and every broken heart will mend

[scourgingstars]

[Not too long after the trial, a note found its way under everyone's doors, all of them written in the same neat handwriting that had been asking after a ring not that long ago.]

If any of you would prefer not to be left alone after all of that, I propose we meet in the dining hall. Nari has taken up cooking at the moment, and should anyone wish to talk I will be present regardless of whether or not the group at large should choose to join us.

-Ardyn

[True to his word, Ardyn was at a smaller table in the dining hall with an untouched cup of coffee in front of him; lost in thought leaning his head on one hand as the other turned a silver coin over between his fingers.]

[King in an empty hall, and savior of nothing. All that effort to prevent bloodshed, and it had come down to a situation designed to force their hand from the beginning.]

Comments

[myocordial]

Your father? [Hm...] Well, I suppose I understand. Painful things are hard to talk about. I'm sure this isn't how you ever wanted this to come up, either.

...How... long ago was it?

[brokencode]

I... would have preferred it not coming up at all. I didn't ever want people to truly know how unstable I was.

[She offered him a half-hearted shrug.]

Six years? It is... hard to say. I barely remember anything that followed. It was a terrifying experience for someone so young. I blocked a lot of things out.

[myocordial]

It's easier to keep such things buried, hm. Yes, I understand that. I'm sorry it did come to light.

Ah... right... Sometimes I forget that's how that works with humans... [He's never been a child, really, so blocking out a trauma in that way is foreign to him.] But that makes sense. Still, you haven't spoken about it in all that time?

[brokencode]

No. It... would upset my Dad, like I said. And... sometimes he has a temper.

[myocordial]

Does he?

...He's mentioned in your profile a few times, isn't he?

[Both in likes and dislikes...]

[brokencode]

He only wants what is best for me. I am all he has left, and I think it hurts him to remember that. Besides, he is working very hard to scratch out a better life for us. The least I can do is not bring back bad memories.

[myocordial]

That still seems... [He falters a little.] Well, I don't know much about human relationships, so I am probably just out of my depth. If you say this is how it should be, then I'll believe that.

[brokencode]

... I know he isn't perfect. But he is all I have. I can't... condemn him for what he does.

[myocordial]

Well. He is your father, so only you can really make that judgement.

But I hope that he won't stay all that you have.

[Please have more better people in your life, Angel.]

[brokencode]

I... hope so, too.

[Hope, but didn't believe it would come to pass. How could she make friends from isolation, after all?]

[myocordial]

That actually is... another reason I came. [Sort of.] During the trial, you mentioned that Mai Kawasumi was your first friend here, yes?

[He hates bringing that up when everyone is still shaken from what they just saw, but...]

[brokencode]

[Angel nodded once. This was hardly an improvement in their conversation subjects.]

We talked a fair few times, in those first few days. She even checked on me after the motives last week. Why do you ask?

[myocordial]

I didn't know it until... everything came to light, but. It seems I received something of hers.

[He holds up the bunny headband he received from the dumbwaiter, days ago. He hadn't given it much thought, like many of the other objects he received. Now, of course, he realizes its significance.]

I don't know if... [...] Well, I didn't know if I should keep it or not. I thought perhaps one of her friends might want it.

[brokencode]

Oh.

[That was... about all Angel could manage for the time being. Instead, she stared at the headband, rather dumbfounded. After a moment of hesitation, though, the siren took it into her hands. She turned it over a few times, before pulling it to her chest.]

I don't... know that I deserve this. But I appreciate it all the same. Thank you, Heart.