intendance | IC ➛ Voicemail

[Of course sadness happens. That would be silly to imply that it didn't happen. Sadness was something that--

...Something that happened to everyone. But her. She, after all, had no problems. She was the best at Empty-Headed Bliss.

... ... ... And she slumps, curling in on herself, and does speak rather sadly.]

I guess...this means I'm not the best at having no problems anymore...

[... she's not sure how that makes her feel, honestly--aside from sad.]

[He honestly hated being the one to break it to her, but he thought that it was something that she needed to hear. Luckily, they have arrived at her apartment by this point and he gets the door open with some clever maneuvering and carefully, he sits down in the blanket fort.

For now, he lets her stay curled up in his lap until she wants to move, but he'll do his best to console her, wrapping his arms around her securely.]

Guess not... but you can still be really good at it, you know.

And the thing about sadness is that it's temporary... so I figure you can feel it as much as you want right now... and you should!

... Because I promise i'm gonna get you smiling again before I go. No rush on that one though.

[It's comforting. The blanket fort is something she made, and it's all soft blankets and pillows and mattresses, none of the rock and hard edges of the tunnels. She does move to crawl out of his lap, at least--she goes directly to her (matress-less) bed and grabs the tactician robes that are sitting neatly on top. Next to her sword and her spell tomes... it's like they're sitting there mockingly.

She doesn't care though.

She just puts the robes on deliberately, and pauses at the hood...before leaving it down, if only because Sakon is still there. It doesn't stop her from wrapping her arms around herself, though, looking at him quietly.]

... It was really awful.

[She doesn't know how much he knows about it--but somehow that's what escapes her.]

[While she was retrieving her robes, he'd taken that moment to remove his clunkier armor. It sounds like he needs to make himself pretty comfortable for this, seeing as he doesn't plan on leaving any time soon. So his boots and guards and the like are all being discarded and set aside as he waits for her as patiently as he can.

..... but at the admittance, he just winces. From what he'd heard from Aria, it sounded like they were still in a conscious state even when they were supposed to have died. And how long were they there-]

.... 'm sorry.

[Honestly he's not sure what he's apologizing for. For not being able to protect her? For not finding her and dragging her along with him? For not finding a way around this so she could get out?

For not trying harder?]

[That's not going to fly in any way, even with her feeling like this. Maybe especially with her feeling like this. She just crawls back over to him and proceeds to reach up and--

mess up his hair with one hand.

Frowning so determinedly.]

No! You didn't do anything that you should be apologizing for, so don't apologize!

[At least it's better than feeling numb and sad, she thinks.]

[Wow, he thought that he was supposed to be the one cheering you up.

Regardless, he's just sputtering like he normally does, one hand coming up to catch her wrist as he already complains very vocally.]

Demon! You're a demon!!

[Says the guy who kisses the demon sword in his spare time but whatevs. His other hand is immediately going to fix his hair now, thanks and as for the one that's around her wrist... He's just going to tug and pull her into his chest, throwing an arm around her.]

Jeeze, you're impossible.

[Well, she just can't help it. But when she's pulled into a hug, she squeaks in surprise, before relaxing contentedly into his chest. Well...she certainly won't complain about this position, especially not when she can hear his heartbeat.

(Being surrounded by corpses was silent--silent and cold and unnerving.)

... haaa.]

But you don't want to apologize anymore, right? Right?

[ . . . will he not?

Admittedly he remembers making Aria promise not to apologize anymore for dying. But can Sakon really not apologize at all for not trying harder to get Morgan out? They were two entirely different kinds of mistakes as far as he's concerned.

So he just sighs.]

... I'll tell you later. I dunno yet.

[... well that's not a fun answer at all. She blinks at him, before letting her head fall back against his chest, sighing.]

That's not a good answer at all. Now I have to wait to know, and I haaaate waiting! It's the worst, aside from being bored.

[sometimes they overlap and then it's even worse.]

Then get your mind off of it, pipsqueak.

[And even tired as he is, he's just going to sigh fondly and turn his head so that he can press his lips to her unbranded cheek.]

I know my opinion counts for a whole lot but I dunno-

Sounds to me like you've got more on your plate right now than I do.

