silverking | ✖ IC CONTACT #3

I understand that, but I enjoy being by your side regardless. I miss that, in fact.

I don't know how you could; you see me all the time. Almost as much as you did then, except, I guess we were sort of living together at the time, but other than that.

It's not as though I spend a lot of time at home, anyway.

I meant that I miss patrolling with you.

...I know what you meant. But I'm not sure why.

It's not as though you've ever been very enthusiastic about protecting the city. And if it's just fighting beside me, we do that sometimes anyway.

I wasn't in the beginning, it's true. Initially it didn't mean very much to me at all. Even being a partner to you was something of an inconvenience. I felt like you were monitoring me...and maybe you were. But, rightfully so, as it turned out.

Although, it's almost been a year since then. In that time I've helped defend the city a number of times. It means something to me now, living here.

I do miss fighting along side you, too...but it's more than that. I regret not supporting you before, or supporting the Alliance which is important to you.

...if it was so inconvenient then why did you volunteer in the first place?

[face rub forever.]

Maybe it doesn't matter, now. I mean, there isn't much point in lingering on the past.

I did a lot of things for the wrong reasons shortly after arriving...you know that better than anyone.

[He tilts his head.]

Do you mean that?

I know. But it doesn't always make sense to me. Why volunteer and then be annoyed about it? I don't know.

[...she tilts hers, too.]

Well, yes. I just mean... if I let myself think about all of that all the time, I wouldn't be able to be here, would I? There are always things that everyone regrets, I guess. But they are... what they are.

That makes me very happy to hear.

I have a question, Priscilla.

Hm?

I want to rejoin the Alliance. Is it possible?

[......]

[She rubs her face]

I don't see how I could say yes to that.

But you just said that there was not much point lingering on the past.

I try not to. But I wasn't the only one affected.

Will you ask them and see what they think?

I have helped to protect this city multiple times since then. There was the conflict with Luciela and Riful, the invasion of the Red Elves, the attack on Wynn, and most recently championing in Themis to exact justice for what Roxanne had done. I have accepted people into my own home to teach them defense, giving them a place to train even when I am not there, a place that is safe from both wildlife and the elements. I have even contributed to the city itself by orchestrating developmental projects. Well...one so far.

[He finally sets his book aside and stares at the Forge more intently.]

Things are different now, Priscilla.

I don't want to ask them. It would be asking too much of them, and this is asking too much of me.

[A moment of staring...and then Isley sits back and nods.]

You're right. Absolutely.

I know that.

[But she doesn't look any happier.]

...I have to go.

Priscilla.

What?

[Voice. So tense.]

This city means something to me.

In a sense, it is all that I have. Without it...I might even cease being, a fact which has become increasingly clearer to me. I've realized that I can't handle it indelicately, either...but also the people that reside here. They're as much a part of the city, after all.

[Or did you not see him telling Byakuya as much?]

What I mean to say is...although it is my home now, I'm not certain how to show that.

I'm not certain what I'm doing is enough to give back. I wanted to do something more...substantial.

I was not trying to be insensitive.

[A long pause and she watches the screen with that guarded face of hers.]

[And then shakes her head.]

Remember what I said in my bedroom that night? The things we do make a difference. They stay behind. They don't stop mattering even if we want them to.

You can't balance the scales by throwing a list of good deeds in my face - all that tells me is that you're keeping track.

Is that how it seems?

[His expression has lost its intensity. Reaching for his book once more, drawing it into his lap, he idly thumbs the edges of the pages.]

I suppose I hadn't thought of it that way. All I wanted was to make up for the poor things I'd done since arriving.

Mm.

[she glances away, rubs her the back of her neck beneath her hair.]

I don't really have anything else to say about it. Not without yelling and disconnecting.

I really don't want to end this that way...

[And that? That much is clearly sincere.]

✖ IC CONTACT #3

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