[...It was true. Oscar did care about Ange-- in the way a younger brother cared about their older sibling's romantic partners, and in the strange ways that the magics of their world had made them similar-- but to say that there was no meaning in his words was a disservice. He was, after all, a simple farm lad.
There was no reason for him to lie.]
I know that situations are often more complicated than they look on the surface, [he ventured carefully, recalling the warning he had received in a private text conversation about how the owner of this body sought self destruction.]
And, I know that this world is too uncertain to just go making enemies over things that happened in a different world. My opinions and judgement don't matter...
[Sayo briefly freezes when Oscar touches on it being more complicated than it seems, largely because, no matter how much she wished it otherwise, that was true. She let Ange think she was the sole villain of the tale, if only to leave what few good memories she had of her aunt untainted, after all. (It was no less than what Sayo deserved, at any rate.)
And Oscar is one of two people in the house who knows that something went dramatically wrong right before the night that Sayo apparently confessed to Ange. When he found her collapsed and sobbing in Ozpin's study after a spike of alarm from the old man, her body as wooden and lifeless as the furniture she claimed to be.]
...whatever my heart may be, the truth is that I'm a killer. Nothing will change that, or give back all the lives I stole from Ange.
[A nod. That was satisfactory enough. Young though he was, there was a part deep inside of Oscar that recognized this kind of truth-- and that same part of him recognized the potential for that same truth within himself.
Who was he, after all, but someone who understood why the witch that tormented his world acted the way she did? He planned to break the cycle, even with the simple words 'you can't' hanging over his head. The only way to break that cycle, however...
A sigh.
Oscar sincerely hoped that he didn't need to become a killer as himself, even if his predecessors had a more than fair share of blood on their hands and their legacy.]
You're right. We can't change the past. But, we can still forge a future that would have been impossible in our lives before Trench.
Even though I don't agree with what you did... you won't find an enemy in me.
I should hope not. I'd be concerned for Ange if her little brother condoned the mass murder of her family.
[Sayo can't even bring herself to laugh at her own morbid quip. She just keeps on breaking down the small, humble life that she'd built in the Clockhouse for herself (no, for Shannon) into boxes. Notebooks for her classes that she filled out with Willow's help. Schematics for that prank she reluctantly canceled on Qrow's advice. Notes from Ruby about how to maintenance her new weapons.
All gone. All in the past. Sayo can tell herself that this is for the best, but she still feels as if each time she puts something else away, she's taking another step across a void that she'll plummet into if she looks down.
What's worse is knowing that whatever selfish, petty grief she's feeling, Ange and Jessica's pain must be many times worse.]
...then could you do me a favor, Oscar?
I know you're already looking after Ange, but... when Jessica gets back, please... keep an eye on her.
[...He knew a little about being selfish. After all, it was his own desperation that had played a role in getting an actual child killed for his own freedom-- and that was not something he could qute forgive himself for.]
I will, [he promised quietly.]
They're both important parts of this household. And, for what it's worth, so were you.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
There was no reason for him to lie.]
I know that situations are often more complicated than they look on the surface, [he ventured carefully, recalling the warning he had received in a private text conversation about how the owner of this body sought self destruction.]
And, I know that this world is too uncertain to just go making enemies over things that happened in a different world. My opinions and judgement don't matter...
[A frustrated sigh.].
I wouldn't joke about this, Shannon.
... is it 'Shannon'?
no subject
And Oscar is one of two people in the house who knows that something went dramatically wrong right before the night that Sayo apparently confessed to Ange. When he found her collapsed and sobbing in Ozpin's study after a spike of alarm from the old man, her body as wooden and lifeless as the furniture she claimed to be.]
...whatever my heart may be, the truth is that I'm a killer. Nothing will change that, or give back all the lives I stole from Ange.
[She sighs.]
It's Sayo. Sayo Yasuda.
no subject
[A nod. That was satisfactory enough. Young though he was, there was a part deep inside of Oscar that recognized this kind of truth-- and that same part of him recognized the potential for that same truth within himself.
Who was he, after all, but someone who understood why the witch that tormented his world acted the way she did? He planned to break the cycle, even with the simple words 'you can't' hanging over his head. The only way to break that cycle, however...
A sigh.
Oscar sincerely hoped that he didn't need to become a killer as himself, even if his predecessors had a more than fair share of blood on their hands and their legacy.]
You're right. We can't change the past. But, we can still forge a future that would have been impossible in our lives before Trench.
Even though I don't agree with what you did... you won't find an enemy in me.
no subject
[Sayo can't even bring herself to laugh at her own morbid quip. She just keeps on breaking down the small, humble life that she'd built in the Clockhouse for herself (no, for Shannon) into boxes. Notebooks for her classes that she filled out with Willow's help. Schematics for that prank she reluctantly canceled on Qrow's advice. Notes from Ruby about how to maintenance her new weapons.
All gone. All in the past. Sayo can tell herself that this is for the best, but she still feels as if each time she puts something else away, she's taking another step across a void that she'll plummet into if she looks down.
What's worse is knowing that whatever selfish, petty grief she's feeling, Ange and Jessica's pain must be many times worse.]
...then could you do me a favor, Oscar?
I know you're already looking after Ange, but... when Jessica gets back, please... keep an eye on her.
Ange wasn't the only person I hurt.
no subject
I will, [he promised quietly.]
They're both important parts of this household. And, for what it's worth, so were you.
wrap here?
[Sayo freezes when Oscar's words sink in, still hunched over one of her many, many boxes of books. She doesn't move, or speak at all.
But Oscar, if he's paying attention, might see the tears falling.]
I... need to finish up here. [At the very least, her voice doesn't betray her.] Lawrence-sensei will be arriving soon.
Oscar, I...
[A deep, shuddering breath.]
Goodbye.