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[decideformyself]

[ Eventually Philip will change his answering machine message. But until then, enjoy this default greeting. ]

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[decideformyself]

[ Philip folds his arms and raises an eyebrow. Yeah, no she won't.

Or so he thinks. ]

[whiteas]

[ Weiss swatted John's hand off of her arm about the same time he was moving it away, backing away from him and narrowing her eyes. ]

I'm tired of being killed and I'm tired of losing. So that acid isn't the only thing I'm prepared to do and if that makes me a bad person, then I'm going to have to deal with it. You two might be willing to sacrifice yourselves constantly for every person you know, but the reality is? The only person I have here is someone who spent most of his life trying to destroy me and everyone I've ever cared about. So if I have to get my hands dirty so I don't get killed again, I'm going to. I'm tired of losing. I'm going to keep doing things like this to protect the people I like when I can because that's the only thing I can really do to keep myself from becoming as bad as my father.

[ It was something she honestly hadn't told anyone, but she wasn't going to just let them keep thinking she was some weak girl who needed apologies for her own actions, nor someone who was just going to take other people making her feel worse than she already did. Not if she was going to survive. ]

I need an apology from either of you about as much as I need snide remarks about what I've done.

[ Or what she's going to do. Weiss turns to leave now, content with what she's decided is the final word. ]

[starcharted]

[ He let her go. There was nothing else to be said or done.

John hadn't expected her to spill her heart, but he understood a lot of what she'd said. He understood the desire to protect those important even if the cost was high. He'd always thought there was more than one road, always a choice, but he didn't know that he would do different than Weiss if those he cared deeply for were in danger and there was no alternative.

Finally, he turned to Philip. Between the events that had just transpired and the troubling thoughts he was having, his expression was not quite as friendly as it had been earlier. ]

What've you got to say for yourself, then?

[decideformyself]

[ He watches Weiss leave, frowning. On one level that defense makes sense... but at the same time, he knows what Shotaro would say about that. Hurting somebody to save yourself, or even to save somebody else, isn't acceptable.

He's just getting so many mixed messages here. ]

...say for myself?

[starcharted]

Could you not tell she was actually trying to get along with us? I don't like what happened to the man you were fighting either, but it's not fair to judge her so harshly. All she really needs is some kindness to push her in the right direction. You know, as in the very same thing you needed not so long ago. Why would you treat her with hostility when you used to be the same?

[ His own words were extremely blunt at that point, but he wanted Philip to understand the ramifications of what he'd done. ]

[decideformyself]

[ It's not just Ankh-- he instinctively thinks, but then he realizes that he can't blame Weiss for his own freakout. That's entirely his own fault. So he just shakes his head, a troubled look on his face. ]

It's been made very clear to me that it's wrong to hurt others. So to have somebody else hurt someone on my behalf, when she wouldn't have even suffered if she had refrained...

[starcharted]

I do get it. I honestly do, Philip, but nobody responds well to cutting remarks. Don't you think it would be more effective if you showed her kindness despite what she did? You don't have to agree with someone to treat them decently.

[decideformyself]

What good would that have done?

[ You're telling this to the kid who got punched for shocking Yui. How do reasonable reactions? ]

[starcharted]

Well... think of this way. What drives back darkness? Light, correct? In that same way, when you treat someone kindly you begin to shine a light on the dark parts of them. People need each other, Philip, because sometimes the night lasts a long time and we let the darkness cloud our vision. Weiss needs someone to help her see again. I think that just maybe, somewhere inside, she wanted us to help her get there. That's why we can't fight wrong actions with harsh words and bitterness. It only makes the night darker.

[decideformyself]

[ That... was pretty deep. He's quiet while he thinks about that, sitting down and dropping the towel he's holding. ]

[starcharted]

[ John bent to grab the towel he'd dropped and continued cleaning the remainder of their mess. He wouldn't say anything else until Philip did. ]

[decideformyself]

[ He finally sighs. ]

You may be right.

[starcharted]

May be right or definitely am right?

[decideformyself]

I'm still considering that.

[starcharted]

Well, take your time. Do think about it though.

[decideformyself]

Mm. [ He nods. ]

[starcharted]

I can take care of the rest of this mess on my own if you'd like. I think you get the idea that we're not supposed to do things in here at this point.

[decideformyself]

Yes, I've gathered that.

[ He gets up and adjusts his vest. He should be getting to work, anyway... ]

This was quite educational. I appreciate it.

[starcharted]

Anytime, mate. I hope it was a little bit fun.

[decideformyself]

It was! We really must do this again sometime.

[starcharted]

We definitely will, don't you worry about that.

[ He grinned, waving at him to leave. ]

Now go on.