[A little grumble of sound that he doesn't mean to be audible. Ugh. She's not going to budge and let him turn this on her, is she? He had a feeling, but it'd still been worth a try—and it was a legitimate concern, of course. It's not like Kadoc wants to be the only one here with the right to set boundaries.
For one thing, he's fucking terrible at that.
Because here's the thing: he could do that right here and now, and she'd listen. He can tell she would. Fujimaru would back off entirely, leaving a gaping hole where their extremely awkward relationship currently lies. And Kadoc isn't used to that kind of person. Leave me alone already, goes the script, and Pepe's return dialogue goes, Oh honey, I know you don't mean that! Or maybe Beryl sneers at him before clapping him roughly, insincerely on the back: C'mon, you know I'm only saying it because I care about you! It could be them. Or it could be Anastasia, refusing his childish whining with a crisp You must think twice before speaking to me that way again, Kadoc. Do you think of me as a mere Servant?
It's always been so easy. He's never had to think about how much he means it when he says it. It never mattered.
And now, if he says it because it's the easy thing, the thing he always says, leave me the hell alone—and he doesn't mean it, what then? He just has to live with that?
Ngh.
Okay. This is like any problem. You start with the easy parts and keep going, taking it apart bit by bit, and then the hard part is done before you know it. So the easy part first:]
I know you know being friends isn't the same thing as working with someone. Or maybe it is, for you. But it never has been for us. Just ask Kyrielight . . . she knows.
[After all, Fujimaru hadn't been thrilled with how Kadoc had treated her in Russia. May as well remind her of that right now.
Now for the next-hardest part. Kadoc watches her warily, gaze steady now in meeting Ritsuka's, but his posture is still protectively shuttered.]
But working together here only makes sense. I'm already doing that with your Servants. As you pointed out yourself, that was their choice. They'd probably stop if you ordered them, but I know you won't, and neither will I. As of now, there's a truce between me and the others who've shown up that's not going anywhere.
no subject
[A little grumble of sound that he doesn't mean to be audible. Ugh. She's not going to budge and let him turn this on her, is she? He had a feeling, but it'd still been worth a try—and it was a legitimate concern, of course. It's not like Kadoc wants to be the only one here with the right to set boundaries.
For one thing, he's fucking terrible at that.
Because here's the thing: he could do that right here and now, and she'd listen. He can tell she would. Fujimaru would back off entirely, leaving a gaping hole where their extremely awkward relationship currently lies. And Kadoc isn't used to that kind of person. Leave me alone already, goes the script, and Pepe's return dialogue goes, Oh honey, I know you don't mean that! Or maybe Beryl sneers at him before clapping him roughly, insincerely on the back: C'mon, you know I'm only saying it because I care about you! It could be them. Or it could be Anastasia, refusing his childish whining with a crisp You must think twice before speaking to me that way again, Kadoc. Do you think of me as a mere Servant?
It's always been so easy. He's never had to think about how much he means it when he says it. It never mattered.
And now, if he says it because it's the easy thing, the thing he always says, leave me the hell alone—and he doesn't mean it, what then? He just has to live with that?
Ngh.
Okay. This is like any problem. You start with the easy parts and keep going, taking it apart bit by bit, and then the hard part is done before you know it. So the easy part first:]
I know you know being friends isn't the same thing as working with someone. Or maybe it is, for you. But it never has been for us. Just ask Kyrielight . . . she knows.
[After all, Fujimaru hadn't been thrilled with how Kadoc had treated her in Russia. May as well remind her of that right now.
Now for the next-hardest part. Kadoc watches her warily, gaze steady now in meeting Ritsuka's, but his posture is still protectively shuttered.]
But working together here only makes sense. I'm already doing that with your Servants. As you pointed out yourself, that was their choice. They'd probably stop if you ordered them, but I know you won't, and neither will I. As of now, there's a truce between me and the others who've shown up that's not going anywhere.
. . . So I'm not gonna withhold my cooperation.