[By the sharp curl to the corners of Xemnas' mouth he absolutely knows what Isa is saying, with that comment. Or rather, what he isn't saying, and even just knowing that Isa is in a place where he might have asked for help, were it not for that selfsame pride is enough to have him very nearly amused.]
Indeed I do.
[New though this world is, he hasn't forgotten what he knows of the heart. Of the results of his carefully won research, and the swift fall that had resulted. But much like Isa's own comment, it's an easy shield. A way to approach a conversation while still offering a way to pretend that the topic of conversation is anything other than what it is - he might not precisely care one way or the other, but others do and he's never been above using any tactic available to him to sway people's hearts.]
You always were fond of that pride.
[Not that. Xemnas is so much as lifting an arm in assistance, yet. But the idea hovers there, all the same.]
[Honestly, Isa might have asked for help sooner from literally anyone else, but with Xemnas he feels as though he needs to tread carefully. One wrong word and it already feels as though he'll be forfeiting his heart again, and he really doesn't feel up to going through that - and all that entails - a third time.]
As were you.
[Or, more accurately, he always seemed ready and willing to manipulate that pride for his own means. But that's a sort of fondness, as much as a nobody could feel fondness, in its own right.]
What are you doing here, Xemnas?
[Isa wouldn't put it past him to just stand there and lord over him, but... it wouldn't kill him to be somewhat helpful while he did, right? Without Isa asking him to?
...Okay, maybe it would, but he still has to ask, to cut to the chase, preferably before this odd dizziness overcomes him.]
[For the time being, at least, Xemnas has no direct interest in Isa's heart. That's hardly going to stop him from making the most of Isa's worries on that front, of course, but with no overarching goal to aim for, there's no need to spend his time seeking out worthy candidates to stand at his side, regardless of whether or not they should have their hearts at the time.
Still, he doesn't deny that he'd been more than willing to manipulate that same pride, even if he doesn't actually address that point. There's no need to, when they're both perfectly aware of it, and Xemnas isn't in the slightest bit inclined to apologize besides.]
Can I not choose to offer such assistance as I should be capable of?
[He mostly means with regards to the vines, but if Isa should choose to also take that as an offer of assistance with regards to his current situation Xemnas is still not unwilling to help out there as well.]
[If all Xemnas is after at the moment is offering assistance, then... well, he'll be suspicious of the motives, of course, but Isa also knows better than to turn up his nose at a helping hand when he's in need of it.
Admitting he's in need of it is a different matter altogether, though, and if that's a requirement, then that pesky pride may very well prevent him from accepting that help after all.]
Is that what you're doing, Xemnas? Offering assistance?
[It honestly seems too good to be true, and he's sure that shows through in his voice, but chalk that one up to the permeating exhaustion.]
[Being suspicious of his motives is definitely a good call. Especially when altruism would almost certainly involve having more of a heart than he actually has. And while he is willing to help out, he's almost certainly planning to make use of anything that should happen to come of his having done so, even if he hasn't made any definitive plans just at the moment.]
For now, yes. Provided it is something that you would be willing to accept.
[He's under no illusions about what Isa thinks of him. But if he's willing to accept a hand, than Xemnas will gladly offer it.]
[It's a difficult decision to make, but one that needs to be made quickly. Should Xemnas leave, then there's no telling what will become of him. Maybe he'll be able to tap into energy that hasn't yet been sapped away. Maybe he'll be able to clear out the vines and create a safe enough area to get out or rest. Maybe he won't be able to do that, and would be left to the vines' mercy, or lack thereof.
Or Xemnas could stay, and offer what assistance he could, and Isa would be opening himself up to whatever use Xemnas would come up with for the help in exchange. At the same time... that's a known variable. He knows Xemnas. He's suspicious of him, but he does still trust him, to an extent. He doesn't know what awaits him if he doesn't accept.
So he tries to stand a little straighter to respond.]
[For now, at least, Xemnas doesn't have any particularly nefarious plans. He has to admit to a certain amount of curiosity as to where this simple offer of generosity will get him, both now and in the long run. But he's not about to actually mention that. Either Isa already knows or he doesn't, and there's no real need for Xemnas to elaborate on that front. Not when time is of the essence.
