bindings | homophonic ❆ nahri

[ "that's fair" isn't in her vocabularly. if only she could articulate that feeling. ]

It's a hard decision to make. Especially when you've been hurt.

[she exhales out slow.]

I will decide after tomorrow, I think. [she can't find it in her to feel a whole lot more than just "bury it six feet under" at the moment.]

[ she's quiet for a good long while. ]

I can only hope that whatever you decide, we can still be... [ she takes a breath ] we can still preserve our team.

[that finally makes her look up.]

That was never in question. [...] You, Vash, and Wolfwood are the only people I am certain I can rely on.

I will always support you, Shenhe. I will always support this team. But your decisions will effect other people too. I won't interfere if you no longer want to be kind. [ there's an edge to her voice, but she isn't outwardly sad, or angry, or much of anything ]

--But don't think that it won't change things.

[another long pause.

she brings a hand up to run over the bindings, absently.]

I find you so difficult to predict.

[ she rubs the side of her face and drags the hand down. ]

It's been a long day. I'm tired.

[she watches her do that, and then, a little softer:] I don't want to disappoint you.

[ aw damn it. ]

You have to do things for yourself too, Shenhe. [ the edge in her voice is gone. ]

I'm just a thief from Cairo. It doesn't matter what I think.

All that I do, I do for myself. [she says, a little dismissively. before coming here, that was her existence, save for a few flukes.

a pause.]

It matters to me what you think. You are not just anything.

[ she looks at her and sighs. ]

Stop it, I can't cry anymore.

[ she is truly exhausted. ]

[help]

... That wasn't my intention. [she is so alarmed by this]

[ she trudges over to lean on her. ]

I know.

[very

very carefully, like one would with a cat that just chose to sit on them, shenhe wraps an arm around her.]

[ nahri is less careful when she latches onto shenhe. ]

[oh, okay

well, in that case, she just hugs her tightly.

she just. needs a little bit of humanity to hold onto.]

[ cathartic.

this energizes her a little. ]

I'm sorry I'm so difficult.

I don't think that it's you.

[shenhe knows she's hard mode when it comes to socializing.]

I'm not letting you take all the credit.

[a little heh.]

Alright. [...] ... I'd like to ask you what your thoughts on today are.

[ she just kinda. slumps against her. ]

Bad.

[ a beat. ]

I had it, Shenhe. I just couldn't prove my answer.

[she holds her up, resting her hand on the back of nahri's head.]

You were trying. [...] I was not. So I'm proud of you for doing so.

[ her cheeks flush. ]

That's not good enough. We could have picked for the wrong team.

Yes. [a pause.]

... Will you always try to vote for the right team? Even if you don't like the answer.

...Yes.

Unless it's ours. [ she glances away ]

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bindings - 2023-06-25 15:56 (UTC) - Expand

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ashmark - 2023-06-25 16:00 (UTC) - Expand