[ dextera and guren are fine. they are, without any hesitance or uncertainty about how “fine” that really can be. they made up in their own way after talking about it, so it’s not that he’s upset anymore—but anyone would be a little rattled, getting a message from the other party, so to speak. ]
[ well, he responded. that's good news at least, even if she's still quite nervous inside about this. she was angry with guren, so it was easier on her in a way. for dextera there was only sorrow.
but anyway, they should meet somewhere neutral instead of each others place. ]
Would the pier by the harbor be alright? I can be there in ten or so minutes.
[ no one really goes by there she thinks. easier to have an isolated talk. ]
[ ten minutes—it’s probably better to do it now, right, instead of waiting any longer. ]
I’ll see you there, Zelda. Thank you.
[ truthfully, he’d thought of reaching out as well—trying to find the courage, or something, to resolve a problem like this with his own hands. that desire warred with not wanting to stir the pot, however, and the latter won out.
[ the laptop is shut once she sees his agreement, and she gets herself ready to go as well. splashes water on her face, takes some deep breaths, and clears her mind before she heads out the door.
she walks fast, maybe too much so out of nerves, and thankfully the pier is empty as anticipated when she arrives. she scouts out a bench to sit on and waits, knowing dextera won't be long. the silence deafens her thoughts and they pass through her mind, in and out, because at the end of the day she can't plan what to say. it'll just have to be in the moment. ]
[ dextera just wishes it hadn’t been zelda that all this had happened with. he already had so much going on with her, and this threatens to ruin the way they speak to each other before they’ve even gotten the chance to make progress.
hopefully, however, this clears the air. ]
…
[ he makes himself known to her when he approaches, and once he’s sure he’s been seen, he sits quietly next to her on the bench. ]
[ a greeting as he enters her line of sight and takes his seat. there are nerves still flickering in her just under her skin, but she can accept they're natural. she turns in seat slightly so she can face him with a lean into the back bench. so then- ]
[ dextera nods as his response, but he realizes that being reticent isn’t going to help either of them. usually, a gesture like that is the equivalent of someone responding fine verbally, but… he’s willing to give a little more. because it’s zelda. because it’s this. ]
[ the smile that comes is both natural and a touch wry, before she lets out the tense breath that's been trapped inside her. she believes him even without the mention of the promise, for she's never known him as anything but forthright. ]
...I asked you to meet me, but now that we're here I'm not sure what to say. [ she breathes in a sad laugh, feeling a little ashamed to admit it. ] I didn't even plan anything, I just... I'm sorry.
[ she doesn't even know why she's apologizing, she didn't do anything wrong, but there is good reason for her to believe she hurt dextera regardless of that fact. ]
[ zelda had nothing to do with it, really, except being someone that it did hurt just a little more because of. it’s not her fault for being the way she is—it’s only because dextera likes her so much. he trusts her. he wouldn’t have blamed guren, if he really did want to kiss her on her own merits and not because of a charm.
[ she can't remember the last time she was so angry at another person. she can get frustrated and annoyed easily because of her temperament, and it's an issue she knows well of, but true anger is a different feeling all together. ]
Mostly I was upset. Not even for myself, but for you. [ her brow pinches together, for context doesn't change the memory that still feels like a raw wound. ] He told me you two were together, and I didn't even think twice in striking him. It was like instinct when I believed you were betrayed.
[ dextera appreciates that, knowing that all is well—but really, if she’d struck him and the circumstances were different, if the scenario that played out was real, dextera doesn’t know if he’d taking any satisfaction in guren being hurt like that. being defensive on his behalf, though…
it’s a sign of zelda’s empathy. ]
…thank you.
[ he lets his hands rest in his lap for a moment as he considers what he wants to say next. he’s clearly thinking. ]
I don’t know what happened. He explained what he did, and why. I don’t know what it looked like, and I’m OK with that. But… [ a beat. ] You have that memory, and I… have the responsibility of telling you… it’s OK now.
Guren told me the same when I asked him. [ and then she smirks a little, because it is just a tad bit funny to her- ] That foolish boy went through the trouble of writing out a whole letter to me! About as sincere as he'll ever get... and I think it gave me the courage I needed to see you now.
I'm truly happy for you. For both of you.
[ knowing that nothing was broken in the end, that things can be mended and returned, it brings her a lot of hope. she was afraid of seeing dextera hurt out of this mess most of all, so to hear he wasn't made it easier. cowardly, yes, but she can live with this knowing it was an unfortunate misunderstanding. ]
[ a soft blush rises to dextera’s cheeks, when zelda offers her blessings. he wants to laugh himself at the fact that guren wrote a whole proper letter, but now he’s just shy.
he nods. ]
I told you… there are people waiting. Who deserve a better “me.”
