[Any other occasion, Lyney would lean fully into the dramatics, go into every detail of his horrible, awful, no-good day, just to get it out of his system as well as milk a bit of sympathy from Heizou. But today, he simply slumps forward a bit, that frown remaining on his face. He stops kneading the pillow, instead gripping at it a little hard.]
...I saw someone from back home. Someone... I'd rather never see again.
[The book Heizou was reading has mysteriously disappeared, freeing up his hands to instead be able to press over Lyney's. Not forcing him to release the pillow from that death grip, but simply offering them as an alternative to press into.]
They showed up here?
[This does surprise Heizou, though. What are the odds of something like that happening?]
[He says it lowly, bitterly. This tone is one Heizou probably hasn't heard since their encounter on Norhpip.]
He just.... was his usual self. Smug, arrogant, acting all polite and friendly, as if his title actually meant something other than just a formality the Iudex handed him. And then he has the audacity to demand I show him around to find a place that serves his damned tea, like a glorified tour guide! Unbelievable...
[He scowls, shaking his head.]
I messaged Freminet and Lynette once I was finally rid of him, but they don't seem to see how big of a problem this is. This isn't something I can just... move on from. Not after what he did...
[Oh, he's full-on ranting now. He may have lost Heizou in his ramblings, but it's clear he's been holding all of this in for a while.]
[Heizou listens intently, rubbing his thumbs across Lyney's knuckles over and over to help soothe him. It's very easy to tell how deeply this encounter has rattled the magician, and it makes Heizou's brow knit together in concern. A person of high position from Fontaine? Who had some awful history with all of the siblings - so possibly the Hearth on a whole. So someone who knows that they are Fatui. Someone who must have acted on that fact...
He scoots in closer, actually pressing up against Lyney a bit now. Something supportive to keep him grounded.]
Tell me. What did he do?
[He doesn't say "to you." No no, he knows Lyney far too well now. This man clearly did something involving at least one of his siblings, crossing a line in a way Lyney cannot abide.]
[Heizou knows Lyney well, and can probably tell how Lyney bristles as he recalls what that man did. He grips the pillow tight enough that his nails begin to dig into the fabric.]
That man... humiliated me. He held my siblings hostage and dangled their safety above my head, all just so he can force me to play his twisted game and give me an impossible choice. And I don't doubt that he enjoyed it on some level.
[He spits the words out through gritted teeth, but he blinks quickly to keep any moisture out of his eyes.]
My siblings, or Father... How am I supposed to make a choice like that..? And what, just for a meeting? That couldn't be all he wanted. He just wanted to see me slip up..!
[He continues to offer what little comfort he can to Lyney in this moment, his razor-sharp focus on the way the magician all but hisses and spits, every word dripping with disdain. Heizou really does know Lyney too well now, what with the way he can see how deeply these events cut into him, and how long this anger has been left to simmer deep below the surface. This is no average grudge.
Heizou reaches up to cup Lyney's face, letting his thumbs caress gently over his cheeks as though trying to catch invisible tears.]
Did this man hurt you or your siblings? Was he looking to hurt the Knave?
[Not that the answer to this will change Lyney's view of things; Heizou knows that all too well. But as an outside party Heizou wants as many facts as he can get so he can have a better grasp of the situation. He wants to be able to make his own call as well. Still, his tone remains soft, understanding and sympathetic toward Lyney.]
[Heizou blinks, surprised by the outburst. But he stays right where he is, otherwise unflinching, still cupping Lyney's face carefully like he's something fragile and precious. Maintaining this bit of contact like it's a lifeline that's been thrown out for him. He tries to search the magician's eyes as well, as if he can find the answers he's looking for in there somewhere while he waits for Lyney to use his words.
And when he finally does, Heizou carefully brushes some hair out of his eyes and offers him an understanding smile.]
Acknowledging that must hurt you quite a lot, too. To know it's efficient but cruel... And then to be on the receiving end... It's always awful.
[Very gently, Heizou continues to smooth Lyney's hair back into place. Soft and diligent and caring.]
