monolike | IC CONTACT

[Lailah shakes her head firmly. Unbidden, Michael returns to the forefront of her mind. Even though it's been a human lifetime since then...it's still recent to her. How the burden broke something in him and made him think that it was pointless to continue, losing faith in humanity being able to coexist with seraphim.]

The Shepherd walks a very fine line. If you recall, Asura thought the same way, and countless others before him did, too.

[The fire seraph puts a gentle hand on the one gripping her dress. She holds it like she's trying to share her strength with him.]

You're only one person, Sorey. You can't possibly take on the entire world's troubles. Even one country's is too much. The sheer amount will eventually break you.

[Not once do her eyes leave Sorey's face. He needs to understand so that they don't repeat the same mistake others have made.]

You've seen how people reacted to simply hearing that there's a Shepherd again in Glenwood. By just existing, you've made the continent better because you've given the people reason to hope again.

[He stalls. He'd forgotten Asura. How could he have forgotten Asura? It was such a pointed lesson, nothing at all like Igraine had been, and Mikleo had been-

Had been right there with him. It was a lesson for them both. And now, though the pact is broken, Sorey still carries the strength of that trial in him even though Mikleo is gone. It had been hard enough with Dezel; talking about whether or not to do the trial again, if it mattered, like they hadn't lost a friend and just needed to complete a set.

He can't do that. He can't do that with Mikleo.

How can he be the Shepherd again after this?]

...maybe Rose would be the better choice, [Sorey murmurs, staring down at their hands.] She's been through a lot. She's more used to...to loss. [To losing people. Sorey isn't used to it- they lost Mason, right at the start, a weight that sits sour in his gut whenever Lailah's fire flickers in a way that reminds him of Mason igniting bonfires for them to dance around, flinging in pinecones to hear the snap and pop.

But now Mikleo, Mikleo, Mikleo-]

I don't know. I don't know, [he tells her brokenly. He wants to tell her he has hope, that he'll think about it, but he can't. He can't bring himself to think about it without his mind circling back around to Mikleo, Mikleo, Mikleo. He can't think of what the world needs. He can barely think of what they need.]

-you...will you guys be all right without a vessel in the meantime? While- while I decide? [Sorey glances up at her, tearing his mind away from Mikleo (Mikleo, Mikleo) to try and consider the others he loves more than his whole being.] If we need to set up shrines for you then I have a few ideas. And- and if one worshiper is enough I can tend to them, but if you all need your own I can find people to help. I'm sure there'll be people who'll help.

Sorey, that's not fair to say. Not to you, not to her, not to any of us who have known the loss of someone close. [Lailah's chiding is gentle, but firm.] No one is truly used to grief.

[Out of the entire group, Zaveid and Lailah may as well be experts on the subject. It's their methods of coping with it that differ.

When he speaks so brokenly, she places a hand on his cheek. The fire seraph gives him a warm smile, trying to be reassuring.]

We'll be alright. There's not much malevolence in the area to be a threat. If it becomes a problem before you're ready to decide, we'll let you know and we can work through a solution. Together.

-right. That was insensitive, I'm sorry, [and he is. Of course. It's not like someone just stops loving people because of the ones they've lost. Of course it's not something you just...get numb to.

Sorey half wishes it was.]

I'm- Lailah, I'm concerned about Dezel though. Will he be all right without a vessel?

It's alright.

[Lailah considers it. It's a good question, frankly, but after talking to Dezel....]

I believe so. He's let go of a lot of his anger, so he should be fine without a vessel. However, I'll talk to him about it and see what he'd like to do.

[After all, it's the wind seraph's choice in the end.

Lailah hesitates for a moment, but...there's one thing that needs to be addressed. The elephant in the room. The ache in Sorey's heart that she knows is there. It's something that she needs to talk with him about before she leaves him be to think, at the very least.]

Sorey...I know it's hard for you, but we should talk a little about Mikleo.

[Preferably before he drowns in his own grief. This isn't something Sorey should be left to sink or swim alone in.]

Please don't, [he whispers desperately, almost cutting off the tail of her sentence. His hand is tight under hers, around her dress, his other clutching at the front of his shirt so hard his knuckles are white.] Please. I-I can't. Not yet, I can't.

[Her hand leaves Sorey's cheek and clutches at the hand on his shirt.]

Shh, Sorey, it's okay. I'm not going to force you right now. I only wanted you to know that I'm here if you want to talk to me about it or if you wish to have something to distract you from it. And...that I'm sorry.

[Sorry that her purification will never be strong enough to revert a dragon. Sorry that no oath she can take will ever be strong enough to do so. Sorry that there was no other option. Sorry that he'd lost another person so dear to him.]

[He swallows and nods, though that's another thing he's not sure he can give her. Being a Shepherd again? Talking about Mikleo? Both of those goals are so incredibly far out of his reach right now...they might be that way forever.

Lailah's hands are warm over his; Lailah is always warm. Maybe it's a fire seraph thing. Or maybe it's just a Lailah thing.]

I'm... [Sorey pauses, then reaches up to cover her hand with his, draws both her hands into his own and lowers them to his lap.] I think I'm thirsty, [he murmurs, because that's something he can do. He can get a drink of water.]

[Lailah allows him to do so, of course she does. Just like she'll still allow him to have her fire if he asks for it.]

Then let's get you something to drink and at least a small snack.

[The fire seraph squeezes his hands gently, encouragingly, like she'll go with him if he still wants her company. She won't leave Sorey. She had no choice with Michael or the other Shepherds, but she'll take advantage of the freedom to do so now.

One step at a time. As long as they can keep it one step at a time, Lailah's sure that Sorey will heal.]

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