[isn't gwendolyn so fucking cute though her lil owlbear. her monsterous personality. i cut this memory down but when they find the secret passageway to delilah's lair they have to solve a really complicated puzzle and then when you solve the puzzle the result is a note from percy that says "very clever, gwendolyn, but there's nothing for you here, go find your mother."
the memory leaves her feeling numb. she summoned such anger for some ghosts of murdered servants and peasants but delilah just leaves her drained and tired. but she feels a little exhausted by the thought of pity and concern for her, too.]
gods above. that reaction is - well, it's how most people handle this sort of thing so far, he thinks, the sort of way to shy away from it, the numbness. what reflects back to him the most, though, is their conversation about loneliness, not so long ago. rondo's quiet for a second, and after a long moment, he asks: ]
[she just stands there sort of awkwardly though, and her answer is awkward, but that's not a no or discomfort per se she just isn't sure how to react to that request.]
rondo likes to ask - he's a nice boy - and thankfully, he makes up for any awkwardness by nature of simply being himself. you never know when someone might hate the contact, when someone wants as far away as possible, and when she gives permission, he nods, closes the distance between them, and sweeps her up in a hug.
and rondo gives really good hugs. he is the kind of person who is just always warm- it practically radiates off of his person, like the sun, and his arms are strong and solid. not only that, but he is just achingly sincere in nearly every action that he has, and a good, strong hug might be the culmination of them. he squeezes, tight, sturdy, and murmurs, very quietly: ]
...You really...looked like you needed one. [ so. he's here, for that. it's a hug, because sometimes that's all you can do in the face of the terrible, awful situation that laudna's life is made up of. sometimes, there aren't any words you can say that work as well as being supportive. ]
[she sort of stands there and lets him hug her without returning the hug. she's cold to the touch. but it is nice; comforting even if it also makes her miss the comfort of some of the people she knows who would usually help her through a moment like this.]
[this memory gives her some complicated feelings. maybe something a little dark and resentful. he didn't give in and was rewarded, he became a respected and loved hero, he was chosen. must be nice. so much of her history has been tied up in feeling resentful of people like that. delilah killed her but never claimed to be anything else. but lord de rolo who got castle back and never gave her a second thought, until she came back and he threatened to kill her for bringing delilah to his doorstep?
but rondo has always been kind to her. just because she feels resentful at this sort of story, something that would never have happened for her, doesn't mean she has to be resentful of him.]
Ah. Your flame? But you must not have it here, would you?
No... no. [ his hand comes up - hesitates, and then rests on his heart. that was supposed to be a moment of triumph, and in some ways, it is, but, in many others, it is not. it's bittersweet. ]
Though... that was not because I arrived in this village. Someone... my Flame was stolen from me, before I awoke here.
[ to have earned it, and then to have it gone, ripped away. violating and frigid, an ice cold sensation in his chest that's never gone since the moment he breathed in. ]
[ i am not going to make you read another memshare about this but he hesitates for a moment, and then reaches to his side, pulling out his sword so she can see it properly. it reflects the light - pink, blue. ]
... During my trial, I... thought the voice I heard was my mentor, not Aelfric. He.. betrayed all of us using something called the Accursed Flame, and seeks to destroy the entire world because he feels that the people who live upon it are too full of desire. [ he tilts the sword a little so it catches more of the pinkish light. ]
My companions and I set out to stop him. And we were winning, in our final confrontation, but he managed to overpower us. He... pulled me away, at the last moment, and he tore it out of me so he could wield both the Sacred and Accursed Flame's abilities at once.
[ he tilts the sword the other direction - blue. ] And... I don't know what happened, after that. But I can take a guess.
[ his smile's genuine as he sheathes the sword once again. ]
It will be... it is a difficult road. He has always been someone very dear to me, but... we differ so much, on many things. I think often of what my father said, about the way that we wield power.
[ how it doesn't depend on the object or power, but what it can do depends on the person who chooses to use it.
there's a quiet moment. ]
And... I... know you don't want to talk about it, so I won't harp. But... I'm glad that you have valiant and stalwart companions supporting you. [ because that was hard to miss in laudna's memory. ] I don't know if there's anything I can do, but... if you'd ever want to talk, I'd be glad to listen.
