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GAUCHO
I'd bring you further roses but it does you no good.
Gaucho wanted to deny her assertion. To forcibly shake the weight of her words off of him. If he had known he could have done something. He would have. Gaucho had only been weak during the very beginning stages of his life, when his bones were still supple and growing. As soon as he reached an age where trauma from a fight wouldn't post such a high risk of permanent damage, he had started. Fighting that is. His skills and desire to protect and defend stemmed from his need to prove himself the victor - everywhere and always. That wasn't to say Gaucho got into meaningless fights or became a tyrant, however. Still, the thought that he was helpless in this situation remained a hard pill to swallow. It might have admonished his guilt, but it still weighed heavily upon his heart and mind.
Gaucho had never been helpless. But Jiji had just pointed out that he had been, and was still capable of being. Not only had he not been able to fight the Goddess, he hadn't even known. Somehow that felt worse. His body might be a fortress, but his mind certainly was not.
Her description of Hototo snapped Gaucho back to the present, and he solemnly nodded. The Wildfire knew what it was to place everyone else before your own needs. He knew the burden that it was, but also the joy it could bring. Wherever Hototo had gone (perhaps the children of Gods held a special place in the afterlife), he hoped the boy-god found peace.
Jiji's forgiveness felt ... different somehow. Gaucho had not wanted the forgiveness of those around him on the Island - like Archibald. It didn't seem to matter to him, for he owed them nothing. As jiji and many others pointed out, it was out of his control. However as the words slipped bulkily from her lips, Gaucho felt relieved. What she said mattered to him.
Because she mattered to him.
As she moved towards him his flaming wings instantly stretched from his flanks to pull her closer. Darkened feathers seemed to extend, wrapping around her, as he welcomed her embrace. He felt himself exhale into her, as his bone pierced-nose dipped down to press against her soft sable skin.
He had done irreplaceable damage to her family, and yet she had forgiven him. Gaucho had always known the girl was strong, but he had never really known how deep her well of strength truly was. Only know was he beginning to have some understanding.
"Thank you." He rumbled against her, most of his voice projecting directly into her, muffling his words.
What else was there to say?
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[O] Wonderwall
