[ And she does look at her, her eyes not wavering from Rose as she talks, even when she begins to stare at the table. She looks hurt, honestly, as if seeing Rose in this state, at this level of self-loathing, causes her almost as much pain. But perhaps she is responsible, perhaps Rose wouldn't be as anguished if she had never been Hobgoblin, if they'd discovered it any other way.
She could try to argue logically, but that would be a mistake. How can they quantify her as a mess at home, when she's had two idle years of studying, putting up with a lost tagalong. One drunken tumble down the stairs couldn't be enough to count for it, that isn't a stupor that would permanently blind her. But if Rose sees it that way, it would be pointless to try to argue, the problem is an emotional one, and needs to be met on those terms. ]
You need to look at me, too.
Never once have you let me down, not on the biggest things, not when my expectations were reasonable. I've never needed very much help falling down, I'm rather effective in that area on my own. [ She looks away for just a moment, something cracking in her voice. ] You've always been my reason to get up again.
[ She stops for a moment, brushing back her fringe as a way to furtively wipe her eyes, collecting herself before she continues. ]
The "most favorable outcome" is a comparatively statement, it's the most favorable of what is available. You told me that the day we first met in person, you couldn't guarantee success. I don't need to make excuses when the path you would have seen would only be a dead end.
Paradox space is an impossibly vast place with numerous agents at play, and it's most likely that whatever steered our timeline off the alpha course had nothing to do with us. The largest changes I'm aware of occurred outside your influence, before you even gained your Sight. It's possible you've been looking at a doomed timeline from the moment your eyes opened.
[ She folds her hands on the table, leaning forward a little. ]
You need to look at me, and you need to listen. We are doomed, but that doesn't make it your fault.
no subject
She could try to argue logically, but that would be a mistake. How can they quantify her as a mess at home, when she's had two idle years of studying, putting up with a lost tagalong. One drunken tumble down the stairs couldn't be enough to count for it, that isn't a stupor that would permanently blind her. But if Rose sees it that way, it would be pointless to try to argue, the problem is an emotional one, and needs to be met on those terms. ]
You need to look at me, too.
Never once have you let me down, not on the biggest things, not when my expectations were reasonable. I've never needed very much help falling down, I'm rather effective in that area on my own. [ She looks away for just a moment, something cracking in her voice. ] You've always been my reason to get up again.
[ She stops for a moment, brushing back her fringe as a way to furtively wipe her eyes, collecting herself before she continues. ]
The "most favorable outcome" is a comparatively statement, it's the most favorable of what is available. You told me that the day we first met in person, you couldn't guarantee success. I don't need to make excuses when the path you would have seen would only be a dead end.
Paradox space is an impossibly vast place with numerous agents at play, and it's most likely that whatever steered our timeline off the alpha course had nothing to do with us. The largest changes I'm aware of occurred outside your influence, before you even gained your Sight. It's possible you've been looking at a doomed timeline from the moment your eyes opened.
[ She folds her hands on the table, leaning forward a little. ]
You need to look at me, and you need to listen. We are doomed, but that doesn't make it your fault.