cradleproject | WEEK 13 - I can't lie to you about your chances, but you have my sympathies.

the pygmalion. . .

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CAPTAIN'S LOG:
WEEK (13)

sunday

(41) survivors

Something in the air breaks, shattering from deep within space itself - and to accompany that sensation is a psychic scream. The ship shakes, coming to a screeching halt as a bright light explodes outside it. It pulses, not unlike a heartbeat, that crawls and crawls along at a slow, grueling pace. The last illusion has been broken, the last mental tie severed and crushed. You've done well up until now, and you can reap the benefits of Her labor; the dead walk among you, after all, and as Her scream rings out, a burst of energy shoots through the residents of the Pygmalion. It's clearly a desperate bid, but it doesn't root itself in place. Instead, you feel lighter than ever - Her attempt to claim you has only unraveled the string that kept you in place. The 40% limit has been lifted, and you are at full capacity.

The chains have been broken.

Go freely, heroes.

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[Yuno. she feels a twinge in her heart to hear the name. she's doing better, she has to be, Grell's certain. she has to be, Dave must be looking out for her and so should Elizabeth and everyone else...

but that's not the point. the letter was, and she can't help but feel relieved that they would have actually brought it to him.]

Did you? I'm sorry to have to make it come through courier.

[she hopes that the unstated reason why comes through. that she hadn't wanted to force him to see her if he didn't feel up to it.

what he thought of it, what it had tried to say - she won't press for his opinion, even though she wants to know. it is entirely in his domain.]

Edited 2016-09-06 05:26 (UTC)

[he is there to talk about the contents...]

It's fine. I get it. I... wanted to tell you I wasn't angry with you. You don't have to apologize for the things you said, they... they were true, and even during the trial I wasn't angry.

[... and how utterly he misunderstood them oh my god child. he goes on with this blatant misunderstanding:]

You don't have to feel sorry for me because you were right.

I wasn't right!

[that comes out faster than she wanted it to, but she at least seems to catch herself and draw back.]

I...haven't been right as much as I'd like to think I have been. And it's not that I feel sorry for you - the things that happened to you, they're sorrowful, yes, but...

[she's messing this up. she's screwing this up even as she tries to not, and she can hear that nightmare pressing against her skull - every bridge you build will burn, and in your hands will be the matches.]

I don't pity you. Not in that way. Not in a way that takes away from or mitigates all that I respect of you - for heaven's sake, you were willing to speak with me even after my crimes were broadcasted.

[and that had been a lot, when she had been convinced that none would even look her in the eye.]

Whatever I feel about those creatures, whatever I've said, it wasn't meant to reflect my feelings on you. Because those...those are far different and I was so focused on taking it out and finding the truth that...other things were neglected in that single mindedness.

[including the people whose necks were on the line.]

That wasn't right. That is something I have to apologize for. You shouldn't have to blame yourself for our stupid thoughtlessness.

[and she says our because they all know it's collective. Jason, Luke, her. others. people that hurt because they were so damned tired and not taking the time to consider a single thing that didn't assist in finding their goal.]

[he doesn't expect her to be so quick or so vehement in her denial-- he doesn't even expect her to deny anything in the first place. it shocks him, for a second, long enough that he actually stares at her while she speaks. he's been avoiding people's eyes since the trial, afraid of what he might see in them and of what he might think or remember that isn't his, but he doesn't think about any of that right now. he wants to believe her-- he really does, just like he's wanted to believe any of the others who've tried speaking to him, yet something in him balks and lurches.]

But you were right. You guys figured it out, and if he-- if it hadn't been caught--

[it could've been marinette by one vote and she would've died anyway, without the chance to stop him. the thought makes tears well up in his eyes and he's quick to wipe at them. he'd thought himself all cried out a week ago and yet here he is, again. that... kind of angers him, actually, and he's half-glaring at the ground when he continues:]

Who cares about my feelings? If I'd died back in week one everyone would've been better off, nothing I did here-- nothing I did mattered, all I did was put everyone in danger, and he... That, that thing, he was banking on all of you feeling sorry for me, or liking me, and... And if you guys had he'd still be around.

[he stops himself there because that was... mildly hysterical. he takes in a deep breath to try to focus.]

I know what he said to you. But you shouldn't-- you shouldn't pay attention or bother with any of it, because he was just being cruel. That's what he did. He wanted you to obsess over it. But you guys didn't break me. Alright? So you don't have to worry about it.

He wanted us to kill you.

[she looks back into his eyes, green meeting green. trying to not shove everything behind a veil of polite distance, some manufactured emotion that was socially acceptable. she tries to not show him anything of the usual impulses, because without them, it's clearer that she means what she says.]

He was cruel, but that doesn't mean we weren't as well. [hell, she had said such to the creature. admitted to its face that she knew what she was. she understood how it played on emotions because she did the same thing when she was inclined to.] And that was hardly all you did. You've been smart, you've tried to keep us logical when we're more apt to bite each other's heads off, you've been there for people with your patience and kindness, defended the weak, used your powers both as Chat Noir and Adrien Agreste to assist in exonerating the innocent - under what circumstances is that not mattering?

[take a breath. take a breath before you mess this up. and the words that come to mind aren't hers, but she thinks she'll be forgiven for borrowing them for how much they sum up emotions that are painful in how long they've been in disuse. she's not accustomed to having to do this, but there is nothing for it but to try.]

...You might find it surprising, but people do happen to care about what happens to you. That naturally includes your feelings. Just because you're not broken doesn't change that.

[and as she speaks, another face comes to mind. a last request she's been botching up. someone else who needs words like this as well - no asking for forgiveness, because they hadn't earned it, but acknowledgement. gratitude for what has happened. (she can hear Frankenstein's voice whispering a prayer for no regrets. and it would be so, if neglected.)

but Adrien is right here in front of her, and she's looking at him, eye to eye.]

WEEK 13 - I can't lie to you about your chances, but you have my sympathies.

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