( she realizes, mid-stride, that perhaps she should have contacted prompto beforehand to let him now that she had returned to kirkwall. every since she left the group's company following their return from the anderfels, they have talked daily though it did little to help the pang of loneliness in her heart whenever she heard his voice. it made her realize that telling him that she missed him seemed like a horrible understatement...
but in the aftermath of the newest news from the negotiations, saoirse could not help but hurry her return back from starkhaven. it's later in the evening when she finally arrives back in the city, hurrying back into the gallows with a first intent of heading to bed but as she climbs the stairs of the former mage tower, she cannot help the detour she makes to a familiar door.
again, she probably should have sent a message ahead but finally summons up enough courage to knock and hope that he was still awake. )
[Prompto's not the... happiest of campers right now. Between the aftermath of that mission in the Anderfels, Saoirse being gone, and now all this phylactery nonsense, even the perpetual sunshine boy finds his rays a little dimmed. It's a lot for him to manage and still keep a smile.
The knock at the door has him lifting his head from his pillow. Noctis the cat sleeps undisturbed next to him, though he does wake up when Prompto rises, meowing his agitation. A bit sleepy and shirtless, Prompto hardly thinks twice about opening his door in his state of (un)dress.
The sight of her sends a shock through his system. That's - did she say she was coming back? How did he miss that?]
( if there is any surprise at his state then... it doesn't quite show on her face. saoirse just looks tired, so very tired between the news that came back from the negotiations and herian's own decision to seek tranquility. there was also the embers of the anderfels still burning somewhere deep in her heart, eating away and leaving her numb.
yet there is a warmth that she cannot hide when she sees him. holding back for a brief moment before she steps forward, arms wrapping around his shoulders as she pulls him into a hug. maker, she missed him. )
[He snaps out of his surprise when she pulls him close. Sweet Astrals, she's really here. Prompto manages a smile as he returns the hug, tightly. And it's then that he realizes he's standing out in the hallway with naught but some loose pants. So of course he's now blushing. Damn it. ]
I hope you weren't coming back for the weather. It's been pouring. [A weak joke before he pulls back. ] I'm glad you're back. Did you say...? If I forgot-
( she really doesn't want to stop hugging him but realizes that, perhaps, he might not be so comfortable standing out in the hall half-dressed so releases him from the hug with one final squeeze. )
For you, mostly. The weather is but a lesser concern. ( she admits with a tired smile. ) But I did not mention it. It was... rather spur of the moment, I must admit. I could not stay away when so much was happening.
Oh, phew. I thought I missed it somehow. Pretty sure that would net me the Worst Boyfriend Ever award.
[Or at least the most forgetful one.]
...here. Let's go inside. ["When so much was happening" hints at why she might have hurried her return. Prompto lets her inside before closing the door behind them both.]
( she laughs slightly, shaking her head. ) As if you would ever be deserving of such an award.
( following him inside, she pulls her hood down and takes a steady breath with a glance back over her shoulder to him. the question earns him a frown and a slow nod of her head. )
It was rather hard not to hear. I was already on my way back when it was announced, the... less than pleased conversations over the crystal simply had me hurry my return. Herian and I have already spoken on ways we can help. ( she paces slightly, wringing her hands. ) I cannot let them go through with such a horrid plan.
[Noctis lifts his head upon hearing a new voice. Normally a bit sullen and grouchy, he meows before getting up and hopping off the bed. Saoirse brings in the smells of outside and distinctly lacks his scent. Time to fix that by rubbing and winding between her legs, purring in a pleased manner.
Less than pleased sums it up pretty well. Prompto nods. The rifters made their objections known. He can't help but worry if that'll come to haunt them later. Back home, they had to be careful to make sure the empire didn't intercept communication. if the Inquisition was dead set on doing this, well...
Caution will be needed.]
It really helps to know there are natives on our side. But I don't want to see the mages lose what ground they gained.
( saoirse cannot help the smile that lights up across her features as noctis weaves between her legs, rubbing against the bottoms of her robes and purring happily. carefully, she bends down and offers a hand while her gaze fixes upwards on prompto.
she can simply never imagine what it must be like to be so very, very far away from home where most of the native population looked at you either as if you were a danger waiting to explode or a demon. she wants to do so very much for him but where to start? quietly, she sighs and reaches out to take noctis into her arms. )
I know words alone are of little help, ( she says, approaching and reaching out to hold his cheek in her hand. thumb carefully stroking and trying to offer some comfort. ) But know that I will not let them hurt you. I won't let them do to you what they did to me, I will fight it every step of the way.
