come_sailaway

( pollux's fingers smooth against his cheek, and castor leans into the touch—lifts his own to lace his fingers with hers. it's fond, and his expression softens at the gesture, though... it doesn't exactly last. once pollux picks her topic of choice, his reaction is immediate. his lips curl in distaste, and he audibly scoffs. )

A stupid idea.

( but still—or rather, because it is... )

Which one was it? The last thing we need now is traitors.

( though, this isn't exactly the kind of gentle topic that's conducive to gazing into one another's eyes like this, so he allows his arm to collapse under him, flopping down to lay on his side. for all intents he really does have the look of a petulant teenager to him; one would be hard pressed to see the youth dressed in white and curled up next to pollux on their bed as a god. )

I couldn't call them a traitor, Brother, but a fool is another name for them.

( it seems as though it's something pal wants to do with good intentions, but she doesn't feel so comfortable with the idea of having godhood readily available with someone. they are all puppets attached to a string for the captain here, and so it only takes one twitch of his fingers to obtain that from another passenger; she sighs. she doesn't let go of his hand, her hold firm to keep them together as always as she settles them between their bodies. her index finger does have a habit of todying with the fabric of castor's shirt. )

Palamedes Sextus is the individual who brought it up, but... I only overheard.

( biting the inside of her cheek, she scoots closer to castor to be closer to his warmth, or what's left of it. sometimes he does tend to run cold. ) But cause no arguments, we should hear his reason before stating our opinion.

( the comment is nearly enough to pull a smile from him. as things stand, the combination of the otherwise troubling news and his naturally irate expression dull the reaction down only to something that... might resemble a wry grin. the beginnings of that real ugly kind of smile someone does when they're not actually all that happy. except, to pollux, she can probably tell that it's laced with amusement despite the scornful context.

doesn't mean that he won't be smug about it though! )

I've heard enough.

( he's heard more than enough. he's already decided. it's stupid. why would you do that? so that he can toss away the husks of what you used to be when he's accomplished what he's after, discarding the passengers of this ship like a bone picked clean? castor's brows furrow, and despite being unwilling to chase the one who suggested such a foolish venture down now, he's clearly unimpressed by such an idea. )

And the rest?

( that expression is always troubling, as if it can't be trusted, but she trusts her brother enough to not do anything to worrisome for them. she permits it happily, laying her head down onto her arm as she directs her eyes to the corner of his neck, down to his chest, and then trying to look at their hands. )

What did you think about the state of our beings?

( rather than ask her to pick a subject, she requests to know castor's thoughts on one of them. if she started with hers, who knows what he'd think, but maybe castor can lighten the small darkness in her chest. it's unfortunate that they're only snapshots, and that those people they knew before could never come here. it's just that she had gotten used to the people in novum chaldea. )

( his sister's concern is hardly a question at all to him him. though castor's earlier expression fades into something more thoughtful, he's not particularly troubled. rather, he states his opinion rather plainly. )

I don't understand why they're so upset. It's nothing to throw a tantrum over.

( it's a simple fact. pollux sees it too, doesn't she? that uncertainty in her voice goes perfectly unnoticed, and as he watches pollux turn her gaze to him, he closes his eyes. )

And you, Pollux?

( she pauses for a brief moment, watching as he closes his eyes which means the concern in her own are no longer visible. pollux closes her eyes too, relaxing into the bed and her brother's presence as she thinks on it. )

I won't throw a tantrum, but I can't say... I'm happy with the truth.

( which she is happy with her brother, and it's only the concerns of what this means regarding everyone else. her hand tightens around his own, nails lightly tracing against his skin. )

There's Servants we probably won't see again, and even our old Master. It's a bit disheartening.

How?

( he says this like it's unbelievable. like he's dense as a fucking rock. because he is. his eyes open, and if pollux were to meet his gaze, she'd see... not quite disbelief, but certainly something like confusion. not that it sounds in his voice as he "reassures" her. )

All we need is each other. We arrived here together, and that's what matters.

We did arrive together, even separate for a moment, but...

( how does she explain her feelings about this? if she puts it into terms that castor can understand... )

Do you think about our friends back home? Your mentor, your companions, even Jason... what if he never appeared?

( it's these comments to remind him they shouldn't forget their previous companions. ) Wouldn't you miss them?

They'll be fine.

( that's his first instinct to reassure her. the thought of missing them... it isn't really his foremost concern, and this one is both far more important and easily accounted for. after all, being snapshots means that they're still present in those worlds, does it not?

he thinks that's how they said it worked, and in that case, they're perfectly capable of making sure jason nor chiron nor ritsuka find themselves in harm's way. he has no need to miss them, because even if he were to set aside the fact that he's happy so long as he has pollux's hand in his like this, his other self still stands by their side. there's no reason to worry for their lives, their foolishness, or their company. all of that is perfectly accounted for.

however... he does notice. the answers to these questions, they should be obvious from castor. perhaps pollux is trying to tell him something?

...

give him a moment, and he gives her hand a little squeeze back. )

They are not without the light of the stars ( the dioscuri ) to guide them. But tell me, Sister, if we were to go back... would you not regret leaving behind those on this ship, whose stars lack the light to lead them through this crisis?

( if they go back, it'll cause reality to collapse on itself, but even as she thinks about it... it still saddens her. they're no longer together with the people who summoned them, nor will they see the young servants who would crowd together to think of what gift to offer ritsuka. it's different here, but it would be horrible to say she feels as home like she did at novum chaldea.

they're two different places with different people. )

...Do you want to help them, Brother?

