rainshaveceased

[How long has he known you!]

That silence tells me enough. I will worry far less if you actually confide in me.

I... find that difficult.

And why is that?

I should be the one taking care of you.

Elidibus.

[He leans back to frame Elidibus's face in his hands.]

We are meant to take care of one another. And if you are going to protest, I am your elder. If anyone were meant to look after the two of you, it would have been me.

-It doesn't matter that you are older. I'm supposed to help you.

We are supposed to be to help each other!

I am Elidibus. I have a duty towards you, towards all our people. You cannot ask me to ignore that.

Edited 2022-01-03 19:30 (UTC)

I am not asking you to ignore anything. You are the one ignoring that you are one of those selfsame people we have all had a duty to since we joined the convocation.

You are not exempt from support or being one of our people simply by your title of office, nor by being Zodiark's heart.

And I am not claiming to be exempt from support. All I am saying is that if I put your needs above my own, it is for a good reason.

I will be most vexed if you do that, Elidibus.

Then I suppose you will have to be vexed.

To what end is this stubbornness? What does it serve?

Have I not made my thoughts clear?

And have I not made mine? I feel no ease from knowing your burden yourself when you could rely on me. There is no lightening of my load from it, no relief, only dread.

You don't need to worry about me.

Of course I do. Just as you worry for myself and Hades, none of us will be free of worry for one another for the rest of our days I expect.

But-

[he has no arguments because he knows he's wrong here]

But, even so...

Speak to me, Elidibus.

I'm supposed to save you.

[He runs his fingers through Elidibus's hair.]

My gentle friend.... we put so much upon you. Too much. Desperation drove us, and you responded with strength and sacrifice, and every day I have wondered if only I were more clever, if there might have been any other way. One that didn't ask so much, so cruelly.

[His voice is soft and a little cracked as he pulls Elidibus closer.]

You saved us. You did truly. You did all we asked and more.

This time we have the opportunity to try to save each other. To find a way to save the world without sacrifice. To summon Zodiark without the power of lives, including your own.

I have always asked more of you than has ever been fair. And now I ask you to return to us. Just yourself. To find out who that is once more. To let us be your support as it always should have been.

[clings to him, trying to keep himself from shaking]

I... I will try. I will try.

[He runs his hand through his hair, holding him tight in his arms.]

That is all I ask. It will take time. But I do not wish you to reject this chance. I would see you reach out to something new.

[taking a few deep breaths, attempting to gather himself, but when he speaks again his voice is still a little uneven]

'Tis no easy task you give me, Speaker.

Have I ever gone so easy on you?

[His voice is gentle, a little teasing, but he doesn't let go.]

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