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

[sumarusfinest]

"Not a disappointment, just confusing." And embarrassing, but well. Katsuya is trying to ignore that.


He looks really impressed by the soup. Really. For one, most of his friends aren't exactly known for their culinary skills, and for another he doesn't expect Verity to be good at Japanese cooking. So yes. Very happy indeed.

[brave_heart_verity]

She makes a little sound of relief then; it's the sound a person makes when something stops hurting. She isn't aware she made that sound out loud.

She's good at reading directions, and she's had miso soup before. She can muddle through a lot of things with directions and familiarity with the goal. Chairman Kaga wouldn't be impressed, but if Katsuya likes it that's enough for her. This time. She'll get better.

Watch all of Cooking With Dog Verity!

[sumarusfinest]

It helps that the soup itself is fairly simple. And that mmmost Japanese soups start off with the same four basic ingredients before branching into whatever dish they will ultimately become.

Right now it's warm and healthy and Katsuya is quite content to enjoy his unexpected meal in peace. He still feels a bit muddled from sleep, but begins to take note of his much cleaner apartment. His gaze flits to the shelves--but no. That photo is still face down.

The frame holds several small pictures inside. A photo booth strip of a boisterous woman in a gaudy top dragging a panicked officer Suou in halfway while she makes faces. Another of a petite brunette American flashing a peace sign outside of the Konan PD. A third, mostly hidden behind the other two, of a group of people outside the Araya Shrine. If Verity peeked. But it's face down still, so Katsuya doesn't seem alarmed.

"It's not nearly as nice as your place." Katsuya seems a bit nervous now. "But it's home. I hope you didn't trouble yourself too much. T..thank you for helping me clean up." He honestly can't believe he slept through that.

...I don't know what that is, but it sounds fun.

[brave_heart_verity]

Simplicity does definitely help. But if it hadn't been simple she would have opted for a rice dish because she knows how to make rice.

No, she didn't peek. She was sorely tempted, but she respects him too much to do that. She picked it up and dusted it without looking, which is an accomplishment for her. She's better off not knowing some things.

"You're welcome." She frowns down into her bowl for a minute before admitting, "I don't live there anymore. I... moved to the Nexus. It's better for me." Sorry Katsuya, you'll never get to take over that lovely kitchen. "Anyway I like it here. It feels like someone lives here." Maybe not him, but someone.

Japanese cooking YouTube channel

[sumarusfinest]

"You...what?" Katsuya is shooting straight up now. "Why?! What happened? We were just there."

He's sputtering, concern and worry etched into his face as he reaches over to put a hand on her shoulder.

Ahh, yes, something for her to watch. I was picturing Swedish Chef & Rolph in my head.

[brave_heart_verity]

She cringes at his reaction, but it shouldn't surprise her. He saw how much she loved it there. Of course he's surprised.

"You saw how uncomfortable I was. It's easier here." Weird she can handle, so long as it is honest weirdness. But that's not the whole story. Suddenly she isn't hungry anymore, so she sets her bowl down. Then she takes his and puts it down too, just in case.

"I think my world's going to die soon. I got out while I could. No, there's nothing you can do. Yes, I'm sure, and yes, I'm doing what I can to make sure it doesn't happen anywhere else. Please please please don't yell at me."

Chef and Francis are adorable

[sumarusfinest]

"What, Verity no. Why would I yell at you. This isn't your fault." He gets up so he can face her, kneeling on his floor like he had at her home only a little while ago.

His hands grip hers.

"Why...I mean. When did you find out? Why didn't you tell me?" His voice grows quiet. "Why didn't you ask to stay with me?" He doesn't know what to do. He feels helpless, suddenly.

I'll check it out! :)

[brave_heart_verity]

She's relieved by how well he's taking this and lets out the breath she'd been holding. Her hands curl around his, not quite clinging, but in need of the contact.

"You've been busy," she points out quietly. "A friend offered me a place to stay, he's been very nice to me. And it wouldn't make sense for me to live someplace where I don't speak the language yet. Besides. You're... I know you would have taken me in if I'd asked, but it would have made you uncomfortable. I wouldn't want to ruin our friendship like that."

You ruin all my plans, angst! *shakes fist*

[sumarusfinest]

"What about Loki?" Katsuya hates everything in this moment. His home, the demons. Himself. He pulls Verity forward, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. Hold her close.

"Verity. You could never ruin our friendship. Well, okay don't tell me I know I can't promise that. But you'd have to fucking try really hard to." He's talking into her shoulder.

"I care about you so much. You don't even know. God I'm so sorry Verity. If I'd known..." He's choking up, pulling her tighter. The important thing is all of this? Totally true.

[brave_heart_verity]

She's not talking right now. She might not be listening much. As soon as he mentions Loki she pretty much collapses in his arms and starts to cry. Months of guilt and doubt and dread have built up and she just can't take it anymore.

On the upside, she's not arguing?

[sumarusfinest]

And isn't that just a knife twisting in his heart. Well, at least he'd been honest with her. She doesn't have to return his feelings. Of course, Loki is the world to her. And she doesn't know if he's okay.

"Shhh, Verity...It's.." It's not okay of course it isn't okay. "I'm here for you." He says instead. "Whatever you need, I'm here for you."

