[ well, he's glad she doesn't seem to be too terribly brought down by what she told him earlier - or by what he told her, not that he expected it to change anything. Garry's more than willing to move back onto lighter things, but he definitely is tucking away the knowledge into the back of his mind for later. She told him something important. ]
Oh, my... That sounds pretty improper for a queen. But I'm like a prince, hmm? I never thought I'd hear anyone say that.
[ It's just how she works, as Garry is slowly starting to see. Her mood and temperament are very fluid, to the point that it's truly strange how easily she can move from serious right back to whimsical and childish. ]
A little...! To be a proper prince, you'd have to be a little braver, but you at least have a good start. If you can be my f— [ nope ] If you can spend time with me like this, then that has to be sort of brave! But I'm still the prince, since I'm the one that's been saving you.
[ She nods enthusiastically, since this is the part of her life that she actually loves, even if it's disconnected, as he's picked up on. ]
Oh, yes! I met the most of them when we were in Russia, but that's because I really was a princess then. I took Grand Duchess Anastasia's place, so of course I was around royalty all the time. It was a lot of fun, going to things like balls, and sometimes Grigori would let me go as me, but I'd have to go by a fake name.
[ Lightly, ] I mean, it's a low profile in terms of what I am, more than anything. We never really kept a low profile all together, but there aren't really any photographs of me over the years, and any records are with a fake name, so just looking at papers, you wouldn't be able to figure it out. But we're always at the top of things. In Russia it was royalty, in Germany it was the Führer, and in Vietnam, it was the communists. Well, then after that, we decided that all the wars and conflicts were sort of a pain anyways, so my Chevalier just built up their companies and things like that.
[ Welcome to the hydra of evil that is Diva and her murder posse, Garry. ]
[ uh. That's really not okay... All of those things happened an incredibly long time ago, from his perspective, but there are enough records to know that, well... They weren't nice people. Once again, his casual expression darkens a little bit. ]
Those were the types of people you associated with...? Why would you? [ poor Garry really doesn't want her to turn out to be a Nazi or something. ] I know you don't really like humans, but those people have got to be some of the worst of us...
[ She shrugs lightly, like they might as well be discussing unpleasant weather ]
Well, it wasn't really my choice. My Chevalier are the ones that decided things like that, so you'd have to ask them. [ After a moment to think about it, she adds: ] But it was probably so that the development of their drug was kept a secret. I don't know very much about any of that, though, just that it uses my blood. Er... Sort of.
[ Her brow furrows as she starts to confuse herself, so she shakes her head. ] But I guess it's easier to say that it's not like my Chevalier were nice people. The only two that were famous or anything were Grigori Rasputin and Martin Bormann, so that probably gives you an idea, if you know them. They're not really remembered well.
[ She... certainly was clueless about some rather important things in her life, wasn't she? It was troubling, to say the least, especially for how well it fell in line with the weird brand of naievete she displayed sometimes. ]
Er... That seems like the sort of thing you should pay attention to, Diva. Aren't you the queen? You should be the one in charge of what you're doing.
[ But then it looks like she deflates a little, making a small and huffy noise as she looks away. Could it be that she's embarrassed...? ]
I'm— I'm not very good at, um... I'm not very good at planning or things like that. I'm not a smart person, so I let my Chevalier take care of things like that. I don't really care what they do, as long as they're at my side.
Now, I don't believe that! You seem quite clever to me. [ after all, he hadn't picked up on anything being different about her until she outright admitted it... although that might have been him being gullible, honestly.
Her other admission seems a bit more honest, though. ] ... Don't you think they might take advantage of you, with that attitude? I can't say that I'm an expert, but letting people do whatever they want just so you can be friends is no way to make friends at all.
[ Her response is immediate, and chilly. ] They're not my friends.
[ But she realizes how harsh that sounds, and with Charles here, she realizes that she needs to make a distinction. She makes an light noise like she's uncomfortable, but just shakes her head. ]
A Chevalier is a Chevalier. Their whole purpose is to protect me, so— [ —So they can't take advantage of me. But that's not true, is it? ] Well, there's not really anything for them to take advantage of anyways.
[ Not friends. Of course - he should have thought that one out a bit more before he said it aloud. ]
R-right... [ he scratches his head, pausing a bit awkwardly. Diva sure was hard to understand. ] But I still don't agree. I mean, you're really strong, and you're pretty, too... I think there's plenty of people who would want to control you, especially if you're running with nasty people like you said you were. I'm not trying to, er, tell you that you're wrong or anything like that, though! I just do hope you look out for yourself a little bit.
