( KENOS ) COMMUNION.

[appeale]

come on, wake up.	you have to be careful.
don't make mistakes.	you know how quickly kindness can turn into violence.

( CODE BY WHAMBAM )

Comments

[appeale]

Thank you, but you shouldn't waste your reputation on someone like me.

[ she doesn't want him to end up resenting her for it later. ]

I really will be fine. Even if I have to spend the rest of our time here hiding in Set's temple... I'll live. As long as I live, that's enough.

[hauntedking]

Believe me, I can look after my own reputation.

[ He is not going to back away from this. ]

I won't gainsay your decision. But I will help, if you need it.

[appeale]

[ a long pause, and the sense of hesitation—like a wary stray animal, not quite brave enough to approach an outstretched hand, but. choosing not to scurry back into the dark, at least. ]

... Thanks. I do mean that.

[ for the sentiment, if nothing else. she wouldn't hold him to the promise itself. ]

I never took you out for gelato, did I? [ back when he could think of her as cheerful and sweet, when she might have been good company. before she ruined it. there's no value in her presence now. ] Sorry.

[hauntedking]

[ He knows the feeling; he was on the other end of that, although perhaps not in the same way or for the same reasons. So he just keeps the offer there, unwilling to withdraw it. ]

There's no time like the present.

[ There's a trace of amusement in his voice. ]

But I don't hold that against you. Things have been... strange.

[appeale]

For you too, huh?

[ she doesn't bother to pay much attention to the lives of others unless it concerns her. she's had a turbulent few months, but she's sure Dimitri's situation would be for different reasons. ]

[hauntedking]

Yes. I'm not sure how I feel about the attention... although I suppose I should consider myself fortunate it's more positive.

[ There's a slow sigh. ]

I won't trouble you with a description, though. Suffice to say it's been... challenging.

[appeale]

I was going to say we'd go get gelato when my reputation is a little less dire... Maybe we should wait until it dies down for both of us.

[ if he's the darling of Meridian at the moment, it would be even worse for her to be seen fraternising with him. ]

It's... a little unfair, don't you think? The way they treat us.

[hauntedking]

A little, I think.

[ He's generally the sort of person to try and think the best of people, but still... ]

None of us asked to be here or to be summoned or to fight for this cause, whichever side we choose. The people judging us for how well we take to it...

[ He laughs. ]

...I know war and life don't give us that luxury of choice all the time. But being held up as a champion for a cause like this, for a faction we're suddenly thrust into - it feels off, somehow. No matter how much I want to bring it all back.