[Ori's pained reaction to the dreamotion flowing from his hand is both a terrible sight and a relief. He hates seeing her flinch and just barely hold back a cry. She's suffered enough tonight, and part of him can't help but feel a little like he's the one adding this extra pain to the pile. But logically he knows that it's necessary. Moreover, it's a good thing; it means what he's doing is working, and that this nightmare infection isn't too fundamentally different from the one Ori and Thoma drew out of him.
Even so, his heart breaks when she looks up at him. The torment is obvious. Had he looked so broken and lost when they crouched over him in that dark alleyway?
She buckles under the enormity of it, and Diluc is quick to grab her waist with his free arm and catch her. Slowly, carefully, he lowers them both to their knees.]
You can, starlight. I know you can.
[He doesn't release her side, and he doesn't let up on the dreamotion he's flowing over the darkness that's trying to consume her. It looks like flames, warm and protective as it wraps around her waist.
Once he's sure she won't topple over, unwinds his other arm from her and cups her cheek, pointing her face to his. Silently, he wishes Thoma were here to help him to talk her down. Out of the three of them, he is the one most open with his feelings and most comfortable with his words. He'd know what to say.
At least where Diluc has something he can draw on in their sunlight's absence: his own experience. He's been here. He knows how this feels. And he's willing to leverage that the best he can.]
The voice in your head is lying to you. It's dark and miserable, trying to drag you under. I know.
[Behind him, his firebird spawns unnoticed and flies over to land on her head, settling in her hair and nuzzling gently.]
Don't let it. You are Oriphi, a powerful druid and a member of the Alchemighty. You saved your sister, and you saved your world. You are a force of nature, beautiful and nurturing and unyielding and ferocious. You've been through hell, and you still stand, still you're able find it in yourself to let people in and to care. I am in awe of you. I always have been.
And... more than all that, you're my precious starlight. The night sky would be lonely indeed without you there to keep me company.
[His voice breaks, ever so slightly.]
Hold onto me as long you need. Just don't drown. Please.
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Even so, his heart breaks when she looks up at him. The torment is obvious. Had he looked so broken and lost when they crouched over him in that dark alleyway?
She buckles under the enormity of it, and Diluc is quick to grab her waist with his free arm and catch her. Slowly, carefully, he lowers them both to their knees.]
You can, starlight. I know you can.
[He doesn't release her side, and he doesn't let up on the dreamotion he's flowing over the darkness that's trying to consume her. It looks like flames, warm and protective as it wraps around her waist.
Once he's sure she won't topple over, unwinds his other arm from her and cups her cheek, pointing her face to his. Silently, he wishes Thoma were here to help him to talk her down. Out of the three of them, he is the one most open with his feelings and most comfortable with his words. He'd know what to say.
At least where Diluc has something he can draw on in their sunlight's absence: his own experience. He's been here. He knows how this feels. And he's willing to leverage that the best he can.]
The voice in your head is lying to you. It's dark and miserable, trying to drag you under. I know.
[Behind him, his firebird spawns unnoticed and flies over to land on her head, settling in her hair and nuzzling gently.]
Don't let it. You are Oriphi, a powerful druid and a member of the Alchemighty. You saved your sister, and you saved your world. You are a force of nature, beautiful and nurturing and unyielding and ferocious. You've been through hell, and you still stand, still you're able find it in yourself to let people in and to care. I am in awe of you. I always have been.
And... more than all that, you're my precious starlight. The night sky would be lonely indeed without you there to keep me company.
[His voice breaks, ever so slightly.]
Hold onto me as long you need. Just don't drown. Please.