Catch-all: Shinobu

[ercnerd]

Comments

[wisterin]

Some would say that kind of surprise is a blessing.

[ her smile is fond. ]

It keeps you living.

[ercnerd]

Mm. It's a better reason than most others.

[He won't deny that. It's selfish, but there's nothing wrong with being a little selfish in most cases.]

[wisterin]

It's not wrong to want to be with others.

[ she says that softly. ]

Although some things you do to stay with them can be.

[ercnerd]

The same can be said for a lot of things. But you're not wrong.

[There's a beat before he pauses.]

By the way . . .

[wisterin]

By the way?

[ercnerd]

. . . It doesn't matter anymore, but did you ever receive a present?

[wisterin]

[ she tilts her head. ]

What manner of present do you mean?

[ercnerd]

[He shrugs a shoulder.]

I don't know. I was just told to pick a package and three names. Alphinaud didn't get it, so the recipient must have been you or Harrowhark.

[wisterin]

I did receive a package with a house symbol a few weeks ago.

[ ... ]

You didn't know what it was going to be?

[ercnerd]

Oh, so it was you!

No, I wasn't told what it was—just that it'd be helpful.

[wisterin]

[ she closes her eyes and is silent for a beat longer than is usual. ]

Thank you for making me one of your options. I'm more grateful than words can say.

[ if she didn't have her haori, i can't imagine how worse she would've been in these last few weeks. ]

[ercnerd]

[Perish (no).]

Hm? What if I were to say that I drew the names out of a hat?

[wisterin]

[ she smiles. she's not offended by that possibility even if she doesn't think it's true. ]

I'd be grateful either way. If it were to whim or whimsy, that doesn't change how significant it was to me.

[ercnerd]

[Wow. It must've been something really special if she isn't commenting on his humor.]

What was it?

[wisterin]

[ his "humor" ]

A memento of my sister's.

[ she glances at her haori. ]

[ercnerd]

[He thinks he's funny, but all the children hate his jokes.]

. . . So that's what the house meant . . .

Then it's good that you were the one to receive it.

[wisterin]

[ his dad jokes fall on deaf ears for good reason. ]

I cannot pretend I'm not grateful and that it is the one thing I wanted to have here, more than anything.

[ she would have traded her sword for it, as much as her sword symbolizes and is an extension of herself.

it's something she wouldn't hesitate to be selfish about (even if it also another way of giving up herself). she will not say it would have been fine had it been someone else. ]

[ercnerd]

Is that so?

[Mementos don't become him. For Sieghart, the blood of his brothers coursing through his veins is more than enough—all that remained after the fire. However, he understands how precious such things may be to others.

And for someone who cares as much as Shinobu . . . ]

You have nothing to be grateful for. I was just trying to help after the mess I left behind.

[wisterin]

You could have picked any other name. Even if you were trying to atone, don't belittle how significant it is to me.

[ it may not have been his intent, and he may have known nothing, but that doesn't mean her haori doesn't help her get through life, though living.

accept her gratitude, asshole. ]

[ercnerd]

Haha . . . Why would I do that? If anything, I should be the one thanking you.

[To him, this and that are different. It didn't begin with his intention, after all. Something so important—she took it back with the force of her heart by impressing her name onto his.]

But all right. If it means that much to you, I'll accept your gratitude.

[wisterin]

But I haven't done anything for you.

[ her feelings for sieghart aren't uncomplicated because he killed flayn. possessed or not and though it was ultimately what flayn wanted, it doesn't leave her feelings completely clear.

however, it does put him above the 7rings and chasmas.

she smiles her satisfaction. ]

[ercnerd]

No, you haven't. But that's not important.

[He doesn't need anything from anyone; he doesn't want, either. She doesn't have to do a thing for him.]

My duty is balance; in other words, to expunge evil. My hands were tied for a while, but I believed yours would move where they needed to go.

[wisterin]

[ thinks about how much demon slayer gear says destroy evil

thinks about how close shinobu was to choosing evil this game, ]

Dying does tie one's hands for a while, and I am one who is usually moved by duty first.

[ sometimes, love is part of duty, and sometimes, it's separate. ]

[ercnerd]

[But did she choose evil?]

Few are moved by duty first and always.

[Usually is good enough.]

But duty isn't everything. You have to be able to think and feel for yourself. That's why I picked you.

[wisterin]

[ no ):

at the end of the day, all shinobu strives to do is save one more person, to keep one more person from feeling the devastation of loss. at the end of the day, she wears the wishes of her dearly departed family like a cloak, like a haori she never wants to be separated from. ]

I did my part, my duty and looking after others both.

[ when she wasn't trying not to break down. ]