heaven / shadowheart

[midway]

Comments

[midway]

[ They're genuine pals together.

He'll look over at her from where he was staring at the water. ]

The deaths? Or our trying to solve them?

[sacredpath]

Elysia dying for the sake of whatever that pathetic man's goals are.

[though she doesn't really care what they are, or to know them. she just knows she's angry that elysia is dead and they know nothing about whoever corndogged zhongli and it's all horrible.]

[midway]

[ He doesn't have that same level of anger. He never had, even since he was a kid schooling himself not to respond to his bullies.

He wishes he did though, so she wasn't alone in it. ]

... She wrote sweet things about him too. She truly did deserve more kindness than what she got.

[sacredpath]

[more than anything, she's sad, but she hasn't let herself feel purely sad about something in a very long time, either.

but what elysia wrote really touched her.]

I don't know why it always surprises me. Kind people die every day.

[midway]

There's nothing wrong with expecting not terrible things to happen.

[ He'll be sad until she joins him, voice a little rough. ]

And you said yourself it hurts more when it's someone you know and care about. And someone who knows you... That's a precious commodity.

[sacredpath]

It is.

[sliding into sadness a little, then.]

I just... wanted to believe in the sort of world she believed in. She made things seem possible that I fear simply aren't.

[midway]

Like what? Happy endings?

[ He can imagine there was a lot. ]

[sacredpath]

Something like that.

[some sort of broad notion of a much kinder world.]

[midway]

[ Quiet a moment. ]

I think she was right for believing in it. And I doubt she'd want you to stop believing either.

It might seem naive, but it takes a lot of resolve to keep believing in better.

[sacredpath]

[she's a little startled by the fact that he seems to mean that.]

And here I thought you were a cynic. I should have known better.

[a secret idealist this whole time... all the clues add up.]

I'd like to, but I don't know how much of that resolve I have in me.

[midway]

[ He's still a protagonist... And extremely future oriented.

He'll smile a little. ]

I might not be a cynic, but I am spiteful. I just don't want to let all of this have the satisfaction of breaking me.

[ Since they are leaning together, gently nudges. ]

And I guess I can channel Elysia to try and support you. [ Still sad. ] This heartache... will stay, but it isn't the end.

[sacredpath]

You aren't as pretty, so it probably won't have the same impact.

[sorry it was getting just a little too chummy in here.]

Still, I might try to believe you. We'll see. There's something compelling in the notion of finding hope and optimism via spite.

[midway]

[ OKAY He grimaces comically. ]

Ouch... But I thought it might work for you. I think we're similar in a lot of ways.

[sacredpath]

I suspect we are.

[which is why she knew he wouldn't begrudge her deciding to tease him when he was saying something very nice.]

I'll give it a try. I will.

[midway]

[ She's right. ]

I hope you do. [ For now though, he'll let his head hang. ] But I don't mind stewing in misery for tonight.

[sacredpath]

[...]

Do you know, I've been told to be suspicious of you. I just thought you ought to know. [if he has any corn dog crimes he'd like to get off his chest.]

[midway]

[ He looks momentarily surprised before shifting to thoughtful. ]

Being suspicious of a suspicious person makes a lot of sense. [ ... ] So are you?

[sacredpath]

Not really. You aren't acting differently than you usually do. I hope that's how it actually works, but... I don't know.

[she really can't just see anything in him that doesn't feel right.]

[midway]

I guess, maybe. It does seem like when confronted, they start to react strangely.

[ But he doesn't know about trial mechanics. ]

... But I will say this. I wouldn't trust me either. If I did do something, then I'd keep it hidden, no matter what.

[sacredpath]

[that doesn't sound right to her, and it takes her a second to find the reason why.]

No. I do trust you. The fact that it's possible for any of us to be affected, the fact that it can't be ruled out, doesn't change that.

[even if he did do something, it doesn't mean her trust in him was misplaced.]

[midway]

[ Oh. Well, he's completely taken aback by that, because she doesn't strike him as the type to put her faith in people easily, and he knows that he's not easy to trust, so he's kind of oscillating between deeply touched and slightly afraid. ]

I... Thank you.

[ Oh no. He doesn't know how to react, so he just looks away. ]

That means a lot to me.

[sacredpath]

[revenge, for the times he caught her by surprise. she's not the type to put her faith in people easily, but she feels right about this.]

Don't be too touched. If you came after me in the night, I'd still kill you first.

[naturally.]

[midway]

[ That makes him laugh. ]

I wouldn't expect anything less. It's actually kind of you to spare me the horror of getting your blood on my hands.

[sacredpath]

It would be a horror, would it?

[she did watch him kill his own brother. but she thinks she understands.]

I don't like the notion of having choices taken from me. I've been robbed of far too many already.

[midway]

You're right about that.

[ And just to inject some positivity into this conversation. ]

Are you looking forward to anything in particular, on your new path?