[ idk why i said cordelia was 16 up there she's like 14 i hate octopath so bad. anyway]
I know Miss Anis certainly saw you that way.
[ as close as family. she was devastated when marina died, just like rondo was. though, her attempts to big sister rondo kind of fell on deaf ears, her kindness and warmth in the days away from her were something he treasured deeply, and something he still treasures, now.
as he looks at the two portraits, there's a sense of something melancholy, even without emotionshare, a sort of softness to his smile. after all, he hasn't seen cordelia in years, now. the stories alfyn told him about her are the ones that he's held closest to his chest over everything - that she's grown up, that she's beautiful and kind and charming, that she managed to retrieve the dragonstones. that she has new friends, and a life that will hopefully be so much more peaceful with the treasures locked away, and... he won't really be there, to see any of it. he wouldn't before, but it's just kind of hitting him now, standing here.
and then there's sazantos, who will become unfortunately too familiar in the days to come. looking at him like this breaks rondo's heart, too - to see him as he knew him. how do you mourn someone who isn't really dead? how does he reconcile the betrayal that he's been through with the silver-haired savior who taught him everything he knows? he still hasn't found that answer, and maybe he never will.
however... he doesn't linger on it. the arm coming around his side surprises him a little, if only because he's not expecting it. but, after a moment, rondo leans into it, pressing his side against hers and bringing his arm up to gently wrap around her shoulders in exchange. something steady to hold onto.
I'm so lucky. despite everything - despite every hurt and betrayal, despite missing his sister, despite everything that happened thursday, he is so lucky, to be who he is. to have had his life touched by so many important, wonderful people. important people like marina, who is here now, in this moment, offering something steady to lean against. and rondo is so, so grateful. ]
...I do, too. [ he decides, after a moment - and then jokes: ] Plus, it's a lot less crowded than the barracks. And there aren't any leeches! So it's definitely an upgrade.
[ it's w5 i'm lucky i even remember my character's name in the chaos.
she does look up at him when he thinks precisely that, the thought running through her mind in soft, swift undercurrents, and she presses her head against him gently.
we are very lucky people. even after all of this. even after everything. she reaches up and lightly touches the hand attached to the arm draped over her shoulder, fingers sliding between his as a smile curls on her lips. ]
No need to share a thing unless you wanted to.
[ because she is a menace, grinning. she can't help but want to tease him a little... he's a good boy, a very kind young man, and sometimes she likes to give him a bit of a run for his money to see what happens. not out of malice, but out of sheer curiosity. ]
No leeches is such a big ask at this point, I'm glad none of 'em have them unless, y'know, someone wanted their room to, heh.
this kind of affection does a lot for rondo, honestly - it's reassuring for someone who is very affectionate himself, and when she takes his hand, his heart melts. rondo's is calloused, even without his gloves, but it's a good fit. her thoughts echo his and it feels bolstering. it feels like a good thing.
even if she's embarrassing! the suggestion takes him a full second because he's thinking of bunk beds not of - ] -- I. [ FLUSTERED, BRIEFLY, and he laughs, a little sheepishly as his brain skips over that. don't hold his hand and cuddle him and then just say things. ] Right... it's - definitely a little quieter than I'm used to.
[ ahem.
anyway. leeches! karma's room probably has leeches. that's a less embarrassing thought. ] Haha... Mr. Daan said that our standards have lowered, but... I like to think of it as - it's more like it's nice, that we get to have these things, after what we've been through before.
no subject
I know Miss Anis certainly saw you that way.
[ as close as family. she was devastated when marina died, just like rondo was. though, her attempts to big sister rondo kind of fell on deaf ears, her kindness and warmth in the days away from her were something he treasured deeply, and something he still treasures, now.
as he looks at the two portraits, there's a sense of something melancholy, even without emotionshare, a sort of softness to his smile. after all, he hasn't seen cordelia in years, now. the stories alfyn told him about her are the ones that he's held closest to his chest over everything - that she's grown up, that she's beautiful and kind and charming, that she managed to retrieve the dragonstones. that she has new friends, and a life that will hopefully be so much more peaceful with the treasures locked away, and... he won't really be there, to see any of it. he wouldn't before, but it's just kind of hitting him now, standing here.
and then there's sazantos, who will become unfortunately too familiar in the days to come. looking at him like this breaks rondo's heart, too - to see him as he knew him. how do you mourn someone who isn't really dead? how does he reconcile the betrayal that he's been through with the silver-haired savior who taught him everything he knows? he still hasn't found that answer, and maybe he never will.
however... he doesn't linger on it. the arm coming around his side surprises him a little, if only because he's not expecting it. but, after a moment, rondo leans into it, pressing his side against hers and bringing his arm up to gently wrap around her shoulders in exchange. something steady to hold onto.
I'm so lucky. despite everything - despite every hurt and betrayal, despite missing his sister, despite everything that happened thursday, he is so lucky, to be who he is. to have had his life touched by so many important, wonderful people. important people like marina, who is here now, in this moment, offering something steady to lean against. and rondo is so, so grateful. ]
...I do, too. [ he decides, after a moment - and then jokes: ] Plus, it's a lot less crowded than the barracks. And there aren't any leeches! So it's definitely an upgrade.
[ hehe ]
no subject
she does look up at him when he thinks precisely that, the thought running through her mind in soft, swift undercurrents, and she presses her head against him gently.
we are very lucky people. even after all of this. even after everything. she reaches up and lightly touches the hand attached to the arm draped over her shoulder, fingers sliding between his as a smile curls on her lips. ]
No need to share a thing unless you wanted to.
[ because she is a menace, grinning. she can't help but want to tease him a little... he's a good boy, a very kind young man, and sometimes she likes to give him a bit of a run for his money to see what happens. not out of malice, but out of sheer curiosity. ]
No leeches is such a big ask at this point, I'm glad none of 'em have them unless, y'know, someone wanted their room to, heh.
no subject
this kind of affection does a lot for rondo, honestly - it's reassuring for someone who is very affectionate himself, and when she takes his hand, his heart melts. rondo's is calloused, even without his gloves, but it's a good fit. her thoughts echo his and it feels bolstering. it feels like a good thing.
even if she's embarrassing! the suggestion takes him a full second because he's thinking of bunk beds not of - ] -- I. [ FLUSTERED, BRIEFLY, and he laughs, a little sheepishly as his brain skips over that. don't hold his hand and cuddle him and then just say things. ] Right... it's - definitely a little quieter than I'm used to.
[ ahem.
anyway. leeches! karma's room probably has leeches. that's a less embarrassing thought. ] Haha... Mr. Daan said that our standards have lowered, but... I like to think of it as - it's more like it's nice, that we get to have these things, after what we've been through before.