[ well, when he finds giyuu, he can find him already roughed up (and vaguely bruised) by another person as he storms right up to him. clearly someone else had a few choice words with him, too, and that's fine...?? if either of them came at him with a knife, it would have been totally valid. ]
I have no more intentions of lying if I can help it.
[ giyuu doesn't look away from dimitri as he answers him if anything he wants to make sure that things haven't rattled him too much... or something like that. ]
...but I don't know what is happening. [ he clenches his hands and signs of frustration cross his face. ] We were all supposed to go home, I was sure of that.
[ Was it Shinobu? It's probably Shinobu. Who else would beat him to the literal punch like this. He narrows his eyes, but his frustration feels aimless—if the ritual on the island was truly over, then weren't they all free of its influence? Would it be a false lead to keep tugging the same string?
He bristles, uncertain but careful not to let it show. ]
Not everyone from the island is present here... I have to assume that they returned safely.
giyuu watches dimitri carefully but ultimately does end up looking away. old habits die hard and he can only face dimitri for so long when he knows there's an angry without a proper outlet to channel it through. ]
We should think that way unless given reason to think otherwise.
[ no reason to stress out about what could have happened to them? okay, plenty of reason but they should also focus on there here and now. ]
It seems like the rest of those who are here came from a similar situation as us.
[ If nothing else, Dimitri nods at what Giyuu's saying now. It's all true, isn't it? They can't afford to unravel worrying about the worst case scenarios for the others, not when there are so many people to contend with here. ]
It does seem that way... All with circumstances slightly different from our own.
[ He notices that Giyuu's gaze dips away, though he keeps his eyes solidly on him with a slightly aggrieved sigh. ]
But the curse—the voice. We vanquished it, surely. Could it be another force entirely?
[ giyuu is quick to quash any doubts dimitri has about the voice of that wretched island. ]
That voice is no longer. I'm sure of it.
[ there's a sharpness and anger to his words that makes it definite. he doesn't want to be chained to something that brought pain to so many people so pointlessly. it's over—dimitri broke the cycle and the curse. afterwards, the frustration leaves him and he lifts his gaze just so. ]
Something else had to have brought us all here. [ unless it's a combination of everything they have all dealt with.... and for that single thought alone he's tired. ] If the pattern is the same as before, then we'll get more information sooner than we'd like.
[ Giyuu may have lied and manipulated them because of what the island had done, but his emotions had never felt so falsified. Was it genuine anger that flashes in him now? True and sincere regret?
It is impossibly hard to read other people. So much of him feels a sting of sympathy, but he tries to keep neutral. ]
Right... it wasn't long after we'd arrived that we learned of the ritual's conditions. Though I doubt it will be precisely the same here.
[ They may not even have to play this 'game' at all, this time. ]
...Whatever passed between us all before, I do not wish to kill again.
[ if dimitri has a hard time keeping neutral, then giyuu can pick up the slack by allowing his emotions to stay even. ]
A few day's time, likely. If whatever here is just as cruel and twisted as what bound us to the island, then I doubt it would want to wait for long.
[ as the matter of killing...
giyuu takes his time to respond because it's true. he doesn't want anyone to kill if they don't have to. it's likely to be the thought of the collective people here. of course, some are going to be more inclined to pick up a blade than most but then there are people who also shouldn't be here in the first place. ]
[ The whole space is ominous in a different way, but was it threatening? It's hard to know when so many people here are strangers, and he doesn't even know what a bus is.
Could it really mean them just as much ill will as the island did? The ritual was so cruel and full of malice... Could they escape that, here?
He blinks out of his thoughts, lips thinned together. Giyuu?? That's definitely not fine and definitely does not go unnoticed. ]
That goes for you as well, Giyuu.
[ He's not as softspoken as he was at their camp in the jungle, his eyes sharp and words firm. ]
[ caught, huh? he doesn't look away from dimitri as he speaks and keeps his voice even but not emotionless. ]
I'm not going to be moved to kill anyone here just to fulfill any kind of rite or based on a lofty promise.
