[ He gives what she says its due consideration, because if the decision is placed in his hands, it's not quite as simple as that promise. On the one hand, her company is certainly pleasant (maybe too pleasant) and her cabin is certainly more comfortable than his has been. On the other hand, he's not used to being around someone else like this, and everything feels strange and uncomfortable, though at least the bits involving Wanda leaning on him are strange and uncomfortable in a way that mostly feels good. And on the third hand--
Turning into a Fallen now, are we? Titania asks.
Hush.
--the small but undeniable imbalance of power is of concern to him, since she is in a much more vulnerable position than he is, and he's very aware of that. And on the fourth and final hand--
Hm, so are you going to be an Archon or a Kell, then? Titania muses.
I am not dignifying that with a response.
Except you just did.
--he very much wants to both support and protect Wanda. Part of that is the duty that he owes he because she is someone who needs support. But far more important is that everything he's said to her before--and thought about her--is true. She is a Light worth knowing. He likes her.
And maybe he's just running in a big mental circle because he needs to find a way to give himself permission to do something he already wants to do.
You are making this way too complicated.
You are not helping.
There are far more reasons to stay than to go, ultimately, he decides. He can go to his brothers for advice on the ethical concerns and they'll keep him honest. His helmet is there, ready to be put back on if he starts feeling too naked without it. And he remembers Wanda saying that she had power, but no control. Perhaps it will be good for her to have control over this, even if it's a small thing on the scale of the world.
It seems silly, that this decision takes far more consideration than ones that involve far more explosions. But he's used to making those kind of decisions. He's extremely comfortable in a space where the worst outcome is death that might or might not be final. Here, he is very much outside his experience, and it shows in his indecisiveness, however brief. ]
I want to stay. [ Now that he's thought it out, he can speak as firmly and definitively as he normally does. His lips curve into a crooked smile. ] As I promised.
[ I will stay until you want me to go.
He leans in to rest his forehead against hers and closes his eyes. It's the most intimate gesture he knows as someone who normally wears a helmet, something done without thinking. He repeats: ]
no subject
Turning into a Fallen now, are we? Titania asks.
Hush.
--the small but undeniable imbalance of power is of concern to him, since she is in a much more vulnerable position than he is, and he's very aware of that. And on the fourth and final hand--
Hm, so are you going to be an Archon or a Kell, then? Titania muses.
I am not dignifying that with a response.
Except you just did.
--he very much wants to both support and protect Wanda. Part of that is the duty that he owes he because she is someone who needs support. But far more important is that everything he's said to her before--and thought about her--is true. She is a Light worth knowing. He likes her.
And maybe he's just running in a big mental circle because he needs to find a way to give himself permission to do something he already wants to do.
You are making this way too complicated.
You are not helping.
There are far more reasons to stay than to go, ultimately, he decides. He can go to his brothers for advice on the ethical concerns and they'll keep him honest. His helmet is there, ready to be put back on if he starts feeling too naked without it. And he remembers Wanda saying that she had power, but no control. Perhaps it will be good for her to have control over this, even if it's a small thing on the scale of the world.
It seems silly, that this decision takes far more consideration than ones that involve far more explosions. But he's used to making those kind of decisions. He's extremely comfortable in a space where the worst outcome is death that might or might not be final. Here, he is very much outside his experience, and it shows in his indecisiveness, however brief. ]
I want to stay. [ Now that he's thought it out, he can speak as firmly and definitively as he normally does. His lips curve into a crooked smile. ] As I promised.
[ I will stay until you want me to go.
He leans in to rest his forehead against hers and closes his eyes. It's the most intimate gesture he knows as someone who normally wears a helmet, something done without thinking. He repeats: ]
We're all right.