( the people of this boat, is this his way of saying that been his plan all this time too, and not him just going along with pollux's whims? she does happen to smile only briefly, before it fades as she attempts to get her thoughts together. )

I don't wish to leave them in the dark... that's why I did what I did today. I want to do everything in my power so that they make it through this storm, but... even my heart holds memories of the people we used to be with, and it mourns.

( she brings his hand to her chest, above her heart so that he can feel it beat. )

I didn't say that!

( do NOT start acting like he actually likes humans. that is not the point. he hates them and he wants them all to die. that said, he's not going out of his way to make it happen either. this is simply... a stalemate. out of respect for pollux, he won't cause them harm, but neither will he assist them of his own volition—that's the compromise they've reached.

... it's difficult not to want to reassure her though, especially with her warmth and the steady rhythm of her heart under his palm. )

There's nothing wrong with that, if it's important to you.

( which he's certain it is; his sister has always been so dedicated to those humans, even after and despite how they repaid the dioscuri's care for all of those years before. of course she would mourn the loss of those she knew. it's a part of what makes her pollux—the way her heart softens for others, and the warm affection she feels for them. even if castor can't bring himself to feel the same when it feels his veins themselves are full with the viscous black sludge generated by his hatred, he can at least appreciate it in pollux. he can want to protect that part of her, that cares so much.

but he can also want her to face forward, beyond the things that would cause her pain and grief. )

We can't go back, even if we wanted to, but even here we are no less radiant. In a place where no escape from the darkness can be found, has it not always been for those who need it the most that we will shine the brightest?

( huff puff. )

Whether it's here or there, the humans themselves are no different anyway.

( which is to say that she can befriend them all over again, and create bonds just as precious here as she had in the past. except the one. )

( her brother has never lied to her, and his understanding is just the same as hers; so to hear that there's no way they can go back, it feels like the truth. anyone could have thoughts of killing their previous self to take their lives back, but wouldn't that also be unfair to them when it's still them? it's not an option pollux would want, so going back to destroy herself by having reality collapsing on itself isn't ideal.

she scoots closer to hide her face in castor's chest, a deep inhale and a just as long exhale while keeping herself out of his eyes. pollux would rather him not look at her when she's upset, especially with how motivating his words are, it feels as though she's letting him down. )

We will always be the Dioscuri no matter where we are, and we can guide anyone through the darkest of times, I know that. I know.

( as that's what makes them who they are, but... )

They need someone to remind them that things aren't hopeless, that they don't have to submit to what this place wants them to. I want to help all of them, Brother.

( there's emphasis on all, but she knows his feelings as they are her feelings. she can't help those that don't want to be helped, and she wouldn't force them to take her help either, or his help for that matter if they're that against it. that said, she will miss the people that she had, but that version of her that's there will protect them with castor, she's sure. to have more faith in them would be best when she's always believed in her efforts as long as she was by his side.

the hand that she had been laying on moves down to switch places with the hand holding castor's, and with the other free she finds that one settling on his waist. playing with the fabric, she digs her nails into it with another sigh against his chest, the heat of her breath building. )

You have to promise me then, that no matter what you'll always be with me through this. I can only illuminate their bleak world for them when you're by my side, Castor. My light is your light.

( there's something vulnerable about the way pollux hides her face in his chest, and while castor allows it, he does take his hand back to gently wrap is arm around her waist instead. his finger traces absent patterns along her back as she speaks, and he can hear the worry in her words. the concern. the care. this is something that pollux believes in, and even if it goes against everything that this body of his tells him he believes, he knows in his heart that what he believes in more than anything else is pollux herself.

humans may not deserve her love, but if that's the choice she makes, it would be cruel for castor to deny her. )

You never have to worry about that, Sister. Our connection is unwavering; above all else, it's the love we share that lights the skies.

( the words are murmured softly, but with confidence to them. neither one of them could shine so brilliantly on their own—no, it's the bond they share that guides humans through their times of hardship and crisis. and that bond is something both unbreakable and unquestionable. there isn't an ounce of hesitation behind his words, with castor's hand in hers, and his other wrapped around her to hold her close. )

No matter what, there's no trial capable of putting out that light.

That is true...

( as long as she has him, their love allows the world those sparking lights above them, but without him she can only see her world dimming. it's because of him that she was able to see the lights up close as she waited for him to stir among the skies. she inhales into his chest, exhales after, and he can fill her lips curve into a small smile possibly. she can feel his arm around her chest, and she feels almost embarrassed for tucking herself away into him as he does this. )

As long as we can give light to those who feel their world is nothing but darkness.

( that's what they have to do, it's something that she will see to. with her brother by her side, it feels easy, simple really to adjust to what they've been given. even the light traces of his fingers against her skin causes a shudder down her spine, but it's welcome all the same just like any of his touches; she's never turned away from his hands, let alone his fingers. )

When our job is done, will we leave this place together, Brother?

( or would he want to stay, or should they stay? they're snapshots of who they truly are, the first versions of them are already at chaldea together hand in hand. they're assisting ritsuka with both their sword and discus, they're with every other person of the argonauts and then some. )

I know... it's too early to mention that, but...

( this place has been said that the stars aren't real, but maybe they can dot the sky if they decide to go... )

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject