[ he appreciates her reassurance. it makes him feel like he's grown as a person over the year and a half that he's been here, rather than serve as an excuse for past decisions. ]
It's actually quite funny. The last thing that I remember before waking up here was resolving myself to exploring the world and learning more from new perspectives. I thought that being in Verens was a sidetrack from that goal, but I think I'm on the way to achieving that same end.
[ what better way is there to expand one's horizons than meeting with people from completely different worlds? ]
It seems you weren't specific enough about which world you wanted to explore.
[since after all, it's not his world at all. But there's time for jokes later, when the subject isn't so serious.]
But I think I agree. Being so far removed from everything you're familiar with puts issues from home in more of a different perspective. It may have taken longer to reach the same conclusions in a more familiar environment.
I'd like to think I'm a bit wiser because of it. I still have plenty of things to learn, but I've at least resolved to keep more of an open mind. [ a beat. ] Do you think this world has influenced you, as well?
[Perhaps not in the same way as Steven and his realization, she knows. There's a lot not even being here can change her mind on or even cause her to rethink her position just slightly, even with the people she's met, from home and from other worlds. But--]
It sounds less than positive, but it's helped me learn to be more selfish.
[Something she's not used to. She's used to sacrificing her time, her happiness, her life for causes she believes in. But here, she's learned to take the time to be around those she cares for and focus more on what she wants than she has in the past.]
[ hearing that makes Steven's smile grow - not because it's an odd statement, but because it makes perfect sense to him. ]
You aren't the first person I've heard that from.
[ he knows that Ignis was the exact same way. his loyalty to the Lucian crown is still steadfast and unbreakable, but the very relationship he's allowed himself to have with Steven is proof that he's become selfish in a healthy way. ]
I think that's definitely a form of growth. Learning to live for yourself is just as important as considering others.
I was raised with the idea that I should always be thinking of others and how to help. I don't intend to entirely abandon that line of thinking [because if she did, she wouldn't be herself anymore, or what to really do with her life.] it's nice to take the time to do things I want to do. For no other reason besides me wanting to do them.
I wouldn't expect you to. The key is finding the right balance.
[ it's not the first time that he's said that during his time here. it's a reoccurring theme in the context of the world itself, individuals that he's met, and himself. ]
There's plenty of things I have left to do in my world, but the time I've spent here... I don't consider it a burden.
[She nods, because Steven is right. It's balance that she, and everyone else, really needs to find. And she feels she's done a better job of that here than at home.]
Nor do I. There's a lot I've done here that I would've never had the chance to experience back home.
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no subject
[ he appreciates her reassurance. it makes him feel like he's grown as a person over the year and a half that he's been here, rather than serve as an excuse for past decisions. ]
It's actually quite funny. The last thing that I remember before waking up here was resolving myself to exploring the world and learning more from new perspectives. I thought that being in Verens was a sidetrack from that goal, but I think I'm on the way to achieving that same end.
[ what better way is there to expand one's horizons than meeting with people from completely different worlds? ]
no subject
[since after all, it's not his world at all. But there's time for jokes later, when the subject isn't so serious.]
But I think I agree. Being so far removed from everything you're familiar with puts issues from home in more of a different perspective. It may have taken longer to reach the same conclusions in a more familiar environment.
no subject
[ that makes him smile. she isn't wrong. ]
I'd like to think I'm a bit wiser because of it. I still have plenty of things to learn, but I've at least resolved to keep more of an open mind. [ a beat. ] Do you think this world has influenced you, as well?
no subject
[Perhaps not in the same way as Steven and his realization, she knows. There's a lot not even being here can change her mind on or even cause her to rethink her position just slightly, even with the people she's met, from home and from other worlds. But--]
It sounds less than positive, but it's helped me learn to be more selfish.
[Something she's not used to. She's used to sacrificing her time, her happiness, her life for causes she believes in. But here, she's learned to take the time to be around those she cares for and focus more on what she wants than she has in the past.]
no subject
You aren't the first person I've heard that from.
[ he knows that Ignis was the exact same way. his loyalty to the Lucian crown is still steadfast and unbreakable, but the very relationship he's allowed himself to have with Steven is proof that he's become selfish in a healthy way. ]
I think that's definitely a form of growth. Learning to live for yourself is just as important as considering others.
no subject
no subject
[ it's not the first time that he's said that during his time here. it's a reoccurring theme in the context of the world itself, individuals that he's met, and himself. ]
There's plenty of things I have left to do in my world, but the time I've spent here... I don't consider it a burden.
no subject
Nor do I. There's a lot I've done here that I would've never had the chance to experience back home.