[Alice listens to Karin as she stumbles through the strangeness of what she's revealing, watching her closely even as Karin's gaze moves away from her. Yuri had never mentioned an aunt, but that doesn't mean much--it's possible that the topic never came up, or even that he had no idea she even existed. He was so young when he lost his parents, after all...

When he lost Karin, years before he'd ever met her as such.

Even though she receives glimpses of it through their Bond, Alice cannot begin to imagine how Karin must feel about all of this. She can't even attempt to by comparing their circumstances--she's equally doomed, but with the benefits of it being her choice and of certainty. Poor Karin only knows how and when it ends.]

It does sound crazy, and it is too much. But we live in a world where that's awfully common, whether we like it or not.

[The words are spoken with a knowing sympathy. It's the story of both of their lives, and of Yuri's. Nothing is really impossible, and that fact never seems to work in a way that ends happily for anyone.

She reaches over and brushes a bit of hair behind Karin's ear.]

I'm grateful that you told me. That you trust me enough to share the burden, at least a little.

For what it's worth, it doesn't change how I love you.