Fighting, because they had no choice but to fight? Mm... it was the same for Emet-Selch, in a way.
[Elaborating might be too complicated, though... The kettle's almost ready. Not quite boiling yet. And so she waits, turned partly away from Tachibana.]
You're a good man. So you still pity him. Even after all that.
[Maybe someone needs to give voice to the idea. Maybe he just needs to be reminded of his own goodness.]
[A weakness? Dakki's brow knits, and she wants to protest... but is he entirely wrong? There are people that only know how to use, only know how to hurt.]
Then don't give him that opening.
[Aah, and there goes the kettle. She wastes no time, pouring water into mugs so that the tea can steep. Which gives her something easier to fix her eyes on as she continues.]
You don't have to hate him, but... but you don't have to help him. He made his bed. Let him lie in it.
[She then brings the mugs over, sets one down in front of him, then has herself a seat with her own. That last question.... she looks very uncertain, but her expression softens.]
...would she want you to do that? Would she want you to carry that hate with you?
[[Such a simple thing to say, don't give someone an opening to take advantage of. But was that sort of thing even possible? If you were always on guard against being tricked...
He'd lived that way, once. It had been exhausting, and in the end, he had lashed out at the people he should have trusted, and lost nearly everything...
He was quiet, looking down at his reflection in his mug]]
...I don't know.
[[The admittance is soft and quiet. Everything was far too complicated to feel as if he knew anything, any more]]
[Maybe she doesn't have any good answers to provide, but Dakki can't bear to see him sit there, looking so lost and miserable over the matter. And so she reaches out a hand, to rest it over one of his.]
You don't have to handle him alone, at least. If you're worried about him still causing trouble, I'll do all I can to help you stop him.
[She's not the smart one with the plans, she is the weapon that people throw at their problems... but she's more than happy to be thrown at this problem, for a friend.]
[[The touch almost startled him, and he looked up, eyes wide and alarmingly vulnerable for a moment before his expression softened into a faint smile.]]
Thank you. But I think with Isaka here...
[[he trailed off, a faint huff escaping as he shook his head.]]
I'm not who I was, 15 years ago, even if he's the same. In terms of fighting, I don't think he'll be a threat. As long as people are guarded against his mind control powers...
I think the only person he can really affect is me.
[[another small huff escaped, Tachibana's expression relaxing further.]]
He'd deserve it.
Back home, it was only Undead energy that could harm an Undead, but the rules in this world may be different. Wouldn't be uncalled for to test that out.
[[he finally shifts his hand to properly be holding hers, giving it a small squeeze back]]
[A warning like that is more of a challenge, for someone like Dakki. She takes it in with a confident nod of understanding.]
I think the 'energy' of many different worlds manifests in more or less the same ways, in this place. If I've the occasion to test it out, I'm certain I'll do well.
[Was that enough to solve it all? Not in its entirety, no, but they've at least gotten some things off their minds. And now, before either of them can pick those weighty emotions back up...]
You're welcome. Aah, and now that I'm thinking of it... I'll not be needing all of my furniture when I move. Is there anything that you think you'd need, Tachibana?
[[Tachibana blinked a few times, the question catching him a little off guard.]]
I have a bed and a table already.
[[he said, with the slightly confused air of someone who. Doesn't. Quite get that an apartment needs more than just that. Even as he's sitting in one that's properly furnished.]]
[Do... do all men have no idea how to furnish a living space? No, no, even Estinien, hopeless as he was with his oddly-lit apartment full of incredibly boring furniture, was doing more than that.]
You... you've no need for some shelves? A coffee table? A... a couch to sit on?
[It seems... mostly straightforward to her, but she's still a little confused that he could say such a thing. At the chance to let her do some of the deciding, she brightens.]
Aah, I'd be happy to! But I might need to see your place, just to get an idea of what would be best.
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[Elaborating might be too complicated, though... The kettle's almost ready. Not quite boiling yet. And so she waits, turned partly away from Tachibana.]
