[Nick doesn't look angry or frustrated; he doesn't even look disappointed so much as... sad, almost pitying. He knows too well someone who was like this. She was made to be a tool, a weapon, and treated as such.
She's coming around. Maybe Rome will too, in time.]
You don't act of your own accord, but at the end of the day, someone has to take responsibility. Maketh isn't here anymore, so it's on you.
[And he hopes that's a part of why Rome is here. He said he wanted to rectify this; he said he'd accept punishment. Nick doesn't think the latter is necessary just yet, but he needs to know Rome understands why things can't be like that anymore. Nick's brow furrows as he keeps his eyes on Rome -- he's not used to leading people, and he's still figuring out how to act like it.]
For what it's worth, I agree with you. I think Maketh was doing what she thought was right at the time. Problem is that what she thought was right wasn't, and the way she justified it to herself instead of seeing it for what it was didn't help. You can't start an organization like this, then turn a blind eye to a guy you know is out for blood, especially when there were children on that hit list. She was your handler, but she was also a hypocrite.
[His nose wrinkles, his inward disgust rearing its head once more. His voice darkens, his own metal hand curling in upon itself.]
She chose her own hatred toward the gods over the safety of the people here when they needed her most, all because it suited her agenda.
[He's never happy to admit what Maketh had become. He had a lot of respect for her, more than most in the city; he'd known her early, agreeing to help her not long after his arrival. His guilt over what happened to her presses upon him, pushing him to speak again as his gaze hits the floor.]
I was her subordinate too, but when it came right to it, I had to put my foot down. We tried to help her. Hell, I wasn't the only one trying to talk her out of going back to the way things were back home, to working like an agent of the Empire rather than the woman we knew... but she did it anyway. We can blame the world she came from, we can blame the Empire and what they taught her, but she's the one who made that choice in the end, just like you're making a choice to bring this up now.
[He sighs, his eyes flicking back to Rome's face, the anger in his expression having worn away; what's left is a rueful look, one tempered with curiosity.]
You could've just left it hidden. You didn't have to call anyone, me of all people. But you're here. That counts for something.
no subject
She's coming around. Maybe Rome will too, in time.]
You don't act of your own accord, but at the end of the day, someone has to take responsibility. Maketh isn't here anymore, so it's on you.
[And he hopes that's a part of why Rome is here. He said he wanted to rectify this; he said he'd accept punishment. Nick doesn't think the latter is necessary just yet, but he needs to know Rome understands why things can't be like that anymore. Nick's brow furrows as he keeps his eyes on Rome -- he's not used to leading people, and he's still figuring out how to act like it.]
For what it's worth, I agree with you. I think Maketh was doing what she thought was right at the time. Problem is that what she thought was right wasn't, and the way she justified it to herself instead of seeing it for what it was didn't help. You can't start an organization like this, then turn a blind eye to a guy you know is out for blood, especially when there were children on that hit list. She was your handler, but she was also a hypocrite.
[His nose wrinkles, his inward disgust rearing its head once more. His voice darkens, his own metal hand curling in upon itself.]
She chose her own hatred toward the gods over the safety of the people here when they needed her most, all because it suited her agenda.
[He's never happy to admit what Maketh had become. He had a lot of respect for her, more than most in the city; he'd known her early, agreeing to help her not long after his arrival. His guilt over what happened to her presses upon him, pushing him to speak again as his gaze hits the floor.]
I was her subordinate too, but when it came right to it, I had to put my foot down. We tried to help her. Hell, I wasn't the only one trying to talk her out of going back to the way things were back home, to working like an agent of the Empire rather than the woman we knew... but she did it anyway. We can blame the world she came from, we can blame the Empire and what they taught her, but she's the one who made that choice in the end, just like you're making a choice to bring this up now.
[He sighs, his eyes flicking back to Rome's face, the anger in his expression having worn away; what's left is a rueful look, one tempered with curiosity.]
You could've just left it hidden. You didn't have to call anyone, me of all people. But you're here. That counts for something.