[ Snow, looking away from the tags he has to do still and dealing with dnd
Hearing the voice, Hua Cheng's attention practically snaps to the doorway. With the dead returning, he's been - not necessarily hiding, but preparing himself for the reunions to come.
... this one in particular. ]
I promised to carry it all with me. [ softly ] Did you find your path back, Hikaru?
[To that, she simply nods, eyes shining with tears as she starts to run towards him, throwing her arms around him. She's so tired, and right now she feels so incredibly small next to him... but it doesn't matter. The scent of his robes is familiar, he is solid under her arms, and she knows she is warm and breathing and alive.]
I'm so sorry, Hua-chan... I'm so sorry you had to do the things you did... I'm so sorry...
[ As she runs to him, every carefully arranged emotion is sent into disarray. He bows into her embrace to get his remaining arm around her, and, at first, that's all he can do.
But he eventually moves, sinking to the floor so that he can just pull her against him, face buried against her hair. They're tired, not quite so whole as they were when they arrived in the Realm, but alive - alive. ]
Shh, meimei, it's okay. The choices I made were ones I did willingly, and all that matters is that everything we did, everything we lost, means that you and the others are back again. We did it.
[ There's a moment, where he's quiet, in response to the question. Because it wasn't. It wasn't hard at all, because that's the kind of person that he's always been. ]
It wasn't something I took pleasure in doing, but I don't hold remorse for it. I promised Swan that it would be taken care of, and that I would come back, no matter what.
[ Still, a beat - and then he presses a kiss to the top of her head, lingering there with a fierce relief and gentle affection. This, this is the person he's become. ]
... it was harder, losing you. But that's no fault of yours, Hikaru - and that you chose to face that, I'm proud of you for the choice, regardless. You were brave.
[The kiss fills her with warmth, and her grip on him relaxes just a little.]
I didn't mean to leave any of you behind. But... Nii-chan, he told me how he felt when he had splintered, and I didn't want anyone else to have to kill, or to be killed, just because of me...
I fought with dignity, Hua-chan. I... just hope someone, even one person, was able to forgive who took me away.
[ With a big, deep breath, that he might not truly need - there's been no need to test it - Hua Cheng closes his eye and puts his chin on her head. ]
I'll try not to be angry with them. They gave you the respect that you deserved, in the end, and if you faced it with dignity... then I can't take that from you.
Being so close to the finish line, being together again, we can't ruin that. [ Although, a very large part of him will remain looming in the background, displeased and vengeful. ]
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Snow, looking away from the tags he has to do still and dealing with dndHearing the voice, Hua Cheng's attention practically snaps to the doorway. With the dead returning, he's been - not necessarily hiding, but preparing himself for the reunions to come.
... this one in particular. ]
I promised to carry it all with me. [ softly ] Did you find your path back, Hikaru?
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I'm so sorry, Hua-chan... I'm so sorry you had to do the things you did... I'm so sorry...
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But he eventually moves, sinking to the floor so that he can just pull her against him, face buried against her hair. They're tired, not quite so whole as they were when they arrived in the Realm, but alive - alive. ]
Shh, meimei, it's okay. The choices I made were ones I did willingly, and all that matters is that everything we did, everything we lost, means that you and the others are back again. We did it.
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I didn't mean to worry you all so much. Alyssa-chan... to do what you were told was hard enough for you, wasn't it? And I...
[No. No, she cuts herself off with a firm swallow, an exhale through the nose.]
It... it hurt so much, to see you and Chijin suffering. All I wanted was to be back with you...
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It wasn't something I took pleasure in doing, but I don't hold remorse for it. I promised Swan that it would be taken care of, and that I would come back, no matter what.
[ Still, a beat - and then he presses a kiss to the top of her head, lingering there with a fierce relief and gentle affection. This, this is the person he's become. ]
... it was harder, losing you. But that's no fault of yours, Hikaru - and that you chose to face that, I'm proud of you for the choice, regardless. You were brave.
no subject
I didn't mean to leave any of you behind. But... Nii-chan, he told me how he felt when he had splintered, and I didn't want anyone else to have to kill, or to be killed, just because of me...
I fought with dignity, Hua-chan. I... just hope someone, even one person, was able to forgive who took me away.
no subject
I'll try not to be angry with them. They gave you the respect that you deserved, in the end, and if you faced it with dignity... then I can't take that from you.
Being so close to the finish line, being together again, we can't ruin that. [ Although, a very large part of him will remain looming in the background, displeased and vengeful. ]