maskormenace | xenologue 3 || voice

So the day has worn on...and on. And the sky shows no sign of incoming terrors from where I'm standing. Will this be one of those long lapses I've heard tell of?

Whatever was done was enough, friends and imPorts. I'm grateful to those who found a way...

[a beat.

exhale.]

Forgive me. I wish to ask of things touched upon again and again -- much more than the span of days we've just endured. I've already read so much about the past here that I may go cross-eyed to scour any further, and...and there's...something to be said of hearing truths from first-hand sources.

Should you be willing, please tell me: how long did it take you to know for certain your friend or loved one has left-- returned, as it were. What did you do? How many days did it take you to find it in you to be certain?

...How did you know they had forgotten, too? All of this, good and ill. [with an empty laugh in her voice:] There's a lot to be said about fools who believe anything in life is certain, of course, but all the same... A fool like me can at least do her part to ask.

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holding out hope for a month is reasonable. i think after that it starts to fade regardless of how hard you try to keep it.

>private

are you okay?

[there's a little delay, and she sounds sorry for it:] Hello, Archie. Forgive me, I-- [ha.] My eyes are a bit tired from reading so much. [and straining so much, scouring streets from above.] But, ah... I've been searching for Owain. Since the day has finally marched forward in time, he's...

[it's what he'd expected and he'd used text to hide any emotion he might betray by talking but... lucina wants voice. she'll get voice. he switches.]

Ah-- sorry. I shoulda guessed, you did mention it.

[he's sitting at home, and is grateful for it when she confirms it out loud. he scrabbles around, finally grabbing the tv remote. it's... not the best thing for this situation, but gripping it tightly helps a bit. archie makes a mental note to get some stress balls or something.]

Are you at the Clocktower? If, uh, if you're okay for company I can bring something over...

[he selfishly hopes she says yes. if he's trying to help her, then he doesn't have to think about his own feelings on the matter.]

Oh, I'm-- My apologies, I'm not, actually... [mm...] Though...I ought to return soon all the same, if only to be sure Leo's doing alright. [she sounds like she already knows the answer to that.......because she does.]

It's kind of you to offer, all the same.

No-- it's fine. I get this is a hard time for you both, you just gotta do what you feel is right.

[he rubs a hand over his face.]

Er, do you wanna talk about it? If nothin' else I can help ya find stuff to keep you busy for a couple weeks.

[she makes a soft, kind sound, but it's really just a buffer for her to hesitate. she fears laying such things bare, especially like this, not only because it's unbecoming for a princess of Ylisse, but because she wants to keep at bay many sad memories that are tied with her loved ones vanishing despite promises of return.

she'll never hold it against herself for believing in them, nor hold it against them for dying, but it doesn't mean it doesn't ache terribly, even now! the promise of "oh they'll port back in such-and-such amount of days" is as flimsy as "oh we'll receive word by raven that they're on their way in such-and-such amount of days."]

I think...I'll go looking for some furnishings for that house of ours. It's gone quite unfinished since all this madness, hasn't it.

That sounds like a good idea. Uh-- I got something put in the garden for you. Or any visitors really, but they're mostly for you. You'll know 'em when you see 'em.

[anyway]

Do you know how to use a chip card? I can give you mind and just.. let you loose.

You needn't worry; there's still plenty of loose cash about the tower. [beat. oh--] And I've been better taught on how to handle it, too. It should be no issue...

[...]

But you ought to come along, as well. You have as much claim to the look of the place as I do...if not more. It was your idea in the first place, after all.

That's good. Crazy, but good.

[he can't help the small sigh that escapes him.]

I'll come if you want me to, but I get if you wanna be alone for some of it. Don't feel like you gotta drag me along for any reason.

I could hardly drag you anywhere you didn't already want to go, I wager, but all the same... [exhale.] Thank you. I don't feel much for shopping right now, but, perhaps later...that will change.

That time you suplexed me begs to differ...

[he snorts, though he's still got a vice grip on the tv remote. it might've cracked? fuck. well, whatever, he's not interested in it.]

Just-- don't push yourself too hard. I know... I know how hard it is to lose someone you love to the Porter, but you're a strong woman. You'll be able to pull through.

[even if he doesn't come back, goes unspoken.]

[there's little reaction to the offside comment -- not audibly, anyway. but she's got her video feed off, so the weak, crooked smirk she flashes for a moment comes and goes unseen.

and--gods, he doesn't have to say it aloud in no uncertain terms; that elicits a rogue tear that must be hastily brushed away and another composing breath is drawn to compensate.]

It may take reminders, but all the same. I'll do my best, as is to be expected.

You don't have to perform to expectations here. It's-- a blessing, I guess, but you can take your own time to deal with things.

[he shakes his head, then realises, too, that he has the video off.]

Do what you can, when you can. Nothing else.

[sure YOU can say that, but YOU'RE not 1. a princess nor 2. considering how BADLY ur cousin would feel if u spent all ur time moping. so. u know.

anyway.]

As you say. Thank you, Archie.

[he's the prettiest princess, how dare u]

Don't worry about it. Just... keep yourself safe, yeah?

xenologue 3 || voice

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