petrifying | IC CONTACT

From:

extirpator

Hey, Emil? Can you hear me?

This device is pretty useful, huh? We can talk whenever we want this way.

From:

petrifying

Oh! Hey Nier!

_{[Cheery as ever. Looks like he can hear you loud and clear buddy.]}

Yeah, it really is! It's kind of strange but it reminds me a bit of what a phone does.

From:

extirpator

A phone?

[ nier raises a brow. ]

You...had one of those? I guess I shouldn't be surprised. That mansion of yours was pretty nice.

Do you miss it, by any chance?

From:

petrifying

I did, yeah. Not that I had anyone to call but still! The orphanage I was at had one too.

_{[Did he miss his manor though?]}

The mansion? Oh, no...not really. I mean, I miss Sebastian but the people who I care about most are here with me. It doesn't matter much to me where I live as long as I've good company.

From:

extirpator

The orphanage...

[ he frowns at that it's a little audible, the way his voice falters. ]

If I had a phone, I would've called you. That would've beat sending you letters, huh? At least we both have one now.

[ sebastian. right. ]

This place is pretty different from our world. It's a little strange for me sometimes, but it feels more natural now that you're here.

From:

petrifying

_{[Emil can hear that frown, you know.]}

Hehe, yeah...although I really do like letters! There's just something really charming about sending one, don't you think? It's been ages since I tried to write anything down though - bet my penmanship is terrible!

Is it really that different? I mean...I'm not the best judge on that but I'll take your word for it.

_{[Since, y'know, it's not like he's been out and about adventuring back home. He's just been sitting in his mansion collecting dust.]}

I make it feel more natural?

From:

extirpator

In a way, yeah. The smell of the parchment is nice. Makes you feel right at home. And you should give yourself more credit — the last letter you sent me was pretty legible.

[ he leans back against the headboard of his bed, thinking for a moment. ]

Well...I didn't tell you at first, but — we come from different points in time. After that fight, you...you lived. And we go on our journey together. You get to see what the world is like. And I think...that you liked it a lot.

The truth is...I really missed you. Things haven't been the same without you three at my side. To have gotten to see you two again...I'm grateful for that.

From:

petrifying

Was it? _{[Ah, he's definitely a bit more excited hearing that.]} Even so, I should practice my letters more! Although...that might be kind of hard at the moment.

_{[Since he's been forced to bandage his eyes once more.

The next bit of information has Emil falling silent, only his gentle, shallow breathing audible from the other end. He'd...lived? He hadn't died? This whole time he'd been thinking that either he'd died or something screwy had happened. After all, the last thing he could remember was being inside his sister's cursed, skeletal frame.

It's a lot, hearing all of this from Nier, that they go on a journey together and he gets to see the world. Did that mean he'd been successful then? In curing his curse? The way Nier's talking it sounds like he'd been able to rescue Kaine from her stone prison as well.

But ah...he'd been missed. He was important enough to be missed by someone as kind and cool as Nier? That has his heart racing, his little chest swelling with a warmth that rivals that of an open flame.]}

Well you don't have to miss me anymore! I mean, I'm here and I don't plan on going anywhere. I'll be by your side as long as you'll let me stay there.

From:

extirpator

You'll get to see again soon. I promise. And then you'll get to write again, alright?

[ his eyes flutter shut — there's a prick of pain at his chest. emil, who was so delicate, and sensitive and kind but fought for his sake. emil, who was always hurting but still sacrificed so much someone like him until the very end. ]

Yeah. Of course. But can you promise me something?

[ there's a fleeting silence. ]

You're the type of person who hides when they're sad or scared. You do it because you want to make sure others don't worry about you. That's simply who you are.

But from now on, I want you to tell me whenever you're sad, or scared or hurting...okay? You're one of my dearest friends, Emil. I'll always...I'll always care about you.

From:

petrifying

Mm, yeah. Even if it takes awhile, I mean I'm used to waiting so it's okay.

_{[He's waited a thousand years. What's a bit more time in the grand scale of things?]}

I promise, Nier. You're one of my dearest friends too.

_{[It comes after another moment of silence, as he really lets the weight of his words hit him. It was going to be hard to do that, to not mask his feelings for the sake of his friends...but if that was what Nier wanted, then he could do his best to be more open and honest.]}

But if I promise that you have to do the same with me, okay? You always take on so much...I know I'm not strong and I'm pretty useless like this without my sight but I've got a pair of really good ears so I can at least listen.

_{[If he was going to open up then Nier had to as well. It was only fair.]}

From:

extirpator

You're stronger than you realize.

[ his voice raises a bit, like he's clearly offended. of their group, he was always the one who put on a smile for the rest of their sakes — he could never forget that.

bu then it softens, and he shakes his head.]

And you aren't useless either, so don't say things like that, okay? That isn't true.

[ emotional honesty.

what a strange concept. not something that someone like himself should indulge him, but rejecting that notion would make him a hypocrite, wouldn't it? just as always.

there's a sigh. ]

I'll try. It isn't...easy but I guess I owe you that much, huh?

From:

petrifying

_{[He's strong in the sense his ability to persevere and endure is something to aspire to. Emotionally, despite everything he's gone through, he's managed to keep it together. Most would break after the amount of years he's spent in forced isolation, but his cheery optimism has served him well.

If Nier says it isn't true, that he isn't useless, then what he's saying is probably true. Nier would never lie to him, that much Emil can trust in. Even so, it's hard to see from his perspective how he isn't useless. After all, what good can he do the way he is now?]}

Well, you don't owe me anything Nier, but if you at least try that'd make me incredibly happy.

_{[The thought alone has his chest feeling warm.]}

I just wish I knew how I could be of more help to you and Kainé, you know?

_{[He'd been given that small, little taste of independence when he'd woken up, only to have it snatched away. Now it's all he can think about.]}