( If it's alter has recovered from the worst of it's time in the egg, so can it. )

' different , ' ( it remarks. )

( Yes. Different. Despite the similarities, they are both different. No matter if the white lumafly glows a tad brighter, or if the casing of the blue is more ornate. )

( They are both lanterns. )
( They are both vessels. )

( They are both knights. )

( Hard to tell if it's directed at itself or it's fellow vessel. They could both use the training, regardless. If for no other reason than to live up to their former selves. )

( Finally, it's gaze settles on the lanterns. Enraptured, it stares for a while, before coming to a conclusion. )

( It's gaze darts away from the other as it signs. Ashamed of it's outburst, maybe? It would have certainly been chastised by their shared father for such a display. )

' can learn. '
' regrow. '

' be like before , '
' stronger. '

( All of that effort, and it cannot even produce a spark? )

( Maybe it shouldn't be thinking like this, but it cannot help but find some small comfort in the fact that it isn't the worst among them when it comes to these abilities. )

' maybe , '

' seek snail ? '
' learn again ? '

( A nod. All is well, then. )

( It doubts thinking on it any further would be a productive use of it's time. )

...

' don't understand . '
' sorry . '

' happy ? '
' weaver happy ? '

( Maybe? Sparse as they are, it enjoys the company of other vessels. It enjoyed it's training with the Knights of Hallownest. )

( The White Lady? The Pale King? )
( The princess herself? )

( ...No, it deicdes. It would not use her words to describe any of these. Not in the way she did, at least. )

( ... Not exactly what it was getting at, but it doesn't see much point in correcting them.

It tries to recall if it's ever felt something like this—some point of reference to maybe understand her position. An idle hand scratches at the crack on it's mask as it thinks. )

( A tilted head, as to show that it genuinely has no idea what to make of this information. )

' why ? '

' ? '
' why love ? '
' stop . '

' stop being embarrassed. '

( ... It doesn't work like that, Hollow. )

( ... It does not understand this. It has never felt embarrassed, as far as it can recall. It hasn't allowed itself to feel much of anything, honestly. )

' why ? '

yeah.

bug jesus

( nods sagely. )

' mad ? '
' ? '

bug jesus.

i dont knnnowwwwwwwww.................................

[ absolutely in character ]

my ass too fat that's why they gave me the armor. to hide it.

[ nc ]

' can't . '

' sorry . '