bindings | homophonic ❆ nahri

[she thinks about that for a second, trying to figure out who she might be talking about.]

Yes. I agree. [hmmm.] I have found the company of a few people enjoyable. There are two people from my world here, as well, though I hadn't met them before dying.

There are also a few people I know that have already paired themselves.

Enjoyable doesn't always mean trustworthy. We don't really know what anyone is like. They could be lying.

[ yes she realizes that this is applicable to them as well but like. too late now. ]

I've gotten along with most of the people I've talked to. It just a lot to ask someone 'hey do you trust me to play a game so you can live again.'

[this is fair. sometimes she forgets that people can lie because she doesn't ever really do it herself. she stretches her legs out and frowns at the floor.

and then she glances up at nahri with a neutral expression.]

I asked you, and you agreed. [ok you little shit]

[ she walked right into that though ]

Maybe I'm secretly a monster and you have no idea.

A real monster would recognize another. [she says, amused.]

Please don't tell me I've made the second worse mistake of my life by pairing up with you. [ also amused ]

The second worse mistake. [she repeats, lips twitching.]

No. I think that your fate will stand tall and bright apart from mine.

Shenhe. [ she gently touches her arm. ] We're on the same team, I'm not going to leave you behind.

[she startles a little at the touch, but she doesn't pull away.

it takes her a moment to think of what to say to that.]

... You should not be afraid to, if you have to. [she says, tilting her head. it's important to note that she isn't self-deprecating or anything, she just kind of thinks that it's pragmatic to think this way.] But thank you. You are kind.

[ the compliment is nice to hear. she's messed up a lot, and she hasn't always been nice when she should have been. it puts things into perspective in an odd way, but, nahri isn't the most navelgaze-y person. ]

I'm playing the same game as you. We're going to complete our team and we're going to win. We both have the same chance.

[ she isn't entertaining that first part, no ma'am. ]

[the confidence of this makes shenhe feel a little more bolstered. it's hard to feel anything at all, for her, but she takes the little things.]

I believe you. [which is hard for her to do, but it's genuine.

...] What do you think the tasks will be like?

[ she taps her chin thoughtfully. ]

Perhaps a series of tournaments? [ she pulls a face, ugh, no, she'd hate that. ] I assume we're in groups for a reason. Perhaps we'll have to devise our own tasks to complete depending on what magic we have?

[well the nice thing is that we have a balanced team ig]

I suppose I should practice with the magic I have, in that case.

[ and now our luck is gone for the rest of the game ]

It sounds like you have a pretty good grasp of the concept already. When you were trying to help me, you mentioned how you thought of your ice magic. I was told the same thing when it came to my healing magic. Use the intent of your magic to focus on what you're trying to do.

[the intent of your magic. she thinks about what she told nahri, and how much of it was instinct. that might be a little bit of a relief, that it comes so naturally.]

I suppose the intent isn't what is new, but the way it forms. I have yet to get used to the way fire reacts.

[which is why so many bushes have been on fire lately]

[ she can't help but feel a little jealous. ]

I could barely summon fire when I was learning it. Maybe your intent is too... intense?

[there is a huff of a noise that's almost like amusement.]

That may be it. [... she glances at nahri.] That is supposed to be what the red ropes are for. I hope they haven't lost effectiveness.

[ she frowns. ] Are they magic? They could have stopped working when the rest of our magic got taken away.

You would know if they had stopped working entirely.

[sweats]

Oh. [ she isn't going to pry, but this feels like the sort of information she needs to file away for later. ]

Then I guess you'll just have to learn the hard way: with a lot of practice.

It would be easier if it wasn't so tiring.

[she holds out her hand in front of her.] Have you tried to use yours in quick succession?

[ She shakes her head. ]

I've only had to heal one person at a time, and the injuries weren't too severe.

It exhausts you. [she opens her mouth - and then actually closes it instead of just saying what she was going to say, in an amazing show of control. there is a faint sense of guilt coming from her because the reason she knows this is because of fight club saturday.]

Well, then I hope there aren't a bunch of people that need to be healed in quick succession.

[ she gives shenhe a pointed look - just for a moment. ]

Thank you for telling me though. I'll keep that in mind in the unfortunate event I have to plan around it.

[sweats loudly]

... You're welcome. [how does nahri like being shenhe's child leash,] I said that I would try not to inconvenience you. I will continue to try.

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ashmark - 2023-06-12 07:19 (UTC) - Expand