Stars ablaze

Alt edits

YI SANG

🫧he believes that after the events of his canto, no matter how much was dredged up, it was for the better. each time one of your friends goes through hell confronting their past, they always come out on the other side. the pain was worth it, in his opinion, and he tries to assure you that that will be the case for you as well.

🫧he helps you look for an outlet, something creative and low stakes, if time allows. he can also sit and listen to your woes, especially in those in between moments. late at night when you can't sleep (he's probably awake too), when you duck out of the main cabin to catch your breath

🫧yi sang has faith in your ability to persevere. and anything you need, he's willing to at least try to help with it even if he isn't the strongest

FAUST

🫧there isn't anything she can tell you. she isn't allowed to and, with her low standing within the fausternet, it's unlikely that she has clearance to that level of information anyway.

🫧she worries for you. she knows you'll make it out, but it still bothers her to sit and watch you struggle. to not be able to do anything. it isn't pleasant to see. any advice that she is able to gove you comes across as vague at best, condescending at worst, but she's trying her hardest. she does what she can to make it easier on you, though it isn't much

DON QUIXOTE

🫧she's your cheerleader. she knew that your turn would come eventually, and the moment she realizes the time has come, she's all over it. she has the utmost confidence in your abilities, and she will rally you onwards, and--

🫧there are times that she treats the situation with a shocking amount of sobriety. she too changed a great deal after her canto, but her core is the same. the core of her that cares for you, that wants to see you succeed, and will do anything to help you get there. but she is now capable of seeing when she needs to take a step back, when it isn’t so simple as just charging through with a smile and a vow to uphold-- though a decent attitude works wonders

🫧she recognizes the pain that comes from it. no matter how many months pass, she clearly recalls the confusion, fear, and anger she felt. feeling split down the middle, stuck between two versions of herself, learning her true nature with an audience. more clearly than that, however, she remembers your presence there. comforting and constant, no matter how she shoved you away and insisted you no longer knew her. so she will utilize the age old strategy of turning the other cheek when you're worn down and frustrated, and she'll carry you when you can't move any further. you deserve to tie up any loose ends, to have your dreams realized, and she will not stand idly by

RYOSHU

🫧she understands all of the memories that get exhumed from whatever spot deep in your brain you buried them in. the rage that resurfaces at each turn at how you were treated, the things you saw, maybe even things you did. whatever it was, it doesn't change anything. once you have ryoshu's loyalty, it takes a lot more than a dubious past to lose it

🫧she'll give you a push if you need it, sure. it would be pointless to tiptoe around the issue when everyone has learned by now that you don't really get a choice in the matter. but she's also supportive in other ways, staying within a few feet of you at any given time. ryoshu usually stands near the edge of the group, observing the situation with a nonchalant air. but now she's next to you, and she's on high alert, ready to move at a moment's notice.

🫧when no one can see it, she links her pinkie with yours

MEURSAULT

🫧he's unsure why you're so surprised, how you didn't prepare more in advance. you knew this was coming, didn't you? it was inevitable. still, he knows this is difficult for you, and he can be incredibly patient. he looks to try to fix things within his capabilities, rather than just lending an ear, but it's the thought that counts

🫧always reliable, always sturdy, his presence is a constant. it isn't purely business now, not just to fulfill his role; he's trying to be helpful to you as well, it's just fortunate how both things happen to line up

HONG LU

🫧where in the past he may have advised you to let it go, that it can't be helped and you're only wearing yourself out, he's felt the catharsis that comes with simply being outraged. he'll let you feel that anger at the injustices you've faced, curious and concerned all the same

🫧hong lu can be a very calming presence when he wants to be. he listens to your concerns, asking questions that end up helping you break things down. he doesn’t treat you all that different from usual, maybe teasing you less, but not trying to coddle you or anything

🫧he's still haunted by the nightmares of what he's faced. and it saddens him to know that you must be too, and to find out little by little what all of the causes are. he's a patient man anyway, but he's especially tolerant of you now

HEATHCLIFF

🫧get angry. no, really, get angry. aren't you pissed off? isn't everything you went through a load of horseshit? channel that rage you feel into beating a new path open. if he can change, so can you. don't just sit there and mope about it, don't waste your time glaring at your shoes, don't waste your breath snapping at the others; take action.

