[by saturday evening, shadowheart can be found at the outdoor hotspring. she's sitting in one of the shallower pools in the water, still wearing her sexy angel costume white dress, but sitting hunched so she's sinking in the shallow water up to her neck. she has a glass of mixed drink from the bar here with her.
also, the owlbear cub is playing in the foliage nearby, doing cute things like hunting the lack of animals that are here.
shadowheart waves.]
Oh, hello. It's not quite scalding enough to distract, but it's pleasant.
[it's the perfect dress for a lil dip. anyway, she will nod.]
By all means.
[the cub pokes his head up and shrieks a little.]
In a sense. The little troublemaker appeared here along with my belongings. I could not tell you why. He is no pet, but I suppose it's not bad to have very feathery company.
But he wasn't anywhere near - he would have been back at our camp. Maybe the foolish little thing just wandered off coincidentally, and fell to the shadow curse.
[she stretches out her arms on the side of the pool, taking her drink.]
The lands I was recently travelling in were inflicted with a curse. A veil of darkness, so thick no life can survive in it without succumbing. Even animals wander off into the darkness and fall, afflicted, and are raised again as malevolent shadows.
Most fled, rather than try. Unfortunately, it was quite imperative we make our way through those lands. I was lucky to have my lady Shar's protection. The curse was less hard on me than on some.
I've always been interested in learning more about faiths other than my own. I've not had many opportunities before now. Yours sounds quite different from both mine and Sanctism.
I don't know that there was never any truth to it, but Baldur's Gate has been imperiled many times and no dragon has appeared. So if he exists, he is a bit lazy about his duties.
Our land was afflicted with calamity after calamity, and we believed the cause was the Dragon God's own wrath. That it was displeased, and had turned to rage. But we were wrong. A malicious being had attached itself to our god like a parasite, and was controlling it.
[ As the day winds down and people are starting to wander off, Eupha is taking a break with an ice cream cone in hand just outside of the mansion. When she sees Shadowheart, she greets her with a smile. ]
Oh, Miss Shadowheart! Good evening. Were you able to decorate your room to your liking?
True... if they were alive, they would surely be dangerous monsters.
Though, I wonder what has caused them to come to such a state. Perhaps they were picked clean by a predator, or the soft tissue harvested for food, or made as an offering?
I think... for me... it's more that I can't imagine it because I don't know the circumstances others might have that would lead them to desperation. None of us know that much about each other - despite everything, we're still mostly strangers to one another.
[gimme your chosen prompt! au timeline? baby? or is eupha just normal? shadowheart has some stuff going on too, but it'll depend on eupha what we're doing.]
Typically, a Selǔnite is sacrificed. That is how a Sharran proves herself to the Dark Lady. Though I would say, not any Selûnite ought to do. There are plenty of ordinary believers of the Moonmaiden and killing them wouldn't be much effort - it hardly proves loyalty.
As I said, some believe any Selûnite counts. But for it to be a true test of skill and faith, I believe a powerful servant of the Moonmaiden ought to be the minimum.
Our Dragon God is our protector, but when enraged, not even our island is spared from its wrath. In times of calamity, a sacrifice is offered to appease our god and restore peace to the land.
Some believe that any life may suffice, but tradition dictates that this is the duty of the priestess.
[that thought strikes her as horribly sad, especially when eupha is little more than a girl. but she struggles with it, unsure why it should make her sad.]
It's beautiful, to be willing to give up everything of yourself to your faith. Most lack that strength.
[what a week! you asked for a thursday pc but given everything that has already happened today, she will find eupha wherever she's hanging out. giving her a silent look of commiseration.]
Even very strong people can be hurt. I trust that they'll all recover physically, but the prospect of having their sense of selves tampered this way is terrifying, isn't it?
[she frowns, though, remembering something.]
...I suspect I said some rather odd things to you, earlier this week.
[yeah eupha truly did just go along with all of it easily, which is a can of worms in and of itself, but even if it's normal stuff to eupha, she still wants to explain.]
All of that Dark Justiciar, sacrifice a Selûnite nonsense. That is how it works, but I'm not - I don't sacrifice people.
Theoretically, Sharrans are tasked with fighting Selûnites wherever we find them, yes. But the ones I've met, I've - not gotten along with, but I haven't felt any desire to fight them, so I simply haven't.
I see... That is a relief to hear. I'm well-acquainted with such tensions between religions... though I choose to believe that there is always some middle ground to be found.
It's nothing in particular. Just a few things I've been thinking about for a while.
You mentioned your duty as a priestess, didn't you? [and at the time, she said that was noble, but.] Have you ever wondered whether it's really right for your faith to have to cost so much?