[Noctis rubs against her hand eagerly, though he does make a slightly protesting noise as he's picked up. His namesake's royalty and he takes up the mantle well. But his indignity doesn't last long as he settles into her arms, purring and acting like this had been the plan from the start.
It's not easy, no. But Prompto spent many years as an outsider. It's not entirely unfamiliar to him, but he's not alone this time. A helpful balance to him being in a foreign world, if nothing else.
Prompto smiles, leaning into her hand. It worries him, the thought of her putting herself against the Inquisition for his sake. But he also knows he'd do the same for her.]
Let's hope it doesn't come to that. But thank you.
[There's little they can do at the moment but try and dissuade the notion as much as possible.
Besides, there's... other stuff they need to address.]
You do not need to thank me. I am just happy that you are here, I am happy that I was given the chance to know you and... ( again, she sighs but it comes with an easy smile. ) I want you to be happy too.
( still the question is a tough one. not that everything hasn't been tough to deal with, saoirse cannot help closing her eyes for a moment as if concentrating on the question before offering him a nod. )
He is well, very involved in his studies and reports but it was good to see him. I am doing better too. I think I needed the time away from this place, too many memories brought back to the surface but... it was a hard choice to make. I truly did not want to leave you.
[There's a bit of brightness in his eyes and expression as she says that. Ever since their nightmares, those moments that ripped them both open and exposed them, he's been worried. Saoirse leaving for Starkhaven compounded it. He hadn't said anything to her - he didn't want to hold her back - but it gnawed at him. But those words provide a measure of hope. Still, they're not in the clear.]
That's, um. That's great. I'm sure he was happy to see you. [He nods, understanding what she means.] Yeah, that was... pretty rough in there. Everyone was pretty quiet on the trip back. I totally get why you left.
[It's easy to just circle around it, rather than get to the underlying roots of the matter. Given the hour, they could reasonably push this off and wait another day. But he's not so sure they should. They're adults! In a relationship! Where communication is important! Aaaaand of course he's terrified but he knows it can't be avoided forever.
So he takes her hand and holds it in his, squeezing gently.]
I didn't want you to go, either. But I get it. A lot happened. And um, I think we both sort of needed space. A lot of stuff got... aired.
( it is so very easy to simply enjoy the things they can only see, talk about just the little things and pointedly ignoring what is lingering under their feet. it's easy and it's safe and—
saoirse can't help but squeeze her eyes shut again at the mention of stuff having been "aired" out. her heart is starting to race, drumming a melody in her chest and leaving this deep seated want to run again. )
... I was scared. ( she admits, staring at their hands and shakily squeezing back. ) I am not a good person, Prompto. She showed you that, reminded me of it. I'm a liar and a hypocrite with blood on my hands that I just... ignore. Whatever hurts, I ignore it. The sickening pain that chokes me every day inside these walls, my hesitation to continue fighting for what I believe in or how blind I've been to my own sister's suffering.
( it's like a dam breaking. these tiny little cracks have been growing, forming for some time and now it's breaking down. leaving her exposed and open and with no where left to go. )
But most of all I wanted to ignore this hurt too. I expressed how I truly felt, my real feelings and then to see such an ugly truth? I thought it too much to handle at times.
[A lot spills out from her. There's a lot to process, but what he's most concerned with at the moment is the way she shakes, trembling like a leaf ready to disintegrate. Words jumble around in his head, competing to come out first and clogging his throat in a mental logjam as he tries to figure out what to address first.
So he handles the physical first. Gently, he picks up Noctis and sets him on the floor. The cat's mildly annoyed; for once Prompto ignores him and instead pulls Saoirse into an embrace. Even if he messes up his words, he hopes the hug can provide some comfort.]
You're not a bad person. You're a good person who was put in a really bad situation. That sort of stuff doesn't always bring out the best in people, especially when you're just trying to survive. [Emotionally taxing moments sometimes bring out the worst in people. He's seen it happen among his own friends. As much as he disagreed with Gladio's attitude or worried about how depressed Noctis was, he knows those moments don't define them.] I don't know who that woman was, but it sounds like she did some awful things and you sort of... looked the other way? I'd have been clinging to someone - anyone - who was willing to protect me.
