[Rose had a litany of people waiting to see her after she returned from the First. There was a long line of people she wanted to see, too, just to confirm they were okay. That they were alive.]
[Despite all of this, she's drinking alone. Rose has marked off a corner of the Forgotten Knight to herself, down on the first floor, away from the crowd. She's got a good relationship with the bartender; he's good at getting people to sit elsewhere. Not that most would recognize her here anyway. She might look distinctive, but nobody is going to expect the savior of two worlds to be sitting alone at a bar, drowning her sorrows with alcohol.]
[As with most times, what brought Takame to Ishgard was a job. Though one he'd since finished thus did he venture into the inn and bar to turn in for the night.
For reasons he could not discern, he felt the need to turn to the bottle on this night. The lower floor had the cheaper drink in both quality and price but he did not wish to be seen by many in the Holy See. Despite the war ending there are still those who would treat an Au Ra disrespectfully solely due to their scales.
It was here he spotted Rose, however. Hunched over all by her lonesome, looking rather weary. He hadn't seen her in a long while, since the Scions found this... "beacon". His legs all but moved on their own to approach and sit next to her.]
[The proprietor sees Takame approaching Rose, but doesn't make a move to stop him. It's clear he's not an onlooker, and it's also clear that the Miqo'te is worse for wear.]
[Rose is out of it enough that she doesn't see Takame approaching, nor does she register his presence right away. To her, it's as if he appeared out of nowhere, as if he was summoned to her side.]
[...She's really out of it. It's good that she's in Ishgard; anywhere else, and this could lead to trouble.]
[Oh dear those slurring words spoke volumes. Takame didn't know her history with Ishgard, but thank the kami at least he was here to be sure no one took advantage of her.
Granted, the lady is feisty enough to show any git what for but he could not help but worry about her this entire time. The answer to her question was. Pretty obvious to him.]
... Outside. [Said looking at the exit, then back to her. Smooth. He moved in a bit closer to her. And smelled the alcohol on her breath.] Are you alright?
[If anything, Ishgard is the only place Rose would feel comfortable enough to let loose this much, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it in front of Edmont or anyone she actually knew.]
[Her and the bartender have an agreement. On the nights when she gets bad, nobody knows]
[When Takame gets closer, Rose collapses onto his side. She’s having trouble sitting up, and the extra support helps.]
Yeah, ‘m fine. Almost turned into a monster and had my soul merge with a dead guy, but I’m fine. ‘Ts not like anyone asked me how I felt about the whole Lightwarden thing anyway.
[Absolutely wasted. And the fact that Takame is able to follow nothing of what she’s saying isn’t going above her head, it isn’t even registering. She might as well be talking to a wall.]
[At least this wall is comfortable.]
I mean, they did keep askin’, but it’s not like I could say no, y’know. I wasn’t getting home until all that light was gone, and they kept makin’ it pretty clear that if the light didn’t go away the Empire was gonna release it’s stupid gas and I was gonna die and everything was gonna fall apart.
The Fa--? [Sweet merciful Kami and Twelve both, this woman was gone. If Takame wasn't intimately acquainted with the smell of alcohol he'd assume she'd taken some sort of hallucinogen. And if the few that remained with the Scions hadn't informed him of Black Rose.
Regardless of what she took, prodded her gently with his shoulder.]
Might you consider... retiring to your room for the night? [GO TO BED, ROSE. Please.]
[The Fairy King is real thank you very much. And probably watching her at this moment. As she is losing all the composure she has left.]
What, so I can go talk to a ghost that tried to kill me? I like it here better. People don’t bother me. ‘Sides you, but you’re okay.
[That is the most genuine compliment you’re ever going to get out of her. Take it.]
But if I go back now Edmont’s gonna be really worried. I don’t wanna talk to him about this kinda stuff, he already lost his son and that was bad enough. Just need to sober up.
[Sure they are, Rose. Sure. Takame will say they are. If he had something on his mind besides getting Rose to a bed he would thank her for the assumed compliment.
But really he's just getting more concerned by the minute. Talking to a bloody ghost?]
Y-you need not see Lord Edmont now. I shall request an inn room be prepared. [He had, in fact. For himself. But he'd gladly give it to her. If he were a more bold Au Ra he would have taken the drink out of Rose's hand.] Ah, I... don't... believe you'll get any less intoxicated if you have more.
[If he tried to take the drink out of her hand, she’d fight him. Poorly. And she would lose.]
Yeah, but if I keep drinking, I’m not gonna get a hangover.
[Galaxy brain.]
Don’t wanna go to sleep, though. The nightmares are gonna start again. And all the screaming and shouting and falling apart. Can’t talk to anybody about the nightmares.
[Now she’s just babbling.]
‘Ts nice of you to go through the trouble, but you shouldn’t be so kind to me. ‘M a bad person to be friends with. I get people hurt and I’m probably gonna die soon.
