peacetalks | [reverie

I don't feel much better 'bout this. Vicious and Break both... mean a lot to me. And they're going down with the ship that I'm sailing. Because it was my idea... it was the best plan I could come up with without screwing other people over.

What kind of terrible boyfriend am I?

At least as terrible as I, who cannot protect those I cherish. What good is a knight without the strength to fulfill his oaths?

... I will convey what you've told me to the rest of Cerberus. I do not know if it will change our minds, however.

It has to.

Look, we're lying to the other blocks to tell them we're already protected. I know that if Bugbear's too open about our plan, it'll put a target on our backs in the future. But I didn't want to lie to you, Aymeric! I didn't wanna give you some kinda false hope and betray that.

I didn't do it so you could protect us anyway!

We had already been leaning towards protecting Kraken. If you wish, I shall swear to you that we'll not protect Bugbear. You're protecting Phoenix, are you not?

Sphinx. If no one screws anyone over, the plan is we protect Sphinx, Sphinx protects Yatagarasaur, they protect Tsuchigumo, who protect Phoenix, who's "pretending" to protect us.

... and Phoenix did so readily agree to let you follow through with your plan?

...I don't think it was an easy decision. Reim's basically married to Break, and Vincent is Elliot's brother.

... I see.

[gets quiet]

[ :( ]

Yeah, this all sucks.

Pray consider what I have told you about the team transfer. If you might be able to convince others--such as Master Break or Master Vicious--to try it... there is always a chance it will succeed, and fewer made to suffer.

...I'll try. I doubt they'd want to, but I'll try.

The fewer of you who must suffer, the better. Though, I...

[without even thinking of it, his clawed hand comes up to touch roy's cheek]

... I dearly wish it were not you.

[Roy goes still with surprise, eyes widening. His lips part to speak, but whatever words he'd like to say evaporate before they can leave his tongue.

It's nice, being touched by Aymeric like this. He wishes he were Estinien, or someone worthy of being looked at with such fondness. If he closes his eyes for a second, he can almost pretend.]

I...

[lowers his hand, his eyes crinkling--both fond and sad]

Forgive me, I know 'tis selfish... I am simply...

[sighs]

You have become someone precious to me.

[Roy's brain has shut off because he had come here fully prepared to be yelled at, and now this is happening instead. these words no comprende]

I... have?

Aye. We are friends after all, are we not...?

[Roy relaxes a little. Just friends. That's all. That's all.]

Yeah. Of course.

And so of course I do not wish to see you hurt. We do not even know the nature of this "punishment"... it could be as mild or as deadly as aught else. You are truly certain you wish to do this?

I've already died once! And I've lost count of how many beatings I've taken, so - how much worse can it be?

[:(]

All the more reason you should not have to suffer when you have already endured so much...!

No one deserves to suffer. But I'm not scared of it either.

I know I've come back from worse. ...The worst isn't physical, anyway.

And what if that is the punishment? Not a physical lashing, but a mental one?

Then I'm glad I have friends to help me recover.

[Ha ha what can they possibly do, kill my daughter AGAIN?]

Oh, Roy...

[as aymeric looks at roy with an expression that can only be described as "doe-eyed", his eyes glow and burn a bright blue, enough to glow in darkness, and he touches roy's cheek again]

Whatever succor you desire after all of this, I will give freely. I swear it. Aught you need, you need only ask.

[I don't know what succor is]

If I need painkillers, don't let me near the clinic. No morphine and no booze. Healing magic is probably the safest.

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