[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.
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book2thehead
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?
no subject
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.
no subject
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?
no subject
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.
no subject
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...]
no subject
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.
no subject
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.