Apath waits, just for a moment, before sighing.
Kneeling down, the Alpha carefully moves to sit underneath the table with her, their hands folded politely in their lap. No move is made to reach for Louvel–they don’t know how well she’d react to physical contact. Apath knew they were an oddity when it came to needing touch to ground themself again, not everybody did like to be touched.
“I think wha’ happened here is we bo’ misunderstood each oth’a, so le’s talk about it. I don’ have nothin’ against wishes, an’ I don’ have nothin’ against people tha’ make ‘em. I think they’re beautiful things, an’ mos’ people need ‘em. Hope takes many forms, starshine, an’ yer th’embodiment of a type of hope, now. A vessel of strength fer those who migh’ no’ have their own.”
Fingers moved to rest on their ankles.
“…I jus’ don’ make wishes anymore. I used ta, when I was a kid. Lay ou’side all nigh’, wish on every shootin’ star I saw…” They hesitate, shoulders sagging. “I was a happier person when I made wishes. Ne’er brough’ me hope on a personal level. Bu’ it made me happy ta think of th’stuff I’d wish fer. Ta think of wha’ could’ve been.”
“Makin’ those wishes gave me th’strength ta decide ta change m’life m’self. I realized nothin’ was gonna change or be given ta me, bu’ makin’ wishes helped me realize wha’ I wanted. Tha’ I could build myself anew wi’ my own two hands…tha’ th’only person who would ever really be there fer me is me.”
“…makin’ wishes now jus’ reminds me of times best left forgotten.”
Apath’s gaze shifted, settling on the tiled floor instead.
“You’re important, starshine. I’m jus’ bad at talkin’.“
She doesn’t react to the sound of her alpha moving under the table, head stuffed down tight. Holding her together like a pin to a grenade. The apprentice listens intently, spine quaking under the pressure in her chest. Cheeks wet and throat closed she finally pulls her chin up making blurry eye contact with the god.
“Wishes m-make ‘erryone h-happy.” Lou sniffles. “Jiji w-was born f-from a wish...” Her hard facade crumbles, tears blubbering down. As the flood gates come open she can’t help but unfurl her arms, reaching out for the leader in a sloppy embrace. She sobs, each sound shaking the table above them.
“I-If y-you were s-so unhappy y-you--” Louvel wept. “Shoulda’ f-found me! I-I’ll p-protect ya’ I’ll b-be there... Y-Yer not alone m-my liege... S-So don’t... Say such sad things... n’more...:” Fingers tense into Apath’s back, their shoulder soaked with the onslaught of emotion. Bleary yellow irises blink reassuringly as she pulls back, wiping her sleeve roughly across her face.
Slowly the blip is folds underneath her surface as if it had never been, lips pink as her sore gaze. She was a messenger, she was who she had to be. Louvel would not fail her purpose, her gods, Apath. Nor.... Herself.
“The world must never fall to the forces of hopelessness. You must promise me this. As long as there is desire in this world, destruction or light. You’ll keep it safe.” The successor lets her heart fill with the soothing thoughts of her duty.
“Until the successors are lost, I will bear this promise as well.” Lou runs her palms through the other’s locks, looking pleased.
“We best... Leave from under the table. My apologies. It’s been so long... Since I’ve cried. Perhaps there is human left inside after all.”
vaporwave
stormborns
2087
yousharknotpass