For most of my life, I didn't question it. The more the people around me suffered, the more I felt the weight of that responsibility, and could think of little else. And as I reflected on my own inaction during those times of struggle, I began to think of sacrifice as not just a path of salvation for them, but of atonement for myself.
But... I too had a crisis of faith quite recently.
[it does sound to her that the driving force here wasn't necessarily belief but a desire to protect her people. but it's still unclear what eupha would have had to atone for.]
From early childhood, I knew I would one day give my life in sacrifice. And when that day came, I went to the Dragon Temple... My brother was supposed to accompany me, but we were attacked by monsters, and he was wounded.
I was escorted instead by a group of outsiders. As we made our way to the altar, they had so many questions, and there were some I could not answer...
Well... not entirely. I did start to wonder why the ritual was the way that it was, and about the nature of the Dragon God and the calamities we faced... but my conviction did not waver.
Not until I reached the altar, and saw that what awaited me there was not my god.
It attached itself to the Dragon God, and seemed to control it, as a parasite would. And all this time, it was the human that devoured the sacrifices sent to it.
When I realized, I despaired. I was being denied my very purpose in life.
But... in that moment, I heard a voice in my head, imploring me to choose a path. And I realized that there was yet more that I could put my faith into, to turn it into my strength once again.
If you also find yourself questioning the path that you are on, I think it is a good thing to explore it. A blind faith is not a stronger faith, but quite the opposite.
...I know I've been deceived, too. I only don't know exactly what has been hidden from me. But that's the problem I keep returning to. There's so much I don't know, and I'm expected to accept that as a matter of faith.
By everyone. [both.] They've never hidden how much they've concealed from me, how much of my own history they've taken from me, but... it was always explained to me as something that would help me become closer to Lady Shar, a sacrifice I was willing to make.
It's harder to trust anything, but that's sometimes the point - to take things on faith. But it's also quite possible the point is to make sure I don't know anything that might convince me not to have it.
[i'm throwing us right into it. a door opens and they're deposited in the funhouse mirror area.
The funhouse mirrors take you down a path that seems to grow darker as you walk. What is reflected in the mirrors is a hazy landscape, all in grays, with swirling thick darkness that looks like smoke all around. Everything in this land is dead, everything. The ground is cracked and patched. No plants grow here, except for the odd glowing foliage of the underdark, which is adapted to darkness. There are no living animals, but there are beings in the dark. Undead corpses of animals with glowing eyes animated by some evil power, dark shadow shapes, even the corpses of people from time to time, ones who wandered in here and fell.
Other mirrors show flickers of the story of this land. A century ago, this was a thriving and lush landscape ruled over from the nearby castle, Moonrise Towers. There was a market town and many people who lived in the rural areas. But a curse was placed on this land by the goddess Shar. Everyone who once lived here either died or fled, because no life can thrive in the shadows. The shadow curse eats away at anyone who travels through it before they join the armies of undead.
Shadowheart is traveling through this land with her companions, Gale, Karlach, and Astarion. They’re using lanterns to keep the shadows at bay, but in the darker places, even that doesn’t work. But Shadowheart seems less affected by the others.
“The shadow curse… it doesn’t seem to affect me like it does others. Not as badly, at least.” Shadowheart’s voice sounds pleased. “Do you know what this means? Lady Shar is protecting me, while others are left to face her wrath.” She’s touched by this, like this is an unexpected blessing, a protection she didn’t think she’d be granted, but is now taking as proof of something she hadn’t thought she’d ever see proof of. “...She loves me. She must do.”
She notices the others slightly unimpressed, and adds - “Don’t give me that look. It’s a good thing I’m resistant to the shadows. I can help all of you.” And then more to herself - “Lady Shar wouldn’t bless me like this for no reason. There must be something she wants of me.”
The journey leads you deeper into these cursed lands. Despite Shadowheart’s claim of receiving a blessing, this is an awful place, and even she seems to be feeling it. Eventually, they come to a road, and find a destroyed caravan, bodies strewn all over the place. Men, women, children, all horned and colorful people, tieflings, lying murdered in the road, attacked. Though a few were armed, and though one or two of the bandits who killed them lie dead as well, most were refugees, not warriors.
(Memories on the mirrors on the other side of the wall. A party, in a serene grove, at night. A celebration in honor of Shadowheart and her friends. Tieflings drinking, dancing, toasting to them for helping save them and find a safe path to Baldur’s Gate. Many of the dead were among those remembered from the party, though some notable faces are missing.)
