He couldn't have ever imagined that he'd be hearing of something like this, but he's as honest as he was when he stated that it hadn't changed how he'd seen her. It was surprising, among other things--such as even horrifying to know she suffered a fate--but at the end of the day, right now, she was still alive.
And if there's anything Terra wanted to do right now, or anytime he could, it would be to be there for those who mattered to him. He didn't mind at all and nothing would ever change that. ]
I'll be here for as long as you need.
[ The brunet thought to amend to what he'd said not too long ago. It was late, but as far as he's concerned, they had more than enough time on their hands. ]
[ That's also what she always tells everyone else. It's...strange, to hear it repeated back.
She doesn't stop crying for awhile. Eventually, it fades, to shaking shoulders and hitched breaths, and she finds herself pulling away, gently, after that. Rebecca still can't bring herself to be comfortable in the arms of a man she's recently met for long--but, it helps...it helps knowing she's so many more friends, to have her back.
Still, she can't bring herself to look up at him. Breathy and quiet, it's like she wants to disappear into the ground. ]
Th- thank you, I... [ Breath catches. ] I d- didn't mean to...completely fall to pieces, but I- ...w-well, I guess I was overdue.
[ It's a miserable statement, a half-joke, but it's true; just about every week, she's crushed by another new revelation...or the weight of those that keep piling up. ]
[ People wouldn't think it at first glance, maybe, but he's a very patient man, and he doesn't mind waiting for her to compose herself. He'd indicated he was willing to wait, after all.
Terra smiles, but it's a slight thing and not at all inappropriate for the given situation--not altogether humorous or overly so. ]
It's no problem--I'm just glad I was able to help.
[ To be a pillar of strength when someone needed it, and he'll slowly draw his arms away. ]
...It did sound like you were. [ ... ] No offense, or anything, it's just something like that's hard to carry on your shoulders by yourself.
I... A few of the others know. Connor...a-and Hank.
[ It puts her argument with Connor in new light as well, probably. ]
Last...week, I- I was...g-going to, after coming to terms with it, tell some people, but then...A-Ash's jacket, covered in...bl-blood, and...then Stuart turned out to be...
[ The look on her face is something between a grimace and a scowl. Pain, anger, all at once. ]
...So I...h-had a hard time...deciding what to do.
[ That it does; Terra hadn't known that they were...so close. It's good to know that she at least had told others and had people to turn to in times like these. ]
...With all of that happening at once, I don't think no one could blame you for not being able to.
[ One of her hands goes to the string necklace as she nods, miserably. It travels from the drill, to the feathers. The feathers that, Terra may notice, match the collar of the simulation behind them.
Feathers from Ashton's jacket. ]
It's like... It's like I can't even get a second, to catch my breath.
[ It's easy to hear how desperate Rebecca sounds at this point, and at her words, he finds himself without a way to communicate to her that everything would be alright. How could he, when he wasn't sure of that? When their future, in the face of the Administration's dark designs, still seemed so bleak, even with the best of their efforts put forward? ]
...If you start to feel you can't, promise me you'll come to me. I'll--
[ ...... ]
--we have to manage it somehow. And I already decided that no matter what happens, I'll be by your side--so I'll be your strength. If you feel you don't have anymore left, I don't mind being someone you can continue to lean on whenever you need it.
She promises... This isn't the end. She can't just let it all end, like this. Not before she's made things right. Not before she's repaired the damage she's done.
And then back to Terra. So tired, wiping her face again and...trudging over to the panel, to shut down the sim. ]
...You're a good person, Terra. You- y-you're a remarkably good friend.
[ Terra feels some sort of relief at her words, though it's marginal in the face of everything--he hopes that she'll take him up on what he's said if it ever comes to that point. He'd never forgive himself if he wasn't there when someone needed him the most. ]
I'm only as good as the company I'm with--which I think is good enough.
[ He's not able to smile as this was a rather grave moment, even if he usually would otherwise, but he tried to say what he felt was true in his heart. ]
... But, thank you. Hearing you say that means a lot to me.
I...appreciate this. I do. Could- could you not- ...wh-what I told you, about me back...before all this.
Could that be...o-our secret? [ She winces at that, but. ] I don't...want to frighten any of the younger ones, or...or really get questions about it, in general.
It's really no problem...I'm just glad I could do the right thing.
[ Terra should've probably expected she'd thank him, but how grateful she was for it was unexpected by him--but it made sense. And he was glad he was swift in his guarantee.
...But mow that he knew so much about her, there's been something he's been wanting to tell her--the real reason he failed the Exam:
The fact that he has that darkness lying within him. What he'd done to Princess Aurora.
