"i'm sorry if i startled you… i guess very few people have seen my kind. I'm the last one left. We were cursed into these bodies, cursed to be immortal, and cursed to be lonely. the others all…. decided to end their curses." Varuni said softly, kindly. "I am kind of scary looking, aren't i?"
Joel notices how uncomfortable Sky was - something about her heart rate again - and turns to her, turning fully animal and rubbing against her legs soothingly.
Strangely, he manages intelligible speech for Varuni.
"I think. . . even if it's nice, doesn't mean everyone always chooses that option. Sometimes, people know what's kind and right, and don't choose that option. I'm going with whatever my sister says." he murmurs, his "sister" being Sky.
Joel, upon hearing Varuni's next words, freezes. A strange sense of. . . familiarity creeps into him as he turns to face the skeleton again.
Slowly, he creeps over, then presses his face to the skeleton's hand.
(this is all so wholesome 🥹🥹)
(Lol, thank you)
Varuni seemed surprised, but didnt dare move. "Some people do chose the mean way, simply because it can be easier.." Varuni whispered. "But when you've been around as long as i have, you realize that helping others does help you. The easier path is the one that makes people smile. I've seen mean people d- be forever alone, but the nice ones always have friends." She spoke softly, as to not spook the child.
(My heartttttt)
(not varuni refraining from mentioning death around a child. She's honestly so sweet around kids, always wanting to protect them and their innocence.)
(I'm guessing you three are away from Space and I?)
Sky nudges Joel slightly. “I think we can trust Varuni. I have a lot of experience with what mean people are like, and she isn’t mean, I promise.”
Joel slowly shifts back to human, crouched on the ground where the animal was.
He stands up and hugs the skeleton close.
"You don't have to hide the fact that people die - I know this, even if I can't remember how I know, and why I know. It's a simple fact of life - usually. My question is, if the opportunity presented itself. . . would you choose to follow that path? The path that leads you to your personal peace, even if it hurts others?" he asks quietly. "I don't think you would. . . after all, if you've been around this long, opportunities have to have shown themselves before, right? But why choose to stay?"
He pauses and looks up. "If it hurts so bad, shouldn't that be enough reason to justify following whatever path leads you to finally be able to rest?"
(As far as I can tell, yes)
(I'm guessing you three are away from Space and I?)
(I think- wasn't Sky in a tree away from the group?)
(Yeah, and then she approached Joel, who was farther away (?)
(Yeah, Joel was further away and noticed a bunch of voices - enhanced hearing - but Sky's was the closest so he investigated her first)
(I see)
(Yeah-)
"I wouldn't. the opportunities have presented themselves, but each time i have had friends, who reminded me why i hadn't chosen it before. my 'eternal peace' is found though helping people. maybe.. eventually, if the entire world turns mean.. then i might choose it. but not before making sure there is nobody i can help anymore." Varuni said, thinking.
"sometimes it does hurt, and sometimes it hurts really bad, as i watch the people i love die. but i still find id make even more people sad if i did, and that wouldnt be peace for me."
Joel sighs.
"Being self-sacrificing can be just as mean as insulting someone. I think that the next time you have one of those opportunities, you should take it. Eventually, that self-sacrificing kindness of yours will end up hurting everyone more than it helps." he replies gently, stepping back and looking up at Varuni.
"Just a thought." he adds quietly, before turning back to Sky.
"You're right, she isn't mean." he smiles.
"I-" varuni seemed to consider this. "I wont be able to. there wont be another opportunity. the opportunities died along with the sorceress who cursed us in the first place. she cursed us to lift the curse on her own people, but it didnt work. her people are all gone now too." Varuni made the sweeping, smiling motion with her hands again. "it dosent matter right now though. For now, lets get you guys to the warmth, and get some food."
“…Let’s just say I have a good sense of judgement.” She wasn’t ready to tell anybody about her parents, not yet. I don’t need to burden anybody with my problems.
Joel pauses, then looks back.
"There's always more than one way to do something, I think." is all he says in reply to her first statement.
"Sky?" he asks, turning back to her. "What do you want to do?"
He listens to her heart for a moment, but doesn't comment on what she'd just said.
"alright. mind if i grab my knifes?" varuni asked. she still didnt want to scare them, but she did need to keep her only weapons close, in case another vicious beast came by.
Sky seemed to snap from a moment of disassociation. “Huh-? Oh… let’s just go back, like Varuni said.” She forced a smile onto her face.
Varuni slid her knifes back into her legs. "i think breakfast will still be out."
Joel looks back at Varuni.
"Go ahead." he says sheepishly.
"Okay." he nods, looking up at Sky's smile. Something didn't seem right about it, so he shifts to his animal form, sizes it down a bit, and climbs up onto her shoulder.
(Random, but do you know what “little one” would be in Mandarin? As a sort of affectionate term? These two are kind of making my heart explode lmao)
(Bǎobèi means treasure, used to refer to children)
(Aww)
(I'm guessing you three are away from Space and I?)
(I think- wasn't Sky in a tree away from the group?)
(Alright)