bindings | homophonic ❆ nahri

What are you familiar with? You told me a little about your world. Are there trees?

There are trees. [ she nods. ] Not like this, they're tall and skinny and have broad leaves at the top. [ she hesitates. ]

...And recently I've been able to walk pathways like this and see this big lush gardens, but I'm not used to that, either.

That sounds a little like Sumeru. [she looks up into the trees.

a pause.] You seem sad, when you talk about home. I don't want to upset you by asking.

There's quite a few of us from similar places.

[ she's been good at dodging further questions about home. it's not something she prefers to dwell on or bring attention to, but this time she mulls her answer around for a moment before answering. ]

I'm just homesick. [ hm. ]

I suppose I shouldn't be. I have my own infirmary, my own patients, I live in a palace... or I did, before-- [ she died. she shakes that thought away. ] There's a lot going on. A lot I'll have to return to, if we win.

I promised that we would.

[win, she means. she intends to keep that promise.]

You live in a palace and are to be married to a man who I am not allowed to kill. [if you didn't know any better you might hear some annoyance in her tone...] Do you enjoy healing people, Nahri? Is it something that makes you happy?

[ no one had asked her this before, so she's a little surprised. still, her answer comes easily: ] Yes.

[ but. ]

It doesn't really matter what I want. I have to heal people anyway. Or try to...

[a frown.]

It does matter what you want. [stubborn!!!]

Oh, Shenhe. [ she gently squeezes her hand. they're two stubborn forces in opposing directions. to nahri's credit, she isn't on the verge of tears this time. she understands her position and is being realistic about it. ]

No one else sees it that way. It's what the king wants, or what my people want, or what- what's expected of me.

Then make them.

[she says, firmly.] Make them see it that way. If you are going to make it through all of this, you will go back to a world that respects you.

[she will never let this go!!]

[ believe her, it's not that she doesn't want to. in fact, she would really, really like if her attempts to do so were recognized and she'd stop being chastised for things beyond her control and/or understanding. it's messy, and she doesn't know how to explain that without being dismissive of someone who is genuinely trying to support her. she doesn't want to cause any harm. so she doesn't. ]

Yeah. [ it sounds lame when she says it. ]

[shenhe isn't very good at nuance, so - this is probably the smart option. she pauses when nahri gives her the little yeah, and frowns. but. she doesn't argue further. instead, she holds nahri's hand a little more tightly, and tugs her off further into the park.]

... You should tell me when I say something wrong. [she says, voice flat as ever.]

You didn't. [ she responds quickly, wanting to reassure. except that without explanation, does it really do anything?

she follows shenhe along on their path, taking a moment to look at the passing greenery. it helps her ease off her feelings. because she certainly has a lot of them all the time. she's never been one to confide much in others, but she also never really had anyone to confide in before. ]

There's just a lot that happened, and I don't know where to start. Or end.

[one person who has a lot of emotions, and one person who doesn't, what a combination.]

I will listen to whatever you want to tell me. [she says, after a moment. it's not a push to keep going if she doesn't want to, just an offer.] Or we can just walk.

I enjoy your company either way.

Thanks, Shenhe. [ and she really means it. ] I like spending time with you, too.

...Let's just walk for a little while.

[ she'll come back to her whole mess later. it's always going to be later. ]

[a little nod. she's genuinely glad about that.

they can walk! they do walk. the squirrels probably harass them a little, though - at least one climbs up shenhe's leg, though she doesn't seem to care very much. it stares at nahri.]

[ nahri immediately jumps away (sorry to their hand holding) ]

Shenhe, there's one of those bushy rats on your leg.

[ she is so on edge SHE HATES THESE THINGS ]

[rip handholding...]

Hm? Oh. [she looks down at the squirrel.] Yes. It's probably hungry.

[... uhhhhh well she doesn't have any food but she's made such a bad habit of feeding them all morning that they see her and just Expect It]

[ hateful. ]

What do you mean it's hungry? It's on your leg!

[ she can't say she's surprised by the lack of reaction but like. girl. please. ]

If it bites me, I will set it on fire.

[obviously]

Does it bother you? [i want you to know that she threatens to murder birds if they wake up the main character in genshin so like, that should give you an idea of where this is going]

[ nahri is not pro-animal violence, so she quickly raises up a hand like NO!!! ]

Don't set it on fire! Just-- Just scoop it off your leg!

[the whiplash of these threads

she leans down to scoop the squirrel off of her, and then holds it out away from her as it squeaks angrily. she kind of just. looks at it.]

Shenheee-- [ you're killing her smalls ]

Put it down!

[...

drops it

the squirrel makes the angriest chittering sound in the world and darts up a tree, glaring at both of them. shenhe just glares back.]

[ nahri scurries to shenhe's side and grabs her arm. ]

Don't.

[NYEH]

It is testing fate.

(no subject)

ashmark - 2023-06-23 00:01 (UTC) - Expand