[A shadow -- metaphorical, not literal -- passes over Atem's canine face, darkening it.
That would be a cruel final trick, for Ryslig to play. If I threw my friendships and place among humanity into the fire, and ultimately, it was for nothing...if there were no way to stabilize at all, and I will lose myself no matter what I choose.
That idea makes him want to burn the peninsula down. End the rigged game, causing his friends, causing him, so much suffering, while it's still a decision he himself can make. Trish is right, to be afraid of it.
But it's not likely, Atem reminds himself. He played the game right. He achieved power through the mechanics he's supposed to interact with, and it worked -- when so many people who missed his traps tuned in for the broadcast.
Time will tell, about the rest.
But, she's back to asking him questions -- an interrogation, one that feels familiar. Are all Giorno's people like this?
Like he had before, Atem turns the question on her.]
"Do you regret it?"
That's a question I asked Mukuro, when I was a nephilim, and the event was making us into the versions of us we thought the other one thought we were.
She thought I was a conceited, judgmental jerk -- and I hadn't done anything to prove her wrong! I used a nephilim power, to bring all of her regrets to the surface, and asked her if she regretted any of the things she had done that I'd found out about, that had made me think that she was a dangerous person who would continue to do bad things here.
[Then, she'd ripped his arm most of the way off. He'd deserved it.]
Determining what someone regrets, and if it matches what you think they should regret, doesn't mean anything, as far as right and wrong goes. It's only one piece of the picture that's someone's heart! Someone can do terrible things without regrets, and still be understandable, worthy of sympathy, and safe for you to be around.
[They're in Ryslig. They all know and care about people like that.]
Besides, wouldn't it be worse to do something bad and then say, "please forgive me, I regret my actions!" That would be dishonest...especially since I'd continue to enjoy the powers I got from my "regrettable mistake," and the people who were hurt wouldn't be healed.
[He hasn't answered her question yet. A lot of words, but no answer. This is on purpose. He tilts his head, regarding her with the red eyes he always has, no matter his form.]
Are you trying to determine if I'm still dangerous?
Or are you trying to decide if I'm a good enough person, according to what you can and can't accept, to continue to associate with?
[Is it safe, for him to be vulnerable with her? He would share his deepest secrets with her in a heartbeat, if he didn't think they would horrify and hurt her, if they were sitting together as friends. But right now, after months apart, Trish isn't safe.
I know what you're doing, his turned-around questions say. You should be aware of what you're doing, too.]
Are you here to understand, or to make a decision?
CAUSE YOU COULD NEVER BE BETTER THAN YOU
That would be a cruel final trick, for Ryslig to play. If I threw my friendships and place among humanity into the fire, and ultimately, it was for nothing...if there were no way to stabilize at all, and I will lose myself no matter what I choose.
That idea makes him want to burn the peninsula down. End the rigged game, causing his friends, causing him, so much suffering, while it's still a decision he himself can make. Trish is right, to be afraid of it.
But it's not likely, Atem reminds himself. He played the game right. He achieved power through the mechanics he's supposed to interact with, and it worked -- when so many people who missed his traps tuned in for the broadcast.
Time will tell, about the rest.
But, she's back to asking him questions -- an interrogation, one that feels familiar. Are all Giorno's people like this?
Like he had before, Atem turns the question on her.]
"Do you regret it?"
That's a question I asked Mukuro, when I was a nephilim, and the event was making us into the versions of us we thought the other one thought we were.
She thought I was a conceited, judgmental jerk -- and I hadn't done anything to prove her wrong! I used a nephilim power, to bring all of her regrets to the surface, and asked her if she regretted any of the things she had done that I'd found out about, that had made me think that she was a dangerous person who would continue to do bad things here.
[Then, she'd ripped his arm most of the way off. He'd deserved it.]
Determining what someone regrets, and if it matches what you think they should regret, doesn't mean anything, as far as right and wrong goes. It's only one piece of the picture that's someone's heart! Someone can do terrible things without regrets, and still be understandable, worthy of sympathy, and safe for you to be around.
[They're in Ryslig. They all know and care about people like that.]
Besides, wouldn't it be worse to do something bad and then say, "please forgive me, I regret my actions!" That would be dishonest...especially since I'd continue to enjoy the powers I got from my "regrettable mistake," and the people who were hurt wouldn't be healed.
[He hasn't answered her question yet. A lot of words, but no answer. This is on purpose. He tilts his head, regarding her with the red eyes he always has, no matter his form.]
Are you trying to determine if I'm still dangerous?
Or are you trying to decide if I'm a good enough person, according to what you can and can't accept, to continue to associate with?
[Is it safe, for him to be vulnerable with her? He would share his deepest secrets with her in a heartbeat, if he didn't think they would horrify and hurt her, if they were sitting together as friends. But right now, after months apart, Trish isn't safe.
I know what you're doing, his turned-around questions say. You should be aware of what you're doing, too.]
Are you here to understand, or to make a decision?