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the memory leaves her feeling numb. she summoned such anger for some ghosts of murdered servants and peasants but delilah just leaves her drained and tired. but she feels a little exhausted by the thought of pity and concern for her, too.]
It's nothing, it's nothing.
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gods above. that reaction is - well, it's how most people handle this sort of thing so far, he thinks, the sort of way to shy away from it, the numbness. what reflects back to him the most, though, is their conversation about loneliness, not so long ago. rondo's quiet for a second, and after a long moment, he asks: ]
...Is... it alright if I give you a hug?
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[she just stands there sort of awkwardly though, and her answer is awkward, but that's not a no or discomfort per se she just isn't sure how to react to that request.]
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rondo likes to ask - he's a nice boy - and thankfully, he makes up for any awkwardness by nature of simply being himself. you never know when someone might hate the contact, when someone wants as far away as possible, and when she gives permission, he nods, closes the distance between them, and sweeps her up in a hug.
and rondo gives really good hugs. he is the kind of person who is just always warm- it practically radiates off of his person, like the sun, and his arms are strong and solid. not only that, but he is just achingly sincere in nearly every action that he has, and a good, strong hug might be the culmination of them. he squeezes, tight, sturdy, and murmurs, very quietly: ]
...You really...looked like you needed one. [ so. he's here, for that. it's a hug, because sometimes that's all you can do in the face of the terrible, awful situation that laudna's life is made up of. sometimes, there aren't any words you can say that work as well as being supportive. ]
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Did I?
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[ he gives one last squeeze - a big, warm one, and then steps back a little to offer a radiant smile. ]
I would've given you one even if you didn't, though.
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[well. she's still uncertain how to react. it was very kind. she's still sometimes a little wary of pure kindness.]
You're quite... warm.
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Oh - really? That's probably... well...
[ now that im free of the cyoa mines deposits this in your hands ]
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but rondo has always been kind to her. just because she feels resentful at this sort of story, something that would never have happened for her, doesn't mean she has to be resentful of him.]
Ah. Your flame? But you must not have it here, would you?
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No... no. [ his hand comes up - hesitates, and then rests on his heart. that was supposed to be a moment of triumph, and in some ways, it is, but, in many others, it is not. it's bittersweet. ]
Though... that was not because I arrived in this village. Someone... my Flame was stolen from me, before I awoke here.
[ to have earned it, and then to have it gone, ripped away. violating and frigid, an ice cold sensation in his chest that's never gone since the moment he breathed in. ]
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... During my trial, I... thought the voice I heard was my mentor, not Aelfric. He.. betrayed all of us using something called the Accursed Flame, and seeks to destroy the entire world because he feels that the people who live upon it are too full of desire. [ he tilts the sword a little so it catches more of the pinkish light. ]
My companions and I set out to stop him. And we were winning, in our final confrontation, but he managed to overpower us. He... pulled me away, at the last moment, and he tore it out of me so he could wield both the Sacred and Accursed Flame's abilities at once.
[ he tilts the sword the other direction - blue. ] And... I don't know what happened, after that. But I can take a guess.
[ considering the trans rights sword. ]
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Interesting. So all of that effort, and you only succeeded in making him stronger!
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Maybe so. [ ... ] But, I don't regret putting the effort in. It just... means we have to defeat him, and hopefully, I can get it back.
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[ his smile's genuine as he sheathes the sword once again. ]
It will be... it is a difficult road. He has always been someone very dear to me, but... we differ so much, on many things. I think often of what my father said, about the way that we wield power.
[ how it doesn't depend on the object or power, but what it can do depends on the person who chooses to use it.
there's a quiet moment. ]
And... I... know you don't want to talk about it, so I won't harp. But... I'm glad that you have valiant and stalwart companions supporting you. [ because that was hard to miss in laudna's memory. ] I don't know if there's anything I can do, but... if you'd ever want to talk, I'd be glad to listen.
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[it is a sweet thing to say. it's not an easy subject to talk about, but something she's been doing better at.]