[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}
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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.]
no subject
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.
no subject
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.]
no subject
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.