wants_the_phd | Court inbox

I want you to come out and eat these fish.

... You apologized, so I don't really want anything else after all that.

[man she is WAY too paranoid to come out, let alone to eat those fish. valencia makes a living killing things like her, and now she's gone and given her multiple reasons. She has no clue what she might be thinking, and she's not in great condition to defend herself if things go pear shaped.]

...Can I eat them later?

I'm tired. I just want to be alone and sleep.

[ She makes a slightly disgruntled noise, but noses a bit at the brambles. ]

Let me in, then. I'll stay quiet.

... I know I've said some things, before, but I do consider you a friend.

[The brambles don't move]

In what way??? You've already made it clear you don't find me acceptable. Am I not one of the lesser creatures you hunt for the safety of your own? I have nothing of value I can offer you.

[pleading, softly despairing, tired:]

I don't want to fight you. I just want to live. I don't want to be hurt any more. Please just let me be.

... I guess it's the same as that I'm food, but somehow more important than that. Isn't it? I'm not totally incapable of changing my way of thinking.

I'm not looking to fight, Linnea. I'd rather not again, honestly.

Then why are you here????

[ ugh. Reshapes herself human, sitting in the dirt.]

I was worried?

As you can see, I'm back to my senses.

I'm not going anywhere near the Labyrinth again until it's safe.

About your well being, not if you'd attack again.

...

[There's a creaking sound of her shifting inside of her rose ball.]

I feel like my body did a bunch of stuff without me and I don't know what I did or who I hurt or who is mad at me. I don't know how it happened. I don't know how to protect myself from it happening again. I'm tired and scared and my body feels terrible.

I know. I'm sorry.

I don't know how to help, but I wanted to check on you. A lot happened.

Are you angry at me?

I would have been, if you hadn't apologized. But I'm not anymore, not really...

[But she brought the fish anyway...]

[The vines slowly pull away again, revealing her whole face and shoulders instead of just her eyes. Her bare knees are visible where they're snug against her chest. She's curled up tight inside her cocoon of thorns.]

[This time she speaks with her own voice, which is soft and a little whispier than normal.]

I really am sorry.

I followed you back to the dorm, after. I wanted to heal you but I was too scared.

I'm glad you're okay.

Well... I'm not going to say "it's fine," but I can at least say it's over with so far as I can tell. At least for now. The effects of this place can be overwhelming, even when they aren't taking over your mind entirely. I'm well aware of that.

[ She's quietly thoughtful for a moment. ]

... It's probably best that you didn't, in the end. I slept off the most of the pain and woke with somewhat clearer of a head.

Have you had to deal with wounds like that before?

Often. It isn't that unusual.

[Jeez]

Why do you still do it?

... What do you mean?

Why do you still pursue your line of work when that kind of thing happens to you often?

It's important to me. I don't really care about being injured.

...You're a stronger person than me. I hate being injured.

I could never do any line of work that required me to fight. It's hard to imagine even wanting to.

You're really just built different.

It's what I was born for. My purpose.

I can't fault anyone for wanting to keep themselves safe. That's normal.

Sorry. I didn't mean to make it sound like I was judging you.

We all have our own callings. And you're hardly the first person I've met whose calling involves some kind of combat.

Honestly, I think I've met more people with weapons training and high pain tolerance than not.

... I suppose these sort of places must call to us in some way, then. Against our wills or not.

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