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[she guides him! she's tipsy too, but she is way more used to this. a night of drinking and helping her companions back to their rooms is a very typical experience for her. it's familiar, and it almost puts her at ease. like a cat getting used to its new home.
she catches those thoughts here and there, but can't make sense of anything other than the peanut part.
also not the fussing!! she gives him a flat look.]
You can show me how to do it, if you want some. [stop trying to take care of everybody!!!]
she catches those thoughts here and there, but can't make sense of anything other than the peanut part.
also not the fussing!! she gives him a flat look.]
You can show me how to do it, if you want some. [stop trying to take care of everybody!!!]
[Comes back to this after gagtagging twenty years ago
He glances down at the tattoo, his gaze traveling partly up her arm, as if imagining how far the tattoo might stretch. His jaw is tight, displeased, and his eyes are still very dark.]
An organization, then. [Figures.] You have a plan to take them down?
[This is, perhaps, a dangerous question to ask when he knows what kind of work she does--work that is, in a way, the opposite of his. But he doesn't like the idea of her trying to take on a wholeass mafia all by herself either.]
He glances down at the tattoo, his gaze traveling partly up her arm, as if imagining how far the tattoo might stretch. His jaw is tight, displeased, and his eyes are still very dark.]
An organization, then. [Figures.] You have a plan to take them down?
[This is, perhaps, a dangerous question to ask when he knows what kind of work she does--work that is, in a way, the opposite of his. But he doesn't like the idea of her trying to take on a wholeass mafia all by herself either.]
[your maybe correct shitpost
she takes a deep, steadying breath.]
... Yes. I do. [but she glances at him, meeting his gaze for just a second. he knows what kind of work she does, and she figures he won't like the answer very much at all.] Cut the head off the snake.
There... are two. [steady, steady. calm. it's a very practiced thing - a heartbeat that doesn't waver, breathing even.
and then:] Mother, Father.
she takes a deep, steadying breath.]
... Yes. I do. [but she glances at him, meeting his gaze for just a second. he knows what kind of work she does, and she figures he won't like the answer very much at all.] Cut the head off the snake.
There... are two. [steady, steady. calm. it's a very practiced thing - a heartbeat that doesn't waver, breathing even.
and then:] Mother, Father.
[It's probably not unexpected, the tumultuous conflict in his emotions and his eyes. There's compassion, of course--a deep, genuine ache, and that fury on her behalf, much too dark to be righteous. But for all the time he spends in the shadows, he is, ultimately a creature of light.]
...I worked a case a little while ago. [He says, finally.] Investigating the death of a man named Gordon Grant. He owned a chain of pharmacies--he was a very wealthy man, very successful. His wife had already passed away, but he'd had a mistress, and she lived with him at the time. His son, too, the one he'd had with his wife.
He had a little girl by her--Joey. Eight years old. [...] She'd always been... ill. In her body, and her mind. And the more we looked into the case, the more we found that things weren't adding up. [His tone, already quiet, turns icy and dark.] Eventually, we learned that Grant had used experimental drugs on his mistress while she was pregnant. After Joey was born, he used them on her, too. She wasn't born sick--she was the victim of her father's selfish quest for eternal youth. [...] I don't condone murder. But every time I think about this case, I can't help but feel that Grant got what he deserved.
[He falls quiet for a little while, until the anger dulls to a low simmer. Eventually, he lifts his head to meet her eyes.]
Your parents... I have no doubt that you'll make sure they're brought to justice. For what they did to you, and anyone else they might've hurt. [He hesitates, then, choosing his words carefully.] ...But I hope the choice you make is truly yours. Not what you think they've made you. Not something you may regret, when you can breathe again.
...I worked a case a little while ago. [He says, finally.] Investigating the death of a man named Gordon Grant. He owned a chain of pharmacies--he was a very wealthy man, very successful. His wife had already passed away, but he'd had a mistress, and she lived with him at the time. His son, too, the one he'd had with his wife.
He had a little girl by her--Joey. Eight years old. [...] She'd always been... ill. In her body, and her mind. And the more we looked into the case, the more we found that things weren't adding up. [His tone, already quiet, turns icy and dark.] Eventually, we learned that Grant had used experimental drugs on his mistress while she was pregnant. After Joey was born, he used them on her, too. She wasn't born sick--she was the victim of her father's selfish quest for eternal youth. [...] I don't condone murder. But every time I think about this case, I can't help but feel that Grant got what he deserved.