[Does it make it right? Not exactly. But it breaks his heart to hear Saoirse talk about herself that way (and oh, how similar it sounds to his own thoughts about himself).] You can't undo what she did and what you did or didn't do. But you've done a lot of good here and out in the world. And I think that, because you're beating yourself up over what happened back then, to me that's only something a good person does.
[He pauses as he thinks over "my own sister's suffering". Saoirse has no siblings, not by blood. Who - oh.]
...is Herian okay? [There's no one else he can think of. And that worries him, given what happened in the Anderfels. What did that damned demon do to her?]
I'm sorry she threw that all back in your face. You loved that woman and that... demon just hurled it all back at you. Tried to use it against you and bring you down. [Sorry Saoirse, your boyfriend's dumb and took the demon's twist on her words at face value.]
( her brows furrow as noctis is picked up from her arms, set aside on the floor and opens her mouth to ask but is truly silenced when she is pulled forward into an embrace. she breathes out a shakily breath of air before she shifts, moves to return the hug and bury her face against his shoulder. she has to steady herself and remember how to breathe before she simply broke down in his arms... )
I was so desperate to not find myself alone again that I became a coward. I couldn't stand the thought of it... of not having anyone at my side that I stood to the side and allowed such horrible things to occur. I could have done something, said anything but—
( she pulls back slightly, shaking her head. ) But I ignored that pain, I made myself blind to it. As I was blind to Herian's suffering that became so great she would request to be made tranquil.
( it's too much, her head is spinning but she laughs. breathless and tired as her gaze drops to the floor. everything else is falling down around her, so why not this too? )
... I was not talking about Carys then. When I spoke of my feelings to that demon it was of my feelings for you.
You didn't want to be alone while you were on the run for your life and had nowhere to go. I wouldn't either. [The thought of going back to being all alone and friendless was more than he could bear. Throw in being on the run and trying to survive?] Saoirse, I'm not saying you did nothing wrong. But you did something understandable. And you're not a bad person for it.
[His eyes widen a little as she continues.]
You serious? Why would she... [Holy shit. But that's... wow. Yeah, he's not even entirely sure what to say to that, other than hope she doesn't go through with it. And this right here isn't about Herian, as much as he's worried about her.] Herian doesn't strike me as the type to open up easily. Honestly, I can see her hiding that really well if she didn't want anyone to know. You're not a mind reader. What matters is that you know now, and I'm sure you're gonna do everything you can to help her. Have you talked to her about it?
[Astrals, he hopes he's saying the right things to help her. He wants to be a good boyfriend and help her out as much as possible, to be a pillar of support. So as she keeps talking, he starts nodding along... until she clarifies one little detail.]
[Him. She had been talking about him. His first instinct had been right; the demon swayed him from it and he'd gone along with it, helped by his own self-doubt.
The thought of it - that someone actually loves him - leaves him... breathless. Reeling. His stomach twists in knots, while his heart soars.
And... yeah, his brain kinda breaks for a moment, indicated by his wide-eyed, blank stare.]
[Finally his brain restarts and he blinks, becoming aware that he's been staring in shock for a moment too long for comfort. It's just... she loves him. It's the most wonderful feeling; he could almost cry. From joy... and from guilt.]
I have pleaded with her and been angry. I cried and cried, but...
( her mind seems so frayed at the edges, threatening to come apart and leave her with the mess of emotions left behind and exposed. not that she doesn't already feel like everything has been laid out on the table for him, for them, to see. saoirse feels as though she is at a loss, unsure how to go forward from here and left unable to even look up.
perhaps it's for the best. the silence hurts, almost and she can't imagine the look he might have on his face. she doesn't know if she can handle it and so her gaze stays down at the floor, nodding numbly when the question comes and chuckling breathlessly. )
Of course, I do. Really. ( said as if it was the most obvious answer in the world. in any world. the one ounce of confidence she has had in her voice since this talk began. )
[This... this clearly isn't easy on her. She won't look at him, and he still feels trembles coming from her. It heaps on more guilt on top of the mountain already inside him, but at least that little bit he can fix.]
Hey.
[He leans his head down, trying to meet her gaze. Or at least encourage her to look up. And there's a hand on her cheek, trying to guide her to look at him.]
