kaisou | video; un: riftdancer

WHO: Amal and whoever!
WHERE: The network
WHEN: The last week of May
WHAT: Amal's long nap is finally over.
WARNINGS: Endwalker spoilers in some threads, if you care about that sort of thing. Mind the CWs on Zelos' thread too (abuse, indentured servitude).

[video]

[Amal is dressed a little differently today. Repping Thavnairian weave and a ribbon in his hair, he's seemingly conquered the incredible bedhead he's nursed for several weeks.]

Hey everyone! Did you think you were rid of me? Sorry to disappoint! Being exceptionally difficult to get rid of is one of my many talents, as it turns out.

My birds are acting like I was dead instead of asleep, when I don't even remember going to bed. But I remember a lot of other things—it was like I was home. Like I never left. Maybe... my body was here while my soul was there? I have no idea, but I'm awake now, and I have every reason to believe what I saw happen... uh, happened.

So. What'd I miss?

[A pause.]

Oh, and what's a BBL? I woke up to a bunch of texts from work asking if I'd 'recovered' yet.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Wha--no. No. Amal, it is Raha. It is G'raha Tia, the man who attempted to hide himself from us for what he believed to be our own good. He will understand why we chose not to tell him everything up front. Especially since doing so would have only distressed him when we first found him here! You haven't done anything wrong.

[He's quiet for a while, long enough maybe to make Rhel wonder if something had happened. But there he is, sounding far away and resigned.]

He deserves better than to be lied to, over and over.

At least... I have to apologize...

Then we shall both apologize. We both agreed to hide it from him, so if you are to blame for it then so am I.

Yes... you're right. We should both apologize.

[He is so tired, suddenly. New him, old problems.]

Sorry for putting all of that on you.

I'm not mad or anything, don't worry. Am I right to assume that you, perhaps, have been to Ultima Thule?

[He makes a soft, ugly noise. That would be a yes.]

... Unfortunately. And I'd just as soon never return, for a few reasons.

But... wait, did you... go through all of that before you arrived? Am I the one lagging behind?

Yes, I did. The last thing I did before arriving here was send the letter off to my mother to let her know I would be coming to visit soon and that yes, I would need my sister's healing.

[He sighs.]

I'll be honest... I could sleep another month. Getting hit by a big truck felt better.

I should have died. We should have died.

We should have.

[Truck???]

But we didn't, somehow. I'm still not sure how, especially after fucking Zenos.

[Rhel does not swear often but. Like. It's Zenos.]

[Guess how he found out his endurance was back.]

Fucking Zenos.

[At least they agree on that.]

I'd been wanting to settle things for a long time, but did he really have to stab me?

I'm a black mage! Stabbing me was absolutely unnecessary, to say nothing about nearly breaking my rod, gods. Attention seeking little shite...

Breaking weapons should be off limits. I'm angry for you!

I was doing well simply dancing around him until he came right at me. Caught me on the back foot, and that was that. There's no move in Thavnairian dance or otherwise that could save me at that point. If I was practiced enough as a paladin or, hell, a reaper I would have...

Twelve. I realize he helped us once, but I am so very, very glad he is very, very dead. If I ever see him again it will be far too soon.

[He breathes out a sigh.]

He was just too... broken to continue. He could never make up for the atrocities he's committed, and I think on some level he was aware of that.

But the most frustrating thing about it was that he never saw me clearly. All he could see was the weird mirror image of himself that he made up in his head, and that was what he chased for all that time. It's no wonder he was never satisfied-- the person he wanted to fight never truly existed.

I had hoped he figured that out when he stole my body while I was wearing lace and heels but he was too goddamn dense.

--wait, he did what? When did that happen?

[He blinks.]

Garlemald... We can't both be exactly the same, as I've no great talent for magic, so... maybe he only did that to me?

All the better, I suppose... it was an awful incident I'm happy to forget.

...oh.

[Rhel manages a small, shaky little laugh.]

That must have been...before Anima, yes? But after...after...after Jullus?

[gently]

If you don't remember, it might be best not to try. My apologies for bringing it up.

No, it's alright, you couldn't have known. I clearly don't.

[A beat.]

Wait. Why were you in lace and heals in Garlemald?!

And you are better off for it I suspect.

[He huffs in mock offense.]

I like wearing silk! It's soft and makes me feel faster!

[P L E A S E]

Dancing in heels is very normal. They were boots, if you must know. You can't expect me to vanquish evil unless I look the part.

Edited 2022-05-25 20:51 (UTC)

Can't expect you to vanquish evil if you've gotten frostbite, either. Were they at least enchanted?

You make it sound like I wore nothing but my skivvies and boots. Tataru gave me a coat, at least!

[He holds up a finger.]

I always dress in something I can move around in. I would rather be cold and alive than slow and dead. I didn't survive the oppressive ice of Ishgard just to be told I'm too tarty for some sad mountains and tempered with guns.

video; un: riftdancer

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