๏ผ his track record of putting his faith in those with power has been pocked with betrayal. perhaps he shouldn't. perhaps he wouldn't, if things had gone differently. but her reaction to him at the first, and their subsequent rapport... if he is retreading old mistakes, it is with a clearer and settled mind.
he has always wanted to have belief in others. to trust. it was the cruelties of a wartorn world that took those things from him, and he is learning to claw them back. he wants to have faith, and has decided to put that faith in her unflinching. ๏ผ
She and I had a rather... curious beginning. Without it, I do not think I would have trusted her so readily.
[It goes a long way, Itachi's trust. He'd be stupid not to know by now how precious a thing it is. That Viveca has earned it speaks highly of her character.
It's a response that catches his attention though, and he tilts his head slightly.]
Curious? [Possibly it's too personal to share, but in that case he trusts his friend to simply say as much.]
๏ผ there is amusement there, dogging the heels of his words. ๏ผ
Not intending to — in my ignorance I asked if she had been human once. She took that to mean that I could not trust a machine. We had something of a disagreement in what followed, and perhaps an exchange of veiled threats.
๏ผ it is not a perfectly accurate representation of his conversation with viveca, but it is the one he offers. what words they exchanged were personal, and while he does not mind imparting the spirit of their discussion he will not offer the letter. ๏ผ
Once it became clear that I was not asking the question as some cruel jibe, we arrived at an understanding with one-another. I told her then I would keep my theories about her prior existence to myself, and she... ๏ผ he reaches up, briefly, and drags the tips of his fingers against his cheekbone, just below his eye. ๏ผ Assisted me in overcoming the illness that had claimed my life in my home.
[In the wake of his explanation, Wei Wuxian doesn't immediately respond. A thoughtful look crosses his features and eventually he shakes his head back and forth, exhaling a huff of amusement.]
You have a habit of befriending your enemies, don't you? [He raises a hand before Itachi can interject and adds] At least here. Not that Viveca was your enemy, but you know what I mean. [He grins lightly at Itachi, and doesn't voice the question that's plaguing him now.
He hadn't known Itachi had died from an illness. Given what he knows of Itachi's life, it's honestly a little bit shocking. Still, as curious as he is about that new bit of information, now doesn't seem the right time to ask.]
๏ผ it's rare that he's caught so entirely off-guard that he's stunned to speechlessness. he is silent for a time, brows drawn down in disconcertion, and then — ๏ผ
[His smile dims for just a moment before he catches it. Wei Wuxian's sure that if it had been an option for Itachi in his home world, he'd have taken peace.
It would be a foolish thing to bring up Itachi's comparison to the Darkling again so he doesn't. Still, it's all just further proof to Wei Wuxian that they aren't the same kind of man, no matter what lies in Itachi's past. When he's given the option, Itachi chooses peace. The betrayal between them lies as the single outlier, and even that hadn't been an act of outright violence despite how capable he'd have been of it. He could have just as easily fulfilled his goal with a violent act.
It makes his heart ache deeply for his friend, because it settles something in him that he's suspected for some time. Whatever Itachi did—whatever atrocities lay in his past—he was backed into a corner and robbed of choice.
But he says none of that, only shoots his friend an affection filled smile.]
And yet here you are, acting as my better conscience. [And since there is a compliment threatening to spill from his lips—the kind that he knows Itachi will hate, he bites his tongue and looks in the direction of the door instead.]
Just don't befriend too many of them. I don't need the competition.
๏ผ there is a sharp awareness that exists between them, honed to the edge of an impossible knife. itachi knows — can guess — what passes through the man's mind in what follows, and he sets his jaw stubbornly, feeling more vulnerable now than he can recall ever being in his presence. even on his knees, bent to the floor in obeisance, he had not felt so seen. ๏ผ
I will endeavour to keep the number suitably low, for your sake.
๏ผ it's a joke, mostly because he does not care to examine the matter closely enough to respond with any measure of seriousness. ๏ผ
Good, thank you. [Flippant and not at all sincere. He's too close to the edge of something that will throw them both off balance if they tip over, and so he takes care not to test it.]