I'm not mad. I'm far from it. I... thank you. [He almost grimaces, self-conscious of how lame that sounds. Lame, and completely short of the mark of what she deserves to hear back. But he knows the only thing worse is lying to her about it.] And about Herian... I don't think Cosima would let her. And even if she keeps saying she's gonna, well... we'll talk to her. Together. I'll help you do whatever it takes. [Now it's his turn to look away, down at the floor.] Least I can do, since I can't tell you what you deserve to hear. And it's all me. It's all on me and my stupid...
[Hang-ups. Inhibitions. Fear. Whatever term works best. But it's truly him, not her.]
( her own self-consciousness is beginning to rear its ugly features. although he ducks his head down, she has to stop herself from covering her face and squeezes her eyes shut, breathing shakily. somewhere, somehow that sickening scent of fire and ash and brimstone is lingering in the back of her mind and she prays that she does not hear carys' voice again. )
You do not have to thank me. ( it's nothing she deserves, she half says but chokes it back. holds it down. ) I wasn't ready... I— I'll tell you one day to your face not just let you hear secondhand from me yelling it at a demon. I'll actually say it but—
( she finally looks up, she's not sad nor crying but she just looks tired. ) But you saw what happened to Carys. I couldn't protect her even though I loved her. I love Herian and now she might not even remember what love is. I can't lose you, I can't and I'm afraid to say it. I'm afraid this is my curse. I have to be better than that.
( she thinks to comment on herian and she does consider his words but right now? saoirse has to say this now. carefully, she reaches out and takes his hands as her fingers run over the branded ink. everything felt so past her understanding, so out of reach but what she could understand. what she did know. it was easy enough and she leans in, pressing her lips across the brand in a gentle kiss. )
But I'm not afraid of you. A lot of what I saw, I don't think I'll ever fully understand but it doesn't change how I feel about you You're you, Prompto. No one else can take that from you and no one else can ever replace you. I'd never allow it.
[Maybe he didn't have to, but it's the say he could say. Because it's more than he ever thought he'd get, and probably more than he deserves. But he'll take it and cherish it. Someday, he hopes he'll work up the nerve and return it.]
That jerk ousted a lot of things I don't think anyone was ready for. It's okay. I... if it makes you feel better I can pretend I didn't hear it? Act surprised when you say it later? [Hopefully actually say it back by then?] But you're not cursed, Saoirse. I... don't know what happened with Carys, but it kinda sounds like she lived fast and loose and liked to do really bad stuff. There might not have been much you could do. And Herian's not past saving. Just gotta knock some sense into her.
[He says, as if he's not absolutely terrified of Herian. But for Saoirse, he'll do whatever it takes.
There's more to be said, but his thoughts abandon him when she lifts up his arm, turning it over so his barcode's revealed. He flinches at the sight - he hates it, wishes he knew a way to get rid of it. A part of him wants to yank it away and hide it - normally it's hidden under a wristband, bandanna or sleeve.
But he swears his heart skips a beat when she kisses it. A lump forms in his throat, one he swallows quickly. ]
...I've been wanting to tell you. Ignis and I talked about it awhile back, hashed out how to explain it to you. But I wish it hadn't come up like that. [He gestures towards the bed.] We can sit and I can try and explain it. You should hear everything. [That way, she'll know the truth, and see if she still wants to be with something only pretending to be human.]
No, I don't want you to forget. ( because who knew what could happen next? it's a fear she never spoke on but one she couldn't forget because she truly didn't know when he'd go back home. ) And I'll think about ways to help Herian and, if needed, I will fight her.
( she holds his hand for a moment more as he speaks and nods lightly as he gestures toward the bed. saoirse doesn't want to force him, doesn't want him to say anything he isn't ready to say or tell her. still, she shrugs off her cloak and moves to sit with a quiet look to him. )
I... can't say I'll understand everything but I'll listen, always. You don't have to tell me anything that you don't want to say.
Yes ma'am. [Said lightly, trying to ease up the tone and atmosphere. It's just in his nature to try to, though he knows it's not going to last long.
That demon already forced his hand. There's no sitting on this for much longer. Parts of it are already out there, and now he needs to lay out the rest. If he waits, he might lose his nerve. So he climbs into bed, laying back against a pillow, leaving room for her to sit.]
I'll try and lay it out as clearly as I can. To be honest, there's some stuff even I don't fully get but I'll try.
[He looks down at his hands, wringing them nervously. Ignis told him that Prompto revealed his origins to his friends in time. But that hasn't happened for Prompto yet, so he has no guide as to how to go about this.]
