historicals | pc catchall | turboheaven

[ taiir looks to the sky, but yves seems content just looking at him. he lets his head rest in just one hand now, tilting his head as he seems thoughtful himself at the idea of it.

yves hasn't known fear for a while now, not in the same way, but the heart of the matter resonates with him. ]

I think you do. I think there's courage in storytelling, and sharing the roots and truth of your home, even if it's not always shining and beautiful.

But if you want to do more - I think anyone's capable of that too, if they ever want to.

[ it hits a little more than it should, really. anyone's capable of doing more. it would be nice, wouldn't it? has he been brave?

but in the end, those thoughts are long out of reach - whether he was dead, or not, they were far from taair's outstretched fingertips. he smiles anyway, though, closing his eyes briefly as he brings his gaze back down. ]

... Thank you, my friend. You're very kind. [ unconsciously, he runs a hand over the book again. his little act of courage. his little truths, his life's work. to have it here, even unfinished, is a gift, but one that worries him all the same.

his eyes open again, and the warm smile returns as he turns to face yves. ] At the very least, what I am capable of here is learning many, many new histories - and interacting with all of you. It has been a joy to hear about what you all have seen and experienced, and one I could never have even imagined I would have gotten to have.

[ yves watches the little act of reverence with the book, and tilts his head. by now he's gotten comfortable enough that his shoulders brush with taiir's every now and then just by happenstence - he's a touchy guy in general, but it seems like taiir really isn't used to people... so might as well give him a taste of what friendship with yves means? ]

No? Did you not get out much, Taiir?

I had a friend like that back home. He was pretty shy! He only came out into society within the past year...

[ he doesn't seem to mind it much. sort of soaking it up, actually - it's really nice.

what yves says makes him - laugh, a little? ]

Ahaha... that's one way to put it, yes. [ ... ] Out in the past year, you say? It must have been a bit overwhelming. Was it shyness that kept him in?

Shyness that kept him in... and a mystery that he wanted to solve that brought him out.

[ with a fond little smile. ]

Though you don't seem that shy to me, Taiir... Were your circumstances different? [ a beat ] Only if you're open to talking about it, I mean.

[ he similarly doesn't want to push if someone wants to hold something a little closer to the chest ]

[ he thinks about it, for a moment. considers his life, the afterlife. the stories he's asked of yves, so far. considers a conversation he had not long before his passing, not too dissimilar to this. ]

...I see a bit of myself in your friend, yes. [ ... ] What do you think of, when you think of a caged bird, Yves?

[ a caged bird? he answers with his first impulse: ]

That it must be treasured very much, for someone to want to keep it so close.

... but is that best for the bird? Even if it is treated kindly, is it not being kept from the sky it longs for? That it's born for?

[ he is a hopeful person. cheerful, bright, kind. but in matters of ownership, in keeping, in being a steward - he does find himself wrestling with the nuance often.

and given the lead-up to this conversation, he can't help but feel like that difficult part is what they need to talk about ]

[ he's patient as he listens to yves work through his full answer - impulse and all, and only when it's finished does he actually respond. his expression's not changed much throughout - still soft, maybe a bit sad. ]

That's a fair assessment. [ from beginning, to end. ] It's a bit like that, I suppose. I have always been something of a canary.

[ ... ]

But, I suppose... one way or another, I am free, now.

[

okay well

yves will just wrap an arm around taiir's shoulders in a casual, easy hug. it doesn't need to be anything big if he doesn't want it to be but...

it felt fitting for the moment ]

I'm sorry. [ for your cage ]

... I hope this place is kinder to you. No limits.

[ it becomes very obvious immediately that taair's not exactly used to that kind of touch - he does stiffen a little, but it lasts for barely a second, mostly out of surprise over anything else.

when he looks at yves again, tilting his head up to do so, it's with a smile - the warmth from before returns. touched, by the kindness of others. by the care of others. it's like feeling the sun on his face, the grass under his boots. like convallaria cakes and a raucous tavern. ]

Thank you, my dear friend. [ he lifts his hand to reach up and cover his on his arm briefly, and give it a little squeeze in return. ] Truly. There's no need to feel any sorrow for me, either - I am already beyond blessed, that I've been able to meet all of you, and hear your wonderful stories.

Whatever comes next, or whatever happened before - living in this moment has brought me a great amount of joy. To say this place is kind does not even begin to cover it.

[ yves smiles - and his sincerity is so terribly obvious. the way his heart immediately goes out for people he just met 24 hours ago is silly, but he's never wanted to be any different. he pulls back from the hug, but he truly doesn't travel far, still sitting side by side with taair ]

Good. I'm glad. That's what you deserve, so I hope that everything you get to experience here is that fulfilling. [ murder is coming ]

Who said that death has to be the end, you know?

pc catchall | turboheaven | yves

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject