[ She doesn't appear fazed by any of that, not insulted, not enraged. She speaks firmly, tone leveled, trying to conceal how much she's burning with disappointment and anger. She doesn't grab her weapon. Let this be an even playing field. She kicks her own sword off to the side and stands up straight.
She can't believe what he's saying. ]
Do you really think I would've let you kill me, just like that? Did you not hear a single thing I said earlier? Do you think I haven't learned anything from almost dying a few days ago? And before you accuse me of anything, no, I wasn't going to kill you.
[ She takes a deep breath, tries to quell her anger...but it inevitably starts to spill out. She doesn't raise her voice, but her tone is what gets hotter and hotter. ]
I don't know what's happened to you or Mio in your past. I don't know what your circumstances really are. I won't claim to know you or her or anyone else here, really.
[ ... ]
You can value her life and yours above the rest of ours -- and I'm not asking you to put yourself on the line for anyone else -- but you can also do that without threatening to kill your comrades.
[ She's pretty mad about that, yeah. Still, she realizes that her words may be falling on deaf ears, but he's not part of the Arataki Gang. His reputation is his to maintain. His decisions are his to make. She cannot force him to change his mind. She cannot force him to behave so he'll be respected, accepted, and have a place in the world even if it doesn't quite fit perfectly. ]
If you're willing to give up that side of you, the part that might have even an ounce of faith in other people, to protect yourself...there's no going back from that. That, Noah, would be giving into despair.
And then, they win.
[ And even if it would've meant absolutely nothing...
she wishes she could've told Dongrang the same thing. ]
no subject
[ She doesn't appear fazed by any of that, not insulted, not enraged. She speaks firmly, tone leveled, trying to conceal how much she's burning with disappointment and anger. She doesn't grab her weapon. Let this be an even playing field. She kicks her own sword off to the side and stands up straight.
She can't believe what he's saying. ]
Do you really think I would've let you kill me, just like that? Did you not hear a single thing I said earlier? Do you think I haven't learned anything from almost dying a few days ago? And before you accuse me of anything, no, I wasn't going to kill you.
[ She takes a deep breath, tries to quell her anger...but it inevitably starts to spill out. She doesn't raise her voice, but her tone is what gets hotter and hotter. ]
I don't know what's happened to you or Mio in your past. I don't know what your circumstances really are. I won't claim to know you or her or anyone else here, really.
[ ... ]
You can value her life and yours above the rest of ours -- and I'm not asking you to put yourself on the line for anyone else -- but you can also do that without threatening to kill your comrades.
[ She's pretty mad about that, yeah. Still, she realizes that her words may be falling on deaf ears, but he's not part of the Arataki Gang. His reputation is his to maintain. His decisions are his to make. She cannot force him to change his mind. She cannot force him to behave so he'll be respected, accepted, and have a place in the world even if it doesn't quite fit perfectly. ]
If you're willing to give up that side of you, the part that might have even an ounce of faith in other people, to protect yourself...there's no going back from that. That, Noah, would be giving into despair.
And then, they win.
[ And even if it would've meant absolutely nothing...
she wishes she could've told Dongrang the same thing. ]