róisín

Oswin's quiet agreement meant more to Róisín than she could truly express, and she felt her strength renewed with her support. What they were doing was difficult on so many levels that the dun girl knew she would need days to sort through her emotions following this conversation. Opting to try and trust the Lagoon in any capacity after what they had done was akin to moving a mountain with a spoon for a shovel, but she was willing to try for the sake of her family. Watching the pain that her family had gone through, Róisín knew more than most that sheer physical might could not solve every problem; and while beating up a few Lagoonies might have satisfied a carnal need for vengeance, it would not have solved the problem.

So, spoons in hand, she was charging in.

Again, Rade rebuffed her. Clenching her jaw to still her tongue, Róisín listened tensely as he shot down her attempt again. Did he really think she was so stupid as to naively think everything would be great now that they had pinkie promised to be on their best behavior? Wasn't this mistrust he was referencing from the other herds the exact same thing she had just tried to explain to him on her behalf? The Lagoon had wronged a lot of people for a long time. Half-committing to being better without actually stopping your men from committing crimes wouldn't exactly win the favor of the populace.

If Rade wanted change - real change - he, like them, would need to put in the work.

Being a figurehead was pointless if you didn't use your authority and position to actually lead.

Still, she kept her tongue clamped firmly between her molars and waited for him to finish speaking. In the end, it was more machismo. A claim that they refused to be pacifists, which was never what Róisín had been asking them to do anyway. "I wouldn't want that either. What I am asking is that you not join in the 'walking over' of those laying down. The Lagoon, the Peak... of course we will defend ourselves. I'm- we're not asking you to become the island's punching bags. We're asking you to stop instigating the punching." Aware of how close her words were edging toward accusatory, Róisín reined herself back in. "And likewise for us."

Of course, defending those that were held against their will was a separate sort of matter, one that Róisín felt no need to further delve into right now. The last thing she needed was to muddy up her argument with the finer points when they'd already been over this same path again and again.

Still, she nodded gratefully at his parting statement and stopped herself from bristling at the way he attempted to command someone that wasn't even here, let alone a part of his herd. She reasoned that even though his casual arrogance was irritating... the sentiment wasn't wrong. It may not be their Codebreaker, but they could certainly have someone patrol the Commons. "I'm sure we can find someone to join him, even if it has to be myself."

Swallowing hard against the overwhelming urge to stay and argue the finer points of what she meant (of how she couldn't trust him yet, despite wanting to) and to push for an explanation for things that Rade clearly didn't find himself guilty of (like her imprisonment under his rule), Róisín only nodded a final time. "Thank you for your time, Rade." And then, lifting her gaze back to Oswin to see if the golden mare had anything further to add, the dun prepared to leave.

mare . 4 . mutt . dun sabino . 14.3 hh . björn x siobhan . love

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