Audience: Lili

[gatonina]

Comments

[gatonina]

Isn't that all the more reason to find a way to change fate? [idle musing.] Or do you not believe in it at all?

[1/2]

[coastal]

I don't really care. [oh lili]

If there's a fate out there that helps the people important to me, I suppose that's fine - but I don't want to think that the people they're meant to be are predetermined. If I say 'oh, it's fate that I'm the way I am,' doesn't that feel cheap about all the feelings I had leading up to it? All the decisions I thought I was making?

But if fate says that some things are destined for failure, then that's what I don't believe in.

[2/3]

[coastal]

[a beat

wait a second]

[coastal]

Are you trying to win me over with hating clowns and philosophy?

[gatonina]

Is it working? [don't sound so amused, ph.] But even if I wasn't, I wouldn't be able to find a reason to disagree with that sentiment. It's a sign of a strong-willed person.

[coastal]

[she narrows her eyes - normally she'd accept that compliment, but now she's just feeling on guard]

What's the point in winning me over? Is it even possible for me to leave your team or am I stuck with you?

[charming,]

[gatonina]

Ouch. [still amused, but there's a shake of their head.] The point is trying to get along with the people that are here because it would be much easier on all of us. I don't know about team swapping though. Guess I could look into that, too.

[coastal]

... do. [a beat, and then bc it's not entirely out of spite] Ookurikara didn't exactly ingratiate himself with his leader, which I sort of expected, but I don't want to do anything without him.

[she loves a sword it's disgusting]

... and if I get along with you, I'll hate you more if I'm disappointed. Are you still sure you want to try to talk to me?

[gatonina]

Given he tried to attack his leader, that doesn't shock me. [nevertheless, there's a lingering sort of pause and though it's hard to tell given the constantly shifting features, it seems as though their eyes are on the rabbit rather than on lili herself.]

To tell you the truth, that's only convinced me even more that I want to try to talk to you.

[coastal]

Are you really excited for me to hate you? Sadist.

[it's

said with no real heat if that's any consolation]

[gatonina]

I don't know. It could be interesting, don't you think?

[coastal]

I already hate a lot of things, I'm not particularly craving to add to the number.

[gatonina]

Then I suppose I'll have to live up to my expertise, now won't I? [stealing hearts, etc.]

[coastal]

Not interested. Have you seen Ookurikara?

[she is so fucking dumb]

Oh, right - and going back to earlier. Are you angry with him?

[gatonina]

Not interested. [hm.]

Are you asking if I'm angry with Ookurikara? The answer's no, but I can't say I'm impressed yet either. Why?

[coastal]

Are the three of you working together?

If you are, I wouldn't be surprised if you were angry with him. I'd be livid if someone attacked Ookurikara or Tsurumaru. [but lili is also deeply defensive] I could get over it if they had a reason, but I don't know if I'd be able to let go of my grudge right away.

[gatonina]

The three of us are working together, and I'm not very happy with what he did to Winter today. But I suppose part of being responsible is letting things go and focusing on what our job requires, which is to keep the peace and work on getting you all home.

If he does it again though no promises that the results will be as kind.

[coastal]

If you know so much about us, then you should all know that separating him from his sword wasn't exactly the best way to earn his favor.

[the opposite, really,,]

If everything you've all been saying about wanting peace and to help us is true, I doubt he'll find a reason to act aggressively at you all again unless provoked.

[in which case she can promise literally nothing]

[gatonina]

Wasn't exactly our fault. We keep trying to tell everyone that a lot of this had nothing to do with us and we only stepped in to do damage control and try to fix things. [sheesh.] ...the swords are their real bodies, aren't they? Sacred and only to be wielded by themselves or people they trust most.

We didn't even provoke him the first time. Can you be certain of that?

[coastal]

[ . . . yes that's true for swords but it's not her business so she's not going to talk about it

anyway,]

Taking his sword was the provocation. Even if it wasn't your fault, once you revealed yourselves as our hosts, that's the conclusion he came to. But he didn't threaten violence once he got it back, right?

Now he just thinks you're all incompetent.

[kara is such a winner]

[gatonina]

I imagine he isn't the only one. [for once it's not a playful, flirty tone but a rather dry one.] We're doing the best we can with what we were given. That's all we can absolutely promise.

[coastal]

That's what the one I spoke to told me. [she does not want to refer to any of them by their weird names]

I've heard it before and if things go wrong, I recognize that it might not even be entirely your fault if it's something stupid about the universe or corruption. It sucks, doesn't it? To be in a position of power and doing what you can, only to hit a wall no matter what you try.

[she's... been there. and she'd even heard this before, from sol. and perhaps it's the most amiable and willing to compromise she's been in a conversation where she's trying to be more guarded, trying to be a little more aware of her own bleeding heart. but.]

But still.

I don't want to be disappointed, just like I'm sure none of you want to disappoint us, if you're really being honest.

[gatonina]

Of course it sucks. It's not a position anyone should be in, but then again you all shouldn't have been forced into the position you were put in either. [there's something about the way they speak that's a little calm but a little troubled under the surface, but they seem to keep up the pleasantries all the same.]

As I've said, I promise to do my best. But likewise, I can promise to understand should you end up disappointed anyhow. It's the most I can offer in the way of honesty.

[coastal]

... if what you're really offering is honesty, then I'll take it.

[because that's what her default is. though at the same time, she takes everything with a grain of salt because it'd be so easy to hope and be caught off-guard in this kind of situation.]

But my honesty is that I can't trust in what you have to say yet - and I'm not going to try especially hard to get along with you until I can. Because if everything goes wrong, I could hate you so much I won't want to forgive you.

So I won't get in your way, but I'd feel better if you told me there was anything I could do to speed this all along.

[ . . . of course, for all she says this, it's probably not going to work out because lili is very, very prone to sympathizing with people bc she is also an idiot]

[gatonina]

[there's plenty that purple heart could say at the moment, but rather than argue they seem to patiently wait for lili to explain everything, letting her talk and giving no tells until she's finished. even then there's a moment of silence while they carefully choose their words.]

Fair enough. I can't force anyone to talk to me or even believe me. All I can do is try to prove what I can and if that isn't good enough, then something went very wrong. [as for speeding things up...] We'll have tasks for you tomorrow if you'd like to complete them to pass the time and keep yourself busy. It may not help us personally work faster, but it would at least give you something to do and make time feel like it's moving quicker.