Not... immediately. [He didn't sigh but one could practically feel it in his words. Shit, son, he couldn't say she was wrong.
Nor could she dispute her points towards having nightmares. They were familiar to him too, at least half the reason he opted to work or drink rather than sleep most nights.
"We are all going to die", was a thought in his mind. One he kept deep underground. "A bad person to be friends with", was she?]
... I am not much better. [It was reluctant at first, the muscles in the arm Rose was leaning against tensed. He still felt as if he lacked the right to do this, but in the end temptation won out. He wrapped his arm tight around her shoulder.] ... Being kind is the right thing to do.
[She would probably feel it in his words...if she could feel anything at all. Was the room spinning this much before? The room couldn’t have been spinning this much before.]
Yeah, but you saved my life. I was stupid and got caught and you had to meet that one guy again because of it. And all the people that were with you died and it was all because of me.
[The floodgates are opening. If there’s a bright side to this, it’s that she probably won’t remember it in the morning.]
I’m really bad at being a hero. I didn’t wanna be a hero, but I didn’t get a choice, and now all these people are dying for me. I just wanna go home, but I can’t.
[He imagined she would not remember. And he would not dare remind her. She seemed the prideful sort who would prefer not to. He moved his hand slowly up and down the side of her arm.
If only to keep himself occupied, his thoughts towards the failings of that rescue mission deep in the corners of his mind he refused to tread. He felt like he needed a drink remembering it.]
I... you. Ah. [He didn't even know what he could say to her. Words never came easily to him. He was good for being a pillow. And being... no. He has to say something... anything at all.] I... I'm sorry... [For many things, but the fact that he had no clue what to say was a big one.]
[Rose feels just a little bit better after the physical contact. She feels really safe right now, and it’s a feeling she’s going to treasure, as inebriated as she may be.]
Why’re you apologizing? It’s not your fault, it’s the stupid Mothercrystal’s. She coulda chosen someone else, someone better. Anyone else woulda been better.
[She pauses. She’s really far gone.]
You’d be a lot better. You should be the Warrior of Light instead of me.
... Me? [As if the nonsense she spouted couldn't confuse him more, but him? As the Warrior of Light? There was no way, not someone like him. He was strong, that was true. In body and mind (as far as he thought), but not in spirit.
But he needn't forget how drunk she was. Of course she'd say something so off the bloody wall. He had a blessing from the Mothercrystal as well, this "Echo", but. He shook his head, not letting go of her. He wanted her to feel safe, or at least not feel the need to drink anymore. She'd had enough.]
... No. You are far stronger than I am. [Not physically, not by a longshot. But he's admired for a while her ability to proudly states that she hates her circumstances.]
[In vino Veritas. Had Takame asked her when she had her wits about her, she probably would’ve thought the same. She might not have said it, but she would have thought it.]
I’m not strong, though. I’m just a spoiled brat that got in way over her head.
[It’s true. It’s true even on the best of days.]
Mom used to say “don’t go to Eorzea, or you’ll get tempered by a primal!” I didn’t listen, and look where I am now. ‘m tired. I don’t wanna fight gods anymore. I don’t wanna fight the Empire.
... You are strong to me. [It fell out of his mouth, not knowing what else he could say. Even if she was just spoiled, he didn't know that. She was a bit on the brusque side. But he didn't mind.
But then, he didn't care about a lot. Her mother had good advice for her.]
... I know. You should not have to carry this burden alone. [His hold on her tightened, hoping to express that he'd help her with that alone.] You've time to rest now.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
For the tacomemes
[Despite all of this, she's drinking alone. Rose has marked off a corner of the Forgotten Knight to herself, down on the first floor, away from the crowd. She's got a good relationship with the bartender; he's good at getting people to sit elsewhere. Not that most would recognize her here anyway. She might look distinctive, but nobody is going to expect the savior of two worlds to be sitting alone at a bar, drowning her sorrows with alcohol.]
i like that this is his official nickname now
For reasons he could not discern, he felt the need to turn to the bottle on this night. The lower floor had the cheaper drink in both quality and price but he did not wish to be seen by many in the Holy See. Despite the war ending there are still those who would treat an Au Ra disrespectfully solely due to their scales.
It was here he spotted Rose, however. Hunched over all by her lonesome, looking rather weary. He hadn't seen her in a long while, since the Scions found this... "beacon". His legs all but moved on their own to approach and sit next to her.]
... Rose?
ofc it is it's great and he's great
[Rose is out of it enough that she doesn't see Takame approaching, nor does she register his presence right away. To her, it's as if he appeared out of nowhere, as if he was summoned to her side.]
[...She's really out of it. It's good that she's in Ishgard; anywhere else, and this could lead to trouble.]
--akame? Where'd you come from?
[And she's sloshing her words. Great.]
rose is great :T
Granted, the lady is feisty enough to show any git what for but he could not help but worry about her this entire time. The answer to her question was. Pretty obvious to him.]
