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[evocation]

This is Kyna. You should just text me if you actually want me to answer.

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[requiemshark]

He still did it.

[Ephemera smiles. Knows it's a bitter expression. He's tired and he hurts.]

I can't, okay? You're going to defend him and I'll--it'll go wrong.

[evocation]

[Kyna just stares at him for a moment, incredulous. This isn't what she was expecting. Wash said Ephemera meant his apology, and Drake said he was trying to change, and... She doesn't know how to handle this. Yelling at him is so much easier.]

Why do you care if it goes wrong?

[requiemshark]

You seem okay.

[Strange as it is to say that.]

And I don't want to be angry all the time.

[evocation]

I seem okay? Then why are you so into trying to piss me off?

[requiemshark]

[Ephemera just looks at her. Isn't it obvious?]

You defended him.

[evocation]

[She rolls her eyes.]

Are you serious?

[requiemshark]

[This time, Ephemera doesn't snap at her. He just shakes his head. This is pointless.]

I should go. I won't bother you again.

[evocation]

Jesus. Listen. How do I know you're not gonna try something again? Or get pissed off that I'm hanging around with Wash or something?

[requiemshark]

[Ephemera gives her a faint smile.]

It's simple. I fuck with you, he kills Drake.

[evocation]

[Kyna's mouth twists. She wants to tell him that Wash wouldn't, out of an instinctive attempt to defend him, but... Wash said he needs Ephemera to think he'd hurt Drake, so she doesn't.]

Drake said you're... trying to change or something. Not being a dick just because someone's threatening you isn't changing.

[requiemshark]

We don't always get what we want.

[And it's not like she'd believe him, anyway. Ephemera wouldn't, if their situations were reversed.]

I won't let him get hurt. You can believe that.

[evocation]

What do you mean, "we don't always get what we want"?

[requiemshark]

Crazy people don't change, right?

[He shrugs. The threat against Drake is real, whatever else she thinks of him. It should be enough.]

[evocation]

[Kyna crosses her arms.]

Yeah, so why are you so crazy?

[It sounds a little bad-tempered, but it's also an honest question.]

cw for suicidal ideation

[requiemshark]

I don't know.

[Probably because he's the last one standing. Ephemera watches her curiously. Then:]

Because I didn't die with them.

[evocation]

You wanted to die with them?

[She's actually trying to wrap her head around this.]

[requiemshark]

Of course.

[He thought it was obvious.]

They were everything.

[evocation]

[She just stares at him, studying him, trying to puzzle him out. She's failing.]

You didn't have anyone else? Family?

[His sister died. She knows that.]

[requiemshark]

I never had anyone else.

[Ephemera meets her eyes.]

They were my family. We weren't blood, but we were everything else.

[evocation]

[Kyna doesn't know what to say. She's visibly uncomfortable now, and clearly floundering.]

...I'm sorry.

[That seems like the only thing to say.]

[requiemshark]

[Ephemera watches her for a moment.]

Yeah. So am I.

[evocation]

[Kyna still doesn't like him at all, but she feels for him, and she doesn't want to. It's so much easier to be angry. She frowns, reaching up to fiddle with the pendant of her necklace.]

It's still not an excuse to be a violent asshole.

[requiemshark]

No, it's not.

[He fucked up and that's on him.]

I look at him, and I see them. But that's not on you. That's my shit to deal with.

[evocation]

[She doesn't know what to do with that, either.]

He's not a monster, you know.

[requiemshark]

[Breathe, Ephemera reminds himself. Lets it go.]

He killed my family and he forgot about them! Like they were nothing.

[His voice rises before he remembers, and shivers. No. Breathe. Remember what you're doing.]

Look at me. Look at me! Tell me you'd let it go, if it was your family.