AUDIENCE: SOO-WON

[retellers]

Comments

[recrowns]

We have but one option - and that is to discern the truth of who is intentionally guilty.

[ . . . ]

What's on your mind?

[retellers]

... Nothing that would be unexpected. I mourn for the lives lost last night, and fear for the future.

Though...

[ they roll up a sleeve, revealing to soo-won what are PROBABLY VERY FAMILIAR INJURIES!! with that said, they're already partially healed. ]

Would you know how I received these?

[recrowns]

[there's

a brief wince]

.... to hide a tree in the forest...

[and he'll hold out his own arm - underneath the slices of fabric in this sleeve, he has his own bandages. he shifts his weight to one leg to reveal the same]

I'm sorry. I could not make an exception, else it might point obviously to someone else.

[if he neglected the girls like he wanted, he knows shima and raven would've been cast under more suspicion - and soo-won couldn't stomach even that much]

[retellers]

[ a pause, before they shake their head. ]

It doesn't matter. I regenerate quickly, at any rate. I was merely concerned that it was indicative of something more serious with my body.

Are you all right?

[recrowns]

[ . . . . ]

This place continues to make me into a liar, Goat...

[he'd said

he wanted to get out of here with as few casualties as possible - that he sought not to take life when he didn't find reason]

[retellers]

... I'm sorry.

[recrowns]

Did you tell her to kill me?

[retellers]

[ distress creeping into their voice, ]

Why would I ask for your death...?

[recrowns]

Precisely.

And so...

You needn't apologize.

[retellers]

Still...

[recrowns]

Why do you think you need to say sorry to me?

[retellers]

... You're right. I'm sorry. [ a beat, before they realize what they just said. ] --I mean...

[recrowns]

[it's tired but

soo-won offers a small smile]

... it's alright, my friend.

[retellers]

[ ...

they hold out their arms. ]

Do you, um, want a hug? [ then, something seems to occur to them, and their arms drop. ] Ah, wait, your injuries...

[recrowns]

[he

looks momentarily surprised]

... you would offer me a hug after I've done something to upset you?

[retellers]

You are hurting, in more ways than one.

[recrowns]

[ . . . . there's

something oddly amused in his expression as he answers quietly]

Perhaps.... I am used to being hurt.

[it's as goat said

But I'm used to being sad, I think.]

[retellers]

... Even so.

[recrowns]

[ . . . soo-won will just

sigh then and move to walk forward before gently dropping his forehead down to goat's shoulder]

... you're too kind.

See to it that no one takes advantage of it.

[even though he feels as though that's what he's doing in this moment]

[retellers]

[ this is a little funny considering that goat is a fair bit shorter than soo-won but anyway.

they reach up to hug him, lightly so as to not bother his wounds. ]

I'm sure people have, and will. But it hurts no one but me to give kindness freely.

[recrowns]

[it is funny but it's fine he did this to hak too, it's the most he can do in terms of hiding his face

. . . . ]

And if I don't want you to be hurt?

[retellers]

[ ...

simply, ]

Can one go through life without being hurt?

[recrowns]

No. Nor can one go through life without harming others.

... but that does not mean that, when possible, one would hope that their loved ones and important people are spared from it.

[retellers]

... It is a kind hope. But a futile one, at times.

[recrowns]

... in this case, it only feels futile because you are being stubborn.

[but he'll straighten up then, a bit more in control of his expression]

I believe that's a phrase... 'Stubborn old goat'.