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[He doesn't like that hesitation, and the response isn't much better.]
Alexei... What have you done, back home?
[It's time to finally confront this. If he's going to come back to Alexei, he can't ignore it anymore.]
Alexei... What have you done, back home?
[It's time to finally confront this. If he's going to come back to Alexei, he can't ignore it anymore.]
[He pulls back then, letting his hand slip away from the bars, out from under Schwann's.]
I'm doing what we've always done.
[He sounds remarkably controlled, when he says it. Forcing everything else out. No emotion, nothing.]
If you destroy enough of the right people, the rest will fall in line.
I'm doing what we've always done.
[He sounds remarkably controlled, when he says it. Forcing everything else out. No emotion, nothing.]
If you destroy enough of the right people, the rest will fall in line.
[As Alexei pulls away, Schwann's hand lingers for a moment before it's his turn to tightly grip the bars.]
Who are the "right people" in this instance? What is it that you haven't been telling me?
Who are the "right people" in this instance? What is it that you haven't been telling me?
The Empire, as it stands, cannot be saved.
[That coldly neutral tone remains; he's become accustomed to it over the years. It suits him far better, he's fairly sure, than the overemotional, pointless whining he's been engaging in tonight.]
Everyone is serving their own self-interests; they get theirs, and leave the others to rot. There's no reason, no incentive, for them to start over. To restructure as is needed. They won't even agree to lessen our reliance on blastia to lower the chances of another war with the Entelexeia, nor do any peace treaties with the guilds have any chance of remaining intact with things as they are. And you've seen, personally, what happens every time I don't play by the Council's rules.
I've obtained a weapon last used by the ancients to save our world. I intend to use it to do so again.
[The Council. The Empire. Everyone who wouldn't fucking listen, everyone who drove him to this point.
Those are the right people, Schwann.]
[That coldly neutral tone remains; he's become accustomed to it over the years. It suits him far better, he's fairly sure, than the overemotional, pointless whining he's been engaging in tonight.]
Everyone is serving their own self-interests; they get theirs, and leave the others to rot. There's no reason, no incentive, for them to start over. To restructure as is needed. They won't even agree to lessen our reliance on blastia to lower the chances of another war with the Entelexeia, nor do any peace treaties with the guilds have any chance of remaining intact with things as they are. And you've seen, personally, what happens every time I don't play by the Council's rules.
I've obtained a weapon last used by the ancients to save our world. I intend to use it to do so again.
[The Council. The Empire. Everyone who wouldn't fucking listen, everyone who drove him to this point.
Those are the right people, Schwann.]
[It's so much to take in. Almost too much. But Schwann takes it all, remaining resolute through the whole thing. If Alexei never told him about any of this until now, then he can guess just what this ancient weapon is going to do. It's horrifying, simply put, and he can see why he was kept in the dark.
It takes everything in his power to not let his emotions show through. Doing so would go back on everything that he just promised to Alexei mere moments ago. With everything that he's learned tonight, he can't be surprised that Alexei has felt driven to such lengths. If he's going to stay by Alexei, he is going to have to aid him in handling whatever is to come next.
He lets out the breath that he hadn't realized he was holding in.]
I see.
[He reaches through the bars- for Alexei's hand.]
Then I stand by what I said. Please, Alexei. Allow me to bear this responsibility with you.
It takes everything in his power to not let his emotions show through. Doing so would go back on everything that he just promised to Alexei mere moments ago. With everything that he's learned tonight, he can't be surprised that Alexei has felt driven to such lengths. If he's going to stay by Alexei, he is going to have to aid him in handling whatever is to come next.
He lets out the breath that he hadn't realized he was holding in.]
I see.
[He reaches through the bars- for Alexei's hand.]
Then I stand by what I said. Please, Alexei. Allow me to bear this responsibility with you.
[He sort of watches, blankly, as Raven reaches for him; when he shifts to allow it it's in a vague, detached sort of way.]
You've already made your decision, with regards to that.
[...Yeah.]
You got what you wanted, in the end. You're living as Raven now, and you're standing in opposition to me.
You've already made your decision, with regards to that.
[...Yeah.]
