[Pause, slight. Steady. School her face back into something less reactive, the straight-furrowed brow that’s become so typical these days. It’s almost instinctive as the snap.]
No. [Focus back on him. Tense fingers curl out just enough to rub her temple, a slight nick above the brow. In all, it only takes seconds.] I wouldn’t.
[Caitlyn can't hide her reaction once it's happened, but Eren doesn't blame her for it. She hates, he hates. Their answers are the same - it's easier to say without growling, now that Caitlyn has done it for both of them.]
[A knife, plunged right through the space where his skull meets his spine. Eren feels his heart thud once, solid, in his throat. On his right wrist, his hand curls up, every knuckle popping.]
[A moment of quiet. Grief threatens to consume. There's no point in denying what he's said, right? He still struggles with when and when not to lie. He's not a natural at it.]
[The idea isn’t familiar to her, certainty in events that have yet to unfold—but then, neither were Eldians. In whatever strange space this is, from sands to questions, Caitlyn can believe it.
[It sounds bleak.
[She’s not one for condolences. Instead, Caitlyn lets his answer hang heavy for another moment. More. Then shakes her head, and offers her own quiet admission:] I can’t promise my loyalties, either.
[As if the previous weren’t enough. The second his words cut off Caitlyn is on high alert, watching his jaw, his hand.
[But if this nightmare muzzled him, he swallows it back. Chokes it back out. It’s Caitlyn's turn to snap her mouth shut, as though the red ornament around her neck abruptly constricted.
[It hasn’t. The choice isn’t hers to make, either way.]
No. [Not quite. Staring past him, now.] What wrongs would it aim to right. [It would be senseless.]
[There's a beat of quiet. Eren watches Caitlyn and feels an odd distance, one that's growing increasingly familiar as time goes on; he's not quite there, not quite yet, not quite anymore...]
If someone was about to take ten thousand lives, but they killed themselves instead...
You'd rather those ten thousand people die, just so you can look their murderer in the eye and ask him to pay for what he's done...?
[Something about her compliance seems to sate the beast. Eren has become egotistical, maybe. He doesn't look away yet, though; his voice comes out dumb, condescending.]
And rob the people they hurt?
[But he isn't mocking her, no. At last, a mercy, he rolls his eyes off to the side and rolls his hand on his wrist.]
Some people should die. It's like I said - if someone were about to kill ten thousand people, killing themself first would be the better thing to do. But...
[His eyes shift back to her; its almost as she said:]
If it's someone I'd really like to kill myself, then it doesn't matter to me how many people die in the meantime.
[No offense taken, mockery or otherwise. It’s not his fault they’re being subjected to this ridiculous exercise.
[It is his decision to not-quite-echo the rest of his answer. Her eyes don’t leave him, regarding his words in silence for a time. Weighted, yes, acknowledging. Suspect.
[Monstrous. Maybe.]
Should all people be treated as equal, [abrupt,] and have the same rights? [What a joke.]
[The silence that passes is two seconds too long, like it's owed to some delay instead of simply giving the question the consideration it deserves. Eren doesn't answer right.]
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pantheraliam) wrote2030-03-12 03:03 pm
I did rng this just btw
[Another question comes to Eren. He asks it before he realizes what he's saying.]
Could you ever forgive your worst enemy?
OHH THE RNG (1/2)
No.
(2/2)
[Pause, slight. Steady. School her face back into something less reactive, the straight-furrowed brow that’s become so typical these days. It’s almost instinctive as the snap.]
No. [Focus back on him. Tense fingers curl out just enough to rub her temple, a slight nick above the brow. In all, it only takes seconds.] I wouldn’t.
Your answer. [Hardly a question. On with it....]
no subject
Of course not.
[It's a stupid fucking question.]
Next.
random again....
[How many are there, she wonders. Doesn’t dare ask.]
Would you always be loyal to your loved ones, even if they wronged you?
[Some tightness to her expression, towards the end. It could be taken for disdain.]
no subject
No. I'll betray them all.
[He doesn't mean to say it. He doesn't mean to--]
And they've done nothing wrong.
no subject
[There’s a certainty to the statement that she wants to question. Almost doesn’t, as the hand writhes. But—]
What makes you so sure?
[It’s not “I don’t think you will.”]
no subject
I've seen it. Our future.
no subject
[The idea isn’t familiar to her, certainty in events that have yet to unfold—but then, neither were Eldians. In whatever strange space this is, from sands to questions, Caitlyn can believe it.