🫧he's in your corner. heathcliff is fiercely loyal to you because you've earned it. he'll back you up every step of the way. he insists upon keeping you from dragging your feet, maybe pushing you a bit too hard at times. but he's tough, and admittedly very soft when it comes to you, so he can take it if/when you lash out

ISHMAEL

🫧if you stood by her, she's going to do the same for you. it's not purely to be reciprocal, of course, but she figures it's the least she can do

🫧her advice is... well intentioned, sure, but it tends to turn into more of a lecture. how helpful her input will actually be depends on how you choose to interpret it, but she's trying really hard to be helpful here

🫧she's more patient than she used to be, and she has no leg to stand on when it comes to being pleasant or receptive to help during the events of a canto. but you can trust that she will call you out, hold you accountable, do just about anything it takes to keep you from slipping too close to the point of no return

RODYA

🫧she tries to joke around. it's a very serious subject, and she knows that it's serious, but maybe if she just tries to keep your mind off of it...? really, you don't have to be so sour! unfortunately a lot of her jokes feel like they're coming at your expense, more for the sake of lightening the uncomfortable mood than actually cheering you up

🫧but she's capable of apologizing when she does something wrong, and her actions don't come from a place of malice. she hates seeing you so miserable, knowing that there isn't much she can do to fix it. playful remarks slowly shift into placating comments said less for an audience and more for you, elbows nudging your ribs become a firm hand on your shoulder. she's not the best at this, but she can try

DANTE

🫧dante knew it was coming eventually. that was the case for everyone, wasn't it? yet somehow, some way, they just hoped that they would be able to make it easier for you. being a manager didn't really come with that much power, though

🫧it always feels intrusive to see into the sinners' memories, and you're no exception. they wish that you'd have been able to just talk to them about these things, so that they could see it on your terms, and truthfully they worry that some of your upset is directed at them.

🫧they can rewind your grievous wounds, they can turn the clock back when you fall, but they seem to want to take a more hands on approach. colorful band-aids put on in the privacy of their office become a regular occurrence as they try to show you how much they care, that they're here with you. somehow, taking matters into their clumsy hands feels much more intimate and helpful than physically feeling your agony

SINCLAIR

🫧incredibly sympathetic. it wasn't all that long ago that he was forced to face the demons of his past, albeit dragged there kicking and screaming.

🫧these days, he feels better when he trains. he's getting stronger, even if it doesn't always feel that way, but it does help him feel safer to think that he can protect himself and others better now. he'll invite you along if there's time, stating that sometimes it makes it better just to feel like you have control

🫧he's angry too. sinclair feels nothing but indignation for what you faced, any unfair choices you were forced to make. there are times you'd almost think he's more affected by all of this than you are, but he always tries to reign it in to be there for you

OUTIS

🫧she's got plenty of skeletons in her closet, and she's not surprised that yours are getting pulled out too.

🫧she will not coddle you. she will call you out the moment your behavior starts to impede progress or disrupts the chain of command that she admittedly takes more solace in than you. outis only pushes you forward, insisting that you have no choice, that you signed up for this. it feels cold and uncaring, like she's more worried about having a reliable soldier than supporting you through one of the worst periods of your life, but that's because her support comes in another way.

🫧whether you suffered, or did something, or stood complacent, she doesn't judge you. she acknowledges and accepts all of the ugly aspects of your history, then moves on. what happened happened, and there is no going back to change it. you have changed, are going to continue to learn and grow, and she refuses to let you stagnate out of self loathing or fear. that is how she shows she cares, extending a courtesy to you that many wouldn't

🫧all she can do is hope that you'll return the sentiment someday

GREGOR

🫧gregor has a pretty negative view of his canto. not only did they fail to retrieve the bough, it was also just... well, it was shit all the way through. and he's going to be up front and warn you that, hey, this is really gonna suck. and that, should you want to, you can always come to him

🫧gregor offers you a space free of judgment. in a much more apathetic yet still cynical way than outis, he shares a similar viewpoint: shit happened, and you can't do anything about it. but you don't have to deal with it alone, and you can change

🫧whenever you're getting too worked up, he tries to get you away from the heart of the issue. even if just for a little while. he'll let you rant and rave if you need to, try to offer his input or tell a relevant story of his own. gregor offers you a cigarette if you smoke, and pats your back either away.

Translation/transcript:

[crackling of fire, wind]

Don Quixote: "Tell me. Why did you seek death?"

Sancho: "Because I wanted to get away from the pain."

Don Quixote: "How odd. Don't most humans inflict suffering unto others to be freed from their own?"

Sancho: "How could hurting others help… when my pain comes from this… endless cold?"

Don Quixote: "Where's your family? Your siblings?"

Sancho: "I never had anyone, not even on the day I was born. I've only known… the cold… the loneliness... So I want to burn myself to ashes like I was never here."

Don Quixote: "Then… allow me to grant you the will to live."

[static rising]