ic contact.

[rightfully]

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[parttimes]

... What, you don't have any identity beyond soldier? I don't buy that.

[A shrug.]

I've already seen more of you than that and it's only been five minutes. Look--you don't have to answer if you don't want to. Just say so instead of limiting yourself like that.

[rightfully]

[ Part of her nearly bristles at his comment because, well, what's so limiting about being a soldier? Even now, serving in Chrom's army is a point of pride for her. But Lucina knows that isn't quite what Kou means and manages to reshuffle her pride without letting it show on her face.

He sees through her little omission, gently prodding loose the details she might have otherwise kept close. Severa might have said something similar, although - although it would have carried the static of her friction with the world, words sharp, jostling, alive.

Lucina is quiet for a moment. It only serves to give herself away, the inordinate amount of time she spends trying to put her next words in the right order. ]

The truth is rather... atypical.

[ to put it! lightly! ]

Would you believe me if I told you that there are two versions of my home - one, ruined by a slip in circumstance - and while the other thrives, it is... it is not mine.

[ She really doesn't want to talk about time travel and tries to sidestep around it as best she can. There's no great reason, it's just a headache. ]

[parttimes]

[... Ah. Well. In all honesty, he knows that's something he should respond to in the negative. But...

He does know what that feels like. He's been there in his own way, and while he doubts their circumstances were exactly the same...]

... Yeah. I would believe you.

I've... kind of been there before.

[A slow breath in, and:]

So that's why you're not in a hurry to go home. You don't feel like you belong there...?

[rightfully]

Yes. Precisely.

[ She's surprised - or, perhaps, pleased - to hear it put in such simple words. It isn't a simple feeling. When he does that, though, he validates her.

It's nice. Gentles her expression somewhat, which hadn't been altogether too severe to begin with. ]

Do you feel similarly about your home?

[parttimes]

... I'm not sure. I didn't really have a chance to try to get used to the new status quo before I ended up here.

[He sighs quietly, shrugging.]

And because of that, I really don't have any advice. I guess I just want to say... I get it. You've got someone who understands what you're dealing with here. Alright?

1/2

[rightfully]

[ Her eyes slide away for a moment; her expression grows inscrutable. ... ]

[rightfully]

Alright.

[ "Someone who understands" is a taller order than he knows. Lucina has largely resigned herself to the fact that the only people who can truly understand her experiences are the people who have lived them, but... but they're not here. Her younger sibling isn't here. Severa, Gerome, Laurent - they're not here.

He's trying, though. Kou is trying. There's nothing invalid about that. She is here, even if no one else is, and there's a bed to sleep in, fresh food to eat, clean water. And kind people, evidently.

She smiles, in a friendly fashion. ]

It's nice to have a comrade.

[ that's not what this is, lucina ]

[parttimes]

[It's honestly a bit reassuring to realize he hasn't overstepped any bounds here. Lucina carries herself as someone who has very firm, certain boundaries--

It's fine, though. Everything is fine, isn't it? If she's willing to lean on him at least a little, then she's not totally alone in her experiences...and that's what really matters.]

Yeah, well... it wouldn't be the first time I've ended up with a surprise comrade, so...that's fine with me.

[Kou is bad at this.]