Aurelia
He may have become silent but she could still feel his emotions thrumming through the bond, as present and steady as the beat of a heart - but just as quieted by all the noise outside. She had never known Deimos in this way, never could have, before. The gifts from her Attunement have granted her deeper insights into the thoughts, the emotions of others. So she tentatively broaches that connection, focuses on it, trying to tell what it is the Sword is feeling. Beneath his steely exterior, she can feel his battle-torn pain and memories stronger than anything. It gives her pause, makes her heart sink in her chest. It gives her no more confidence for the outcomes in the inevitable future of Caido.
And the sting of her words that he tries to push back. The feeling is grating, even if brief. Which words, she can guess, but she doesn't say much further on that. She doesn't blind herself to the part she played in things, a part she had no need for. She should've done things differently, just the same as the rest of them. She had been shocked to find out Deimos' direct involvement in it, and her prior interactions with him had caused her to hesitate in doing anything directly against him. Never mind the fact that she hadn't the strength or means to contain him. She couldn't bring herself to even consider trying.
Her gaze softens, lungs reverberating with relief to know that he didn't want to be enemies either. Me too, she agrees somberly, though she knows that - truly - it can't be forgotten. Even between them, even if they agree to move on from it, they will always remember it. But if she could help it, she would keep it from becoming a cause for discourse.
Where do you reside now? She had heard some things after Deimos and Hotaru were banished from Torchline, but not much. Her ears swivel with uncertainty. I mean.. if you don't want to say, I understand. After Morgan took Halo back, I only hoped that you both wouldn't set against Torchline again, since Sunjata had left. But I wasn't sure, and then... I never saw or heard from either of you, then I.. disappeared, myself. I still haven't seen Hotaru since she escaped. Her ears twitch and her gaze drags away, a mixture of emotions stirring quietly on her side of the bond. She had always been paranoid that the Valkyrie would one day return to finish her off. There had even been a time that she considered doing something horribly immoral if such a thing did occur. A low point, even for her.
Now? I hope she's found some sort of peace, the words are quiet, as if she hasn't spoken them aloud before. She knows that Hotaru had been egregiously hurt, even if she didn't feel that her actions were justified. That pain had been what drove her to anger, Aurelia could understand that much at least. And she had only further fueled it with her own actions. Her gaze returns to Deimos, a shift within it as she comes back from her thoughts, I hope you both have.
And the sting of her words that he tries to push back. The feeling is grating, even if brief. Which words, she can guess, but she doesn't say much further on that. She doesn't blind herself to the part she played in things, a part she had no need for. She should've done things differently, just the same as the rest of them. She had been shocked to find out Deimos' direct involvement in it, and her prior interactions with him had caused her to hesitate in doing anything directly against him. Never mind the fact that she hadn't the strength or means to contain him. She couldn't bring herself to even consider trying.
Her gaze softens, lungs reverberating with relief to know that he didn't want to be enemies either. Me too, she agrees somberly, though she knows that - truly - it can't be forgotten. Even between them, even if they agree to move on from it, they will always remember it. But if she could help it, she would keep it from becoming a cause for discourse.
Where do you reside now? She had heard some things after Deimos and Hotaru were banished from Torchline, but not much. Her ears swivel with uncertainty. I mean.. if you don't want to say, I understand. After Morgan took Halo back, I only hoped that you both wouldn't set against Torchline again, since Sunjata had left. But I wasn't sure, and then... I never saw or heard from either of you, then I.. disappeared, myself. I still haven't seen Hotaru since she escaped. Her ears twitch and her gaze drags away, a mixture of emotions stirring quietly on her side of the bond. She had always been paranoid that the Valkyrie would one day return to finish her off. There had even been a time that she considered doing something horribly immoral if such a thing did occur. A low point, even for her.
Now? I hope she's found some sort of peace, the words are quiet, as if she hasn't spoken them aloud before. She knows that Hotaru had been egregiously hurt, even if she didn't feel that her actions were justified. That pain had been what drove her to anger, Aurelia could understand that much at least. And she had only further fueled it with her own actions. Her gaze returns to Deimos, a shift within it as she comes back from her thoughts, I hope you both have.
keep your face always toward the sunshine
and shadows will fall behind you
and shadows will fall behind you