...so, um. [Where does he start? Work his way up to it by trying to explain what he found in that awful laboratory, leading up to the truth of his origins? But even he feels like the details make his head swim. How confusing will it be to her, who has no background context for any of it?
No, he knows what he has to start with. Rip off the bandage now and get it over with. The details can come later.]
I'm not... Saoirse, I don't have parents. I wasn't born to a loving family. I was... created. You remember those glass tubes? I was grown - or, well, I was supposed to be grown in one of those. Not like a real person. Just another nameless, soulless being to fill in a uniform and fight in a war I'd have no say in. It's only because of dumb luck I wasn't. [That Lucian spy, whoever they were, saved him. And his voice cracks under the weight of that realization, of how he could have wound up. But it doesn't change how he came to be, or what that might mean to Saoirse.] I was born to be a monster.
( she scoots closer as prompto moves to lay down, automatically reaching for his hand and gently holding it in both her hands. all she can do now is let him now that she is here for him as he had been here for her, thumb gently stroking the back of his hand and hoping she can offer even a small bit of comfort.
slowly she tries to piece together with what she is saying between what she remembers from their encounter with the grief demon and what he is telling her now. children, babies, created to hurt others. it's no wonder that this has weighed so badly on him. it's easier, she finds, to try connecting those strings but one important piece stands out— )
You're not a monster. ( there's a lot to try and wrap her head around but this comes out almost immediately after he finishes speaking. she tries to understand it, grasp it in a way that makes sense to her but the most important thing is making sure he understands this. ) It does not matter what you were born or created to be or do. You have proven that you are more than that and maybe, maybe it was dumb luck but do you think if someone else had been saved that they would have been just like you? Do you think I would have the feelings I have for someone just because they happen to look like you? All the things you've done-- it's been because you decided to make it be true.
( she squeezes his hand and offers warm smile. ) Your origins do not define your entire existence. It is... it is starting point you cannot change but you are so much more than that. You've proven time and time you're more that.
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Date: 2018-05-07 06:09 am (UTC)but in the aftermath of the newest news from the negotiations, saoirse could not help but hurry her return back from starkhaven. it's later in the evening when she finally arrives back in the city, hurrying back into the gallows with a first intent of heading to bed but as she climbs the stairs of the former mage tower, she cannot help the detour she makes to a familiar door.
again, she probably should have sent a message ahead but finally summons up enough courage to knock and hope that he was still awake. )
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Date: 2018-05-08 12:23 am (UTC)The knock at the door has him lifting his head from his pillow. Noctis the cat sleeps undisturbed next to him, though he does wake up when Prompto rises, meowing his agitation. A bit sleepy and shirtless, Prompto hardly thinks twice about opening his door in his state of (un)dress.
The sight of her sends a shock through his system. That's - did she say she was coming back? How did he miss that?]
Saoirse?
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Date: 2018-05-08 12:32 am (UTC)yet there is a warmth that she cannot hide when she sees him. holding back for a brief moment before she steps forward, arms wrapping around his shoulders as she pulls him into a hug. maker, she missed him. )
I could not stand being away any longer.
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Date: 2018-05-08 02:11 am (UTC)I hope you weren't coming back for the weather. It's been pouring. [A weak joke before he pulls back. ] I'm glad you're back. Did you say...? If I forgot-
[Gods take him if he did. ]
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Date: 2018-05-08 02:18 am (UTC)For you, mostly. The weather is but a lesser concern. ( she admits with a tired smile. ) But I did not mention it. It was... rather spur of the moment, I must admit. I could not stay away when so much was happening.
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Date: 2018-05-09 12:40 am (UTC)[Or at least the most forgetful one.]
...here. Let's go inside. ["When so much was happening" hints at why she might have hurried her return. Prompto lets her inside before closing the door behind them both.]
You heard what was announced?
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Date: 2018-05-09 12:49 am (UTC)( following him inside, she pulls her hood down and takes a steady breath with a glance back over her shoulder to him. the question earns him a frown and a slow nod of her head. )
It was rather hard not to hear. I was already on my way back when it was announced, the... less than pleased conversations over the crystal simply had me hurry my return. Herian and I have already spoken on ways we can help. ( she paces slightly, wringing her hands. ) I cannot let them go through with such a horrid plan.
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Date: 2018-05-17 11:50 pm (UTC)Less than pleased sums it up pretty well. Prompto nods. The rifters made their objections known. He can't help but worry if that'll come to haunt them later. Back home, they had to be careful to make sure the empire didn't intercept communication. if the Inquisition was dead set on doing this, well...
