#willcrowned

Even as More looks at Will, even as he sees him, he doesn't feel like this situation could actually be reality. The reason is hard to put in words.... No, it's more like there's a hundred different reasons, far too many to count. Be it Will, or More himself, or even the environment around them - which is undeniably the land of Euchronia; with no books or walls in sight - at least something of it must be an illusion.

But he can taste the air on his tongue. The sensations he feels; the sounds in his ears, of people and magic both... he hasn't felt anything like this for so long. It feels like forever.

"How did this happen? How... am I here?"

Angry & Irritated Sentences

@willcrowned

The paripus' eyes narrowed, tail flicking in irritation at the elda's comment for only a moment before his expression shifted into one of mild amusement. Admittedly, he hadn't exactly anticipated such a riposte from him.

And he almost respected it.

❝HArdly in the runnin' an' yet yer already tryin' ta silence the people. Tch.❞ A hand came to rest on his hip, almost challenging him to continue.

❝If ya can't even handle what lil 'ol me has ta say, how can ya even fathom fancyin' yerself a bloody king??❞ After all, there would always be people in opposition to those in power, so he'd need thicker skin if he wanted to keep on this path. And Fidelio had been being nice!

Sort of.

The paripus himself was no stranger to harsh criticisms, on the ship he often overheard the mumblings from Louis' generals and soldiers who questioned the choice to let the brothers hold the position they did. Did they bother him? Not at all. He earned his position at Louis' right hand, he had nothing to prove to anyone.

This elda on the other hand? He had a long way to go if he wanted to see success. And unlike his brother, Fidelio wouldn't be so easily swayed by honeyed words and bold promises.

A quiet groan escaped the short paripus as he attempted to stretch his aching joints. Probably one of his best kept secrets, even from his brother, was the constant pain that wracked his petite frame. What he wouldn't give to be back on Louis' gauntlet runner and the luxuries it afforded him. Sleeping on a bedroll definitely wasn't doing him any favors.

Deciding any attempt to go back to sleep was pointless, Fidelio carefully crawled out of bed as not to wake Basilio, and made his way out onto the ship's deck, massaging an aching shoulder. While it wasn't really a remedy, losing himself in the vast sea of stars and fantasies they could possess was a good distraction.

Golden eyes stared out at the sky as he leaned into the railing, chin coming to rest on folded arms. He didn't even bother to turn his head at the sound of approaching footfalls. It seemed he wasn't the only one finding themselves sleepless and seeking the solace of the night tonight.

Eupha smiles at Will's words, already feeling a little better before she's even said a thing. After all, Will has always been there to listen to her whenever she's worried... she's always felt like as long as she's by his side, there's nothing she can't do - she can only hope that she's able to help him when he needs it, too.

With that smile, Eupha goes to talk - but hesitates for a moment, feeling that it's maybe a foolish worry after all. Still, that's no reason not to bring it up, right?

"I was just thinking... well. You know that I grew up on Eht Ria, and didn't have much contact with the outside world. And ever since I've joined you all, I've been so excited to learn everything I've been missing, and to find out more about other cultures and people I'd never met before."

This much, Will already knows.

Yet will it be enough? Lately, More has been hearing a voice - his own, in fact - that seems to be full of doubts. It's something he hasn't confessed to Will because he's honestly ashamed of it. After speaking of fulfilling their shared dream together, of changing Euchronia and bringing the utopia More wrote of into reality... how can he tell him that he's begun to hesitate now? He doesn't even know the reason for his own sudden apprehension.

He must be afraid. Not for himself, but for Will - afraid that everything he's done won't be enough, and that he'll suffer defeat at Louis' hands. He's not sure when he became so attached to the boy, but... even that doesn't seem to be the whole of it. Recently, More's started to think that something in his memories might explain the way he's feeling right now - which is a thought that scares him more than anything, knowing what's soon to come.

He hates himself for thinking it. But if that voice is right... and what he's been chasing is nothing more than an empty dream... for Will to have to suffer from that realization, would be...

"Are you afraid?" More asks Will all at once. Perhaps he's hoping to chase the thoughts from his mind, but forcing the words out into the open may have left them more exposed than before. "You've come a long way since we first met, you know. But to be facing such a battle now... it'd only be natural if a part of you is fearful."