text; un: patriarch

[burninglight]

[After the fight with his brother had settled down, Ardyn went back to his room and shut the door; after an hour or so of pacing restlessly and accomplishing nothing, he settled on taking out his phone and making an ill-advised decision.]

[...Just as soon as he changed his username.]

Since there is likely no end in sight to 'this station needs more therapy than the multiverse can provide':

I know one can be furious with someone they care about and yet not detest them. Difficult, but not unthinkable. But is it possible to ever learn to stop hating someone, when that anger is justified yet supposedly built on the foundation of a misunderstanding?

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[burninglight]

An argument two thousand years coming.

Now I just

He's not

fuck, I don't know. I don't know what to think right now.

[myocordial]

That must have been some argument, to throw you off like this.

Do I need to go punch him? Because I will, in a heartbeat.

[burninglight]

No--just leave him alone, for now. Please. I need to figure out what to do about all this first.

[myocordial]

Very well. I will.

Just. What did he say to you? Evidently a lot, but...

[burninglight]

It was a long argument that was long overdue. We yelled at each other over the nature of my healing power, the thirty something ritual executions, the exile, the stolen identity...

It's been something of a long day. I might have cracked his rib at some point.

[myocordial]

How terribly unfortunate for him.

[You can practically hear the "good" that's not very subtly implied there.]

But now you're... reconsidering your feelings on him? Because of all that's been said. Did he make any actually decent points, or what?

[burninglight]

I don't know, sort of? I think

I think we both fucked up, back then. And I think we both want to be recognized as more than our worst selves.

If he were lying to me about that much, I feel like I would know it.

[myocordial]

I guess that much is fair enough. That's a natural enough thing to want.

I don't care much for anything he's said so far. But he has seemed honest enough, when talking about you. Insufferable. But honest.



Do you want to stop hating him?

[burninglight]

I'm not sure if I can. Every word out of his mouth makes me want to knock his teeth down his throat.

Even so--I think I want to try.

[myocordial]

VERY understandable.

Wanting to try. That's something. I'm not sure how to stop hating someone myself... but then, I've never had much desire to try, either. I think just wanting to do that is a good start.

So long as he's also putting in effort.

[burninglight]

I'd not waste my time if he didn't seem like he was going to do something about it.

I don't think we'll ever be able to be family again, I can't even remember anymore what things were like back then.

As much as I'll never forgive him, as much as I refuse to let go of having every right to hate him--I'm just so tired of holding grudges when it won't accomplish anything.

[myocordial]

I think being tired is a good enough reason. More than good enough. If trying to stop hating him is what you need, then it's worth taking those steps.

...I very much despise him myself, but if you need any help whatsoever, you know I'm here.

[burninglight]

You always are.

I can't blame you, just...try to go easy on him until we figure this out.

[myocordial]

I'll try. I don't think I've been very good at doing that so far, but I will try.

...Though I am still owed a free punch. Cashing in on that doesn't count, right?

[burninglight]

An attempt's all I ask. He's doing an excellent job of being insufferable.

Do make sure I'm there for it, however. I'd love to see the look on his face.

[myocordial]

He's talented like that. I don't often find myself quite so vexed.

Oh, of course. If anyone should be there to see it, it's you. He still doesn't know I'm not human, either.

[burninglight]

Runs in the family.

I can scarcely wait to see him find out that little surprise.

[myocordial]

I'm sure that will be priceless. As will the punch itself, of course.

...I swear I'm doing my best to dial it down.

[Are you, Heart. Are you really.]

[burninglight]

I believe you.

[one can always be more extra and threatening]