So then is there something you want from him that might help you? An apology or some sort of... compensation, for lack of a better word?
[Finally. Heizou just smiles, gently maneuvering them both around a bit so that Lyney is leaning against him in a way that's comfortable. He doesn't even take away the pillow, leaving it for Lyney to knead and claw at for comfort's sake. But once they're both nice and comfortable, Heizou goes back to fixing Lyney's hair, even gently starting to undo his little side braid.]
I don't believe you have. That's the underwater prison you have in Fontaine, yes?
[He's heard of it before, and Lyney has probably mentioned it in passing. Maybe during one of the times they were showing each other their nations over their scryglasses. It's information Heizou filed away for another time, being something that sounded interesting to him. Though now he thinks maybe it's a good thing he'd waited so long to ask.]
[Lyney nods slowly, curling up closer to Heizou. He hardly notices Heizou messing with his hair, his gaze faraway as he vaguely registers the actions as soothing. Finally, he takes a deep breath and begins to speak.]
It was... before the prophecy came to pass. Father tasked us with investigating the Fortress of Meropide, and the Duke who oversees it. She had reason to believe something related to the prophecy was down there, and wanted us to find out what it was. So, we staged a magic show with the intent of ending us up with a prison sentence that would be long enough for us to conduct an investigation. Thinking it over, it almost seemed too easy.
[Heizou is quiet as he listens, taking his time to comb back Lyney's hair before sectioning parts out to be braided. Gentle and slow and easy, nodding along with the story and filing everything away carefully. If it's important to Lyney, it's important to Heizou, and he always wants to know what's going on.]
Mmm. And so you got I'm to conduct your investigation... And what did you find? Was your Father's hunch well founded?
[His voice remains soft and soothing as he speaks, no judgment or anything. Just a familiar desire to understand, to help where he can, to support his beloved.]
Well, at first we didn't find anything. All we knew was that all of our informants, including those who managed to infiltrate the Gardes, had mysteriously vanished. That, and Master Childe, who had currently been imprisoned there as well, had vanished as well. So while we were down there, we had quite a lot on our plate to investigate; what happened to our informants, what happened to Master Childe, and what secrets could lay in the Fortress's "forbidden zone". Fortunately, it seems that The Traveller also happened to be serving a sentence down there, and so we teamed up to try and find some answers.
[He does his best to relax under Heizou's ministrations, but the more he talks, the tenser his shoulders get.]
Eventually, we managed to track down the most likely path Master Childe could have taken, through a flooded tunnel. It was agreed that Freminet would investigate the flooded tunnel, and I would assist him there while Lynette continued gathering information for us.
[His shoulders hunch a bit, and he hugs the pillow closer.]
But that's... where things went wrong. Lynette was supposed to meet us in the infirmary, but she missed our rendezvous. Instead, I find a note from the Duke himself. He knew about what we were doing, and what our motives were. And when I confronted him about it...
[His nails claw into the pillow.]
...that smug bastard dangled their safety in front of me.
[Deft fingers work their way through the fair locks of Lyney's hair, carefully weaving the sections into a neat braid along the side of his head. Heizou can feel the way tension tightens Lyney's shoulders again, and it makes him pause what he's doing for a moment, just long enough to gently pinch and rub at the lobe of Lyney's ear. As if the little action could help soothe him, just like a small animal.]
...But the Traveler being with you... Surely that must've helped somewhat, right?
[The Traveler has A Way with these things, after all. Even before they arrived in Inazuma - and long after they'd left - the tales of their adventures and good deeds are never far from Heizou's ears.]
Unless the Duke's reasoning seemed beyond even their reach?
You'd think that was the case! But all it did was make the Duke pull us into his stupid, twisted game of riddles.
[He's all but spitting the words, a deep scowl on his face. There might be some bias in Lyney's words, because he's speaking a lot more with his emotions than with logic, or even the cold detachment he had spoken of his past with Heizou.]
He has Lynette locked up gods know where, and had locked the door to the flooded tunnel, effectively stranding Freminet out in the sea. In the end, he gave me a choice; their safety for a meeting with Father.
