At What Price Respect

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity in the forum? Not a strange sight. Verity without coffee? Rather less common. Verity slumping, exhausted, into a couch? Unusual. Verity covered in scrapes, bruises, and dust? Definitely strange.

"Help isn't if it's forced on someone. This is true. Someone not in possession of all of the facts cannot give fully informed consent. This is also true. But nobody can be forced to listen." Of course Verity has things on her mind. Who here doesn't? "How do you reconcile that? Is ignorance truly bliss? Or do you do what's needed to save someone despite their choices?"

((A note before you come to play with Verity: she's got a magic spell stuck in her that lets her always know when someone is lying to her. This includes sarcasm and knowing when someone believes something to be true when it isn't. This doesn't include lies of omission. She can also see through illusions. Please respect this; if your character is trying to lie to her, please make that known so she can react appropriately. [I completely understand this isn't going to be everyone's idea of fun.] Thanks.))

Comments

[onemorebounty]

Ah. Well, they're a possibility here, so... enjoy?

[brave_heart_verity]

That gets a laugh. "Yeah. I'll try."

[onemorebounty]

*A laughing Verity is better than some of the alternatives. Samus lets her savor it for a few moments before trying a question.*

How're you holding up?

[brave_heart_verity]

She gives a little shrug. "I knew he probably wasn't going to be there." But she's not good at hiding the disappointment.

[onemorebounty]

*She nods, extending a hand in an offer of comfort. She respects Verity's boundaries, lets her choose the moment and degree of contact--if any, at all.*

If you'd like my help looking anywhere else, you've got it.

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity's quiet for a moment, but she'll take the offered hand. "Thanks. I don't. I don't think there's going to be any more looking."

[onemorebounty]

*Verity's hand gets a light squeeze.*

Alright. The offer stands. For other help, too.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Thank you. But I don't think..."

Then she pauses.

"You weren't here for the demons, were you?"

[onemorebounty]

I only caught the edge. Had a nice little workout, though.

*She sighs.*

Of all the days to leave my armor at home.

[brave_heart_verity]

"If Katsuya needs help dealing with them at home... can I suggest he ask you for help?" A much gentler and roundabout approach than she usually takes with her friends. Please don't say it, Samus, she already knows.

[onemorebounty]

You can.

*Samus remembers her own long, uncertain road toward a capacity for personal affection. She's not going to dig more potholes in Verity's.*

How'd you do, getting through it?

[brave_heart_verity]

"I stayed back and helped with the wounded. I wasn't in any danger." And since she's not a medic and no help in a fight... or important enough for anyone to call to let her know they lived... it hasn't been a good week for her.

[onemorebounty]

*Samus gives an approving nod.*

That's good. Both that you were safe, and how you helped.

*Looking Verity over thoughtfully, reading the other woman's body language, she follows that up.*

But you feel like you didn't do much, hm?

[brave_heart_verity]

"Well. I didn't." Her curse is really good about self-validating all her subjective beliefs as objective facts. So good luck with that.

[onemorebounty]

*Samus' look speaks volumes, and isn't a lie.*

You did more than you give yourself credit for. Did you run until the sight, sound, and smell of it was far behind you? No. Did you huddle in fear, sobbing and waiting for it to end however it was going to? No. Did you sit around with both thumbs crammed in your orifices, or otherwise make yourself a burden to others? No. You helped. Whatever you did, you helped. Any medico in an emergency is going to need extra pairs of hands around to help, and there are plenty of jobs for the untrained. You did what you could, and it wasn't nothing or less-than-nothing. And you know I'm not lying.

[brave_heart_verity]

It's true that she does know Samus isn't lying, so she doesn't argue.

"I know. I just."

[onemorebounty]

Wish you could have done more?

[brave_heart_verity]

"Yeah."

[onemorebounty]

*She smiles.*

Easy answer: learn to do more, for next time.

[brave_heart_verity]

"...there a nursing school around here?"

[onemorebounty]

Probably. I know some first aid and basic field trauma I could help you with, too.

[brave_heart_verity]

"That's a good start. Is there anything you can't do?" Please say there's something you can't do, bird lady. You've already got Verity paranoid about her breathing for fuck's sake.

[onemorebounty]

So many things. I've been trying for years, and I'm still not a very good cook. I don't have the patience for knitting. The last time I tried to ride a horse... didn't end well. I don't have even the most basic cyberaugmentations, so there's a whole suite of things I can't do because of that.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Huh." She thinks about that for a minute before admitting, "That is strangely reassuring."

[onemorebounty]

Well, good. I'm glad something positive came out of getting banned from that ranch.