[brave_heart_verity]

It would seem that, at the moment, she needs hugs. She's sure holding onto him tight. Tissues wouldn't go amiss, but she's not letting go of him, so they'll have to wait.

"M-my mom." It's hard for her to catch enough of a breath to speak. This is going to be slow going. "Doesn't believe me. She won't. Won't come."

It's not all about Loki, Katsuya.

[sumarusfinest]

Her mother. Her family. The only family she has left. Was there still time? Forget safety, was it even feasible?

"Do you want me to get her anyway? What do you want me to do. Anything. Just tell me." If the world ends while he's out trying to save her mother, that's not such a bad way to go in the grand scheme of things. A lot better than bleeding out to a demon attack for no reason.

[brave_heart_verity]

She sniffles and tries to calm down enough to think. He had been saying something. She's pretty sure he had been saying something.

"I'm going to talk to her tomorrow. One last try. But... I don't have a right to force her. Just like I had to let you go fight the demons." She's too tired to care what she's indirectly admitting. He's warm and his shoulder is so comfortable.

[sumarusfinest]

"You...you know the world is in danger, and you're....prepared to let her decide her own fate?" Katsuya shakes slightly. He would never be strong enough to do that. The thought of his father or even as brother, capable as he was. "YOu're braver than I am, Verity. I'd kill myself trying to save my family even if they didn't want to be."

[brave_heart_verity]

The start of that reply makes her cringe, but then he reminds her why he's the one she trusts with this. "It's... what I was asking advice about. Most people seemed to think I was unloving or a coward or both."

She knows he was saying something... "What is it I don't know?"

[sumarusfinest]

"I don't think most people have the strength to let go of the ones they hold most dear, if they truly don't want to be saved. I know I don't." Katsuya sighs, clinging tight to her still. "My only concern is that she doesn't know what's going on. Can't know. How would she feel if she did? No one knows. Certainly not me." Sometimes, there are no easy answers.

"You don't know what?" Katsuya doesn't follow the jump in conversation. "I said I didn't know what you should do."

[brave_heart_verity]

"I've told her. I've tried to explain. But she... things have never been good between us. I don't think she believes me." She sighs, gives a little shrug, then snugs up her hold on him so he doesn't mistake that as a request to be let go. "I can't force her to listen, either."

"You said I don't know... something. Before. When I was crying." She doesn't lift her head to look at him, but it definitely sounds like she's giving him a curious look. "I couldn't make out what you were saying. Sorry."

[sumarusfinest]

"Oh..I..." If you say nothing she is going to know you're lying. If you tell the truth she is going to feel even worse than she already does because of the whole Loki isn't here and her world is ending thing. Shit.

Katsuya chokes a moment, before nodding his head just slightly.

"It's not important right now. Don't worry about it."

[brave_heart_verity]

The brushoff makes her slump, and there's a few more tears before she gets herself under control again. She's losing everything and he can't even talk to her...

"I'm sorry. I'm supposed to be taking care of you right now. You shouldn't have to deal with this." It's painful to make herself pull away from him, and she doesn't lift her head so he can't see her face. Long hair is really useful sometimes. "I'm going to go wash my face okay?"

[sumarusfinest]

This is like the exact opposite reaction from the one he's trying to get. Katsuya you are the worst at this. He just sits there, kind of stunned. Not sure what to do or say. He nods numbly when she brushes past him to go to the bathroom to wash her face and hide from him.

"God. Dammit." He leans forward and thunks his head against the armrest of the couch. He wishes Maya were here. She'd know how to make this right. He can't do anything. Not even comfort a friend when she needs him the most. Why is he so bad at this?

It's not like he can just magic Loki here so she could be happy. So she could at least have the most important person in her life around and okay. He can't even go rescue her mother because Verity doesn't want to force it on her. There is literally nothing he can do that will make her feel better.

Thunk, thunk, thunk.

[brave_heart_verity]

She's not really gone long, just long enough to splash some water on her face and clean her glasses. And then wash her face again because she can't seem to stop crying. So, long enough for him to get into quite a groove there with his head bashing.

This will never do. When she sees that she frowns and crosses the room to grab his shoulders from behind. "Stop that. Hurting yourself isn't going to make anything better."

[sumarusfinest]

Katsuya bites his lip hard and sits back on his heels. Adjusts his askew glasses and sighs.

"...There's nothing I can do." It's so quiet he might never have said it at all. "I can't bring back Loki or your mother, I can't help your world, I can't even comfort you properly and I didn't even notice anything was wrong until it was too late because I was too caught up with my own stupid problems." His shoulders slump. Katsuya shakes his head.

"I'm sorry, Verity. I don't...I don't know what to do."

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity sinks down to sit beside him, her arms wrapping around him again. She's screwed this up bad and she doesn't know how to fix it. "You're still my friend, right? None of the rest of that is your problem. I shouldn't have told you. This is my burden, and I should never have been so selfish. So just... forgive me? Please?"

[sumarusfinest]

"As long as you'll have me." How could she think this was her fault? He's the one that can't do or say anything correctly here.

"You don't need to be forgiven, you haven't' done anything wrong." He's stroking her hair, hugging her close and biting back apology after apology he's sure will only make this worse again.

"I wish I could help." His voice cracks when he says it.