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[makejapangreat]

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[makejapangreat]

Better. What about you?

[coagmentatio]

I'm doing better, as well.

[ He doesn't think he's ever slept that many hours in one go before...? ]

Admittedly, I was very worried about you. Not many things manage to scare me, but

[ ... He meant to hit backspace. ]

I just mean, you weren't acting much like yourself, at all. You normally give the impression of being a tough guy in that regard...

[ Oh gods what is happening........ ]

Right. Before I embarrass myself even more, I wanted to know if you're hungry.

[makejapangreat]

[.......... what are these messages??? Shido is... so amused????]

I give the impression of a "tough guy"? Do tell.

[bye aiden]

[coagmentatio]

[ OH MY GODS, MASAYOSHI... ]

When I asked if you're hungry, I meant in regards to needing food, not some idiot's embarrassment.

[ Too bad he can't see the huffing and the blushing over here. ]

But, since you didn't answer, I'm making the executive decision of taking that as a "yes". See you in a bit.

[makejapangreat]

See me where? Are you planning on tracking me down, Aiden?

[coagmentatio]

It shouldn't be too difficult. Unless you plan to hide.

Either way, though, you should be in your room, resting.

[makejapangreat]

I will be soon. I'm finally not too weak or lethargic to walk around.

Aiden, you shouldn't have wasted your energy

[welp. guess aiden's not the only one who's failing to hit the backspace today.]

Wasted your magic on me.

[There's a pause, and then finally:]

We'll talk about this more in person.

But thank you for what you did. You saved my life.

[coagmentatio]

I don't see it as having been a waste, at all.

[ He frowns a little. ]

You can thank me by continuing to take care of yourself.

[ He'll be hanging out by the door when Masayoshi returns! ... He'll be pacing, apparently. ]

[makejapangreat]

Aiden.

[He gently announces his presence. He still looks a little tired and a little unwell, but overall he seems much better?]

Are you alright?

[coagmentatio]

[ A-ah... He blinks softly at the voice, and his steps come to a pause. There's actual obvious relief on his expression for a moment. He nods. ]

Yeah... But I feel like I should be asking that question, more than you asking it. You're still in the recovery period, right?

[ Sorry, Shido; he's slipping back into the mindset that screams that he's fine, he's totally great, etc. Right now, his priority is the older man. ]

Let's get you inside and back to resting...

[makejapangreat]

I am, but you don't need to worry. I'm not overexerting myself.

[He's heading back into the room.]

Now, you, on the other hand... It hasn't been a full two weeks yet.

[He gets into bed, looking at Aiden.]

So, I want to ask again... are you sure you're alright?

[coagmentatio]

[ He's pressing a hand to the back of his neck as he hovers in the doorway for a moment. There's a look of conflict on his face for a moment as he closes the door and then walks over to the bed... ]

Fair enough...

[ AKA he's been caught, and he knows it. Though, in spite of that, he's hesitantly nodding. ]

I'm...

[ ... realizing that lying to Masayoshi is stupid, after a moment. Which is why he might appear to deflate, and then cringe, soon after. ]

Well... [ deep breath... then, quietly: ] ... I'm tired.

[makejapangreat]

...I'm not surprised.

[A soft sigh.]

Aiden, please, I don't want you endangering or pushing yourself that hard on my behalf.

[He draws in a breath, then looks to him.] ... two weeks from this point on. Obviously it's up to you to enforce that, but... your magic has obviously had a negative impact on you, and I worry what may happen if you strain yourself too much again this soon.

[coagmentatio]

[ His gaze rests on the floor for a moment. It's several seconds before he quietly responds. ]

Okay.

[ There's a moment where his hand reaches out, hovers, and then draws back... And then, after a moment of visible consideration, he reaches out to rest his hand on Masayoshi's shoulder. ]

I can't promise I wouldn't do it, again, in a similar circumstance... but I won't use anymore magic for two weeks, if nobody's life is at risk, again...

[ There's a little more hesitation, but he's moving to sit down, hand very lightly patting Masayoshi's knee. ]

And I still say you were more than worth it...

[makejapangreat]

Thank you. That means a lot to me.

[He watches him take a seat, and when he says that... his expression tenses a little briefly— like he isn't sure what to say...

