4.1

[sighsheavily]

I can't believe this... I actually like these.

[these being reference to what clothes she's picked at within the room they're holed in for hours indeterminate. she's pulled on a pastel gown and finished fiddling with the fiddlier bits, smoothing out the drapery in front of the floor-length mirror.]

The color is a shame, and I doubt this'd be of use if I get dropped in that bloody maze again, but still...

[it's nice. it feels nice! no more denim and excess buttons...

gads, the rhinestones making cactus blossom patters are kind of tacky, though. she oughtn't complain; it's a step in the right direction.]

Comments

[forgeabettertomorrow]

G...Geez...is this what it's like when I shower you with compliments...?

N...No wonder you can only take so much...

[sighsheavily]

[she turns her head so she can talk.]

It...can be hard. To accept another's truth. Especially when it doesn't quite...fit in with your own.

But it doesn't make either more true or false, I suppose? Beauty is subjective, but working to save lives...that's pretty solidly good.

And true.

You're a hero in my eyes, Darin.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[She can feel him lock up. His muscles go tense. He only touched on the memory he regained of his brother...of the childhood promise to be great heroes that would change the world.]

[When he awoke, he thought he'd run from it for so long. Wondered what his lot in life even was. What was he doing? What was he even supposed to be?]

[Hearing the love of his life say he's a hero in her eyes...it...sends so many emotions rippling through him. Fear of being unworthy, anxiety over not living up to that vision, a refusal to believe that he's ever done anything even remotely heroic.]

[But...there's genuine pride and happiness buried under all of that. He's a hero to the woman he loves. There's not many people who can claim such a lofty title.]

[He places his large hands over hers wrapped around his middle and she can feel his shaky touch.]

...Even after all of my failures...?

[sighsheavily]

[she smiles a little, squeezing him a bit tighter.]

You wouldn't be a hero without them. From my perspective...it's part of the package. Repeatedly failing, falling...and getting back up. Still doing what's right. What's true.

Heroes don't start out heroic.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...I was afraid...y'know...?

I promised Dromas we'd be heroes. That we'd...we'd use our powers and change our world and....show everyone we weren't monsters...

Then he died and I guess I just stopped...I stopped bothering. I ran from it. I focused on my smithing and just...keeping my head down...getting by...

I don't even know if I ever thought about it...

[sighsheavily]

[if she holds him any tighter and for too long, she's likely to get rhinestones stuck to her face...

still, she remains where she is to let him speak as he must. she gets it: it's easier to talk in company...when not making direct eye contact with said company.]

That...doesn't make you wrong. Or a failure. It's part of the journey. It's called a hero's journey...I don't remember much of the stories, but I can be sure of that.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...After you were gone...when I clawed my way out of the grave I was left in...

...I wasn't...I wasn't very heroic...

[sighsheavily]

If it was even half as bad as what you wrote... You dug your way into a fresh hell. [her head tilts so her temple is resting against his back.]

And still you made it here...with your heart bruised, but still intact.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Heh...I can't tell if you're too forgiving or you're just too forgiving of me...

But I won't ignore what you're saying by spouting something stupid like 'I'm not worthy of your forgiveness.'

I don't want to be that guy anymore...

[sighsheavily]

[she smiles faintly.]

Darin, I can't...forgive you for those things. Any absolution that truly matters...it comes from within in the end, doesn't it? Even if it starts from somewhere outside.

The heavens could split open, and Aniel or, or some other heavenly body could come and say your slate is clean, but...it would only matter if you believed it.

Right?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...Yeah. Exactly. It's never enough until I feel like it is.

[sighsheavily]

The most I can do...is keep you from flaying yourself for it. [her hands move under his, palms pressing and fingers splaying out against his shirt.] So before you can beat your back or your breast in some distorted idea of atonement...I'll have to get in the way.

All of the walking ahead you have to do...still has to come from your own feet.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[He manages a short laugh.]

Please...I've had enough of being taken apart. By my own hands or not. And I spent more than enough time beating myself up.

...I've got people to live for now.

[sighsheavily]

Thank goodness.

[her tone is soft, masking much of the relief she feels. he'd looked so...worn when he handed her those notes; he may have been able to pull a smile after-the-fact, but it's still been quite recent.

she needs to forgive herself, too, for not being there to help.]

I'm glad I'm in love with...such a strong-hearted...strangely sensible man.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I can't believe you're calling the man who threw you into the air to catch a rope 'sensible.'

[sighsheavily]

That's why I said strangely sensible. I didn't say consistently sensible.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

You know what? I'll take it.

[sighsheavily]

[with a little laugh in her voice:] You're welcome, I suppose! Brave, heroic, and...strangely sensible.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Don't forget 'madly in love.'

[sighsheavily]

Hmh-! Brave, heroic, strangely sensible, madly in love, well-dressed and well-groomed, talented...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Now hold on...a few of those things are because a certain lady seemed to think I wasn't capable of brushing my hair or dressing myself~

[He turns in her arms to face her with a playful smirk.]

[sighsheavily]

[she slacks her hold for him to do so, her mouth twitching on one side with some bashfulness.]

Right... Highly trainable, then?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I think 'adaptable' sounds better. I mean, I'm your bo— ...partner. Not a pet.

[sighsheavily]

[embarrassed:] O-of course! Adaptable and...and quite patient, honestly.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[He places his hands on her hips and lifts her easily so they can look each other in the eye on a more level field.]

Hey, I can be patient when the reward justifies it...

[He pulls her in close against his frame. Close enough that their noses are practically touching.]

You've always been worth the wait...