[He falls quiet for a little while, until the anger dulls to a low simmer. Eventually, he lifts his head to meet her eyes.]
Your parents... I have no doubt that you'll make sure they're brought to justice. For what they did to you, and anyone else they might've hurt. [He hesitates, then, choosing his words carefully.] ...But I hope the choice you make is truly yours. Not what you think they've made you. Not something you may regret, when you can breathe again.
[Tbh if he hadn't been wrangling Peanut and breaking up fights he would probably be babbling a lot more nonsense by now
That doesn't stop him from attempting to march into the kitchen anyway though]
No way! M' Dahut's barista. [why did he say it like that] You'll see. I got a license. [not the licenses]
That doesn't stop him from attempting to march into the kitchen anyway though]
No way! M' Dahut's barista. [why did he say it like that] You'll see. I got a license. [not the licenses]
[she listens.
and - maybe he'll find the way she responds to be unexpected in some ways. a little girl, eight years old, in a situation she didn't ask for - this one isn't strange, there's just a soft, pained feeling. empathy. familiar. it gets worse, as he describes what happened to her, and then it ends up what might be the unexpected part - a jolt, at eternal youth. something horrible and nauseated rises up in her throat and for a second it almost chokes her. makes her feel dizzy.
but she forces it back, away, and focuses on his anger. taps into that instead.
the quiet gives her time to recover. she looks down at her hands - at the tattoo.]
... I won't regret it. [she says, quietly. very, very sure. like it's already a done deal.] Not them.
[she doesn't look back up at him.]
I know what I am. The whole... the whole point of this was to find a way to someday put it behind me.
and - maybe he'll find the way she responds to be unexpected in some ways. a little girl, eight years old, in a situation she didn't ask for - this one isn't strange, there's just a soft, pained feeling. empathy. familiar. it gets worse, as he describes what happened to her, and then it ends up what might be the unexpected part - a jolt, at eternal youth. something horrible and nauseated rises up in her throat and for a second it almost chokes her. makes her feel dizzy.
but she forces it back, away, and focuses on his anger. taps into that instead.
the quiet gives her time to recover. she looks down at her hands - at the tattoo.]
... I won't regret it. [she says, quietly. very, very sure. like it's already a done deal.] Not them.
[she doesn't look back up at him.]
I know what I am. The whole... the whole point of this was to find a way to someday put it behind me.
[sorry about almost stabbing a guy to death on the mingle, luke, except not sorry because he grabbed her and wouldn't let go and she panicked like a dog tearing apart the furniture]
A license to make coffee? [what
oh my god she's going to try to follow him but she doesn't actually have access to the kitchen so she probably gets stopped, i think those are the rules.]
A license to make coffee? [what
oh my god she's going to try to follow him but she doesn't actually have access to the kitchen so she probably gets stopped, i think those are the rules.]
[Replaces her knife with a rubber one
Also yeah he has Special Kitchen Access so he breezes right in hehe]
Don't worry! Barista Luke is here to satisfy you!
[OKAY
Anyway there's a bunch of cartoonish bangs and crashes and then an explosion--no just kidding it's normal kitchen noises. Actually, having something to do seems to have invigorated him; if she hovers around the door, she can probably hear him humming... Twinkle Twinkle Little Star? Why.
No matter; soon enough, he comes back out!! In one hand, he's got a lovely cup of coffee--the other is tucking something into his pocket, and he's got an opened water bottle tucked under his arm. Despite his unsteadiness earlier, his hand is very steady, and he looks just. So proud of himself. ONCE AGAIN, NO MODESTY HERE.]
One coffee for Miss Throné!
Also yeah he has Special Kitchen Access so he breezes right in hehe]
Don't worry! Barista Luke is here to satisfy you!
[OKAY
Anyway there's a bunch of cartoonish bangs and crashes and then an explosion--no just kidding it's normal kitchen noises. Actually, having something to do seems to have invigorated him; if she hovers around the door, she can probably hear him humming... Twinkle Twinkle Little Star? Why.
No matter; soon enough, he comes back out!! In one hand, he's got a lovely cup of coffee--the other is tucking something into his pocket, and he's got an opened water bottle tucked under his arm. Despite his unsteadiness earlier, his hand is very steady, and he looks just. So proud of himself. ONCE AGAIN, NO MODESTY HERE.]
One coffee for Miss Throné!
