#<- a mix of both perhaps? I feel like he'd be upset that Simon didn't tell him this sooner but I don't think he'd actually *too* mad

[knightley-gambit]

[ *> He softened at the call of his name, everything he was feeling just a moment prior was nearly gone and instead replaced with some bitter emotion at learning of his role in the whole mess. Everything still hurt, but it was obvious Simon hurt as well. ]

”oh— right— in that car“

[ *> Horace sighed and looked down, it was more than that. ]

“I don’t know if you remember how many times i apologized when i tied you up, but i really didn’t want to do it”

“Yeah, you’re right, i was scared.”

[ *> he waved his hand around in a gesture. ]

“He threatened me over something. I don’t really remember what, just that I knew I had to do what he needed”

“it was something serious like that.”

[ *> he paused, there wasn’t a whole lot Horace remembered prior to the incident. nearly the whole thing was a blur aside from a few moments he’d kept for the entirety of his life. ]

“I think I was supposed to go back, home or to the studio. Can’t remember which.”

“But i—, I just couldn’t leave you there, you know?”

[ *> He turned to look at Simon, a guilty smile on his face. ]

“i really messed things up by listening, didn’t i?”

[ *> it was meant to be a jokey rhetorical question, but something in the way he said it. the wording or the tone, it told Simon that Horace would gladly accept the blame if it was pushed onto him. ]

[ *> Horace would rather Simon pin all the fault on him, hand it off to his decommissioned knight. all so that Simon wouldn’t have to live out the rest of his life with a weight on his shoulders, all so that he could live out a bit of long-sought peace. ]

{POST AAI2–BEFORE SIMEONS TRIAL/IN THE HOLDING CELLS [horace’s old cell in specific if you wanna go that way<3] also!! i typed a lot, you don’t need to match me, i wanted to set the scene a bit :] }

[ *> ‘krrshhh..’ ]

[ *> The wooden sound of a few blocks—no, pieces? rolled onto the floor just across the cell. ]

[ *> It sounded like somebody was tampering with something they shouldn’t have been, and had made a mess. ]

[ *> The pieces on the floor rolled around a bit. tumbling around. like somebody were trying to pick them up, yet was failing miserably in their task.. ]

[ *> Simeon was alone in his cell, wasn’t he? He should’ve been, and he was last time he had checked. ]

[ *> Even so, to maybe suggest otherwise, a faint teal glow emanated from the desk just across the cell where the pieces were still being shoved around and away from whatever what disturbing them. ]

— @knightley-gambit [ooooo spooky ghost horace, haunting simeon<33]

[also also, unsure if you got the notif or not but i did reply to that other thread we had going, if you didn’t wanna continue it then thats fine, disregard, i just can’t tell for my life <3]

((I DIDNT GET THE NOTIF MY BAD. AUGH.))

Simon looks up from where he was wallowing, snapping out of his daze.

Truthfully, he wouldn't have paid any attention at all if the situation were not so bizarre. He made no effort to talk to anyone at his new home other than Dogen, and even then he attempted not to embarrass himself by being too vulnerable. Being alone allowed him to process his life after he had been driven by fury, paranoia and mania. He could take things slow- and even then, it seems his heart would start to race once more. Life never truly stopped tormenting him, huh?

He slowly got up, using his experience to tiptoe without a peep. He was a child at the orphanage again, hearing some people talk about their wretched plans. Truthfully, he had never gotten rid of his overly-paranoid habits and he didn't plan to. Not now, especially not now. Everyone was out to get him in one way or another- including whoever this was.

Simon approached. Carefully, slowly, silently, until he could peek and see where this strange light was omitting from.

"...Who's there?"

[people-can-be-tamed]

"...Horace... why did you do it?"

Simon spoke up, fidgeting with the ends of his sleeves and looking up at the other. Between his voice and the expression on his face, he looked like he was a child again, a scrawny young boy with black hair and silly pigtails Horace put on him.

"Horace... I have a question."

"Huh? Yeah, Si?"

"Why do you stand up for me? You know I'd be too scared to fight for you."

"Well, when I grow up, I wanna be a knight! So I might as well get practice in."

"...Like a bodyguard?"

"Yeah! Your bodyguard."

"Hehe... I like that idea-"

"-Horace."

Simon snapped the other out of it, calling his name with a softness that hadn't truly been apparent for a long time until now.

"That day in the snow... why did you do it? Were you really going to tie me up just so you wouldn't get yelled at by your dad?"

He frowned, although it wasn't full of bitterness or frustration like before. Just confusion. This time, he would talk to him, rather than try to figure out things himself. He knew what happened last time he avoided communication.

"If... if that hadn't happened, I wouldn't have even tried to take revenge. Not just on you, but on everybody. So why? Were you scared, too?"

{POST AAI2–BEFORE SIMEONS TRIAL/IN THE HOLDING CELLS [horace’s old cell in specific if you wanna go that way<3] also!! i typed a lot, you don’t need to match me, i wanted to set the scene a bit :] }

[ *> ‘krrshhh..’ ]

[ *> The wooden sound of a few blocks—no, pieces? rolled onto the floor just across the cell. ]

[ *> It sounded like somebody was tampering with something they shouldn’t have been, and had made a mess. ]

[ *> The pieces on the floor rolled around a bit. tumbling around. like somebody were trying to pick them up, yet was failing miserably in their task.. ]

[ *> Simeon was alone in his cell, wasn’t he? He should’ve been, and he was last time he had checked. ]

[ *> Even so, to maybe suggest otherwise, a faint teal glow emanated from the desk just across the cell where the pieces were still being shoved around and away from whatever what disturbing them. ]

— @knightley-gambit [ooooo spooky ghost horace, haunting simeon<33]

[also also, unsure if you got the notif or not but i did reply to that other thread we had going, if you didn’t wanna continue it then thats fine, disregard, i just can’t tell for my life <3]

((I DIDNT GET THE NOTIF MY BAD. AUGH.))

Simon looks up from where he was wallowing, snapping out of his daze.

Truthfully, he wouldn't have paid any attention at all if the situation were not so bizarre. He made no effort to talk to anyone at his new home other than Dogen, and even then he attempted not to embarrass himself by being too vulnerable. Being alone allowed him to process his life after he had been driven by fury, paranoia and mania. He could take things slow- and even then, it seems his heart would start to race once more. Life never truly stopped tormenting him, huh?

He slowly got up, using his experience to tiptoe without a peep. He was a child at the orphanage again, hearing some people talk about their wretched plans. Truthfully, he had never gotten rid of his overly-paranoid habits and he didn't plan to. Not now, especially not now. Everyone was out to get him in one way or another- including whoever this was.

Simon approached. Carefully, slowly, silently, until he could peek and see where this strange light was omitting from.

"...Who's there?"