cage match: thistle vs clover

[eonsadrift]

WHO: Clover, Thistle, and spectators!
WHERE: Thistle's yard
WHEN: Day 31

Comments

[survivaltricks]

It matters.

[turning to face him again]

What you want matters, regardless of whether things have changed or not. Those desires are what drive us to strive for that change, right?

Otherwise— you wouldn't want to kill Blossom and the Snake, would you?

[literal_trainwreck]

I can't imagine a scenario in which I don't want to kill them, but your point is taken.

[pauses to chew on that thought]

A person has many wants. Would you believe me if I said I want to do what is best for Thistle?

[survivaltricks]

Yes.

[answered without hesitation]

I don't think poorly of you, you know.

[literal_trainwreck]

[softening a little]

...I know, even if I fail to fully understand why.

[survivaltricks]

[slides up to him, reaching out to dance his fingers across Loki's chest, right above his heart]

Don't know.

[. . . still quiet. . .]

I've seen the worst in you. And yet-- [. . .]

[. . . rests his forehead against Loki's shoulder with a thunk]

[literal_trainwreck]

[threading his fingers into Lupin's hair]

By now I'd say you've seen the whole range.

[survivaltricks]

. . . maybe that's how I know the worst of you isn't the most of you.

[tilting his head into those fingers]

[literal_trainwreck]

[encouraged, starts playing with his hair]

At times I wish I could see what you see.

[survivaltricks]

[hah. . .]

One day, I think you'll be able to. When we aren't— you know.

Stuck in demon sheep hell.

[literal_trainwreck]

[no comment cuz he's pretty sure he won't live to see that]

[survivaltricks]

. . . Loki.

[he is no mind reader but he likes to think he knows Loki well enough to understand that silence]

[literal_trainwreck]

I don't know how you can have so much faith in something we have no reason to believe will happen.

[survivaltricks]

[drawing back, lifting his head to catch Loki's gaze with his own. he presses a hand against the other wild card's cheek]

. . . it's a charm point.

I have so much unfounded confidence.

[literal_trainwreck]

[Loki's gaze is tired]

It's a concern.

[survivaltricks]

Nah.

[NO, LUPIN. IT IS]

. . . that unfounded confidence is what gets me through the world.

[and, in his view, helps him achieve what he has achieved as a phantom thief]

[literal_trainwreck]

Unfounded confidence shatters like glass. You can never put the pieces back together again.

[speaking from experience]

[survivaltricks]

Yeah. You can.

[tracing his cheeks]

[. . . also speaking from experience]

It's just not something you do on your own.

[literal_trainwreck]

I'm trying to help you not crack in the first place.

[reaches up to capture one of his hands]

[survivaltricks]

[allowing for this!1]

It wouldn't be the first time. Probably not the last, either.

[literal_trainwreck]

If you weren't so stubborn, I could shoulder these things for you.

Some people would find that romantic.

[survivaltricks]

. . . you've shouldered enough. Haven't you?

[mister I'M DEAD AND ALSO I KNEW I WAS DEAD AND DECIDED TO TAKE DOWN THE ONE MAN THAT KEPT ME ALIVE]

[literal_trainwreck]

[IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO]

And you haven't?

[survivaltricks]

[opens mouth to say "i'm not the one who died," but. then closes his mouth quickly]

You way more than me.

[literal_trainwreck]

[ugggh that's really true]

...Tch. This conversation is pointless.

[survivaltricks]

[at that, he just laughs]

We need to blow off some steam.

Race you to the gym?