[ just to put that out there and make things clear. giyuu is far from going to allow himself to be made or turned into a murder machine just because someone or something promises them they can go free for the exchange of a few lives. been there and done that—he hates to see it.
though, before he continues, he allows silence to fill in the space for words that don't come easy. they're likely words that won't be believed but it's fine. if dimitri shrugs them off then it changes nothing about giyuu's resolve. ]
...but I've done enough to you and the others.
[ dimitri told him repent with his life to protecting that kindness he saw in someone else, right? well, why can't he use it here as well? ]
[ Because Tanjiro's kindness isn't here. Dimitri's doesn't even begin to compare. His lips thin together, expression shuddered for a moment.
It'd be better if he didn't get involved in this. Why couldn't he just stop caring and leave and let things be? Instead, he continues these strained conversations, mulling on the right things to say, as though there is a right thing. ]
You...
[ Being brought here really made a mess of everything. But after wrestling with himself a moment, he can't just leave. ]
We all did so much to each other. It wasn't just you.
[ For a 'happy' ending, they had hurt each other so much. ]
[ somewhere someone could wax poetic about how happiness cannot be known without experiencing pain because without pain one would never know the joy of happiness...
but that's just gonna be there in metatext for the moment as giyuu continues to refrain from having his emotions show on his face, if only out of learned habit. ]
The root of it was me—the me that was under the influence of the island, but me nevertheless.
[ he says it plainly because it has been what so many have expressed to him in ways that he could even understand. some, rachel, have said it to directly to his face. the next thing he says could be followed up with a mention at the differences of their ages but the difference between them is that wide. ]
There's a weight you carry, but there's no need for you to carry any more than what is already there.
[ Maybe it's true that Giyuu was the vehicle by which they all suffered. That he, specifically, has something special to atone for. If Dimitri had arrived with his dagger still gripped in his palm, he is not sure he would have been able to keep it sheathed.
But as it stands, he shakes his head. ]
You were the root of the evil we suffered. But you're wrong— [ his words stagger. my friend, he would have said once before. ]
This is a weight we'll all share, Giyuu. I know you think yourself a pillar, but this is not something you can take from me.
[ It isn't out of some softhearted memory of their bond. What happened on the island is just part of their shared histories now, and there was no erasing that. ]
I am not here to kill you. I am not here to give you my burdens, either.
[ giyuu's views on the situation are ones that he doesn't know if he could explain clearly and even so, he isn't here to tell dimitri how to think. the people standing here are not the same people who first met on that island and it's unknown whether it was for the better or for the worst.
all that giyuu can say for himself is that there are things he must do even if no one asks him to do so. so even as dimitri shakes his head and puts up the boundaries, giyuu stands still. ]
You don't have to give me your burdens; I will not ask that of you.
[ if he ever had that right, he lost them for sure. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
I have no more intentions of lying if I can help it.
[ giyuu doesn't look away from dimitri as he answers him if anything he wants to make sure that things haven't rattled him too much... or something like that. ]
...but I don't know what is happening. [ he clenches his hands and signs of frustration cross his face. ] We were all supposed to go home, I was sure of that.
no subject
He bristles, uncertain but careful not to let it show. ]
Not everyone from the island is present here... I have to assume that they returned safely.
[ Surely they must have. ]
no subject
giyuu watches dimitri carefully but ultimately does end up looking away. old habits die hard and he can only face dimitri for so long when he knows there's an angry without a proper outlet to channel it through. ]
We should think that way unless given reason to think otherwise.
[ no reason to stress out about what could have happened to them? okay, plenty of reason but they should also focus on there here and now. ]
It seems like the rest of those who are here came from a similar situation as us.
[ same idea, but different method. ]
no subject
It does seem that way... All with circumstances slightly different from our own.
[ He notices that Giyuu's gaze dips away, though he keeps his eyes solidly on him with a slightly aggrieved sigh. ]
But the curse—the voice. We vanquished it, surely. Could it be another force entirely?
no subject
That voice is no longer. I'm sure of it.