The sight is horrible, but the next turn through the mirrors leads to something else. An inn, easily visible through the darkness, as it is shrouded in an enormous bubble of light, blinding and looking like the surface of the moon. Inside the spell of protection, life can thrive and the shadows are banished. And Shadowheart and her friends find most of the remaining survivors of the tiefling caravan there, having been given shelter by the inn’s owner, a cleric named Isobel.
The reunion with the survivors is mixed. It’s a happy thing, that they survived and found shelter, but there’s no way to travel ahead, many of their party were killed, and many more are missing. Some of the children beg them to go find one of their friends who is being held captive; others as after missing loved ones and family members, but there’s no way to guarantee they can be saved or are even still alive.
Shadowheart goes upstairs with the others and meets Isobel. The conversation is brief, and tense, but perhaps there’s more there, if you linger and peer more deeply into the mirrors.
Isobel is at work renewing the ritual that protects this inn. It’s a beautiful thing, like summoning moonlight in her hands and letting it spread out across the area. She turns, and takes the party in.
“I didn’t realize I had an audience.” Her gaze falls on Shadowheart. “And a Sharran one, at that. Frankly, I’m surprised you’re willing to help us. Your kind aren’t known for their decency, particularly when a Sharran curse is our greatest obstacle.” She sighs. “But if you are who I think you are, I’d be a fool to reject your help.”
“I won’t be spoken to like that by a Selǔnite,” Shadowheart snaps back at her.
In an adjacent mirror, the shadow of Moonrise Towers, the enemy occupying it. An obstacle that Shadowheart and her friends must face, and an enemy of Isobel and all of the people taking refuge in this inn. For reasons unknown to you, the man controlling Moonrise Towers wants Isobel brought to him a prisoner, but if Isobel leaves this place, or falls, every last person inside the inn will fall to the shadow curse and die. She needs Shadowheart’s help, but Shadowheart has come here seeking help from her, as well.
“We’ve both got a bitter pill to swallow,” Isobel says, conciliatory. “When this is over, we can spit it back out. But for now, you’ll be needing a protection spell, won’t you?” the woman adds. “I see Shar has offered you protection already, but no harm from some extra. Even from a Selǔnite.”
Shadowheart agrees, and Isobel casts her spell, but as the magic washes over her, she clasps her hand in pain. The feeling of a spell using Selûne’s magic triggers pain from the old wound on her hand, reminding her that making peace this way is not accepted.
“Imagine being compelled to hide a shrine in a land that is utterly hostile to you and your goddess,” Shadowheart says, after they leave Isobel’s chambers. “Utter pig-headedness.”
“Hmm,” Gale says. “Tenacity might be a kinder word for it?”
“I’ll leave the kinder words to the softer hearts,” Shadowheart says.
Even so, without questioning it, Shadowheart and her friends defend the inn when forces from Moonrise Towers attack, keep them from taking Isobel or hurting her, so that Selûne’s protection can remain in place for a little longer.
There are more pathways, leading ahead, all lit by the glow of that protective moonlit spell. A story of a war between two goddesses, one that tends to use the lives of mortals as chess pieces, but more, too, some sort of deeper conflict within Shadowheart, one she doesn’t seem to understand herself. You can explore deeper, but there’s also a way out, back out of the hall of mirrors.
[ there is a grim look on eupha's face as she observes the chilling effects of the shadow curse, the bodies of the tiefling refugees... but her expression lightens a little as she sees the glimmer of hope of that inn... ]
That woman is a Selǔnite? It seems fortunate that you were able to aid her.
[ while i, pazu, shake and think about how i had to reload after accidentally badending that sequence...
it looks like there may be more, but... she stops to consider shadowheart's reaction. ]
[she just keeps breaking sanctuary... isobel get it together...
shadowheart seems slightly unfocused; it's not too difficult a memory, and it's not too difficult to understand why she felt the way she felt. she cared about the people in that inn, so of course she wouldn't want it to fall.
but there's something else here that she's drawn to, even if she's not sure why. something about isobel.]
...I had to help her. She was the only one to be able to protect that many people from the darkness.
...These were once Selûnite lands, but Lady Shar convinced its ruler, Ketheric Thorne, to change allegiances, to worship her instead. There was a battle for the realm, and it was ended when Thorne released Shar's power to destroy his enemies and reconquer it.
[of course, he reconquered it as a barren wasteland.]
And then he changed allegiances once more, to another god who promised him even more than Shar was offering. Such fickleness in faith seldom ends well, does it?
[a little sad at that. maybe she shouldn't be, but she doesn't really try to fight it.]
