Lᴜɴᴀꜰʀᴇʏᴀ Nᴏx Fʟᴇᴜʀᴇᴛ. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
guidingmoonlight) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
synthneon2021-05-27 07:39 pm
guidingmoonlight) wrote in synthneon2021-05-27 07:39 pm
Entry tags:
YGO PSL | ❝ you felt the gravity of tempered grace, falling into empty space. ❞
WAKING THE DRAGONS
( welcome to hurt/comfort the psl, where feels are here and the timeline doesn't matter! ♬ tone music )
[ There had been more than once when Lunafreya had questioned quietly why she remained in the orbit of the small band of duelists. The worry of the Egyptian Gods had concluded, and the Nameless Pharaoh able to not only contain but appease them. By conclusion of the event alone she should have said her goodbyes and moved onward. Yet, a feeling nagged in the back of her mind. One that insisted she stay with the small band in Japan. She always felt as if she imposed on anyone far too much if she acted outside of the realm of the Oracle.
What could she ever offer someone beyond that of her station?
Events escalated quickly as they seemed to with Yugi and the Pharaoh. A new enemy, a spirit monster that needed her aid to speak to them, promises made, and an ancient magic that stole souls of those that lost their battles. It was something she had never heard of -- the Power of Orichalcos. Gentiana had said it predated even her time in their reality... which simply made Lunafreya wonder what more help she could give to them. It was Gentiana that insisted they travel with the pair to the United States. Lunafreya after all spoke both languages and could easily aid them in where money might be a concern. She offered her aid, and yet, still felt as if she was an outsider looking in.
The price of being the Oracle is what she had always presumed.
Ravus had always insisted that she had become Oracle too young. It held her back from too much of life. The world could go without the aid of the Oracle long enough for her to have a life of her own. Lunafreya disagreed. It caused more than one argument that eventually led to the strained relationship the two of them had. One she felt might continue until he too was oddly supportive of the venture to America with Yugi and his friends. Perhaps he felt it was a way for her to have even the smallest fraction of life beyond her duty.
Not that any of it quite mattered the moment the group had returned from hunting down Rafael. Lunafreya had elected to stay with Téa and Rebecca; they would need protection should someone come for them. All she could do was stand by and watch the scene unfold as the strongest link in their group broke piece by piece. She wondered if it was obvious to the others that every time they mentioned "the other Yugi" or "get Yugi back" that a bit more of their Pharaoh seemed to wash away. She wished to interject and put a stop to their remarks, but, knew it would do little good. All of them were attempting to handle the shock and grief in their own ways.
She made sure their fare was covered to Flordia. The train ride then the plane ride that would be following it. Joey was over the moon, given their conversation with Kaiba had not been as supportive as they had hoped. Duke decided to stay back with Rebecca and her grandfather, leaving the rest of them to travel to themselves. Lunafreya sat beside Gentiana and simply listened to their conversations. Tristan and Joey attempted to carry on as normal, while Téa did her utmost to try and raise the spirits of their Pharaoh and distract him. It broke her heart to see their close group seemingly fall apart bit by bit. It hurt more to see the strongest of them all shut them out. She had even reached out to grab his sleeve as he had walked by on the train to leave them, but Gentiana had stopped her.
"A time and a place, Lady Lunafreya."
Arguments with the ancient spirit monster were futile and she knew that. Yet, Lunafreya had wanted to chastise her best friend for the first time. Those around her that had been entrusted in her care were hurting and she could do little to help. Gentiana, of course, seemed to know exactly what she was going to say. The colder hands held hers to reassure her.
The train ride was thankfully uneventful as was the ride to the hotel where they'd stay the night until the flight the next morning. With their things checked in, the group tried to fumble their way through the next plan. It was Joey who suddenly elected that he, Tristan and Téa would go to dinner and they would all meet up before their flight. Gentiana supported the notion, even agreeing to go with them. Lunafreya stood in place for a moment, then two, a she debated which path to take. While it was an obvious answer, the young woman had always had difficulty moving to her heart if it felt conflicted with that of her duty.
Lunafreya stops outside the door for the room set aside for Atem. She has dressed in clothing that might seem unusual to her, but, she would rather not bring attention to herself as they attempted to move eastward. She raises her hand to the door and knocks gently with her knuckles. ]
Heika?
