Everyone makes mistakes their first time, so there's no need to be hard on yourself. Do you know my sister, Ayaka? She used to be unsuccessful with her attempts, but she's practiced very hard and received a compliment from our dear retainer recently. It just takes time and patience.
[Ruby didn't say anything at first. Instead, she kept on looking at Ayato and then back at the cookies. As she gave a sigh, she knew that he was right.]
You know. That sounds a lot like something my brother would say too. Even if he can be a jerk sometimes, he does mean the best for me.
[Pause]
Even if he would just flat out tell me that my cookies sucked.
Is he an older sibling? { he looks curious, though won't press further if she doesn't want to say. either way, he'll explain why he's asking so it looks a bit less sus. }
I ask because as an older brother I can understand why that may be the case. If you're not told the truth on your progress, how can you hope to progress? And if he's anything like me, I want the best for my dearest sister. I'm aware I can't always protect her, even if I'd like to. She needs to be prepared for when I'm not there.
{ he's twisting the truth a little bit, mind you, there are plenty of things he doesn't tell ayaka... }
Yes, he is. I know that I mean a lot to him and he is a little overprotective given my job...
[She mumbles a little as she trails on.]
But sometimes, I wonder if he's a little too harsh. I can take care of myself and I have been doing well as an idol! I just don't want him to think that I can't do anything on my own.
I doubt that's what he thinks. { he takes a sip of his tea, grateful for it as it washes away the taste of burnt cookie. } But sometimes we want to know we'll still be depended on like when you were younger. Or, perhaps, he merely doesn't want you to think you have to do it all on your own.
[For a moment, that's the only notification. Kanade is terrible at contacting people she isn't super familiar with, so she freezes - and then feels terrible because that's a horrible way to open up a new DM like this, so she's quick to follow it up.]
um i'm not sure if you remember me, but you helped me a while ago i was asking for some advice on magic, and what else i can do with the new abilities given to me if it's okay... could i ask for some advice on that again?
I hope so because I don't know if Aqua would one day. Sometimes, he's really smart and I don't really know what goes on his mind sometimes. I just know that he can be really protective of me given my status as an idol but after that? I don't really know.
[It's easy to ask for help on something like this. It's on more personal matters that she starts to struggle with reaching out.]
i heard a little bit about some other kinds of magic ones not as closely tied to our seasons as the elemental magic we can do something about animal transformations? do you know anything about that?
[Her brows lift slightly, curious. The answer itself as well as the way he gives it perplexes her.]
Do they all rule with such an iron fist that you fear speaking a word against them even when they aren't present in a world in which they would have no power even if they were?
{ he doesn't look her in the eye, instead gazing off to their surroundings as he considers the best way to answer her question. }
I can only speak of the archon I serve, not any others. { he pauses there, picking up a small bottle of paint to hold between his fingers. } But that archon already created a decree that would forcibly take away people's visions and left them empty. It has, thankfully, since been abolished and those visions were returned to their rightful owners, but I'm sure you can understand my lack of trust now.
I suppose it depends on the animal you choose. The guild has a list of the ones we have available to us as Autumn, or I can send you the list if you'd like?
[She looks up at him quietly while he speaks and then away, frowning softly towards the distant, golden-hazed horizon of this pocket realm.]
I can.
[Then she shakes her head. Of course it would be too much to expect that every individual who made it to one of the seats would be one who would rule with a fair and just hand, but still...]
Not all those who fought in the Archon Wars were kind beneath their ferocity, and nor were all of them wise.
{ he isn't giving her the full details, not telling her about how he'd enabled a resistance army to enter his archon's domain to fight back. effectively treason, in a way, but given how things have changed for the better he'd never regret it either. }
So it would seem. Thankfully we were blessed by a wandering Traveler who came to our aid. I'm not sure how much longer things would have gone on for otherwise. My family has served the Raiden Shogun for generations. My parents constantly spoke about how blessed we were, to serve our god. I admit, I've never really understood why.
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