mygod | pc catchall | vin

[flameguard]

the placing of these next to each other is exquisite

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[allomantic]

Shortly after that, yes.

[pausing for a moment as the excitement fades from his face, but:]

You haven't done anything wrong. It's only that—

[she could explain but i'm taking a page from your book it's follow up time]

[flameguard]

[ ...oh.

that -

he gets that, too. that sense of pressure. it clicks immediately. what a giant hole that kelsier left behind for vin to step into. he's heartened, in a sense, immediately, when he remembers that ouija board, and unthinkingly, he reaches out and sets a hand on her shoulder and gives it a squeeze. ]

...What a tremendous burden to carry, Vin. You bear so many.

[allomantic]

[she's silent for a moment, accepting the hand on her shoulder, before:]

Some people can bear it easily.

[it's so clear, the memory of how easily kelsier could move through a crowd - he was just a person, she knows, but his words made people stop and listen. he took care never to seem uncertain or scared. if he showed anger, it was to inspire people to the same. but for a girl raised on the streets whose existence was quite literally illegal, taught to avoid attention and notice at any cost... the attention pushes against every instinct she's cultivated through her life, not to mention the expectations that she can't meet.]

I understand why they're reaching for what makes them feel safe. They're scared.

[but she's scared, too, even if she hates to admit it.]

[flameguard]

[ she's literally just a girl, you guys.... she's just a girl.....

this is a little scary, because - well, he knows what pressure can do to someone, too. he thinks of the strange manifestations of sazantos' life they found in hell. the description of the endless struggle against the cruelty of humanity - how being the flameguard means that the continent relies on you, how thankless, painful, and brutal it can be to see the scourge of humanity, over and over, and over. how heavy that can be.

he squeezes again, expression dropping to vin's. ]

... That's true. But... them feeling that way doesn't change the fact that it's scary for you, too.

[allomantic]

...I told someone recently that the king can't hold the city against those armies, even with my help. They told me if that were the case, then I should just leave - to either fully commit to believing in our chances, or give up entirely. But all my friends are there. Everyone I love.

[...]

We're going to be taken over, I think. But I don't know what else to do but stay. And the way they look at me, the way they talk about me, even the king... I'm not a hero, or a miracle worker.

[flameguard]

[ he's quiet, for a moment, taking that in, brows knit together in concern, and worry. ]

... But... now you won't have to be alone to figure it out. [ not with that ouija board, tucked in somewhere safe. ] Right?

[allomantic]

Yes.

[and there's a little bit of a smile - even if they fail, she'll have him back.]

I just have to live long enough to see him again.

[flameguard]

[ points my gun at you ]

I believe in your ability to do that. [ wholeheartedly, and with a smile. ]

[allomantic]

[:thinking:]

...Yours, as well.