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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[ Ain't that a mood. ]

It's-- [ ... she's about to say it's okay, but. ] ... I'd like that a lot.

Then I will stay.

[She sits down next to Mira but she's not exactly as eager to comfort as she normally is.]

Forgive me if my words fail me, Mira.

[ Immediately, she shakes her head. ]

No, I-- I don't blame you. [ .... ] No one can know what to say all the time. Just... your being here is more than enough.

Thank you.

[...]

I did not think I was being so disagreeable when I mentioned the profiles. [Again! Why did it happen again?]

I don't think you were.

[ .... ]

Then again... I don't trust him at all. I think it would be the type of thing he would pull, to raise suspicion among us. [ a pause. ] ... It seems that isn't the case, at the very least.

... But I certainly wouldn't blame anyone for wanting to say the information isn't accurate, especially if they want to keep their secrets.

Some might say that keeping secrets is unneeded in this place.

[RIN]

Regardless... we survive to another day. [...] Ah, may I ask a question?

Mm. ... We do.

[ She sounds... tired. And not particularly happy. But she nods. ]

Of course. What is it?

You were writing in your notebook... May I ask what?

[Change of subject, maybe?]

Oh, um...

[ Well, she can't be truthful here, can she? ]

I'm mostly just... getting my thoughts out. It helps, to write them down.

I see.

[Hm. Secrets breed secrets. Oh well.]

You do not have to say, then. We all have our ways to cope with this situation.

... Thank you.

[ But... ]

I think... in time, I'll be able to say it. But right now... it's easier to write to my brother and tell him.

Oh, of course. I know the feeling.

[Ah. It's like that, is it? Besides...]

Sometimes I still talk with Mother.

Really?

[ The wound is still fresh, but... it's easy to talk with Rhea. Even about this. ]

... It's comforting, isn't it?

She is with the Goddess now but I cannot help myself, at times.

[She slips it in her prayers.]

It is. Even if they no longer are with us... sometimes, especially in times like these, it helps soothes even an old wound.

... Mm. It really does.

[ a pause. ]

... It doesn't get easier, does it? Losing someone.

[... She wonders if Mira was paying attention during that age talk.]

No. Some move on better than others given enough time but... it is never easy. Anyone who says otherwise is either a fool or a liar.

[ It's been a rough couple days, Rhea. ]

... If anything, they're trying to fool themselves... if it's easier that way.

[She knows... She hasn't slept since Sunday.]

Everyone has their own ways of handling grief. Some hide themselves away from the world. Some cling closer to what they have... some simply grow angry with the world and distance themselves from everything. None of these reactions are easy.

[ mom..... do a sleep ]

Some of that.... It sounds familiar.

If it weren't for you and Della especially, I think... I would be hiding in my room right now. I'm not sure I'd ever come out.

[She'll probably be forced to... it's okay she doesn't need to for a while.

She stops herself entirely.]

Truly? Even if we... [Aren't human? The question is on her lips before she stops herself. Nope. Nope, ending mission!]

[ ....? ]

... Rhea?

[Nope, she shouldn't!

Your secrets don't matter here. Rin's words echo in her mind. Maybe Mira wasn't paying attention but the trial... made it clear that Seteth and Rhea weren't normal.]

Even if we... are not exactly...

[I mean Della's a duck. That's hard to miss.] Human?

[ To be fair, she'd thought the thing with Rin had been-- well. Just two people getting riled up. And if they are immortal, it doesn't mean they're not human.

She tilts her head slightly. ]

... Well... [ Hmmm. How does she put this. ] Even if someone might not be human in... form? [ For lack of a better word... ] ... It doesn't mean they aren't good. As far as I'm concerned... whether someone is human or not, that-- It doesn't matter to me.

[ A pause. ]

... I've known someone who was far more monstrous than anyone here... human or otherwise. To put it simply, I guess-- it's their heart that matters.

[Ugh. She feels sick... Seteth will be mad. She does look a little pale. Okay, she can do this.]

It matters to some far more than it should. [Monstrous acts were, after all, easier to commit against those that weren't like you.] One really cannot judge whether they are, themselves, moral however...

[She's glad. She's so glad.]

Actions can speak louder than words.

Rhea...

[ She nods, though. And she puts her hand on the table, if Rhea needs it. ]

... That's true. But-- I hope someone would trust me when I say I'd never hate or... or discount anyone for not being human.

[ ... ]

I know it can be difficult, though... to trust.

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