Danae
"I don't like the feeling. Like I'm exposing myself. You say it can take strength to cry, but it's also strength to not show it, you know?"

*A sigh was let out as she laid back as well, letting her arms out like she was making a snow angel. She could feel the moisture of dew on the grass, the sun on her pale face.*

"The last time I cried was when I was told I would never fight again."
Anna
"Sometimes it's necessary, to hold back your feelings. Crying is by far a useless thing to do when you have a chance to act. Though, sometimes it's necessary to just... Let yourself fall apart, too."

*Now that he thought about it, the last time he cried... Well, he must have had someone with him. Someone to hold him up while he was undone. Suppose that's what she needed as well.*
"You must think about those times every time you feel the urge to cry. Loneliness and hopeless vulnerability..."

*The Neko went silent for a moment in thought. His hand gently sliding across the grass and grabbing Diao's hand.*
"I won't go back on what I said that night. But... When you feel like it, you can cry around me. Cry and scream and fall apart. And I'll do my best to hold you together. And if you don't want to, that's fine as well. I can't force you. Looking for a person who you *Can* Confide in is a step in the right direction."
Danae
"Huh?"

*The burning moment played over and over again. Her question, his answer. She had mustered up the courage, leaving her heart open and vulnerable, hoping that her love was reciprocal. Instead, she recieved heartbreak. Yes, Horace did his best to cushion the blows, but that was equivalent to putting a tunic over a mace. She was shut down immediately. And it was after he seduced her too... Like she was a a toy left to the sidelines.*

*As Horace grasped her hand, her eyes moistened, coalescing into tears that soon rolled down, then streamed down her face. A noise came out of Diao's mouth, and then another. A few more and it was clear that they were sobs as her strong persona collapsed in on itself, leaving only ruins. Her hand squeezed hard on the neko's as her breath grew shaky and ragged, uncontrollable as she made physical contact with him once more. How ironic was it that the one who crushed her heart was making her cry once more by comforting her.*
Anna
*Horace almost smiled to himself as Diao crumbled. A warm smile, proud of the woman for finally letting her walls down. He decides to sit up, using their joined hands to pull in Diao. Offering a small embrace while she wept, sheltering her body like he intended to do for her soul.*

"That's it... Let it all out. Let the world melt away." 
*Hopefully, this would be a step forward for Diao. Probably, this would blow up in his face again. He had to admit it was all just a bit absurd, rejecting her so bluntly and then pushing her so close to him. Some might even call it cruel, like he was playing with her heart. He was playing with her heart, even if he didn't feel like it. He had already warned her, he was no good for her.*
"With every setting sun comes the promise of a new day."
Claire
Wanna end it here? Or keep goin for a few more posts
Danae
*As Horace pulled Diao into a warm embrace, she lost all semblance of control. Sobs turned into wails as she buried her head into his chest, her (regular) arm pounding weakly onto his shoulder as if to punish him for his actions (though it wouldn't hurt much). Her vision was cloudy and blurred by the constant tears, her lungs rapidly expanding and contracting as her cries increased in frequency. Eventually, she exerted it all, all the pain and sadness and anger that she had kept bottled up, and the world was peaceful once again. She rested herself against his chest, the storm calm.*

"So you do care..."
Anna
*The Neko accepted her punishments, her anger, her grief. Simply staring off into the middle distance as he comforted the artificer. Glancing down at her once she seemed to calm, and expressing her revelation.*
"Of course... I'm not heartless. You and Aka- You're dear friends of mine. It's why I couldn't bare to drag you down with me by getting as close as... Well, whatever you wanted us to be."

*He huffs quietly, seeming to repeat himself. Even now he was still stinging this woman in his arms.*
"In ten years, you'll see such sights I could never dream of. In ten years, I expect to be dead or close to it. "