[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

"...."

Ventus is left speechless as Nathan finally and inevitably broke down in front of him.

The empath had no comforting words to give the careworn boy in front of him, the distance and animosity he built up between himself and them making a normally easy task seem insurmountable to him.

He hadn't forgiven them for forcing Orthros onto him and Shiva, nor for the emotional distress he caused to the both of them in relatively recents times, and doubted he would anytime soon.

However, despite his reservation, despite his grudges, despite all the bullheaded, hurtful things the boy said in front of him....

"...."

Slowly, with great deliberation and utmost care, Ventus leans over and gave Nathan a hug, and stayed their with him as they cried their heart out, and emptied themselves of the vast, toxic quantities of feeling that lay deep within him.

....he could not leave this boy to suffer alone in his distraught state.

Nobody deserved that.

Especially not someone of his age.

History would not repeat before his eyes.

Kirlia's genuinely surprised at that.  That was about the last thing he'd expected Ventus to do...he joins the hug, though (after hopping back on Swiftfire so he can actually reach Nathan).  He couldn't fix things, but he could be there for Nathan...he needed to be.  Just like he needs Nathan, Nathan needs him...

Nathan doesn't say a word throughout any of this.  Just quietly sobs.  He's not going to be the one to break this hug.

All he's ever wanted was a normal life, yet nothing ever seems to work out that way for him...all these expectations and burdens...he never asked for any of them, and yet here he is, trying to shoulder them all between just him and Kirlia...

Swiftfire's rather uncomfortable, seeing as she's stuck in the middle of this, but she doesn't complain.  She knows Nathan's been really stressed for a long time...

Masq tilts his head, looking really puzzled.  This is...the complete opposite of the person he'd met yesterday.  What was going on?  Doesn't seem like there's much he can do for this nice person, though...well, back to keeping watch.