Reflecting reflections

[guyexplains]

[A blond young man in a green tunic and cream coat is seated by one of the ponds near the forest. He's just looking at the water, one knee drawn up, the other leg stretched out. One hand rests on the raised knee, the other is behind him, bracing him as he admires the view

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[pactum]

[The serene reflection is ruined by a bare-shouldered blonde boy obscuring the stars. His clothes are dark, but he carries the same illumination about him that people on the Plane have, and it makes him less threatening.

Still, he looks like he doesn't want to disturb Guy. He did say he'd talk about it later, but...

Emil fidgets with his armbands.]

Is everything okay?

[servidude]

[Really, Emil sounds just like Aster... It makes Guy look up and over before he can figure out which of them it is.]

Yeah.

[He pats the ground beside him, expression calm and friendly, though now that Emil's here there's something that's been bothering him he wants to know.]

Come join me. The view's great.

1/2

[pactum]

[He figures that despite Guy's friendly disposition, that is not a request. Emil sits down-- not too close, but not too far either. Just the right amount of personal space.

He's silent for a minute, staring miserably into the starry pond, and then the trembling in his fingertips makes its way into his voice.]

I'm... I'm really sorry. [He ducks his head.] I never wanted to hurt anyone, but the people who run this place sometimes make us do horrible things, and... and that's why... I killed your friend. I know it's not an excuse, but-- you need to know what kind of place this is.

A while ago, they put some people on an island somewhere and told us that we had to fight the other teams. Or else they would erase our worlds. My team and Jade's team survived the others, and... so... it was just us.

[pactum]

[He tugs at his armbands, tanned fingers still shaking.]

If you want to kill me, I understand. I've already died before.

But you have to wait until I've finished my promise. I swore that I'd protect someone and if we don't finish the journey, our world will die.

After that... I don't care what happens to me.

[servidude]

[Hearing it out of Emil, it really did anger him. There was a hot, tight feeling in his chest at the thought. The knowledge that this person beside him had taken the life of one of his dear friends. Even Guy himself had to admit he was surprised at how furious he was to have it confirmed

[pactum]

[Guy's blank reaction doesn't escape Emil. He watches the other blond through his messy bangs, not bothering to hide just how fearful he is. He doesn't move until he hears that tone. It sounds... horrifyingly familiar, and he's not sure why, but it makes him scoot back a few steps.]

W... what?

[servidude]

Are you really that willing to throw your life away?

[People come back on the Plane. Emil's died before. And yes Guy is angry, he's angry Jade died, he's angry at the circumstances, he's furious that he doesn't know what it means for Jade to have died here, what the consequences may eventually be.]

[He's especially pissed off that the one who killed Jade doesn't seem like some he could hate easily. And he's really annoyed at Emil for those suicidal tendencies. Life is too important to waste like that.]

[pactum]

What? Of course not! But I...

[His green eyes are so bright, but even now they slide away, focusing on something distant and unpleasant.]

I'm guilty of murder. There's no way I'm a good person. So if you want revenge, it's justified.

That's... all there is to it.

[servidude]

What makes you think I'll be patient enough to wait on revenge until you're ready to die?

[pactum]

[That makes his breath catch, but then his mouth irons into a line. He gets to his feet, but he doesn't place a hand on the hilt of his ever-present sword.]

I don't expect you to wait, so I'm going to warn you instead. If you try to kill me before my promise is done-- I'll defend myself.

[servidude]

[Guy gets to his feet as well, facing Emil.]

But you won't stop me if I wait?

[His voice is deadly and quiet, intense.]

[pactum]

No.

[He's going to disappear anyway... If Emil never really existed, will he go to hell? He's a murderer. How will he atone for anything if he disappears before he can be punished? It's a horrible thing to want to live just for that, but he needs to hold out long enough to find the answers for himself. Not just to keep his promise.]

I won't.

[servidude]

[He was mad at Emil for Jade's death, and he still is. But this, this just makes him beyond furious. He steps forward, swiftly, hauls back, and punches the smaller blond. Hard.]

What is wrong with you?! Do you think life is so cheap you can just throw it away like that?

[pactum]

[There's an angry stirring from somewhere within, enough to make the smaller swordsman gasp sharply in a way that has nothing to do with the punch. He manages to stay on his feet, though. Surprisingly.

His fists clench at his sides. When he lifts his head again, it's only to aim a return punch at Guy's face.]

[servidude]

[It connects, and Guy turns his head back slowly, wiping away a bit of blood from where his teeth bit into his lip with the blow.]

[He glares, still waiting for an answer.]

[pactum]

[There's a difference in his body language. He's a little more centered, definitely on edge, and far more aggressive. He might as well be growling his next words.]

My promise is everything to me. I won't let anyone stand in my way! Not the Astral Plane, not your friend, and definitely not some idealistic moron who says one thing and thinks something else.

[And then he's taunting:]

If you want revenge, just say it. Say it to my face! My life isn't so cheap that I'd give it to someone who can't even be honest about what he wants.

You're just a waste of time.