[ It's such a formal way of speaking, but, she notices the tone she says it in now. There is an air of endearment, personal respect, and care to it. Almost more akin to a personal nickname than a title. ]
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With no prompting at all, she leans further into his touch. Her eyes close to allow herself, for once, to be the one that is comforted. She cannot recall the last time someone else weaved their fingers into her hair. It was a time before she was Oracle and when her mother still bore the title surely. A hand raises to rest on his knee then. Is it so strange that she could rest as they are and be content with just that? ]
I brought dinner with me.
[ Although she makes no move to retrieve it from the desk. ]
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He just continues stroking her hair, even as part of him wonders why this feels so right. Another part of him tells him not to question it, to just take this moment as it is and enjoy it. Who knows when their next chance to just sit together and rest will be?
At the mention of the dinner she brought, he doesn't move either. It was never really his priority, and it's fallen even further down the list now. ]
Just a little while longer. [ It isn't a question, not even a demand, but he hopes that she'll stay like this with him for another moment or two.
Then they can resume their necessary tasks and the things that still have to be done. ]
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She nods to his request, her cheek gently brushing against his leg. If this comforts him as it does her? She will more than gladly oblige. Even if the small act threatens to lull her into some form of sleep. Her time to sleep will come once she knows he has had his needs met for the night. Duty calls on regardless of the state of her mind, heart, or body. Something she imagines that the Pharaoh understood once.
A thought comes to mind then. He and Yugi have stated numerous times that his memories are sealed away. Whether by some form of magic or by mere nature of having his soul hosted by the Millennium Item. It is a quest to retrieve them and by doing so, perhaps a greater understanding of how all of them have come together will be made clear. However, memories cannot truly be gone. Something of them must remain at some level.
Her thumb brushes back and forth on his knee without her realizing as she thinks. ]
Yami, [ she still wishes to know his true name. Although perhaps no one yearns for it as much as he. Her head tilts further into his lap and therefore offering more of her hair for him to explore. ] You truly remember nothing before the Puzzle was completed?
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And so he remains, one hand still stroking her hair while he ponders her question. A small smile crosses his face in response to the feeling of her thumb brushing back and forth against his knee. Perhaps it's a strange thing to draw comfort from, but it doesn't feel odd to him, not in the least. ]
I remember walking through an endless maze, always searching for something elusive, something I couldn't have known even if I tried. For 3000 years, I climbed staircases and walked through doors, but I was always alone.
[ He doesn't tell her this because he expects sympathy. He's just describing the only world he knew until he and Yugi met. ]
It's the only memory that I have. Everything else just feels like it's right there in front of me, but it's out of my reach. [ Of course, he doesn't mean that literally. He has no recollection of anything, not even the smallest detail of his past life, but to him, that's how it feels. He's still in that maze trying to chase down his memories, but they always escape him at the last second. ]
I don't know if I'll ever be able to finally reach them. [ Or if he even wants to, although he leaves that thought left unsaid. ]
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It is not hard to imagine endless staircases that leaf to nowhere; doors that represent dead ends. She will never know what the inside of the Millennium Item looks like and so her imagination will need to fill in the details. The endless and answer less maze must cause an increasing frustration, no matter how well he might hide it. Was he aware so much time had passed since being sealed away and when Yugi completed the Puzzle? Or was it only once he had been able to inhabit the body he does now for the first time?
She wishes to offer her aid in the hunt for his memories bur refrains from doing so. That duty belongs to his beloved partner. The most that she can do is offer him a place of care and affection until the time comes they restore his memories. And, if he still wishes it, a place once they have been restored. The possibility that he will no longer need her is one she would not like to entertain, but, is nonetheless one that may happen. He may have a queen or children waiting for him in the afterlife. The thought alone feels like a dagger to her heart. If such is the case then she is the one that would be selfish in wishing he might remain with his friends and her.
Lunafreya raises her head from his lap to look at him. Her hand lifts from his knee to rest on the side of his face once more. ]
I'm not the one who can help restore your memories, my dear. All I can do is offer to make new memories for as long as you wish to remain with us.
[ It is an offer she is certain he will take based off what he has said already. Her weight shifts to sit on her knees, remaining by his side still. Then, she guides him into another kiss. This one she is far more confident in, but still gentle, and giving him the room to pull away if he desires to. ]
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I once thought that regaining my memories and unlocking the secrets contained inside my mind was my main priority, but now- Now I'm not so sure.
