[Paul could speak for no one but himself, but in his case, he didn't go to the festival because he didn't think the festivities would benefit from his intrusion after the storm. It's not even close to the greatest thing he'd lost in the aftermath of his actions, and it's stupid, he thinks, to have been sorry about missing it. He was sorry anyway.
He flips open the top of the box and looks at the defrosted mochi, intricately patterned and crafted, and his stomach does a clenching somersault.]
It was fun. [He says it with a tremor, despite himself.] I'm sure the festival was, too.
[His tone turns softer as he plucks a mochi from the nestling paper, his sideways glance to see the ornithoper in Palamedes' hand barely noticeable.]
Do you remember when you told me that people aren't responsible for other people's choices?
[They'd been talking about the Emperor, in the sunken heart of the Pale Sanctuary, Paul certain he'd brought ruination down on all of their heads. It had been a long time ago. It had been barely any time at all.]
no subject
He flips open the top of the box and looks at the defrosted mochi, intricately patterned and crafted, and his stomach does a clenching somersault.]
It was fun. [He says it with a tremor, despite himself.] I'm sure the festival was, too.
[His tone turns softer as he plucks a mochi from the nestling paper, his sideways glance to see the ornithoper in Palamedes' hand barely noticeable.]
Do you remember when you told me that people aren't responsible for other people's choices?
[They'd been talking about the Emperor, in the sunken heart of the Pale Sanctuary, Paul certain he'd brought ruination down on all of their heads. It had been a long time ago. It had been barely any time at all.]