it's - it's just a very violent, very sudden reminder of the week that they shared memories. marina's visceral, awful pain as she was scorched, her desperation in trying to cast off the shackles of a body that was not her own. twisted and gnarled beyond repair, in a horrible village with a horrible festival.
it is in this moment that he realizes the absoluteness of goodbye. the few days they have remaining are just that - days. barely a week, until either the cult conducts its ritual (though rondo thinks they will fail, his optimism bolstered by the strength of his companions) or until they break free of this place, and return to their homes. what awaits rondo is a world without sir sazantos, a world where the other guardians may have even forgotten him, a world where he -- well. he thinks he'd be dead, but someone else has saved his life with a selfless wish barely a few days ago, so, they may think he's dead, but his flame will continue to flicker onwards. and marina...
for all of her kind words, for how important these things are to him, how much he treasures what she is telling him and how they ring truer than endorsements from many, even over his insecurities, there's something else roiling in his emotions. a lingering sense of urgency, realization - the slightest sense of something afraid.
and then, in true rondo fashion, holding her hands like that, he blurts out - ]
[ it takes her a while to find the right words, to let them leave her, because this feels like it culminates to something, it feels like something new and something strange and something possibly sweet and she's not sure if this is a thing she could deserve in any way. what has she done but die and die again? and die some more?
he holds her hands, and he can probably feel them shake, just a little bit. ]
What's that mean exactly?
[ her voice is soft, meaningful, because... why assume? why not hear it from him himself. ]
[ when he feels her hands shaking, he immediately squeezes them, bolstering. his first act as flameguard, or perhaps, the kind of thing he'd do all along. both are driven by his big, pure heart, his instinct to protect the people that he cares for, to protect as many people as he can. ]
I mean...
[ a moment's pause, as he reconciles with what he blurted out. what does he mean? it's not long. just a second or two of hesitation, and then - once again, in true rondo fashion, commitment. follow your heart. so long as you do, you will walk with the flame.
he thinks about a reflected surface on a pond, last week, about a sight that had been a little embarrassing, but one that lingered in his heart even after. about how he's thought about how much cordelia would like marina - even if they don't see each other that often. about how her studies of magic could be so easily furthered with a place like the academy of atlasdam, a place they have a long running friendship with. about all the resources that could be at her fingertips, about - about a life, a life she deserves, a life she should get to have in her body, her own way, and not back in that monstrous, awful village.
he exhales, and any doubt melts away, replaced with a steady emotional sureness. yes. yes, he knows exactly what he means.
rondo looks her in the eyes, and his emotions are as steadfast and sure as they could possibly be. ]
... I mean, so long as it's possible, I would like to extend you the offer to come to Orsterra, instead of go back.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
flameguard) wrote2024-06-10 03:29 pm
no subject
even after.
it's - it's just a very violent, very sudden reminder of the week that they shared memories. marina's visceral, awful pain as she was scorched, her desperation in trying to cast off the shackles of a body that was not her own. twisted and gnarled beyond repair, in a horrible village with a horrible festival.
it is in this moment that he realizes the absoluteness of goodbye. the few days they have remaining are just that - days. barely a week, until either the cult conducts its ritual (though rondo thinks they will fail, his optimism bolstered by the strength of his companions) or until they break free of this place, and return to their homes. what awaits rondo is a world without sir sazantos, a world where the other guardians may have even forgotten him, a world where he -- well. he thinks he'd be dead, but someone else has saved his life with a selfless wish barely a few days ago, so, they may think he's dead, but his flame will continue to flicker onwards. and marina...
for all of her kind words, for how important these things are to him, how much he treasures what she is telling him and how they ring truer than endorsements from many, even over his insecurities, there's something else roiling in his emotions. a lingering sense of urgency, realization - the slightest sense of something afraid.
and then, in true rondo fashion, holding her hands like that, he blurts out - ]
What if you didn't go back?
no subject
he holds her hands, and he can probably feel them shake, just a little bit. ]
What's that mean exactly?
[ her voice is soft, meaningful, because... why assume? why not hear it from him himself. ]
... Rondo.
no subject
I mean...
[ a moment's pause, as he reconciles with what he blurted out. what does he mean? it's not long. just a second or two of hesitation, and then - once again, in true rondo fashion, commitment. follow your heart. so long as you do, you will walk with the flame.
he thinks about a reflected surface on a pond, last week, about a sight that had been a little embarrassing, but one that lingered in his heart even after. about how he's thought about how much cordelia would like marina - even if they don't see each other that often. about how her studies of magic could be so easily furthered with a place like the academy of atlasdam, a place they have a long running friendship with. about all the resources that could be at her fingertips, about - about a life, a life she deserves, a life she should get to have in her body, her own way, and not back in that monstrous, awful village.
he exhales, and any doubt melts away, replaced with a steady emotional sureness. yes. yes, he knows exactly what he means.
rondo looks her in the eyes, and his emotions are as steadfast and sure as they could possibly be. ]
... I mean, so long as it's possible, I would like to extend you the offer to come to Orsterra, instead of go back.
[ a pause. ]
... To come back with me.