Shar would want to destroy it, because it belonged to Selûne. My understanding is that he had a daughter who died, and in his grief he turned to Lady Shar. There may not be sense in it at all, only Lady Shar's will.
[that's sort of what sharran faith is about, though.]
He is not a good man. As I said, he even abandoned Lady Shar. Found a God who would promise to resurrect the girl, though in what state she would be - some undead thrall - I do not know.
[nah man it's just isobel.]
Whether I return to the living or not, I know my companions will see him defeated and his grip on the land destroyed. I only - [she trails off a bit. as silly as it is, she wants to know what happened to the inn.] I hope they find everyone who was missing.
[ oh nooo it would be so terrible if we happened to blunder into another memory... so here we go.
Accompanied by near-strangers, you make your way through the temple. Past the halls of weathered stone, you pass through a gray-walled jungle shrouded in vines and grass and bits of debris that litter the floor, following a path on the ground where footsteps have worn away the foliage. This, you know, is the path that other priestesses have walked on their pilgrimages.
At last, the final door is in sight. Beyond it is the altar where the Dragon God should lie dormant in its vessel. Here, you will perform the ritual. You will take the vessel, release the dragon from it, and offer your very life to it.
Once the sacrifice is complete, the village will be saved. However...
( ... also, the little floating particles in the air? You can 100% see them. They are everywhere. ) ]
[woooooooow eupha.... maybe she shouldn't watch the whole thing to the end, but it's very cool.
beautiful to see her confront the lie, the ruin of her entire life's purpose, but find meaning in deciding to continue to live.
it's a different journey than her own. they both put their faith in someone who let them down, but she doubts she will find a version of whatever shar is that's worth continuing to believe in, that lets her have a purpose other than...tragedy, death, just as eupha's very sexy friend said.]
I realize that I am younger than you, and we may end up walking different paths, but if you would ever like someone to talk to about this, even if it is simply to speak of anxieties and frustrations, my door is open.
[she is at the hospital! her legs are not great, so she is very much laid up in bed. but she has had her wounds tended to. there's a bruise blooming on her face and scrapes, but otherwise nothing obviously visible besides what's been banaged on her body.
her emotional state isn't great, though. tired and sad and distressed, a little confused, a little angry, but some self protective guardedness back in place.]
That's sweet of you. And, yes, actually. I could probably use a change of clothes.
[since her clothing is both currently absolutely blood soaked and also tight leather, so not great for bandages. but we can handwave eupha getting something for her if you'd like.]
and she comes back! with something that fits a little loose so it's not chafing her wounds, without being too far off the mark for her style. or you can dress her up hideous and say it's eupha's fault ig if you really want to ]
[there's a little hesitation - whether she should leave this to fidelio, whether she should obscure it altogether - but she quickly decides there's no point.]
The three of us were children together. [it felt real, like their real lives.] We were being stalked by this... malevolent entity that wanted to eat children, and no one would listen. And Basilio was taken by the thing, so we went to try and fight it.
But we failed. And then for the rest, we were ourselves again, but we had fallen under its spell in some way.
[ there is a distant, hollow feeling, to think of what might have happened to basilio. and for fidelio to have to face that... but she does not interrupt. she just swallows and nods. ]
[well she is at the corgi train god damn it. the owlbear cub is here too. you would think having a cub that is as big as a large dog but burly with bear claws and a beak would be a bad fit for a bunch of cute dogs, but the cub seems used to dogs; he basically plays with them like he's in a precious documentary about a baby lion cub who was socialized by a domestic dog, like he has dog behaviors and stuff. it's very cute.
shadowheart is also here, petting a couple little corgis.]
Well, slow down, slow down. Don't be jealous, there is enough petting to go around for everyone.
[she seems like, despite everything, she's in a lighter mood. she'll wave at her.]
Would you come over here? I don't seem to have enough hands for them.
We found him. The area I've been traveling in has a lot of conflict. His owner was killed by bandits and left him on his own. He started following our camp.
she's sitting upright in bed, her left arm bandaged and her face slightly flushed. there's a computer keyboard next to her for some reason, which she is studying somewhat absently. ]
Then I'll believe you. [...] You really are incredible, you know. [she never messaged her to be like sorry for beefing with you about who could give speeches to jiaoqiu because that would be weird when she just came back from cyoa, but. it should be said. the beef is cancelled.]
... Yes, I think so too. Between this, and the letters, and the visions, I think that we are finding more and more ways to cross whatever it is that divides us.
We spent some time together, separated from the others... but we did not remember our true selves, so it was not possible to discuss any matters of Heaven...
