R4 Viewing Party - no crying til the end (if you can help it)

[serrata]

I'm sure this is fine.

WELCOME TO THE R4 LIVEWATCH: AIRLOCKED REACH EDITION

Comments

[scourgingstars]

I know, Leonard. Just...just stay with me for the moment. I know that's nothing I need ask for, but...please.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Yeah. Yeah, of course, yeah, c'mere. [Ardyn is already as 'here' as he can be, but Church scoots so he can wrap him up in a big bear hug.]

[scourgingstars]

[Much like a cat, he was never so close that he couldn't try to be closer, relaxing right into that hug and hiding his face against Church's shoulder.]

...I hate this. I hate feeling like this even knowing this kind of guilt barely scratches the surface of what I'd deserve.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Welcome to humanity, bub.

[scourgingstars]

I didn't miss this part of it.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Yeah. I know. I wish I'd ripped out guilt. Seems like something I wouldn't have wanted to hold on to, y'know? Instead of logic, or trust.

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn answered with a vague hum that might have been agreement against his shoulder, arms snaking around Church's waist tightly.]

...I don't know what might happen if and when we manage to get them back. He'll want to kill me on the spot, no doubt.

[motherfucking_ghost]

We won't let him. Not even Noctis will.

[scourgingstars]

...I know. I just...he'd be right to, even if I can't allow that to happen.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Nope. No he wouldn't. Not right at all.

[scourgingstars]

Leonard, beloved, I already told you what I did to him. Of course he'd be right, and the fact that I'm no longer what I was does not change that.

[motherfucking_ghost]

I don't care. You're a good man now.

[scourgingstars]

...

[Someday he'd just have to accept that everyone's stubborn insistence to refuse to listen to Ardyn on this subject was, in most cases, not that different from saying 'I love you' outright.]

[Which was still a very strange feeling even now.]

I still owe them both one hell of an apology.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Oh, absolutely, dude. You'll never be able to make up for what you did. Doesn't mean you deserve to be executed for it.

[scourgingstars]

[...Somehow, he actually found that a little comforting. It was fine if he couldn't atone or be forgiven; but the last thing he wanted was anyone believing otherwise.]

I'm not dying anytime soon, no matter what may happen. I promised you that.

[motherfucking_ghost]

I know. I know. I'm gonna try and, y'know, not die, too. And if anyone tries anything, you've got a glaive to back you up.

[scourgingstars]

You had damn well better not. I've every intention of protecting you and the others as much as the reverse is true, you know.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Yeah, well, the other three of us didn't piss off a bunch of powerful and traumatized people and try to end the world, so you're in a lot more danger than we are.

[scourgingstars]

Fortunately, I have the unique benefit of being me and having faced worse dangers than an infuriated child with a handgun.

[motherfucking_ghost]

What about Lunafreya?

[scourgingstars]

...

She's not going to kill me. I don't even think she'll hit me if I offered to let her.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Are you sure? Seems like she needs an outlet, honestly.