Tool

She was at a loss for words. What had happened while she was gone?

Ramlethal’s gaze narrowed. Her sister’s fake emotions had no effect on her. Rather, it was her words that caught her attention. What did she mean, indisposed? The time between their deployment and her arrest? Outside of that, the two had been together, out of necessity on the opponent’s side. Her sister had betrayed Mother...

{♚} Putting her water down, she would let out a small sigh before glancing back at the girl, finishing off her food in an instant. 

For the first time throughout their entire conversation, the Valentine’s facial features changed. Rather than glaring at the troll with an almost emotionless visage, Ramlethal showed a more sour look, eyebrows arched in something that could be read as worry. Why was it that all of those who she approached with information couldn’t answer these simple questions? The need for clarification was inefficient.

 “… Ram.” She sucked in her breath, attempting to remain calm as she took in the other’s form. And there was no mistake. “It’s really you.”

This was her sister – the quiet yet destructive older Valentine. Who had shown signs of developing beyond the role of their mother’s tool before Elphelt had been stolen away. Their time apart had left her more than just a little worried – long nights of staring out her window, sighing her life away as she wondered how her sibling was doing and if she would be okay without her little sister around.

It was those thoughts that broke the facade of calmness and she broke into a fit of tears.

“RAAAAAM! I missed you so muh-muh-much and now you’re here! I-I thought .. hic!… I’d never seeee you again! Hic… you… you can’t imagine how much I… but now you’re…! “ With a mix between a sob and a squeal, she happily rushed forward with her arms outstretched in the attempt to give Ramlethal the hug of a lifetime.

A turn towards her name confirmed it: Elphelt Valentine, her younger sister ran to her, arms wide and face full of snot and tears. Disgusting. Everything about Elphelt was irrational. Their kind weren’t meant to have feelings, and yet here she was, playing out a tearful reunion. Ramlethal would have no part in this.

The elder Valentine sidestepped Elphelt’s advances, swatting her arms away towards an opposite direction. “El.” Her statement was devoid of the same love and care that Elphelt had in her words. 

It’s something rather besides the point of her initial approach, he’s quite aware, but preparing her - even if only in part - for the sort of mindset one must develop if one is to keep their sensibilities here is some small help, at least.

She accomplishes a rare feat there as she evokes a short laugh, derisive to be sure, but audible all the same ❝ Yes, perhaps there’s a certain vanity to thinking oneself a god– Rather, there must be, for I don’t suppose it is the humble men who are elevated to the status. ❞ (They only become saints, usually.)  ❝ Considering the varying ideas of what a ‘god’ is exactly in a single world alone, however, I still cannot doubt that there is at least one being who suits the description for at least one other – and what are names in themselves, if not conferred upon us by others…? 

❝ –Hm, forgive me. ❞ His apology is genuine enough, never mind that ever-dubious curl of his lip. ❝ It was no intention of mine to have us come to discuss these philosophical matters – let us leave it to the wise men, or in any case set it aside for the time being. Being the new arrival here that you are, I am sure there are yet more pressing matters, matters of a greater interest to you than the nature of gods and men. ❞ Theirs is a rather short-lived discussion, should she indeed take his prompt and cease this distracted talk after all, but he himself has wondered over such matters already; the topic simply does not capture him and keenly as it had, not at this time. Rare for him to be the voice of relative reason at times like these, and all the more so considering how roundabout he has been with what answers he has yielded thus far.

She watched as the man bowed to her, his comment betraying the show of respect.

She froze as the taste filled her mouth, a strange sensation filling her mouth. It was salty, greasy, and yet...

The Valentine moved in to eat more. Heat was not necessary. The food was fine as it was, giving her body the nutrients needed to continue on with her existence. Eventually, the bowl was emptied out. After the last gulp of food in her mouth, she turned back to the woman.

“It was... It has the nutrients necessary for survival.”

❝ I saw it and thought of you. ❞

❝ Can we keep it? ❞

❝ Great news: I’m a changed man/woman, and… and I’m ready to re-enter society as a solid citizen. ❞

❝ You’re a villain, and you’ll always be a villain. ❞

❝ You’re fun. ❞

❝ You got a present in the mail. ❞

❝ Is it a puppy? ❞

❝ Like, let’s just get a cofee or something. ❞

❝ You were right. ❞

❝ I’ll always be a villain. ❞

❝ And I love you, random citizen! ❞

❝ There’s no place like evil lair. ❞

❝ How do I look? Do I look bad? ❞

❝ Is there some kind of nerdy super-villain website where you get Tesla coils and blinky dials? ❞

❝ Such tricks won’t work on me. ❞

❝ Please talk slower. ❞

❝ You’re so predictable. ❞

❝ I’m shaking in my custom baby seal leather boots. ❞

❝ I’m not panicking. ❞

❝ Dag! Crab nuggets! ❞

❝ Fackled fish cracker! ❞

❝ I’m in a heated, existential discussion with this dead-eyed, plastic desk toy. ❞

