week 5; sword

[elemancy]

[it's more than he can handle, honestly.

noct didn't really expect to hear that sara would leave her sword to him. it had seemed like such a joke when she'd offered to let him borrow her sword in an earlier week—an offer he politely refused.

and while the notion of having a weapon definitely makes him feel a bit more secure, everything else about this sucks.

he didn't stick around for felix or harry's executions. once sara was laid out, that's when noct took his leave, because he felt like he'd be sick if he had to see anymore bloodshed right after that. he doesn't even go that far away—closer to the hotel, outside the entrance and crouched near the ground.]

Get a hold of yourself. Walk tall. [he's muttering the words to himself quietly. convincing himself it'll be okay. he can't cry, he can't be that weak. he has to be strong, for everyone else—for people he knows need it more than he do, even as the sound of the other executions ring through the town and filter to his ears.

now. is. not. the. time.]

Comments

[moraled]

[It's more than Barnham can handle too. Feeling Sara bleeding out on his fingers, by his own actions... and knowing that she was grateful to him for it--

It's far more than he can bear. Much like everything in this place has been.

But just like this place has been from day one, Barnham has a job to do, and so he can't crumble.

He picks the sword up and he takes it to Noct, because this is his first duty. He's still covered in Sara's blood, and he knows that's wrong; immediately after this, he fully intends to get cleaned up. But this place is dangerous, and Sara wanted Noct to have a weapon.

So he'll give it to Noct, and make sure he can defend himself immediately.

This trial has made it clear that there is no such thing as truly a safe time.]

... Noctis.

[Tiredly. A little gruffly. He looks at Noct sadly, and gently, he offers the sword. The sword is clean; Barnham at least wiped off his hands before he touched it.]

This...is now yours.