[ He never could have imagined that one day, he'd have formed friendships like the ones he's found. Neither could he ever have dreamed that he'd meet someone like Lunafreya who always does her best to bring light to the dark places, even the ones that lurk inside his own head.
Would he even put aside the chance to learn his true name if regaining it meant having to part ways with his loved ones? It's a question that's come to him before, but he's never had an answer for it, so he just lightly pushes it away for another time.
And as things stand right now, regardless of what may or may not be waiting for him in the afterlife, he can't think of anything that he needs or wants more than what he already has: a partner and brother to stand beside him, whose soul he will reclaim, and a girl who, for reasons he barely understands, loves him more than anything in the world.
And in case he had any doubts about that, they're all but driven away by her kiss. He leans into it, equally gently, but any hesitation that he might have had has completely disappeared. He didn't respond to her statement about making new memories, but he hopes that she can tell without being told that they've already begun to do just that. ]
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[ Perhaps if the time is right one day she will explain why he has come to mean so much to her. While she has only begun to truly see it, Lunafreya knows there has always been an attraction to him. Their first late night conversation resonated deeply with her, even if she pushed it to the side at the time. What were the odds that she might ever cross paths again with him -- especially in the matter that she had. While fate or destiny may not have had their relationship turning into what it has in mind, perhaps the Pharaoh was always meant to have the Oracle at his side. It is a notion that she likes to harbor in her heart. He may find it childish if she were to ever share it. Maybe she would be allowed to have that one childish thought.
Her head tilts by a fraction, leaning further in once he returns the notion. She hardly knows what she is doing and trusts that instinct will lead the way. Duty nags at the back of her mind that the two need to eat, but, all she wishes to do is be close to her king. She wishes to entwine their fingers again and be as physically close as possible to him. The word for that, she supposes, is clingy. While far from being a word of grandeur or a formal decoration of love, she feels it is the word she might best use to describe it. She has never allowed herself to simply be with another person... but she has never felt the desire to either. Not like this.
Her fingers trail down his jaw and she smiles a genuine smile against his lips. Why he would ever entertain these notions with her is something she may never understand. ]
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[ He believes that it's possible for him to fill up the gap left by his lack of memories with the closeness he has with Yugi, Lunafreya, and his other friends as well. And as she said, the new memories he's making with all of them are providing him with fulfillment too.
He certainly doesn't view her thought that perhaps he was always meant to have her with him as childish. As she knows, he's a firm believer in destiny, and if this is theirs, then he intends to embrace it without hesitation.
If Lunafreya is being clingy, which he doesn't think she is, then so is he. He reaches for her hand, twining his fingers together with hers, and with his other hand, he reaches for her hair yet again so that he can run his fingers carefully through it. ]
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[ Their destiny. What a thought that is. She has only ever known herself to have the destiny of being the Oracle. Everything else in life had become an afterthought or 'it may happen.' She had never played much idea to the concept of romance or being with one she might love. If it were to happen, then it would certainly happen. It was not something she would pursue or hope for. All of this together is simply what makes their budding bond all the more precious to her.
She gently nudges her nose to his as her fingers slip between his. Then, she lowers her head to rest against his shoulder. It allows for him to weave his fingers in her hair as much as he would like. Truthfully? She would not mind if he wished to explore and learn more of her. Of course, she knows there is a line of intimacy that should not be crossed. Not because she does not trust him, but purely out of respect that it is still Yugi's body. There is no doubt in her mind that Atem agrees and it is a mutual unspoken understanding.
Even with that in mind? She will still welcome him to explore as far as he feels comfortable. Why not? She has already shared some of her most vulnerable parts of herself. In Lunafreya's mind, that is far more personal and intimate than anything physical. ]
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And if he's being completely honest, he wishes for himself and Lunafreya to explore of each other and get to learn about each other on a deeper, more intimate level. But both of them seem to be on the same page in terms of respecting Yugi and the fact that it's his body that Atem merely shares.
Still, even with that, and the respect that they both hold for Yugi, there are things they can do. ]
Well, at the moment, what I believe to be important is remaining here with you.
[ And with the others, of course, and his resolve to fix the mistakes that he's made is still as strong as ever. But equally strong is his desire to just remain by Lunafreya's side. He feels the pull of sleep once again, and he supposes that they both should listen to it, but neither of them have eaten (yes, because they both became distracted by each other's presence). He also just wants to stay like this with her for a few more moments; or perhaps they should simply forgo eating and move to the bed where they can lie beside each other until sleep takes them both.