Alright. I should get back. [There's nothing to get back to, but he doesn't like overstaying his welcome even if Itachi always gives him a look if he suggests that's what he's doing. He rises to his feet and pats invisible dust from his robes.]
I'll let you know if I learn anything else, and I'll do my best not to punch anyone for now. Unless they deserve it.
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no subject
๏ผ his track record of putting his faith in those with power has been pocked with betrayal. perhaps he shouldn't. perhaps he wouldn't, if things had gone differently. but her reaction to him at the first, and their subsequent rapport... if he is retreading old mistakes, it is with a clearer and settled mind.
he has always wanted to have belief in others. to trust. it was the cruelties of a wartorn world that took those things from him, and he is learning to claw them back. he wants to have faith, and has decided to put that faith in her unflinching. ๏ผ
She and I had a rather... curious beginning. Without it, I do not think I would have trusted her so readily.
no subject
It's a response that catches his attention though, and he tilts his head slightly.]
Curious? [Possibly it's too personal to share, but in that case he trusts his friend to simply say as much.]
no subject
๏ผ there is amusement there, dogging the heels of his words. ๏ผ
Not intending to — in my ignorance I asked if she had been human once. She took that to mean that I could not trust a machine. We had something of a disagreement in what followed, and perhaps an exchange of veiled threats.
๏ผ it is not a perfectly accurate representation of his conversation with viveca, but it is the one he offers. what words they exchanged were personal, and while he does not mind imparting the spirit of their discussion he will not offer the letter. ๏ผ
Once it became clear that I was not asking the question as some cruel jibe, we arrived at an understanding with one-another. I told her then I would keep my theories about her prior existence to myself, and she... ๏ผ he reaches up, briefly, and drags the tips of his fingers against his cheekbone, just below his eye. ๏ผ Assisted me in overcoming the illness that had claimed my life in my home.
no subject
You have a habit of befriending your enemies, don't you? [He raises a hand before Itachi can interject and adds] At least here. Not that Viveca was your enemy, but you know what I mean. [He grins lightly at Itachi, and doesn't voice the question that's plaguing him now.
He hadn't known Itachi had died from an illness. Given what he knows of Itachi's life, it's honestly a little bit shocking. Still, as curious as he is about that new bit of information, now doesn't seem the right time to ask.]
no subject
๏ผ it's rare that he's caught so entirely off-guard that he's stunned to speechlessness. he is silent for a time, brows drawn down in disconcertion, and then — ๏ผ
It was never an option in my home.
๏ผ is what he finally offers, discomfited. ๏ผ
no subject
It would be a foolish thing to bring up Itachi's comparison to the Darkling again so he doesn't. Still, it's all just further proof to Wei Wuxian that they aren't the same kind of man, no matter what lies in Itachi's past. When he's given the option, Itachi chooses peace. The betrayal between them lies as the single outlier, and even that hadn't been an act of outright violence despite how capable he'd have been of it. He could have just as easily fulfilled his goal with a violent act.
It makes his heart ache deeply for his friend, because it settles something in him that he's suspected for some time. Whatever Itachi did—whatever atrocities lay in his past—he was backed into a corner and robbed of choice.
But he says none of that, only shoots his friend an affection filled smile.]
And yet here you are, acting as my better conscience. [And since there is a compliment threatening to spill from his lips—the kind that he knows Itachi will hate, he bites his tongue and looks in the direction of the door instead.]
Just don't befriend too many of them. I don't need the competition.
no subject
I will endeavour to keep the number suitably low, for your sake.
๏ผ it's a joke, mostly because he does not care to examine the matter closely enough to respond with any measure of seriousness. ๏ผ
no subject
Alright. I should get back. [There's nothing to get back to, but he doesn't like overstaying his welcome even if Itachi always gives him a look if he suggests that's what he's doing. He rises to his feet and pats invisible dust from his robes.]
I'll let you know if I learn anything else, and I'll do my best not to punch anyone for now. Unless they deserve it.