flameguard | mygod | pc catchall

[ cute... matching flower emojis. ]

Anything.

When you got transported away with Lavi, Mathis and Ashlyn, did you bring back any kind of item...?

...Oh. No, I didn't, but... I'm fairly sure Lavi and Miss Ashlyn did.

[ the flowers fade... ]

The... when we were there, the devil who owned the manor offered us a deal, just before we had to fight him. If we chose to give up Hope to him, he would give us an item of some kind that could help us here.

I swore that I would save her, and I would not forsake her, so... I didn't accept.

...I see.

[giving a little nod.]

I'll ask them.

[ he nods... ]

...It heartened me a bit, in that - Alfyn said that they only returned with two of the items despite having four people in their group. My hope is that it was the same for us, and that Miss Ashlyn and Lavi would have successfully procured them.

I've heard a bit of them, but... I'm not sure what they're for, yet.

...I wouldn't be too heartened about not having brought back everything you could. You were right to help her, but - Asa thinks that the materials we're bringing back might be for a counter ritual to stop the cult.

...Right.

[ ah... the expression drops into a frown. at the time, it wasn't... there was no other choice. it was sacrifice someone who they swore to save for personal gain, from an untrustworthy devil who tried to kill them after the fact anyway.

he looks down at the ground, scolded, but nods. ]

That...does make sense. I... pray that my decision was not the one that leaves us in the dust.

[nudges him!!]

You couldn't have known. As I said - you did the right thing with the information you had.

...I couldn't just leave her behind.

[ he was the first to make his choice - zero hesitation. i choose hope.

Weak. his thoughts echo, but he ignores it. ]

Still. I do think Miss Asa might be right... one of the objects that Alfyn showed me felt quite... holy. Like being near the Flame. It wouldn't surprise me... Maybe Mr. Gale would know more about it.

[okay they can go back to lore in a second but]

Rondo.

[ animal crossing ? ]

...Huh?

You are the farthest thing from weak.

[ thoughtshare is so bad when your insecurities are crippling, actually. he winces... ]

I... was hoping you would ignore that....

Why?

It was just a stray thought...

But - it matters. If you think that about yourself.

[ he looks a little guilty at that, gaze flicking away. ]

...Well... I can always be stronger. That's all.

[ So long as I am weak, nothing that I hold dear will be safe. ]

[reaches for his hand...]

You aren't weak, though.

[ of course she is allowed. ]

... Maybe. [ the mantra repeats again, in his head - So long as I am weak, nothing that I hold dear is safe. and he huffs. ] Certainly, I'm not as weak as I used to be. And that progress is important, right?

It is. But... You're aware everyone's safety isn't only your responsibility, right?

[ this icon my pathetic wet cat daughter ]

... I know. [ the smile lessens just a little - it's honest, a little rueful. ] I do.

And that is no fault of yours.

I know.

[ woof. scolded, but he looks down at their hands. ]

I just... I want to be able to protect people, and it feels as if I have done precious little of it, here. Whether it's out of my control, or not.

[stop she's being encouraging not scolding!!]

Well, I would say that definitely isn't true.

...Do you think so?

[ a little hopefully... ]

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