You got what you wanted, in the end. You're living as Raven now, and you're standing in opposition to me.
...I'm not surprised.
[In any other context, he can't see himself taking the revelation regarding the full scale of Alexei's plan well. He would've wanted to find a way out of it, once and for all.]
I've been dead this entire time for you, then.
[Schwann, that is.
His other hand reaches out as both clasp Alexei's.]
I wish I had known then what I do now. I...don't know what this means for us, if you get the chance to return. But please know that it wouldn't turn out that way every time.
[In any other context, he can't see himself taking the revelation regarding the full scale of Alexei's plan well. He would've wanted to find a way out of it, once and for all.]
I've been dead this entire time for you, then.
[Schwann, that is.
His other hand reaches out as both clasp Alexei's.]
I wish I had known then what I do now. I...don't know what this means for us, if you get the chance to return. But please know that it wouldn't turn out that way every time.
How many times do I have to tell you not to worry about me like this?
[He lets Schwann take his hands, though; his grip is fairly tight, despite his words, and the chastising itself is gentle.]
I won't say that it will be an easy process. But if you get the opportunity... If we bring you back, and you can find a way back to where you came from, I'm sure you can change things. Orchestrate a more favorable outcome.
[He's okay with his own personal outcome being some weird, splintered thing that fails to happen, if it comes to that.]
[He lets Schwann take his hands, though; his grip is fairly tight, despite his words, and the chastising itself is gentle.]
I won't say that it will be an easy process. But if you get the opportunity... If we bring you back, and you can find a way back to where you came from, I'm sure you can change things. Orchestrate a more favorable outcome.
[He's okay with his own personal outcome being some weird, splintered thing that fails to happen, if it comes to that.]
[The sigh that Schwann exhales is one of relief but also agitation, like he wants to somehow get past the bars and gently shake Alexei.]
You try listening to yourself and not find any of it concerning.
[But since he can't do that, he just squeezes Alexei's hands right back.]
I still find it very difficult to imagine going back now and not sharing memories with you and Yeager. But...if you manage to bring me back and that is my only option, then I will. I'll be there for you this time, no matter how much you try to keep me locked out. We'll figure things out together.
You try listening to yourself and not find any of it concerning.
[But since he can't do that, he just squeezes Alexei's hands right back.]
I still find it very difficult to imagine going back now and not sharing memories with you and Yeager. But...if you manage to bring me back and that is my only option, then I will. I'll be there for you this time, no matter how much you try to keep me locked out. We'll figure things out together.
[He's just going to ignore that first part, thank you very much.]
I'd imagine we don't have many other options. As it is, that's...enough for me, I think.
[This is so grossly complicated? And there's no way to uncomplicate things without causing a horrific amount of logistics problems.]
I would prefer it if we could all remember all of this; of course I would. But if that isn't an option, I trust you with this.
I'd imagine we don't have many other options. As it is, that's...enough for me, I think.
[This is so grossly complicated? And there's no way to uncomplicate things without causing a horrific amount of logistics problems.]
I would prefer it if we could all remember all of this; of course I would. But if that isn't an option, I trust you with this.
[Wow!! Fine, then!!
It...really is complicated, though. Alexei has always been the smart one, so if even he's not sure how to work it all out, then...
Well, they can worry about it more if the time comes. When the time comes.]
Your trust won't be unfounded, should that be how things must come to pass.
[Even if it ends up involving a lot of legitimate shaking. After all of this, he's not going to hold back anymore.]
...Why don't you come back over here, now?
It...really is complicated, though. Alexei has always been the smart one, so if even he's not sure how to work it all out, then...
Well, they can worry about it more if the time comes. When the time comes.]
Your trust won't be unfounded, should that be how things must come to pass.
[Even if it ends up involving a lot of legitimate shaking. After all of this, he's not going to hold back anymore.]
...Why don't you come back over here, now?
[Listen, he has something that's maybe an idea right now, with regards to a possible solution. But he'd have to talk to Yeager about it first, among other things.]
...Very well.
[He'll approach again, though he still seems a bit off; despite what's been said here tonight, he's trying so hard to not have any sort of Incident over what's happening. He can be upset later, on his own time.
