(no subject)

[strictdiscipline]

CHARACTERS: Riza and friends! ("""friends""")
DATE: Post-Ghost town log
WARNINGS: Talk of death?? Probably some throwing up too, we’ll see.
SUMMARY: Riza died and that was fun but now she has to talk about it and that’s less fun. A bunch of starters in the comments, give me a holler if you'd like something.

Comments

[strictdiscipline]

[Her anger does not disappear but it does abate, unable to sustain itself for too long in the wake of Koltira's continued rationale. And in truth, she's still too tired for much more than short-lived bursts of emotion. Her lips stay pursed, her brows furrowed, but some of her tension releases in a short exhale.]

What do you mean, something you hadn't felt?

[She doesn't quite follow.]

[respired]

[ He makes an agitated noise in his throat. Girl, did he stutter? ]

I meant what I said. The dead fear nothing. We are beyond it.

[ He mutters. ]

Usually.

[ Louder: ]

Yet, when I saw you lying there, a corpse ... it was not fear, exactly. But it was unpleasant. A sense of disquiet. You were--not as you were meant to be. I didn't like it.

[strictdiscipline]

[The dead fear nothing. A phrase she's heard often enough, but it's his elaboration beyond that simple statement that holds her interest, and clarifies her uncertainty.

Still, it's not enough of answer, if only because there's more to it she's missing.]

Why? I'm not—I'm not any particular friend of yours.

[If only because her behavior towards him has been less than stellar. That much she's able to recognize in herself.]

[respired]

[ He shifts his weight from foot to foot, frowning. ]

No. But--

[ His eyebrows furrow. ]

--you are part of this team, nevertheless. You are competent, and despite whatever wrong you have done in the past, you have acted with honor here and now.

[ Regardless of whatever else lies between them, Koltira respects Riza. Before her revelation, he thought her a good woman. He even still mostly thinks that now. He rubs the side of his mouth. ]

Besides. I did not carve a statue for everyone, you know.

[strictdiscipline]

[And there it goes, the last of her anger and willful stubbornness petering out in the face of his continued honesty.

With the anger goes most of her stamina, and her head starts to spin, enough that she sags down, lets herself slide onto her knees. Not a position of supplication or forgiveness, but it is an apology of sorts. A peace offering.

(And though she makes no comment on it, there's a flare of recognition in her eyes at the mention of the carved figure, one that still sits carefully on her nightstand back in Oska.)]

There are many people more deserving of this than I. But [and the 'but' is spoken quickly, tacked on before anyone has time to protest] I'll make sure it isn't a waste. What you did.

[Because he's right. There's still much left for her to do.]

[respired]

[ He comes down to his haunches as she sinks, his head inclined to one side. His ears perk forward, indicative of concern. He had thought she might shoot him, though, so this deflating is preferable.

(As for the statue, he takes the recognition, requires nothing else.) ]

Life is not about what we deserve.

[ But even if it were, he'd still disagree. ]

Though I trust that you will.

[ He looks at her carefully, assuring himself that she's really all right. Then he's back up. Ready to leave, ready to let her go and get on with her life. ]

Should you ever need me again, I will be there.

[ Because she's his teammate. Because they've been through a lot together. Because, whatever she is to him, she is a good woman. ]