already has an apology ready for whatever he's done this time...

speaking more generally than about a particular instance. But the fireworks outside of his office do stand out vividly in his memory. ]<

apologies for that too then, and whatever might have possessed Gilbert at that particular moment in time.

apologizes* _

had hoped that Ludwig had a bit more control over him, seeing as he is the only *useful* one of the two. He assumes that this will be

remedied in the future.

little to no control over him when he's out of the house. It's impossible to constantly keep tabs on someone who likes to disappear at-

random when he's working. He continues to hope common sense will eventually set in.

sighs. "Well it's a bit late for that, isn't it? By a few hundred years."

shrugs. "He...ah...he could just be a slow learner. I have yet to find any rational explanation for his behavior."

sets a mug of coffee down in front of him with what could almost be described as a haughty sniff. "Then he's just not 'rational' at all."

agrees with that to a certain extent. "Not entirely, no. But I don't think he is as shallow as he tries to come across."

sits down with a mug as well. "Then he's very good at hiding it. To my utmost chagrin, I may have believed that at one point."

snorts and picks the mug up. "Thank you. And...er...yes, he is. Extremely talented at it, actually."

makes an impatient gesture with his hand. "If that were true, it would be quite a waste of talent. Why bother."

looks down at his coffee, rolling the mug between his palms. It's a bit of a subject change but... "He hasn't apologized to you properly-

for that recent nonsense, has he?"

quiet for a moment as he takes a sip. "No. He did give me a bit of peace afterwards, but nothing more than that."

He doesn't specify that this peace was spurred by something else entirely.

looks up in surprise. "He actually left you alone?"

shrugs, realizing how unusual that sounds. "The intrusions were less frequent. He was probably just tired of bothering me for the moment."

tries his coffee just to be polite. "I see. That's strange. He seems to get more defensive about you as of late though."

doesn't exactly want to think about any possible meanings behind that. Or want Ludwig to, for that matter. "Really. I'm sure it's nothing."

looks at him carefully for a second longer then turns his attention back to his coffee. "I suppose not.It just seems odd, even for him..."

shrugs demurely and says a bit acidly, "Perhaps he's grown a conscience, although I find that doubtful."

shrugs. "Ost *has* a conscience but an excess of pride as well. He may not apologize, but I do not believe he doesn't feel guilty in some-

manner."

[[OH HI. WHOA. HI.]]

shakes his head. "Pride aside, it seems ridiculous. If he had a conscience, he would be perfectly capable of apologizing."