Audience: Mineo Enomoto

[probe]

Comments

[sengokus]

[????????

??????????????????

mineo will stand up as requested then but he just looks confused himself]

Did I mess up again....

[probe]

No. I --

[they fidget.] Don't grovel. I don't need that.

[... give them a second, they're not good at this.]

[sengokus]

[mineo also doesn't know what's going on

so now he's also fidgeting]

I - Mm.... I didn't mean to grovel or make you more uncomfortable... I just really felt bad, so I wanted to apologize seriously! I don't know if my feelings came across properly though...

[probe]

They did.

[a pause.] I - it's.

[.........................]

You apologized. That's more than most people do.

[sengokus]

[ . . . . he rubs the back of his neck sheepishly at that]

Mm....

Well - you've been through a lot, right? [a beat] I don't wanna make assumptions, I know we haven't really gotten to talk all that much....

But I don't wanna add to more of just - shitty stuff you have to deal with. It sucks that you don't get apologies after dealing with the rest of it. You should get them.

[probe]

I'm not owed them. [they say, after a moment.] I'm not more or less special than anybody else. It happens.

[they pull their hood a little closer, their claws sharp and long. mineo might notice the gold bands tattooed around their wrists.]

Mollymauk showed me how to press the rose. It... it should be fine.

[sengokus]

He did? [he perks up a little bit at that, looking genuinely relieved] That's good...

Um... But I don't think you need to be more or less special than anybody else to get apologies. You're someone with feelings, right? So you should still be treated with dignity.

Well at least, that's what I think... [a beat] Thanks. For accepting mine. I'll try not to mess up again, but if I do let me know, and I'll always try to apologize.

[probe]

You will mess up again. [this is a little dry.]

You understand why I was angry. It wasn't for no reason.

[sengokus]

[aw. his shoulders slump a little but it comes with a little nod. sometimes you know you are a clumsy fool]

I'll still try...

[but]

... the rose is really important to you, right? [a beat] Can... I ask about it? Ashiya-san only talked about the feelings that they got when they touched it...

[probe]

[it's like kicking a puppy i swear

pride is unaffected by slumped shoulders but i personally feel bad, wow. anyway pride looks away for a moment, folding their arms.]

It reminds me of a woman I was going to marry.

[sengokus]

[don't feel bad mineo's an idiot and deserves this

but mineo pauses at that and just. ruffles his own hair almost in anguish]

... Ashiya-san....!! What the hell....!! That's so cruel!

[the clown is DEAD, mineo]

Ahhh, I should've hit them! Dammit! I - I'm sure you're getting tired of hearing it, but I'm really sorry, Pride-san... I'm glad you could press the rose at least. You must miss her...

[probe]

[they're quiet again for a moment.]

I am not the same without her. [they say, finally.] She would've been angry that I snapped at you.

[so.]

[sengokus]

[ . . . aw. his expression turns a little softly amused]

It's okay. I'm pretty good as a punching bag, and I should've known better too. So... I can take it.

... wanna talk about her? I never know if it's - better or worse. Talking about the people you miss.

[probe]

[do they want to? they're not sure.]

Don't tear yourself down, and maybe I will.

[sengokus]

[ . . . ? he tilts his head]

Me...? Tear myself down how?

[probe]

The - it's fine, I'm a punching bag, just walk all over me.

[that's actually a pretty good imitation of mineo's accent - which presumably is not like pride's faintly british one.]

Don't get me wrong. I don't care, other than thinking you need to grow a spine. [sniff. they raise a claw.] Don't - apologize. Either.

[sengokus]

Oohh, is that what I sound like...

[ . . . . he tilts his head a little, thoughtful.]

Mm... People have been telling me that I'm kind of a pushover... but I guess you just haven't said or done anything to me that I find worth getting angry over? [he's got a temper - he's pretty sure he's shown it in trial now and then]

If people have troubles, I'm okay with them venting at me. Otherwise they'll just keep to themselves and get all gloomy! That's all I meant.

[probe]

That's because you are one.

I'm not going to get... gloomy. [they say this, vaguely annoyed. and then they mutter something about envy.]

[sengokus]

[but pride DOES keep to themselves]

Ah - I think you're fine the way you are, for the record. Kinda stabby but so is everyone else here.

[he's adapted,,]

But I have a backbone when it matters!

[probe]

[wow don't call them out]

When does it matter? [... they sound genuinely curious, at least.]

[sengokus]

When someone's going to get seriously hurt, or if someone's spouting shit about something they don't know anything about.

[(mineo voice) say "justice" one more time]

And I just can't stand hearing people talk badly about others that I care about. That matters too.

[it just seems like his own ego rarely factors into it]

[probe]

I assume you only get angry when it's others. You seemed fine with boiling your own blood to prove evidence, if I recall correctly.

[they sound slightly amused at this.]

[sengokus]

[LOOKING AWAY]

I'm - sturdy?!

[WHY DOES HE SOUND LESS CONVINCED SUDDENLY]

[probe]

I.

[they just give him such a look.]

Sturdy. Yes, that will help when your blood boils.

[sengokus]

[wow he can't perceive bc of the hood!]

There's the medbay... it's fine... I didn't know if it was literal....

I wouldn't have died probably! [SO IT'S ALL GOOD,]