Did you want something, or...]
...Very well.
[He'll approach again, though he still seems a bit off; despite what's been said here tonight, he's trying so hard to not have any sort of Incident over what's happening. He can be upset later, on his own time.
Did you want something, or...]
[It's really nothing so complicated. If Alexei wants to have his Incident later, Schwann...has relented on that.]
I just wanted to be near you while you're still here.
[He doesn't know how much longer Alexei plans to stay, and although he doesn't want to make this out to be the last of their possible time to spend together, he has to keep the worst case scenario in mind too. Might as well make the most of it.]
I just wanted to be near you while you're still here.
[He doesn't know how much longer Alexei plans to stay, and although he doesn't want to make this out to be the last of their possible time to spend together, he has to keep the worst case scenario in mind too. Might as well make the most of it.]
[Alexei. The straightforwardness of that reply makes Schwann laugh...and blink back any emotion that might be springing from it. His hands are occupied at the moment.]
I can't make you stay the entire night. You need to sleep.
...Thank you, though.
I can't make you stay the entire night. You need to sleep.
...Thank you, though.
[The boots tend to be a production with regards to dealing with them, and he's content for now to take a moment, to let Schwann settle first before joining him under the covers; this is another thing that he'd obviously never done - one night stands weren't ever anything he'd been interested in, and committed relationships were out of the question for varying reasons, and overall he'd just...never had a reason to engage in anything like this.
He doesn't hate it, though. He's sort of back to using that as a metric, but he doesn't hate it, and it isn't uncomfortable and while it sort of brings with it a sense of "now what" even that isn't something he dislikes.]
...Thank you. For tonight.
[This has been...undeniably a weird experience, but he's allowing himself to decide that he likes it.]
He doesn't hate it, though. He's sort of back to using that as a metric, but he doesn't hate it, and it isn't uncomfortable and while it sort of brings with it a sense of "now what" even that isn't something he dislikes.]
...Thank you. For tonight.
[This has been...undeniably a weird experience, but he's allowing himself to decide that he likes it.]
Heh. All right, then I respectfully request that you at least sleep somewhere that isn't the dungeon floor.
[His smile softens considerably at the next bit. Alexei's...not wrong that things at the beginning were definitely more out of obligation than anything. But they wouldn't be in this position if things hadn't changed.]
I'm glad to hear that. [...] And despite how things turned out, I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to spend time with you here. From the sound of things, we might not ever have been able to get this far if it weren't for being brought here.
[Which sounds silly to say when he's standing in a cell, awaiting his death. But it doesn't negate all of the truly good things that happened.]
[His smile softens considerably at the next bit. Alexei's...not wrong that things at the beginning were definitely more out of obligation than anything. But they wouldn't be in this position if things hadn't changed.]
I'm glad to hear that. [...] And despite how things turned out, I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to spend time with you here. From the sound of things, we might not ever have been able to get this far if it weren't for being brought here.
[Which sounds silly to say when he's standing in a cell, awaiting his death. But it doesn't negate all of the truly good things that happened.]
[The "now what", for the time being, is Schwann snuggling up to Alexei as soon as he gets himself situated under the covers. He figures that Alexei hasn't done this before, so he may as well assist him in testing the waters. See what he thinks of a warm body up against him while in bed.]
It sure wasn't how I expected tonight to go, but it really has been nice, hasn't it?
[Not long ago, he would've been pretty horrified by the idea of spending the night with Alexei. But now he's gone from not hating to actually...liking it quite a lot.]
I'm glad I could make this an enjoyable first experience for you.
It sure wasn't how I expected tonight to go, but it really has been nice, hasn't it?
[Not long ago, he would've been pretty horrified by the idea of spending the night with Alexei. But now he's gone from not hating to actually...liking it quite a lot.]
I'm glad I could make this an enjoyable first experience for you.
[This whole thing would have been horrific on various levels, really; Schwann pressing up against him like that is perhaps surprisingly nice, and it's easy enough for him to settle into holding him close, and... This is going to be deeply awkward in the morning, he can tell already, but that seems like a problem they can handle then.
He'll let one of his hands shift back into what he was doing before, playing with Schwann's hair gently.]
