inbox | seasonsrpg

[sunspotted]

INBOX (UN: MARCO.BOTT) text / audio / video / action / nsfw Uh - this is Marco - Marco Bott! I'll get back in touch as soon as I can! code credit

Comments

[sunspotted]

Could use some of that confidence you had back then, though.

[ Marco means it genuinely. Jean is smart, clever, fast; maybe not the strongest but an untrained human would have a hard time with him, too. ]

Even if you weren't strong or fast... you're enough just being you, you know? But compare what you were like in training to how strong you are now. I'll be the first to tell you that you've grown.

[rustyhonesty]

[Jean's managed to calm down. He's still teary-eyed, but not really crying, at least. Instead, he's blushing. A little bit.]

I know I am. It's just the confidence I'm lacking, for now.

[Blame it on the dying and other trauma. But he's started his healing process now, at least.

But, he does need to say something regarding the original topic, still.]


... thank you, Marco. I'm sorry for bringing this topic up again, but... I really needed this conversation to happen.

[sunspotted]

[ Marco gives Jean a soft smile. After a moment, he reaches out and pats Jean's chest, once. ]

I know I told you I was happy you carried me with you. I still am, for the record.

[ He takes a deep breath. ]

But I'm just a boy, Jean. Carry me with you because we're friends, not because you think you need something to live up to or... to punish yourself.

[rustyhonesty]

[Jean looks surprised. It didn't occur to him that he had made Marco into some high figure he needed to live up to. Like he was something he wasn't.

In the end, Marco was his friend. His best friend who he lost too early ... He wasn't a saint or anything like that. Just a normal guy like Jean was.]

Sorry. I know you're just... you. Even if your words helped me change my life around and even if you were the first person to actually believe in me... That doesn't mean I should forget you're just a normal guy like me.

[Not someone he needed to prove his worth to. The only one he needed to prove that to was he himself.

He ends up laughing a little.]

Even if Saint Marco sounds like a really fancy name.

[sunspotted]

[ Marco beams, laughing a little with Jean. ]

Honestly, I'm not a saint. We've been in trouble together, haven't we? I'm glad that my words helped you, though. I'm glad that more people believe in you too.

[ He removes his hand to place it over his own chest. ]

You taught me being brave isn't about not being afraid. It's about continuing to move on despite that fear and uncertainty.

[rustyhonesty]

[The words take Jean by surprise, and he blushes, again, but his face is a little red from crying anyway.]

Is that so? Well, I'm glad I was able to help in return, even if I mostly just didn't wanna die in my own hometown, you know. So I just pressed on.

[Jean is sometimes (or very often) Mr. Bad At Receiving Positive Feedback.]

[sunspotted]

Jean. You can just say thank you, you know.

[ He rolls his eyes a little as he says it, patting his own chest once before he reaches up to shove Jean, not hard but affectionately. ]

A lot more of us wouldn't have made it out without you.

[rustyhonesty]

[Jean huffs a little at the shove, still looking awkward, but at least not trying to deny anything.]

Yeah. I made it my priority after that. Making sure people under my lead would get back alive. Not that I've had to take on leadership roles after that.

[sunspotted]

Are you saying that just because you don't have a fancy title?

[ Marco asks it honestly. ]

You are kind of bossy.

[rustyhonesty]

I'm not!

[Automatic rejection of the thought. But then he looks a bit awkward.]

Or maybe sometimes, I guess...

[sunspotted]

I bet you if we did a mission you'd be bossy as all get-out.

[ But he doesn't sound like he minds it one bit. ]

[rustyhonesty]

I mean, I'm still up for the Hurricane Birds quest if you are. They're still causing problems, so we might as well go help.

[Which would probably lead to him being bossy since he's more familiar with the situation.]

[sunspotted]

Right! We still need to do that. I've improved my skills a little more, so I think I'm ready to take that on.

[ He beams at Jean. ]

we can wrapup and let them chatter about the mission if ya want

[rustyhonesty]

We can settle a time to go after New Years. We need to think about what we wanna bring with us anyway.

[He'll gladly change the subject to focus on mission preparations and such, if Marco is willing to still hang out with him.]