a cruel romance [night 8]

[worldchampofmartialarts]

[Death never has a meaning, but if we so choose to seek out patterns in a desperate attempt to imbue meaning into the twisted charades and senseless loss of life, we might come to the natural conclusion that love has no place here. That no matter how close a relationship may become, we can never know anyone else as intimately as we know ourselves.

Ultimately, we are all entirely alone, unable to truly understand anything beyond our deeply limited perspectives.

It's pointless even pretending any of us, alive or dead, are people deserving or capable of love.

Well, to hell with that.

We can always put in the effort.

Even when the circumstances get worse, we can always be better.

So let's give it a try.]

Comments

cw: non-consensual relationship

[rangerslayer]

They are- I know they are, but it doesn't change-

[ There's something frustrated, something she can't quite get at. Though, she's actually looking at him, focusing her attention, so that's probably good. ]

...It doesn't change that everything I've done since then... Everything in the last several years is to...to erase that. All the anger, and the rage...and the lives I ruined, and the people I killed. Every time that bastard called me his--

[ She takes in a sharp breath and the bow digs into her hand. ]

...I'll be fine in the morning. I hear you. I hear what you're saying, and I appreciate it. But- I'll be fine once I start focusing on...what I can do to help again.

[iote]

...Perhaps one day - not now, because no one needs to hear it now - I'll tell you about Maria. Why saving her is so important to me. I can tell you, however, that I understand. Carrying out that task is the only reason I'm still alive, and it's solely so I can make something right.

You'll be fine in the morning because you have to be. I understand that as well.

[rangerslayer]

[ ... ]

I think I'd like to hear about her...sometime. [ She puts a hand to her head, letting the bow sink to the sand. ] Tonight, I'm just... A little bit tired.

[iote]

As I said. Not tonight.

[...]

Come back to the inn with me.

[rangerslayer]

[ A humorless smile...or an attempt at one. ]

Not inclined to leave the screaming woman alone on the beach?

[iote]

I want to make sure you at least pretend to sleep tonight. I imagine seeing you off to somewhere that that can happen is a decent start.

[...]

You are aware, surely, that you're important to me.

[rangerslayer]

...Yeah. I am.

[ She sounds a little surprised for a moment, but honestly? She very much is. ]

Right back at you, Michalis.