[Lyney lets out a short, almost hysterical chuckle.]
How was I supposed to choose?? Father, or my siblings... Hah, that's like asking to choose to give up magic, or give up my Vision... And that bastard thought he was being merciful.
[It's so rare that Heizou gets to see Lyney like this. On the one hand, it's good to know that he's trusted enough for this to even happen. He's happy to see every side of Lyney that hides behind his polite, cheerful masks. But on the other, he hates that something could push him this far in the first place.
Heizou hums softly in understanding and continues his braiding.]
He must have thought there was no better way to negotiate with you. And I suppose someone who's used to dealing with no one but criminals may truly believe that kind of cruel manipulation to be kind in comparison.
[His voice is low and even when he speaks. Not trying to convince Lyney of anything necessarily, just offering another perspective for him to take or leave. He wants to understand the situation better, but more than anything he wants to help calm Lyney back down.]
[Lyney scoffs, but funnily enough, he doesn't refute Heizou's point. The worst part about it all, was... he could see the reasoning behind Wriothesley's actions. Honestly, he could even see himself using the same tactics were their roles reversed. No, he's not mad at the actions per se, but... moreso the fact he'd been so easily exposed. His weakness found out so easily, his masks trodden on so effectively. He was perceived, bis bluffs called. And Lyney hadn't liked the helplessness that came with that.]
[Maybe Heizou can intuit that on his own. Maybe Lyney will be able to explain it sometime, when his emotions aren't as out of whack as they are right now.]
[Instead, he sighs, shaking his head.]
In the end, I... tried to rush him. His head nurse had to tranquilize me to subdue me.
[Heizou almost - almost - chuckles at the admission. Just because... that truly does sound just like his Lyney. Just based on the way they'd fought on Norhpip alone, he can so clearly see the way Lyney would toss logic aside in favor of protective - or vindictive - instinct. It had even happened a bit during the argument they'd had when Lyney finally told Heizou the truth; one negative insinuation about his family had made Lyney's hackles raise right up.]
Man alive. He really must've made you feel backed into a corner to resort to that.
[He can tell what part of all this bothered Lyney the most. He can see it in the way Lyney huffs and sighs, in the way he doesn't respond to certain points being made. But that's okay with Heizou. He's always been good at understanding things without needing to be explicitly told. It's what makes him such a good detective. Even if it's also gotten him into trouble before...]
[Heizou is very perceptive, and it's one of the t hings Lyney loves about the man. Even if it gets Heizou some odd looks with others, what's life without a little trouble?]
Oh, I sure did. That little nurse is pleasant, but I don't think a Melusine has ever made me jumpy before.
[He takes another breath and lets out a sigh.]
I know we all messed up that mission, but... I'm the oldest. How can I not blame myself for what happened? And seeing him, it just... reminds me of that awful day.
[He finishes off Lyney's little braid with an expert twist of his fingers, and then lets his fingers comb through other parts of his hair. The touch slow and gentle and soothing, keeping the hair out of Lyney's face so that Heizou can really look at him, patiently observing him while he lets out his feelings.]
Things happen, Lyney. It doesn't sound like any of you even made any real mistakes. The situation may not have been what you expected, but you made the best plan you could based on what you knew. Just because something doesn't go according to plan doesn't make it your fault.
[Heizou gently raises Lyney's chin so that their eyes can meet. And he gives the other a firm, but understanding look.]
You don't have to forgive the Duke for what he did or how he did it. But you should forgive yourself for being caught off guard.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
book2thehead
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Date: 22 Dec 2025 06:49 (UTC)And what spoiled your mood so terribly, mon couer? Something I can help with, I hope?
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Date: 23 Dec 2025 01:56 (UTC)...I saw someone from back home. Someone... I'd rather never see again.
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Date: 23 Dec 2025 02:38 (UTC)They showed up here?
[This does surprise Heizou, though. What are the odds of something like that happening?]
What happened when you saw them?
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Date: 27 Dec 2025 23:52 (UTC)[He says it lowly, bitterly. This tone is one Heizou probably hasn't heard since their encounter on Norhpip.]
