#i had to re-read my xvi verse for this so im so sorry if this is a bit wobbly lol

[cwarscars]

" You  know  what  the  hardest  part  is?  Knowing  they  died  for  nothing. "

UNSEEN  WAR.

A  collection  of  angst  prompts  that  delve  into  the  struggles  of  soldiers  facing  PTSD,  survivor’s  guilt,  and  the  lingering  scars  of  war.  Themes  of  mental  health,  trauma,  substance  abuse,  suicidal  ideation,  hypervigilance,  combat,  loss,  identity,  and  alienation.  Feel  free  to  add  your  own  edits  as  wanted  or  needed.

this banquet has the two of them forced to be friendly - opposite sides sat at a table, sharing food and drink and if there's no risk of any beverage being poisoned. despite it, heidegger's sure to taste the food before the emperor even gets a whiff. none of it is of course, poisoned. but it's better to be safe than sorry - especially when cosying on up with the army of rosaria.

still, hours have passed and bottles are long empty - speech had turned to song and song to drunken grumbles. as of now, two men sit side by side, staring off into the space ahead of them, far from the dying party and now embraced by the cold breeze of a night coming to an end.

'you know what the hardest part is-"

the words have heidegger's attention; the hazel hue of his eyes darkened by the dark sky. he waits for the kicker, anticipates what the other will say. the battle? the losses? the fact that when the night is through, he'll lie beside his wife in bed - awake forever from the nightmares that plague him?

'knowing they died for nothing-'

elwin confirms his thoughts - and would quickly find heidegger agreeing with a nod. for a second, only silence sits between them, interrupted by the odd hum of night-time bugs and ongoing party chatter.

the soldier breathes a sigh, eyes still on the horizon.

"there was a time..." he confesses, his breath hesitant "where i'd be able to tell you each and every man to have fallen on our side." heidegger pulls his glass to his lips, takes a sip before he carries on "i knew my men well. could list each and every one to have fought and died...now-" he shrugs, refrain apparently uncaring and yet he'd not deny the pain. "...not so much."

his confession comes to an end when heidegger snaps himself out of it with another swig of booze - he turns eyes to face elwin, a question in the cock of his brow.

"if they died for nothing - what do you tell them that they're fighting for before a battle? a comfortable grave?"