Then, as if wanting to gauge her thoughts on the matter, his gaze travels over to glance briefly at the bed. ]
It's only growing later, and you must also be tired. [ He already knows that he is, but right now, he's only thinking about her, even as he continues carefully twining his fingers through her light strands of hair. ] Perhaps we should both take what rest we can, and- [ Again, he hesitates, because the path in front of him is far from being crystal clear. ] And resume our responsibilities in the morning.
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All of this has happened so quickly. It is hardly what she expected the moment she let herself into his room the night before. Perhaps it has been there for some time, but both ignored it due to their respective callings. All attention and focus had fallen onto Malik and the God Cards in the tournament she met him in. Now, focus has shifted inwards as the need to repair the broken soul of the Pharaoh. She is aware that it cannot be truly repaired until Yugi is safely back with all of them. In the meantime she can act as that pillar of strength Atem needs to draw from. She will act as it even after Yugi has returned if he so wishes.
A smile still touches her face at his comment. Hearing herself before destiny or calling is something foreign, but deeply appreciated regardless.
Her eyes open at the suggestion of moving to the bed. Lunafreya tilts her head up enough from his shoulder to be able to look at him. There is no verbal admittance to how fatigued her body has become from the lack of sleep and the altercation with the Sun God. She would rather him worry of her person and focus on his own for the time being. Which is to why she leans forward to press a kiss to his chin and stand once he has moved his hand from her hair. The hand not entwined with his gestures to the bed in a wordless motion for him to settle himself. ]
I'll see to the room.
[ By that she means quickly putting things in their place. Her entwined hand squeezes his before pulling away so he might set himself as needed to sleep. She gathers their dinner and places it in the fridge, supposing it will now become their breakfast. It saves on a meal even if that is a concern far from her mind. Her conversation with those in his deck will also need to wait as she can feel that her body will not cooperate long enough to bring forth even a ghostly appearance of the more louder voices. It would seem Atem has read the situation correctly, as much as she would deny it herself.
Once he is settled properly in the bed, under the covers, Lunafreya sits beside him. Her fingers make quick work of removing her shoes glancing over her shoulder at him with a tired but playful smile. Would he rather her under the covers with him or merely beside him in the bed? ]
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The damage to his soul is hardly repaired, and he still feels Yugi's absence, but there's something inside him that's drawing comfort and strength from Lunafreya, and for that, he's grateful. ]
Are you sure? [ He could help, or at least attempt to; but as he watches her moving around, he sees that she has it under control.
And so he moves over to the bed, this time slipping beneath the covers, a thing he didn't allow himself to do the previous night. It feels strange to him, as if the blankets are weighing on him; it's not uncomfortable, exactly, but it isn't something he's used to either.
Of course, when Lunafreya finally sits down beside him, he just watches her for a moment, noting the way she smiles at him. Before he can think too much about it, or about any questions about whether or not this is what she wants, he reaches over to take hold of the blankets and lightly turns them over, leaving the space beside him open in case she should want to join him beneath the covers.
If this is unusual, or not something typically done, well- he isn't thinking about that. There's no one to witness this besides the two of them, and even if there were, it hasn't occurred to him to feel embarrassment. ]
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Lunafreya's gaze dips to the moving of the blankets as her smile turns shy. Why or how this gesture is intimate may be lost on him at the moment. There is no one else in the room so it truly matters not how intimate it is. If it helps him sleep? Then, she is more than willing to lay beside him. Although she will admit to enjoying the idea of sleeping beside him as well.
Before she joins him, however, she does turn to properly face him. Her hands raise again to lift the chain around his neck up and over his head as she had the night before. She has no idea if Yugi typically sleeps with the Millennium Puzzle. Hopefully he does not as she cannot imagine a chain and heavy golden artifact would be at all comfortable to sleep in. The Puzzle is gently cradled in her hands before it is finally set upon the nightstand. Once it is secured, she properly joins him in bed.