There's a great bit of hesitance here as his gaze drops away, but when they finally do come back up to Aiden, there's something... slightly vulnerable in them.]

What is it that you see in me? I can't— figure it out.

[Sure, he hasn't hurt Aiden like he's hurt Akira and Goro— those kids are even more of a mystery to him... but he hasn't been anything... extraordinary? In fact he'd... really fucked up, at one point, so why is Aiden still insisting on this...]

[coagmentatio]

[ His eyebrows lift. Then, he gives a dim smirk. ]

My list is similar to yours, I suppose... [ pressing a hand to the back of his neck ] You carry a lot of feelings similar to mine, and to what Goro's felt.

[ There's a soft frown. ]

When I think of you, I imagine a person attempting to walk through a dense storm. They're barely able to make out the figures in the distance, but they know that those are figures of people they care about.

So they keep going, even when they have to shield their eyes from the intense rain, and even when the wind continues to try forcing them backwards a bit. That person never gives up, even if it is more for those people waiting for them in the distance, than for their own sake...

[ He's giving a dim sort of smile - there's something sad to it, even as there's something softening in his voice. ]

And, sure... they might stumble backwards a little... but that's okay. Sometimes you can't help the force of the wind, or how blinding the rain is. Sometimes it's all we can do to stay upright. And sometimes it's all we can do to take a moment to wait it out a bit. It's not about the intensity of the storm, though, is it? It's about how strong we fight against it...

[ He lowers his gaze. ]

I see you not stopping until you get there.

[makejapangreat]

[He carries... similar feelings. It's... a bit strange to hear that used as a reason, and he's not sure he totally understands it...

But he listens to the poetic words quietly, brow furrowing slightly. Shido isn't a very poetic person himself, and yet...

His own expression softens the more he goes on. The figure that Aiden paints with his words— stubborn, persistent, so incredibly loyal...

Is that truly him?]

... hah.

[coagmentatio]

[ He tilts his head, gently studying Masayoshi for a moment... ]

Which part? Or... is it just all of it?

[makejapangreat]

[He heaves a sigh as he settles back against the wall.]

When I think about how I let myself stray from the path, and then commit more and more atrocities while reassuring myself it was all for the greater good... That sort of a person is... difficult for me to forgive.

I wasn't forced. Coerced, at best. Yet the corruption already had a seed inside of me before... that god played any part.

I know better than to argue against you all. I know some of you have your own stories of similar or worse misdeeds.

[He's quiet for awhile, then looks slowly to Aiden.]

... I'm almost certain I have one myself, you know. [He gives a weak smile.] A Palace... [He looks away, the smile quickly falling apart.] Again.

[coagmentatio]

[ He tilts his head... ]

Everyone has a seed of bad, from the moment they're all old enough to think for themselves.

[ There's a soft frown as he thinks over the last part. ]

Given what I've learned about them, I wouldn't be surprised... [ looking to the floor ] ... Do you want to find out, for sure?

[makejapangreat]

[Shido eyes him for a moment at that first comment. As for what comes after, he takes a deep breath and holds it together with a blink for a moment, then lets out the exhale.

It's... bad to have a palace. He feels terrible shame over it. But...]

Yes. I've been a coward for far too long... [His eyes narrow slightly with pain.] Avoiding this because of the shame over my first palace. [He gives a wry smirk.] I've been... avoiding the problem again. Just as I was the first time. [His hands tighten into fists at his sides.] I clearly... haven't learned a damn thing, have I?

[Shido lets out a small laugh, bitter and sharp.]

[coagmentatio]

[ Bad, huh...

... Bad to have a Palace, you say...

Why not say that to Aiden's face, buddy. :v ]

Did you ever reach out, at all, the first time?

[makejapangreat]

[liSTEN HERE

And his brow furrows at that.]

I should have. And I should have done this sooner. [he seems... rather intent on beating himself up about this]

[coagmentatio]

[ He gives a small, fragile smile... ]

You're doing it now, right? I don't think it's about... what you should have done, more than it is about what you're clawing your way out of... in this moment, right here, right now.

[makejapangreat]

[He considers that fragile smile for a long moment, before he finally lets out a sigh.]

...yes, perhaps you're right.

[He gives a bit of a smile, just a touch wry.]

You're quite kind to this old man.