Event || The Enemy Within

[melodiesmods]

Characters: All characters who signed-up for the event.
Where: In their heads.
When: January 15th.
Summary: The Heroes of Light have a vision-- They are living through a hypothetical future where the Sage share his knowledge with them, and things went horribly wrong as some Heroes of Light became the villains in this timeline. Maybe they'll revise their thoughts on getting all of that knowledge.
Warning: The apocalypse, deaths, tragedies, overall a lot of very bad things.

Mingle Threads: The Antagonists || The Protagonists || The Others || General
Free Open Threads: The Two Years || Other Events

#01 Attempts at Negotiations || Trano Golsaucia
#02 Tactical Espionage Action || Aqures Ixen
#03 Judgmental Glares || Aerilon
#04 The Fight for the Crystallized Bodies || Aqures Tosf
#05 The Dusk of the Heroes || Mysidia
#06 The Fight for the Moon || Lunar Gate
#07 Conflict Above the Stars || Moon Base
#08 The Birth of a God || Crystal Life Tree
#09 The Death of a World || Moon Base
#10 Where Everything Ends || Pandaemonium

Conclusion || The Sage in Mysidia

Comments

[tacticallyminded]

Mm.

[Robin stares down at him. She shouldn't agree to talk with him. She doesn't think that anything he'll say will ever change her mind. She stares for a moment -- at the idea that, after all that has happened and all that she's done, he could keep her safe. Then, despite herself, she relents.]

...Come this way.

[Robin turns on a heel, walking towards the door nearby. It's a small hallway, leading to the repair supplies for the airships.]

[shepherd_prince]

[Chrom follows her gladly. Just...be patient. It takes him a while to cover the mighty distance of a few short paces as long as he remains tiny.]

[But once they're hidden away and out of sight, Chrom can finally deactivate the Jingle Bell. Blip! He's actual size once more, and the relief on his face couldn't be more obvious. He leans on his knees and exhales, then lifts his head to offer a genuinely warm smile. Dire as the circumstances might be, he really missed her, and he's glad to see her again.]

My thanks. I never thought I'd have to don that job again, but it does have its uses.

[He straightens, and the smile fades a little to be replaced by a look of concern.]

How are you holding up?

[tacticallyminded]

Well enough.

[There's a smile, and it's not that it's cold... but it doesn't have the same life and light that it used to. As ever, since things started to get so worse, there's something missing in her smile and her eyes.]

I would ask the same of you, but...

[She sighs.]

...This was incredibly dangerous. You know what could happen, if you were caught, Chrom.

[shepherd_prince]

I'm aware of the risks.

[Surely she doesn't think that would be enough to deter him. After all they've been through, and knowing what they will go through, there's no danger he wouldn't face to be by her side. That smile she wears breaks his heart.]

[He reaches up to brush her cheek, then stops...]

[...And gathers her into his arms to hold her close. If only he could do more for her, and tell her that it will be all right. But he can't. It would be an empty promise, they both know this.]

I'm...I'm sorry. I know you've been hurt deeply by all of this. If I could mend those wounds, even a little, you know there's nothing I wouldn't do.

[tacticallyminded]

...I know, Chrom.

[She lets him. She falls against him, wrapping her arms around him, and remembers by touch how warm it felt. How warm it still feels. Except, that's... different now.]

[It's more complicated. She closes her eyes, but she doesn't let go of him.]

I never doubted your commitment. Or your sincerity. But this... it's bigger than one person can do.

[A shaky breath, then she adds:] Or two. I never thought I would encounter something we couldn't do together.

[shepherd_prince]

[He cradles the back of her head gently with his hand, allowing her to rest on his shoulder. He's missed her so much. His thumb brushes along a lock of her silky white hair as he keeps her close.]

Maybe it's just a matter of timing. We're still waiting for the right circumstances to make our move.

[At least, that's what Chrom hopes. He can't believe they could ever be defeated either, and refuses to let go of that faith.]

When this is all over, I'll make it up to you. Anywhere you want to go, I'll take you there. I'll give you my vows.

[tacticallyminded]

It's kind of you to say so.