Caution will be needed.]
It really helps to know there are natives on our side. But I don't want to see the mages lose what ground they gained.
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Date: 2018-05-17 11:58 pm (UTC)she can simply never imagine what it must be like to be so very, very far away from home where most of the native population looked at you either as if you were a danger waiting to explode or a demon. she wants to do so very much for him but where to start? quietly, she sighs and reaches out to take noctis into her arms. )
I know words alone are of little help, ( she says, approaching and reaching out to hold his cheek in her hand. thumb carefully stroking and trying to offer some comfort. ) But know that I will not let them hurt you. I won't let them do to you what they did to me, I will fight it every step of the way.
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Date: 2018-05-18 12:28 am (UTC)It's not easy, no. But Prompto spent many years as an outsider. It's not entirely unfamiliar to him, but he's not alone this time. A helpful balance to him being in a foreign world, if nothing else.
Prompto smiles, leaning into her hand. It worries him, the thought of her putting herself against the Inquisition for his sake. But he also knows he'd do the same for her.]
Let's hope it doesn't come to that. But thank you.
[There's little they can do at the moment but try and dissuade the notion as much as possible.
Besides, there's... other stuff they need to address.]
So, um. How was your dad? You... feeling better?
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Date: 2018-05-18 12:36 am (UTC)( still the question is a tough one. not that everything hasn't been tough to deal with, saoirse cannot help closing her eyes for a moment as if concentrating on the question before offering him a nod. )
He is well, very involved in his studies and reports but it was good to see him. I am doing better too. I think I needed the time away from this place, too many memories brought back to the surface but... it was a hard choice to make. I truly did not want to leave you.
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Date: 2018-05-18 01:30 am (UTC)That's, um. That's great. I'm sure he was happy to see you. [He nods, understanding what she means.] Yeah, that was... pretty rough in there. Everyone was pretty quiet on the trip back. I totally get why you left.
[It's easy to just circle around it, rather than get to the underlying roots of the matter. Given the hour, they could reasonably push this off and wait another day. But he's not so sure they should. They're adults! In a relationship! Where communication is important! Aaaaand of course he's terrified but he knows it can't be avoided forever.
So he takes her hand and holds it in his, squeezing gently.]
I didn't want you to go, either. But I get it. A lot happened. And um, I think we both sort of needed space. A lot of stuff got... aired.
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Date: 2018-05-18 02:46 am (UTC)saoirse can't help but squeeze her eyes shut again at the mention of stuff having been "aired" out. her heart is starting to race, drumming a melody in her chest and leaving this deep seated want to run again. )
... I was scared. ( she admits, staring at their hands and shakily squeezing back. ) I am not a good person, Prompto. She showed you that, reminded me of it. I'm a liar and a hypocrite with blood on my hands that I just... ignore. Whatever hurts, I ignore it. The sickening pain that chokes me every day inside these walls, my hesitation to continue fighting for what I believe in or how blind I've been to my own sister's suffering.
( it's like a dam breaking. these tiny little cracks have been growing, forming for some time and now it's breaking down. leaving her exposed and open and with no where left to go. )
But most of all I wanted to ignore this hurt too. I expressed how I truly felt, my real feelings and then to see such an ugly truth? I thought it too much to handle at times.
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Date: 2018-05-18 06:23 pm (UTC)So he handles the physical first. Gently, he picks up Noctis and sets him on the floor. The cat's mildly annoyed; for once Prompto ignores him and instead pulls Saoirse into an embrace. Even if he messes up his words, he hopes the hug can provide some comfort.]
You're not a bad person. You're a good person who was put in a really bad situation. That sort of stuff doesn't always bring out the best in people, especially when you're just trying to survive. [Emotionally taxing moments sometimes bring out the worst in people. He's seen it happen among his own friends. As much as he disagreed with Gladio's attitude or worried about how depressed Noctis was, he knows those moments don't define them.] I don't know who that woman was, but it sounds like she did some awful things and you sort of... looked the other way? I'd have been clinging to someone - anyone - who was willing to protect me.
[Does it make it right? Not exactly. But it breaks his heart to hear Saoirse talk about herself that way (and oh, how similar it sounds to his own thoughts about himself).] You can't undo what she did and what you did or didn't do. But you've done a lot of good here and out in the world. And I think that, because you're beating yourself up over what happened back then, to me that's only something a good person does.
