[ It only took him almost a year to think so. Hey, if she sticks around for a while, they might be friends in the end after all.
Rose watches him carefully as he reads The Null's contact post. It occurs to her that this is the first time he's ever seemed really... bothered by something. It's of course in the same stoic way he usually contemplates anything, but there's a certain weight to this there hasn't been before.
Then again, she supposes she'd be pretty upset too if the things that slaughtered her entire people were showing their faces around her home. ]
Well, yeah, by the book definition you're parasitic creatures. But who the fuck cares about that? My kind - yokai - translates literally to 'demons.' And look at me, I'm the worst demon to ever demon. What you are isn't who you are, man.
You're Sorrow. Perpetual Grumpy Face McGee who would do anything for his family. The guy - cloud, thing? - who danced with me at the ball when he didn't have to. You might be a right a-hole sometimes, dude, but you're definitely not a 'parasite' to me at least. You're way more than that.
[ Uhm.
Hopefully he still thinks that 'crudeness' is charming because that was possibly the worst compliment/inspirational spiel known to man. ]
[He states simply, though his lips are tightly pursed and it's clear that his comment is more of an aside than it is an admonishment.
Sorrow changes the subject.]
They're saying that they don't want to kill you. This is likely true- killing you will not be their goal, killing us will be. However, to kill us, they know that many of you will have to die in order to make us vulnerable.
[Which of course, isn't good.]
So they aren't lying. But that doesn't mean that any of you would be safe if you were to work with them.
Too bad, you got it anyway. I think you're great, yaddah yaddah. [ A bit of teasing. She knows he doesn't need to be reassured but... It feels kind of nice, having it out there - for real - just how much he means to her. What she really thinks of him. ]
Don't worry, that's about all the sappiness I got in me for this visit. [ She'd, like, clap his shoulder or something but... He definitely gives off the 'don't touch me' vibe so she'll. Refrain. ]
Well, I know that. But for most people here, it seems to feel like the lesser or two evils. And unfortunately, you guys are the greater of those two evils. Not how I feel, but some others aren't gonna be as easy to convince.
Gonna' have to win 'em over, somehow, since apparently the promise of 'not dying permanently at least' doesn't seem to be enough.
If I have to grovel to your kind so that they will not actively participate in our genocide, then I think these humans are much more heartless than I could ever be.
Dude. [ 1.) Way to kill a moment, bro. 2.) How about no. 3.) SEE 1 & 2. ]
Okay, like. Putting aside the fact that you guys have gotten us killed, put us through emotional roller coaster hell, and can't figure out a way to send people home, it's. It's not groveling? Get off your dumb high horse for like two seconds, c'mon.
[ She feels like he of all people should know that no one here owes the gods anything, just as the gods don't really act like they owe the people here anything. But that's not a functional relationship, which is what they need now more than ever. ]
Most people just want transparency. Answers. Not the vague as fuck bullshit that you've all been giving us so far because 'weeehhh we can't trust you, weeehhhh.' Well, now we're all you've got so you ain't got any fucking choice but to try and trust us if you don't want the Null to win over everyone instead. You'll do anything for your people, I know, so 'groveling' as you call it really shouldn't be too much to ask.
[ SHE LOVES U MAN, BUT REALLY. Quietly... scrubs face, now that she got that out. ]
Sorry. I just. You said you'd talk to me, yeah? If I ask you stuff, will you actually give me straight answers?
I know how to send you home. I've said as such to others.
[The other things, sure, he's guilty of at least- but everything is always fixed in the end, isn't it.]
I've always answered every question asked of me to the fullest extent of my abilities with the exception of questions relating to the Door. As far as trust is concerned... many of you openly plot for our deaths. In this post you've shown me, I can count several of you already planning on working with the Null. Is that worthy of my trust?
Right, okay, my mistake. That you won't tell us how you can send us home.
