boxofkururu | new cmo

[Even his touch feels warm. There's a light to him so unlike the darkness in other Ascians. Naltryd swallows hard, nodding for him to follow her. There's an out of the way bench near the building, where she doubts anyone will come across them at this point of night.

She sits down, not quite looking back up at him yet.]

Explain.

[ And so, he removes his hood, as to let his face look... as it was before. His voice is near a whisper - worried that others may hear, even if his tongue is misunderstood. ]

As... you can see clearly, I'm a Paragon.[ He uses that term for them? It sounds a lot more fitting for him then Ascian - he never truly felt as if he fit their role. ] I came to this land to take the role of one to aid in manipulating Ishgard - a task I discarded quickly, once I found how wonderfully splendid everybody was.

[ He can't help but chuckle - sadly - as he keeps his gaze focused. Francel began this path, as did Edmont. But more and more people showed him light. But he muses to himself, however, tapping his fingers against his legs. ]

...I never said I was a good Paragon. Perhaps because I came from somewhere which lacked Light...

A Paragon? I've never...heard of such a thing. Who do you work for? How did you... Was there ever another Haurchefant whose body you inhabited?

[None of this makes sense. Part of her wishes to just throw her arms around the man and cry, but the situation leaves her too baffled to do that. It hasn't fully set in yet.]

...I'm the only Haurchefant there is. Please - there could never be another like me.

[ He pauses, softly, leaning backwards. ]

I suppose the native word for them is Ascian. I always forget.

No. There...never could be another like Haurchefant. Like...

[Like you, she wants to say, but she's too scared to let the words fall off her tongue. Naltryd can fell gods and stand up against an empire, but to come face to face with what feels like the ghost of one of her dearest friends is what paralyzes her with fear.]

I want to believe you. Every part of logic is telling me not to. For all I'm aware, this could simply be a trap. You could just be an illusion. Yet still, I want to believe.

[ Softly, he places a hand to her once more. A smile on his lips, as he looks upwards to the skies. ]

Then believe. I promise not to harm you - I'm tired of the fight. We stopped Nidhogg - we both deserve rest.

I still have so many questions. I still do not understand.

[But finally, she lets herself fall. She truly does need rest.

Her arms wrap around Haurchefant's shoulders, and she pulls the elezen into a tight hug. It's funny how he even smells almost the same, which shouldn't make any logical sense, and yet there it is. Maybe it's her mind being clouded by nostalgia, maybe it's because it's just what she wants to believe, but for this moment, she doesn't care.]

[ A hug...

Haurchefant missed this, wrapping his long Elezen arms around her - before moving to give her forehead a soft kiss.

But he can't help but whisper, speak more, everything weighing down on him. He's done something he shouldn't. ]

Moments like this are splendid, are they not?

Moments like this are what I fight for.

[She takes a deep, shuddering breath, holding him tighter. Naltryd clings to him almost as if a child, needing to be reassured by the solid feel of his body against her own. To actually feel that he's real, that he's there.]

Haurchefant...

You deserve them, Naltryd...

[ She fights so much - he grips tighter, his hands beginning to relax, and his own tears beginning to fall. Though he still smiled, the emotions were getting to him. ]

It truly is you? You... You... You idiot!

[She suddenly gives him a hard thump on the shoulder.]

How could you throw your life away so carelessly?! How could you even for a moment think that...that I could forgive that?

[The question is silly, and she knows it. After all, Naltryd would gladly give her life for any of her comrades. But the pain has never left.]

[ At the sudden anger - the sudden question - Haurchefant can't help but... laugh. ]

I had to. If you had been struck down, who knows what would have happen?

[ Without a Warrior of Light, the world would fall to ruin. But that's not what Haurchefant thinks of when he thinks of Naltryd, no. ]

...For one, the world would have lost a wondrous friend. [ beat ] I... was planning on telling you, you know. Somehow, I'd make it work. But I couldn't simply rise after I died - I wouldn't wish to give anybody a heart attack.

[She gives him another thump before that hand moves up to wipe away a tear gathered at her eyelid.]

You're still a fool. Such a fool... Not one day has passed since then that I don't think of you, not one week goes by without me reliving that terror in my dreams.

[ Don't mind him moving to kiss that hand, in his splendid manner. A soft kiss. ]

...If I had appeared, would I have not caused worse nightmares? Sometimes, there are... choices I make that I wish could have gone differently.

[If she was anything close to a maiden, she'd blush at that kiss. As it stands, she's never been close. But it still sends a pang through her heart, not a bad one, either.]

I would have known that I wouldn't have truly lost you.

...Paragon are cruelty. Would you have not desired to slaugter me like any other? Like those who stood in your way. Ah, the tales I've listened to of those times - of White Auracite and the new use of Nidhoggs' cursed Eyes!

[He has a point in that she hasn't hesitated to fight any Ascian in her way. Naltryd doesn't regret that, and she still intends to defeat any in her path.

...in her path, being the point.]

Are you cruelty, Haurchefant?

[ He pauses - pondering his answer - before looking to the ground. ]

...I was. For letting everybodies' hearts fall to pain - to hurt those I love.

That... Your intentions were always noble. You always were noble. You wouldn't have left us if you could have helped it...yes?

[She shifts a little, another question yet on her tongue. It's some time before she finally blurts it out.]

Will you leave again?

...I wouldn't. I would have stayed, if that body could survive.

[ his musings were quiet, holding her closer. as if it wasn't strange he was how he was, like this was normal. ]

I've decided. I shall stay - even if I must linger in shadows, as I... I'm dead to the world at large.

I cannot lose you again.

[She gives him a squeeze. Half of her still thinks this is a cruel dream she'll wake up soon from, with nothing but a cold bed to envelop her instead of this embrace. It's all so strange and unreal to think that all along, Haurchefant was an Ascian--Paragon--whatever it is.]

[ he doesn't want to let go. not now, not ever. but a slight chill makes him sigh, as he looks back to the rising stones. ]

It's quite well warded - I couldn't get in. Of course, it was but one of many spots I could have seeked you out, but why not one of rest and companionship?

With all my duties still, I spend more time outside than I do in there. There is still so much yet to be done, even with the end of this war... But I won't always be in a place you cannot reach. How could I be? I doubt I'm going back to sleep in there tonight as it stands.

[Because she'd rather slumber on the cold stone with Haurchefant than in a bed alone right now. If this is a dream, then she can't let go yet.]

Won't you be cold?

[ he laughed a little, letting his arms release her... so he could begin to de-robe, removing the white cloak to reveal he had a soft woolen bodysuit underneath, covering him.

and then throwing the cloak over them, like a blanket. ]

Even if Mor Dhona isn't the same as my old Camp, we still need to beware. A Hero with a cold cannot be looked up to by their peers in quite the same way.

new cmo

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