All the same there is still a smile at Isa's comment, and it's a none-too-friendly one besides, as most of his tend to be.]
Then consider it done.
[He's moving closer even as he speaks, still unhurried as ever, but trusting Isa to hold to his word and not take it on himself to find the energy to launch one last desperate attack. And when Xemnas does finally come within arm's length he makes not even the slightest attempt to do similarly. Instead, he simply offers Isa his hand - or a shoulder, should it come to that. Of course, with Xemnas still wearing his customary coat and gloves, there's very little to assist with actual Chroma recovery (not that either of them are likely aware that such things might be necessary), but even without that he's more than willing to offer the assistance he'd promised besides.]
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no subject
Indeed I do.
[New though this world is, he hasn't forgotten what he knows of the heart. Of the results of his carefully won research, and the swift fall that had resulted. But much like Isa's own comment, it's an easy shield. A way to approach a conversation while still offering a way to pretend that the topic of conversation is anything other than what it is - he might not precisely care one way or the other, but others do and he's never been above using any tactic available to him to sway people's hearts.]
You always were fond of that pride.
[Not that. Xemnas is so much as lifting an arm in assistance, yet. But the idea hovers there, all the same.]
no subject
As were you.
[Or, more accurately, he always seemed ready and willing to manipulate that pride for his own means. But that's a sort of fondness, as much as a nobody could feel fondness, in its own right.]
What are you doing here, Xemnas?
[Isa wouldn't put it past him to just stand there and lord over him, but... it wouldn't kill him to be somewhat helpful while he did, right? Without Isa asking him to?
...Okay, maybe it would, but he still has to ask, to cut to the chase, preferably before this odd dizziness overcomes him.]
no subject
Still, he doesn't deny that he'd been more than willing to manipulate that same pride, even if he doesn't actually address that point. There's no need to, when they're both perfectly aware of it, and Xemnas isn't in the slightest bit inclined to apologize besides.]
Can I not choose to offer such assistance as I should be capable of?
[He mostly means with regards to the vines, but if Isa should choose to also take that as an offer of assistance with regards to his current situation Xemnas is still not unwilling to help out there as well.]
no subject
[If all Xemnas is after at the moment is offering assistance, then... well, he'll be suspicious of the motives, of course, but Isa also knows better than to turn up his nose at a helping hand when he's in need of it.
Admitting he's in need of it is a different matter altogether, though, and if that's a requirement, then that pesky pride may very well prevent him from accepting that help after all.]
Is that what you're doing, Xemnas? Offering assistance?
[It honestly seems too good to be true, and he's sure that shows through in his voice, but chalk that one up to the permeating exhaustion.]
no subject
For now, yes. Provided it is something that you would be willing to accept.
[He's under no illusions about what Isa thinks of him. But if he's willing to accept a hand, than Xemnas will gladly offer it.]
no subject
Or Xemnas could stay, and offer what assistance he could, and Isa would be opening himself up to whatever use Xemnas would come up with for the help in exchange. At the same time... that's a known variable. He knows Xemnas. He's suspicious of him, but he does still trust him, to an extent. He doesn't know what awaits him if he doesn't accept.
So he tries to stand a little straighter to respond.]
It is.
[The Contract Is Sealed, etc.]
no subject
All the same there is still a smile at Isa's comment, and it's a none-too-friendly one besides, as most of his tend to be.]
Then consider it done.
[He's moving closer even as he speaks, still unhurried as ever, but trusting Isa to hold to his word and not take it on himself to find the energy to launch one last desperate attack. And when Xemnas does finally come within arm's length he makes not even the slightest attempt to do similarly. Instead, he simply offers Isa his hand - or a shoulder, should it come to that. Of course, with Xemnas still wearing his customary coat and gloves, there's very little to assist with actual Chroma recovery (not that either of them are likely aware that such things might be necessary), but even without that he's more than willing to offer the assistance he'd promised besides.]