[ needless to say, guren is one of those people. ]
[ and she just quickly gives him a tap on the tip of his nose, huffing quietly. although, that does remind her to ask... ]
Does this mean you want to continue our sessions?
[ it weighed on her mind that he might feel too uncomfortable with her to go on. things are slowly settling now, the mending process underway, but she wants to be sure to give him the choice. ]
[ after recovering from the shock of having his little nosie tapped like that, he nods. although they’ve only had the time to do it once, it was a great help to him to have the framework.
if he’s doing it for someone else’s approval, even if it’s ultimately to his benefit, it’s harder to give up. ]
I need them. [ this is not an exaggeration. ] Please.
[ it's important it be his decision, no matter what she feels about it. so she won't say it out of respect for that, but she's sincerely glad he wants to continue despite everything. it means a lot for her to help him. ]
And... one more thing. [ she digs a hand into the pocket of her pants and offers him up a ring. ] I think you should decide what to do with this.
[ this is not what he expected. he holds out his hands, palms cupped, to take the ring, and once it’s in his possession he slips it into his pocket to free those fingers up. ]
No. [ her fingers go to toy with one of her hanging hair stands, faintly nervous. ] I think... I received as part of that quest. For what happened. It doesn't do anything, but I feel you should decide what its fate should be.
[ she’s giving him the freedom to toss it into the water, if he wants, in order to completely discard this past—but he could keep it as a reminder, too, of how they’ve made up.
he doesn’t like to forget things, so it’s only natural that he’d keep it. he nods. ]
[ a small smile settles in at his decision, and now she's glad she didn't take her first instinct to toss it. better in his hands. ]
Then you may. [ she nods and stands up, brushing her pants a little of dust. then she stops and smirks, a funny thought arising- ] Maybe you can even give it to Guren, should things progress to that point.
[ no, that’s the worst thing she could have said to him!! now he’s embarrassed, and it’s a good thing he can’t speak anyway or else he might actually choke on his own spit.
he shakes his head rapidly. just because they planned to run away together doesn’t mean… or maybe it does… and zelda looks so amused with herself, too. she got what she wanted from that, though, because now his ears are burning, and he’s got that look on his face that says he’s not offended.
[ yes she did get what she wanted, even if it's a little mean to pick on him. he's not as bull-headed as guren, who just gets exasperated, so she should be a little more delicate with him. but it feels good to laugh, to feel something lightened off her shoulders. ]
Sorry, don't take me seriously. I'm only kidding, honest.
[ she’s kidding, but that ring in his pocket suddenly feels quite heavy. even if he really isn’t bold enough to give it to guren like it’s nothing, it’s oddly nice that someone would even think to tease the two of them about that. it makes it feel real.
dextera likes the security, so even though his face is still red, he nods. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Yes. I’d like that.
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but anyway, they should meet somewhere neutral instead of each others place. ]
Would the pier by the harbor be alright? I can be there in ten or so minutes.
[ no one really goes by there she thinks. easier to have an isolated talk. ]
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I’ll see you there, Zelda. Thank you.
[ truthfully, he’d thought of reaching out as well—trying to find the courage, or something, to resolve a problem like this with his own hands. that desire warred with not wanting to stir the pot, however, and the latter won out.
steeling his nerve, he heads to the harbor. ]
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she walks fast, maybe too much so out of nerves, and thankfully the pier is empty as anticipated when she arrives. she scouts out a bench to sit on and waits, knowing dextera won't be long. the silence deafens her thoughts and they pass through her mind, in and out, because at the end of the day she can't plan what to say. it'll just have to be in the moment. ]
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hopefully, however, this clears the air. ]
…
[ he makes himself known to her when he approaches, and once he’s sure he’s been seen, he sits quietly next to her on the bench. ]
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[ a greeting as he enters her line of sight and takes his seat. there are nerves still flickering in her just under her skin, but she can accept they're natural. she turns in seat slightly so she can face him with a lean into the back bench. so then- ]
How have you been?
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I’m well. I promise. [ a beat. ] And you?
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[ the smile that comes is both natural and a touch wry, before she lets out the tense breath that's been trapped inside her. she believes him even without the mention of the promise, for she's never known him as anything but forthright. ]
...I asked you to meet me, but now that we're here I'm not sure what to say. [ she breathes in a sad laugh, feeling a little ashamed to admit it. ] I didn't even plan anything, I just... I'm sorry.
[ she doesn't even know why she's apologizing, she didn't do anything wrong, but there is good reason for her to believe she hurt dextera regardless of that fact. ]
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so he shakes his head. ]
It hurt you too, didn’t it?
