[ It's exhaled in a surprised huff as Venat folds him into her arms.
When was the last time someone held him? It had to have been Shibusawa, after the news about Rumi originally broke. More than half a decade ago, and only briefly, as he was already on the path to alchemizing his despair into fury. He can barely remember it, so much has happened since. Maybe it felt like this. It probably didn't.
It feels–
It's charming, actually, how unpracticed the embrace is. Her arms around his trap them a bit, so that he can't return the gesture right away. But it's such a sincere expression of care, of empathy. Her words strike at just the right angle of his beleaguered heart to make impact; it did hurt. It still does. Daily, it hurts.
When he manages to speak, his voice is mired in that pain that he hasn't let himself feel in far too long, tired and strained. ]
Venat is not good at hugs, but Maruki absolutely is.
He wriggles his arms free, jostling her grip up around his shoulders instead. They wrap around her waist to pull her in tight, the voluminous robes and mask now digging into his chest no deterrence. If he were stronger, and she shorter, he'd actually lift her off her feet a bit. It's that much of a bear hug.
Maruki tucks his face down against her shoulder to rest his head there and breathes, a weak little laugh escaping. ]
Good to know this therapeutic treatment spans realities and millennia too. It's one of my favorites.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2024-06-12 01:33 am (UTC)[ It's exhaled in a surprised huff as Venat folds him into her arms.
When was the last time someone held him? It had to have been Shibusawa, after the news about Rumi originally broke. More than half a decade ago, and only briefly, as he was already on the path to alchemizing his despair into fury. He can barely remember it, so much has happened since. Maybe it felt like this. It probably didn't.
It feels–
It's charming, actually, how unpracticed the embrace is. Her arms around his trap them a bit, so that he can't return the gesture right away. But it's such a sincere expression of care, of empathy. Her words strike at just the right angle of his beleaguered heart to make impact; it did hurt. It still does. Daily, it hurts.
When he manages to speak, his voice is mired in that pain that he hasn't let himself feel in far too long, tired and strained. ]
Thank you, Venat.
[ CONFIDANT RANK UP !!
Venat is not good at hugs, but Maruki absolutely is.
He wriggles his arms free, jostling her grip up around his shoulders instead. They wrap around her waist to pull her in tight, the voluminous robes and mask now digging into his chest no deterrence. If he were stronger, and she shorter, he'd actually lift her off her feet a bit. It's that much of a bear hug.
Maruki tucks his face down against her shoulder to rest his head there and breathes, a weak little laugh escaping. ]
Good to know this therapeutic treatment spans realities and millennia too. It's one of my favorites.