#ordelease

@ordelease​ asked: ❝ I want to be part of the unfolding of the tale. ❞

“and you will be.” khalid says, firm as the resolution of a setting sun. 

lysithea’s endured too much, and come too far for her to wind up left behind. he’s seen her grow more than he could possibly express–but he attempts to offer her something of an encapsulating smile. she’s certainly earned the sincerity, hasn’t she? “you’ve worked hard, lysithea. harder than anyone should feel compelled to under the test of time.” 

and that doesn’t even begin to touch on the tests of physical and emotional capacity she’s endured, beneath the cruel ministrations of those who slither in the dark. 

no matter what feats they take, neither their magic nor their beliefs will ever be more impressive than the great steps she’s taken to simply survive. to outlast the risks that have attempted to suffocate her. “it’s true that history will go on and on, with or without us. but you’ve read so many books by now that i’m sure you understand what i’m about to say: it’s too late not to be. fódlan’s future is different because of you.” 

and its new dawn will see her, just as she will see it. 

          it’s not that he’s trying to sneak up on her –– but he’s not not trying to sneak up on her. “hey there, lysithea. reading something interesting? you’ve had your nose buried there for a little while now.” 

“I’m sorry,” are the first words Soma spills in response.  And they are.  Soma understands about nightmares --------- and about Lysithea.  Empathetic, kind, but only just learning to be curious --- but there is no curiosity required here.  Soma knows Lysithea’s story, if only in broad strokes, and it is startling and sick, how similar they are.

(  they hurt you.  they hurt you.  this will make you stronger, they say.  they smile while you scream and the others die.  why would that make them smile?  )

It makes Soma want to kill / to hurt / to rend flesh from bone and bone from marrow.  Because Lysithea is good, and real, and so to hurt her is ------------

(  they hurt her.  they hurt her.  to make her stronger.  how fucking dare they?  how fucking dare they think her strength is worth more than her heart?  soma is empty nothing but lysithea exists and they hurt her.  )

Soma pats the space beside them in the grass, a silent offer.  The courtyard is quiet at night, and the stars are bright, and the company is nice.  Lysithea sits beside her, and Soma gazes up at those stars when she says, voice low, “I had a nightmare, too.”

Soma wonders what she would see, if she drank Lysithea’s blood and memories.  Everyone else, taking their memories alters Soma, because it is something new.  But this hurt might not be new at all.  These nightmares might not be new at all.

Eyes drop from the stars and settle on that shock of white hair, and Soma smiles something sweet.  Unbearably tender, love and love and love and vicious hatred.  They say, voice gentle and sure, “if anyone hurts you again, I’ll tear them apart.”

Lysithea stiffens.  Soma’s smile goes gentler yet.

     but catching sight of her is like a knife to his gut.

     namely, her hair. axel’s own hair is like that, too: a lack of pigmentation under the layers of crimson-red colourant that he mixes into it. ( an attempt at covering scars that, years later, are still too fresh. ) of course, he tries to reasons with himself. her hair’s white. big deal. a bunch of people have white hair and haven’t been through horrific experiments involving messed-up crests. there’s no way she went through it all, too — but she looks so... frail. and he’s seen her in combat. there’s a tightness in his chest and it bugs him. no - worse than that. it pisses him off. 

     and he can’t let it go. “hey. you.” he stands in front of her, arms folded. “you use magic, right?”  

❛   you  know ,  you  don’t  gotta  try  to  be  so  strong ,  all  the  time .   ❜   his  tone  is  milder  than  it  would  have  been  with  most  anyone  else ,  and  he  doesn’t  sound  exasperated  when  he  stops  to  check  on  her .  sure ,  he’ll have  to  make  up  time ,  but   . . .   he  can’t  ignore  someone  who’s  all  but  fainted  in  front  of  him .  he  switches  his  bundle  of  wood  from  both  arms  to  one  shoulder  so  that  he  can  stretch  out  his  hand .

❛   come  on .  let  me  help  you  back  to  your  room .   ❜  

BLOOD CODE : HADES.

this blood code contains lysithea’s suffering and her power --- the will to destroy injustice.  

features high attack and dark - type gifts at the expense of lowered defense and HP.

stranger.  /  accepting.  /  @ordelease

Soma laughs, gleeful and simple, and wonder who’s been talking about her.  Have they called her weapon / broken vessel?  Have they called her joyous, flower, honey sweet?  Have they called her feral, sick, perpetually on the cusp of collapse?  Have they called her manic, impatient, impulsive?

have they mentioned her weathered heart, or the Other nestled within it?

Soma closes the gap — a lilting step, and then another follows, until she is close enough to take the other’s shoulders.  Their hands travel down her arms until they meet her hands and curl around them.  Their smile is sunshine - sweet.

have they mentioned her wounds?  have they mentioned that she did it to herself?  have they mentioned that she was forced to?