(closed to h2no / broceanic)

[miphasgrace]

[ continuation of the Empatheias world...

"Sort of. I wanted to do a hard reset on the planet, take it back it how it was before human intervention. That would've involved raising the sea level slightly... but it wasn't so much about flooding as it was letting nature roam free again.

[he exhales, looking back over to her finally. shakes his head.]

Either way it would've done more damage than good. It goes without saying a human could never understand a god." ]



[It’s not hard for the conversation to conjure memories of her own world, and what Vah Ruta nearly did to Hyrule itself. Though it’s a far cry from Archie’s meddling as a mortal instead of a force of malicious evil. Her eyes look unfocused for a few moments, staring into the distance next to Archie; they resume their normal sheen of light when she meets his eyes once again.]

…Nor any mortal could. [said with her head cocked slightly to the side; nor zora, nor goron, nor rito…]

[It also comes with a pause, her face ultimately wilting with sadness.] …It still hurts you… Even more than you already let on.

Comments

[h2no]

Yeah. Well. [he huffs a little a strange bitterness in his tone.] It was like throwin' your spear at a target you were sure, but...

[this is probably crossing a line, but this is a touchy subject for him:] ...Hitting your brother instead.

[miphasgrace]

[It doesn’t cross a line. Archie couldn’t cross that kind of line with her, even with this new information bubbling to the surface. The thought does hurt her, of course—but in Mipha’s life, she feels like she’s already done it. Just…under vastly different circumstances.]

[Her eyes go downcast.]

And you feel that you do not deserve to be forgiven.

[h2no]

No.

[there's not really much else for him to say, is there?]

[miphasgrace]

[It’s the answer she expected. And she goes silent for a few moments, setting her gaze on the sunlight gleaming off of the lake water and absent-mindedly petting the pokémon she’s atop. When she speaks back up, it isn’t sudden—her voice is too soft. But it’s still been a minute as she collects what she wants to say.]

…What do you think, Sharpedo? [she gives him a few light pats as she talks around Archie to the shark pokémon instead] Has Archie gone too far to be forgiven?

[h2no]

[archie doesn't say anything-- he just watches this with an unreadable expression. sharpedo grunts, groaning a little sadly and ducks down a little in the water. not enough to pull them both down, but enough that most of its body is under.]

[miphasgrace]

[Mipha’s feet are submerged in the water again as her seat sinks. Understanding pokémon is still new to her, and she’ll never truly master it with these already-bonded crew; but Sharpedo’s feelings seem to come across clearly. She pets its back a few times, comfortingly, in little circles.]

…You don’t like how hard Archie is on himself, either…do you? [Rhetorical, of course, and said as softly and sadly as Sharpedo had moaned. She doesn’t look at Archie, though, unsure of how he might be reacting.] Mm… He is a stubborn one, that trainer of yours… …I do not think he sees how much good is in his big heart, as we do… Or as the other beloved pokémon friends of yours...

Despite everything, you have stayed by his side…loved him just as much...and have already forgiven him yourselves, haven’t you?

[h2no]

[he's still watching this, though his expression remains unreadable. he could be angry, he could be confused. maybe he's zoned out and there's loud circus music playing in his head. all are equally likely.]

Mipha... he would've done so because he doesn't know any different... [when he finally speaks up, it's clear in his tone he is kind of reaching, here. why did you keep him then, archie? why is sharpedo happy to stay if that's the case?]

[miphasgrace]

[All of those options would still be Archie. Mipha’s prepared for a number of reactions from him.]

[Now she shifts to look at Archie, even if he doesn’t reciprocate the eye contact. She’s still petting Sharpedo with one hand and her head tilts slightly to the side.]

He doesn’t? [a pause] Mm. I believe he knows exactly what he is doing, and what his feelings are. You are the one who taught me that these wonderful creatures are unique and intelligent in their own ways...did you not?

[Mipha smiles, small and soft.] Yet…should that make a difference, regardless?

[h2no]

...

[......................,.,.,,]

Don't use my own shit back on me.

[there is... very little bite to his words.]

[miphasgrace]

[Mipha responds only with an overly-innocent look. At least something has gotten through to him, she thinks.]

[Hesitantly, she lifts a hand and places it on Archie’s shoulder, gentle and comforting. Her voice has gotten even quieter and her innocent expression turns serious again.]

There needs to be a point where… [she pauses, despite having the words she wants to say ready] …where you needs to start…forgiving yourself... And to…to stop hating yourself.

[Another pause; longer, with Mipha’s eyes somewhat glazed over as she looks, unseeing, into the distance. Like she's thought about this sort of thing long before.]

…If you want to try and…make things right… …You are also part of those reparations…especially to those who love you the most.

[Her point including Sharpedo, of course, but the rest of his team as well; plus his friends and family in his home world.]