week 3; comfort

[elemancy]

[it's frustrating. it's upsetting.

this is definitely not how this was supposed to go. one death a week (two, with execution) was bad enough, but this? three dead in one day, plus the others that had been found earlier in the week. not to mention... a culprit, or whoever it is that ends up being the scapegoat.

he probably shouldn't think of that yet.

but it's on noct's mind as he enters the hotel—and he freezes in the doorway upon seeing xion there, looking as if she's in a hurry to leave. but still—he...

he should say something, right? she might want to be left alone, because he sure as hell knows he needed alone time more than once after losing people, but still.]

Xion...

[well. he tried, but he's not sure what to say just yet.]

Comments

[elemancy]

[it's clear enough how much xion's needed this—and from this alone, he can see just how much worse it would have been without his urging for her to let it out now.

of course, he's not the most well-equipped for this, and it's been a long time since he's even had to be someone's emotional support in this manner. it's difficult when he's struggling too, but... this is what he has to do, isn't it? if he's going to be a good king, he needs to be able to support and understand people's struggles...

and help to guide them through trying times.

it feels like a test of ability, and he's without a clue if he can even pass it.

but that's why he remains this way, quiet and unmoving as xion cries it all out. he gets it. he understands the pain of loss, he's not going to try and rush her through this process. and even when she pulls away, however slight—his hand remains atop her head, ruffling gently at the hairs and letting out a bit of a noncommittal sound at her words.]

Don't know if I can ever live up to my dad. But... I'm gonna do my best.

[he's not really sure consoling teenage girls is any sort of metric for this, but he won't argue it, it's not the time for that at all.]