[ She can only wonder how it feels for her, someone whose determination and dedication has seen her through situations someone like her couldn't exactly believe in until she really had to face them. Not that magic and dragons and witches didn't exist in her world, but even so. They weren't exactly things they had to contend with, make deals with-- but it was different for Rosella, wasn't it?
It's almost a little sad, she thinks. Things she would personally take for granted are so serious for Rosella, while Rosella herself has had no exposure to things that she knows Cain has gone through. It makes a world of difference, growing up around people who love you and people who don't see you as anything more than an experiment. At Rosella's questions, at the way her own uncertainty shows in the way her eyes glaze over, Megumi can't help but feel a hint of sympathy for her. This is really out of Rosella's league, isn't it? But as she listens to her talk, she's glad that the girl is at least able to follow things a bit.
Except... ]
Don't think that it doesn't matter. It's what makes you you. It's what makes him able to believe, even just a bit, in some hope.
[ However, her last words make her frown a bit. A game... prove him wrong... it's giving her relationship a sort of odd, tangible quality that makes Megumi end up wondering about what she really wants out of this. The reward of having won a game? No, surely not.
And she wonders how far this will carry on for them both until they can't do it any more. After all, no one asked her to save Cain, Rosella decided to do that on her own, and while it's fine for her to do so because her intentions are undoubtedly pure-- there's the possibility of it hurting things more than fixing them.
That's what makes her fearful, and she's quiet for a bit. It seems like whatever needed to be said has been said, and her gaze softens as she gives her a quiet nod, deciding not to bring up the fact that she doesn't need to try all that hard to bring a smile to his face. ]
Perhaps, Rosella... it's time to stop thinking of it as something you need to overcome with him, and as something you can provide instead. Winning and losing... that'll see no end. But if you can bring him challenge and light, perhaps...
[ She sighs, returning her weak smile with one of her own, lifting her hand to touch Rosella's cheek again, speaking gently to her. ]
Perhaps it will make you understand him a bit better instead of trying to... I won't say force, but-- making him change in a way that he may not be open to.
[ And with a shake of her head, she looks away from her, lowering her hand again, extending it to the cup and saucer she'd levitated away from her, to have it float back into her hand. Glancing down to look at the remaining contents, she falls silent for a bit, before she turns the cup handle toward herself so she can lift it back to gently sip it.
Still warm. ]
I just don't want you to expect things from him that may end up disappointing the both of you.
[ It's better to say that, isn't it? She called Rosella to talk to her after hardening her own heart in the hopes that perhaps Cain would be able to decide what he wanted out of his time here as well.
This is necessary for Megumi as well, even if it's slowly becoming clear how much more pure Rosella's feelings are as compared to her own, and how much it's beginning to sting her on realising that. ]
I want him to believe that he has a chance at happiness here, as well. Happiness that he needn't hide.
[ They're a silent confession, but she says them in a way that would only sound like she's concerned for his well-being.
She hopes Rosella takes it that way, because there's no way she's going to make her worry for her when she has her own troubles to sort. ]
[ Action ] /loves your tl;dr!
It's almost a little sad, she thinks. Things she would personally take for granted are so serious for Rosella, while Rosella herself has had no exposure to things that she knows Cain has gone through. It makes a world of difference, growing up around people who love you and people who don't see you as anything more than an experiment. At Rosella's questions, at the way her own uncertainty shows in the way her eyes glaze over, Megumi can't help but feel a hint of sympathy for her. This is really out of Rosella's league, isn't it? But as she listens to her talk, she's glad that the girl is at least able to follow things a bit.
Except... ]
Don't think that it doesn't matter. It's what makes you you. It's what makes him able to believe, even just a bit, in some hope.
[ However, her last words make her frown a bit. A game... prove him wrong... it's giving her relationship a sort of odd, tangible quality that makes Megumi end up wondering about what she really wants out of this. The reward of having won a game? No, surely not.
And she wonders how far this will carry on for them both until they can't do it any more. After all, no one asked her to save Cain, Rosella decided to do that on her own, and while it's fine for her to do so because her intentions are undoubtedly pure-- there's the possibility of it hurting things more than fixing them.
That's what makes her fearful, and she's quiet for a bit. It seems like whatever needed to be said has been said, and her gaze softens as she gives her a quiet nod, deciding not to bring up the fact that she doesn't need to try all that hard to bring a smile to his face. ]
Perhaps, Rosella... it's time to stop thinking of it as something you need to overcome with him, and as something you can provide instead. Winning and losing... that'll see no end. But if you can bring him challenge and light, perhaps...
[ She sighs, returning her weak smile with one of her own, lifting her hand to touch Rosella's cheek again, speaking gently to her. ]
Perhaps it will make you understand him a bit better instead of trying to... I won't say force, but-- making him change in a way that he may not be open to.
[ And with a shake of her head, she looks away from her, lowering her hand again, extending it to the cup and saucer she'd levitated away from her, to have it float back into her hand. Glancing down to look at the remaining contents, she falls silent for a bit, before she turns the cup handle toward herself so she can lift it back to gently sip it.
Still warm. ]
I just don't want you to expect things from him that may end up disappointing the both of you.
[ It's better to say that, isn't it? She called Rosella to talk to her after hardening her own heart in the hopes that perhaps Cain would be able to decide what he wanted out of his time here as well.
This is necessary for Megumi as well, even if it's slowly becoming clear how much more pure Rosella's feelings are as compared to her own, and how much it's beginning to sting her on realising that. ]
I want him to believe that he has a chance at happiness here, as well. Happiness that he needn't hide.
[ They're a silent confession, but she says them in a way that would only sound like she's concerned for his well-being.
She hopes Rosella takes it that way, because there's no way she's going to make her worry for her when she has her own troubles to sort. ]