They were only kids when they met. So oblivious to the world around them, yet they wondered how to conquer the slight changes in the air as though they were made to be part of it all. Everything used to be so hard to understand and in some ways, they still were. but for everything that the wind and ground had given to them, they have made it their own. Inbetween the chaos and peace of growing and understanding who they were as people, they grew to love each other just as they would love themselves. though sometimes that wasn't always easy to do. sometimes it was the hardest thing to do. for dust you are and to dust you will return. "Christo." She watched the tall male stare out the window of their shop, eyes fixated on something she could not see. The air was warm from the lit flames in the oven and she could feel their warmth even from behind the counter top. Her chin rested gently on her chin, lips curled upward as the male turned toward her. "The letters. They're addressed to you. Perhaps a thanks for what you did." He grunted in response, knowing that they were empty thank yous. Everything he had done had been through Jieun. She had a knack for getting the village to love him just as much as they loved her. But she had known from when they were little that he was just as good as he believed she was. They sought out the good of each other, defeating each other's demons to somehow find comfort in the arms of one another. Afterall, the two of them were just merely two sides of the same coin. In some ways it meant they would always fill out the parts missing from the other. In others, they would never be able to face each other the way that they had always wanted to. Because no matter how much they fought for each other, they were far too different to see the same sunset in the end. "I have deliveries to make. The old couple on the other side of town requested the remedies and elixirs I made." She stood up straight, dusted the white apron she wore as though she had done any work for the day. "Would you like to come with me?" "It's raining." He rebuttled as he crinkled his nose. It was as if he had never felt the drops of rain on his cheeks; as though the rain would melt him away if it touched his skin. Because somewhere along the way, he felt as if the world had been too pure for his existence. "A little magic will keep the water from getting you wet. It'll be quick and easy. And who knows," Jieun lifted her arms out and shrugged her shoulders, a small grin on her lips as though she was being clever. With her skill in magic, she could easily make the rain clouds go away if only for a little bit. "Maybe the rain will clear up, and we can take a walk through the woods. I do need more ingredients. Yes?"

“You don’t have to lie to me, Sunghwa.” Sana doesn’t look in the eye just yet, unable to face the kindness in his expression just yet but she does give him an extra squeeze before letting go. “If I was as good of a friend as you said then we wouldn’t be having this conversation in the first place.”

Sana gives Sunghwa his space by taking a few steps back. A couple of people stare at them, including some that are standing by a nearby street vendor and give the both of them questioning stares. A few even mumble behind their hands while looking at them with evident curiosity. It takes a moment before it occurs to her why they’re staring.

“We look like a couple that has just had their first fight.” Sana says, already she’s trying to bite back a laugh so she wipes away the wetness on the corners of eyes with the sleeve of her jacket. She looks up at the sky to blink away the last of the wetness behind her eyes─ it’s a bit embarrassing, she didn’t even realize that she had gotten teary eyed in the first place. 

If he asks, she’ll just place the blame on the fact she had to run and the cold air rather than admit that she cries easily over misunderstandings, even if and when they’re easily resolved. She doesn’t like coming across as fragile, especially not in front of those she knows fairly well.

“I think we’re both having a bit of an off day.” She mumbles but soon she’s smiling again, feeling genuine. The people around them return back to whatever they were doing before and she begins to walk.

“And hey, you still haven’t told me what’s wrong exactly.” Sana pauses, looking over her shoulder before cocking her head in the direction in front of her as way to tell Sunghwa to follow her. As they walk she puts her hands into her pockets, moving slowly and looking into shop windows she continues their previous conversation. “I don’t understand why you feel like you need to be stronger.” 

She stops suddenly, fingers touching the glass of a shop window where one mannequin is wearing an outfit adorn with both jewels, gold, and another is holding a sword listed at a discount price for a weekend sale. Sana tilts her head, looking at the make of the weapon and wondering if it would be worth the gil that it’s listed for before she looks at him again.

“Sung, you’re fine just the way that you are.”

"I don't think you were the problem to begin with, Sana." He gives her an awkward laugh, looking away from her as she gives him his much needed space. He hates that she thinks she's the reason for the uncomfortable tension that he didn't even realize was there until it was too late. The conversation begins and ends with him. It always has been. Maybe it's the self doubt he struggles with or the idea deeply rooted into him that he's just another mistake. Sana can do no wrong in his eyes because the wrong starts in him. It's something he's been wanting to tell her. He wanted her to be a confidant to him, but being so meant breaking a lot of his rules he set out for himself. Truth of the matter though, he's just scared out of his mind. "Right, sorry. I didn't mean for that!" He stumbles on his words, looking back at her just as she uses her sleeve to wipe the tears that fell from her eyes. Now he feels worse, but he won't let her know it. They were the same in that sense. always wanting to do what would make the other happy and if it didn't work, well, he knows his own guilt and despondence linger a lot longer than her smiles. He gives her a soft smile then, letting the moment go and walks in step with her. "Who wants to feel weak? Being weak, it just means I haven't achieved what I wanted. I'm a long shot away from who I want to be." He mumbles and as he speaks, the air turns white from his breath. "I'm still working on it. Being stronger in any aspect I can be. It just... it would make me feel a lot better. I wouldn't have to worry about anything. Not even daemons." He laughs at that, shrugging his shoulders as he stops a few steps ahead of her. Her words hurt him a lot more than it should have. She's reassuring him, he knows this. He knows her better than anything else in his life. She makes things easy, but she doesn't even come easy to him. When it came to Sana, he didn't have to worry about ulterior motives. He didn't have to worry about her discovering who he is because she wouldn't care. His eyes turn to the display window, glancing at what was for sale before turning his eyes back to her. He clenches his fist, unclenching them only when he's ready to stand by her side. He moves his hand to touch the display window, right in front of the sword that's displayed. "Thanks for believing in me, Sana." He smiles at her reflection, watching at how intently she's staring at the display. "I really do appreciate you. When the time's right, I'll... I want to let you know what's been nagging at me. But I'm still trying to get myself in check. It's selfish to ask, but could you wait a little longer?" Wait until he could truly trust himself with who he is. Wait until he could look her in the eye and not feel like a liar both to her and to Insomnia. He blinks and for a second he sees his father, but the image of him fades with another blink. He doesn't realize he's holding onto the end of her sleeve until he feels the wetness of her tears against his fingertips. He smiles again, this time truly meaning it.