[Sappy. It feels so patently off base that he can't even muster much irritation. He's been pressed and kneaded into so many different shapes in a short amount of years that he can barely remember the boy before the Badlands, but he's sure he was never sappy. He turns on the tap to detachment, letting it soothe wounds before the salt from Riku's barbs can make them sting.]
You'd be wrong to mistake it for weakness, and so would they. I've killed plenty of them and I'd do it again.
[Understanding their shame is one thing, showing them mercy is another.]
And I don't play. [What do you think he is, Riku, a kid?] Fine, don't tell me. It's none of my busin--
[A tug on his sleeve cuts him off. Looking down, he sees the spirit now pulling at his arm for attention, smiling with outlandishly crooked teeth. Proudly, it holds up the lantern paper, showing them its take on M.K.'s design.
A blue butterfly. He instantly regrets indulging the whim, having not actually expected the spirit reproduce it so faithfully. For a creature that can't even talk, it's better at drawing than him. That is a handful of salt, and for more than one reason.]
no subject
You'd be wrong to mistake it for weakness, and so would they. I've killed plenty of them and I'd do it again.
[Understanding their shame is one thing, showing them mercy is another.]
And I don't play. [What do you think he is, Riku, a kid?] Fine, don't tell me. It's none of my busin--
[A tug on his sleeve cuts him off. Looking down, he sees the spirit now pulling at his arm for attention, smiling with outlandishly crooked teeth. Proudly, it holds up the lantern paper, showing them its take on M.K.'s design.
A blue butterfly. He instantly regrets indulging the whim, having not actually expected the spirit reproduce it so faithfully. For a creature that can't even talk, it's better at drawing than him. That is a handful of salt, and for more than one reason.]