... Outside. [Said looking at the exit, then back to her. Smooth. He moved in a bit closer to her. And smelled the alcohol on her breath.] Are you alright?
no subject
[Her and the bartender have an agreement. On the nights when she gets bad, nobody knows]
[When Takame gets closer, Rose collapses onto his side. She’s having trouble sitting up, and the extra support helps.]
Yeah, ‘m fine. Almost turned into a monster and had my soul merge with a dead guy, but I’m fine. ‘Ts not like anyone asked me how I felt about the whole Lightwarden thing anyway.
no subject
He was about to ask her how much she'd had tonight--
And then... WELL ROSE YOU SAID A WHOLE LOT OF WORDS THERE.]
Er... what?
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[At least this wall is comfortable.]
I mean, they did keep askin’, but it’s not like I could say no, y’know. I wasn’t getting home until all that light was gone, and they kept makin’ it pretty clear that if the light didn’t go away the Empire was gonna release it’s stupid gas and I was gonna die and everything was gonna fall apart.
[What’s coherence?].
Maybe I shoulda become the Fairy King, after all.
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Regardless of what she took, prodded her gently with his shoulder.]
Might you consider... retiring to your room for the night? [GO TO BED, ROSE. Please.]
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What, so I can go talk to a ghost that tried to kill me? I like it here better. People don’t bother me. ‘Sides you, but you’re okay.
[That is the most genuine compliment you’re ever going to get out of her. Take it.]
But if I go back now Edmont’s gonna be really worried. I don’t wanna talk to him about this kinda stuff, he already lost his son and that was bad enough. Just need to sober up.
[She says, as she begins another drink.]
no subject
But really he's just getting more concerned by the minute. Talking to a bloody ghost?]
Y-you need not see Lord Edmont now. I shall request an inn room be prepared. [He had, in fact. For himself. But he'd gladly give it to her. If he were a more bold Au Ra he would have taken the drink out of Rose's hand.] Ah, I... don't... believe you'll get any less intoxicated if you have more.
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Yeah, but if I keep drinking, I’m not gonna get a hangover.
[Galaxy brain.]
Don’t wanna go to sleep, though. The nightmares are gonna start again. And all the screaming and shouting and falling apart. Can’t talk to anybody about the nightmares.
[Now she’s just babbling.]
‘Ts nice of you to go through the trouble, but you shouldn’t be so kind to me. ‘M a bad person to be friends with. I get people hurt and I’m probably gonna die soon.
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Nor could she dispute her points towards having nightmares. They were familiar to him too, at least half the reason he opted to work or drink rather than sleep most nights.
"We are all going to die", was a thought in his mind. One he kept deep underground. "A bad person to be friends with", was she?]
... I am not much better. [It was reluctant at first, the muscles in the arm Rose was leaning against tensed. He still felt as if he lacked the right to do this, but in the end temptation won out. He wrapped his arm tight around her shoulder.] ... Being kind is the right thing to do.
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Yeah, but you saved my life. I was stupid and got caught and you had to meet that one guy again because of it. And all the people that were with you died and it was all because of me.
[The floodgates are opening. If there’s a bright side to this, it’s that she probably won’t remember it in the morning.]
I’m really bad at being a hero. I didn’t wanna be a hero, but I didn’t get a choice, and now all these people are dying for me. I just wanna go home, but I can’t.
no subject
If only to keep himself occupied, his thoughts towards the failings of that rescue mission deep in the corners of his mind he refused to tread. He felt like he needed a drink remembering it.]
I... you. Ah. [He didn't even know what he could say to her. Words never came easily to him. He was good for being a pillow. And being... no. He has to say something... anything at all.] I... I'm sorry... [For many things, but the fact that he had no clue what to say was a big one.]
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Why’re you apologizing? It’s not your fault, it’s the stupid Mothercrystal’s. She coulda chosen someone else, someone better. Anyone else woulda been better.
[She pauses. She’s really far gone.]
You’d be a lot better. You should be the Warrior of Light instead of me.
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But he needn't forget how drunk she was. Of course she'd say something so off the bloody wall. He had a blessing from the Mothercrystal as well, this "Echo", but. He shook his head, not letting go of her. He wanted her to feel safe, or at least not feel the need to drink anymore. She'd had enough.]
... No. You are far stronger than I am. [Not physically, not by a longshot. But he's admired for a while her ability to proudly states that she hates her circumstances.]
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I’m not strong, though. I’m just a spoiled brat that got in way over her head.
[It’s true. It’s true even on the best of days.]
Mom used to say “don’t go to Eorzea, or you’ll get tempered by a primal!” I didn’t listen, and look where I am now. ‘m tired. I don’t wanna fight gods anymore. I don’t wanna fight the Empire.
no subject
But then, he didn't care about a lot. Her mother had good advice for her.]
... I know. You should not have to carry this burden alone. [His hold on her tightened, hoping to express that he'd help her with that alone.] You've time to rest now.