For a long time, the vessel simply stayed where they were, curled up and quivering more than they had when they had first hatched in the cold depths of the Abyss. Sobs continuously choked out of them and pain wracked through their tall form, but over time, they finally began to quiet down, body no longer heaving quite so intensely as they slowly allowed themself the space, the peace of mind, to stretch back out.
They were still teary-eyed, but turned to their father where he sat before them, using their good arm to push themself back into a sitting position themself. At first, they could only stare at him, the emptiness of their eyes doing little to betray their true feelings. Eventually, though, a wheezy sigh was drawn out of them.
“Father… vessel… cannot forget what you have done. Done to siblings, done to… to vessel. Done to all.”
Their voice was quiet, yet heavy and thick with grief, closing their eyes for a moment as they recalled the sight Ghost had shown them; the shells of their siblings, scattered about in quite literally countless amounts throughout the floor of the Abyss…
“…but.” They straightened upwards, rolling their shoulders back to try and straighten up instead of slouch for once in their life, staring at their father directly now despite the size difference between the pair.
“Vessel… forgives. Father… didn’t want this either.”
They slowly glanced around the ruined landscape around the two of them in silence, letting their words hang in the chilly air. Things would never be the same as they had once been, no; but… maybe, if they worked together, instead of forcing pointless sacrifices onto one too young to know the meaning of the word… maybe they could make something better.
They stood slowly, grimacing from the pain the movement caused, and then offered the Pale King their hand.
He expected the worst. He expected anything but this. He understood that his child would never be able to forget what he did, but to forgive him? He couldn’t believe it. He was stunned, really. Surely the young vessel knew that he didn’t deserve such a thing. Surely he misheard them somehow, somehow that he had...
He watched the young vessel extend their hand to him. He had heard the vessel perfectly. It didn’t take him long for his ‘mask’ to fall apart, all four his hands trembling as he felt his own whirlwind of emotions bundle up inside him. While the other straightened up, he hunched over. He didn’t understand, he couldn’t understand. He gripped the fabric of his robes, trying to keep himself together as he tried to wrap his mind around the one sentence his child uttered.
He found himself trying to fall back to old habits, trying desperately to hide his emotions, twisting them, pushing them down, to show nothing. Try as he might, the void in his eyes began mixing with his own tears, a few managing to push by as a few fell to the ground. Feeling this, he turned his head away, trying to not let his child see, until finally he could get somewhat of a grip on himself. This was all so unexpected, he had thought he had known what would happen when he met them again. That the other would want nothing but vengeance, or to leave him like he did to them. Though perhaps he should have known better than to try and assume the nature of things. Another lesson he should have learned long ago. He was wrong then, and maybe...
He turned his head back toward them, staring at the hand that was extended towards him. He slowly reached out, his hand trembling. He hesitated, looking up at the vessel, waiting for something to change for them to move, for them to take it all back somehow. He pulled his hand back, speaking once more in a soft, trembling voice that he damned himself for having.
“I don’t understand... Why? Why would you forgive me?”
