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[ If he's not pulling away, then Michel will hold on, just for a little longer. ]

...Do you think that's the only way you'll stop being afraid of her?

[He glances up, looking hollow]

It's the only way I'll be free.

From what? In what way?

[ That look... Michel is terrible at offering or accepting hugs. But he's beginning to wonder if he should try. ]

It's unreasonable of me to interrogate you on this, I know.

[ But he wants to understand -- more, he wants Vogel to consider it carefully, in all its repercussions. ]

You saw my memory. I managed to fool myself all this time but looking back... she'll come for me.

[ Sinclair trembles a little, caught between fear and loathing]

I've never once been free. So before then--

[He'll tear her apart limb from limb. Drive a knife into -----

And

There will be no justice. The chance for that was long gone]

[ There's no monsters around right now. Michel puts his sword away so he can bring both hands to Sinclair's shoulders, giving him a little shake. That distant, haunted look in his eyes plucks a chord of recognition in him. ]

Emil. Don't lose yourself in panic. You believed what you believed for a reason. Explain it to me properly.

[ Deep, panicked breaths as he struggles to even out his breathing. Michel's hands on his shoulders are an anchor to reality he desperately needs and yet]

...she never went to prison for it. Any of it. She plead insanity and got away with it--

[ Admittedly, from the memory alone, he could see reason for that. But even if that were the case... ]

Did they simply turn her loose?

They said...with proper psychiatric support she'd be able to be a functioning member of society because she's so young [ He can't stop shaking] but her family's rich and--- [She's being supported by a group he can't name]
She has followers. So many.

[ It would be irresponsible to say something lightly here. "It will be fine"? About a girl who had done the things he saw in that memory? He squeezes Vogel's shoulders lightly in reassurance as he thinks. ]

And you? You said you knew Mithrun and Oriade. Do you have anywhere you can go?

I wouldn't involve Oriade [Notably, Mithrun is the exception] -- and I'm not running away. Not again.

[His shoulders shake in earnest, shuddering breaths again]

It was my fault, even if people try to tell me otherwise. If I hadn't--[Choking out a second confession might be too much for him, but Michel has to know. Unlike him, Sinclair wasn't innocent. Not at all]

[ Michel notes that exception, but he notes the shuddering more. Careful, awkwardly, he tugs Vogel closer as if to gather him in. There's no confidence in the gesture and he'll abandon it at the slightest resistance. ]

If you hadn't what?

[ Does he have a face that's easy to confess to? But the more he understands, the more he can piece this together himself... ]

[Maybe that's what Sinclair needed all along. A hug. He crumbles visibly as he hugs Michel in turn, breaking down in sobs]

I told her too much. Family secrets. If I had pushed back when she wanted to see my home, then she wouldn't have known how to get in. I should have kept my mouth shut and then maybe my family--

[ Oh. Was it really that simple? Even though he has no idea what he's doing?

Emil is small and fragile. It's easy to enfold him in a hug in one flustered squish. There was a time when he'd liked this too, wasn't there? When Didier's hugs had felt like the safest place in the world. ]

Do you really think it would be that simple? She wanted something from your family. You didn't force her hand. Her actions aren't your responsibility.

[Sinclair shakes his head. He can't explain it well, the overwhelming guilt that wracks him every day he wakes up and remembers his parents are gone. But Sinclair tightens his hold on Michel, not wanting him to let go. A part of him wonders if this is what having an older brother would have been like]

I should have been smarter.

[Maybe she had known already, maybe she hadn't. It didn't matter]

Is it stupid, to be fooled by someone? To trust?

[ It can be. Maybe there's nothing he can say that will make Emil believe otherwise. He reaches up with one hand to ruffle his hair very gently, not easing up on the hug with the other arm. ]

If blaming yourself gives you a sense of control over what happened, then it may be that I shouldn't take that from you. But I don't agree.

[ Sinclair gives a watery laugh, face still buried against Michel's shirt. This is embarrassing. But he's slowly calming down]

... that's because you're a good person.

[ To hold kindness, to let go... what kind of strength did that take?]

I'm an utterly ordinary person.

[ But clearly not a witch, or surely he would already have started melting in all this dampness. Is the ruffling helping? He can do it one more time, before he just folds both arms securely around Vogel and stands there patiently.

He really has no frame of reference for at what point a hug has become awkwardly long. As long as it takes for Vogel to stop crying is... probably correct. ]

[ Sinclair squeezes Michel a little more for that, remembering the insults from that girl]

Mm. But still good.

[It takes awhile for his body to stop trembling but after long moment he finally manages to pull away so he can wipe his face on something that isn't the front of Michel's clothes]

...You're a kind boy.

[ The praise is a little embarrassing, honestly. But Vogel finally seems to be steadying a little, so Michel releases him and steps back a tiny bit.

His shirt might be slightly soaked, but it's fine. It should refresh when they load into the next area regardless. ]

[Sinclair shakes his head, not dismissing the praise, but not accepting it either. He's just him]

...I'm sorry about your clothes.

[He feels better now though. Not all the way but. Better]

It's fine. It's cooler like this.

[ Given the volcanic dungeon and all. It's a weak joke, but what else can he do with Sinclair's persistent apologies? ]

...maybe we should try another dungeon. [Sheepish. It is hot and he is not fond of the heat effects]

[ He's looking sunnier again... not done dungeoning yet? Well, Michel wouldn't mind the opportunity to clear his head, too. ]

Why not. Back to the Chaos Gate?

Mm. Let's go. [Logging back out, this mission run can be considered a favour. But...as another thought]

You mentioned you had older brothers, right? Are you the youngest?

[ Did he mention them to Vogel before? His thoughts skip on the possibility of what the mirror had shown, but -- no, if it was Aimee, his brothers wouldn't have been there. ]

That's right. By six years. [ Can he ask about Vogel's sister... he isn't sure. ]

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