Yes, I'll meet you coming back when the universe has expanded

[azumods]

[Mars' chains had faded away as soon as the chains on Palkia had shattered, that unnatural red glow leaving her eyes; she doesn't stumble, to her credit, and seems to be trying to resist the urge to flinch or anything, but she's...not precisely looking too hot, either. Not like she's going to faint or anything, just like she's been through A Lot.

Jupiter is staying near her for the time being; ultimately, she's the one that addresses you.]

You guys can stay here if you want. Or don't, I don't care enough to insist. But we've got food and beds that probably beat the Center's, at least.

We'll be around, either way. Since I doubt you guys are just going to leave us alone after all that. Do what you want.


[OOC: Consider this a log to cover both any afterparty whatnot you want to get up to, as well as something to carry over into Sunday! Both Jupiter and Mars will be available for NPC threads on this particular log, should they be desired.]

Comments

[fatalstrikes]

[Yuri isn't exactly surprised to hear that the nobility where Camilla's from are awful people too, but her own father...

To say he can't imagine it would be an understatement, but he tries anyway, because Camilla can't share her pain with everyone here. They'd worry far too much if they heard any of this, and he understands that she doesn't want that. But she's trusted him with it, and he can certainly worry well enough on his own, even if he doesn't seem the sort to do that.]

I'm so sorry, Camilla. I can't say I know what it's like to be put in a situation like that, but it sounds extremely difficult. You shouldn't have to prove yourself to your father, and you shouldn't be under constant threat of death from someone who should love you. You - and your siblings - really have had a really rough time, haven't you?

[He doesn't move to touch, but he shifts a bit like he's thinking of it.

...He's pretty sure there's more though, so he'll just leave it at that for now.]

[anythingforyou]

["You shouldn't have to prove yourself to your father, and you shouldn't be under constant threat of death from someone who should love you."

God, that gets Camilla to laugh--it's harsh, it's bitter, it sees her own head going down because she can't fucking look at that.]

Oh, we have. We always have. He couldn't take any responsibility for his actions--it's why we don't have the same mothers, why they wanted his favor so badly that they were willing to kill the other children and mothers for it. All for the sake of power, while they just...they didn't care.

[...so hey, remember that thing with Mesprit that she talked about, about not being a real child of the king and queen and how the concubines were willing to do anything for favor that she talked about.

She. She left a very important detail out, mostly because there were kids there and Mesprit did not deserve to have that known.]

He doesn't care. He never has. She never did, either, but I long accepted that.

And it's only gotten worse, since Corrin decided to betray us.

[And that...oh boy, that's a subject that's gonna be hard to tackle, and it's very clear from the way Camilla fiddles with her coat, just aggressively trying to tackle it.]

[fatalstrikes]

[He remembers that. It's probably something he should have tried to talk to her about in hindsight, but it felt strange to confront her about it when it's such a heavy, difficult subject. So he didn't.

Some part of him had figured that they must have been children when all of this was happening, but hearing it put so plainly... He really hates it. He's really mad that anyone could do anything like that to children - especially their children - and that her parents never cared is much worse than never having had them at all.

He still doesn't reach out to touch Camilla, but he holds out a hand, if she wants something to hold onto. It's fine if she doesn't; she might not want to be touched right now, after all.]

I'm sorry. I know words can't make things right or lessen the pain any, but that... all of that... You sure as hell didn't deserve that. None of you did, and if there was any way to make this easier on you, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

I'm here for you now, though.

[...]

Do you want to talk about Corrin?

[He figures that might be even harder for her, but sometimes it's better just to get the hurt out all at once.]

[anythingforyou]

[She'll take his hand, actually. Good god she's gripping it pretty tightly as she tries to prepare herself to talk about her again.]

...Thank you, Yuri, for...being here. That in and of itself...that is enough. I know there's no way to fix this but...

[It definitely sounds like she's starting to lose that composure, but she's holding on for as long as she can.]

