bondsofsuffering | limelight

[He meets Aster each and every time, though he does note the lesser enthusiasm by the third.

With a hum, he draws back - pulls a bracelet out of his pocket.]

...Would you humor me for a moment and try this on?

[It's one of the emotion-share ones he'd received in exchange for flowers.]

[ pauses. looks at the bracelet. looks at snow.

yeah, sure, puts it on ]

What's it do?

[He'll feel an immediate thrum of affection and care, which should at least half-answer that.]

Two-way empathy bond. It's one of Dixie's rewards.

Of course it is.

[ a flicker of embarrassment, immediate. a lot of affection and gratitude. but also lingering disquiet and hurt, echoes of fear and even more anger. all buffered by a sense of safety in this moment, being around snow. ]

[He continues to hold Aster close, still idly petting his hair in that same comforting manner. There's a certain, subdued curiosity, tempered as it is knowing the kinds of things that no doubt led to the emotions he's feeling from Aster.]

That anger... is it constant?

[ a swell of reflexive shame ]

...since the Dame's performance. Yeah.

[That sense of comforting is in full force, concerned for Aster above all else, feelings be damned.]

...I can understand why.

I never used to get mad about much of anything?

[ a flicker-flash of surprise, appreciation ]

But these performances have been getting to me. These producers. The Showmaster. I hate them. I hate everyone doing this to us. It makes me want to...

...Kill them?

[There's no judgment from Snow's side. If anything, he's...

No, not sympathetic. Empathetic.]

[ nods slowly ]

Make them feel all the pain they inflict on us. Tear this ship apart and sink it to the bottom of the sea. Bury its pieces so deep no one will ever find it. And destroy everything so loudly, so visibly, that people are too afraid to try doing this to anyone else, ever again.

They'd deserve it.

[He's smiling, but he's also quite serious, and Aster will be able to feel that..]

[ that surprises him ]

You don't think it's too much?

Aster, they've killed us multiple times.

[He can be angry about it, too.]

[ confesses, ]

I thought I was too...I don't know. Awful, sometimes, for you.

[There's a sinking sort of feeling, as a suspicion is confirmed. It stings a little, but he pushes the feeling aside.]

...I'm only human too, you know.

[ sure feels that. pulls back a little to look him in the face ]

What is it?

[Confusion, and then realization - even that could be picked up, huh?]

...At the end of the day, I'm still just some guy, you know?

I try not to let this place compromise my morals too much, but... it's not like I'm perfect, either. I'm not above or better than any of you.

But... I suppose to everyone else, that's how I come across.

[ a blend of surprise, a little self recrimination, and, actually, fondness ]

I guess…it’s easy to see you as the perfect Acidia protégé. You’re so talented and smart. And sweet, and cool, and

[ ASTER YOU ARE GETTING OFF TRACK ]

um. Really good. You’re right. I shouldn’t just assume you don’t get as hurt or angry as the rest of us. Of course you do.

I don't exactly want to kill people, but... If it's us or them, I won't stop us from protecting ourselves, you know?

It's not like I want to just roll over and let ourselves die every single time, either. I'm not nice enough to keep sacrificing myself like that.

Edited 2024-12-01 06:19 (UTC)

I know. You really tried with the last one. I trust you to keep trying.

[ genuine, through the empathy bond ]

But it's not just about that either. I feel too mad to myself. It feels awful to me, you know? Sort of that...I'm asking you to like someone that I'm becoming, who I don't even like much. And one of these days you're going to realize that, and know that you can do better than some guy from nowhere with anger issues. Who can't stop getting into trouble.

[He listens, though - there's that little sting of hurt again.]

...Do you really think I'd leave just because I can "do better?"

[ rueful,]

I know you wouldn't. I guess I should've told you that I'm afraid of becoming a regret too.

You wouldn't.

[And he'll prove it - leaning in for a kiss, heated, all that love and affection on clear display, along with an undercurrent of desire and want.

If words won't do the job, maybe his feelings can, instead.]

[ catches him off-guard, actually, still for a couple of seconds

but then he's leaning right into the kiss, hungry and heady with snow's feelings, just as dizzy with his own desire. the sense being just on the precipice of giving into it, allowing himself to greedily want in a way there's no going back from ]

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