Something he'd kept from everyone at thia point--he just felt it was only fair. But he doesn't know how to lead up to it. ]
[ He takes a breath. Start with one, and if he can manage to bring up the other part, then.. ]
I wanted to be honest and tell you the real reason as to why--you had put your trust in me when you told me all of that, so I figured it was my turn to do the same.
...My Master stated the reason I failed was because I had too much "darkness" in my heart. In my world, darkness is a force, that can be used and naturally exists within most people--but using it for the wrong purposes could cause someone to be corrupt or worse. [ ... ] Or even if they just have too much of it within themselves--or so my Master's said.
Whether or not I agree with him, I figure you'd also want to know--you've already seen all the good in me, but you hadn't known the full story. Now you do, for the most part.
[ Terra would've smiled at that, if he weren't kind of nervous right now. It's true though--in regards to the temper, he thinks. ]
I know, but even after I thought my Master might've been wrong, I...there was an incident I had remembered a few weeks back, and I thought for awhile it meant that he was right. There was this witch, and she somehow manipulated the darkness within me, and controlled me to steal the heart's light from a princess. And I couldn't even resist at all.
[ Technically, it's just 'heart', but... he's learned quickly from just talking about the Keyblade and such that people don't know this terminology that easily, which might take too long to explain when it's late at night. ]
But what I did meant until it's returned, she might as well be... [ ... ] I don't know, like that for maybe forever. I had been trying to find a way to return it, but I don't think I ever found out how. [ He releases a sigh. ] Sorry, I just wanted to let you know all of this, because it also felt like it would be dishonest not to tell you--I didn't mean for me to just seem like I sprung it on you like this.
[ Rebecca listens, and...a lot of it's over her head? At least, the exacts. Darkness in hearts, stealing light... It's different from what she's experienced. But... After all of this? She shakes her head. ]
You said it yourself...a witch manipulated you, Terra. That's- ...I appreciate it, the honesty. [ ...It's something she hadn't gotten from Ashton in years, but...well, that went both ways, didn't it? ] It doesn't change a single thing.
[ He'll nod, honestly thankful he's told someone--and it wasn't even as painful as he'd thought it'd be. Terra thinks he'll just...move on from that, then. ]
Alright. [ ... ] Thanks for listening. Really, I mean it.
[ He doesn't know how else to phrase it, but it is what it is--they've talked about a lot tonight. Time for them to reach the elevator. ]
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throwabookatit) wrote2018-08-25 09:36 pm
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He couldn't have ever imagined that he'd be hearing of something like this, but he's as honest as he was when he stated that it hadn't changed how he'd seen her. It was surprising, among other things--such as even horrifying to know she suffered a fate--but at the end of the day, right now, she was still alive.
And if there's anything Terra wanted to do right now, or anytime he could, it would be to be there for those who mattered to him. He didn't mind at all and nothing would ever change that. ]
I'll be here for as long as you need.
[ The brunet thought to amend to what he'd said not too long ago. It was late, but as far as he's concerned, they had more than enough time on their hands. ]
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She doesn't stop crying for awhile. Eventually, it fades, to shaking shoulders and hitched breaths, and she finds herself pulling away, gently, after that. Rebecca still can't bring herself to be comfortable in the arms of a man she's recently met for long--but, it helps...it helps knowing she's so many more friends, to have her back.
Still, she can't bring herself to look up at him. Breathy and quiet, it's like she wants to disappear into the ground. ]
Th- thank you, I... [ Breath catches. ] I d- didn't mean to...completely fall to pieces, but I- ...w-well, I guess I was overdue.
[ It's a miserable statement, a half-joke, but it's true; just about every week, she's crushed by another new revelation...or the weight of those that keep piling up. ]
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Terra smiles, but it's a slight thing and not at all inappropriate for the given situation--not altogether humorous or overly so. ]
It's no problem--I'm just glad I was able to help.
[ To be a pillar of strength when someone needed it, and he'll slowly draw his arms away. ]
...It did sound like you were. [ ... ] No offense, or anything, it's just something like that's hard to carry on your shoulders by yourself.
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I... A few of the others know. Connor...a-and Hank.
[ It puts her argument with Connor in new light as well, probably. ]
Last...week, I- I was...g-going to, after coming to terms with it, tell some people, but then...A-Ash's jacket, covered in...bl-blood, and...then Stuart turned out to be...
[ The look on her face is something between a grimace and a scowl. Pain, anger, all at once. ]
...So I...h-had a hard time...deciding what to do.
