly stalking her way towards the door to her own room.

"Yes, apparently." Paul followed her in and closed the door behind him as she hadn't said no. "Unless you're assuming I was being unfair to you on purpose even though you've been a good friend."

"Well, at least one of us has," Cecilia snapped, shooting a venomous look over her shoulder. "I'm sorry I'm not used to this shit like some people are, Paul, and kindly get the hell out of my suite! I'm done being mocked for my grip on reality today!"

"When did I mock you?" Paul crossed his arms over his chest and quirked an eyebrow at her. "I wasn't mocking you at any point, Cecilia, I was trying to talk to you. I am sorry that what I said to you seemed unfair or harsh. It's what I've experienced." He shrugged. "I think it is not in the nature of a friend to say what is easiest said, it is to say what is not easy but as true as one can see it. I'll leave you to whatever you're doing."

"What you've experienced! I am not a fucking superhero, Paul!" Oh, she wanted something to throw, but she knew whatever she did throw would probably break upon contacting Paul's skull, so it seemed like a waste of time. And more expensive than it was worth. "You weren't the only one talking, but you sure as hell were the only one who insulted my capabilities as a doctor! You know that's all I have! OUT!"

Paul shook his head and walked to the door. He opened the door and turned to look at her. "Why is this so hard for you, Cecilia? I don't remember it being this hard. I don't like to see you suffer like this. I don't understand it. I see it but I don't understand and I don't know what to say. If I knew the right thing to say to you, I'd say it."

"I'm not you!" Cecilia shouted, giving up and quickly looking around for something she could throw. Damnit, there had to be something. "The people in this house are not all exactly like you! Your standards are not my standards, so stop acting like they apply to me!"

"Then tell me what does apply to you, Cecilia. I came to apologize because I said the truth as I've seen it and it was the wrong thing to say. Tell me what to say to make it easier on you. I'm trying to stop doing it wrong. And don't throw that mug, you like it," he warned her. "Get a plate or something, they come in sets."

Cecilia paused with her arm pulled back, fully prepared to throw whatever she'd managed to get her hands on, and cast a quick look at it. Oh. She did like that mug. "First, you can stop insulting my ability to do the only thing I'm alive to do, possibly," she suggested snidely, gingerly returning the mug to its place on the counter. "Then you can leave me alone. How about that?"

"I didn't say you were bad at it, Cecilia," Paul pointed out. "You can be an utterly brilliant physician, and I think you will be. I don't think it's some kind of coincidence that you and one of the most gifted healers I've ever met both have had this terrible struggle with accepting this kind of strangeness in the world. I will leave you alone if that's what you want. I am sorry that I'm lousy at this kind of thing and that I made things worse for you."

"I've been asking you to leave since you showed up at the door, Paul," Cecilia pointed out, shooting another unhappy glare in his direction. "I'm sorry if you think that not instantly accepting leprechauns, dragons and unicorns is going to result in me getting someone killed, Paul. Now get out."

"I didn't say that either, Cecilia. I wish you'd stop trying to turn everything into a personal insult. I'm going now." Paul shrugged. "And Cecilia? Don't keep telling me I'm human. It really bothers me."