[Noel doesn't react much while Lightning goes on, only glancing off with a tired look in his eyes. Things were so much simpler with Serah here, she really was a glue that kept them all together. He frowns.]
I'm guessing she'd want us to keep on keeping on, wouldn't she. Holding it all together.
[His coffee stops boiling and Noel blows on it to take a careful taste.]
I'm angry at Snow. For being angry. I know that's wrong, but I can't help it. I don't want him hurting himself more than he already is. [And there's nothing Noel can do until Snow is ready to come back.]
I'm worried about you. You've lost enough people that have been important to you, here. [But how is he supposed to fix something like that? He can't.]
The only thing I can help is making Yeul happy and I'm worried I'm going to screw that up too.
[She means that. As much as she misses all of the people who are gone from her life now, there are a lot of people still here that matter, too. Noel included, which is why she fixes him with a rigid look.
Neither of them can do nothing to change the fact that all of them have lost people important to them at one point, so all they can do is keep moving forward, if not for themselves, then for each other.]
Yeul seems happy. She has you. If you're gonna go around being angry, then what's she got left? [A beat, and she takes a sip of her coffee.] Only way you'll screw that up is if you keep acting like this.
[He looks at her with an even look as well, though there's the slightest hint of a smile on his lips.]
What's the saying? Practice what you preach?
[Because he does worry about her. A lot. Of all the people on this entire island, she probably understands him the most. Their friendship has changed a lot over their year here. He's come to think of her well-being quite often. So, if he isn't allowed to worry, she's not allowed to worry either.]
You know. [He lets out a soft sigh.] You sound like someone else who told me something similar. Guess I do have to clean up my act.
[She's genuinely curious as to who else has told him that. Serah, maybe, but her reminder might have been a little gentler. Snow, perhaps? Do they even talk? She doesn't really know. Maybe with a fist? It's possible...]
[There's the hint of an amused glint in her eyes, somewhere between the concern and the firmness. Practice what you preach, he says... is he suggesting she, too, learn from a seven year old girl?
... Wouldn't put it past either of them.
There's a beat of silence, and while Lightning does agree with the sentiment, there's one thing she feels she needs to remind Noel and maybe, by extension, herself:]
Be happy for your sake, too. Else you can't be happy for hers.
[Kid seems wiser than her age, so...Yeah. He is. He was surprised at her simple but firm logic. And who has the heart to argue with a little kid, anyway?
He watches her as he gives a small smile and nods.]
I'll try. Thanks. Lightning.
[His coffee wafts up more gentle fresh coffee smell. Thank for more than just all of the talks over coffee or the prodding and/or scolding. For being able to relate and understand.]
[From where she's standing, Lightning has no idea what could even be the problem. As far as she's concerned, all she's doing is offering her family a shoulder to lean on when they need it, but when Noel averts his gaze from her, she can't help but crack a little smile. She gets it – it's difficult to admit these things; Lightning has enough trouble doing it herself, but she's glad that Noel is starting to open up to her, even just a bit more.]
Noel. You know that you can come to me for anything.
[Or if he ever needs an opinion that isn't coated in sugar.]
[Does he? Does he? Lightning isn't going to tease him for it, as much as she'd like to, especially with the way he glances at her and smiles like that.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
I'm guessing she'd want us to keep on keeping on, wouldn't she. Holding it all together.
[His coffee stops boiling and Noel blows on it to take a careful taste.]
I'm angry at Snow. For being angry. I know that's wrong, but I can't help it. I don't want him hurting himself more than he already is. [And there's nothing Noel can do until Snow is ready to come back.]
I'm worried about you. You've lost enough people that have been important to you, here. [But how is he supposed to fix something like that? He can't.]
The only thing I can help is making Yeul happy and I'm worried I'm going to screw that up too.
no subject
[She means that. As much as she misses all of the people who are gone from her life now, there are a lot of people still here that matter, too. Noel included, which is why she fixes him with a rigid look.
Neither of them can do nothing to change the fact that all of them have lost people important to them at one point, so all they can do is keep moving forward, if not for themselves, then for each other.]
Yeul seems happy. She has you. If you're gonna go around being angry, then what's she got left? [A beat, and she takes a sip of her coffee.] Only way you'll screw that up is if you keep acting like this.
no subject
What's the saying? Practice what you preach?
[Because he does worry about her. A lot. Of all the people on this entire island, she probably understands him the most. Their friendship has changed a lot over their year here. He's come to think of her well-being quite often. So, if he isn't allowed to worry, she's not allowed to worry either.]
You know. [He lets out a soft sigh.] You sound like someone else who told me something similar. Guess I do have to clean up my act.
no subject
[She's genuinely curious as to who else has told him that. Serah, maybe, but her reminder might have been a little gentler. Snow, perhaps? Do they even talk? She doesn't really know. Maybe with a fist? It's possible...]
Who told you that?
no subject
A seven-year-old girl. Named Alice.
[A little girl that seemed a little more wiser and a little more clever than a lot of adults he knows...]
Told her I wasn't sure I deserved Yeul. She told me I should be happy for her sake or I wouldn't.
no subject
[There's the hint of an amused glint in her eyes, somewhere between the concern and the firmness. Practice what you preach, he says... is he suggesting she, too, learn from a seven year old girl?
... Wouldn't put it past either of them.
There's a beat of silence, and while Lightning does agree with the sentiment, there's one thing she feels she needs to remind Noel and maybe, by extension, herself:]
Be happy for your sake, too. Else you can't be happy for hers.
... I learned that the hard way.
no subject
He watches her as he gives a small smile and nods.]
I'll try. Thanks. Lightning.
[His coffee wafts up more gentle fresh coffee smell. Thank for more than just all of the talks over coffee or the prodding and/or scolding. For being able to relate and understand.]
no subject
Hm? For what?
[Why do people keep thanking her for things she doesn't think she needs to be thanked for? Far as she knows, she didn't do much of anything.]
no subject
... Thanks for being able to relate and be honest with me. It helps. There's not a lot of people I can talk to like this.
no subject
Noel. You know that you can come to me for anything.
[Or if he ever needs an opinion that isn't coated in sugar.]
no subject
Yeah. I know.
[He glances at her again and smiles.]
we can probably wrap this! ♥
Drink your coffee, before it gets cold.