Catch-all: Lucretia

[ercnerd]

Comments

[ercnerd]

Because of your work? You're not the type who works all day without taking time for yourself, are you?

[ambiography]

Running an organization is a demanding job, Sieghart.

[ercnerd]

Isn't that why you have assistants?

[ambiography]

Not as many as you would think, and-- not all of it can be entrusted to anyone else.

[ercnerd]

Isn't that too risky? If time weren't frozen here, your organization would be in a lot of trouble without you there to direct it.

[ambiography]

It would, but it's the only way it can operate. We're a secret organization to begin with, in my world, I'm sure we'd be in some trouble if we lost more than just myself.

[ercnerd]

Jeez. It's already troublesome to be in charge of a public organization. I don't know how you guys can navigate in so much secrecy.

[ambiography]

...it's a necessity. The work we do would be a near impossibility if things were any other way.

[ercnerd]

Hm . . . Then it's a good thing that you were able to unwind tonight.

[ambiography]

I think it was, yes.

[she just. sinks a little more into the couch, it's been a long night.]

I've told you a little bit about the kind of work we do before, haven't I?

[ercnerd]

[He reaches out to put his good hand on her shoulder. It sits there for a good two seconds before he retracts it.]

About removing unknown dangers within the world?

[ambiography]

Yes, that.

[the touch is nice, honestly. maybe that's just because of the week being the way it is, but it's a little reassuring.]

You saw the rule that was added earlier, didn't you?

[ercnerd]

I was just looking at it.

Do you think there'll be some sort of punishment if we refuse?

[ambiography]

Knowing this place, I won't be at all surprised.

Do you intend to refuse and find out?

[ercnerd]

. . . You saw what happened to Otome and the others. It's better not to take unnecessary risks.

[ambiography]

I don't disagree. It's- more than a little invasive, but I have the feeling anything that might come of it could be worse.

[ercnerd]

[He eyes her for a moment. It's very invasive, actually, and that's why he hasn't asked—until now.]

Does that mean you're offering?

[ambiography]

...yours will be safe with me, if I can count on the same from you.

[earlier on, she probably wouldn't have considered it. but especially after their last conversation-- if he's willing to put in the effort and help, if he's willing to help try to keep them safe, then she's willing to try to build more trust there. as long as he ends up actually upholding that, at least.]

[ercnerd]

People's regrets aren't to be treated lightly. Others have no business knowing them, unless you harm someone and it becomes relevant. Then I won't protect you, and I'll expect the same in return.

[Things are seldom so simple, after all.]

If you agree to these terms, I'll tell you my deepest regret.

[ambiography]

[she looks-- briefly surprised, to hear that from him, but after a few moments of consideration, she nods.]

I'm going to hope that you never do, or we're going to have larger problems than whether or not to share these with anyone else. But I'll accept that.

[ercnerd]

[Despite his cold words just a second ago, he smiles at her answer.

But that expression quickly falls as he looks away to heave a heavy sigh.]

Guess I'll go first, then.

[It takes a moment of quietly breathing in, then out, then in before he leans over to Lucretia as far as his injured leg will allow, where he hesitates at her ear one last time. Shame is part of it, but the regret attached to the admission is like a chokehold. Finally, he whispers lowly:]

I . . . regret causing my brothers' deaths.

[ambiography]

[oh. she would have expected someone with a long life like his to have plenty of opportunity for regrets, but-- to be honest, she hadn't really known just what to expect, given the way that he is. it certainly wasn't this, and his hesitation is immediately understood; her breath catches, a moment, before she exhales it slowly.]

Sieghart- [a brief pause, before she continues.] ...I'm sorry that you lost them.

[that comes first, because she knows how difficult it must be even when you don't consider it your fault.]

Will you tell me what happened?

[ercnerd]

[The secret—is that what it is? Not really—is out, and he doesn't feel better about it. Talking about it never feels good. He lingers by her ear, feeling his heart thump heavily against his chest, before he pulls back with an uncharacteristically mild frown that borders on hollow.

His voice is low, subdued.]

. . . It was my fault. After all the kindness they showed me, I consigned them to oblivion with a simple mistake. I only survived, because I wasn't there when it happened.

[ambiography]

[she's quiet for a few more moments, just... shifting to sit closer to him. touch week back at it again.]

...a mistake is exactly that, a mistake, but whether they were what we meant to happen in the end or not-- the consequences are what we live with. There's never any changing what we've done, only... doing what we can, afterwards. Trying to resolve the fallout of our decisions.

Do you regret surviving, Sieghart?

[ercnerd]

I . . .

[He falls quiet. He has many a regret of that time. Indeed, surviving when everyone else perished has to be one of them.]

I don't want to talk about it.