log; for better or for worse

[contemptibility]

[It should be clear to Minato that something's very, very wrong. For starters, while Tiir hadn't been clear on the details beyond that their "king" was coming, Minato would've been informed that today was going to be an important day.

And for the past while, he's been unable to move. That might be just a bit off.

Then, as suddenly as it happened, Minato's body is freed. Should he seek any of the God's Eyes bearers, he'll find that they're just as confused as him. Sooner or later, though, Tiir, approaches, a slight smile on his face.]

Ah, Minato. We'll be moving again. It'll be a bit of a long trip, so get ready.

[Well, not that they've really had anything but "long trips", running from place to place in order to avoid humans.

However...]

... With any luck—though I'm loathe to leave this to something as fickle as fortune—this should be the last time we'll have to move like this.

[Again, he offers Minato a reassuring smile.

... Kindly ignore the fact that there's blood on him, he looks utterly exhausted, or that his eyes are red as if he's been crying (which is something Tiir does not do)—]

Comments

[messianic]

["You are truly one of us"... Huh. Words he really never thought he would ever hear from Tiir. It's funny, how much change can happen, even in such a short period of time.

But Minato just smiles a little at that, touched.]

I could never feel out of place with my family.

[And as far as he's concerned, they are all his family now. Which is also why it's so very important that he protects them all.

Though he doesn't miss that melancholic look...]

...And no matter what happens, we'll always all be family.

[contemptibility]

Of course. That will never change.

[He will never be like those humans who turned on those they once loved. He will never think less of Ene for what she is—human or not.

... Things truly are changing, faster than he thought they would be.

And then, suddenly, without Tiir meaning to, his eyes fill up with tears.]

Ah...

[messianic]

[...ah.

Despite everything he's seen them go through, Minato has never seen Tiir cry. It's peculiar, but...Tiir has always tried so hard to be the strong one for everyone else. Minato can understand that.

And yet, here he is, eyes full of tears, and Minato moves automatically, reaching for Tiir's hands, if only to have...that point of connection, and of touch.]

Tiir...? What is it?

[He thinks, by now, with family--he can drop the honorifics, even if Tiir doesn't know the significance.]

[contemptibility]

Ah, no, it's nothing...

[Except perhaps it isn't, but... Honestly, what is he doing, crying? He thought this had passed before he left that room with Ene (Ene).

He removes one of his hands from Minato's, wiping away at his tears with his sleeve.]

... Well, this is embarrassing.

[messianic]

...It's not.

[Minato just shakes his head, tilting his head and looking at Tiir with quite a bit of concern.]

Isn't it...only natural? When something happened to the person who matters most to you?

[He knows something happened to Ene, with all of the hints Tiir has been dropping--and well, if anything had happened to SEES, Minato would have been devastated himself.]

I won't think less of you for feeling...

[contemptibility]

No, it truly is embarrassing... There's no reason to cry anymore.

[He lets out a light... laugh? Sigh?]

Ene is fine. If anything, she may be better off than she was before...

[She's alive—so shouldn't he be relieved above all else? Or grateful towards Lieral? And he certainly is both, for he would rather have Ene like this than not at all. Even if Ene's memories—the years they spent by each other's side—are gone, something more precious was given in return.

... And as much as Tiir dislikes the idea of losing their 'eyes', he knows that perhaps Ene will be happier like this. No longer blind, no longer confined to the darkness, no longer dying. She can't guide them anymore, but she no longer has to. That burden has been taken from her and given to him.]

So there... really is no reason to be crying.

[messianic]

[...it takes Minato a moment to process that...and then he just wraps his arms around Tiir again. Maybe hugs lose their meaning after too many of them.

And yet...he feels like with Tiir, that could never be the case. The fact that he can be this close, can wrap his arms around his family like this...isn't that enough, every time?]

I'm glad that Ene-san is alright.

[That's for certain--but also not what he meant. Instead--]

But isn't the fact that "you're sad" enough of a reason...?

[contemptibility]

[To be honest, it's usually Tiir initiating the hugs—for their wounded, broken friends who need them far more than he does.

And so, he still hasn't quite gotten used to Minato's.]

I don't have any reason to be sad either.

[messianic]

[Minato is pretty determined, though--and so he doesn't move, sighing quietly.]

Whether or not you have a reason...are you?

[He doesn't really care for the nuances, if Tiir is sad--and he rather thinks he is.]

[contemptibility]

[There's a pause, as Tiir appears to mull over this for a moment, before he smiles wryly.]

I haven't had time to think about how I feel.

[messianic]

[And Minato nods quietly at that, finally pulling away to look at Tiir quietly.]

...That's fine then. But if you ever need anything...or if you do decide that you're sad...I'll be here. I promise.