catch-all for march!

[pyrafect]

WHO: Pyra and various
WHERE: around crhoma
WHEN: throughout march
WHAT: A catch-all log for Pyra & Friends!
WARNINGS: nothing for now!

[ This is a catch-all log for threads with Pyra! If you would like a thread/quest (when they go up) or whatever with her, you can wildcard-sceanrio here, PM, or drinksteapots for plotting! ]

Comments

[pyrafect]

“Other people far better than me” and... “far more likely to cry over you than me.”

[ Calling. Him. Out. On that terrible little behavior of his that diminishes his own worth. She’s noticed that he’s done it enough by now to believe that it doesn’t just come from a place of humbleness.

But she’s speaking gently, leaning back up with a smile. ]

You... have difficulty accepting that others think highly of you, don’t you? As well as accepting compliments.

[ But that’s okay; one step at a time. ]

I wish that weren’t the case, but... Mm. Can’t you believe in your follower a little more, when she says that you’re amazing and good? You could say “thank you”.

Go on, try it!

Here, let me say you’re a good god. What do you say?

[ Thank you.

Sure, sure, her tone is still light and carries a little bit of a teasing nature to it, but she is serious about helping him through this. He needs a little more self-love, in her opinion. ]

[holycurse]

[It's hard, okay? His self-worth's been buried so deep for so long, every time it gets pulled up to the surface his first reaction is to hide back in the muck where it's safe.

Getting called out like this...it's hard to keep up his usual smile in the face of her persistence, to lie to someone so determined to place him back on the pedestal he'd fallen from. But habit!

Habit means it's not until he can manage to put at least a rather awkward smile back on his face that he finally brings himself to answer her.] .....Thank you.

[He even manages eye contact for half a second, before his gaze flits away again.]

[pyrafect]

[ That’s much better, she thinks, even if it might embarrass him to actually accept a compliment to his character.

Little steps, though. Little step. Yet she thinks this is actually a big step for him— big enough to warrant a...


Hug! Which she’s going to do as she laughs, delighted that he’s said “thank you” instead of dismissing good words said about him. ]

Aha~! [ Okay, sure, it’s going to be a bear hug right now, but whatever. ] There you go! That’s the way! You can’t expect others to believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself, mm? I know I said it before, but I’m so proud of you.

[holycurse]

[Alright, he hadn't expected the bearhug--there's a little noise of surprise at that, but he's a little less reluctant to return a hug than he is to give a thank you, at least.]

You talk as if I'm a child....am I really that bad?

[There's laughter in his voice as he says it, but hearing her say she's proud of him for such a simple thing (despite how simple it isn't, for him) really does remind him a little of his mother.

Hadn't he felt something similar back at that castle? Maybe she's just a really motherly person--or maybe that's just him? Hm.]

[pyrafect]

[ She releases him from the hug after emphasizing it for a few more seconds, although her hands remains on either side of his shoulders. Is she mothering him? Yes-- yes, if only because he seems like he needs a little more direction and reassurance in his life. And while she cannot help him with everything, she believes she can provide him with a little more support.

Also, from what she knows< about how healthy adults behave, they don't always believe they are less deserving than others. It's a balance. ] You just have to believe in yourself a little more, that's all. [ She says with a pat upon his shoulder, and then at last she draws away. ]

Anyways, does this make you something of an official god of Chroma?

[holycurse]

[She might be taller than him, too.....

Xie Lian nods at her comment and, freed from her embrace, begins looking around ag--no, he wrenches his gaze back to her face after a moment, scratching his cheek with a lopsided smile.]

With a setup like this, I suppose I am, haha...though I'm not sure how many people will actually bother praying to me. [Ahem.]

--This really is beautiful though! Did you build it yourself? Regardless of whether we get visitors or not, I'm sure to visit every day if I can.

[pyrafect]

[ Ah, he’s learning. ]

The structure itself, yes! I was thinking about... oh, you know, if you’re a martial god, it’s not like there are wars for others to pray to you about in the first place. But, if nothing else, I thought placing this shrine near the woods would be good— because one would need protection from any hostile beasts that can be encountered within.

As for the statue itself... have you met Saber? She is the same kind of spirit as Archer, but she’s also an emperor and an artist. [ Her tone softens noticeably as she speaks of Nero; she really can’t hide her gratefulness and admiration . ]

[holycurse]

Saber...ah, she sang a song for me once, I recall. [Does she introduce herself as an emperor and artist to everyone she meets, then? Not that he'd be surprised, royalty can be like that--

But he looks over at the statue again, marveling.] Are you saying she built it, then? I must say she's exceptionally talented...but such work must have cost something. Was it a lot? Is it anything I can help you with?

[In the end, the trouble she went through to put this shrine together is the important thing here.]

[pyrafect]

Well.... [ She smiles, faintly embarrassed and lost. ] I'm not sure what exactly there is to do now that there is this shrine.

What do you have to do all day, anyway, now that it's built? Stay here and wait for people to come pray to you.

[ .... ]

Should we build, ah, ..something like an on-call room? Like they have for doctors in the hospital!

[holycurse]

Aha, well, I certainly could stay and wait here...there's really no need for another room though, considering I've already got a place to stay nearby. [He holds up a hand as he speaks, still a little embarrassed by her enthusiasm.

Which he shouldn't be! He's a god! Enthusiastic followers are normal! But feelings are hard to control, especially when the follower in question is...Pyra.]

I'll make sure to come here every day regardless, and small as the town is, it should be easy enough to answer whenever someone makes a prayer.

[pyrafect]

[ So... what... does that mean that prayers just float around the air until he comes to the shrine and picks them and picks them out of the smoke? ]

...Oh! Should they be writing their prayers down on paper for you to read when you do come by, then?

[holycurse]

[Sshh it'd god magic or something, they don't explain that in the book]

Oh no, it's fine! I'll receive their prayers regardless--hearing it in person or getting it on paper is helpful, but certainly not necessary.

[To be more accurate he doesn't want her to go to any more trouble than she has.....]