[ Because he said that sometimes, they could simply be just Soo-won and Jeanne, she lets her uncertainty peek through for a moment.
Everything about her is soft in a way she hardly ever shows someone. It's not quite vulnerable, but it's not how she usually presents as a veritable citadel. ]
Is it what we should, or is it what we can do next?
[ Because right now, at this second, she isn't sure both can be the same. ]
[ . . . . and it's because that sometimes they could simply be soo-won and jeanne that he'll walk forward and endeavor to take her hand in his, gently guiding her closer to him]
.... What we ought to do next, guided by both our morals and our abilities.
[and it's gentle and slow - because he doesn't want to make her yell at him about his injuries - but he will pull her into a quiet embrace
they can talk about their next steps. that's fine.
but he can try his best to take care of her as they do.]
[ She lets it happen, lets herself be guided into the embrace. She doesn't lean into it, but she doesn't resist it. That is enough. That is more than she should allow, and she hears a voice from her memories that tells her, it's not like you to be so feeble.
Even so, she is sad. Even if all their actions led them to this point and she acknowledges they all had a part in this end result, it's sad.
She takes a breath, and she's steady again. ]
What we should do is prevent another similar tragedy from occurring again. That so many were drawn into Kano's behavior must not happen again. What we almost did with Rufus was not an almost with Kano.
[she can pull out of his hold when she wants - but he doesn't let go first, keeping her in a loose enough hold, and he'll drop his arms when she wants to pull away
but
he nods at that]
.... mm. But that is always the way in which people happen - they'll be drawn to those who cause trouble. Even if you try to draw them away, they will try to help. It is something impressive about them -
But it stole away too much time today. We were not able to divide and prioritize.
[how funny, he thinks -
he would be much more comfortable if he had armies at his command, that he could direct and strategize. he adores these people around them but... never before had they felt so far out of his realm of influence]
She doesn't pull away just yet because even if she won't fully acknowledge what it means to her, she appreciates it. It's novel to have some kind of support like this, after being accused and after failing. ]
I know the goodness of people, and I do not fault them for trying.
[ Even if their attempts to help also led to harm. ]
Next time, I will simply move instead of watching to see what move they choose to make.
[ Because there will be a next time now, if what Soo-won told her yesterday is true, and because they are not an army, and she does not want them to be. ]
[he nods in agreement - because he feels the same. these people aren't soldiers and while that in turn worked against them today, he also thinks that the kindness that they show might be able to save people more than warfare.
perhaps not today, but maybe tomorrow.]
... mm. In truth, I should have moved faster myself instead of positing suggestions.
[soo-won was thinking about that saw so early on but then he just trusted other people's checks and then they were out of time. he just
[ She takes a small step forward and gently rests her forehead against his shoulder. Her arms loop around him loosely. Perhaps she will be saved he has a GIANT STAB WOUND so she doesn't do anything more than this. Perhaps she can't be faulted because of those spiraling wounds and that is why she stops at this.
Her voice is muffled, soft. ]
We must. We learn, and we improve. That is living.
there is a brief pause, and he'll let his arm curl around her, the other resting atop of her head, stroking through her hair as if to soothe her. it comes naturally to him, these thoughtful little gestures - perhaps it's what he would've wanted, if he could show a little more weakness.
(he does, a little. when he rests his head atop hers. that is enough.)]
... it is. Even if we have failed today, it is the duty of those still standing and remaining to right what we've done wrong, and seek to do better.
I feel as though I am constantly repeating myself.... I'm always okay, you know.
[he'd said that to yona during trial, and he feels that way now. the urge to insist that he's fine, because he has to remain steady for others. especially after so many fingers were pointed in his direction and he's certain that there would be guilt related to that as well -
he is used to carrying that burden.
but he supposes - so is jeanne.
so he pauses for a moment before he lets his head bow closer to hers, voice soft]
[ Because they must be, because that is how they should be, because that is what they've taken upon themselves. With their choices and the responsibilities they shoulder, they cannot falter.
They are used to holding their own burdens, as well as others, and so it means that much more when he admits it.
Her fingers clutch at cloth for half a second before she lets go, and she smiles. It's not quite a smile from the heart; it can't be there yet, so soon after the majority voted for someone innocent, for someone they could have saved, but he is right. ]
We will both be okay. Whatever happens tomorrow and after, we will be okay. For what we're working for, for what we want to save, we will be okay.
