[Sanji is going to stare straight up at the ceiling, so Heart gets all the privacy they want while Sanji yammers on]
I can't speak for everyone else, but back in the castle, our "jailors" were... they weren't all that bad. Both of 'em were just desperate for a solution -- Tiger-san especially.
[good, this gives purple heart time to eat the soup while they listen to sanji.]
...so what was she like? Besides desperate, I guess. [they pause.] We know everything about your previous games, but there's a difference between knowing and hearing from firsthand accounts.
Proud. Ambitious. Willing to do whatever it took to get what she wanted... and grieving, too. Towards the end of shit, most of the castle took Dragon-sama's side, but...
[He pauses, not sure he wants to divulge when it's not Heart's business, but he supposes that's the purpose of give and take]
She was so beaten down and tired. Being the bad guy in the story when you're just trying to do what's right is exhausting.
...especially when she was never meant to or wanted to be the bad guy, right? [they seem to understand that enough.] That's the thing about good and bad, Sanji. It's a very morally gray area. I'm sure there are still people from the castle who didn't think she was doing right at all, right?
There's nothing wrong with ambition. And don't ever let anyone say otherwise.
Yes, yes, I know. [they wave their good hand and almost promptly drop the bowl of soup.] I think you're smarter than most to realize that there's always some shade of gray in every action a person takes. Even if someone's wholly good or unrepentantly evil...there are still qualities that can sway them one way or another.
I don't want to convince people to see it that way, but it does make you wonder if things would be easier if they did.
Well... for the shitheads who hope for the best no matter what, I don't think it's a bad thing, their way of thinking.
[A fond look crosses his features]
Seeing in grays is the smarter choice, but shit, it's limiting in its own way, too. Sometimes we see too many choices and get lost in the buffet, so to speak.
...yeah. You're right about that. [they go quiet again to sip the soup.] Having a multitude of choices is a bit incomprehensible. But having only one or two feels like a detriment.
That's when you start to wonder if there is a right answer.
[they don't answer immediately. they have the soup and they seem to focus on that, calmly sipping while they formulate an answer.]
...when all of this is said and done, I suppose that will be the end of that and we'll proceed from there. All I want out of this is for all of you to get home where you belong.
You're nosy in other ways, I think. Which is all fair and well, I don't mind. [there's a nod though, grateful all the same.]
...it's wonderful, thank you. I...am useless in a kitchen so I couldn't make anything like this. [the soup is their focus again for a moment.]
Give it some time and ask me again. Perhaps then I may have a different answer, or maybe you'll believe my first one, hm? Some extra time to win you over and the like.
[His face lights up like Christmas at the praise -- damn right it's wonderful -- only to choke into a grimace at that last part. Ugh that sounds almost like future friendship or some level of camaraderie. Gross. His nose wrinkles.]
Oi, maybe I wanna hate you in peace! You don't know!
[...]
Anyway, next time I'm around, I'll bring you the curry -- assuming you heal up.
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no subject
Telling in what way, precisely?
no subject
I can't speak for everyone else, but back in the castle, our "jailors" were... they weren't all that bad. Both of 'em were just desperate for a solution -- Tiger-san especially.
[he shrugs]
You remind me a bit of her in some ways.
no subject
...so what was she like? Besides desperate, I guess. [they pause.] We know everything about your previous games, but there's a difference between knowing and hearing from firsthand accounts.
no subject
Proud. Ambitious. Willing to do whatever it took to get what she wanted... and grieving, too. Towards the end of shit, most of the castle took Dragon-sama's side, but...
[He pauses, not sure he wants to divulge when it's not Heart's business, but he supposes that's the purpose of give and take]
She was so beaten down and tired. Being the bad guy in the story when you're just trying to do what's right is exhausting.
no subject
There's nothing wrong with ambition. And don't ever let anyone say otherwise.
no subject
[Ex-Editor, but given everything that has happened so far, Sanji is already prepared to reclaim his title]
All the shit I deal with is some shade of gray... and that's just not a reality most people wanna live in.
[Staring quietly at the ceiling for a beat]
But you're right. The castle forgave her, but only a few really believed in her way of handling things.
no subject
I don't want to convince people to see it that way, but it does make you wonder if things would be easier if they did.
no subject
Well... for the shitheads who hope for the best no matter what, I don't think it's a bad thing, their way of thinking.
[A fond look crosses his features]
Seeing in grays is the smarter choice, but shit, it's limiting in its own way, too. Sometimes we see too many choices and get lost in the buffet, so to speak.
no subject
That's when you start to wonder if there is a right answer.
no subject
[His voice sounds a little more tired, suddenly]
Oi, what is it that you want out of all of this? Of course we wanna go home, but... you shits just gonna stay here when it's all said and done?
no subject
...when all of this is said and done, I suppose that will be the end of that and we'll proceed from there. All I want out of this is for all of you to get home where you belong.
no subject
Goddamn what a dodgy answer. You're lucky I'm not the nosy type.
[wiggling his fingers in the other's direction]
Anyway, you like the soup? There's only one right answer, bastard.
no subject
...it's wonderful, thank you. I...am useless in a kitchen so I couldn't make anything like this. [the soup is their focus again for a moment.]
Give it some time and ask me again. Perhaps then I may have a different answer, or maybe you'll believe my first one, hm? Some extra time to win you over and the like.
no subject
Oi, maybe I wanna hate you in peace! You don't know!
[...]
Anyway, next time I'm around, I'll bring you the curry -- assuming you heal up.
no subject
You can do both! I won't be offended but I'm sure with time you'll see things my way.
...but I would appreciate that very much. Thank you.