You're a good man. So you still pity him. Even after all that.
[Maybe someone needs to give voice to the idea. Maybe he just needs to be reminded of his own goodness.]
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... it feels like it's just another weakness that'll be exploited.
[[The admittance is small, tired and heavy with shame.]]
He took advantage of my weaknesses the first time, what if this gives him an opening to do it again?
[[another small pause before he added in a more quiet voice:]]
... am I betraying Sayoko, by not being able to keep hating him...?
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Then don't give him that opening.
[Aah, and there goes the kettle. She wastes no time, pouring water into mugs so that the tea can steep. Which gives her something easier to fix her eyes on as she continues.]
You don't have to hate him, but... but you don't have to help him. He made his bed. Let him lie in it.
[She then brings the mugs over, sets one down in front of him, then has herself a seat with her own. That last question.... she looks very uncertain, but her expression softens.]
...would she want you to do that? Would she want you to carry that hate with you?
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He'd lived that way, once. It had been exhausting, and in the end, he had lashed out at the people he should have trusted, and lost nearly everything...
He was quiet, looking down at his reflection in his mug]]
...I don't know.
[[The admittance is soft and quiet. Everything was far too complicated to feel as if he knew anything, any more]]
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You don't have to handle him alone, at least. If you're worried about him still causing trouble, I'll do all I can to help you stop him.
[She's not the smart one with the plans, she is the weapon that people throw at their problems... but she's more than happy to be thrown at this problem, for a friend.]
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Thank you. But I think with Isaka here...
[[he trailed off, a faint huff escaping as he shook his head.]]
I'm not who I was, 15 years ago, even if he's the same. In terms of fighting, I don't think he'll be a threat. As long as people are guarded against his mind control powers...
I think the only person he can really affect is me.
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Even if you're strong enough on your own, it never hurts to have someone to watch your back. You don't have to carry it all yourself.
[Such good advice. Advice that she always does mean to take for herself...]
And the more you talk about him, the more I want to give him a good thrashing.
[She smiles at that. Maybe... maybe a little too widely.]
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He'd deserve it.
Back home, it was only Undead energy that could harm an Undead, but the rules in this world may be different. Wouldn't be uncalled for to test that out.
[[he finally shifts his hand to properly be holding hers, giving it a small squeeze back]]
Thank you.
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I think the 'energy' of many different worlds manifests in more or less the same ways, in this place. If I've the occasion to test it out, I'm certain I'll do well.
[Was that enough to solve it all? Not in its entirety, no, but they've at least gotten some things off their minds. And now, before either of them can pick those weighty emotions back up...]
You're welcome. Aah, and now that I'm thinking of it... I'll not be needing all of my furniture when I move. Is there anything that you think you'd need, Tachibana?
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I have a bed and a table already.
[[he said, with the slightly confused air of someone who. Doesn't. Quite get that an apartment needs more than just that. Even as he's sitting in one that's properly furnished.]]
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A... a bed and a table? That's all?
[Do... do all men have no idea how to furnish a living space? No, no, even Estinien, hopeless as he was with his oddly-lit apartment full of incredibly boring furniture, was doing more than that.]
You... you've no need for some shelves? A coffee table? A... a couch to sit on?
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[[His knee was bouncing slightly in a bit of awkward self awareness.]]
... the apartment I tended to keep back home... is a bit odd to most people, isn't it?
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[Though already, she's starting to draw some conclusions and imagine some things.]
...anyroad! You're welcome to first pick of the things that I won't be taking along with me!
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Wouldn't really know what to pick. [[he sounds a bit apologetic at that]] But whatever you'd like to pick out for me, I'll be happy to accept.
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[It seems... mostly straightforward to her, but she's still a little confused that he could say such a thing. At the chance to let her do some of the deciding, she brightens.]
Aah, I'd be happy to! But I might need to see your place, just to get an idea of what would be best.
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