KENOS INBOX

[erbe]

COMMUNION

Reaching out to Rin is like stepping into a moonlit parlor. Everything is quiet, muted, and neatly tucked away. Almost like a "lobby," of sorts to keep visitors away from the rest of what goes on in her head... and her heart. This space is cool, and placid. Much like the surface of a lake in winter as it reflects the pale glow of the celestial bodies hanging above it in the sky.

A reflection of serenity rather the true thing. A mask of elegance to hide anything that may be unsightly. Anything that may betray her.

✧ Specifics

✦ Unable to block out: Harbinger
✦ Compatible with: Iconoclast | Advocate
✦ Discord Accrual: Exalt

(CODE)

Comments

[epiprocta]

[ A myriad of responses come to mind, bubbling up through the sludge of his stilted thoughts, one at a time. 'Not like it would've mattered if I died,' comes first. Then, 'even if I did, I would've just come back, probably.' Followed by, 'kinda wish I did.'

He brushes them aside. Making conscious, coherent decisions is hard when his mind feels so rusted over, but on a gut level he knows none of those feel right to say out loud, even if none of them are technically incorrect. Gen sighs again -- slow, tired, but relaxed -- when he feels the sponge scrub over his back once more; his nerves had felt weirdly atrophied, but that tactile sensation manages to break through the heavy numbness, aided by the building, calming scent of sandalwood. ]

... thanks.

[ He means it, too -- it's said quietly, almost gently, without any of his usual toughguy bluster. ]

I would've been fine either way, but. S'good. I 'ppreciate it.

[erbe]

[No, it wouldn't have. Not the way she sees it. His body, dissipated by the collapse, his shard shattered by the mountain of rubble... Things could have been so much worse, and she'd feel so absolutely horrible about not being able to help because she was so lost in her own wallowing over her sister's shard.

Rin sets aside the sponge so her hands can scoop a bit of the bathwater to rinse him with. She repeats this a few times before reaching to turn off the faucet finally. She peels away from him, reluctant to leave the solid and physical proof of his continued life, and reaches for the shampoo.]

Wet your hair and close your eyes. I'll take care of that too.

[This isn't just for him, after all. Being able to provide some semblance of help soothes her. It relieves some of her doubt and smooths the rough edges of her perceived helplessness. That her existence isn't just some detriment despite the fact that she feels she hasn't done enough for her faction.]

[epiprocta]

[ Gen goes quiet and docile as Rin continues her work, flirting with the faint tendrils of almost-sleep that brush against the edges of his mind. The hot water is soothing, it smells nice, and Rin's touch is gentle. He's sleepy, but not in the way he's been sleepy the past few days -- a less stifling, less overbearing way.

It still takes him a moment to register when he's being spoken to, but he does give a low hum when he processes what Rin says. Pulls away from the rim of the tub, drowsily scuffs a hand through his hair, then simply dunks his head in the water. It drips off the point of his chin, and off the tips of his canine ears when he emerges once more, but that's fine -- task complete. A cursory squeeze of his hand through his hair before he slumps back against the tub's edge, this time with his back towards her.

The water before him ripples from a small sigh before he abruptly speaks. ]

First time I killed someone, I just had to go back to actin' normal. Went to fucking school after the weekend. Three days later. [ It's not often that he volunteers this sort of information about himself, but -- it feels appropriate, here. He can't bring himself to apologize for the trouble he's causing Rin, but something adjacent to an explanation is easier to stomach. Gen blinks, feeling water bead off his lashes, as he continues quietly. ] ... thought it'd get easier each time. Guess it doesn't work that way.

[ He hadn't been the one to directly end Cyrus' life; Amos had taken on that burden, while he'd only been there as backup. But somehow, the weight of it still doesn't feel much lighter. ]

[erbe]

[His words give her pause as she seats herself on the rim of the tub. Her hands full with shampoo. Went to school means he killed someone even before coming to Kenos. Means it was permanent. She can't imagine stomaching that, even if she had prepared herself to kill her sister. That was different. It was her duty as a mage and it would be saving the world.

She remembers the dreams of her Servant. Of a man who was once a boy that only wanted to save everyone. How he made a deal with the World, and how he was forced to kill. Again and again in an endless string of mind-numbing tasks. She's not sure how to bring him comfort other than by showing him that his actions don't make him abhorrent or untouchable. So Rin reaches out, and begins to lather up his hair.]

Did D tell you? Cyrus didn't have a soul.

[Or perhaps they had other things to discus when the finally met up? Rin did have her outrageous assumptions when she heard D was looking for him...]