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...With all of that happening at once, I don't think no one could blame you for not being able to.
[ Not that he'd ever do that anyway. ]
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Feathers from Ashton's jacket. ]
It's like... It's like I can't even get a second, to catch my breath.
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It doesn't seem like you don't get much time, no.
[ ... ]
...I think you're strong, for being able to still go through all of what you did, and still remain the person you are right now.
[ If only things didn't have to be that way in the first place, though. No one should have to lose so much--or anyone at all. ]
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I can feel myself j-just...losing it, a little more each day, I- Terra, if this k-keeps happening, I don't...think I can.
[ She's scared. Her death, her friends', everyone's here. It's all piling up. ]
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...If you start to feel you can't, promise me you'll come to me. I'll--
[ ...... ]
--we have to manage it somehow. And I already decided that no matter what happens, I'll be by your side--so I'll be your strength. If you feel you don't have anymore left, I don't mind being someone you can continue to lean on whenever you need it.
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She promises... This isn't the end. She can't just let it all end, like this. Not before she's made things right. Not before she's repaired the damage she's done.
And then back to Terra. So tired, wiping her face again and...trudging over to the panel, to shut down the sim. ]
...You're a good person, Terra. You- y-you're a remarkably good friend.
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I'm only as good as the company I'm with--which I think is good enough.
[ He's not able to smile as this was a rather grave moment, even if he usually would otherwise, but he tried to say what he felt was true in his heart. ]
... But, thank you. Hearing you say that means a lot to me.
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Could that be...o-our secret? [ She winces at that, but. ] I don't...want to frighten any of the younger ones, or...or really get questions about it, in general.
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[ Because frankly, it's really none of anyone else's business--and for the reasons Rebecca gave as well. ]
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[ Terra should've probably expected she'd thank him, but how grateful she was for it was unexpected by him--but it made sense. And he was glad he was swift in his guarantee.
...But mow that he knew so much about her, there's been something he's been wanting to tell her--the real reason he failed the Exam:
The fact that he has that darkness lying within him. What he'd done to Princess Aurora.
Something he'd kept from everyone at thia point--he just felt it was only fair. But he doesn't know how to lead up to it. ]
Do you want to head back together?
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I think that sounds like a good idea.
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It'll technically be a ways before they're back downstairs--kind of, anyway--so maybe now is a good time. ]
...Rebecca, there's something I've been wanting to tell you.
Do you...remember those weeks ago where we got to talking and I told you about what happened with the Mark of Master Exam?
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Was there more to it?
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[ He takes a breath. Start with one, and if he can manage to bring up the other part, then.. ]
I wanted to be honest and tell you the real reason as to why--you had put your trust in me when you told me all of that, so I figured it was my turn to do the same.
...My Master stated the reason I failed was because I had too much "darkness" in my heart. In my world, darkness is a force, that can be used and naturally exists within most people--but using it for the wrong purposes could cause someone to be corrupt or worse. [ ... ] Or even if they just have too much of it within themselves--or so my Master's said.
Whether or not I agree with him, I figure you'd also want to know--you've already seen all the good in me, but you hadn't known the full story. Now you do, for the most part.
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[ Rebecca stares at him, trying to comprehend it. ]
But... You've been nothing, but nice, to all of us. Maybe...okay, you have a bit of a temper, but no more than most.
[ No more than her, she means. ]
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I know, but even after I thought my Master might've been wrong, I...there was an incident I had remembered a few weeks back, and I thought for awhile it meant that he was right. There was this witch, and she somehow manipulated the darkness within me, and controlled me to steal the heart's light from a princess. And I couldn't even resist at all.
[ Technically, it's just 'heart', but... he's learned quickly from just talking about the Keyblade and such that people don't know this terminology that easily, which might take too long to explain when it's late at night. ]
But what I did meant until it's returned, she might as well be... [ ... ] I don't know, like that for maybe forever. I had been trying to find a way to return it, but I don't think I ever found out how. [ He releases a sigh. ] Sorry, I just wanted to let you know all of this, because it also felt like it would be dishonest not to tell you--I didn't mean for me to just seem like I sprung it on you like this.
I'll...also understand if this changes things.
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You said it yourself...a witch manipulated you, Terra. That's- ...I appreciate it, the honesty. [ ...It's something she hadn't gotten from Ashton in years, but...well, that went both ways, didn't it? ] It doesn't change a single thing.
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Alright. [ ... ] Thanks for listening. Really, I mean it.
[ He doesn't know how else to phrase it, but it is what it is--they've talked about a lot tonight. Time for them to reach the elevator. ]
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