Carlisle gives Glacius a reassuring smile, hearing that shift in tone, sensing his discouragement through their Bond.
"Guilt takes many forms," he explains, trying to swallow down his embarrassment (and now frustration that he made he has seemingly disappointed his partner, as always). "It shifts between them, shapes great and small, finding new crevices in my heart in which to hide when one has been mended. Bolstered as I may be by your support, and the support of others, my own constitution will never be enough to fully shake its burden. It's... merely who I am, I suppose."
He trails his fingers along the curves of Glacius' shoulder, coming to rest on his partner's broad chest. "I am not blind to how I have changed, however. I still struggle to accept it from time to time, but I am more aware than ever that my affliction does not define me, nor the downfall of my bloodline. There is more to who I am than twice-cursed, or the Longinmouth heir, or even a servant of the Clarity. I have intrinsic value that cannot be found elsewhere, no matter how one may look. That means something."
His hand makes its way back to Glacius' ruined mandible as he returns his forehead to rest against his partner's once more. "I would not have that without this place, or the friends I have made here. But most of all, I would not have that without you. Guilt may storm within me on some nights, but you have been my steadfast bastion against it. I may not have the strength to absolve my regrets yet, but with you, I will one day find the strength. I have faith in that."
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"Guilt takes many forms," he explains, trying to swallow down his embarrassment (and now frustration that he made he has seemingly disappointed his partner, as always). "It shifts between them, shapes great and small, finding new crevices in my heart in which to hide when one has been mended. Bolstered as I may be by your support, and the support of others, my own constitution will never be enough to fully shake its burden. It's... merely who I am, I suppose."
He trails his fingers along the curves of Glacius' shoulder, coming to rest on his partner's broad chest. "I am not blind to how I have changed, however. I still struggle to accept it from time to time, but I am more aware than ever that my affliction does not define me, nor the downfall of my bloodline. There is more to who I am than twice-cursed, or the Longinmouth heir, or even a servant of the Clarity. I have intrinsic value that cannot be found elsewhere, no matter how one may look. That means something."
His hand makes its way back to Glacius' ruined mandible as he returns his forehead to rest against his partner's once more. "I would not have that without this place, or the friends I have made here. But most of all, I would not have that without you. Guilt may storm within me on some nights, but you have been my steadfast bastion against it. I may not have the strength to absolve my regrets yet, but with you, I will one day find the strength. I have faith in that."