...Corrin is our dear sister. Father brought her home one day and told us that she was to be our sister. He didn't care either way about how we treated her, but after he locked her away in that fortress in isolation, we always came to visit her. We always tried to take care of her and play with her, despite the fact that she couldn't go outside all that much. We would do everything we could to ensure that her life was...perhaps not the best, in such circumstances, but enriching. I made sure that she was never alone, myself, and that she always had someone to turn to and rely on. That anyone who dared to mess with her would face my wrath, but she could lean on me when times were tough.

When she finally had the chance to leave the fortress and go to the castle with us, once she had proven herself...oh, that pure hearted girl disappeared. Those nasty Hoshidans took her away, and they had the sheer audacity to claim that they were her true family and try to turn her against us. We finally managed to find her once we were able to get into the territory, but...

That naive, lovely girl, she turned her back on us and ran away. As far as she could. She left us all behind--I know everything wasn't easy with him in charge, but we were all still a family, and she just...

[It makes Camilla tense up even more, as she tries to get to the final part. The last piece of the sickening puzzle.]

...He...he ordered her dead, after a while. [The words are forced out, and she hates them.] I couldn't disobey a direct order from him. Not only would I die, it would likely get passed to one of the others. I couldn't let him do that to Xander--to Leo, or gods forbid he tried to make little Elise kill someone. I couldn't let them, so I had to do it. We met her army at sea, and I tried to tell her not to cling to sentimentality but...also that I loved her, before we started, and...

[Her words come out rushed. Frantic, even. Hopefully Yuri doesn't mind that grip on his hand really tightening up, because dear lord.]

...She bested us. [Those words hurt probably the most out of it all.] And that's where I was taken from; I was at the mercy of my sister, my retainers and I defeated and about to die, and I...I...

[She doesn't know how to end that, but the implication of it all is likely very clear. Her free hand goes to cover her eyes--the tears haven't started, but they're certainly threatening to, and she doesn't want him to see that.]

[fatalstrikes]

[Yuri squeezes her hand a bit as she gets started, just letting her know he's here and listening to her story.

And what a story it is. Her sister was kept in captivity, and from the sound of it, Camilla and he other siblings could never say a word otherwise, so all they could do was try to help Corrin in whatever way they could. For things to turn out like this...

He doesn't mind that her grip his tight; his is too, after all.]

I'm sorry, Camilla.

[For a moment that's really all he's got, as he struggles between the boiling anger at her father and the almost crushing sense of sorrow that comes with Camilla's words. He has no doubts that she did everything she could to carry out her orders - because that's just how Camilla is, that's what she does - but to use those orders to try to convince her to kill someone so precious to her, and then to have the tables turned like that...

He wants to reassure her that her sibling would surely never do anything to her, but that isn't something he can say. He doesn't know if it's true, and he doesn't want to be wrong.

Instead he moves to pull her in for a hug. He's actually surprisingly good at hugs? He'll let go if she wants him to, of course, but right now... Well, right now words don't seem like they'll be able to do anything and a hug at least reassures her that she's no longer alone.]

I'm so sorry. You father... He really does sound like a horrible person. To treat you all like that, to treat his people like that... And to order you to hurt someone you love so much. There aren't enough words to express how terrible all of that is and how much I wish I could help you.

You've been so strong to hold all of that on your shoulders this entire time. You've always been so good to all of us too, you've always been a comforting presence here and I don't know where we'd be without you.

I know it's not much, but you really are a wonderful person and you've done so many great things for us here. I'm sure your siblings feel the same way.

[He's never been good at this and it's probably obvious that he's not really sure what to say, but the words are as comforting as he can get them and there's no doubt at all in his voice.]

[anythingforyou]

[...Dear gods, she can't actually say she was expecting that at all. Camilla's never been one to shy away from hugs with her siblings, and hell, she's more than comfortable with hugging so many people here. It's still a surprise and she...

She winds up clinging to him for a moment, just...shaking something horrible. Those words mean so much more than she could ever express, honestly.]

...Your words are enough. Believe me, I...it's all so much, and I still don't know if I want to go home. I know I should, I shouldn't leave them behind, but...

[The words come out so forcibly, like she's trying really hard not to cry over everything she just reminded herself of, the reawakened guilt at her retainers being left behind. All of her feelings, really.]