[It sounds bleak.
[She’s not one for condolences. Instead, Caitlyn lets his answer hang heavy for another moment. More. Then shakes her head, and offers her own quiet admission:] I can’t promise my loyalties, either.
[And so, it’s his turn. If he’d like.]
cw: suicide - bless u rng
[He nods, quiet, and gives that admission the space it deserves too.
[Then, the next question.]
Is--
[The question chokes off in Eren's throat, his eyes going slightly wide. He clamps his jaw closed; a beat, two beats...
[He swallows a lump in his throat, right hand curling up at his side again.]
Is suicide ever the right choice?
no subject
[As if the previous weren’t enough. The second his words cut off Caitlyn is on high alert, watching his jaw, his hand.
[But if this nightmare muzzled him, he swallows it back. Chokes it back out. It’s Caitlyn's turn to snap her mouth shut, as though the red ornament around her neck abruptly constricted.
[It hasn’t. The choice isn’t hers to make, either way.]
No. [Not quite. Staring past him, now.] What wrongs would it aim to right. [It would be senseless.]
cw: lots of fucked up suicide talk HERE DOWN
[They stare past each other.]
Really...
Some people probably should kill themselves. It would be better for everyone if they died, so...
What then? You can probably think of at least one person who fits that description, right?
we love a blanket cw
[She can. Does, immediately. Speaks low.]
And rob those they hurt?
[A snort. More a sneer, really.]
I don’t endorse cowards.
no subject
If someone was about to take ten thousand lives, but they killed themselves instead...
You'd rather those ten thousand people die, just so you can look their murderer in the eye and ask him to pay for what he's done...?
If that's true, then...
You just love Hell.
no subject
[It doesn’t make sense. She knows it doesn’t make sense. Morally, she’s been taught it’s not right—but since when did Caitlyn ever listen?
[“You must love Hell.” A twist in her skull. Can’t deny it.
[Sickening, that the only thing to keep her going is that she’s still alive.]
I don’t [still low, exceedingly measured] waste my time [easy, easy] on useless hypotheticals.
[She’d rather end it.]
no subject
[Tch.]
You just don't want to answer.
no subject
[She did, she thinks; they both did. And yet, no additional question magically spawns from the ether, so obviously this was the wrong approach.
[Fine. A mental rewind, shaking her head, and then she looks him in the eye again.]
I don’t believe suicide is the right choice. But in certain circumstances, yes. It’s better. Kill one to save the thousands.
[Yet she must love Hell.]
And your answer? [He said nothing of what’s “right.”]
no subject
And rob the people they hurt?
[But he isn't mocking her, no. At last, a mercy, he rolls his eyes off to the side and rolls his hand on his wrist.]
Some people should die. It's like I said - if someone were about to kill ten thousand people, killing themself first would be the better thing to do. But...
[His eyes shift back to her; its almost as she said:]
If it's someone I'd really like to kill myself, then it doesn't matter to me how many people die in the meantime.
[Something he's trying to come to terms with.]
no subject
[No offense taken, mockery or otherwise. It’s not his fault they’re being subjected to this ridiculous exercise.
[It is his decision to not-quite-echo the rest of his answer. Her eyes don’t leave him, regarding his words in silence for a time. Weighted, yes, acknowledging. Suspect.
[Monstrous. Maybe.]
Should all people be treated as equal, [abrupt,] and have the same rights? [What a joke.]
no subject
They aren't.
They don't.
[I don't waste my time on useless hypotheticals.]
no subject
[Just a half-blink, from Caitlyn. Surprised, but—eyes not shut.
[Animals. Monsters.
[His answer. It’s the same....
[An idea forms, about the nature of this game they’re trapped in. She doesn’t voice it. Truth seems the only way through, so:]
Equality isn’t inherent. It’s a right.
Easy to forfeit. That’s on everyone.
[They’re not good people. What does he think he is?]
cw: dehumanizing language, very wretched disgusting takes on inequality
You're right.
Anyone who allows themself to continue living under someone's thumb...
They're no better than cattle. Slaves.
no subject
[So they’ve both answered.]
Then we’d best find that someone.
[Are they free?]
Before the slaughter.
we can probably move toward a wrap here soon hehe
[She has someone specific in mind. He's known that for a while now.]
You think we'll find them here?
o7
And neglect to search?
[However this nebulous space works. The charade is over.
[They’ll keep moving.]
hehe WRAPPED