[ Because they're needed. Which isn't a fact Rose minds, honestly, but... She gets why it chafes other people. ]
Ugh, okay, so. Like bits and pieces? To individual people? I'll have to... ask around, I guess. [ She thinks Mello was trying to compile everything, too. Maybe she'll hit him up about helping, after all. ] Why is it so hard for you guys to make a PSA about the shit that matters, jeez.
[ Not... directed specifically at him, but. COMMUNICATION, YA'LL SUCK AT IT. Not that she isn't a giant hypocrite for thinking as such. ]
Okay, but, like. Fuck those other people. [ Wow. Harsh. ] Do you trust me? Just me, just Rose. That's all I'm asking.
Why is it so hard for you to communicate with one another?
[He retaliates, calm as ever.]
Different things matter to different people. I couldn't possibly anticipate all of the questions I'm asked.
[But more to the point, he eyes her at the question, quiet for a moment.]
Do I trust you enough to answer your questions? Of course. I answer every question I can. Do I trust you, now that you've told me that my options are trust you or be killed? Less likely. [He shrugs. It's the honest truth, at least.] I'm working with you. That's enough.
Touche, [ is all she says to that. Rose knows she's basically the pot calling the kettle black, but.
She waits for his answer in a moment of stifling silence. When he gives it, her expression is surprisingly placid. Rose can have on helluva poker face when she needs to. It hurts. She's not going to pretend that it doesn't; part of her wonders if he can feel that it does.
If it came down to it, Rose would probably give her life for Sorrow. For the gods. At least if she died trying to save them, it'd be for a purpose. A reason. Her death would have meaning. Even if he doesn't trust her, he doesn't have to. She'd still do it.
After a notable pause, the blond suddenly sports a winning smile to mask the strange, bitter pain causing her heart to ache. ] Alright, well, that's fair! I'll, uh. I'll be in touch, then. Maybe once we compile everything we need to I'll get back to you. Or if there's any other Null updates.
Thanks for taking the time to talk with me, dude. Sorry for disrupting your schedule.
[ She might hastily trying to exit stage left. Also perhaps reciting a mental mantra of 'Don't cry, don't cry-' as she does. It's fine. She'll be fine. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
action;
Rose watches him carefully as he reads The Null's contact post. It occurs to her that this is the first time he's ever seemed really... bothered by something. It's of course in the same stoic way he usually contemplates anything, but there's a certain weight to this there hasn't been before.
Then again, she supposes she'd be pretty upset too if the things that slaughtered her entire people were showing their faces around her home. ]
Well, yeah, by the book definition you're parasitic creatures. But who the fuck cares about that? My kind - yokai - translates literally to 'demons.' And look at me, I'm the worst demon to ever demon. What you are isn't who you are, man.
You're Sorrow. Perpetual Grumpy Face McGee who would do anything for his family. The guy - cloud, thing? - who danced with me at the ball when he didn't have to. You might be a right a-hole sometimes, dude, but you're definitely not a 'parasite' to me at least. You're way more than that.
[ Uhm.
Hopefully he still thinks that 'crudeness' is charming because that was possibly the worst compliment/inspirational spiel known to man. ]
action;
[He states simply, though his lips are tightly pursed and it's clear that his comment is more of an aside than it is an admonishment.
Sorrow changes the subject.]
They're saying that they don't want to kill you. This is likely true- killing you will not be their goal, killing us will be. However, to kill us, they know that many of you will have to die in order to make us vulnerable.
[Which of course, isn't good.]
So they aren't lying. But that doesn't mean that any of you would be safe if you were to work with them.
action;
Don't worry, that's about all the sappiness I got in me for this visit. [ She'd, like, clap his shoulder or something but... He definitely gives off the 'don't touch me' vibe so she'll. Refrain. ]
Well, I know that. But for most people here, it seems to feel like the lesser or two evils. And unfortunately, you guys are the greater of those two evils. Not how I feel, but some others aren't gonna be as easy to convince.