He just.... was his usual self. Smug, arrogant, acting all polite and friendly, as if his title actually meant something other than just a formality the Iudex handed him. And then he has the audacity to demand I show him around to find a place that serves his damned tea, like a glorified tour guide! Unbelievable...
[He scowls, shaking his head.]
I messaged Freminet and Lynette once I was finally rid of him, but they don't seem to see how big of a problem this is. This isn't something I can just... move on from. Not after what he did...
[Oh, he's full-on ranting now. He may have lost Heizou in his ramblings, but it's clear he's been holding all of this in for a while.]
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Date: 28 Dec 2025 07:43 (UTC)He scoots in closer, actually pressing up against Lyney a bit now. Something supportive to keep him grounded.]
Tell me. What did he do?
[He doesn't say "to you." No no, he knows Lyney far too well now. This man clearly did something involving at least one of his siblings, crossing a line in a way Lyney cannot abide.]
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Date: 30 Dec 2025 22:55 (UTC)That man... humiliated me. He held my siblings hostage and dangled their safety above my head, all just so he can force me to play his twisted game and give me an impossible choice. And I don't doubt that he enjoyed it on some level.
[He spits the words out through gritted teeth, but he blinks quickly to keep any moisture out of his eyes.]
My siblings, or Father... How am I supposed to make a choice like that..? And what, just for a meeting? That couldn't be all he wanted. He just wanted to see me slip up..!
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Date: 31 Dec 2025 03:28 (UTC)Heizou reaches up to cup Lyney's face, letting his thumbs caress gently over his cheeks as though trying to catch invisible tears.]
Did this man hurt you or your siblings? Was he looking to hurt the Knave?
[Not that the answer to this will change Lyney's view of things; Heizou knows that all too well. But as an outside party Heizou wants as many facts as he can get so he can have a better grasp of the situation. He wants to be able to make his own call as well. Still, his tone remains soft, understanding and sympathetic toward Lyney.]
Do I need to have a word with this man myself?
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Date: 1 Jan 2026 22:27 (UTC)[Lyney says it so sharply, and turns so suddenly to Heizou, that it actually surprises him a bit. He shivers, before shaking his head.]
No, you don't... you don't have to do anything. It's fine.
[He falls silent for a bit, once again kneading at the pillow in his grip. Then, slowly, a weak chuckle escapes him.]
You know what's funny? I can't even blame him for his methods. I would have the done the same, if I was in his shoes.
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Date: 1 Jan 2026 23:15 (UTC)And when he finally does, Heizou carefully brushes some hair out of his eyes and offers him an understanding smile.]
Acknowledging that must hurt you quite a lot, too. To know it's efficient but cruel... And then to be on the receiving end... It's always awful.
[Very gently, Heizou continues to smooth Lyney's hair back into place. Soft and diligent and caring.]
So then is there something you want from him that might help you? An apology or some sort of... compensation, for lack of a better word?
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Date: 2 Jan 2026 00:20 (UTC)I'm... honestly I don't know.
[Lyney closes his eyes, and finally curls into Heizou's side a bit more.]
I... didn't tell you about when my siblings and I went to Meropide, did I?
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Date: 2 Jan 2026 01:53 (UTC)I don't believe you have. That's the underwater prison you have in Fontaine, yes?
[He's heard of it before, and Lyney has probably mentioned it in passing. Maybe during one of the times they were showing each other their nations over their scryglasses. It's information Heizou filed away for another time, being something that sounded interesting to him. Though now he thinks maybe it's a good thing he'd waited so long to ask.]
Tell me now?
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Date: 3 Jan 2026 21:29 (UTC)It was... before the prophecy came to pass. Father tasked us with investigating the Fortress of Meropide, and the Duke who oversees it. She had reason to believe something related to the prophecy was down there, and wanted us to find out what it was. So, we staged a magic show with the intent of ending us up with a prison sentence that would be long enough for us to conduct an investigation. Thinking it over, it almost seemed too easy.
