historicals | pc catchall | turboheaven

[ he'll take it! climbing on up and sitting next to him ]

So...

Thoughts?

[ so light.. he's not so surprised by this, and there's a very small smile as he settles.

he takes a deep breath, in and out, looking down at whatever he was messing with as he considers it. what are his thoughts?. taair likes to take the wide perspective, and this is no different, so give him a long moment to process the question - and eventually: ]

... The hearts of our group are so large. [ that stands out above everything else. ] For better, or for worse. Passion flows through us all like a connecting thread.

It's hard not to have opinions in a place like this.

[ he'll scoot so that he's closer to taair, shoulders brushing ]

It can be a lot to take in, though. Are you okay?

Mm. I mean more so... the moments of compassion that shine through to me the most. Even at their most extreme [ anders. some people who self sacrifice not naming any names or anything. ] our actions, as ourselves, are often laced with it. It is a very, very human quality.

[ which is nice to be among, in his opinion. even when it's wild.

he does not push this away at all - just adjusts how he is sitting to accommodate, and offers the edge of his blanket so they can share again. ]

My friend, I feel as though I should ask you that question... yet, I know how you will respond, I think. [ a small smile tugs at his mouth. ] I am alright. I am very, very tired, and... I have seen more than enough viscera to last a lifetime in the past few days... but I will be alright.

If I was not... well. In this moment, I don't think that's so bad.

[ he'll go ahead and shift so that it's easier to put the blanket around them both. his hand goes to taair's back between his wings, stroking up and down in a repetitive, soothing gesture ]

... it's not easy for anyone. You went through something really difficult today, especially if you're not used to it.

I hope you get a chance to rest, even if everyone's hearts are still so heavy.

Mn.

[ he nods along to this, because it is kind, but it just weighs a little on his heart to hear it. too empathetic. he tilts his head up a little look at him. ]

...And you, my friend? What are your thoughts?

[ a soft hum... ]

... despite what I said earlier, I knew how I was going to vote personally. It was the least I could do for Adolphe, to not look away from his killer, even if I can't hate him. Adolphe at least knows that about me, too...

It doesn't bring me any satisfaction to know he's going to die. I never wanted revenge. I just want to be with my best friend. This doesn't bring me any contentedness at all...

But... if the other option was not finding his killer... I suppose I have to accept this.

[ even if he still hates everything about what's to come ]

[ hmm.... he's thoughtful, watching yves as he works through his thoughts. as ever, calm, curious - nonjudgemental, and he weighs each phrase very carefully before he respons. ]

...I think that makes sense. Retribution and revenge just... lead to emptiness, in the end. An endless cycle of loss and despair. Not that our trials are much better, truly - our options at every turn are presented in black and white.

[ vote one, vote the other. find the killer, have them executed. no alternatives. a rigid system, indeed.

i just want to be with my best friend resonates. he thinks to that silly picture from friday, and his heart lurches in empathy. ]

The bond between you two was so strong. [ ... ] ...Have you thought about writing him a letter - or perhaps recording him something? I find that sometimes helps - I wrote a letter to General Jing Yuan last week. Though I keep it to myself, it... helped me feel a bit closer to someone that I lost.

[ okay

that makes him laugh ]

Maybe! But it'd definitely be more for me. Adolphe didn't even start carrying his cellphone when I asked! He's such a recluse!

If I sent him a letter, he'd make a face and just be like "why didn't you just wait until we saw each other again?"

[ cute... the laugh is good, and it brings a smile to his face too. ]

Then, perhaps even for the better. That way - even if they're not delivered, you'll have a full list of talking points. So you don't miss a single thing.

[ if you see him again. when you see him again. ]

[ to yves, it is a matter of when. not if. he has to make sure of it. ]

I'll probably have to add to it every single day then...

There's nothing that I wouldn't want to share with him. Even though I know he probably got really tired of being around here, and would've hated going through these trials even more than I do.

[ adolphe is too reasonable for this circus ]

We will have to make sure you have a lot of paper.

[ teasing.... he can see it now, stacks and stacks of unfiltered yves thoughts. very charming. ]

... I'm sure, too. [ the mention of adolphe does bring his own good back to something a little more melancholy, and he looks back out at the water. ] Did you know he saved me from that ridiculous goose?

[ he snorts faintly at that ]

Yeah? Sounds like something he'd do. He was your knight in burning red armor?

Yes - I foolishly thought perhaps I could calm it down. Birds tend to like me, you know. [ yeah, taair, man whose name means flying bird, man covered in bird motifs ] But...such was not the case.

And, [ a little lighter, wry: ] I am sure this may surprise you, but I am not terribly strong, especially without my magic. So I shouted for aid, and before I could even blink, Adolphe appeared, swooped me right off my feet, and... over his shoulder, like a sack of potatoes.

[ it makes him chuckle, the laugh very soft - tinged with nostalgia and sadness, but no less warmth for it. ] I'd never been carried like that in my life. He didn't even hesitate in the face of beak-related danger. Just up, off, and away.

[ he just

laughs. this is sooooo silly and he can see it so clearly, but ] That's just like him! He's so rough even with the prettiest of people!

[ ADOLPHE YOU STUPID MAN!!! AAAAAA ]

Ah, I'm sure he was just focusing on the danger and nothing else... Well, he was really good at not losing sight of things. He always did what needed to be done, no more, no less.

But... he cared about you. And that's precious. He doesn't always give that away so easily... so please treasure that, and his memory.

[ you think im pretty 😳

no i'm kidding. yves' laughter is contagious, and it feels like it brightens the entire moment. this is how things should be remembered - it brings him back for the second, third, fourth time to the party this week, to the traditions fidelio and basilio shared with taair beforehand. the idea that life is a celebration. a joy. he's felt so little joy in his life, and it melds with the sorrow into something bittersweet and wonderful, something alive. ]

I do. And I will. [ as the laughter dies down, the smile remains, gentle but no less fond for it, and he exhales out, hand still to his heart. ] ...I cared quite a bit for him as well, and... I thought bit by bit, we were starting to get to know each other, and I... wanted that to grow. To form a bond between souls, it...well, it made me very happy.

Talking like this... I think I know what I'll write, for his obituary. I think the words should flow very easily, indeed.

[ of course yves thinks taair is pretty :)

death is so common in arpéchéle. for yves, he is coming to realize that adolphe's death is actually exceedingly common, as much as he hates the idea of it. even so... he won't let himself only be sad when he thinks of his friend. he will mourn, yes, but he will love him so brightly that none can deny it. ]

Ah, I shouldn't be surprised that you're the one who's been writing them...

Well, let me know if there's anything else you want to know. No one knew me better than Adolphe... and no one knows him better than me.

[ with a bit of pride and confidence ]

[ hehe. he smiles at the first part - yeah, of course - but, for the latter...

taair hums, and adjusts how he's sitting under the blanket, feeling for his bag, then sliding his notebook free. a pen comes out, clicks on, and he turns it to a blank page. ]

Then... Tell me, Yves. How would you like Adolphe to be remembered?

[ yves looks thoughtful at the question ]

... as someone kind, loyal, and admirable. I don't want to think about him in terms of things he refused or didn't want to do, even though there was a lot of it. But I do think... that means that what he did choose to act on matters that much.

pc catchall | turboheaven | yves

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