She digests this, silent for a long time, her face cold and hard like a distant cliff.
Then: "I can't judge her. She did what needed to be done at the time. Hell, I accidentally killed a whole lot more than she ever has on purpose. I guess it all evens out, in the end."
Ruthven nods. "If it helps at all, she knows it was a....desperate thing, and not a good one, and she was very miserable indeed about it. But there's a great deal she's miserable over, and this was just one more of a great many unpleasant and soul-tarnishing things she's had to do, and dislike herself for."
He reaches out to the counter. "These are my Dunhills, aren't they?" And lights one.
"The other thing she told me about that situation was that....the man she killed was part of the Shop, was involved with the experimental torture that lost Augustus an eye. It doesn't make things any better, but a trifle more balanced."
"I do not judge her either. I am not happy about it. I--would probably judge that it was not the right thing to do. But it is not my jurisdiction. And she is my friend, regardless."
The feathers on the back of his neck raise and then settle.
"You are so much better with words than I. Which is how it should be, since that's your gig. I'm a mouthy broad with a trick for stupid jokes. I don't do thoughtful."
Another pause, and a sigh.
"Well, that's what I accused Spidey of lying about. I floated right up that river in Egypt. Sorry I didn't visit, Djehuty."
Rueful smile. "Well...huu. I have been trying very hard not to know things that would make me unhappy. Oh...oh god, Hippolyta, I have been a hypocrite." He closes his eyes and shakes a little, then calms.
"But that is the nature of interacting with the world."
He hugs her again, more casually, and smiles. "I like that. 'Word.' And--well, sometimes I can get very irritable, and always at the people I love. I sympathize."
no subject
Date: 2005-10-17 02:17 am (UTC)Then: "I can't judge her. She did what needed to be done at the time. Hell, I accidentally killed a whole lot more than she ever has on purpose. I guess it all evens out, in the end."
no subject
Date: 2005-10-17 02:22 am (UTC)He reaches out to the counter. "These are my Dunhills, aren't they?" And lights one.
"The other thing she told me about that situation was that....the man she killed was part of the Shop, was involved with the experimental torture that lost Augustus an eye. It doesn't make things any better, but a trifle more balanced."
no subject
Date: 2005-10-17 02:22 am (UTC)The feathers on the back of his neck raise and then settle.
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Date: 2005-10-17 02:28 am (UTC)She rests her head on the god's shoulder, patting his thigh.
"I wish I could unscrew my morals enough to let this go, though."
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Date: 2005-10-17 02:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-17 02:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-17 02:51 am (UTC)Ah, well.
no subject
Date: 2005-10-17 02:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-17 02:39 am (UTC)Another pause, and a sigh.
"Well, that's what I accused Spidey of lying about. I floated right up that river in Egypt. Sorry I didn't visit, Djehuty."
no subject
Date: 2005-10-17 02:45 am (UTC)"But that is the nature of interacting with the world."
no subject
Date: 2005-10-17 02:50 am (UTC)...
"Just like me."
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Date: 2005-10-17 02:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-17 03:05 am (UTC)She straightens up, brushing at her cheek with a finger. No, she's not been crying. Nope. Not at all.
"My problem is that sometimes the people I love get the brunt of my sharp tongue. And I treat 'em like utter shi... cra... shit.
"But I'm working on it."
no subject
Date: 2005-10-17 03:10 am (UTC)((Gotta go for now, g'night.))