( closed ) when there's nothing left to burn you have to set yourself on fire

[winces]

CHARACTERS: olivia & co.
DATE: the second week or so of november
WARNINGS: extreme melodrama seriously don't look
SUMMARY: honestly tho

Comments

[ex_adept136]

[With the sensitive nature of his hearing, the attempt to stifle that sound doesn't diminish it enough to prevent him from recognizing it. And Haise can suppose that right about now, Olivia might not be able to believe something like that for herself. Even so, it remains the truth — she deserves to have someone as devoted as he recognizes her to be]

If I'm not overstepping...I'll remind you of that, until you can accept it.

[Maybe it's not the reason for Olivia's reaction, but he has a difficult time imagining that she has any other cause. If she felt it wasn't his place, surely the response would have been different. Discomfort, he imagines, because Olivia had never struck him as a terribly curt woman.

Here, it's almost a dismissal, in its way]

Because it's true. I know you were devoted to him; I could tell from the way you spoke. Anyone should be lucky to be regarded in that way, and next time...I hope it's someone who recognizes that fact.

[winces]

[ she can't hide it now, the way his words tear at her, wrenching a low, miserable sob from her lips. the pitiful lump she's become beneath that blanket shudders with her shaky breaths and muffled sobs. she hears him, but she cannot bring herself to listen — not quite yet, not when there is all this anger and resentment and misery inside her, clouding her vision, her judgment.

but it is not an outright dismissal, just as her lack of verbal response isn't either.

slowly, the folds of the blanket part, and a small, quivering hand slips out between the sheets, reaching for his. ]

[ex_adept136]

[Haise wishes there was a way for him to take that pain from her. Someone that kind hurting this much seems wrong in so many ways, but he can't undo what she's been through, much as he'd like to. All he can do is tell her what he thinks and be here. It doesn't seem like enough. Maybe nothing would be.

But when her hand reaches out, he lifts his to meet hers, gently holding her hand]

I don't have experience with what you're going through...but you're not alone.

[And she won't be. Haise is sure that he isn't the only one who will be there for her, and he'll do whatever he can]

You don't have to go through this by yourself.

[winces]

[ and it is that, perhaps, that olivia needs to hear the most right now. not that she ever really doubted, knowing well how much lucina and koltira and even twisted fate have been caring for her these past few days, never doubting once how deep their concern runs.

but to hear it and to feel it, when she is suffering and at her lowest as she is right now... it is a faint balm over her wounds, and one she will gladly take if he's offering.

her thanks cannot be voiced, too busy still in the quiet sobs she can no longer control, but her hand squeezes his in gratitude anyway. thank you. ]