It's how we are.
[ For whatever sins they have to bear, they will continue until they can no longer. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Everything about her is soft in a way she hardly ever shows someone. It's not quite vulnerable, but it's not how she usually presents as a veritable citadel. ]
Is it what we should, or is it what we can do next?
[ Because right now, at this second, she isn't sure both can be the same. ]
no subject
.... What we ought to do next, guided by both our morals and our abilities.
[and it's gentle and slow - because he doesn't want to make her yell at him about his injuries - but he will pull her into a quiet embrace
they can talk about their next steps. that's fine.
but he can try his best to take care of her as they do.]
no subject
Even so, she is sad. Even if all their actions led them to this point and she acknowledges they all had a part in this end result, it's sad.
She takes a breath, and she's steady again. ]
What we should do is prevent another similar tragedy from occurring again. That so many were drawn into Kano's behavior must not happen again. What we almost did with Rufus was not an almost with Kano.
no subject
but
he nods at that]
.... mm. But that is always the way in which people happen - they'll be drawn to those who cause trouble. Even if you try to draw them away, they will try to help. It is something impressive about them -
But it stole away too much time today. We were not able to divide and prioritize.
[how funny, he thinks -
he would be much more comfortable if he had armies at his command, that he could direct and strategize. he adores these people around them but... never before had they felt so far out of his realm of influence]
no subject
She doesn't pull away just yet because even if she won't fully acknowledge what it means to her, she appreciates it. It's novel to have some kind of support like this, after being accused and after failing. ]
I know the goodness of people, and I do not fault them for trying.
[ Even if their attempts to help also led to harm. ]
Next time, I will simply move instead of watching to see what move they choose to make.
[ Because there will be a next time now, if what Soo-won told her yesterday is true, and because they are not an army, and she does not want them to be. ]
no subject
perhaps not today, but maybe tomorrow.]
... mm. In truth, I should have moved faster myself instead of positing suggestions.
[soo-won was thinking about that saw so early on but then he just trusted other people's checks and then they were out of time. he just
quietly sighs about it]
We'll act more decisively next time.
no subject
[ She takes a small step forward and gently rests her forehead against his shoulder. Her arms loop around him loosely. Perhaps she will be saved he has a GIANT STAB WOUND so she doesn't do anything more than this. Perhaps she can't be faulted because of those spiraling wounds and that is why she stops at this.
Her voice is muffled, soft. ]
We must. We learn, and we improve. That is living.
no subject
there is a brief pause, and he'll let his arm curl around her, the other resting atop of her head, stroking through her hair as if to soothe her. it comes naturally to him, these thoughtful little gestures - perhaps it's what he would've wanted, if he could show a little more weakness.
(he does, a little. when he rests his head atop hers. that is enough.)]
... it is. Even if we have failed today, it is the duty of those still standing and remaining to right what we've done wrong, and seek to do better.
[and they will, he knows that.
but - ]
... don't push yourself too much, Jeanne.
no subject
It's weird, how she doesn't feel weak now, but she also doesn't feel right. ]
Duty is what I know and what I'm bound by.
[ She has never been led astray there. She has never walked a path she regretted for duty. ]
And I won't push myself too much, if you don't.
[ They are too much alike in some ways for her not to know of his hypocrisy. ]
no subject
I feel as though I am constantly repeating myself.... I'm always okay, you know.
[he'd said that to yona during trial, and he feels that way now. the urge to insist that he's fine, because he has to remain steady for others. especially after so many fingers were pointed in his direction and he's certain that there would be guilt related to that as well -
he is used to carrying that burden.
but he supposes - so is jeanne.
so he pauses for a moment before he lets his head bow closer to hers, voice soft]
.... perhaps a bit hurt in this moment.
However, we will both be okay.
no subject
They are used to holding their own burdens, as well as others, and so it means that much more when he admits it.
Her fingers clutch at cloth for half a second before she lets go, and she smiles. It's not quite a smile from the heart; it can't be there yet, so soon after the majority voted for someone innocent, for someone they could have saved, but he is right. ]
We will both be okay. Whatever happens tomorrow and after, we will be okay. For what we're working for, for what we want to save, we will be okay.
It's how we are.
[ For whatever sins they have to bear, they will continue until they can no longer. ]