[Not quite sure what to make of those words, he turns to her with an arched eyebrow and the usual scowl firmly in place.]

Whaddya mean by that? [The most obvious possibility (in his mind, that is) suddenly occurs to him.] ....I already know I'm useless, ya don't gotta rub it in.

Gods, don't start with that when I'm already this upset!

[ She's almost as much of a crybaby as he normally is by now. ] It's because of what I told you earlier! I'm embarrassed that now you have to think about that sort of thing instead of just killing some stranger.

[Ah, well. That draws him up short, the cranky expression faltering. He does, of course, immediately understand what she's referring to. The promise to not leave her all alone has been weighing on his mind since the grim reality of this change in fortune was revealed to them.]

Hey, don't be stupid. I'd think about it even if we weren't stuck together. [It seems wiser to not remind Severa that "just killing some stranger" wouldn't even work according to the rules.] 'Cause see, I meant what I said, so I ain't gonna pull some "just kidding" malarkey and forget about it.

So you do want me to be the one to die!

[ It's a shame that Brady isn't wholly fluent in Severa or else he might keep her from lashing out every few seconds. Maybe. ]

Gods, I haven't even had a chance to go on the shopping trip of a lifetime and you're already speaking as if I'm last week's mutton!

The hell?! Howdja come to that conclusion? Now you're really being stupid!

[The Severa language has a very steep learning curve.]

Fer the love of....look, I don't want ya to die. But if it's me— [n....o nevermind, it would be wiser to not bring up the particulars of that vulnerable moment on Severa's part.] —well, ya know. So what option does that leave us, huh?

[ He thought wise because for a brief moment there, she thought he was going to bring it up and she would have to bring up her fists in retaliation. Jerking a hand back to look at her fists intently to avoid eye contact with her "partner", she thinks and she thinks. ]

I'm no genius, but you're no liar either. That means I have to be the one to... [ Grumbling the rest under her breath. He might be able to pick up a few choice words about how she's always selfish if he's listening intently though. ]

[By this point, he could scream. Or, as was more likely with him, cry. Brady had been angry before, frustrated and afraid, but that suggestion momentarily bleeds him dry of anything besides a cold, shocked horror.

He stares at her, eyes narrowing in a doomed attempt to keep the tears in. Some of what she mumbles under her breath manages to filter into his brain; his jaw clenches tight enough to ache.]

....I ain't gonna send ya to yer death, Severa. [But in his heart of hearts, there's the uncomfortable certainty that this might be the only way. The decision has to be joint, and out of the two of them, he was the only one with any bend in his spine.

Unless.....]

—tch, what if I made an offer? Yeah....yeah, somethin' that these lowlifes can't refuse! Then neither of us would have to die!

An offer?

[ In the end they're still going to have to agree for one of them to die, aren't they? Maybe he's starting to see things her way, but... ]

Why do you have to be the one making sacrifices? You don't have anything of value to even give, do you?

[ Her imagination runs wild and she's wondering if maybe he's got expensive gems stashed underneath those vestments of his. Wouldn't his mother having him dress fine? ]

[An audible sniffle that is quickly covered up with the best annoyed growl he can muster.]

You're the one that wants to toss yer life away for my sake, so don't talk to me about sacrifices. [A hurried, rough swipe at his eyes.] I don't have nothin' fancy to offer, but.... [A thoughtful pause. The spark of hope his plan had coaxed into life flickers dangerously, like a candle on the verge of being extinguished, then brightens again a moment later.] ...maybe it ain't about money?

[He mulls this idea over. Brady's no tactician, but the more he thinks about it, the more sense it seems to make: aren't there other, better, less complicated ways of forcing someone to hand over their wealth than this sadistic nightmare? So it can't be about wringing every last gold coin from them. "Value" can be pretty subjective, anyway....one man's trash is another's treasure, and all that.]

I'm not saying I want to die!

[ Out of all that nonsense, she dives in on the one thing that upsets her the most. Predictable in a way, she's rubbing her own eyes with less need to hide her tears. ]

Stupid, if it's not money they want, then what are we supposed to give? I don't have my weapon and the only other thing I have on my person are my clothes--which I'm never going go give this up!

[ There's one other thing, but if their captor wants nothing to do with money... ]

[Seeing that, he immediately feels bad for his earlier biting comment, but he wouldn't be part of the Snark & Bark Society if he was any good at being conciliatory or tactful.]

Well, what else do ya consider valuable? Geez, think outside the box for once.

[Brady realizes at the last moment that he's just inadvertedly allowed Severa to consider sacrificing something else without protest, and inwardly curses. But....at least they were discussing things instead of just bickering.]

I have this stupid thing. [ Suddenly there's a ring in-between her fingers being held up directly in his face. ] It's not the best, but it's enough to win any fiend over.