[...but she doesn't believe it, exactly. She can't see a way out of this; not a way that Chrom would accept. She stares forward, eyes heavy, and then she shakes her head once.]

...Whatever happens, Chrom.

[She can believe this much.]

We'll be together in the end. [on fire]

[shepherd_prince]

[It hurts to think about that kind of ending, but he's not unrealistic enough to keep spouting blind faith that everything will be fine. His head bows forward a little as he closes his eyes, his hand gripping her shoulder with a gentle squeeze.]

I can promise that.

[He'll do whatever it takes to be with her again, so long as he doesn't have to slay anyone undeserving. That was the only part of this plan that he couldn't accept. Tactically it might be sound, but ethically? It goes against everything he believes.]

Will you come back with me?

[tacticallyminded]

...You know I can't.

[Robin shakes her head, once. There's regret there -- and hesitation, for a moment, but then it's gone. No, she must be strong. That resilience -- that stubbornness -- pushes the thought aside.]

I'm sorry. But I'm where I must be.

[shepherd_prince]

[He can't say that the answer doesn't hurt him. But at least he can hear the regret in her voice, so it's not a rejection due to any fault of their own.]

You can't mean that. This place, these people...it's not good for you, Robin. Come home with me. Let us fight together once more, to save these people.

[tacticallyminded]

[She looks up, a little more sharply than before -- but it's Chrom. Naked bathhouse antics aside, she can't bring herself to be truly furious with him.]

I'm sorry, Chrom. I mean that. This is where I must be.

[She looks down at the ground, her fingers tensing.]

...This is what I must do. You know what I feel for you. But... you also know that I will do my duty to these people, as I feel it must be done.

[shepherd_prince]

Then it would be wrong of me to question your conviction.

[Reluctantly he lets go and steps back, but reaches to grasp her hands in his so she has something to grip. He wants to support her, no matter what. He still trusts her, he just worries for her happiness and health so long as she's here.]

Just know that you may come back if circumstances change. I will always be waiting to welcome you with open arms.

[tacticallyminded]

I...

[A part of her wants to argue it. To tell him that it can't change. She really feels that. But, it would be wrong to insist -- to tell him that. So, hesitantly, she looks down. Then, she nods.]

...I don't know that it will. But... I won't forget, either, Chrom. Whatever may come.

[shepherd_prince]

Whatever may come.

[He lightly lays his thumbs over the top of her fingers, leaning forward to press a gentle and reassuring kiss against her brow. Much as he would like to kiss her, the time just doesn't seem right for that.]

There is one more favor I must ask of you.

[Chrom hesitates. It's embarrassing, but.]

...Would you allow me the use of your pocket to return to the docks? It's quite far on foot when you're only a few inches tall.

[tacticallyminded]

[The temptation is there: to just lean against him, enjoy the moment, and hold it. But she doesn't. She looks up when he speaks.]

[Then she blinks. Then, slightly, she smiles. The old her isn't gone entirely. Just... muted.]

Of course. I can do that much.

[shepherd_prince]

My thanks.

[His smile is a little sheepish, but relieved. And he's glad to see that she's still there under the surface. If he could stay, he would. But he doubts her allies would spare his life or hers if he were discovered. He digs the Jingle Bell out of his pocket and gives it a little ring, just before the world around him seems to jump to gargantuan proportions. He staggers a little, dizzied from the sudden change.]

I don't think I'll ever get used to that.

[tacticallyminded]

...I doubt I ever will.

[She reaches down, carefully, and then picks him up. Robin slides him into her pocket. Before she starts walking, though, she checks:]

Comfortable?

[shepherd_prince]

Surprisingly, yes.

[It's cozy and warm. It feels like he can see for miles this high up, even though it's technically not that high at all. Not even a little bit.]

Do you have a discreet way of reaching me with a message, should you wish to meet again?

[tacticallyminded]

Hm. Yes, I can arrange it. There are couriers I can trust absolutely.

[She has no doubt of that. Robin starts walking, for the exit to the docks -- and closer to the exit of the city, so he can slip out.]