[As Max had given Basil the same opportunity (or, rather, was forced to since he would have blubbered it all regardless), Basil listens to what Max tells him in return. And it...understandably, is shocking. He does remember, though he wishes he didn't. The way her stepfather yelled frightened even him, someone who has never experienced that kind of abuse. His parents didn't seem to want or be around him, but that spared him a worse fate. He can hardly imagine it, yet he heard it all for himself...
It's terrible, all of it. Especially when Basil can't...blame Max for thinking like that. He's no stranger to his thoughts going to incredibly terrifying and dark places. Even back when he was 12, and somehow knew how to perfectly tie a noose using a jumprope. Max, it seems, struggles with the very same. Not just terrible thoughts turned inwards, but those turned out as well.
Her explanation of events is fragmented and a little confusing, but even without the full context, Basil is able to piece it together. Her stepbrother died...and Max feels that she could have done more to save him, or anything at all, but didn't. She's struggling to cope with that fact.
She wanted it, but she didn't. Not really.
And as she battles between the two ideas, Basil tightens his grip on her. He renews his hold, realizing that this awful magic isn't going to stop tearing them open until they've got nothing left to be unraveled.]
M-Max...
[He turns his head away from the corner, instead looking at the side of her head. He can feel her antler knocking into his horns, the way it's drip-dripping against the top of his head. He doesn't care that it is.]
You're not a bad person. A-and...if I can still matter, after what I did...then so can you.
[His claws squeeze her tighter, yet they manage to stay gentle regardless.]
Y-you...you were hurting. Suffering. Just because you thought those things...even if you meant them. It doesn't m-mean you're bad. It doesn't make it your fault.
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timeasmymeasure
cw: domestic violence/depression/suicide
Date: 2023-04-23 05:56 am (UTC)It's terrible, all of it. Especially when Basil can't...blame Max for thinking like that. He's no stranger to his thoughts going to incredibly terrifying and dark places. Even back when he was 12, and somehow knew how to perfectly tie a noose using a jumprope. Max, it seems, struggles with the very same. Not just terrible thoughts turned inwards, but those turned out as well.
Her explanation of events is fragmented and a little confusing, but even without the full context, Basil is able to piece it together. Her stepbrother died...and Max feels that she could have done more to save him, or anything at all, but didn't. She's struggling to cope with that fact.
She wanted it, but she didn't. Not really.
And as she battles between the two ideas, Basil tightens his grip on her. He renews his hold, realizing that this awful magic isn't going to stop tearing them open until they've got nothing left to be unraveled.]
M-Max...
[He turns his head away from the corner, instead looking at the side of her head. He can feel her antler knocking into his horns, the way it's drip-dripping against the top of his head. He doesn't care that it is.]
You're not a bad person. A-and...if I can still matter, after what I did...then so can you.
[His claws squeeze her tighter, yet they manage to stay gentle regardless.]
Y-you...you were hurting. Suffering. Just because you thought those things...even if you meant them. It doesn't m-mean you're bad. It doesn't make it your fault.
You...you didn't do anything wrong.
[That, he says with conviction.]