[Rose nods. She's going to let Zero lead here. If Zero isn't worried, she shouldn't be either.]
I am sorry to hear of your loss.
[With everything that's happened, sometimes Rose forgets she's a healer by trade.]
With what you've told me, it's no surprise that we would be friends in Eorzea. I am not sure what magic brought you out of the Void, but I am glad that it did.
... I was young. I barely remember her and her stories. When I was free, I asked about the stories, and a man said that it was from the early eighties. That means... I was held by them for thirty years, at least. Perhaps longer.
[She closes her eyes.]
There was a portal that your friends created. Fearing I would die after spending my aether, I was taken back to the Source, where I began to recover.
... But that was not how we met. Nor was it our first meeting.
[She's quiet for a moment.]
Due to the darkness that polluted the world, I was born a half-voidsent. I kept my consciousness even after the realm fell to the void perhaps because of this quality. However, it did not protect me from the man who would reach into the voidrealm and find my soul...
He seized my power for his own in an inequitable pact, and forced me to do his bidding. I could not escape no matter how I beat against my cage. No matter how I screamed, he would not release me. He said I reminded him of the Warrior of Light, but I could never replace them.
[Rose nods along as Zero goes. She's listening. And her expression is calm until she realizes just who she was in a pact with. Is she angry? Afraid? Frustrated? It's hard to tell, but it's clear that it's not directed at Zero, at least.]
[Did the others know? It wasn't her place to tell, and she would understand if she weren't let in on the secret. Or perhaps, did the others not want to know? She'd understand that, too.]
[Rose takes a deep breath before she responds.]
I believe I know the man of which you speak.
[Unfortunately.]
He was truly a monster, and I'm sorry that it was him to which you were bound. Would that I could fight with you, and not against you, when you were forced to do his bidding.
[She shakes her head.]
For what it's worth, I will always count you as a friend, but I could not say the same of him. I don't know where he got the notion in the first place, but rest assured, I would not willingly associate with people who treated others so terribly. Least of all you.
[Zero is relieved that Rose isn't mad about this. Things had been tense when they met in the void realm, but Zero also hadn't looked like herself.]
In defeating him, you saved me. Or rather, you will... [timelines are confusing] Zenos is dead. For that, I am grateful. It is because of my memories of captivity that I refuse to be caged again.
[She pauses. Adjusts her hat.]
... I will always consider you a friend as well, Rose. Your help has been invaluable, but I also find myself enjoying your company.
He was mistaken about what a 'friend' is. Perhaps if he had treated others with the kindness they were due, he would have learned.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
I am sorry to hear of your loss.
[With everything that's happened, sometimes Rose forgets she's a healer by trade.]
With what you've told me, it's no surprise that we would be friends in Eorzea. I am not sure what magic brought you out of the Void, but I am glad that it did.
no subject
[She closes her eyes.]
There was a portal that your friends created. Fearing I would die after spending my aether, I was taken back to the Source, where I began to recover.
... But that was not how we met. Nor was it our first meeting.
[She's quiet for a moment.]
Due to the darkness that polluted the world, I was born a half-voidsent. I kept my consciousness even after the realm fell to the void perhaps because of this quality. However, it did not protect me from the man who would reach into the voidrealm and find my soul...
He seized my power for his own in an inequitable pact, and forced me to do his bidding. I could not escape no matter how I beat against my cage. No matter how I screamed, he would not release me. He said I reminded him of the Warrior of Light, but I could never replace them.
He said... he wanted to see his friend.
no subject
[Did the others know? It wasn't her place to tell, and she would understand if she weren't let in on the secret. Or perhaps, did the others not want to know? She'd understand that, too.]
[Rose takes a deep breath before she responds.]
I believe I know the man of which you speak.
[Unfortunately.]
He was truly a monster, and I'm sorry that it was him to which you were bound. Would that I could fight with you, and not against you, when you were forced to do his bidding.
[She shakes her head.]
For what it's worth, I will always count you as a friend, but I could not say the same of him. I don't know where he got the notion in the first place, but rest assured, I would not willingly associate with people who treated others so terribly. Least of all you.
no subject
In defeating him, you saved me. Or rather, you will... [timelines are confusing] Zenos is dead. For that, I am grateful. It is because of my memories of captivity that I refuse to be caged again.
[She pauses. Adjusts her hat.]
... I will always consider you a friend as well, Rose. Your help has been invaluable, but I also find myself enjoying your company.
He was mistaken about what a 'friend' is. Perhaps if he had treated others with the kindness they were due, he would have learned.