roseofmay: (pic#14888349)

[personal profile] roseofmay 2022-06-04 07:19 am (UTC)(link)
[...

It's because she's getting heated. She knows that. She feels like she has to defend herself. From what, exactly. Who is the threat here. Him? Herself?

It's all he needs to present to her for her to get the picture.]


That I am. I will be ending that now.
roseofmay: (pic#14941454)

[personal profile] roseofmay 2022-06-04 07:59 am (UTC)(link)
I am not getting emotional.

[Because that is completely convincing. Even she isn't buying it and that's saying something. If anything, she's annoyed. Because emotions and Beatrix don't belong in the same sentence, unless she's expressing some kind of disdain, dislike, frustration with something else.

This whole business about not knowing how she feels, or wanting very, very much to keep something from happening that should not, under any circumstances happen, it's disrupting her. And she's not realised just how deeply it has been until perhaps these moments. Or she has and she's simply ignored it all.]


No. We both know better. I will not disrespect you with a blatant falsehood.

I confess that the subject matter is complicated. I am not accustomed to others expressing concern for me. I am not accustomed to others wanting to be close to me. It makes me uncomfortable.


[She decides she can get away with saying that. It's honest. Telling, in many ways, but not in a way to Eustace that she feels as if she's in danger. That he might use it against her. If anything, maybe he's the only one who might understand why she feels that way. And maybe, he won't judge her for it either.]
roseofmay: (pic#14889509)

[personal profile] roseofmay 2022-06-04 04:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[Uncomfortable or afraid.

She sees those words and it's almost enough to send her into an entirely different area, which is probably answer enough. Beatrix does not make it a habit of admitting her shortcomings. She has them. She knows she does, but she loves to act as if she's utterly untouchable.]


Perhaps a touch of both. The details hardly matter.
roseofmay: (pic#15051193)

[personal profile] roseofmay 2022-06-06 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
[She's not expected him to pry any deeper than he already has and there's wisdom in that. Who can tell what Beatrix is like when her defences are finally crawled beneath.

That said—]


I am not a woman who surrenders. Not in battle. Not to any woman or man, beast, or anything in between.
roseofmay: (pic#15007023)

[personal profile] roseofmay 2022-06-06 07:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[She isn't sure she agrees. She doesn't even have to say it for that to be true. Eustace knows her well enough. He can probably picture exactly how she'd sound.]

Kindness I can accept. I do that well enough. That ought to be enough.
roseofmay: (pic#6898906)

[personal profile] roseofmay 2022-06-07 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
Then what is supposed to be enough? What is supposed to suffice? I thought this was supposed to be about alliances and cohorts, or whatever you may wish to call them.

[Friends. Although she supposes that it might not always be that simple.]
roseofmay: (pic#15504851)

[personal profile] roseofmay 2022-06-07 05:28 am (UTC)(link)
[Amicable companionship. She doesn't believe that at all. She's not sure she can actually admit to that, however. Isn't that already obvious?]

I will keep all of that in consideration. I do not think much of my companionship. I do not think anyone else ought to either.

[But maybe admitting that is the first step. Maybe, that's what she's needed to hear all along. Leave it to Eustace to be the hero.]
roseofmay: (pic#14941457)

[personal profile] roseofmay 2022-06-07 06:14 am (UTC)(link)
[...]

I only thought it was factual. I suppose I can only see myself the way I do. Not as you do. Not as anyone else does. However that may be.

I am not good at discussions like these. I assume you knew that already.
roseofmay: (pic#14889509)

[personal profile] roseofmay 2022-06-07 07:08 am (UTC)(link)
I appreciated the insight. It will take me time to adjust how I think. How I perceive. I will not be able to make any promises to you or anyone else who should think to show such interest in me.

In spite of that, I will listen to what others have to say with an open mind. Including Dohalim. That was the man you saw.
roseofmay: (pic#15051191)

[personal profile] roseofmay 2022-06-07 07:47 am (UTC)(link)
[Coming to her rescue now, is he. As if he's a brother. She's not certain anyone has ever done that for her. She's always the one protecting others. Looking out for others in her Beatrix sort of way.

How strange to have someone else doing that for her.]


I doubt such will be necessary, but if it comes up, I will be certain to keep you informed. Thank you, Eustace. Again.