❝ And… wrap that up and give it to a child on Christmas, ‘cause we’re done! ❞

❝ I’ve made a horrible mistake. ❞

❝ I’ve never heard you laugh before. ❞

❝ You don’t get out much, do you? ❞

❝ You make me laugh. ❞

❝ Do you have someone special in your life? ❞

❝ Who wants churros? ❞

❝ Wait a minute… are you wearing… Jean Paul Gaultier’s Pour Homme…? ❞

❝ What happens when _____ finds out who you really are? ❞

❝ Honestly, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think this was your first day of being evil. ❞

❝ Oh, that was really grown up! ❞

❝ The bad guy doesn’t get the girl. ❞

❝ My sole purpose in life is to look after you. ❞

❝ I don’t need you to look after me. ❞

❝ What are you s- what are you saying? ❞

❝ You don’t need me? ❞

❝ That doesn’t even make any sense! ❞

❝ Look, there is no ‘us’, okey? There will never be an ‘us’. ❞

❝ Why are you so evil? ❞

❝ Do you really think I would ever be with you? ❞

❝ You were right. I was… less right… ❞

❝ I need your help. ❞

❝ That’s when I got the brilliant idea… to fake my death. ❞

❝ Granted, you have talent. ❞

❝ This is the first time we’ve hung out socially, and it’s when I’m/you’re about to destroy the city! ❞

❝ Did you want to hear me say it? I’ll say it. Here it is, from the blackest part of my heart… I. Am. Sorry! ❞

❝ We’re gonna die! ❞

❝ There is no Easter Bunny, there is no Tooth Fairy, and there is no Queen of England. This is the real world. ❞

❝ What’s the plan? ❞

❝ No matter what side you’re on, you’re always the loser. ❞

❝ There’s a benifit to losing. You get to learn from your mistakes. ❞

❝ Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me! ❞

❝ What a drama queen. ❞

❝ Don’t give me that face. ❞

❝ You really need to empty your pockets more often. ❞

Leveling with her, though blank eyes cannot convey much, he felt it important he show her his face when speaking of such matters as he was about to. 

But now Potemkin’s vital organ was open. With a few well-timed attacks, even half her strength would be enough to end him once and for all. 

And yet, with that information floating in her mind, Ramlethal made no aggressive moves. The soldier had a point: she had no connection to Mother anymore. There was no need for her to be violent, to battle everyone that stood in her way. She had no way anymore, even from before she left home. Her purpose had been served. But she was still here.

But that, it would seem, is rather beside the point now. As their idle talk takes a rather unprecedented, though no less intriguing turn, the fellow cannot help looking upon her with a glimmer of genuine curiosity in his eye now. Perhaps there’s something worth talking about after all.

❝ Ah, then such is the case whence you hail? That man maketh God, and not God man. ❞ Where he might have once pressed his lips firmly together immediately afterwards, as though in some half-hearted attempt to conceal his blasphemy, he can only turn his pensive gaze aside momentarily as he considers her incredulous words. ❝ …I had made similar talk with a gentleman, some time ago now, I recall. Truth be told that I cannot speak for the authenticity of the claims of these ‘gods’, but we bring with us the repute we had in our home realms. Mortal or ethereal, they bear the name so long as it had been granted to them in the world they knew– Now, whether they inspire the awe in reality, delusions of grandeur aside to be deserving of the title… ❞

However, here she was, pumping this dry well for all it was worth. The talks had with the male have brought her no new information, nothing that she couldn’t have figured out easily on her own. Still, she didn’t leave. Perhaps it was out of desperation that she stood here idly chatting about philosophical matters with the man, despite having no need to do so. 

Now was not the time to think of the implications of her staying to speak to him, though.

{♚} While not uncommon since street rats were a thing, the woman would continue to sip at her water for a moment, essentially just letting the stranger know with just a glance that while they were aware of their actions and it was their food.. they didn’t quite care that much. Really though it wasn’t as if she had plans on eating it. 

Nothing came. It looked like the only option was to... ‘wing it’.

    Like HUMANITY? It’s kind of funny. 

    As much as you like the humans– well, actually, just one of them– the comparison feels off to you. Still, you give her the information, because if she can compare you, she probably has a different concept of everything else. Including MERCY.

    [ ♉ ] TAVROS: wELL, i’VE MET,     [ ♉ ] TAVROS: aRADIA, fEFERI, eRIDAN, tEREZI, aND, uHH, vRISKA,      [ ♉ ] TAVROS: tHEY TOLD ME THAT sOLLUX IS HERE, aND SO ARE nEPETA, eQUIUS, gAMZEE AND kARKAT,      [ ♉ ] TAVROS: i ALSO MET mEENAH, aND rUFIO, aND i WORK UNDER mEULIN,      [ ♉ ] TAVROS: sO THAT MAKES AT LEAST 13,     [ ♉ ] TAVROS: uHHH, 14 INCLUDING ME, 

    You ponder on the second question. You know that, potentially, ALL of you are dangerous. The question itself is dangerous, too, and you know that answering it might put all of you in a bad position. There’s one troll that you know is dangerous for SURE, though, but should you say it?

Because Mother disliked them, she should as well.

This was ridiculous. There was no need for the Valentine to keep speaking to the troll before her. They were just some sort of humanoid variant, one that didn’t need to be monitored further. And yet here she was still asking questions.