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... [ tucking one can into her quiver and turning away to look elsewhere. ]

I've seen a lot of people die, from as far back as I can remember. When I was older, I thought that maybe one day, I'd get used to it. But seeing that moment, the one where you can watch it, but you can't get there in time, and you're frozen, and you'll stay up that night thinking about it over and over and wondering what you could have done, how you might have been able to save someone important...

I know you weren't going to die, but I can't help it-- just--

[ Noire pauses, swiping a dusty glove across her eyes. ]

I-I'm sorry, I'll stop thinking about it and I won't be so depressing, just... give me some time.

[ now he's squeezing the part of her arm that he just poked. ]

If I was going to kill myself, it wouldn't be in broad daylight where it'd potentially trouble others.

[ he means well. ]

[ what is his fascination with her arm-- his grip might get jerked a bit as she whirls to face him, and it might just be that she's had a bad time of it, or because she hasn't recovered from seeing him fall, or maybe she's just overly emotional, or something silly like that.

Whatever the reason, there's anger in her eyes, and it's all rushing out when she opens her mouth. But it's not overly eloquent fury; she's still very much herself. ]

It doesn't matter where or when, if you die at all, it's going to trouble others! Don't even-- being left behind isn't usually something temporary! It's dark and it's lonely and it's far worse than any kind of curse my mother could invent!

Cherish your life a little more, and if you can't do it for yourself, then do it for the people who care!!

[ this is backfiring isn't it... ]

You're still—

[ then he steps back and stares carefully at a nondescript patch of air beside her ear, voice quiet. ]

I didn't mean it like that.

[ drop it, Noire. he doesn't want to get frustrated with you. ]

[ she's already frustrated.

But more than that, she's sad, and she didn't say any of that to start a fight with him. Logically, she knows he wasn't trying to kill himself. He's gotten reckless, but he wouldn't just die. Even so, her mind keeps straying to what he'd shown her, the very minute he told her she could probably destroy his entire existence. And even now, when he'd used his magic like that... but.

Now isn't the time to fight, she knows.

So Noire lowers her head, voice just as subdued. ]

... I'm sorry.

... Me, too. I guess I'm still just not used to people caring.

Even though I know you do.

Of course I do. I could keep reminding you, but it might get annoying for you.

Why do you care?

[ Not challenging, just curious. ]

... [ really, Eugeo? ]

You were the first person who was kind enough to show me around. You were the first to help me when we were locked outside. You refused to let me blame myself by trying to make me hate you instead. Even when you would avoid people, you would still look out for them.

You were never afraid of me. I don't know how, but you accepted all of me, and that's... something amazing to me.

Eugeo, you're... someone incredibly important to me. You're one of my best friends, and even though I know that you're strong and capable, you make me want to try and get stronger so I... c-can keep up. So I can be of some use.

It's... really not that easy to explain, but I care because you're someone worth caring about.

[ how does he even reply to that ]

... I'm not selfless, you know.

[ far from it. ]

I was never afraid because I didn't see any reason to be. Just like there was never any reason not to accept you.

But... thank you for accepting someone like me, who didn't know anything about the world, as your friend.

[ ... ]

Also, you're not a tool to be used.

[ So don't talk like that!! ]

[ she smiles, albeit apologetically. He's had to tell her that before, hasn't he? ]

Like you said... I didn't see any reason not to care. Honestly, it felt perfectly natural to me. So you don't need to thank me for wanting to be your friend.