[ and she'll leave and come back!! probably walks out to see the third cyoa group on the way back... and she also ditches her blood-stained cloak while she's at it. returns with some clothes that are hopefully on the loose/comfy side but are an improvement over the robes. ]
This is ridiculous. If it can't win by having us kill one another I suppose it might as well leave us all broken and bleeding so we can't help with trials.
I know. And while I do not know if I trust that nothing will go wrong, it is more the idea of ending things and continuing on. Rather than the specifics of what might await after.
I'm glad I met you, too. I imagine you will probably go on to do wonderful things, and I think, trying to find a purpose for myself, I will always think of you.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
saturday zero
also, the owlbear cub is playing in the foliage nearby, doing cute things like hunting the lack of animals that are here.
shadowheart waves.]
Oh, hello. It's not quite scalding enough to distract, but it's pleasant.
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That's good to hear. Is it all right if I join you?
[ ... owlbear cub!!!! ]
Is that a friend of yours?
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By all means.
[the cub pokes his head up and shrieks a little.]
In a sense. The little troublemaker appeared here along with my belongings. I could not tell you why. He is no pet, but I suppose it's not bad to have very feathery company.
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What sort of animal is he? I've never seen anything like him.
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[ Gazing at the owlbear cub with awe and respect. ]
Perhaps you have been blessed, to have such an incredible creature follow you here.
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[she laughs a little.]
They're fairly intimidating in the wild, but this one...we fed it a few too many times, that's all. I don't know why it came here with me.
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Er, I don't suppose you might have died in a way where the owlbear was... taken out with you?
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[or rather, bas brought it up.]
But he wasn't anywhere near - he would have been back at our camp. Maybe the foolish little thing just wandered off coincidentally, and fell to the shadow curse.
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... What is this shadow curse you speak of?
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The lands I was recently travelling in were inflicted with a curse. A veil of darkness, so thick no life can survive in it without succumbing. Even animals wander off into the darkness and fall, afflicted, and are raised again as malevolent shadows.
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[ The thought of it might give her a chill, if not for the cozy warmth of the spring. ]
Why risk such peril?
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[ she looks uncertain for a moment, but then her expression brightens. ]
Ah! So that is why she can protect you from the shadows!
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[also because she caused the curse. but that doesn't need to be mentioned.]
There's no need to fear the dark. Sometimes the illusion of safety in the daylight is nothing more than an illusion.
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I've always been interested in learning more about faiths other than my own. I've not had many opportunities before now. Yours sounds quite different from both mine and Sanctism.
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[as a god?]
That's unusual, though I have heard stories.
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Something similar happened to our own protector, though we did not realize for many years...
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[ ??? ]
No, I wondered if humans were doing the infecting...
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[uhhhhh.]
What are you, then? So you know, I'm half-human. Though I have no memory of my human parent.
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[ UHHHH. ]
... I apologize, but what do you mean by human?
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[ LETS OUT A BREATH. ]
You mean elda.
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[ ?? ]
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Week 0, Wednesday
Oh, Miss Shadowheart! Good evening. Were you able to decorate your room to your liking?
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Eventually, I was able to find some things I liked. I'm quite pleased with it, really.
[she seems pretty happy.]
I haven't had a room I was able to decorate myself before.
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I'm sure God would approve of our choices. Especially Ellie's. She has such a good eye for finding lovely things.
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It would be nice if we could find some nice plants and books, though...
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[ the smell of cheap plastic. but she doesn't know what that is. ]
Perhaps if we ask, the god of this place will grant us a garden.
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I would so love a garden. Even if the ordinary plants had simply not been destroyed, I would be satisfied.
week 1; monday
But spiders don't have bones!
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Could it be some strange new species?
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[ she has not realized it's fake. ]
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I suppose they have not done so yet, but they don't look friendly.
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Though, I wonder what has caused them to come to such a state. Perhaps they were picked clean by a predator, or the soft tissue harvested for food, or made as an offering?
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[ confused. ]
Thank you?
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[cute.]
Would you like to join me and explore a bit? Be quite careful what you eat, lest you wish us to have to find you a wig as well.
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You mean to say that you were under a spell?
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[eupha... your taste...]
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[actually yes need, it's insulting to think she'd fall in love with anders.]
I simply wish to prevent the same fate from befalling others.
week 1; friday
...I wish I could say I was surprised it happened again, but two?
[even if her tone is a bit glib, she does look troubled, frowning at eupha.]
How are you feeling?
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I had hoped that such tragedies would not repeat, but... it did seem as though something, or someone, is enabling them.
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[though the apples still don't explain the week before.]
