#like jakob or sephiran who seem to punish themselves for fucking up with her and can't move past it }

[misericordel]

"Hello you." A smile, gentle yet feline, at the sight of her. "It is a relief to see you with colour in your cheeks again, the shades of a corpse suit my complexion a little more than yours, if I'm honest."

When the dust had settled and there was a moment to brief, guilt had been quick to drown their chest. Arval was not the type to linger on what if's and could have's, but that did not mean they were immune to the fleeting moments of the choices they made and the grief that could have spared.

"I apologise for the suffering you had to endure at the faults of my heal stave." If they had restored her to a better state, she might have been able to cling to life a little longer. "If you find yourself haunted, don't make yourself a stranger. I would not mind sparing a few nights if you need company. Or if you just wish to not be alone."

They paused, and with a quirk of their lips in earnest amusement, they continued.

"Though, I do request we leave the midnight winter strolls with a beast hunting us for sport out of our options."

“i can endure a lot, don’t worry.” she smiles up at them, clenching and pumping her fists as if to show her strength. what little she has left to show off of it, anyways. she does not find herself bothered by their apology, not when they treats her so casually. that is easier to deal with than a somber mood and the ache of atonement weighing heavily on her shoulders. (she knows it is also because they have seen her at her worst but do not treat her as if she is made of glass that could break at any moment.)

“i’ll be okay, i—” a pause and a purse of her lips, wondering how to word this without alarming him more. “i’ve been through a lot in the past, if you’ll believe me. something like this isn’t enough to stop me. we’re all alive, right?” her smile returns, gaze the slightest bit brighter with this new conversation on her belt. “if i really can’t handle it myself at some point, then i’ll come to you. thank you, arval.”