unknownseas | I have died every day waiting for you

[That was, in Rose's opinion, even worse than last week. Any loss of life is an awful waste, but for it all to come of some horrible accident...

This week, she doesn't retreat back to her room. She knows now that the people here, or at least enough of them, like to gather after these experiences. Many of the Crystal Gems were the same way; she remembers their post-battle huddles well. It's not a party, really, but...it's good to be together. To have friends around. Maybe, to remember those who were lost.

So this time, she'll go to the cafeteria herself and request some food for everyone. It's just basic snacks, the kind of human food she knows well enough to ask for. There's some hot chocolate provided, too. She definitely knows people enjoy that. It doesn't take too long, since she isn't making most of it, and then she goes to invite everybody she can find.

She doesn't slip any notes underneath doors, for the people she doesn't happen across. Some Crystal Gems didn't join the groups, or maybe did after one battle but not another. Sometimes they wanted to be alone. She never really understood that...but it wasn't her place to tell them otherwise. Weren't they all about freedom?

Everybody probably knows something like this is going to happen again, anyway. It's their choice to come.]

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[ Maybe Rin was also going to the gym to sweat away her frustrations! Maybe it's just a lucky coincidence. Either way, when she sees Rhea already there, she stops, arms crossing as she leans against the wall. ]

You're two-for-two now. How's it feel?

[ It's a snide remark, and obviously so. But, lurking underneath, there's a note of real irritation in her voice as well. ]

[Rin is the last person she wanted to see. The punching bag swings ominously as she punches it over and over before responding.]

You say that as if that was my intention.

[She stops, then turns to leave.]

I would have left it be if someone had been silent.

I'm not the one who brought up the subject. I'm not the one who decided what you told me was something I needed to know. But, hey, just like last week, it's my fault you decided to shut down a question that was the right one to ask.

[ She's not going to stop Rhea from leaving, but— ]

Hey, Rhea. Listen to me.

You know no one here cares, right?

Seteth was not related to last week's case and I was not related to this one. You bringing it up only diverged our attentions.

[She turns around. There... is something in her gaze that's beyond just anger. Hatred, maybe? No... maybe that's too mild of a word.

'No one here cares'. Her voice drops in pitch just slightly, a very distinct almost feral growl coming to her words.]

I have no desire for anyone else to die. You, who own such a rebellious heart, cannot understand my reasoning.

Uh-huh. And what do you think takes more time? Clearing up the issue right away, or throwing a hissy fit that someone would even dare to ask? I'll give you a hint: one keeps you a suspect, whether you accept that or not.

[ When Rhea turns, with the intensity of her response, an expression of bemusement flickers across Rin's face. But if she thinks Rin isn't going to square up, she has another thing coming. She pushes up from her casual position against the wall, squaring her shoulders. ]

Whatever you say. But so long as we're talking about me, I'll tell you that there's nothing you can say that'll make me like you any less. If you actually care about the rest of us staying safe, why don't you stop putting your secrets above everyone else?

I have helped in each trial. You...

[If it was just her rebelling against an authority figure she would understand. If it was just Rhea or even Seteth versus Rin, she would understand. Yet there was something else.]

If your opinion of me cannot drop then I will be frank. Which one of us will lose more if the rest of the captives here die? I would. Yes, fine, say that I am throwing a fit if you wish and believe that I am endangering us. If I die here, then so be it. That will be the will of the Goddess and judgment on my deeds.

[She's about to say more, then she stops. A human could never understand this, why even try?]

[ To Rin, that seems like plenty already. It's revealing enough that it gives her something to think about, at any rate. ]

You mean because of Seteth. [ It's not phrased as a question, exactly. It's an assumption she's putting forward for Rhea to confirm or deny before she says anything further. ]

Of course. [It wasn't something that Rin couldn't have put together on her own, she thinks.]

But the way you're telling it, you have exactly as much to lose as the rest of us. A single life. After all, you just said it doesn't matter what happens to you, right?

I would rather not die but if I were to die, that is fate. I have already served my purpose. Something that you or even the Professor can take from me.

Yeah, and you have no idea how many of us can say the same. Do you have any idea which of us have other people's lives resting on our shoulders? How many lives that might be? Don't stand here and tell me you're the one with the most to lose when in the next breath you can say your life is something you can afford to forfeit.

[She's already leaving.]

You could not understand my reasoning so I shall not waste your time. Everything is in the Goddess's hands, after all.

[ Ugh. As Rhea moves to leave, Rin presses a hand against her temple. ]

I doubt your Goddess has anything to do with it.

[ But she isn't making an effort to stop her exit, and the words are a grumble to herself more than they are a parting shot at Rhea.

What a headache. ]

I have died every day waiting for you

gym

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