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Was the temptation really so great? Even knowing that in taking a life, one risks losing their own chance at redemption...?
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... So we are. After all of the merriment of this past week, I...
Perhaps I have been naive.
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I don't know about naive. It's just better not to forget.
week 2; monday
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shadowheart is hanging out on the edge of the dark forest, sitting at the base of a tree. she startles a little when she sees eupha.]
...Your helmet. It surprised me.
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[ she'll come over to greet her, though. the warmth of her tone and mannerisms are no different from usual. ]
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No, no. It's striking. I simply wasn't expecting it. May I ask what it is?
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Many people wear theirs all the time, though I usually only wear mine for ceremonies.
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What is a Dark Justiciar?
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[she grimaces a little, like she's uncertain of something.]
Somehow I forgot.
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How does one prove oneself?
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[ there's a thoughtful pause. her tone is still one of sincere curiosity, with an absence of shock or concern about this. ]
So it must be a person of higher rank?
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It sounds quite different from our rite of sacrifice.
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Some believe that any life may suffice, but tradition dictates that this is the duty of the priestess.
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[to just be fed to a dragon?]
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It's beautiful, to be willing to give up everything of yourself to your faith. Most lack that strength.
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I am just glad I was able to help my people in a way that no one else could.
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week 2; thursday
I can't believe it's happened again.
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I have faith that Basilio can handle danger of all kinds, but to see that even he came back in such a state... I fear what may yet be in store for us.
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[she frowns, though, remembering something.]
...I suspect I said some rather odd things to you, earlier this week.
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Oh... you did?
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All of that Dark Justiciar, sacrifice a Selûnite nonsense. That is how it works, but I'm not - I don't sacrifice people.
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... I see. Did you choose a different path, then, than that of a Dark Justiciar?
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These "Selûnites" are people who follow a god in opposition to yours, correct?
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[ it sounds like she won't sacrifice them, at least, but eupha knows how ugly religious rivalries can get... ]
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Theoretically, Sharrans are tasked with fighting Selûnites wherever we find them, yes. But the ones I've met, I've - not gotten along with, but I haven't felt any desire to fight them, so I simply haven't.
[she is just such a bad sharran.]
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[even if it's supposed to be?]
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Very much so.
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To be honest, I've been rethinking my loyalty recently.
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I would not have expected that... What brought this on?
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You mentioned your duty as a priestess, didn't you? [and at the time, she said that was noble, but.] Have you ever wondered whether it's really right for your faith to have to cost so much?
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For most of my life, I didn't question it. The more the people around me suffered, the more I felt the weight of that responsibility, and could think of little else. And as I reflected on my own inaction during those times of struggle, I began to think of sacrifice as not just a path of salvation for them, but of atonement for myself.
But... I too had a crisis of faith quite recently.
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Do you want to tell me about it?
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[ a small smile. ]
From early childhood, I knew I would one day give my life in sacrifice. And when that day came, I went to the Dragon Temple... My brother was supposed to accompany me, but we were attacked by monsters, and he was wounded.
I was escorted instead by a group of outsiders. As we made our way to the altar, they had so many questions, and there were some I could not answer...
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Not until I reached the altar, and saw that what awaited me there was not my god.
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It attached itself to the Dragon God, and seemed to control it, as a parasite would. And all this time, it was the human that devoured the sacrifices sent to it.
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It deceived you. Took advantage of your beliefs.
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It did.
When I realized, I despaired. I was being denied my very purpose in life.
But... in that moment, I heard a voice in my head, imploring me to choose a path. And I realized that there was yet more that I could put my faith into, to turn it into my strength once again.
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...I'm glad that you found another way. Something else to believe in.
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If you also find yourself questioning the path that you are on, I think it is a good thing to explore it. A blind faith is not a stronger faith, but quite the opposite.
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[ other sharrans? or shar herself...? ]
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I'm just not so sure that's true.
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That must be difficult, if you cannot even know the reason why.
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It's harder to trust anything, but that's sometimes the point - to take things on faith. But it's also quite possible the point is to make sure I don't know anything that might convince me not to have it.
week 3; monday
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That woman is a Selǔnite? It seems fortunate that you were able to aid her.
[ while i, pazu, shake and think about how i had to reload after accidentally badending that sequence...
it looks like there may be more, but... she stops to consider shadowheart's reaction. ]
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shadowheart seems slightly unfocused; it's not too difficult a memory, and it's not too difficult to understand why she felt the way she felt. she cared about the people in that inn, so of course she wouldn't want it to fall.
but there's something else here that she's drawn to, even if she's not sure why. something about isobel.]