...It's as I said. I don't imagine we'll have any chance to do this outside of this place.
[There are so many reasons for that.]
I certainly don't regret having done it.
He'll let one of his hands shift back into what he was doing before, playing with Schwann's hair gently.]
...It's as I said. I don't imagine we'll have any chance to do this outside of this place.
[There are so many reasons for that.]
I certainly don't regret having done it.
We wouldn't have. Honestly, I wanted exceedingly little to do with you at the start of things, given what I remembered from Terca Lumireis.
[He isn't altogether sure when things changed entirely; he couldn't pinpoint it if asked. But the fact is that things are different now.]
If you find yourself truly grateful for it, then I won't argue with you about it. Just...be sure you return to me.
[He isn't altogether sure when things changed entirely; he couldn't pinpoint it if asked. But the fact is that things are different now.]
If you find yourself truly grateful for it, then I won't argue with you about it. Just...be sure you return to me.
[Schwann breathes out a contented sigh now that he's nice and comfortable in Alexei's arms and the hair-playing has returned. Though he starts out resting his head in the crook of Alexei's arm, he occasionaly shifts to lazily plant a kiss on Alexei's jaw.]
Mmmm.
[That's apparently his very eloquent way of agreeing. Raven will definitely regret it in the morning, but hey, maybe he'll be too concerned with the monumental hangover he'll likely be dealing with to process the fact that he slept with Alexei.]
Shame this is it, though... You're a lot more comfortable than I thought you'd be.
[He was expecting a lot more rigidity than he's gotten. Sure, things were stiff in an awkward sort of way at first, but Alexei's...surprisingly gentle with this...?]
Mmmm.
[That's apparently his very eloquent way of agreeing. Raven will definitely regret it in the morning, but hey, maybe he'll be too concerned with the monumental hangover he'll likely be dealing with to process the fact that he slept with Alexei.]
Shame this is it, though... You're a lot more comfortable than I thought you'd be.
[He was expecting a lot more rigidity than he's gotten. Sure, things were stiff in an awkward sort of way at first, but Alexei's...surprisingly gentle with this...?]
Yeah, I can imagine...especially when I was brought here while being Raven.
[He did get his uniform back but it felt too awkward putting it on, especially in the beginning. It was just easier to not make the physical shift between Raven and Schwann...until last night, of course.
As for that last bit...he nods.]
I'll be back at your side before you know it.
[The "if I manage to make it back" is obviously implied, but remains unsaid. They both know that caveat anyway.]
[He did get his uniform back but it felt too awkward putting it on, especially in the beginning. It was just easier to not make the physical shift between Raven and Schwann...until last night, of course.
As for that last bit...he nods.]
I'll be back at your side before you know it.
[The "if I manage to make it back" is obviously implied, but remains unsaid. They both know that caveat anyway.]
[The kiss is nice, getting a quiet noise out of him in return.]
Am I...?
[It's said with a sort of indifference that implies the answer doesn't entirely matter.]
I suppose I have to be surprising in some regards; I was expecting this to be more awkward than I've found it.
Am I...?
[It's said with a sort of indifference that implies the answer doesn't entirely matter.]
I suppose I have to be surprising in some regards; I was expecting this to be more awkward than I've found it.
Trust me, sir, I don't think you could be more surprising than this.
[Alexei is, well, Alexei! As rigid and no-nonsense as they come, who Schwann has figured has no time or desire for intimacy. That's potentially still true, and yet...
Yeah. It really is a shame that this is the only time he'll get to see this more tender side of Alexei. He rather likes it.]
The before and afters have been more awkward than the actual process, which is funny to think about... I guess both of us really wanted this, deep down. It feels that natural.
[More uncomfortable implications to unpack later.]
[Alexei is, well, Alexei! As rigid and no-nonsense as they come, who Schwann has figured has no time or desire for intimacy. That's potentially still true, and yet...
Yeah. It really is a shame that this is the only time he'll get to see this more tender side of Alexei. He rather likes it.]
The before and afters have been more awkward than the actual process, which is funny to think about... I guess both of us really wanted this, deep down. It feels that natural.
[More uncomfortable implications to unpack later.]
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