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[mykidisthebest]

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[mykidisthebest]

I don't want to worry the kids by sounding panicked!

It's the threshold for fear resistance to activate?

[lethe have you explained fear resistance to all of lily (he for sure thinks he has)]

[terraria]

And what the hell is fear resistance?

[mykidisthebest]

...? It's one of my resistances, like poison resistance and curse resistance. It activates in order to stop a fear response past a certain threshold.

[terraria]

(




what. )

You can do that?

[mykidisthebest]

Yeah?

[frowns a lil]

...Did I never mention it?

[terraria]

No, you didn't. Not to me, at least.

Well. That makes sense now and I look stupid. Disregard everything I said.

[mykidisthebest]

?!?!?!?!? What?? I'm not going to do that! Aren't we fighting? If you're upset then you're supposed to say so, remember? Don't just drop it.

[terraria]

No point in fighting. You had a reason besides malice to react the way you did—fear about Charon's well-being. The fear you'd lose him.

Right?

[mykidisthebest]

Of course. But I still upset you. I'd like to find a way to make it right.

[terraria]

It's... ( a quiet sigh. ) It's fine. Just... don't do it again.

I'll try to keep your fear resistance in mind.

[mykidisthebest]

[...nods, though he does not look particularly happy about dropping the matter so suddenly]

It won't happen again. I already told Ananke and Styx that it wouldn't happen again. I'd look like a shithead if I went back on my word. But everyone from Lily should avoid being kidnapped by demons just in case.

[terraria]

Thank you.

( quiet.

he's certainly loosened up now! and his normal expression is back—he's just... a little more subdued. )

[mykidisthebest]

[watches him for a quiet moment]

...You're still upset.

[terraria]

It'll pass.

( hefts his big batch of mushrooms onto a drying rack. )

I've never had a betrayal turn out to be a misunderstanding before. It'll take time for my adrenaline to calm down.

[mykidisthebest]

B-betrayal?! You--!

[he completely forgets to give Perci space and reaches to put his hands on his shoulders]

[terraria]

( it happens all at once: as he reaches for his shoulders and gets into perci's space, he squeezes his eyes shut. he tenses up and turns his cheek, clearly waiting to be struck. )

[mykidisthebest]

[he freezes with his hands on perci's shoulders. the word betrayal still stings so badly that he wants to shake him until he's dizzy. that is also, most likely, not the best course of action, so he does not do that]

Perci. Look at me, please.

[terraria]

( perci peeks his eye open at him, breath a little shaky before he relaxes some. he looks to lethe, somewhat cautious. )

... yes...?

[mykidisthebest]

[he waits until Perci is looking at him before he activates his teacher skill, connecting their emotions and senses; it's the only way he knows of to get across his stubborn sincerity and have it not be doubted]

I won't ever betray you. And if someone else does, I'll kick their ass.

[terraria]

( surprisingly, perci doesn't flinch when their minds and hearts are connected. there's a small noise of surprise, but nothing more.

that sincerity is so overwhelming he almost buckles under the strain of it, eyes wide. and perhaps, in reaching to squeeze lethe's hands, that would've been the end of it.

but if someone else betrays you—

it whirls in perci's head.

you open the flap to a war hut, seeing the man you have served and adored for six years now, the man who saved you, look back at you with a creased brow. "not now, perci."

"i'm gone for a few months and suddenly my word means nothing?" you tease.

amir frowns deeply.

"... you can't be serious," you say. "i'm—i'm a king now, amir, same as you. of all times, you choose now to ignore me?"

"before, i knew who i was dealing with—"

"no, i know what it is. before, i answered to you."

"can you not devolve into emotional antics when the enemy is at our front door?"

"oh, i'm emotional now? when you were fucking me you were all too happy to listen to my critique. now you don't have any control over me, now i'm your equal, and i'm being 'overemotional', am i?"

amir kneaded his forehead. "please just—go back to the palace."

"no. that asshole of a king murdered my parents, murdered my people for no other reason but entitlement! gods, is this what you're really like with the other royalty? no wonder all of them prefer your fath—"

you're slapped across the face, so hard you see stars. the metal tang of blood spills onto your tongue and your eyes burn as you see the commander glaring at you with tears in her eyes. the first person alive who made you feel like you could achieve your own goals, like you could choose for yourself what to live for.

you run, and don't look back. )

[mykidisthebest]

[the only reaction to the memory is a slight flex of his hands on perci's shoulders; he doesn't look away]

I won't ever betray you.

[terraria]

( perci's disbelief struggles against the weight of lethe's sincerity, against his determination.

it twists in the pit of his stomach. no, it says. he might mean it but it'll be a lie.

but some part of him... something in the quiet recesses, wants to believe. so perci crumbles, silently gripping onto lethe and burying his face in his shoulder. )

[mykidisthebest]

[he doesn't know if it's okay to hug him--are they still fighting? he is not sure if they're still fighting--and that uncertainty bleeds through the connection until he settles for just keeping his hands on his shoulders to help steady him]

[terraria]

No, we're not fighting anymore, you jackass.

( sniffling a little but not removing his face from his shoulder. )

Saying shit like that and then thinking we're still fighting... jerkface.

[mykidisthebest]

[...wraps his arms around him]

Still. I'm sorry for upsetting you.