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[heartofthestar]

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[heartofthestar]

What more should I need than your presence? If I am certain of but one thing, it is that no other place could be home, lacking that.

[placation]

Stop. You're killing me. I'm only a man, Venat. Have mercy!

And you say that now, but you might want... I don't know, a library, or your own training grounds, or... anything, really.

Candidly, I'm used to living in a shoebox and having just enough money to keep the heat on. Being able to give everyone that I care about the sort of home they desire is a unique joy. Let me do the same for you.

[heartofthestar]

If I have such desires, I will speak to you about them, and we shall come to a decision together. Really, Maruki, you are quite overthinking this, as is your particular way.
You have asked, and I have responded, so fret no more. Let us instead find joy in this new arrangement.

[placation]

I've told you, overthinking is my only useful skill.

Alright. Then I'll see you at home!

Hah, that's nice to say...

[heartofthestar]

And pleasant to hear.

I know I cannot have been the easiest partner at times, considering my complete unfamiliarity with all this and the consequent confusion and slow pace, but I wish you to know that in this matter, I feel nothing of the sort. This is the correct step, and I welcome it with all my heart.

[placation]

Venat.

Come on. I have to dispel that notion before it takes hold.

Unfamiliarity, confusion, whatever you think constitutes a slow pace - none of that makes this difficult for me. You're the easiest person to be with.

[heartofthestar]

The path has not been easy. But the companionship makes it worthwhile, and the challenge quite pleasant. Worry not, for I've no doubt that you've found the benefits worth the effort, and the effort mild thanks to them. As have I.

[placation]

I believe you. And I'll do my best to squash that impulse to overthink.

[heartofthestar]

But remind that impulse of what I shall do to it, should I catch it, and that may be dissuasion enough.

[placation]

Don't threaten me with a good time! Or threaten me at all... hah...

[heartofthestar]

The parts of you that do not act in your best interest deserve little mercy. How could I hesitate to join the battle on your side against them?

[placation]

Listen, I'm not complaining about it!

Although, it does make me wonder...

Do you have any parts of you that don't act in your best interest? It hardly seems so, from my perspective.

[heartofthestar]

A fair question. To answer, I must first consider what precisely my best interest is. I spent some time addressing that very question, when I found myself here -- divided between the feeling that I was being kept from the rest I had finally achieved, and the desire to experience life once more. Whichever I decided was in my best interest, would not the other one inherently be working against that?

[placation]

I suppose you're right. That seems like a balance you've learned to strike, though. Or you're just very good at fooling me.

[heartofthestar]

If I may, it is because I spend less time thinking about what I want, and more thinking about what I want.

[placation]

What's the difference...?

[heartofthestar]

Consider:

You see a friend suffering. What you want is to ease that suffering.

What you want is to ease the suffering of all those you care about. To help where you can.

In service of what you want, you will aid your friend.

In service of what you want, you must indeed recognize that to help where you can, you must occasionally not help where you cannot, and your definition of 'cannot' must include a certain level of self-care and responsibility. Else you will grind yourself to the quick doing what you want, and thereby fail to achieve what you want.

[placation]

[ Not for the first time, it occurs to Maruki that if only they had met sooner, a lot of heartache could have been mitigated, if not avoided outright. He's eternally grateful to have Venat's influence in his life now, but there will always be a part of him that wishes. ]

You're right, of course. It's a more macro viewpoint that I've never really been able to have. I am trying, though...

Thank you. Hopefully I won't need the reminder again.

[heartofthestar]

If you do, I shall give it again. That is not a sign of weakness or folly on your part -- simply humanity. And what partners are for.

hehe we can wrap this one up..... sleepr is coming >:3c

[placation]

You're too good to me.

Now come here so I can welcome you home for the first time.