[Her response is immediate--]

I don't have any problems, though.

[... ... ... and then she sighs and tucks herself closer to him and has to admit--]

Well...maybe I have Haven Problems...

... You know it's okay to have problems in general, right?

[And he's just going to rest his chin on top of her head, keeping them close.]

Like - you make it really hard to do that friend-duty thing where I'm supposed to help you out with them if you don't admit to having any....

[...but she doesn't have them!!!]

Well, I mean...even if I did have problems like the next ordinary person, it's not like I can remember them! So it's basically like not having problems at all!

[...]

But I remember these ones...

... Then these are problems that we can work through, Morgan... And you can feel upset about them, you know?

I get the whole not dwelling thing - I hate dwelling! It sucks! It's up there with waiting and boredom...!

[ . . . but he just shrugs even as he holds her. Sakon doesn't reflect on his actions much. He knows he's not the brightest and isn't the type to try to come up with his own solutions but...

Well, he remembers re-evaluating his own life after he encountered Mitsunari. It was the best decision he ever could've made.]

But I mean... sometimes you gotta realize things are wrong and... y'know, problematic before you make them better.

[...And so she sighs, shoulders slumping. She doesn't really know what's going on with her emotions and feelings, or what she should do. At this point, she's too tired to even figure it out.

So if he says she has problems, then he's probably right--and she just nods tiredly.]

...Okay. If you say so, then...okay.

So-- what do I do?

[ . . . oh. And Sakon's just going to sigh and cuddle her close in response, nuzzling into her hair.]

I dunno.

Maybe... Tell me what happened in there?

[Since he's getting that he probably missed a lot. And... who knows, maybe just talking about it might make her feel better. He's really willing to try whatever.]

[Oh.... that. She's quiet for a long moment, and then she sighs, slumping a bit. When she speaks, her voice is dull.]

... We were dead but...we were still there. I was awake. We were all awake.

[...she shakes her head, huddling a bit closer in on herself.]

Even though we were dead, we felt everything.

[The first thing he wants to do is apologize but seeing as how she reacted to that before, he doesn't bother.

The second thing he wants to do is kill everyone even remotely associated with the Yao Corporation, but well... that's a work in progress.

For now though, he just sighs. He sighs and he keeps her close, resting his chin on top of her head.]

... I know. I heard.

[Aria had told him.... but well, it doesn't make it any less awful.]

[...Mm. She's too tired to be irritated at him for that, so instead she just hums quietly, slumping against him and nodding.]

That's it. We're back now, so...it's up to me to remember how to be happy!

...Because I'm not ever going to let them win.

[ . . . hah. He just snorts fondly in response.]

... Jeeze, and I thought I was in a rush to get things done....

You might need a nap first, pipsqueak. Maybe you'll feel better after you get some rest.

[... haaa.

She's quiet for a moment at that, and then she takes a deep breath. She'll wake up. She'll wake up. It won't be the same as down there in that maze.

Not the same at all.

...]

Okay... that's a good idea. Sleep is healthy and good for you!

You bet it is!

[ . . . but he did notice that deep breath. So he's just going to go ahead and run his fingers through her hair just once as he promises-]

I'll make sure nothing happens to you, okay? Promise. I'll be right here.

[....and she is tired, after that entire experience, with the horror a little numbed. So that gesture is soothing, and she automatically snuggles a bit closer--

But then she mumbles:]

Don't stay too long...you'll get sick.

[She knows Haven's rules too well to know that he'll stay right there the whole night. But for now...this is probably enough.]

I know... I've risked it for you before though. What's a second time between friends?

[So he's just going to sigh and run his fingers through his hair again at that, resting his head on top of hers. True, he'll probably have to go back soon but... for now, he can try to lull her to sleep.]

Sweet dreams, pipsqueak.

[...She wants to argue it more, because she doesn't want him getting sick in her perfect blanket fort, okay--but this is comfortable and she's content and she doesn't want to move.

So instead she just yawns quietly before drifting off to sleep, curled towards him as if seeking that touch--he's warm, and so is she, and it reminds her that she's alive, and she isn't surrounded by corpses.

No, she's back.

And that's....enough.]

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