[ he's been walked all over a good deal in his life, so he actually understands how she might be feeling a little bit, but... ]
[ There's a pause, where her expression is rather distant, like she's thinking of something else, but it's short-lived. She smiles and laughs, but neither are really nice. ]
Oh, there are plenty of humans that are interested in me, sure. They all want my blood, in one way or another. But there's nothing to take advantage of because it's not like I think of those kind of things in the same way as a human is what I meant. It's not my strength that they're interested in, but it's the strength I could give them. That's my choice, so they can't take advantage of that. If it's my looks, that's fine too, since there's no downside for me. I'm not human, so it's not like they're going to make me sick or get me pregnant.
[ She had been looking ahead with a cool expression, but she turns to look at Garry again. ]
It's not taking advantage of me if I allow myself to be used, is it? I'm more like a doll than a person. But I have the will to choose who owns me.
His brow furrows. The more she speaks about herself today, the crazier she sounds. No, maybe crazy was too harsh a word, but... she was a murderer, after all. He couldn't say it didn't fit her. But he felt sorry for her, too. Vampire or not, there was obviously a lot wrong with her.
(He's just not sure he wants to be the one to take all of that on. ) ]
... I'm really surprised you can believe something like that, Diva. Someone as strong as you allowing yourself to be used... [ it wasn't shocking for a person like him. but she had the power to fight back - more than enough. ]
Well, that's because you think it's something sad, right? I don't, not really.
[ She shakes her head ]
You know about the tower now, so I don't see how it's surprising. While I was there, I had to rely on someone else for everything. I couldn't eat without them remembering to feed me, and even then, it was only enough so I wouldn't die. My chains didn't let me stand, so the first time I ever walked was when I left. But when I did, then what? I didn't know anything about the world, so I had to keep relying on him. People use me, but I don't really care, since it means I'm not alone.
[ It's tragically sad, and sadder still with what it boils down to, but with how easily she says it, it's clear that she truly believes it. Maybe it's partially a lie many times repeated, but it's closer to not knowing anything else until she came here. ]
[ he doesn't even know where to begin to counter everything she says. There's so much he can't agree with - almost too much - and she doesn't really understand why she's wrong. In his mind, at least, she's wrong. She was brought up to be like this; she's probably been like this for more than a hundred years. Even if he took his time and tried to explain everything to her, she might not understand. So Garry is quiet for a moment, regarding her with an almost pitying gaze, and in the end, he just sighs. ]
... You might not think that's sad, Diva, but it's certainly not anything happy. If I was immortal, I wouldn't want to spend my time living like that... [ but right now, he doesn't know if he even wants to try and convince her otherwise. It doesn't feel like his place. So, somewhat uneasily: ] S-say, do you know what store you're looking for...? We're getting closer to the shopping district.
[ She smiles wide, bearing her fangs, but it's not meant to be aggressive. Her expression is strange and strained, for a moment, like she's not sure what she should be showing, but she just laughs. It's a harsh, barking laugh, and probably startling combined with that aggressive display. ]
Ha... Of course not. Who would want to live that way?
[ But in an instant, with a sigh, her expression becomes gentle and soft again, and she smiles at him warmly. It's like the conversation never happened. ]
Oh, but not really! I'd just like a new dress or two... There are some that I've found nice things before in, so I was thinking about those.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
i blame diva
Oh, my... That sounds pretty improper for a queen. But I'm like a prince, hmm? I never thought I'd hear anyone say that.
ububububu
A little...! To be a proper prince, you'd have to be a little braver, but you at least have a good start. If you can be my f— [ nope ] If you can spend time with me like this, then that has to be sort of brave! But I'm still the prince, since I'm the one that's been saving you.
ebebebebebe
A prince is a diplomat, not a fighter, you know! I think I'm brave enough for that.
no subject
Well, I know that's what they're really like. I've met a few of them. But that's so boring. It's better to be a prince like in a fairytale.
no subject
[ that, and she was apparently a living sample somewhere for a while. Her story's in disconnected pieces. ]
no subject
Oh, yes! I met the most of them when we were in Russia, but that's because I really was a princess then. I took Grand Duchess Anastasia's place, so of course I was around royalty all the time. It was a lot of fun, going to things like balls, and sometimes Grigori would let me go as me, but I'd have to go by a fake name.
[ Lightly, ] I mean, it's a low profile in terms of what I am, more than anything. We never really kept a low profile all together, but there aren't really any photographs of me over the years, and any records are with a fake name, so just looking at papers, you wouldn't be able to figure it out. But we're always at the top of things. In Russia it was royalty, in Germany it was the Führer, and in Vietnam, it was the communists. Well, then after that, we decided that all the wars and conflicts were sort of a pain anyways, so my Chevalier just built up their companies and things like that.
