[Oscar said simply, as if he were explaining a plot point in a book rather than an example of his own personal torment. The words didn't convey much and, knowing this, he called back to their conversation on the post that encouraged anonymous gossip which had exploded beyond measure. He had divulged a great number of personal details on that post-- a fact which he regretted, but couldn't take back. Instead, trailing his fingers along the fuzzy stem of his tomato plants, he elaborated.]
His eyes look like the woman who tortured me.
[He let the words hang there. Although he said it in the same plain tones as earlier, Oscar understood that it was a heavy bomb to just drop out of nowhere. Stories of shared loss would have no impact on his own problems, because there were no excuses.
It was loss which had pushed Salem over the edge into madness. Loss which propelled her to defy the gods repeatedly until they cursed her to be undying and fueled the flames that drove her to destroy humanity.
As much as he wanted to explain, he instead just shook his head.]
It was almost a year and a half ago by this point. It's been just about a year since she took my leg. But, I guess injuries like that keep hurting after it's over.
[A shrug. He still carried the scar on his chest from his encounter with her. His leg was still missing; Ruby's eye, lost due to hallucinations related to that woman, was still a robotic facsimile based on Atlesian tech.
It was a hurt that wouldn't heal the normal way.]
I told you. I panicked. I was just trying to get information, to make sure you were safe.
[...with that, he finally looked up and met Paul's gaze.]
But. You're well aware of the danger. You're too smart not to be.
no subject
[Oscar said simply, as if he were explaining a plot point in a book rather than an example of his own personal torment. The words didn't convey much and, knowing this, he called back to their conversation on the post that encouraged anonymous gossip which had exploded beyond measure. He had divulged a great number of personal details on that post-- a fact which he regretted, but couldn't take back. Instead, trailing his fingers along the fuzzy stem of his tomato plants, he elaborated.]
His eyes look like the woman who tortured me.
[He let the words hang there. Although he said it in the same plain tones as earlier, Oscar understood that it was a heavy bomb to just drop out of nowhere. Stories of shared loss would have no impact on his own problems, because there were no excuses.
It was loss which had pushed Salem over the edge into madness. Loss which propelled her to defy the gods repeatedly until they cursed her to be undying and fueled the flames that drove her to destroy humanity.
As much as he wanted to explain, he instead just shook his head.]
It was almost a year and a half ago by this point. It's been just about a year since she took my leg. But, I guess injuries like that keep hurting after it's over.
[A shrug. He still carried the scar on his chest from his encounter with her. His leg was still missing; Ruby's eye, lost due to hallucinations related to that woman, was still a robotic facsimile based on Atlesian tech.
It was a hurt that wouldn't heal the normal way.]
I told you. I panicked. I was just trying to get information, to make sure you were safe.
[...with that, he finally looked up and met Paul's gaze.]
But. You're well aware of the danger. You're too smart not to be.