[ā±Ā By the point Torielās voice drops again, heās emotionally and physically crumpled even further ā heās flinching, limbs curled in tightly to his torso. Extremely apprehensive. But when she finishes, he canāt help but look up at her again and sort of.. gently butt his head against her. Itās all he can manage, response-wise, for a good moment or two.]
* ⦠i think youāre the only one.
[ā±Ā A short, bark-like laugh. Forced.]
* the first time it happened.. i hadnāt even so much as thought about killing anyone yet. but.. everyone yelled at me. i was threatened. i was hunted. by friends, by lovers.
[ā± Just clings to the front of her robe now, hiding his face. Murmuring more apologies.]
[Gentle foot nudge. After that final outburst, it seems as if most of her energy was spent. Sheās quiet, thinking over what Carmineās said.]
* I cannot help but wonder if a different āmeā would have done the same.
* ⦠How terrible.
[ A comment on the circumstances And the reaction. An unfair thought crossed her: would they be quite as willing to destroy him if he was the original? .. If he was the only version of himself, would they be so eager to ...... No. She was aware of the danger. So were they. The dilemma of soul over soul- hunt to live, or be hunted to let others live. In the defense of others, or some higher, final justice- any reason. Any reason at all.
At that final moment, she and they made a different choice.
Toriel could not even blame them for it. What a pitiless, terrible world.
ā¦.
Just a year earlier, and this exchange would have gone very differently.]
* I hope you do not think I am being naive.
* The threat these others saw in you- you saw my reaction. We both understand the implications. We know them intimately.
* You told me about this, knowing how I might react.
* Even after I chased you down- Yet the only scratches I have gotten from you were from kneeling in gravel and a very tight hug.
* It may not be evidence of anything, but.
* I think you are still trying.
[ ā± She shrugs the heaviness off her shoulders and leans, offering her paw to help Carmine stand.]