( video | un: revanche )

[nilhilistic]

[ there is a man with very pale hair and red eyes, addressing the network stiffly. ]

Greetings. I am a new arrival to this world. I will assist to the best of my ability.

However, I must ask . . . is it true that we must be . . . touching? What does that mean? What level of touch is acceptable?

Are there tiers of touch? Surely, someone must have worked out a system.

Comments

[tireurdelite]

You thought that people wouldn't want to hold your hand. But it's nice.

[nilhilistic]

[ he doesn't know what to say to that. he's not nice. there is no well of compassion, no deep seated urge for empathy. he is a worthless king of an empty throne. ]

Hm. Perhaps.

[tireurdelite]

...I'm sorry, have I made it awkward? I do that all the time...

[Clearly he is the awkward one and Rafal is fine.]

[nilhilistic]

Yes.

[ thanks, rafal. ]

But it is not your fault entirely. And your intentions are . . . pure.

[tireurdelite]

[Visibly winces, and is about to apologize again when Rafal goes on. -oh, okay.]

Well - well, the most important thing is you not turning into a statue. Awkwardness might be the price to pay.

[nilhilistic]

Oh?

You don't think I could have managed a hand hold with someone?

[ he is teasing, a little. it's not wrong to believe that. rafal is not the most personable. ]

[tireurdelite]

Th-that's not what I meant to imply! Of course you could have found someone besides me, it's just - I'm reassured since I know for certain you'll be fine for a while?

[Nailed it.]

[nilhilistic]

. . . You are a strange one, Prince Alcryst.

But not unwelcome, I suppose.

[tireurdelite]

I've been called much worse, so that's basically a compliment.

[nilhilistic]

If you wish to see it as such, I will not stop you.

[tireurdelite]

Thank you very much.

[A compliment he can actually accept even.]

[nilhilistic]

Hm. You are welcome, I suppose.

[tireurdelite]

...I wish that I could remember you. I've thought that perhaps - since there are two of Elyos that we're from, there might be three or more.

[So he may not have actually met Rafal.]

[nilhilistic]

A strange wish. I don't think the second prince I knew would have wanted that. In fact, I doubt there is anyone in any world who would.

[tireurdelite]

Really? You're a little standoffish, but that's understandable, and no reason people shouldn't know you.

[nilhilistic]

Perhaps when you remember, you'll think differently.

[tireurdelite]

I can't rule that out.

[...of course it would be easier if Rafal would just tell him what he's missing, but he's not going to do that, is he.]

[nilhilistic]

Do you want to know?

[ rafal is nothing if not an excellent self-saboteur. ]

[tireurdelite]

If you're willing to tell me?

[nilhilistic]

I see no reason to hide the truth.

In the other Elyos, after the war, I destroyed the world.

[tireurdelite]

[Well, that's not what he expected. It's something too large for him to properly internalize it, the notion of a world gone because of one person. This person.]

-Why?

[nilhilistic]

I was Lord Sombron's heir. I needed to prove my strength and power.

[tireurdelite]

...But, this was after the war. Was Sombron not defeated, in your world?

[You can't prove yourself to someone who is dead.]

[nilhilistic]

He was.

That does not change the fact that he is my father.

[tireurdelite]

[Alcryst understands that his father loved him and was proud of him, no matter what Alcryst thought of himself. If his father was someone like Sombron... he would have turned out to be a different person, if he survived in the first place.]

I see. ...I'm sorry.