Lunafreya gently sets the blankets around them. Then, she waits to see how he wishes to situate himself. She will move to compliment however he wishes to sleep. Beside him, holding him, resting her head against him. He is the one who needs the sleep the most from her point of view. His comfort comes first and she will adapt to it. ]
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When she moves to remove the chain holding the Millennium Puzzle from around his neck, he keeps still; of course Yugi doesn't sleep with it on, and so it makes sense for him not to either. He watches as she places it on the nightstand and then returns to lie down next to him.
At first, he isn't quite certain what to do. For someone who doesn't require sleep, this is a new experience, and even he has to admit that he's not really sure how to go about properly resting. Instead, an idea comes to him, and he rolls over onto his side so that he's facing her. ]
Luna, I don't suppose you could tell me a little about the place you call home, whether it's where you were born, or where you live now. I'll leave that part up to you; I would just like to know about you and where you came from.
[ He supposes that if she finds his request strange, she'll tell him as much. He has nothing to lose by asking, after all. ]
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With that in mind, Lunafreya changes how she rests in the bed. She reaches to tug him closer to her. The same hand raises to play idly with the yellow bangs that frame his face. Her slender fingers gently twirl the hair around her first few fingers. ]
I've been renting an apartment in Domino City since I arrived to reconnect the bond between the families. [ She does her utmost not to mention Yugi's name. ] I'm told it is rather a decent sized one for Japan. It's large enough to entertain guests in, but still, it lacks the space for a decent sized garden. There is a room for myself and for Gentiana, while Pryna and Umbra have taken to enjoying places in the living room.
[ As for her her home? She glances upwards at the ceiling then for a brief moment. ]
I was born and raised in the home my grandfather inherited from his father. The home is an ancestral one through him, entrusted to his family by a king long ago. Kings and Queens may not rule as they once did in England, but, they still remain important to the image of it all. As such, the Lords and Ladies are entrusted to restoring and keeping the the historical homes they inhabit. Since my grandmother had no home of her own in England, she moved in with my grandfather when they were married. My mother was raised there, as was my brother and I.
[ That sounds far more like a history lesson than rather intimate details he must be searching for. Her fingers free themselves from his bangs only so that they can wander down his cheek as she ponders on what else there is to say. ]
It's a very large home, with several rooms for guests, the family, and entertaining. I took to taking care of the gardens when I was very young. There is a small field of sylleblossoms that I took care of myself. They are a blue flower that is native to the home of the Oracles, and my grandmother brought them with her.
[ She frowns then, her gaze drifting off to the side. ]
Ravus and I lived there with a handful of aids, Gentiana, Pryna and Umbra. There were usually visitors of all sorts looking for my aid as well as the advice my brother could give. It's a rather large manor for merely the two of us and our companions.
[ Large, empty, and rather lonely. ]
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I would like to see your home, if that were possible, because to hear you describe it, I can almost picture it in my mind. [ His eyes open again so that he's looking right at her as they lie together. Of course he knows that travel is possible, and that one day, they could potentially visit the place that she's describing. But as for the present moment, they have far too much that needs to be done to allow for such a thing. He wouldn't dream of doing something so frivolous when Yugi's soul, and the souls of so many others, hang in the balance. ]
Who maintains the place when you are not present? Does your brother reside there now? [ He thinks he might like to meet him as well, if the chance ever presents itself. Meeting any members of Lunafreya's family would be quite the honor. ]
I would imagine that visitors still come to the place, even in your absence.
[ He knows that it's silly, since he's never met Lunafreya's brother and thus he can't speak to his personality or how he carries himself, but if he's anything like his sister, he just pictures someone kind yet strong-willed as well. Perhaps the truth doesn't match what he's picturing, but he knows that reality and one's wishes don't always line up anyway. ]
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[ It would, of course, require the participation and blessing of Yugi. She has no doubt that he would agree to it. However, it is not something she would want to press or force the young man into. This budding relationship is entirely dependent on how much time and how much room is gifted to them. She understands this and accepts the terms given to her. Even if she is not sure she could ever bring herself to ask for time with Atem amongst everything else happening in Yugi's life.
They simply need to bring him home.
Her gaze remains to the side as he asks his questions. Her hand continues to trail her fingers along his features (technically, Yugi's). ]
Ravus lives there as the lord of our family. He serves in the military, and thus is gone for long periods of time, but it remains his home for all regards. I would go to where my aid was required, then, return home and continue duties as either the Oracle or as a lady of my house. Going to Japan to meet Muto-sama was something out of the ordinary for me. But, a task I took on myself, in hopes to bring the families together again.
