“Now, you must realize your words have only increased my worry.”
It must be an insult, they decide. The way the muscles of the human’s face twist and reshape each contour is vaguely disturbing, but they can’t look away. They don’t mean to continue provoking the lifeform, but his reactions are so interesting, so varied.
“I expect they’re nothing compared to me when it comes to far-reaching consequences,” Apollo states airily. “Though I’m no killer, if that puts your mind at ease.” They tug at their scarf, obsessively rearranging the way it lays upon their pristine plating. “You’ve thought about shooting me, have you? I wouldn’t be able to defend myself, but you don’t see any issue with that… isn’t that right, Arthur Morgan?”
They’re beyond testing the waters with that observation, and they’re not sure of the level of hostility they’ll receive in response. They’re not afraid of the possibility, either way, viewing it as more of an inconvenience.
“You’re right, of course. I’m not disagreeing with you. I admire your conviction, but let me remind you that you have an advantage. You’re a human, existing in a human world. I am the only one of my kind in this dimension. Tell me, do you think I’m going to be on the receiving end of much compassion?”
A dimension they don’t know anything about. A society they barely understand. Apollo rests their hands on their hips, now silent. They’ve made their point.
they might’ve said that too, arthur thinks to himself with a twinge of misplaced aggravation pinching his heart. apollo is not meant for that frustration; no, that is an anger for someone else entirely. the words have an effect on the outlaw, however, and he feels a rage bubbling in him that reminds him of simpler times. times when he was encouraged to work it out on others mercilessly.
arthur is different now. he prides himself on that, no matter how the nostalgia eats at him like deep-set rot. what would hosea say?
“no. no, i do not believe that you should expect much in the way of compassion here.” arthur is at least honest in that regard. the anger in still evident in him, but he does not seem so untethered. “this is a whole ‘nother world, like you said. people like me, back home, were hunted and for good reason, but that ain’t nothin’ like how it is here. hell, i got no idea whatsoever what you’re in for, but i know that it can’t be nothin’ nice. people are savage and heartless as they are loving and sympathetic.”
shifting forward, just slightly, he raises his head. apollo is certainly stockier and taller than him, without mentioning that they are made of metal, but arthur doesn’t seem terribly perturbed at present.
“regardless, when someone mouths off to me, i’m not all that picky about who gets a bullet. i ain’t the smartest - i can’t do much to you - but you’re irritatin’ me enough to consider trying.”
