[ The question makes him look away again, exasperated. It can't be that simple. She can't just... want to know the answer to that. Howl doesn't understand why anyone would, much less why Ciel would care.
After a moment of quiet frustration, he meets her gaze again with a subtle defiance on his eyes. Howl reaches out with both hands to grab one of Ciel's wrists and bring her palm flat against his chest. Her fingers overlap with the smooth dome of his Shard beneath his shirt, but that isn't what he's trying to show her. It's the stillness in the center of his chest that he wants her to understand and digest. Maybe she'd already noticed when healing Howl that he lacks a pulse, whether in full health or on the verge of death, but this should confirm it beyond any doubt. There's no rhythm under her fingers at all; the center of his torso is as still as a corpse's. ]
What a pointless question. We're Kenoma, aren't we?
[ Howl gazes at her with empty, blank neutrality. At the same time, the answer — or, really, the distinct lack thereof — is right there for her to grasp for herself. She need only take a logical step or two. In that same moment, a familiar feeling will enter Ciel's mind... distinctly similar to the hopelessness she's felt in the past when speaking to Xishen. ]
no subject
After a moment of quiet frustration, he meets her gaze again with a subtle defiance on his eyes. Howl reaches out with both hands to grab one of Ciel's wrists and bring her palm flat against his chest. Her fingers overlap with the smooth dome of his Shard beneath his shirt, but that isn't what he's trying to show her. It's the stillness in the center of his chest that he wants her to understand and digest. Maybe she'd already noticed when healing Howl that he lacks a pulse, whether in full health or on the verge of death, but this should confirm it beyond any doubt. There's no rhythm under her fingers at all; the center of his torso is as still as a corpse's. ]
What a pointless question. We're Kenoma, aren't we?
[ Howl gazes at her with empty, blank neutrality. At the same time, the answer — or, really, the distinct lack thereof — is right there for her to grasp for herself. She need only take a logical step or two. In that same moment, a familiar feeling will enter Ciel's mind... distinctly similar to the hopelessness she's felt in the past when speaking to Xishen. ]