CHULANE
He nodded along, also focussing on his food, as she confirmed that her life had been heavily influenced by these powerful, mystical beings. He knew she was on some kind of quest, a journey that required great strength from her, which he had wanted to help with, in any way his relatively new and inexperienced self could help. Chuy didn't know more than that, at least on a detailed level. Kia had told him that she had been in battles, that she had been thrust across different planes of existence, different worlds and cosmic beings - it would seem she was a plaything of these and many other gods.
Perhaps he was too, he was just at a different point - at a starting point in this great, sick, cosmic game these beings were determined to play.
He had tried to lighten the tone, to shift the conversation to something friendlier, something less doom and gloom - but when she spoke to him, her entire tone and posture shifting, he abandoned that idea, giving in to her need to say something, to share, to open up. It was what he had wanted all this time, right? To have earned her trust, to share the weight she carried with her always, to lighten her emotional load, so that she could live and exist in the present, without constantly worrying that her past would come to ruin her present and future.
How bad could it be, after all?
And so he listened, swallowing his mouthful of meat, washing it down with a gulp of water, pausing the consumption of his meal so that he could give her all of his attention. And what he heard… was a lot. A lot a lot.
He was silent for a time, his expression unreadable, his mind awhirl. He continued to watch her, to look at her, consider her, with his glacial depths, even if she no longer met his gaze.
Time passed, and he wasn't sure how much. His mind was able to work through problems pretty efficiently - it was how he got so far in his career at the young age he had - so it was likely only a few long minutes since Kia's revelation. He reached across the table for her hand once more, hoping to disturb the momentary disconnect, the rift that had appeared between them, to encourage her to look at him once more, to find that he was not so easily scared away. Then he took a deep breath, and spoke.
"You are an incredibly strong woman Kia, do you know that?" He began, his tone serious, genuine, insistent that she believe him. "I think that this Kisamoa recognised that strength within you, and wanted to use it to further his own means. Maybe you were a fool, or naïve, or blind to his true intentions back then, but who could claim to be otherwise? Kia, you wanted to improve yourself to help your family - there is no shame in that." he squeezed her hand, emphasising his point. But he was not done.
"How many can say they have never made a mistake in their youth? He manipulated you Kia. It sounds to me like you weren't the only one, either." He lifted his hand up to her neck, leaning over the table so he could reach up and stroke the deep scar that marked her so. "Doesn't seem like something that causes you such pain, even now, is much of a reward." He murmured, moving his hand back to rest on the table.
"I see before me a woman who is still as strong, if not stronger than before. The real question is whether she is wiser, hm?" He was still serious, still solemn, but as he raised his eyebrow and posed the question at her, a small shadow of a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. He was still very much here, steadfast and strong, not scared away by her revelations, her confessions, instead accepting them as a part of her.
Perhaps he was too, he was just at a different point - at a starting point in this great, sick, cosmic game these beings were determined to play.
He had tried to lighten the tone, to shift the conversation to something friendlier, something less doom and gloom - but when she spoke to him, her entire tone and posture shifting, he abandoned that idea, giving in to her need to say something, to share, to open up. It was what he had wanted all this time, right? To have earned her trust, to share the weight she carried with her always, to lighten her emotional load, so that she could live and exist in the present, without constantly worrying that her past would come to ruin her present and future.
How bad could it be, after all?
And so he listened, swallowing his mouthful of meat, washing it down with a gulp of water, pausing the consumption of his meal so that he could give her all of his attention. And what he heard… was a lot. A lot a lot.
He was silent for a time, his expression unreadable, his mind awhirl. He continued to watch her, to look at her, consider her, with his glacial depths, even if she no longer met his gaze.
Time passed, and he wasn't sure how much. His mind was able to work through problems pretty efficiently - it was how he got so far in his career at the young age he had - so it was likely only a few long minutes since Kia's revelation. He reached across the table for her hand once more, hoping to disturb the momentary disconnect, the rift that had appeared between them, to encourage her to look at him once more, to find that he was not so easily scared away. Then he took a deep breath, and spoke.
"You are an incredibly strong woman Kia, do you know that?" He began, his tone serious, genuine, insistent that she believe him. "I think that this Kisamoa recognised that strength within you, and wanted to use it to further his own means. Maybe you were a fool, or naïve, or blind to his true intentions back then, but who could claim to be otherwise? Kia, you wanted to improve yourself to help your family - there is no shame in that." he squeezed her hand, emphasising his point. But he was not done.
"How many can say they have never made a mistake in their youth? He manipulated you Kia. It sounds to me like you weren't the only one, either." He lifted his hand up to her neck, leaning over the table so he could reach up and stroke the deep scar that marked her so. "Doesn't seem like something that causes you such pain, even now, is much of a reward." He murmured, moving his hand back to rest on the table.
"I see before me a woman who is still as strong, if not stronger than before. The real question is whether she is wiser, hm?" He was still serious, still solemn, but as he raised his eyebrow and posed the question at her, a small shadow of a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. He was still very much here, steadfast and strong, not scared away by her revelations, her confessions, instead accepting them as a part of her.
it is better to know some of the questions
than all of the answers
than all of the answers