Gonna' have to win 'em over, somehow, since apparently the promise of 'not dying permanently at least' doesn't seem to be enough.
action;
If I have to grovel to your kind so that they will not actively participate in our genocide, then I think these humans are much more heartless than I could ever be.
action;
SQUINTS. ]
Dude. [ 1.) Way to kill a moment, bro. 2.) How about no. 3.) SEE 1 & 2. ]
Okay, like. Putting aside the fact that you guys have gotten us killed, put us through emotional roller coaster hell, and can't figure out a way to send people home, it's. It's not groveling? Get off your dumb high horse for like two seconds, c'mon.
[ She feels like he of all people should know that no one here owes the gods anything, just as the gods don't really act like they owe the people here anything. But that's not a functional relationship, which is what they need now more than ever. ]
Most people just want transparency. Answers. Not the vague as fuck bullshit that you've all been giving us so far because 'weeehhh we can't trust you, weeehhhh.' Well, now we're all you've got so you ain't got any fucking choice but to try and trust us if you don't want the Null to win over everyone instead. You'll do anything for your people, I know, so 'groveling' as you call it really shouldn't be too much to ask.
[ SHE LOVES U MAN, BUT REALLY. Quietly... scrubs face, now that she got that out. ]
Sorry. I just. You said you'd talk to me, yeah? If I ask you stuff, will you actually give me straight answers?
[ A beat. ]
Can you trust me?
action;
I know how to send you home. I've said as such to others.
[The other things, sure, he's guilty of at least- but everything is always fixed in the end, isn't it.]
I've always answered every question asked of me to the fullest extent of my abilities with the exception of questions relating to the Door. As far as trust is concerned... many of you openly plot for our deaths. In this post you've shown me, I can count several of you already planning on working with the Null. Is that worthy of my trust?
action;
[ Because they're needed. Which isn't a fact Rose minds, honestly, but... She gets why it chafes other people. ]
Ugh, okay, so. Like bits and pieces? To individual people? I'll have to... ask around, I guess. [ She thinks Mello was trying to compile everything, too. Maybe she'll hit him up about helping, after all. ] Why is it so hard for you guys to make a PSA about the shit that matters, jeez.
[ Not... directed specifically at him, but. COMMUNICATION, YA'LL SUCK AT IT. Not that she isn't a giant hypocrite for thinking as such. ]
Okay, but, like. Fuck those other people. [ Wow. Harsh. ] Do you trust me? Just me, just Rose. That's all I'm asking.
action;
[He retaliates, calm as ever.]
Different things matter to different people. I couldn't possibly anticipate all of the questions I'm asked.
[But more to the point, he eyes her at the question, quiet for a moment.]
Do I trust you enough to answer your questions? Of course. I answer every question I can. Do I trust you, now that you've told me that my options are trust you or be killed? Less likely. [He shrugs. It's the honest truth, at least.] I'm working with you. That's enough.
action;
She waits for his answer in a moment of stifling silence. When he gives it, her expression is surprisingly placid. Rose can have on helluva poker face when she needs to. It hurts. She's not going to pretend that it doesn't; part of her wonders if he can feel that it does.
If it came down to it, Rose would probably give her life for Sorrow. For the gods. At least if she died trying to save them, it'd be for a purpose. A reason. Her death would have meaning. Even if he doesn't trust her, he doesn't have to. She'd still do it.
After a notable pause, the blond suddenly sports a winning smile to mask the strange, bitter pain causing her heart to ache. ] Alright, well, that's fair! I'll, uh. I'll be in touch, then. Maybe once we compile everything we need to I'll get back to you. Or if there's any other Null updates.
Thanks for taking the time to talk with me, dude. Sorry for disrupting your schedule.
[ She might hastily trying to exit stage left. Also perhaps reciting a mental mantra of 'Don't cry, don't cry-' as she does. It's fine. She'll be fine. ]