[ Or, perhaps, some small part of her was looking for a friendship like the one her grandparents shared. If meeting Atem was part of her destiny? Then, somehow in someway, they would have met. The idea of it being apart of her destiny is so much of a romantic notion that she wishes to embrace. But, how could meeting one person be apart of her destiny at such a deep level? While her bond with Gentiana is certainly precious and deep, it is nothing like that of Atem and Yugi's. Perhaps that is why she has such a hard time accepting the fact that she - Luna - would have enough of herself to warrant having someone she was destined to meet. ]
Several. My brother hosts several parties for those friends he has in the military. I had people come to visit me for healing or guidance.
[ She closes her eyes with a small sigh. Then, she shifts forward to rest her head beside his. She is close enough to brush her nose to his. ]
What else do you wish to know?
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So the two of you carry considerable responsibility, then. [ From his vantage point, it seems to him that both brother and sister are quite strong individuals indeed, stronger, perhaps, than even himself. He certainly doesn't feel very strong right now.
He has to put considerable force into pushing away the sudden spike of guilt he feels at the mention of Yugi's grandfather. He just hopes that the older man has no idea what's happened to his grandson, or of the role he played in it. He has enough shame that he's carrying without also having to contend with what he feels would be the disappointment and anger that Solomon would feel, knowing that this is how he's taken care of Yugi.
Belatedly (probably much too late), he hopes that none of his internal guilt has shown on his face.
As for the notion of destiny, he still believes in that, and in the possibility that their meeting was fated to happen. He doesn't have the emotional capacity to follow that train of thought and all its implications, but even with all his doubts and guilt, he still retains his belief in fate. ]
I suppose I just have one more question. [ He imagines that he was present for celebrations in his past life, even though he can't begin to picture what any of them were like. And people these days seem to have their own celebrations ranging from simple to the most elaborate for a variety of occasions. ]
What are these gatherings that your brother hosts like? [ And then he very nearly smiles in spite of himself when she shifts position so that their noses are almost touching. ]
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[ However, Ravus has hardened his heart towards so many notions of their innate family gifts. She might have been able to heal as well as he, but, her efforts must be spent in other ways to be as the Oracle needs. Such a thing as who might be the best at healing hardly matters to her. What truly does matter is the fact that the brother she knows and the man that wears his face is are very different people. Not in the sense of how Atem and Yugi are, but, in the sense that he drastically changed in the days after their mothers death.
A frown takes her face at the sight of those dark clouds gathering in his gaze once again. Her own form of guilt strikes then. She should not have mentioned Yugi's grandfather in such a casual manner when Yugi himself is still gone. An apologetic look takes her face then as she she moves her hands to take both of his. Wordlessly, her fingers slip between his own before she brings their joined hands to her lips. She gently kisses the tips of his fingers in hopes it might banish the clouds even for a short time. ]
Formal. [ Lunafreya tilts her head further into the pillows and this time does nudge his nose with her own. ] While they may not always end the way they started. There are times he will host a small gathering of just those that serve with him in the military, but, most that gather in our home are there for formal reasons. Formal dressings are a must, as is champagne or liquor. Polite conversation until one too many drinks are had. I attend to every one of them as either of my stations require me to.
[ Then, she finally opens her eyes once more to gaze into his. It would be easy to say they are simply the purple eyes that belong to his vessel, but, she knows that it is not the case. It is a different person that stares back at her; not merely an alter ego. He is an old soul with a heavy burden placed upon him. One that she finds a kinship with and wonders if he might feel the same. ]
I would rather be like this - with you - than attend another celebration such as those ever again. [ Her gaze softens to something more vulnerable again. ] Being at the side of the man I love means more to me than anything else in this world.
[ It is all I have ever wanted...
Lunafreya presses her lips together then as she feels fear grip her then. She has finally managed to say it as plainly as possible. Of course she has said it in various ways and using the very word of 'love' itself the whole night. However, now, she has said it directly with no extra phrases around it. He has yet to turn her affections away this whole night, but, she still fears he might finally pull into himself and push her away as he had several times the night before. What if he finds such a direct approach unfavorable, or comes to realize in a moment that this is not what he wants as well? There should be little reason to think such a thing after this whole night... yet, it seems that fear clings to her as his guilt does him. ]
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So it seems that a great responsibility has fallen to both of you. [ He pauses for a moment to contemplate the significance of all this. It begins to make sense to him now why Gentiana follows after Lunafreya so closely. He assumes, then, that her brother must have a similar companion who stays beside him and supports him when he needs it.
