I don't think anybody wants to be good at that. Just that they are, and they know it. [... a little wryly:] I've spent a lot of time trying to convince Caleb he's not a piece of shit. I could probably give you some tips on how to help the people you want to.
[ He looks away from the weird sketched building. It's hurting his head. ]
I think I have Manwol covered, but I could use some tips with Maya. If I get the chance before I leave, I'm going to buy the power that lets people see themselves how the people who love them see them.
[aw claude that's actually kind of sweet. she gives him a little grin at that.]
Just don't let up on her. Tell her you care, over and over. [...] Or show it, I guess. I think you're not so bad at that.
Maya's a hard one to crack, as far as that goes. Even before she got compelled it was fucking impossible to tell her that she's worth something as a person even when she's not doing stuff for people.
[ He grins, and he is really delighted. Everything after Thursday had been heavy. A little painful and hopeless, but he looks genuinely happy for now. ]
In any case, it's true, and not just me teasing you.
I can tell you where to shove that advice. [be nice, you just told him to do it
she also seems happy - at ease, for the first time in a while. she's got a direction to go in, a goal to prepare for. this is her element, instead of standing around waiting for death.]
No, uh. [a beat.] I care about you too. Don't know how that happened, but it did.
Still trying to figure that one out. [rubs at her face.] The point Caleb got taken from - we're all fighting something, and he's dead. Another one of our friends is dead as well. So, uh. I'd prefer to not go there and drop right into the middle of that.
But it wasn't going well for me either as far as alive status when I got snatched up, and Molly died around a year ago for us, so... we're hoping we can pick a point in the timeline to go to.
Not - really? Not really. Short version is there's an ancient city that's trying to come back together. They were powerful enough to create weapons to destroy the gods, back before the Calamity, so - we're trying to stop it from happening.
Mostly though, um. [she rubs at her neck.] Their... avatar? I guess? The key to unlocking the city's power is the guy that was in Molly's body before him. Lucien.
That's who both of us were fighting. Me and Caleb. Lucien was in the process of killing me when I got brought here.
[ That's a lot. And none of it sounds good. He wishes- there was some easy answer. Some way to ensure that they don't get thrown into danger when they escape.
They deserve that much. ]
If we don't immediately have to get out of here, we could tinker with that train and make sure that you're all dropped of at a better time.
[ Despite the fact that Beau is literally dying in her home world, he kind of believes it. The three of them have overcome a lot that he's seen at Wiwaldi. ]
Yeah... that is a possibility. [ A bleak one. ] But my heart is beating, unlike Annie's. So I'm alive right now? I don't know if it'll stop the minute I go back.
[ He rubs his temples. ]
But it feels kind of wrong to run away, and not go back to finish the goal that all my friends gave their lives for.
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[there's a pause.]
I don't think anybody wants to be good at that. Just that they are, and they know it. [... a little wryly:] I've spent a lot of time trying to convince Caleb he's not a piece of shit. I could probably give you some tips on how to help the people you want to.
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[ He looks away from the weird sketched building. It's hurting his head. ]
I think I have Manwol covered, but I could use some tips with Maya. If I get the chance before I leave, I'm going to buy the power that lets people see themselves how the people who love them see them.
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Just don't let up on her. Tell her you care, over and over. [...] Or show it, I guess. I think you're not so bad at that.
Maya's a hard one to crack, as far as that goes. Even before she got compelled it was fucking impossible to tell her that she's worth something as a person even when she's not doing stuff for people.
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[ He shakes his head a little, thinking about it... And then leans his arm on Beau's shoulder, grinning at her. ]
I care about you, Beau.
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That wasn't advice for me, asshole. [but it's the most affectionate asshole in the world so]
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[ He grins, and he is really delighted. Everything after Thursday had been heavy. A little painful and hopeless, but he looks genuinely happy for now. ]
In any case, it's true, and not just me teasing you.
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she also seems happy - at ease, for the first time in a while. she's got a direction to go in, a goal to prepare for. this is her element, instead of standing around waiting for death.]
No, uh. [a beat.] I care about you too. Don't know how that happened, but it did.
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I'm extremely charming, obviously? [ He ducks away before she can hit him, laughing. ] So... going on a trip tomorrow?
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Charming where? [god. anyway.] And yeah. Off to try and finish this fucking story, I guess. You too, I assume.
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[ He'll show her the letter. ]
But, I guess we're at the finish line now.
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[she seems amused.] You're right, though, we're at the finish line. Both of us lived to the finish line. Crazy, huh.
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[ ... ]
Though, knowing who was part of Hugo's group, maybe I shouldn't be. I'm more relieved we didn't end up as one of those compelled killers.
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Is it terrible if I said I would've preferred it to be me over Maya?
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To spare Maya?
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Yes, to spare Maya.
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Then no, it wouldn't be terrible. You're just looking out for her, and Manwol would understand.
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[she says, thoughtfully.] Either way. We didn't, and now we're here.
[...] Thought about what you're doing after this? If we make it out.
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Beau's question is one that he's been thinking about for a while. ]
Return to Fódlan, I suppose. Hope that I'm still alive for it, and finish up all that I have to do. [ he glances at her. ] And you?
[ He has to wonder... about Molly. ]
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Still trying to figure that one out. [rubs at her face.] The point Caleb got taken from - we're all fighting something, and he's dead. Another one of our friends is dead as well. So, uh. I'd prefer to not go there and drop right into the middle of that.
But it wasn't going well for me either as far as alive status when I got snatched up, and Molly died around a year ago for us, so... we're hoping we can pick a point in the timeline to go to.
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she looks away, at this, and then:]
Not - really? Not really. Short version is there's an ancient city that's trying to come back together. They were powerful enough to create weapons to destroy the gods, back before the Calamity, so - we're trying to stop it from happening.
Mostly though, um. [she rubs at her neck.] Their... avatar? I guess? The key to unlocking the city's power is the guy that was in Molly's body before him. Lucien.
That's who both of us were fighting. Me and Caleb. Lucien was in the process of killing me when I got brought here.
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[ That's a lot. And none of it sounds good. He wishes- there was some easy answer. Some way to ensure that they don't get thrown into danger when they escape.
They deserve that much. ]
If we don't immediately have to get out of here, we could tinker with that train and make sure that you're all dropped of at a better time.
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... That's what I'm hoping for. But we're not so bad at surviving, so. We'll be okay, no matter what happens.
[she glances at him.] I'm more worried about you? You're just gonna go back - what if you go back and you're just dead?
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Yeah... that is a possibility. [ A bleak one. ] But my heart is beating, unlike Annie's. So I'm alive right now? I don't know if it'll stop the minute I go back.
[ He rubs his temples. ]
But it feels kind of wrong to run away, and not go back to finish the goal that all my friends gave their lives for.
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there's a pause, and then:]
... I get that. [genuinely.] But if you wanted a safe place to go, if that doesn't work? You could come with us.
[she shoves her hands in her pockets. makes it sound very casual.] Once we figure this Lucien shit out, it's not a bad gig.
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