kenostheos:
Everything Samedi knew about time they learned from Kronos. There was no place for fondness inside of them, but to pretend to be mortal was to become a half-formed thing again. Through his eyes time was the most malleable thing in existence, and they were disgusted at how much they were mesmerized by him. How humans had created a system so condensed to measure their days, and yet seemed unaware of its vastness even when the system betrayed them. The only thing guaranteed was in the end they would become Samedi’s problem to deal with. It was what they had resented so much about Luli, weren’t they clear inherent of Kronos’ legacy?
Five years was indistinguishable from five days, but in that time she made a life for herself and two hours wouldn’t be enough time to get her to remember the one she had before it.
“Do I need one?” Everyone who went to mingle with mortals seemed to do so carelessly. They had never thought to ask if Luli or Navy had a reason for being where they were ready to go or if Samedi was forced to reveal the circumstances because they weren’t there by their volition. They trusted Persephone would have accepted their truth, but even the most condensed retelling of the feeling might be too much to ask Phoebe to take in. “It’s complicated. There was an accident and got away from me, or maybe it’s the other way around, and I lost this person I love. I probably shouldn’t have left, I didn’t think I ever would, but I can’t just pretend it’s our home if she isn’t there.”
Samedi wanted to write it all, their father, their marriage, and everything that would compel their father to rob them of their immortality only to do something far worse, but even the small confession feels like they have pushed things too far. “But I’m here now, and we’ll go see my first french film. I’m glad you asked me.”
“I suppose not.” Phoebe shrugs, and she finds herself blushing. It was clear she was asking because of course there’s a deeper fascination here. Call it her affinity for mystery, but she wasn’t naive to the feelings of shallow attraction. She knows the movements well enough, even if it feels rehearsed rather than natural in her years prior. This was different, maybe that’s why she had to see whatever this was through. Yet, her heart sinks for them, as if she was experiencing this loss with Samedi. She’s always been this way, always has felt strongly for those who’ve lost. A sympathetic frown graces her features, and she wants to reach out and place a comforting hand on their shoulder. But she also knows not everyone was touchy like her, she knows her place.
“I’m sorry.” She responds earnestly with a slight nod. “I can’t imagine what it’s like. But I hope... I hope there’s a way for the pain to become more bearable.” She reaches out then, offering them a gentle squeeze of their arm to show that despite herself, she did care, she did want to listen. She hopes for them one day they could go back, where it wouldn’t be haunted by memories of a ghost. Everyone had baggage, didn’t they? And everyone needed someone who wouldn’t mind carrying it with them. She hopes to ease the burden, it’s just who she is.
“Your first?” She brightens, a soft smile tugging at the corner of her lips as they confirmed they were glad to have been asked. “Well, there are subtitles. I feel like I can never keep up with the dialogue in movies, it always goes too fast.” She chuckles softly, gesturing her head towards the sidewalk. “It’s a few blocks down, I think you’ll like it. I’ve been told there’s a happy ending.”