[He pauses as he thinks over "my own sister's suffering". Saoirse has no siblings, not by blood. Who - oh.]
...is Herian okay? [There's no one else he can think of. And that worries him, given what happened in the Anderfels. What did that damned demon do to her?]
I'm sorry she threw that all back in your face. You loved that woman and that... demon just hurled it all back at you. Tried to use it against you and bring you down. [Sorry Saoirse, your boyfriend's dumb and took the demon's twist on her words at face value.]
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Date: 2018-05-18 07:58 pm (UTC)I was so desperate to not find myself alone again that I became a coward. I couldn't stand the thought of it... of not having anyone at my side that I stood to the side and allowed such horrible things to occur. I could have done something, said anything but—
( she pulls back slightly, shaking her head. ) But I ignored that pain, I made myself blind to it. As I was blind to Herian's suffering that became so great she would request to be made tranquil.
( it's too much, her head is spinning but she laughs. breathless and tired as her gaze drops to the floor. everything else is falling down around her, so why not this too? )
... I was not talking about Carys then. When I spoke of my feelings to that demon it was of my feelings for you.
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Date: 2018-05-19 03:21 am (UTC)[His eyes widen a little as she continues.]
You serious? Why would she... [Holy shit. But that's... wow. Yeah, he's not even entirely sure what to say to that, other than hope she doesn't go through with it. And this right here isn't about Herian, as much as he's worried about her.] Herian doesn't strike me as the type to open up easily. Honestly, I can see her hiding that really well if she didn't want anyone to know. You're not a mind reader. What matters is that you know now, and I'm sure you're gonna do everything you can to help her. Have you talked to her about it?
[Astrals, he hopes he's saying the right things to help her. He wants to be a good boyfriend and help her out as much as possible, to be a pillar of support. So as she keeps talking, he starts nodding along... until she clarifies one little detail.]
For-
[......]
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Date: 2018-05-19 03:29 am (UTC)The thought of it - that someone actually loves him - leaves him... breathless. Reeling. His stomach twists in knots, while his heart soars.
And... yeah, his brain kinda breaks for a moment, indicated by his wide-eyed, blank stare.]
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Date: 2018-05-19 03:31 am (UTC)You... you do? Really?
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Date: 2018-05-19 04:36 am (UTC)( her mind seems so frayed at the edges, threatening to come apart and leave her with the mess of emotions left behind and exposed. not that she doesn't already feel like everything has been laid out on the table for him, for them, to see. saoirse feels as though she is at a loss, unsure how to go forward from here and left unable to even look up.
perhaps it's for the best. the silence hurts, almost and she can't imagine the look he might have on his face. she doesn't know if she can handle it and so her gaze stays down at the floor, nodding numbly when the question comes and chuckling breathlessly. )
Of course, I do. Really. ( said as if it was the most obvious answer in the world. in any world. the one ounce of confidence she has had in her voice since this talk began. )
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Date: 2018-05-19 06:54 pm (UTC)Hey.
[He leans his head down, trying to meet her gaze. Or at least encourage her to look up. And there's a hand on her cheek, trying to guide her to look at him.]
I'm not mad. I'm far from it. I... thank you. [He almost grimaces, self-conscious of how lame that sounds. Lame, and completely short of the mark of what she deserves to hear back. But he knows the only thing worse is lying to her about it.] And about Herian... I don't think Cosima would let her. And even if she keeps saying she's gonna, well... we'll talk to her. Together. I'll help you do whatever it takes. [Now it's his turn to look away, down at the floor.] Least I can do, since I can't tell you what you deserve to hear. And it's all me. It's all on me and my stupid...
[Hang-ups. Inhibitions. Fear. Whatever term works best. But it's truly him, not her.]
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Date: 2018-05-20 01:13 am (UTC)You do not have to thank me. ( it's nothing she deserves, she half says but chokes it back. holds it down. ) I wasn't ready... I— I'll tell you one day to your face not just let you hear secondhand from me yelling it at a demon. I'll actually say it but—
( she finally looks up, she's not sad nor crying but she just looks tired. ) But you saw what happened to Carys. I couldn't protect her even though I loved her. I love Herian and now she might not even remember what love is. I can't lose you, I can't and I'm afraid to say it. I'm afraid this is my curse. I have to be better than that.