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Date: 4 Jan 2026 04:22 (UTC)Mmm. And so you got I'm to conduct your investigation... And what did you find? Was your Father's hunch well founded?
[His voice remains soft and soothing as he speaks, no judgment or anything. Just a familiar desire to understand, to help where he can, to support his beloved.]
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Date: 4 Jan 2026 04:56 (UTC)[He does his best to relax under Heizou's ministrations, but the more he talks, the tenser his shoulders get.]
Eventually, we managed to track down the most likely path Master Childe could have taken, through a flooded tunnel. It was agreed that Freminet would investigate the flooded tunnel, and I would assist him there while Lynette continued gathering information for us.
[His shoulders hunch a bit, and he hugs the pillow closer.]
But that's... where things went wrong. Lynette was supposed to meet us in the infirmary, but she missed our rendezvous. Instead, I find a note from the Duke himself. He knew about what we were doing, and what our motives were. And when I confronted him about it...
[His nails claw into the pillow.]
...that smug bastard dangled their safety in front of me.
no subject
Date: 4 Jan 2026 20:24 (UTC)...But the Traveler being with you... Surely that must've helped somewhat, right?
[The Traveler has A Way with these things, after all. Even before they arrived in Inazuma - and long after they'd left - the tales of their adventures and good deeds are never far from Heizou's ears.]
Unless the Duke's reasoning seemed beyond even their reach?
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Date: 10 Jan 2026 21:23 (UTC)[He's all but spitting the words, a deep scowl on his face. There might be some bias in Lyney's words, because he's speaking a lot more with his emotions than with logic, or even the cold detachment he had spoken of his past with Heizou.]
He has Lynette locked up gods know where, and had locked the door to the flooded tunnel, effectively stranding Freminet out in the sea. In the end, he gave me a choice; their safety for a meeting with Father.
[Lyney lets out a short, almost hysterical chuckle.]
How was I supposed to choose?? Father, or my siblings... Hah, that's like asking to choose to give up magic, or give up my Vision... And that bastard thought he was being merciful.
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Date: 13 Jan 2026 21:41 (UTC)Heizou hums softly in understanding and continues his braiding.]
He must have thought there was no better way to negotiate with you. And I suppose someone who's used to dealing with no one but criminals may truly believe that kind of cruel manipulation to be kind in comparison.
[His voice is low and even when he speaks. Not trying to convince Lyney of anything necessarily, just offering another perspective for him to take or leave. He wants to understand the situation better, but more than anything he wants to help calm Lyney back down.]
What did you do, in the end?
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Date: 19 Jan 2026 01:38 (UTC)[Maybe Heizou can intuit that on his own. Maybe Lyney will be able to explain it sometime, when his emotions aren't as out of whack as they are right now.]
[Instead, he sighs, shaking his head.]
In the end, I... tried to rush him. His head nurse had to tranquilize me to subdue me.
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Date: 21 Jan 2026 04:45 (UTC)Man alive. He really must've made you feel backed into a corner to resort to that.
[He can tell what part of all this bothered Lyney the most. He can see it in the way Lyney huffs and sighs, in the way he doesn't respond to certain points being made. But that's okay with Heizou. He's always been good at understanding things without needing to be explicitly told. It's what makes him such a good detective. Even if it's also gotten him into trouble before...]
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Date: 24 Jan 2026 04:14 (UTC)Oh, I sure did. That little nurse is pleasant, but I don't think a Melusine has ever made me jumpy before.
[He takes another breath and lets out a sigh.]
I know we all messed up that mission, but... I'm the oldest. How can I not blame myself for what happened? And seeing him, it just... reminds me of that awful day.
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Date: 24 Jan 2026 07:02 (UTC)Things happen, Lyney. It doesn't sound like any of you even made any real mistakes. The situation may not have been what you expected, but you made the best plan you could based on what you knew. Just because something doesn't go according to plan doesn't make it your fault.
[Heizou gently raises Lyney's chin so that their eyes can meet. And he gives the other a firm, but understanding look.]
You don't have to forgive the Duke for what he did or how he did it. But you should forgive yourself for being caught off guard.