lunarborn | [Action]

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[After the events of the previous week, the mature thing to do would have been to would have been to take the awkward stares and deliver his humble apologies like a man. Yet after spending a week steeped in the most negative emotions he'd indulged in even the darkest of fantasies, it was easier to keep to himself.

He'd been spending quite a bit of time along the southeastern banks of the river running outside the village, staying outdoors to avoid the all-encompassing yet entirely oppressive forgiveness that awaited him at home. He would make amends and pay his dues in time, but for now, there was still the matter of coping with what was within him that the experiment had tapped to affect his actions.

The man lying faceup on the riverbank would still be visibly bruised despite sharing living space with a mage proficient in the healing arts. He'd been grateful to have been pulled from the precipice of death, yes, but wished to let the tender achy muscles, dark bruises, and angry gashes heal on their own as penance. It was in this way that he watched the sky begin to darken, chronicling the sun's slow journey towards rest.]

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[He turned, hesitantly, facing her while his eyes stared somewhere off to the side of her.]

You've gone to a healer, I hope.

[Her gaze couldn't quite meet his either, so she wasn't about to criticize. If only they could get past this extremely awkward phase...but some matters were difficult to rush, if not impossible.]

I am a healer, now. Not on par with Rosa, but the local healing spirit taught me. So, I'm...recovered.

[Rydia had grown so much since he'd last seen her. It somehow fit for her to be able to use white magic again, like things had come full circle and she'd reconnected with a lost part of her youth.]

Congratulations. I remember how much you'd loved it before. [His thoughts drifted to the games she'd make over healing his light wounds, and how much gil he'd wasted on the little treats and whims she'd demanded. The memory made him smile and chuckle softly, which in turn reminded him of the pain, and the fact that laughing wasn't very pertinent of him. The mirth petered out.]

[Those memories briefly came to mind at Cecil's triggering and she smiled a little, remembering how easy it was to bend the guilt-filled dark knight to her whims. With those big eyes and a refrain of 'Mommy would have bought it for me' there was little Cecil wouldn't have done for her. What a brat. Her smile faded as Cecil's chuckle did.]

Cecil...I don't want us to avoid each other forever. We shouldn't be doing that here anyway, not when greater forces are set against us.

Nor do I. And yet... [he paused, sighing.] You've no reason to forgive me for the things I did, less for the things I said.. The pull of this place is stronger than I'd anticipated.

[She couldn't argue with that last statement, having felt the same way before. However, Rydia wasn't about to let him slip away again without getting in some important comments.]

But I do forgive you. What happened...that wasn't you, don't you think I know that by now? You would never have behaved that way, where it not for the manipulations of our captors.

[He looked at her then at last. Though she'd become a woman physically, her face hadn't changed since he'd first met her. There was maturity in her young face, but also irrepressible innocence. He cherished that trait in her. It horrified him that he had nearly torn that innocence away from her.]

You've always been too quick to trust me. Though I thank you for it.

Not really.

[Rydia shook her head and smiled a little. She took a step closer since they finally made eye contact.]

I made you earn that trust, remember? As for...recent past, I can't blame you for what was beyond your control. Let's place that blame where it belongs and not let Them tear us apart.

[Cecil smiled at that, closing the distance remaining between them and taking her in his arms, chastely this time.] Well said. We've overcome impossible circumstances before. It is merely a matter of doing it again.

Exactly.

[Aw, Rydia needed that hug. She happily returned it, relieved now that the awkwardness was past them.]

Cecil....

Hm? [Cecil disconnected from Rydia carefully, submitting to the demands of the spear-shaped openings in his torso.]

[She wasn't going to mention it like this but impulse took hold.]

I've been thinking...perhaps it would be easier to defend ourselves and each other, if those of us who were interested snagged one of the houses here, instead of being scattered. I haven't asked around yet -only spoken about it with one other in passing- but the idea's growing on me....

[He smiled.] I'd love to. I'm certain Rosa would appreciate having you closeby as well. Though I'm not sure Kain would be so easily persuaded... [The corners of his mouth turned downward then. He hadn't spoken to Kain yet, and still wasn't sure how to begin approaching him.]

[She frowned a little at that, as well.]

I could let him know that he's welcome...but I have doubts he would agree to it, as well. Perhaps it's for the best, as long as he's not left to himself too much. No running off to the mountains for weeks on end without so much as a word.

Is that where he's hidden himself now? [Cecil murmured distantly, having only listened to half of what Rydia had just told him.]

...it's likely. He speaks of that whenever these experiments have been too hard on him. Which is often.

(ooc: Aww, cute icon. <3)

I see. [The thought of being unable to rescue Kain's happiness hit him as yet another failure; he'd betrayed the only brother he knew, and the Guilt was strong.] We'll just have to see to it that Kain isn't overtaken by another of these experiments. Time is critical. [There was no trust in his own words, though. As much as he tried to appear positive for Rydia's stake, his confidence remained shaken.]

((OOC: Nowhere NEAR as cute as Rydia/Cecil DRAWING awwww ;_;))

[Rydia noticed that, and she hugged him again. She couldn't claim any great success with Kain either, thanks to the dragoon's stubbornness, and that bothered her.]

At least we can show him that we care, and are around if he needs or wants us. You know he won't say it, but he doesn't always want to be alone....

[owowoOW too tight on the recently dislocated shoulder SOOOOOOOOOOB being a Man hurt sometimes. ;_;

He endured her hug patiently.] If he seeks solitude, his wishes ought to be respected. It is his decision alone. All we can do is support him upon his return.

[She felt him stiffen and immediately moved away, enough to concentrate and send some healing energy in his direction.]

He can't always be left alone to brood, too much of that isn't good for him. Everyone needs balance. Besides, I think he's used to me checking on him.

Please don't. [He murmured as he felt himself begin to feel better.] I'd like to heal on my own. I deserve this pain.

[She didn't listen, healing him as much as she could before he could push her away.]

No, you don't! Weren't you listening? This is Their fault! Besides, we need you. What if there was an emergency? If you insist on penance, then let yourself be healed and go train so that you can help us defend this place more effectively.

It isn't a matter of fault, Rydia. [He wanted to be angered by her, but it was still Rydia, and they had simply experienced too much to spark negativity.] It's a matter of you. And Rosa, and Kain as well. I understand the influence our captors have over this place, but that doesn't change the fact that I should have been able to stop myself without help. [Even though he'd often defended the actions of those acting under possession by insisting that everyone was equally susceptible, Cecil had been positive that all his so-called spiritual cleansing would have built up a tolerance that would have helped fight against evil spirits and the like. Not so, apparently.]

If there is an emergency, I can heal myself. [With his ghetto toddler-level Curas that could barely cure a papercut under Luceti's power dampeners. INDEPENDENCE!]

[Rydia sighed. She couldn't mind-read but it didn't take much to guess his train of thought.]

Cecil...you've accomplished so much and you know I think highly of your abilities, but no one is immune to this place. They're more powerful than anything we've faced, enough to enslave people equal to our power and possibly beyond. I'm not saying we should just accept that -ever- but it's something we have to keep in mind until we can find a way to stop it.

[Her common sense tone lasted that long, and then Rydia's shoulders slumped. Sniffle.]

Please, Cecil. Don't think you have to do everything yourself.

[Cecil would have been able to dispute most logic thrown in the way of a good bit of angst with little effort, but then Rydia had to go and start crying.. And, in a Pavlovian response, Cecil promptly melted. He rested a palm on Rydia's shoulder.] Please. Don't be so-- I'm sorry, Rydia. I shouldn't have upset you so. Please don't cry.

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