Don't worry, clerks are just like that. Give it here! I'll feed it while you tell me about your history with this star.
[She doesn't say 'and why they're so scared of you' but that is very much the thought. She can prompt them further if they don't initially say anything revealing.]
[The bag and all of its contents are floated to her gently, and inside she'll find not just the lettuce, but several red apples, a packet of basil, and even some roses. Dethorned, of course.]
My history...? I have no personal history with the sun. Aside from cursing its heat while traveling the desert alongside Gold Pig, perhaps.
[The question marks above their head may as well be real instead of metaphorical, here. They haven't done anything to the sun directly, what sort of history would they have???
[The sun-bunny sniffs at it gently, pauses for a moment like that, but does actually start to nibble at it. While still keeping its eye on Purple, of course.]
- Oh. As I mentioned, it was fought and killed before. It was the method we used to finally destroy Everhood altogether, and cast everyone into the Abyss.
Perhaps it can sense my spirit from that time...? I did not make a pleasant spirit to look at, I can assure you.
[Oooohhhh my god. Evangeline inhales deeply. Exhales.]
Being killed is terrifying even if you understand the reason for it - which you cannot guarantee that it does understand, because it is an animal in addition to being a star.
[How smart are stars? It kind of varies??]
If you want to keep it, the first thing you need to do is apologize.
[- Purple actually pulls back at that, as if they're surprised they're being told to apologize. Which they kind of are. Her logic behind it is sound, they understand, but they can't help but feel a sting of offense at being told to do so.]
... If it does not understand the reason for its death, why would it understand my apology for having a hand in it?
[The rabbit pauses in its munching. Just for a moment.]
'Immortality becomes harmful after long enough and a life completely alone is not worth living' is a complicated concept. 'Being killed is scary and painful' is a simple concept that any animal can grasp.
[Purple is a good friend to her, but they are also capable of untold amounts of denseness.]
[Not just denseness! They unfortunately struggle a bit with self-importance, too. Sorry, Evangeline.]
If its thoughts are so simple, what effect would "I am sorry" have on such a creature? Would it not see me as a predator animal despite my attempts? What difference would it make?
It isn't as though I plan to harm it if it hates me.
[The eye contact is mutually returned. Meanwhile, the rabbit holding the last little bit of unnibbled lettuce in its mouth, blinking at the Mage across from her.]
I have already reassured it many times that I have no plans to harm it. If it did not care for that, then I have no reason to believe it will care for my apologies. And so, I'm going to have to ask you to return it to me. Along with my robes, please.
Because I have no need to. I am not the one who killed it. Why should I apologize for a death that was not at my hands?
[Those robes of theirs are, of course, magically taken from her rather than physically. They're quick to drape them back over their shoulders, too.]
Even if it hates me, that does not mean it will have no happiness, here. The others in Everhood enjoyed their lives, even when Gold Pig sent me out to be a part of them. I will provide and care for it to the best of my abilities, no matter what it holds in its heart toward me.
I did not tell Red to kill the sun. It was the decision of the Court of Lost Spirits. I merely helped in giving Red the power to do so.
[Because they're a Mage... frankly, she's lucky they haven't just yanked the rabbit out of her arms with magic. Probably because they promised not to hurt it.]
Again, I ask. Please return the rabbit to me. If it doesn't yet understand that its happiness here is guaranteed, it will grow to understand this eventually. No matter what words I say.
[Again, they're visibly taken aback by her words. She's just surprising them all over today!! Not in any good ways. But still.]
I do not want to apologize for a necessary death that was not at my hands! There is enough in the world I regret, already - I do not need the feelings of a rabbit to be another tally upon that list!
I thought such a word was reserved more for the likes of dogs... Something stupid enough that it would consume a well known poison so long as it enjoyed the taste. [Like Rob, perhaps.]
... Would that mean I ought not give the sun its own room?
[They were thinking more along the lines of roommates.]
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