thusia | Dreampost continues

[ . . . what is this! ]

Ling! What is this?

[looking at, a little confused]

... Saber?

Yes, good, you responded. Yes, I am Saber. And you are Ling and I do not know where we are or what this is.

What do you mean you don't know? This is the military headquarters in Central, obviously.

There is no reason for me to know and so I did not.

Well, it's fine if you forgot. It's not up to you to remember this.

You seem to be in a serious situation. Or a heavy one.

[nodding, and looking at the tiny bottle again]

I should go back to Xing. I've finally achieved immortality, and yet...

it's useless now.

[ crosses her arms ]

And what has made your achievement useless.

I died.

Fu, Greed and Ran Fan too.

Such quests often lead to such ends. But you, and they, were willing to make that sacrifice for your goal, yes? Or did you move forward without accepting that possibility.

I accepted that possibility. And I accepted their sacrifice as well. I won't look away from their deaths.

But a goal half-achieved isn't worth much. Especially after those sacrifices, I can't think of it as a success.

Then do not think of it as a success. What you do now is either a continuation of before or in response to before.

There isn't a path for me to take anymore.

Stand up, Prince of Xing.

[looking at, but not moving yet]

If you wish to have time to mourn, or rest, or time to yourself to consider that I will give you. But if you wish to say "there isn't a path" then I will not accept that. Stand up.

I can't go back to Xing anymore...! I failed my people. What path s there for someone like me, who's lost his goal?

So there is no one of worth in Xing, now?

[there is a moment of silence]

No. My people— they're all of worth.

[ nods, nods. ]

If you have lost your goal and your path then you must decide what to do. Yes, it is difficult. These are the trials that you face especially if you have led or are to lead a people.

You can regret, you can look back, you can attempt to return. None of those would make you weaker unless you bent and broken under the weight and became less than yourself and less than what Xing deserves.

You could choose a new path, carry your losses and move in a different direction. And that would not make you weaker or less either. You are not the kind of man to forget where you came from or who has sacrificed for you.

Any path you take I will take with you. Any burden you lift I will assist you with. I will be your saber and cut the way to a new path.

I will not allow you to do nothing simply because it is not there already. Responsibility, duty and love guide our lives but so does choice!

Stand up!

[for a few long moments, he says and does nothing at all— just looking at her, carefully thinking over her words]

Cut the way to a new path...

[finally, he stands up, walking closer and standing right in front of her]

I don't know how to live a life in which my goal isn't available to me anymore. I've never been in a situation in which my hands are tied by the impossibility of taking the actions I'd want.

I don't know where a new path would take us yet. Knowing that uncertainty, would you still be willing to walk it with me?

[ she grins and it isn't really a cheerful grin so much as the look of someone who is absolutely assured in themselves

The answer is simple and she does not even embellish it with her usual words: ]

Yes.

[ There's a smile on his face in hearing that, too, and he nods. Offering her his hand, his words are simple as well ]

Then it's time to go.

[ takes his hand firmly ]

Forward! Yes, let us go!

Re: open to all

thankyouverymooch - 2012-05-20 18:05 (UTC) - Expand