[ there's a sharpness and anger to his words that makes it definite. he doesn't want to be chained to something that brought pain to so many people so pointlessly. it's over—dimitri broke the cycle and the curse. afterwards, the frustration leaves him and he lifts his gaze just so. ]
Something else had to have brought us all here. [ unless it's a combination of everything they have all dealt with.... and for that single thought alone he's tired. ] If the pattern is the same as before, then we'll get more information sooner than we'd like.
no subject
It is impossibly hard to read other people. So much of him feels a sting of sympathy, but he tries to keep neutral. ]
Right... it wasn't long after we'd arrived that we learned of the ritual's conditions. Though I doubt it will be precisely the same here.
[ They may not even have to play this 'game' at all, this time. ]
...Whatever passed between us all before, I do not wish to kill again.
no subject
A few day's time, likely. If whatever here is just as cruel and twisted as what bound us to the island, then I doubt it would want to wait for long.
[ as the matter of killing...
giyuu takes his time to respond because it's true. he doesn't want anyone to kill if they don't have to. it's likely to be the thought of the collective people here. of course, some are going to be more inclined to pick up a blade than most but then there are people who also shouldn't be here in the first place. ]
...and I don't want you to kill again either.
[ and about himself?? giyuu?? it's fine. ]
no subject
Could it really mean them just as much ill will as the island did? The ritual was so cruel and full of malice... Could they escape that, here?
He blinks out of his thoughts, lips thinned together. Giyuu?? That's definitely not fine and definitely does not go unnoticed. ]
That goes for you as well, Giyuu.
[ He's not as softspoken as he was at their camp in the jungle, his eyes sharp and words firm. ]
no subject
I'm not going to be moved to kill anyone here just to fulfill any kind of rite or based on a lofty promise.
[ just to put that out there and make things clear. giyuu is far from going to allow himself to be made or turned into a murder machine just because someone or something promises them they can go free for the exchange of a few lives. been there and done that—he hates to see it.
though, before he continues, he allows silence to fill in the space for words that don't come easy. they're likely words that won't be believed but it's fine. if dimitri shrugs them off then it changes nothing about giyuu's resolve. ]
...but I've done enough to you and the others.
[ dimitri told him repent with his life to protecting that kindness he saw in someone else, right? well, why can't he use it here as well? ]
no subject
It'd be better if he didn't get involved in this. Why couldn't he just stop caring and leave and let things be? Instead, he continues these strained conversations, mulling on the right things to say, as though there is a right thing. ]
You...
[ Being brought here really made a mess of everything. But after wrestling with himself a moment, he can't just leave. ]
We all did so much to each other. It wasn't just you.
[ For a 'happy' ending, they had hurt each other so much. ]
no subject
but that's just gonna be there in metatext for the moment as giyuu continues to refrain from having his emotions show on his face, if only out of learned habit. ]
The root of it was me—the me that was under the influence of the island, but me nevertheless.
[ he says it plainly because it has been what so many have expressed to him in ways that he could even understand. some, rachel, have said it to directly to his face. the next thing he says could be followed up with a mention at the differences of their ages but the difference between them is that wide. ]
There's a weight you carry, but there's no need for you to carry any more than what is already there.
no subject
But as it stands, he shakes his head. ]
You were the root of the evil we suffered. But you're wrong— [ his words stagger. my friend, he would have said once before. ]
This is a weight we'll all share, Giyuu. I know you think yourself a pillar, but this is not something you can take from me.
[ It isn't out of some softhearted memory of their bond. What happened on the island is just part of their shared histories now, and there was no erasing that. ]
I am not here to kill you. I am not here to give you my burdens, either.
[ He won't rely on him. ]
no subject
all that giyuu can say for himself is that there are things he must do even if no one asks him to do so. so even as dimitri shakes his head and puts up the boundaries, giyuu stands still. ]
You don't have to give me your burdens; I will not ask that of you.
[ if he ever had that right, he lost them for sure. ]
I just don't want to add to what is there.