Edited (no my exclamation point) 2024-02-29 08:17 (UTC)
[He's too observant not to notice the shifts in her emotions, but while he tucks them away in his mind, he doesn't call attention to them now. He's too focused on her words, which...
Well. It's not like he expected to change her mind, really; they're strangers, after all, no matter the secrets they've dared to share. It hurts to hear nonetheless, but it's a broad, all-encompassing feeling, rather than a simple, straightforward disappointment. There's more than one shade of gray. He knows that.
There's a sadness, there, in his emotions--a mirror, perhaps, of what she'd felt for him, when she'd told him he was begging the world to stab him in the back.
At least there's hope in her words, though. That's a good sign. It's proof that she's looking ahead, that she wants to live beyond revenge.]
You will. [Firmly.] I believe that.
Well. It's not like he expected to change her mind, really; they're strangers, after all, no matter the secrets they've dared to share. It hurts to hear nonetheless, but it's a broad, all-encompassing feeling, rather than a simple, straightforward disappointment. There's more than one shade of gray. He knows that.
There's a sadness, there, in his emotions--a mirror, perhaps, of what she'd felt for him, when she'd told him he was begging the world to stab him in the back.
At least there's hope in her words, though. That's a good sign. It's proof that she's looking ahead, that she wants to live beyond revenge.]
You will. [Firmly.] I believe that.
[no!!!! she needs this for things!!
anyway she just stands here in the doorway. woman standing. she hears him humming - and doesn't. recognize the song, which is very funny, but. when he comes out, she is just that sort of like endlessly faintly amused vibe.
she will take the coffee.]
Did you drink water. [she says rather than asks, pointedly, bringing the warm cup up to her lips with both hands.]
anyway she just stands here in the doorway. woman standing. she hears him humming - and doesn't. recognize the song, which is very funny, but. when he comes out, she is just that sort of like endlessly faintly amused vibe.
she will take the coffee.]
Did you drink water. [she says rather than asks, pointedly, bringing the warm cup up to her lips with both hands.]
[it's always been the goal - all she wants is to be free. it isn't even necessarily about revenge, it's that she doesn't want to be caged anymore. it's all she's wanted for months now, traveling with her companions. the chains are so hard to escape, and they feel so heavy.
she appreciates that he doesn't try to convince her otherwise, because this is something she knows she has to do. maybe she doesn't know a lot about him, but she's not half bad at figuring out how people are, and to her - luke seems like the kind of person to know that the world is an awful, dragging place, that maybe there isn't any hope, and yet. still have it anyway.
she gives him a little smile. it's sad and tired, but she tries.]
Thank you. [...] ... And thank you, for wanting to help me.
[even though she systematically resists his attempts every time]
she appreciates that he doesn't try to convince her otherwise, because this is something she knows she has to do. maybe she doesn't know a lot about him, but she's not half bad at figuring out how people are, and to her - luke seems like the kind of person to know that the world is an awful, dragging place, that maybe there isn't any hope, and yet. still have it anyway.
she gives him a little smile. it's sad and tired, but she tries.]
Thank you. [...] ... And thank you, for wanting to help me.
[even though she systematically resists his attempts every time]
[She drinks it and Luke rips off his mask to reveal he's Childe and poisoned it, completing the cycle
No just kidding. Once his hands are freed of the cup, he'll take the water bottle and shake it a little.]
I did, I did! I'll grab you one too. [THERE HE GOES AGAIN but only for a second, and he returns with a second, unopened water bottle for her. Maybe he will sit down now.]
No just kidding. Once his hands are freed of the cup, he'll take the water bottle and shake it a little.]
I did, I did! I'll grab you one too. [THERE HE GOES AGAIN but only for a second, and he returns with a second, unopened water bottle for her. Maybe he will sit down now.]
[NOT THE RETURN OF THE MEME]
You deserve the offer. [She isn't like Gordon Grant, shamelessly stealing from and torturing his children. Joanne Scott, Irene Burke, Rio--there have been so many like Throné, the ones who simply did what they felt they must. Luke is hardly one to claim every person in the world is good and deserving of mercy, but he believes, wholeheartedly, that vigilante justice causes far more problems than it solves--and yet, at the end of the day, he's only human. He can see how the world must look through her eyes.] I hope you make it back to the light soon.
[...]
She's okay, by the way. Joey. My team got her taken care of.
