bindsthedead | Ximilia inbox

[Blue's fingers gently close over Sabriel's, his eyes never leaving her face.]

...What does this mean?

I don't know. But as I was doing it... I felt the orb, pulling at me. But I don't understand why- surely, keeping the crew alive and trying to make it whole is in its interest?

[The orb wants chaos, and seems uninterested in the ethical and philosophical issues that might cause someone to object to necromancy.]

...

[Blue doesn't answer immediately, falling into a troubled silence for a few beats. his gaze drifts away from her, down to their hands.]

For my sake...you've done yourself such a danger.

Sabriel... I wish you hadn't. Even though...I am grateful.

I-

[Sabriel's not sure what to say.]

I'm not sorry about what I did. Even if I should be... I'm not. You- you're my friend. How could I just let you die?

[he understands. he really does. even without his psionics, he understands that feeling; he's felt it himself many times.

just not...on the receiving end like this. this part is novel.]

The cost of doing so... [he closes his eyes.] I can't ask you to bear...more burdens...just to keep me alive.

There's so little I can do left now.

But... You're still alive. So until it's your time-

[Like it isn't already, and all Sabriel's done is delay it slightly.

Except everything and everyone will eventually pass. If she's given Blue even a few more weeks of happiness, and a more peaceful death than bleeding out to someone's bullet, she won't regret that.]

Live.

[unbidden, a couple tears roll down his cheeks. there's anger in him for his state - a brilliance of power trapped in a failing, failing form. he can't even feel it right now, that brilliance...it's made the world so much colder, darker, and lonelier.

his fingers squeeze a little tighter on hers.]

It should've...been someone else. Sabriel. The price you have to pay...

[he isn't worth that cost, he's certain.]

It's paid, and complaining won't get it back.

[Sabriel squeezes back, offering a reassuring smile.]

If absolutely necessary... I'll make another bargain. But... I have no idea what the price would be.

[he shakes his head a little, dismayed by her resolve - not that she has it, but that she has to have it at all.

she's so young. legacy or not, she...shouldn't...]

The cost...falls upon the one raised, too.

But- why? You didn't have a choice! It was all my doing!

[This was Sabriel's doing, Sabriel's choice- why should Blue be punished, for choices she made herself?]

Because it wasn't...all your doing. Viveca has said...the orbs' power was in play. In your act. In what restored me.

But- I didn't call on its power. I was using my own abilities to mend your body and put your spirit back in. The orb didn't help me, it just- pulled at me.

[he lifts his head enough to peer at her through his bangs. his eyes are tired, dimmer than they usually are. the psionic glimmer is absent entirely.]

And it pulled...pieces of me out, I suppose. I'm not whole anymore. That's my price.

She says...there will always...be a price.

Why though? We weren't drawing on its power- if anything, keeping you alive was helping it become whole. So why was there a cost?

I don't...have that answer for you. I don't know.

I don't know.

I'll talk to Viveca about it. She probably knows the answer, even if she won't volunteer it.

[Blue just breathes out a faint, acknowledging sound, his grip going slack.]

Do as you will, Sabriel.

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