dear_mun | (no subject)

[ ... A sigh. ]

I know you'll succeed, Eirika.

[That is a sight for sore eyes. Even if a bit painful, nostalgia finds her well, she supposes.]

You have such faith in me. As if no time has passed at all between us.

I always have. [ A sad smile. He doesn't approach her. ] Too much time has. But that's alright... any right I had to be with you was forfeit long ago.

Why do you say it like that? Have you all the belief in me that you've left none for yourself? Our years, our adolescence, would you say it was for nothing, Lyon?

I spoke with Ephraim. You found somebody else. [ He frowns. ] I can't blame you for that. You thought I was dead, and... perhaps, in a way, I still am.

[There's a very long pause and at first she's not even sure what to say. Then she mirrors his frown.]

What a thing to say. I have heard there are doubles, triples, and so on of me. Dopplegangers, perhaps. I would know very well if I had found someone, I should think.

[Her frown fades and is replaced by a modest smile.] Do you think I would abandon you? Do you truly believe that?

[ He tries to fight back tears. ]

Then... you and Saleh aren't...? [ Ephraim lied? No... no, he wouldn't do that. It must have been a different Eirika. ]

I don't deserve you, Eirika. And even if you didn't agree... Fomortiis can never truly die. He will always be a part of me, in some way.

[She blinks.]

Saleh is a wise man. Wise, kind, and compassionate. I admire him and his traits. He is very worldly and while I know more now than I once did, I would still look to him for guidance.

[Beyond that, however, she finds a lurking worry over her dear friend. War has not made her forget their childhood together. Lyon is still someone immensely important to her.]

We will but find a way. I could not forgive myself if I couldn't save you.

[ He's always been in love with Eirika, and he still is. Fomortiis played on that love repeatedly to manipulate both of them. ]

Eirika... [ It's almost painful to hear her say that. ] Just once, I wish I was able to save somebody else.

[ Even with the crazy amount of dark power he now had, hearing that still made him feel so incredibly helpless. ]

If there's one thing I learned... it's that no matter what I do, I will never be as strong as you and Ephraim.

[Unable to hide the surprise in her expression, she shakes her head at him. She moves to close the distance between them and dusts herself off, as if a bit nervous.

He's sometimes not easy to speak to. She looks at him and sees repeats of her naivety. Lyon has proven a weakness to her before. Sometimes she is unsure if it is truly him.]

Strength is not simply a sword or a tome. Or a lance for that matter. You have always been kind. I find strength in the mercy. You once made a wish for all of the people in Magvel to find happiness. It was a very selfless thing to say. I discovered strength in those words as well. You hold more power than you know. I... wish I could help you to see it.

You've done good so far, haven't you?

You'll pull through.

[ He falls silent after what she said. It... was painful. His eyes close. ]

I've always loved you, Eirika. But I'll never be good enough for you.

[ Especially not after selling his soul to Fomortiis, and after all of the horrible things he's done. He would have done anything to save Grado, even if it meant making a pact with the Demon King. Eirika deserves better than that. Than him. ]

There's always room for improvement, don't you think? Of course, there are few I think could compare to you, so perhaps you've reached your pinnacle of improvement.

[Her expression falls as she listens. She dislikes it to a great extent when he feels he must put himself down. It's tormenting to witness. It's hard to approach. It's difficult to withstand, because she's never been a particularly forceful person.]

...Please... don't say things like that. [Her gaze turns down and she laces her hands together.] I decide who is and is not good enough for me. So please don't convince yourself of something that you don't even truly know.

What are you saying, Eirika?

[ Does that mean...? No. It can't. There's no way she would return his feelings for her after all he'd done. ]

Of course. I have to keep my allies and my employers safe, after all.

So what does your mun have in store for you?

Eirika. [smiles] I trust you've been well?

[Ephraim will just stand there and watch them...]

Brother. [She is incapable of expressing just how pleased she is to see him. And then she nods.] Yes. I am as well as I can hope to be. And you?

[It's a little odd to have this conversation with Ephraim present. But the three of them have been friends for... For as long as Eirika can remember. Lyon's question is an open ended one. Undoubtedly her feelings for him run quite deep.

Does she love him? In a manner of speech, yes. Of course she does. But in the form of marriage or something of that sort? By political means, a marriage to Grado would likely reflect well. Just as a marriage to Frelia or Jehanna would.]

I'm saying that you are too hard on yourself. Relentless. Unfair. You make judgment without even considering that my eyes may not be so harsh on you. Through trying times we have gone, and with hardship comes strength. [Nothing like evading such a pointed question, though she imagines she'll not be able to do so for too much longer.]

I can always rely on you, I see. [As if she's ever questioned it.]

I believe I will find myself at any number of places that I'm not suited to be in. And what of you, Gerik?

[ His eyes close. He knows Ephraim is nearby, and somewhere deep in his mind, Fomortiis stirs. He ignores that spine-chilling thought, both heartened, and hurt by Eirika's dodging of his question. ]

... of course. [ He lowers his face, his eyes not opening. ] Your words are kind, Eirika. But it doesn't change the fact that I could never make up for all I've done to you. Least of all enough to be worthy of your love.

My words are kind. I'm not capable of saying harsh things to you, Lyon. I wouldn't want to. It's against my nature and it wouldn't feel right.

[She shakes her head.] I cannot hate you. I cannot despise you. I cannot bring any part of myself to stand here and hold a grudge. I simply can't do it. [So she gives to him a smile.] For each day that you should find a dislike for yourself, I will be present to remind you of all the good I continue to see in you.

I'm doing well. Kind of floating around memes and museboxes a bit, sort of homeless, but I'm okay otherwise.

I would have thought you to make yourself quite well-known, with your prowess. Have you not found something to catch your eye?