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[ Elysium's gonna find out real soon whether Hien likes astrology or not. ]

"That's what I deal with all the time when I'm conscious. I hear too many of these voices to the point that I went insane at some point. Took a long time to stop being insane and some more time to figure out how to filter it so that I could pay attention to my surrounding environment too."

[ Other than that, Hien is mostly no thoughts, head empty. ]

"Why are we here?"

Must be real convenient for you this week, then. I had to listen really closely to hear your voice—which, sorry by the way, I just got curious enough to see if you were in there. Didn't really hear anything important.

[ But more pertinently: ]

I just like looking at the stars, why? Don't feel like stargazing with me?

"I don't mind. There's little that I'd hide with anyone who knows of my true nature already."

[ That he's a world eater, probably going to file for cessation of existence some time soon, etc.

Hien also looks up. ]

"No, I like it... I can't tell you much about constellations though, like the box with the tail."

[ Ursa minor...................... ]

[ Not the cessation of existence… ]

It's not like I can tell you anything about them either, you know? The stars back home aren't anything like the ones here. I just think they're nice. Relaxing, I guess.

[ Well. It had been nice to learn about he existence of the Polaris, and that it wasn't just something people had pulled out of nowhere. His eyes settle on its constellation, mouth a wistful smile. ]

What do you do with your time here? Besides getting into trouble?

"Think about how I'm on a vacation while people suffer around me."

[ Sure!!! He also looks up. ]

"... 'When I look up at the stars, I feel so small and insignificant. But you... you look like you're right at home under the night sky'..."

[ He tilts his head. ]

"What do you think about that quote?"

It really isn't so bad when you aren't being dragged deeper into the mazes. Still, there are a bunch of us who I think should've never gotten involved. [ There's a slight laugh. ] You're funny, Hien.

[ Shout out to all of you eighteen-year-olds… But he tips his head, mulling over the quote as if it's something he hasn't already turned over countless times before, an amused smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. ]

I'd wonder why the person feels so small and insignificant. Not because I don't understand the feeling, but because we're all responsible for our own actions. There are things you can't change, sure, and there are times where you're truly powerless. But sometimes, it's enough to do what you can do and let that be enough.

Even people who feel at home can get lonely. A star shines just as brightly whether or not anyone is there to see it—its light still travels somewhere. Still… I think it's a little sad if there's no one there to look up and appreciate it properly.

What do you think?

[ Hien is quiet as he listens to Elysium, eventually scooting himself further closer to the neck and leans against it while sitting on the crook of it. ]

"Yeah. People deserve to be acknowledged for their efforts when they work hard, even if it doesn't go anywhere. Sure, it's frustrating, but they tried... and they can ask for help too. Humans are generally social creatures, and it looks like it also applies for most humanoid species too."

[ He quietly breathes out and closes his eyes. It's warm here... ]

[ A single observation: ]

What about your efforts? And when you need help?

[ Hien's movements tickle. He is once again lucky Elysium doesn't immediately try to evict him. ]

[ yeet this tiny man ]

"I ask for help when I need it and I don't need my efforts to be validated. My efforts vary on a personal level, and whatever anyone else thinks about it doesn't matter to me."

We just talked about how nice it was for them to be validated anyway, though?

[ The desire to yeet may be rising. ]

You're such a busybody. That behaviour has comforted a lot of people here.

[ YEET HIM ]

"Me validating people? Yeah. People want to feel validated for the things they do. I don't care about it personally for my own things and to put my standards on someone is unfair and it's something I'll never do."

[ He's quiet. ]

"Are you one of them?"

You say you don't care, but that doesn't necessarily mean you don't appreciate it when it happens.

[ If Hien were anywhere but one of his blind spots, he'd give him a look. Stupid. ]

Yeah. That's why I wasn't epistemic about what I said.

[ Hien just won't acknowledge the first part anymore, because he doesn't feel like arguing about it. Let Elysium believe what he wants to believe.......... ]

"If it helps you... then... I'm fine with that."

[ His voice almost trailed off, but he managed to finish it. ]

[ Okay…… ]

I'll flip the question on you. What about you? Why are you so interested in me?

"Because I like you and want to make you happy."

[ Easy.

He doesn't have complicated reasons... but he couldn't bring himself to say "love" instead. ]

[

LOVE?!?!?!?!

Elysium's thoughts aren't veering in that direction, but they're certainly going somewhere. ]

… What about your happiness? Don't give me the nonsense about everyone's happiness being your own, because that's what I tell people.

[ elysium like pot kettle but i expect you just to just accept it ]

"... But that's how I really feel."

[ he's just fuckin appalled like how dare you assume that it's false ]

"I feel happy when I see other people happy. Unless you want some kind of dissertation or something about it."

Yeah. Give it to me.

[ Hien rolls his eyes (affectionate), but he's quiet about it, trying to think of a way to put it. ]

"... I like violence."

[ That's what he'll start with. ]

"I like fighting. I like antagonizing others for fun. I like seeing them break down in real time when I erase their desires and ambitions in front of them. I like seeing them get fucked up beyond belief because I believe that it's fun at the time, like deleting the memory of why someone is fighting so hard for something that they can't even remember that they scream in anguish in trying to recall. It makes me happy seeing the horrors on their face. I relish in their reactions and take in their dying words as something like a collector's trophy."

[ He looks up past Elysium's feathers and hair at the "sky". ]

"... But I like seeing other people happy too, because I don't get to see something like that as much anymore."

For liking all those things, you sure haven't let them define you in the slightest.

[ What else is there to say to that? ]

That's what you mean by vacation, huh.

"Mhm... "

[ He mumbles idly. ]

"I've been behaving. I also like the people here. Except for that one time when I tried to out-eat Obikawa. I think a lot of pent up stress exploded for that moment."

What you do when you don't have any obligations says more about you than the other way around.

You don't think so?

"It's still a part of me regardless, and something people will have to eventually face if they hang around me long enough... whether I have obligations or not. I just wanted to fight him and maybe eat a god on the way. I got what I wanted, even if I died from it."

Uh huh. I'm awful at thinking that far, though. Guess I'm stuck making judgements as they happen.

[ Hien is a little quiet as he processes things in his head for a bit, still looking up at the "sky". Does he feel at home under the bright, starry sky? Has he ever felt that? It was a simple night in Paris while sitting on the edge of the fountain. ]

"Same here, and I'm the one who has to live long."

[ He gives a small peck on the neck. ]

"Though despite everything... I like living. I'd live forever if I could."

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