allyship | kotetsu.

[rochalizo is... past the market and outpost, not far from where the sandstorm is raging, as he holds his cape up in front of him for some protection from the sand whipping at him.

should he be here, especially while injured? probably not.]

[ he spots that figure, coming up to him and looks over once he's by rochalizo. ]

Shouldn't you still be in bed?

[ he is absolutely a hypocrite ]

[he glances over at kotetsu.]

I don't recall you staying in bed.

[smh]

[ okay, he laughs a little. ]

Well, you've got me there.

Better question: What's got you out of bed?

We're in a new place. Why wouldn't I be out of bed?

Fair point. I'd do the same. [ a beat ] ...Done the same.

How're you feeling? After all that.

[he tilts his head.]

I do wish injuries would heal faster.

Have you tried to ask the Watchers for some help on that?

I asked on Saturday, and then I went and got injured again the very next day! Imagine going back again...

A new week, a new request. None of us want to see you hurting from what happened.

[god

stop being nice!!! he looks flustered for a moment, before he gives kotetsu a pointed look.]

Did you get healed?

[ no, he can't stop. that's just in his nature.

he holds his hand up and wiggles three fingers. ]

Yep, by three different Watchers.

Three? [HE'S A LITTLE STARTLED] You... You certainly are popular.

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[ As he said he would, he's coming to drop by for a visit with him. Finley is pressed close to Kotetsu as he approaches. ]

Hey...

[screams i closed this tab my accident]

... Hey.

[ IT'S OKAY, it happens. ]

What happened... was this something you planned together if you were approached by an angel?

No. [...] There were... certain things we had confided in each other that made me think she would prefer to be targeted than someone completely innocent, and that motivated my decision, but...

The short of it is that I spent the night believing I had to kill her, and she spent it trying to save us both.

[ There's a weak nod at that. ]

You were approached... You didn't have a choice but to kill someone, right?

[he's quiet for a while.]

The compulsion is true. When they approach you, you believe you have to do it, or else there'll be worse consequences by the hands of the other higher beings.

Susato tried to make me see reason that night, but I couldn't accept it. Not until Xie Lian accused me at the end there, and my mind finally cleared.

Despite it being out of control... you're still going to blame yourself, aren't you?

I made my choice in who to kill. I knew it would devastate.

Like the elf girl said, it was cruel to pick a friend—as relieved as I am that Susato fought for her life.

...

I don't know about that. To you, it was a valid choice... that she wanted you to come for her, regardless. Maybe others might look at it as cruel, but... I think you made a choice of someone that would also understand. She wanted to protect you and save you both, but I don't think you should blame yourself for that choice you made.

No choice would have felt right.

... Indeed. My rationale was that it was no less cruel to simply draw a name out of a hat and hope for the best.

[but at this point, he doesn't know what makes sense or what's just his own ego talking.]

She actually drugged me that night. If she'd wanted to, she could've slit my throat right then and there.

[rochalizo is so bad at being evil that he could've died ten minutes into his own murder attempt]

But she wanted to save you instead. She cared about you deeply. And it wouldn't have helped her any if she had... She was no killer.

Just like you're not really a killer.

[ he shakes his head a little. ]

I don't regret my choice for helping save you when you were picked for the execution before. Things were stacked against you and you didn't deserve to die. I still feel that you don't deserve to die.

[...

honestly, at this point, rochalizo's been mostly drained of emotion, ever since he stabbed susato. but something about kotetsu's words make him want to cry.

he looks away.]

She didn't want to let the angels win—to let them use anyone else as a pawn.

[he's just. not going to unpack all that about whether he deserves to die or not.]