( she thinks to comment on herian and she does consider his words but right now? saoirse has to say this now. carefully, she reaches out and takes his hands as her fingers run over the branded ink. everything felt so past her understanding, so out of reach but what she could understand. what she did know. it was easy enough and she leans in, pressing her lips across the brand in a gentle kiss. )
But I'm not afraid of you. A lot of what I saw, I don't think I'll ever fully understand but it doesn't change how I feel about you You're you, Prompto. No one else can take that from you and no one else can ever replace you. I'd never allow it.
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Date: 2018-05-20 02:23 am (UTC)That jerk ousted a lot of things I don't think anyone was ready for. It's okay. I... if it makes you feel better I can pretend I didn't hear it? Act surprised when you say it later? [Hopefully actually say it back by then?] But you're not cursed, Saoirse. I... don't know what happened with Carys, but it kinda sounds like she lived fast and loose and liked to do really bad stuff. There might not have been much you could do. And Herian's not past saving. Just gotta knock some sense into her.
[He says, as if he's not absolutely terrified of Herian. But for Saoirse, he'll do whatever it takes.
There's more to be said, but his thoughts abandon him when she lifts up his arm, turning it over so his barcode's revealed. He flinches at the sight - he hates it, wishes he knew a way to get rid of it. A part of him wants to yank it away and hide it - normally it's hidden under a wristband, bandanna or sleeve.
But he swears his heart skips a beat when she kisses it. A lump forms in his throat, one he swallows quickly. ]
...I've been wanting to tell you. Ignis and I talked about it awhile back, hashed out how to explain it to you. But I wish it hadn't come up like that. [He gestures towards the bed.] We can sit and I can try and explain it. You should hear everything. [That way, she'll know the truth, and see if she still wants to be with something only pretending to be human.]
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Date: 2018-05-20 02:51 am (UTC)( she holds his hand for a moment more as he speaks and nods lightly as he gestures toward the bed. saoirse doesn't want to force him, doesn't want him to say anything he isn't ready to say or tell her. still, she shrugs off her cloak and moves to sit with a quiet look to him. )
I... can't say I'll understand everything but I'll listen, always. You don't have to tell me anything that you don't want to say.
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Date: 2018-05-20 04:12 am (UTC)That demon already forced his hand. There's no sitting on this for much longer. Parts of it are already out there, and now he needs to lay out the rest. If he waits, he might lose his nerve. So he climbs into bed, laying back against a pillow, leaving room for her to sit.]
I'll try and lay it out as clearly as I can. To be honest, there's some stuff even I don't fully get but I'll try.
[He looks down at his hands, wringing them nervously. Ignis told him that Prompto revealed his origins to his friends in time. But that hasn't happened for Prompto yet, so he has no guide as to how to go about this.]
...so, um. [Where does he start? Work his way up to it by trying to explain what he found in that awful laboratory, leading up to the truth of his origins? But even he feels like the details make his head swim. How confusing will it be to her, who has no background context for any of it?
No, he knows what he has to start with. Rip off the bandage now and get it over with. The details can come later.]
I'm not... Saoirse, I don't have parents. I wasn't born to a loving family. I was... created. You remember those glass tubes? I was grown - or, well, I was supposed to be grown in one of those. Not like a real person. Just another nameless, soulless being to fill in a uniform and fight in a war I'd have no say in. It's only because of dumb luck I wasn't. [That Lucian spy, whoever they were, saved him. And his voice cracks under the weight of that realization, of how he could have wound up. But it doesn't change how he came to be, or what that might mean to Saoirse.] I was born to be a monster.
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Date: 2018-05-20 04:43 am (UTC)slowly she tries to piece together with what she is saying between what she remembers from their encounter with the grief demon and what he is telling her now. children, babies, created to hurt others. it's no wonder that this has weighed so badly on him. it's easier, she finds, to try connecting those strings but one important piece stands out— )
You're not a monster. ( there's a lot to try and wrap her head around but this comes out almost immediately after he finishes speaking. she tries to understand it, grasp it in a way that makes sense to her but the most important thing is making sure he understands this. ) It does not matter what you were born or created to be or do. You have proven that you are more than that and maybe, maybe it was dumb luck but do you think if someone else had been saved that they would have been just like you? Do you think I would have the feelings I have for someone just because they happen to look like you? All the things you've done-- it's been because you decided to make it be true.
( she squeezes his hand and offers warm smile. ) Your origins do not define your entire existence. It is... it is starting point you cannot change but you are so much more than that. You've proven time and time you're more that.
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