[He stays quiet as she turns away and begins to talk, knowing instinctively that anything he could possibly say wouldn't help at the moment, not in the slightest. It was better just to listen, and let her get this off of her chest, even if each new revelation had much more chilling implications than the last. He remembered, in his other life, falling into a deep, heavy unconsciousness, after struggling valiantly to stay awake, which in itself was terrifying, but... dying. Actually dying. Multiple times, even, which shouldn't even be possible, but these were her memories, and no doubt she saw firsthand the terrible things her other self must have done.
He opens his mouth, to question--again? How could she die again?-- but Mio's sudden broken laugh stalls the words on his lips before he could get them out. The discordant sound that comes out of her, uneven and manic and scared, frightens him, but not for the obvious reasons. This wasn't her. This wasn't the Mio he knew. She was usually so confident, so brash and unflappable, dealing with whatever problems came her way without a care.
But was that ever truly her?
She was hiding this for all this time. She would smile, laugh, say she was fine and looked like she meant it, but... it was a lie. It was all a lie. Did he even really know who Mio was to begin with? Or did he just see her the way she wanted him to see her? It was a sobering thought, hanging heavy atop of everything else this had wrought. In reality, he knew nothing about her. He knew nothing, but...
And then she speaks, and speaks, and it's as if she's read his mind. But the more she goes on, the more his shoulders tense, and his lips press shut, his nails leaving impressions onto his palm with how tightly his fists are curled. Something is chipping away within him, bit by bit, fracture by fracture, and by the time she's done, it's more than he can take. Sucking in a deep breath through his nose, he strides forward, closing the gap between them, reaching out to grab at the fabric of her shirt to pull her towards him. It's not a hug, not really-- outside of Sakura, he's still awkward about giving hugs, and receiving them, and even with Mio giving him one back in Magatus, he wasn't sure about overstepping that boundary. But his forehead touches between her shoulder blades, right where all of that long green hair cascades, his voice clear and determined as he speaks.]
You're NOT a horrible person, Mio. And I don't... I don't hate you for this. Not one bit.
That was your past self, not you. She's the one who did those things, she was the one who suffered... it's not fair to say you're awful by default for something you yourself never did.
You... [And his voice wavers a little, wondering if he should be this frank, but... no. He had to be clear on this.] You can be a menace. You can be annoying, and invasive, and you go too far with things...
... but you're a good person, Mio. You care for people with all your heart, and you look after them kindly, despite how you act. I refuse to believe you'd ever do something like that. The other you might have, but... you're not her. Despite what Retrospec wants you to believe.
I want to hear it, Mio. I want to know more about the you from that other life. I want to know so I can tell you how much you're NOT like her.
no subject
He opens his mouth, to question--again? How could she die again?-- but Mio's sudden broken laugh stalls the words on his lips before he could get them out. The discordant sound that comes out of her, uneven and manic and scared, frightens him, but not for the obvious reasons. This wasn't her. This wasn't the Mio he knew. She was usually so confident, so brash and unflappable, dealing with whatever problems came her way without a care.
But was that ever truly her?
She was hiding this for all this time. She would smile, laugh, say she was fine and looked like she meant it, but... it was a lie. It was all a lie. Did he even really know who Mio was to begin with? Or did he just see her the way she wanted him to see her? It was a sobering thought, hanging heavy atop of everything else this had wrought. In reality, he knew nothing about her. He knew nothing, but...
And then she speaks, and speaks, and it's as if she's read his mind. But the more she goes on, the more his shoulders tense, and his lips press shut, his nails leaving impressions onto his palm with how tightly his fists are curled. Something is chipping away within him, bit by bit, fracture by fracture, and by the time she's done, it's more than he can take. Sucking in a deep breath through his nose, he strides forward, closing the gap between them, reaching out to grab at the fabric of her shirt to pull her towards him. It's not a hug, not really-- outside of Sakura, he's still awkward about giving hugs, and receiving them, and even with Mio giving him one back in Magatus, he wasn't sure about overstepping that boundary. But his forehead touches between her shoulder blades, right where all of that long green hair cascades, his voice clear and determined as he speaks.]
You're NOT a horrible person, Mio. And I don't... I don't hate you for this. Not one bit.
That was your past self, not you. She's the one who did those things, she was the one who suffered... it's not fair to say you're awful by default for something you yourself never did.
You... [And his voice wavers a little, wondering if he should be this frank, but... no. He had to be clear on this.] You can be a menace. You can be annoying, and invasive, and you go too far with things...
... but you're a good person, Mio. You care for people with all your heart, and you look after them kindly, despite how you act. I refuse to believe you'd ever do something like that. The other you might have, but... you're not her. Despite what Retrospec wants you to believe.
I want to hear it, Mio. I want to know more about the you from that other life. I want to know so I can tell you how much you're NOT like her.