[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
[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.