[She is so used to being the one knocking on Junpei's door that Tamamo is a little surprised upon opening hers, expression briefly worn and tired before she perks up immediately.]
Master -- you should be resting.
[Looking pointedly at that arm?
But she also moves to the side because her complaints are for show and they both know it.]
Of course I did. [Just matter of factly.] I take my alliances very seriously. I was never going to let anything happen to you that would cause your death.
[A sip. Despite sounding calm, his hand's shaking a bit.] But I'm not done yet.
[It's fine. Sometimes you're just dealing with the crushing morality that even if you did the right thing and saved so many worlds and people, you maybe just damned the people you care about the most. But he looks up at her and gives her a grin.]
...I know, I just...[He shakes his head.] It was never a question for me, I think, if I was going to trust you. You were honest with me from the beginning. I never had to worry about things changing.
[Said in a playful, musing tone, so who knows how much is the truth and what is a lie? But regardless, she finally goes to sit next to hm, sighing as she leans into the cushions]
I hid a lot of my true nature from you, though I suppose it worked out in the end, didn't it? We're quite compatible as a Master and Servant pair~
You were upfront about what you were doing and wanted and that's more than a lot of people I work with. [Bemused.] Even if you hid, you told me things over time and that was enough for me. Still is. I think you and I were supposed to meet like this...fate's apparently confused about me, so I'll make up my own interpretation.
[Damn tea leaves. With that though...he bows his head a little.] ...proud of me for what, exactly?
[Fate is fickle, and Tamamo thinks they're both allowed to read into it as they want. Her mouth pulls into a grin as she gently nudges his side.
-- Though since he has asked, and she is in a mood to elaborate:]
Proud of you for surviving, first off.
[That's the easiest praise to start with, and she says it with a soft laugh]
For enduring as well, under all of this pressure. You've shouldered so much, and while I know you have had help along the way, that you have clawed this far is a feat unto itself. I know of gods who would have broken already.
[Towards the end... Tamamo wanted to break a little herself.]
It is that desire to live and keep going which made me think humans were so beautiful in the first place. And you, Master -- Junpei -- have always had the glow about you.
[...]
No matter what happens tomorrow, I am glad I stayed by your side.
[It's...nice to hear, maybe, especially when he knows he's a little broken as it is and doesn't know what to do. How do you do anything? What is there to do but keep going and stay strong for the people that matter most for you?
...so he nudges back a little while he listens to the rest.]
I think...in spite of everything, maybe my faith in other humans has been restored. I think I've told you before that humanity was messy and it wasn't as good as I thought, but here...I've been reminded what it means to be human, you know? About fighting even when you want to give up and quit, when everything feels so hopeless. And finding your own happiness even when the world doesn't want you to.
[With that said, he turns his head just enough to lean forward and kiss her forehead.]
I couldn't and wouldn't have come this far without you.
More than you could ever know. [He doesn't explain because he doesn't think he has to, but so long as she knows? He's satisfied. He accepts the lean and holds her closer, nodding in agreement to that sentiment.]
It's hard for people to have hope in situations like these, but without it...well, it's like I told you before. There's something beautiful in having a choice in giving up entirely and still having hope in things.
Whatever happens next is a pause. Not an end. [...maybe.]
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Master -- you should be resting.
[Looking pointedly at that arm?
But she also moves to the side because her complaints are for show and they both know it.]
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I wanted to come see you before tomorrow. [And so he goes inside.]
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But she's rather ... subdued today and simply nods after closing the door and taking the hot chocolate]
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...are you doing okay after today?
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[Wandering over with her chocolate, taking a tiny sip before she hums in satisfaction. It is an excellent distraction.]
So I suppose I should congratulate you, Master -- that was the reason we started this pact in the first place. You've kept your end of the bargain.
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[A sip. Despite sounding calm, his hand's shaking a bit.] But I'm not done yet.
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Master...?
[Wandering closer now, her head tilted at an angle]
I did not mean to imply you didn't take this seriously. [An edge of a smile] I think over the weeks, you've more than proven yourself to be loyal.
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...I know, I just...[He shakes his head.] It was never a question for me, I think, if I was going to trust you. You were honest with me from the beginning. I never had to worry about things changing.
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[Said in a playful, musing tone, so who knows how much is the truth and what is a lie? But regardless, she finally goes to sit next to hm, sighing as she leans into the cushions]
I hid a lot of my true nature from you, though I suppose it worked out in the end, didn't it? We're quite compatible as a Master and Servant pair~
[...]
I'm very proud of you, you know.
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You were upfront about what you were doing and wanted and that's more than a lot of people I work with. [Bemused.] Even if you hid, you told me things over time and that was enough for me. Still is. I think you and I were supposed to meet like this...fate's apparently confused about me, so I'll make up my own interpretation.
[Damn tea leaves. With that though...he bows his head a little.] ...proud of me for what, exactly?
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-- Though since he has asked, and she is in a mood to elaborate:]
Proud of you for surviving, first off.
[That's the easiest praise to start with, and she says it with a soft laugh]
For enduring as well, under all of this pressure. You've shouldered so much, and while I know you have had help along the way, that you have clawed this far is a feat unto itself. I know of gods who would have broken already.
[Towards the end... Tamamo wanted to break a little herself.]
It is that desire to live and keep going which made me think humans were so beautiful in the first place. And you, Master -- Junpei -- have always had the glow about you.
[...]
No matter what happens tomorrow, I am glad I stayed by your side.
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...so he nudges back a little while he listens to the rest.]
I think...in spite of everything, maybe my faith in other humans has been restored. I think I've told you before that humanity was messy and it wasn't as good as I thought, but here...I've been reminded what it means to be human, you know? About fighting even when you want to give up and quit, when everything feels so hopeless. And finding your own happiness even when the world doesn't want you to.
[With that said, he turns his head just enough to lean forward and kiss her forehead.]
I couldn't and wouldn't have come this far without you.
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If I was able to be of any use to you... [Stuck on this ship with no powers or credit to her name, just a defanged Heroic Spirit] -- Well, I am glad.
[... leaning some of her weight against his uninjured side]
As I told another, keep having hope, alright?
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It's hard for people to have hope in situations like these, but without it...well, it's like I told you before. There's something beautiful in having a choice in giving up entirely and still having hope in things.
Whatever happens next is a pause. Not an end. [...maybe.]