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[ she can't remember the last time she was so angry at another person. she can get frustrated and annoyed easily because of her temperament, and it's an issue she knows well of, but true anger is a different feeling all together. ]
Mostly I was upset. Not even for myself, but for you. [ her brow pinches together, for context doesn't change the memory that still feels like a raw wound. ] He told me you two were together, and I didn't even think twice in striking him. It was like instinct when I believed you were betrayed.
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it’s a sign of zelda’s empathy. ]
…thank you.
[ he lets his hands rest in his lap for a moment as he considers what he wants to say next. he’s clearly thinking. ]
I don’t know what happened. He explained what he did, and why. I don’t know what it looked like, and I’m OK with that. But… [ a beat. ] You have that memory, and I… have the responsibility of telling you… it’s OK now.
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Guren told me the same when I asked him. [ and then she smirks a little, because it is just a tad bit funny to her- ] That foolish boy went through the trouble of writing out a whole letter to me! About as sincere as he'll ever get... and I think it gave me the courage I needed to see you now.
I'm truly happy for you. For both of you.
[ knowing that nothing was broken in the end, that things can be mended and returned, it brings her a lot of hope. she was afraid of seeing dextera hurt out of this mess most of all, so to hear he wasn't made it easier. cowardly, yes, but she can live with this knowing it was an unfortunate misunderstanding. ]
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[ a soft blush rises to dextera’s cheeks, when zelda offers her blessings. he wants to laugh himself at the fact that guren wrote a whole proper letter, but now he’s just shy.
he nods. ]
I told you… there are people waiting. Who deserve a better “me.”
[ needless to say, guren is one of those people. ]
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[ and she just quickly gives him a tap on the tip of his nose, huffing quietly. although, that does remind her to ask... ]
Does this mean you want to continue our sessions?
[ it weighed on her mind that he might feel too uncomfortable with her to go on. things are slowly settling now, the mending process underway, but she wants to be sure to give him the choice. ]
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[ his nose!! ]
…
[ after recovering from the shock of having his little nosie tapped like that, he nods. although they’ve only had the time to do it once, it was a great help to him to have the framework.
if he’s doing it for someone else’s approval, even if it’s ultimately to his benefit, it’s harder to give up. ]
I need them. [ this is not an exaggeration. ] Please.
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Then so be it.
[ it's important it be his decision, no matter what she feels about it. so she won't say it out of respect for that, but she's sincerely glad he wants to continue despite everything. it means a lot for her to help him. ]
And... one more thing. [ she digs a hand into the pocket of her pants and offers him up a ring. ] I think you should decide what to do with this.
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[ this is not what he expected. he holds out his hands, palms cupped, to take the ring, and once it’s in his possession he slips it into his pocket to free those fingers up. ]
Isn’t it important?
[ jewelry like this… ]
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[ a ring dedicated to the misery he felt. ]
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[ she’s giving him the freedom to toss it into the water, if he wants, in order to completely discard this past—but he could keep it as a reminder, too, of how they’ve made up.
he doesn’t like to forget things, so it’s only natural that he’d keep it. he nods. ]
I’ll take care of it. I want to.
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Then you may. [ she nods and stands up, brushing her pants a little of dust. then she stops and smirks, a funny thought arising- ] Maybe you can even give it to Guren, should things progress to that point.
[ she can't help herself sometimes. ]
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[ no, that’s the worst thing she could have said to him!! now he’s embarrassed, and it’s a good thing he can’t speak anyway or else he might actually choke on his own spit.
he shakes his head rapidly. just because they planned to run away together doesn’t mean… or maybe it does… and zelda looks so amused with herself, too. she got what she wanted from that, though, because now his ears are burning, and he’s got that look on his face that says he’s not offended.
worse, he’s thinking about it. ]
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[ yes she did get what she wanted, even if it's a little mean to pick on him. he's not as bull-headed as guren, who just gets exasperated, so she should be a little more delicate with him. but it feels good to laugh, to feel something lightened off her shoulders. ]
Sorry, don't take me seriously. I'm only kidding, honest.
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[ she’s kidding, but that ring in his pocket suddenly feels quite heavy. even if he really isn’t bold enough to give it to guren like it’s nothing, it’s oddly nice that someone would even think to tease the two of them about that. it makes it feel real.
dextera likes the security, so even though his face is still red, he nods. ]
Thank you… for the ring. And the talk.
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[ she rolls back her shoulders and stretches up her arms, feeling worn out and relieved all at once. ]
Mhm. I think I'll turn in early for the night. The past few days have really taken a lot out of me! I advise you do the same.