[ he rubs at his forehead. it's all he ever wants, to bring peace, however he can. ]
Stupid and stubborn. Lost. [ just another failure on his part. ] But his redemption was not fast enough, and so I'm sure someone deemed him an acceptable loss in search of knowledge from an apple.
[ she sits down next to him and shifts her hand so it's holding his. ]
It's not your fault. It lies in the reason behind the motive. If it's the temptation of the apple, then it's because that someone could not resist.
How fast or slow any changes were... his redemption should not be dependent on you. His loss is tragic, but we can at least hope to find some peace for him, right?
[ he can't even really muster too much emotion about this. what's one more loss, especially for someone who barely even wanted his help anyway? for someone he only knew a week.
his hand is a little limp in her own today, but he doesn't pull away. ]
If anything, I will be searching for it. [ ... ] And I don't expect the others to find the truth for him. I know he was not well-liked.
... We can do the best that we can for both of them.
[ this emotional processing is so concerning. she can't read his emotions, but the limpness in her hand remains worrying. her heart grows a little heavy.
his observation and his awareness are some of things she likes most about him, but she can't help but feel sad hearing his words. she can't refute him. she knows he isn't wrong. where he feels empty, she tries to hold on, tightening her grip on his hand. ]
He was lucky to have you. I saw how he responded to you, and I think deep down, he knew that, too, even if he would have never acknowledged it.
We will do the best for the both of them. [ she echoes, confirming. ] It will be difficult.
[ this is why i was like does emotional competence require it to be healthy earlier in charts
he exhales slowly. takes in her words, mulling them over. ]
A long time ago, when I was assigned as General Feixiao's personal healer, she brought home a boy who refused to speak. [ he says, after a moment. ] Moze, his name was. His first instinct was violence. He bit people who got too close, and often, if there was a knife in the area, you could be sure he'd try to kill Feixiao with it.
But she and I took care of him. He had a place, with us. And now, he is a good man. He does good work for the Alliance, and he is Feixiao's left hand, as I am her right. All it took was patience.
[ he's got experience with feral animals. ]
Brimstone would have taken work. But I am proud of him for the steps he managed to take, regardless.
[ competency and healthiness do not need to be mutually exclusive, but boy does it help if it is.
she listens to him patiently, and there is warmth to her smile while she listens. it is clear how good he and feixiao are, with how much they try. ]
You and Feixiao both have a healing touch. Sometimes, all someone needs is time... and for someone to show them that they will be given that time. You both held out your hands, and he eventually took them.
[ it's sweet. ]
I know you would have gotten through to him, had we the time.
[ it hurts to hear him say it, but she accepts it, to a point. she can understand it.
she's quiet for a moment. ]
All I had was time, but I think my time is different than most of you imagine. [ ... ] It is true I've existed for thousands of years, but... it was mostly an unchanging thousands of years.
Your years have the potential to change even if it all blends together.
[ once is something, more than nothing. she will take it for now. ]
Of course. For you, I'd be happy to. I'm pretty sure it won't be quite what you expect, but if you could find out my entire story... I'd be even happier.
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no subject
[ for all he hides, she can see how much he seeks to help. to heal. in this way, he reminds her of someone, but she knows his pains are his own. ]
He would lash out at any chance and show off how horrible he thought he was, but he deserved a second chance all the same.
no subject
Stupid and stubborn. Lost. [ just another failure on his part. ] But his redemption was not fast enough, and so I'm sure someone deemed him an acceptable loss in search of knowledge from an apple.
no subject
It's not your fault. It lies in the reason behind the motive. If it's the temptation of the apple, then it's because that someone could not resist.
How fast or slow any changes were... his redemption should not be dependent on you. His loss is tragic, but we can at least hope to find some peace for him, right?
no subject
his hand is a little limp in her own today, but he doesn't pull away. ]
If anything, I will be searching for it. [ ... ] And I don't expect the others to find the truth for him. I know he was not well-liked.
... We can do the best that we can for both of them.
no subject
his observation and his awareness are some of things she likes most about him, but she can't help but feel sad hearing his words. she can't refute him. she knows he isn't wrong. where he feels empty, she tries to hold on, tightening her grip on his hand. ]
He was lucky to have you. I saw how he responded to you, and I think deep down, he knew that, too, even if he would have never acknowledged it.
We will do the best for the both of them. [ she echoes, confirming. ] It will be difficult.
no subject
he exhales slowly. takes in her words, mulling them over. ]
A long time ago, when I was assigned as General Feixiao's personal healer, she brought home a boy who refused to speak. [ he says, after a moment. ] Moze, his name was. His first instinct was violence. He bit people who got too close, and often, if there was a knife in the area, you could be sure he'd try to kill Feixiao with it.
But she and I took care of him. He had a place, with us. And now, he is a good man. He does good work for the Alliance, and he is Feixiao's left hand, as I am her right. All it took was patience.
[ he's got experience with feral animals. ]
Brimstone would have taken work. But I am proud of him for the steps he managed to take, regardless.
no subject
she listens to him patiently, and there is warmth to her smile while she listens. it is clear how good he and feixiao are, with how much they try. ]
You and Feixiao both have a healing touch. Sometimes, all someone needs is time... and for someone to show them that they will be given that time. You both held out your hands, and he eventually took them.
[ it's sweet. ]
I know you would have gotten through to him, had we the time.
[ even if saying that now may not do anything. ]
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I think that I am very tired of having time, Ellie.
[ a beat. ]
Which I am aware is insensitive to say to someone like you.
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she's quiet for a moment. ]
All I had was time, but I think my time is different than most of you imagine. [ ... ] It is true I've existed for thousands of years, but... it was mostly an unchanging thousands of years.
Your years have the potential to change even if it all blends together.
[ she takes a small breath. ]
Would anything make you less tired?
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I suppose I'd have to find it, to know. [ he shifts, and very gently pets her hand with his thumb, just once. ]
Will you tell me about those years you experienced, sometime? I'd like to hear them.
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Of course. For you, I'd be happy to. I'm pretty sure it won't be quite what you expect, but if you could find out my entire story... I'd be even happier.
no subject
[ a little half-smile. ]
Thank you, as always.
no subject
I'm thankful to have you here, too. Always.