...I had to help her. She was the only one to be able to protect that many people from the darkness.
[the darkness Shar had caused.]
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...These were once Selûnite lands, but Lady Shar convinced its ruler, Ketheric Thorne, to change allegiances, to worship her instead. There was a battle for the realm, and it was ended when Thorne released Shar's power to destroy his enemies and reconquer it.
[of course, he reconquered it as a barren wasteland.]
And then he changed allegiances once more, to another god who promised him even more than Shar was offering. Such fickleness in faith seldom ends well, does it?
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What meaning is there in ruling over a land if you render it lifeless in the process?
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[a little sad at that. maybe she shouldn't be, but she doesn't really try to fight it.]
Shar would want to destroy it, because it belonged to Selûne. My understanding is that he had a daughter who died, and in his grief he turned to Lady Shar. There may not be sense in it at all, only Lady Shar's will.
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That's not really her way. People come to her to take away their pain, but she seldom gives them a reason for happiness.
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He is not a good man. As I said, he even abandoned Lady Shar. Found a God who would promise to resurrect the girl, though in what state she would be - some undead thrall - I do not know.
[nah man it's just isobel.]
Whether I return to the living or not, I know my companions will see him defeated and his grip on the land destroyed. I only - [she trails off a bit. as silly as it is, she wants to know what happened to the inn.] I hope they find everyone who was missing.
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And for you to return, as well.
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[except oops maybe they accidentally wander through eupha’s memory.]
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[ oh nooo it would be so terrible if we happened to blunder into another memory... so here we go.
At last, the final door is in sight. Beyond it is the altar where the Dragon God should lie dormant in its vessel. Here, you will perform the ritual. You will take the vessel, release the dragon from it, and offer your very life to it.
Once the sacrifice is complete, the village will be saved. However...
( ... also, the little floating particles in the air? You can 100% see them. They are everywhere. ) ]
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beautiful to see her confront the lie, the ruin of her entire life's purpose, but find meaning in deciding to continue to live.
it's a different journey than her own. they both put their faith in someone who let them down, but she doubts she will find a version of whatever shar is that's worth continuing to believe in, that lets her have a purpose other than...tragedy, death, just as eupha's very sexy friend said.]
...I'm glad to know it ended that way.
[even if she died eventually.]
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it's strange to watch all of that from an outside perspective... but she manages a smile. ]
... I am, too. I never would have thought I had it in me.
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[...]
I'm rather glad you didn't die there. But I do understand. Changing from one's purpose isn't easy.
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[ except that she died anyway ]
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[she can understand that very well.]
But I like the purpose you chose for yourself.
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Are you still thinking about what your purpose should be?
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[she'll reluctantly agree to that.]
But I think you understand... it's frightening all the same, not to know what awaits, even if what you thought would await was perilous.
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I realize that I am younger than you, and we may end up walking different paths, but if you would ever like someone to talk to about this, even if it is simply to speak of anxieties and frustrations, my door is open.
[ even more so now that her roommate is dead ig ]
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You are younger, but I doubt that makes you less wise. Perhaps quite to the contrary. I would be happy to speak with you.
Week 3, Saturday
I was about to make some tea. Would you like some?
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[t... but she'll nod. the vibes are sort of rancid, but she'll try to calm herself a bit.]
I would take some.
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ok. she brews some lavender tea and brings it out for them. ]
I suppose we knew it would not get easier, but...
[ a sympathetic look at her and the perceived vibes. ]
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[agreeing. but sighing, heavily.]
Are you alright?
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But... I will be okay. We will need to move forward from this.
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[because oooh. fuck that guy.]
I don't see how we move forward with it half-unsolved. And the one who killed Zhongli was the one possessed.
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If what Anders said was correct, then the culprit's condition may worsen... is that right?
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[she's worried about it, a bit.]
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week 4; wednesday
That was fun, wasn't it?
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Much more of a formal affair, but with pleasant company.
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What was your favourite part of the night?
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[it was sweet.]
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It seems that ballroom dancing is a little much for me, but... it was nice, wasn't it?
Week 4, Thursday
Is there anything I can get you?
[ she'll offer, as she tries to see how she's looking. ]
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her emotional state isn't great, though. tired and sad and distressed, a little confused, a little angry, but some self protective guardedness back in place.]
That's sweet of you. And, yes, actually. I could probably use a change of clothes.
[since her clothing is both currently absolutely blood soaked and also tight leather, so not great for bandages. but we can handwave eupha getting something for her if you'd like.]
