01-13-2025, 01:26 PM
Hayden listened and watched and saw the realization hit that she was dealing with it. "Guilt isn't always about guilt. Sometimes it's anger that has no way out. And I know you weren't yelling at me. You can yell at me all you want though. I'm here to listen however you want to get it out."
He finished his plate and set it aside. "Nox won't feel guilty for you killing your father, Elyse. It won't keep him up at night. But if you die, on his watch. That will haunt him forever. He is not haunted by his kills. He's haunted by his failures to protect. Some of them are deaths of innocents, but most are losses he's endured and couldn't stop. Don't let his issues make yours worse."
He grinned at her. "While I don't recommend going out and having angry sex with a stranger. The idea isn't wrong. You're pissed at your mother. You're pissed at your father. I'm going to go so far as to say you are even pissed at Nox for being a fucking knight in shining armor and riding to your rescue. Even though you can take care of your own problems. Nox has a dojo for a reason and those stupid ball machines might be stupid to you and me. But when you're pissed, or you need a fight. You can't hurt tennis balls, but they sure do pack a punch. Get angry, Elyse. Be pissed. Get it out. Maybe it'll help you redecorate your feelings."
He finished his plate and set it aside. "Nox won't feel guilty for you killing your father, Elyse. It won't keep him up at night. But if you die, on his watch. That will haunt him forever. He is not haunted by his kills. He's haunted by his failures to protect. Some of them are deaths of innocents, but most are losses he's endured and couldn't stop. Don't let his issues make yours worse."
He grinned at her. "While I don't recommend going out and having angry sex with a stranger. The idea isn't wrong. You're pissed at your mother. You're pissed at your father. I'm going to go so far as to say you are even pissed at Nox for being a fucking knight in shining armor and riding to your rescue. Even though you can take care of your own problems. Nox has a dojo for a reason and those stupid ball machines might be stupid to you and me. But when you're pissed, or you need a fight. You can't hurt tennis balls, but they sure do pack a punch. Get angry, Elyse. Be pissed. Get it out. Maybe it'll help you redecorate your feelings."