video » un: rogue

[theycalledmeacurse]

CW: CHARACTER DEATH


[ The woman in the video is in her 30s, her distinctive hair loose around her shoulders, the white stripes making her pale skin quite noticeable. She shifts nervously as the message begins to broadcast, her expression uneasy while her eyes don't quite focus on the camera. Sure, she's looking in that general direction, she's just... not actually seeing anything. After a few moments, she finally speaks, southern drawl thick with nerves that make the words waver slightly. ]

Has anyone... Has anyone died recently? Here, on the station?

[ A pause. ]

Has anyone else died and woken up again?

Comments

[reposing]

[Humans. Of course it's them.

Alucard shuts his eyes angrily, and he gently squeezes her hand. On her behalf, he's furious, even though there is nothing he can do to change it.]

Do you hate them?

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ How many times has she been asked that question? She gives his hand a squeeze in return and shakes her head. ]

No, I pity them. They started a war out of fear of what they didn't understand, and in the end it destroyed everything. As much as I wish I could hate them for everything they did to me, I just feel--

[ Her voice cracks slightly and she clears her throat. The topic hasn't come up much here on the station, but in a way she's glad it has now. Talking can be a good thing when it comes to dealing with trauma, and lord knows she'd had enough of that. ]

Sad. It's just sad.

[reposing]

[Rogue sounds like...

Well, it's hard to not make the comparison.]

As I was growing up, I would be told that people can lash out in fear of things they do not understand. That it was important to be patient, to be better than them.

I know they aren't all terrible, but it's hard to be patient sometimes. I don't think that I hate them, either, despite everything.

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ Not being able to see him makes this conversation more difficult than she's used to, but that's not stopping her from trying to comfort him as much as she can. ]

I've known plenty of people who hated humans for being afraid of us, for thinking of us as monsters who didn't deserve to be alive. But I pity them too, because I've known some amazing humans who fought on our side, who protected their mutant children and took us in when things got really bad.

[ She adjusts their hands a little, reaching over to hold his hand with both of hers. ]

It's easy for other people to tell you to be patient and understanding, to be the better man, but you're the one who has to live that life. If you can't, if you have to be angry and upset sometimes, then that's okay too.

[reposing]

[This conversation has shifted slightly. Alucard had every intention of trying to be as comforting as possible, even if he has little skill for it. But here Rogue is, still kind to him.

It was one thing to promise not to hurt them, to be better. It was another to be told that his anger and sorrow are okay to have as well.]

I am... frustrated. I am so frustrated and disillusioned. I will not break my promise, but it is hard to forgive.

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ She squeezes his hands again, wishing desperately that she could do more. But they've only just met and she can't see enough to keep him safe. Even with the exchange they just had, she doesn't trust her powers and this place enough to risk his safety like that. ]

You don't have to forgive them. I sure don't forgive the ones who tortured me for years.

[ The words slip out before she can stop them, and afterward she's too tired to spin some kind of retraction. So someone will finally know the truth. What does it matter anymore. ]

[reposing]

[They do not have to be forgiven.

In his heart, he knows that is true, but to be told that he doesn't have to forgive is soothing, unwinding for him. Silently and horridly, he is glad for a brief moment that she cannot see, because he feels tears rolling down his cheeks.

It has been over a month since flames consumed his mother, since his father struck a fatal blow and nearly killed him. Ever since, Alucard has not mourned, has not allowed that time, because there simply has never been a moment he was ready to. This is the closest he manages.

Breathing in sharply through his nose, he manages to speak.]

Nor should you ever.

Thank you for your words. I... [The sentence dies off for a moment.] I did not mean to take this moment from you. I felt to come to your aid, not the other way around.

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ Something horrible has happened to him, she can hear it in his breathing, in the cadence of his voice. It makes her want to wrap her arms around him and protect him from all the horrible things that might lay ahead for them. He is too good a person to be burdened with pain like this, and if she could she would take it for him and add it to her own. ]

You didn't do anything, sugar. I don't ever expect anyone to be so kind to me as you have, and I promise you, I handle things much better when I'm taking care of someone else. You've done me a favor by giving me something else to focus on for a little while.

[reposing]

I suppose that is understandable.

Then if I have... properly given you a distraction, then I do not regret it.

[theycalledmeacurse]

You have, and I really am grateful for that. And I'm so glad you decided to come check up on me.

[ It's strange how strongly she feels for him in such a short time. But circumstances like these often do lead to deep connections, so she's not all that surprised. ]

[reposing]

And I am pleased to have met you, though I wish it had been under better circumstances.

May I get you anything else while I am here?

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ She gives him a small shake of her head and a soft smile. ]

I'm alright, thank you. It's been really nice talking to you.