I know there's no way to fix this, or to really...help it. And I apologize for burdening you so with it; it's so much, and I...

[She feels exceedingly guilty for putting this all on him. Really, it's half of the reason she'd never bring it up, because the guilt still eats at her about everything. All of it does.]

...Thank you. It means so much to know that I have been a help for all of you; I've wanted to try to do something for you all. If it's to be all of your protector, I will do it without hesitation, and if it's to be a shoulder to lean on...I'll do that, too. I'd do anything you all ask of me. It's why I...really tried today, to do this the way you all try to.

...You've done so much as well, and I know you struggle as well...please, if there is anything I can do in return for you, let me know.

[fatalstrikes]

You did great, Camilla. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise. You always try so hard for all of us, and I know we're all so happy we have you here.

[His grip tightens a bit at that, though it shouldn't be painful at all.]

When we're done here, when we've finally set the world back to the way it should be... We'll talk about it, figure out what our options are and what we're going to do from here. You won't be alone then either. We'll figure something out, for all of us.

[It's not quite "it'll be okay" because he's not entirely sure it will be, but it's probably close enough. He does sound confident that they will succeed, at least.]

I know you always want to look out for us, and believe me, you've been really good at helping me out. It might not really seem like it, but I... don't really talk about the things that bother me.

The group I'm traveling with back home is mostly made up of kids. They can take care of themselves, of course, but some things you just don't want to burden them with, you know? And the old man... Well, he's got a lot of issues that run way deeper than mine ever could. It'd be a burden on him too.

So I don't really talk about that kind of stuff. I'm used to facing everything on my own, even though they always get mad at me for it. That's what I decided to do here too, but there are some of you guys I'll talk to about things that bother me, because sometimes it really does help to get it out there.

You're someone I trust with things like that. Both because you're strong and I know you can handle anything I could tell you and because you're a really good listener. You know what to say and how to help, and honestly, I think you get me better than most people back home do.

I know you're going to keep worrying about me, but I promise, I'm doing okay. I'll be fine through all of this, because I've got people like you by my side.

[anythingforyou]

[...It really is so good to hear that. It's so easy to forget that people notice one's efforts made towards the better, a lot of the time, and it's...nice to hear, really.]

Yuri, you can say you're not very good at this as much as you want--your words in and of themselves prove otherwise. You should be proud of that.

[She finally looks up a bit, her eyes still a little red, but she didn't quite cry; she looks happy, really. It is something that'll need to be talked about, especially if she winds up ever broaching the subject of not wanting to leave her new brother by himself. It likely won't be easy. But...

Camilla's pretty calm when Yuri starts to talk of himself, and all he's dealt with. She knows he doesn't really talk about it much; he's always seemed like someone who kept his own issues very tightly guarded. He knows very well about burden, and why it isn't right to burden people with shit; people always have so much going on under the surface, and so much to deal with on their own. It isn't always right to, unless one knows they can handle it.

She winds up patting him on the back when he's finished, at the very least, her smile soft.]

I understand; sometimes it is for the best to keep such things so closely guarded, so the others don't have to worry. It'd be even worse if they couldn't handle what they were told, right? Everyone has their own limits for that, and to keep them safe, it's sometimes better for them not to know everything.

...I'm very thankful that you would trust me with that much, never the less. I'm always glad to lend my ear, or present a distraction if needed; whatever it takes to help with whatever you're dealing with. I know I can trust you to know your own limits, and to know that you aren't ever bugging me if you reach them.

I will always worry...but I trust you, Yuri. You're a very dear friend of mine, after all, and I'm glad for that.

[fatalstrikes]

[That gets a soft laugh out of him.]

Thanks, Camilla. See, what did I tell you? You're always good at finding the exact words I need to hear. Even though you're struggling with so much, you always find it in you to look out for the people you care about and I'm always really glad I've had the chance to get to know you.

Once we're done here, and we've figured out what we're going to do next, I want to do what I can to make sure things go well for you. Whatever ends up happening, I want you to be okay, and I really hope things will go better for you after all of this.