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[ she'll go!
and she comes back! with something that fits a little loose so it's not chafing her wounds, without being too far off the mark for her style. or you can dress her up hideous and say it's eupha's fault ig if you really want to ]
Here. Do you need a hand with changing?
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[she'll accept the help. i feel like it's just something pretty simple i won't look up a fit check right now.]
Is Del alright? Have you been with him?
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[ a nod. more feelings of worry start to swell up, but they are smothered. ]
His wounds have been treated, and he's calmed down a bit. He is going to be all right.
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May I ask what happened, back there?
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The three of us were children together. [it felt real, like their real lives.] We were being stalked by this... malevolent entity that wanted to eat children, and no one would listen. And Basilio was taken by the thing, so we went to try and fight it.
But we failed. And then for the rest, we were ourselves again, but we had fallen under its spell in some way.
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Its spell...?
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[that's the most explicitly she wants to spell it out, though.]
But I don't think that part happened to Fidelio - he managed to resist, bring some to safety.
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That is some relief, to know that he managed such a thing.
week 5; monday
shadowheart is also here, petting a couple little corgis.]
Well, slow down, slow down. Don't be jealous, there is enough petting to go around for everyone.
[she seems like, despite everything, she's in a lighter mood. she'll wave at her.]
Would you come over here? I don't seem to have enough hands for them.
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I would be very happy to!
[ yay!!! she'll come over to pet the corgis. one comes right over and starts rolling around to show its belly. ]
Your owlbear friend is quite good with them.
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[picking up a corgi to press her face into him.]
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[ giving belly rubs to one corgi. ]
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I have heard that animals are drawn to those with good hearts. Perhaps that is why so many started to follow your camp?
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O-oh. Well. There are some good hearted people in my camp, yes.
week 5; thursday
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she's sitting upright in bed, her left arm bandaged and her face slightly flushed. there's a computer keyboard next to her for some reason, which she is studying somewhat absently. ]
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[a relieved sigh.]
Are you alright?
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[ looking over with a smile. ]
I am, yes. I have had the most confusing experience of my life, if not multiple lifetimes, but... it was not all so terrible, I think.
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Not terrible? That would be a first for these.
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[ she looks like she hadn't really thought about that, herself. ]
I suppose that keeping a calm mind is something I have always been good at, no matter the circumstances. I do not think it is an act...
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Then I'll believe you. [...] You really are incredible, you know. [she never messaged her to be like sorry for beefing with you about who could give speeches to jiaoqiu because that would be weird when she just came back from cyoa, but. it should be said. the beef is cancelled.]
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...Oh.
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Week 6, Thursday
... Would you like me to retrieve some clean clothes again?
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That's kind of you. I do hate this outfit.
[she's still in her ugly robes.]
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Of course.
[ and she'll leave and come back!! probably walks out to see the third cyoa group on the way back... and she also ditches her blood-stained cloak while she's at it. returns with some clothes that are hopefully on the loose/comfy side but are an improvement over the robes. ]
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Thank you very much. I suppose there was a second group? Richie was in it, I know.
[her hopital phone tags.]
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Yes, there was... It was him and Taair.
[ Should I tell her it was actually three groups...? ]
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[oh wait...]
I saw Koharu out the window, dressed up oddly, with Siffin... I assumed they were just taking a walk.
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This is ridiculous. If it can't win by having us kill one another I suppose it might as well leave us all broken and bleeding so we can't help with trials.
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[ but she turns her attention to shadowheart. ]
How bad are your wounds?
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[she's just been waiting to see if anyone is, like, dying.]
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I have not seen such an item myself, but I heard mention of it before... Will you use it now, then?
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[she will take out a paste and show it to her.]
I need to apply it, and it will then take some time before it heals me, but at the least I will not die.
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[ How severe is that wound...?
Her gaze drifts to Shadowheart's stomach. ]
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[it was a bad wound!]
A few days, and it should be better.
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I... I see.
Please let me know should you need anything else. It seems you really should not try to move around for some time...
week 7; friday
How are you feeling? [did she even drink.]
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I'm quite well, thank you! How are you?
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[she's also bright-eyed, though not necessarily energetic.]
Feeling a little too aware of the end in sight.
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Yes, I suppose Judgment Day may be the last time we will all be together.
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While things may look unstable, the situation still seems to be in our favour. The Entity and their collaborator are contained, after all...
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If we do not get the chance to say so after tomorrow... I would like to say that I am glad that I met you, Shadowheart.
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I'm glad I met you, too. I imagine you will probably go on to do wonderful things, and I think, trying to find a purpose for myself, I will always think of you.
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[ smiling back. ]