As for the clouds that have rolled back in yet again, he wishes they would just disperse for good, because this constant push and pull as he fights with himself is becoming tiresome. Of course, Lunafreya's presence helps, but he fervently wishes that he could hear even the mention of someone connected to Yugi without falling back into that spiral of despair and guilt. ]
I see. It's difficult for me to imagine such a gathering, but I suppose it must be quite the elaborate affair.
[ If it's as formal as she says, anyway. He can't really envison the scene she's describing, but somehow he just knows that he too would rather be like this with just her for company. ]
Yes. If I had to choose, I would choose to just remain with you rather than attend a hundred of those gatherings. I- Well, I never expected to find someone quite like you, or that I might experience what they call love.
[ He can't know if he's ever experienced being in love with someone before, but he knows now that he doesn't have to wonder about that. He's experiencing it now, and it's more than he could have ever wished for.
And with that in mind, he meets her gaze, staring into her eyes even as he tilts his head forward just slightly so that his lips press lightly against hers. ]
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[ Gentiana has been her friend, her confidant, her guardian, and even a sort of mother figure. Yet, she is tied more to the world that Atem understands than he even knows. Lunafreya has only withheld the story of her friend as it is Gentiana's to tell. A story that will be shared should the woman with a cold exterior believes it necessary to tell. Not even Lunafreya knows every single detail of her friend's past. She knows what has been shown to her and passed down through the generations. A tale of heartbreak and betrayal. One that Lunafreya wonders how many times will repeat around her and the Pharaoh's whose hands she has entwined with hers. ]
I doubt you would enjoy a party hosted by my brother, otherwise, I would be certain to invite you. [ The signs show between her words that the relationship between her and her brother has fallen apart. She will tell him if he wishes to know. Although, she cannot fathom why he would wish to know when he struggles with his own battles. ] There is a certain expectation of those that sit in the social sphere that my family inhabits. While we are all simply people, the expectation of titles is weighed over us.
[ Her fingers begin to move against his idly without her knowledge. The notion of simply touching him - being close to him - is so natural that it might worry her if she was fully aware of it. Instead, she simply allows herself to follow the whispers from her heart. She would even claim it to be her soul if she was not worried of him pulling away at such an idea. ]
As I'm certain you feel the expectation of yours; regardless of what you may and may not remember of your time as king. There is no doubt that some form of mantle still weighs on your shoulders. A mantle that I will help you bear... if you ever wish me to.
[ For Lunafreya, the feeling is a blanket of warmth and a source of comfort. Her heart, of course, skips a beat or two and a blush threatens to creep across her cheeks once more. His gaze is enough to keep the nerves at bay as the weight of his words settles into her heart. She finds herself truly wishing in that moment that this plays a role in their respective destines. That no matter what the circumstances, or how it might have come to be, that they would meet and find themselves as they are. Perhaps that is truly why these feelings have fostered and surfaced as quickly as they have.
She returns the kiss without a second passing. Then, her fingers finally leave his so that her hands might curl around his smaller frame and guide him to rest against her. One hand settles at the back of his head as the other arm drapes over him in a protective hold. Sleep may be strange to him, but, she endeavors to lure him into that state of being regardless. She will shield him from all that she can in the physical world so he might find even a moment of reprieve from it all. ]
Someone quite like me? [ There is a tone of playfulness that edges around her words even as the volume of her voice dips down. He is close enough that she might speak softer in hopes he might find himself falling asleep. ]
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But he's still awake enough that he has a response for her last statement that's more like a question. ]
Yes, someone like you: someone kind and good who cares about others.
[ He can't ignore the way his eyelids feel heavy, as if they're threatening to close right then and there, sending him off to the sleep that he's unaccustomed to and has been trying to avoid.
Although his eyes are half-closed now, he still continues talking. ]
There's a strength inside you that not very many have.
[ And right now, she's far stronger than he feels he is.
The tone of her voice and the quietness of her volume is lulling him to sleep, even though there's still that part of him that insists it isn't needed. But it seems that he's finally grown tired enough that he can't resist the lure anymore, and before he even realizes what's happening, his eyes close entirely, and sleep overtakes him. ]