[ Welcome to the hydra of evil that is Diva and her murder posse, Garry. ]
no subject
Those were the types of people you associated with...? Why would you? [ poor Garry really doesn't want her to turn out to be a Nazi or something. ] I know you don't really like humans, but those people have got to be some of the worst of us...
no subject
Well, it wasn't really my choice. My Chevalier are the ones that decided things like that, so you'd have to ask them. [ After a moment to think about it, she adds: ] But it was probably so that the development of their drug was kept a secret. I don't know very much about any of that, though, just that it uses my blood. Er... Sort of.
[ Her brow furrows as she starts to confuse herself, so she shakes her head. ] But I guess it's easier to say that it's not like my Chevalier were nice people. The only two that were famous or anything were Grigori Rasputin and Martin Bormann, so that probably gives you an idea, if you know them. They're not really remembered well.
no subject
Er... That seems like the sort of thing you should pay attention to, Diva. Aren't you the queen? You should be the one in charge of what you're doing.
no subject
[ But then it looks like she deflates a little, making a small and huffy noise as she looks away. Could it be that she's embarrassed...? ]
I'm— I'm not very good at, um... I'm not very good at planning or things like that. I'm not a smart person, so I let my Chevalier take care of things like that. I don't really care what they do, as long as they're at my side.
no subject
Her other admission seems a bit more honest, though. ] ... Don't you think they might take advantage of you, with that attitude? I can't say that I'm an expert, but letting people do whatever they want just so you can be friends is no way to make friends at all.
no subject
[ But she realizes how harsh that sounds, and with Charles here, she realizes that she needs to make a distinction. She makes an light noise like she's uncomfortable, but just shakes her head. ]
A Chevalier is a Chevalier. Their whole purpose is to protect me, so— [ —So they can't take advantage of me. But that's not true, is it? ] Well, there's not really anything for them to take advantage of anyways.
no subject
R-right... [ he scratches his head, pausing a bit awkwardly. Diva sure was hard to understand. ] But I still don't agree. I mean, you're really strong, and you're pretty, too... I think there's plenty of people who would want to control you, especially if you're running with nasty people like you said you were. I'm not trying to, er, tell you that you're wrong or anything like that, though! I just do hope you look out for yourself a little bit.
[ he's been walked all over a good deal in his life, so he actually understands how she might be feeling a little bit, but... ]
no subject
Oh, there are plenty of humans that are interested in me, sure. They all want my blood, in one way or another. But there's nothing to take advantage of because it's not like I think of those kind of things in the same way as a human is what I meant. It's not my strength that they're interested in, but it's the strength I could give them. That's my choice, so they can't take advantage of that. If it's my looks, that's fine too, since there's no downside for me. I'm not human, so it's not like they're going to make me sick or get me pregnant.
[ She had been looking ahead with a cool expression, but she turns to look at Garry again. ]
It's not taking advantage of me if I allow myself to be used, is it? I'm more like a doll than a person. But I have the will to choose who owns me.
no subject
His brow furrows. The more she speaks about herself today, the crazier she sounds. No, maybe crazy was too harsh a word, but... she was a murderer, after all. He couldn't say it didn't fit her. But he felt sorry for her, too. Vampire or not, there was obviously a lot wrong with her.
(He's just not sure he wants to be the one to take all of that on. ) ]
... I'm really surprised you can believe something like that, Diva. Someone as strong as you allowing yourself to be used... [ it wasn't shocking for a person like him. but she had the power to fight back - more than enough. ]
no subject
[ She shakes her head ]
You know about the tower now, so I don't see how it's surprising. While I was there, I had to rely on someone else for everything. I couldn't eat without them remembering to feed me, and even then, it was only enough so I wouldn't die. My chains didn't let me stand, so the first time I ever walked was when I left. But when I did, then what? I didn't know anything about the world, so I had to keep relying on him. People use me, but I don't really care, since it means I'm not alone.
[ It's tragically sad, and sadder still with what it boils down to, but with how easily she says it, it's clear that she truly believes it. Maybe it's partially a lie many times repeated, but it's closer to not knowing anything else until she came here. ]
no subject
... You might not think that's sad, Diva, but it's certainly not anything happy. If I was immortal, I wouldn't want to spend my time living like that... [ but right now, he doesn't know if he even wants to try and convince her otherwise. It doesn't feel like his place. So, somewhat uneasily: ] S-say, do you know what store you're looking for...? We're getting closer to the shopping district.
no subject
Ha... Of course not. Who would want to live that way?
[ But in an instant, with a sigh, her expression becomes gentle and soft again, and she smiles at him warmly. It's like the conversation never happened. ]
Oh, but not really! I'd just like a new dress or two... There are some that I've found nice things before in, so I was thinking about those.