You deserve the offer. [She isn't like Gordon Grant, shamelessly stealing from and torturing his children. Joanne Scott, Irene Burke, Rio--there have been so many like Throné, the ones who simply did what they felt they must. Luke is hardly one to claim every person in the world is good and deserving of mercy, but he believes, wholeheartedly, that vigilante justice causes far more problems than it solves--and yet, at the end of the day, he's only human. He can see how the world must look through her eyes.] I hope you make it back to the light soon.
[...]
She's okay, by the way. Joey. My team got her taken care of.
[(thinking)
And look, yes he does!! He MUST FUSS--at least while he's on his feet. When he's sitting, though, his energy slowly starts to settle again; it won't take long for that drowsiness to creep back in.]
Make sure to drink the whole thing... hangovers are the worst... [She could drink you under the table idiot]
And look, yes he does!! He MUST FUSS--at least while he's on his feet. When he's sitting, though, his energy slowly starts to settle again; it won't take long for that drowsiness to creep back in.]
Make sure to drink the whole thing... hangovers are the worst... [She could drink you under the table idiot]
[NOW HE'LL NEVER GET TO KNOW
anyway. i hope you make it back to the light soon hurts a little, but more in that agreement sort of way. she hopes she does too, she just isn't sure she'll get to.
she swallows hard.]
... That's good to know. [she says, after a moment.] But little girls never recover from things like that.
anyway. i hope you make it back to the light soon hurts a little, but more in that agreement sort of way. she hopes she does too, she just isn't sure she'll get to.
she swallows hard.]
... That's good to know. [she says, after a moment.] But little girls never recover from things like that.
[NOOOO MY LORE
He sits, for a moment, still--but she allowed it once, so he reaches out and gently squeezes her arm again.]
No. [He agrees.] But there's a chance the doctors can reverse the damage, and she'll be looked after until she's grown either way. And we have... professionals, in my world, who help with... learning to cope.
[THERAPY]
He sits, for a moment, still--but she allowed it once, so he reaches out and gently squeezes her arm again.]
No. [He agrees.] But there's a chance the doctors can reverse the damage, and she'll be looked after until she's grown either way. And we have... professionals, in my world, who help with... learning to cope.
[THERAPY]
[what the fuck is therapy
she doesn't pull away when he squeezes her arm. just exhales slow, and that sadness, the sorrow that sits deep in her bones and stays, like a chronic pain, gets a little worse, feels a little more sharp. she doesn't seem to notice it, or at the very least, it seems normal to her.]
You really do carry a lot of hope.
she doesn't pull away when he squeezes her arm. just exhales slow, and that sadness, the sorrow that sits deep in her bones and stays, like a chronic pain, gets a little worse, feels a little more sharp. she doesn't seem to notice it, or at the very least, it seems normal to her.]
You really do carry a lot of hope.
[This time, he'll leave it there, loose enough for her to pull away when she wants. The shifts in her emotions concern him a little, but he suspects calling attention to them wouldn't help--at least for now.]
I try. It's something I learned years ago, from my senior. [He tips his head back, his tone turning slightly nostalgic.] He said, "To children, the world is black and white, while adults can see a gray zone. But in our world, there's a lot more darkness. Not only because of the crimes we face, but because the limits of our abilities. The pain can be unbearable, so you have to find a way to keep yourself from being swallowed up by the darkness."
[He tilts his head slightly, considering.]
I carry regrets, just like anyone. There are people I couldn't save in time. Tragedies that could've been avoided, but weren't. Sometimes it's hard not to judge people--bad people can be victims, and good people can hurt others. [Shades of gray in the darkness.] So... I just try to bring more light into the world however I can.
I try. It's something I learned years ago, from my senior. [He tips his head back, his tone turning slightly nostalgic.] He said, "To children, the world is black and white, while adults can see a gray zone. But in our world, there's a lot more darkness. Not only because of the crimes we face, but because the limits of our abilities. The pain can be unbearable, so you have to find a way to keep yourself from being swallowed up by the darkness."
[He tilts his head slightly, considering.]
I carry regrets, just like anyone. There are people I couldn't save in time. Tragedies that could've been avoided, but weren't. Sometimes it's hard not to judge people--bad people can be victims, and good people can hurt others. [Shades of gray in the darkness.] So... I just try to bring more light into the world however I can.
Edited (the way my keyboard died before I could edit this tag) 2024-03-01 06:36 (UTC)
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