[She tries to stop the tears, but she cannot. The moment Maxima places a hand on her shoulder, the dam breaks.]
[‘We can share your burden.’ She’s heard it before. She’s heard it from people back home, and she’s heard it from people here.]
[But the people here didn’t—-couldn’t—-understand how much of a burden she’d had back on Etheirys. And the people back home—-there had always been an undercurrent, an understanding that they were doing this with the expectation she’d continue risking life and limb for them.]
[When she finishes, when she composes herself, she dries her eyes.]
Look at me, getting all upset when you have every reason to be mad at me.
[And then, after a beat—-she decides to be honest. It hurts, but that’s what Maxima needs.]
On the First, when I almost transformed into a Sineater—-the scions knew. At least, some of them did. But they didn’t tell me!
I kept absorbing and absorbing light and no one ever told me of the risks, because someone had planned to take it all away from me and go die between dimensions. I could feel myself getting sicker, I could feel that there was something wrong, but no one would tell me anything.
And I just—-I didn’t want to be the sacrificial lamb this time. And I thought: “If I don’t talk about it, if I don’t address it, I can keep just being myself.”
[He pulls her close and lets her cry. It's the least he can do; it's what was done for him, too, although the tone here is different. He's not thinking about why.]
That's...disappointing to hear. I've always had the greatest respect for all of your order. I had no idea they'd kept such a vital secret from you.
[Maybe they'd had their reasons at the time. Obviously the whole experience was traumatic for Rose, though.]
Given that background...I can understand, a little bit. But this isn't some burden that must be taken on by the Warrior of Light. This crystal, whatever it is, has nothing to do with your status in another world.
[He meets her gaze, soft and troubled, searching for the right words.]
You don't need to stop being yourself in order to acknowledge that something is happening to you. Please tell me at least Veldora knows.
Even so. They should have told you what you were being tasked with.
[But that's another world, other people, a different situation.]
...He needs to know the truth, Rose. I'd prefer if you told all of your friends, but him especially...it isn't a partnership between the two of you if you can't confide in him fully.
But no matter what you decide...now that I know, I'll do everything I can to help look for answers. Surely with all the knowledge and abilities found in this city, someone will be able to help you.
[He looks down at her, brow still furrowed with worry, and attempts a vague smile. It isn't all forgiven yet, but his anger was always out of concern.]
What else are friends for? And...take your time. I'm still forbidden from doing any actual work this week.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cw: illness | suicide ideation
[‘We can share your burden.’ She’s heard it before. She’s heard it from people back home, and she’s heard it from people here.]
[But the people here didn’t—-couldn’t—-understand how much of a burden she’d had back on Etheirys. And the people back home—-there had always been an undercurrent, an understanding that they were doing this with the expectation she’d continue risking life and limb for them.]
[When she finishes, when she composes herself, she dries her eyes.]
Look at me, getting all upset when you have every reason to be mad at me.
[And then, after a beat—-she decides to be honest. It hurts, but that’s what Maxima needs.]
On the First, when I almost transformed into a Sineater—-the scions knew. At least, some of them did. But they didn’t tell me!
I kept absorbing and absorbing light and no one ever told me of the risks, because someone had planned to take it all away from me and go die between dimensions. I could feel myself getting sicker, I could feel that there was something wrong, but no one would tell me anything.
And I just—-I didn’t want to be the sacrificial lamb this time. And I thought: “If I don’t talk about it, if I don’t address it, I can keep just being myself.”
no subject
He's not thinking about why.]That's...disappointing to hear. I've always had the greatest respect for all of your order. I had no idea they'd kept such a vital secret from you.
[Maybe they'd had their reasons at the time. Obviously the whole experience was traumatic for Rose, though.]
Given that background...I can understand, a little bit. But this isn't some burden that must be taken on by the Warrior of Light. This crystal, whatever it is, has nothing to do with your status in another world.
[He meets her gaze, soft and troubled, searching for the right words.]
You don't need to stop being yourself in order to acknowledge that something is happening to you. Please tell me at least Veldora knows.
no subject
[She’s not going to share the bad timeline with Maxima. He doesn’t need to know that.]
But, it didn’t stop it from hurting, you know? And things always moved so fast—-we never got to talk about it, I never got to be upset.
[Her expression softens, at least a little bit.]
I can be upset here, though. And—-I know I’m not turning into a sineater at least, so there’s something.
[At the mention of Veldora’s name, Rose freezes up.]
I did. I showed him the wings when they showed up, and he knows I haven’t been able to eat.
[She takes a deep breath.]
I told him it wasn’t anything serious. He believed me.
no subject
[But that's another world, other people, a different situation.]
...He needs to know the truth, Rose. I'd prefer if you told all of your friends, but him especially...it isn't a partnership between the two of you if you can't confide in him fully.
But no matter what you decide...now that I know, I'll do everything I can to help look for answers. Surely with all the knowledge and abilities found in this city, someone will be able to help you.
no subject
[Rose takes a moment to consider it. For all her faults, for all the tears, she does seem to be genuinely listening to Maxima.]
If—-if something were to happen to me, it would be worse if I didn’t tell him.
[She’s not going to think about the property damage.]
I can’t promise I’ll tell everyone, but there are some I know I can. I have to—-I have to tell Takame, at least. And Wrio and Furina.
[And then, after a moment.]
Thank you, Maxima. Truly.
no subject
What else are friends for? And...take your time. I'm still forbidden from doing any actual work this week.