#of course saria wouldn't choose her

[kurozu501]

do you ever just remember how one of the most effective things parvis said to get silence to lose faith in saria was essentially "do you really think she would ever choose YOU over everything?" and silence with her low self esteem really didn't believe saria would.

Then in the end saria really did choose them over everything, left her defense director job and her whole life up to that point behind for the sake of silence and ifrit. and silence still doesnt even know. do you ever think about that and lose your mind a little bit.

#turns out my pre lone trail jitters translate to reread the rhine lab manhua and lose my mind over it all over again #its one of those stories i could write multiple essays on #like silence's lack of self love #do you ever notice how in the final scene when she makes her big declaration about curing ifrit joyce and 'the many many infected' #she never mentions curing herself #how she runs into the flames looking for ifrit with no regard for her own safety during the diabolic crisis #even the funny gag moment with joyce is based on silence overworking herself and joyce pushing her to take care of herself #and here where parvis basically says saria would never choose you and silence instantly just accepts that as true #of course saria wouldn't choose her #even her big grudge against saria is anger on behalf of ifrit not for herself #this owl has such a big heart and so much love for everyone but herself #arknights #olivia silence #saria

[rhinestated]

"... Tell me about her."

Silence couldn't deny that she found Kristen loathsome. For many, many reasons, the once-head of Rhine Lab was a person that she could never find common ground with. She wouldn't even give it the chance, had she still been on this planet. But she wasn't. And it was that that saw Silence sat beside Saria one quiet night, the Vouivre's eyes downcast and her mood low.

Silence couldn't forgive Kristen. But could she forgive herself, if she spoke only hatefully of the person that Saria had spent so much of her life with? The person that she had built the very laboratory that Silence now found herself working to make better?

"About Kristen, I mean," She fidgets briefly, "I don't... Actually know her. Just what I've experienced, some of what I've read. So... I want to learn. To hear it from you. So that I can..."

Be better. For everyone. But, especially, for you.

Though years have passed since that day, there were still moments where Saria could be found staring at the skies with little to say other than how beautiful it was. It would be followed by a reluctant and near silent sigh as they would prop their chin onto the palm of their hand, then rest their eyes for a moment. Their tail, already hanging low, would reach the floor, still and flat. Its spikes smooth against the body, feigning harmless. Though its point failed to follow in suit, jagged as it had been before. 

Reports rest against the desk, completed and waiting to be sent off. All in all, there was little need for Saria to be sitting here in wait. There was little purpose in it, which was a very contrary thing to ever busybody Vouivre.

Even their breathing had slowed, and they had blended easily with their surroundings under the dim lighting, echoing the rumors of how statuesque the Vouivre could be - a cutting figure, as imposing and as solemn as a gargoyle. 

Though they noticed the moment the doors had opened, Saria hadn’t moved, instantly recognizing there wasn’t any need. She wasn’t a threat. Still, Silence would be able to hear a quiet breath of air leave the Vouivre as she took a seat nearby - on their desk.

It was enough to draw their attention, shake them out of their rut and look towards her, at her. Then, there would be the slightest of twitch, a curl of the tail, as Silence mentioned her name. 

Of course.

—Of course,  the Liberi would know. 

Even after all this time, there would always be moments where they would be acting this way over her. It was a topic they’d generally avoided behind closed doors when it came to personal matters. The Vouivre was well aware of what the world - and Silence - thought of the Perro, and they understood why. They knew just why they should believe the same, but it’s … still difficult to place into words. Just as Silence would hold a place in their heart, just as Ifrit would, just as Muelsyse would — just as every other part of their little makeshift family, a part of their heart had gone that day.

Any other time, Saria would have evaded the topic. 

( It would be easy enough to: listing reports that Silence must have already read, rattling off things Nasti, Justin Jr., or any of the other directors would have said. Their eyes shining bright, ever captivated by the woman’s charisma, despite all her misgivings. It would resolve nothing and keep whatever emotions they had locked up as they always did—as Muelsyse has yelled at them more than once over, as everyone had, truly. )

But, Saria didn’t, not this time.

The Vouivre could sense the hesitance in Silence’s form; there was none of the usual dislike or hate. It was an open and honest. There was space for them to think and choose their words at their own pace, a far different cry than the usually highly spirited sense of ‘distaste’ the Liberi had for her.

Perhaps, it was that bold and curious mind that earned Silence her current role that bade her to pursue this topic. If that were the case, it would be difficult to deter her in the end.

So, Saria attempted to put the nameless feelings into words.

#♚ 。ooc。answered » #paradigmedic