[ Her voice drops a bit as if she's unable to believe it herself and it's true. There's no way some stupid ring is going to make up for the cost of a life. ]

[A sharp intake of breath. He knows what that is — Cordelia's wedding ring. And he knows the significance attached to it, no matter what Severa might say otherwise. How could he not? Each orphaned child from that doomed world was the same way, him included.

Brady's silent for a minute. Then he takes out a wedding ring from his own pocket — Maribelle's. It's not exactly his to give away, and as a piece of jewelry it's only of an above average make.....but if the price wasn't about money, if he had to give up something he valued deeply to have the best chance at saving Severa, then there was really no question about it.

The woman that had raised him was dead, and the younger version of her that he had bonded with wasn't here. But Severa was here, she was still alive, and he wanted to make sure that didn't change.]

...with this, there ain't no question that it'll be enough.

[ What happens when two quick to anger idiots hold out rings towards each other? Severa's taken back by the gesture herself as her mind struggles to wrap around the reality before her. ]

Are you asking me to marry you when I'm going to die?! [ Because that's horrid timing if you ask her. ] There's no point to it unless you want to start necking right here! W-We can do that without marriage involved, gods! Don't you know anything?

[ It grows increasingly difficult to keep her tears from falling over her cheeks when one hand is holding up a ring, but somehow she's a CHAMP at wiping them away on her sleeves. ]

You daft old sod with your foolish timing!

[SIGHS FOR A MILLION YEARS.]

Eh?!

[Slack-jawed surprise. It's a minor miracle that this drastic shift in mood hasn't given him whiplash.]

Gods, Severa, I dunno if I'll ever understand how yer mind works! This ring is what I'm offerin' to keep ya alive, see?

[Ah, but then she's crying again, and the sight makes it impossible to hold his own tears back. So they stream openly down his ugly face — the trembling lower lip is just a bonus.]

B-Besides, I wouldn't propose to ya with my mother's ring! That's just tasteless! What kinda guy do ya take me for?! You gotta give me a chance to buy somethin' worthy of ya first, and then prepare a speech that won't get me laughed at, and then—

[But then Brady realizes he's thought just a little bit too much about this hypothetical proposal, so he reddens and stares intently off to the side instead of continuing.]

Gods, that's not what a girl wants to hear when she's being proposed at! [ It still hasn't clicked in her mind that this is anything but a promise. ] Saying I'm not good enough for your mother's ring! I know I'm not a perfect girl, but you could be a bit more sensitive to my feelings sometime!

[ Isn't he in too deep now to be pulling back? ]

It's just awful! You won't be able to take me on my dream shopping trip before I die and then I'd be leaving you a widower! Everyone will take pity on you and shower you with gifts without even thinking twice of me!

[It's impossible to wallow in mortified silence after hearing a response like that.]

I'm not even proposin' to ya! [Why does that even sound like an appealing idea to begin with? He's not quite sure and now seems like a terrible time to try and figure that out.] But anyway, that wasn't what I was saying at all! Of course you're good enough for ma's ring. Hell, I wouldn't be givin' it up unless I thought you were ten times more important!

[Wiping the wet trails from his face with both hands now.]

Wouldja please stop talkin' like you're already dead?

Only ten times more important?

[ Sniffle. Her voice's softened just a smidgen, but that's only because he's yelling back at her. Finding it difficult to actually remain upset when he's upset, Severa weakly nods. ]

Fine, I'll stop saying what we already know is the truth. [ Only because they're never going to get out of this situation otherwise. ]

Fine, a hundred times! A thousand times! Whatever you want, Severa, okay?!

[Deep, struggling breaths to make himself calm the hell down. He's already ashamed of himself for losing control and crying — ugh, why did he have to be such an overemotional loser? That sort of person couldn't help anyone, couldn't keep those he cared about safe and happy.]

It ain't the truth until ya stop breathin'. [He manages to sound firm about this, despite the recent sobbing outburst.] You're still alive, and we got a good chance at makin' sure ya stay that way.

[Optimism from Brady? More likely than you think.]

Fine, but what will happen if we don't?

[ It seems like that's a question she should ask her captor, but as if she gives a damn about what she thinks. Seems better to get an answer from Brady himself. ]

You going to tell my mother I was crying like a baby? I wasn't! I just have to smell your breath and it's making my face burn, that's all!

[Peeking out from behind his fingers for a moment, then they fall away entirely.]

If I told her that, yer ghost would torment me forever — and I'd deserve every minute of it.

[A weak, dumb joke delivered in gruff tones, but he doesn't know how else to field that sort of question when he can barely stand to imagine such an outcome.]

It wouldn't be that bad. [ Can't leave half of the Snark & Bark Society alone after all. ] I can tell you what would look nice in our tent and you can buy it.

You'd have to front the bill all on your own though.

[ Another sniffle. Despite the grim talk, she's seemingly calming down? Don't mess it up, Brady. ]

[That's like asking a person without hands to successfully juggle knives.]

I was basically doing that already, so no worries there. And uh, of course I'd have to get a fancy plaque or statue or somethin' in yer honor.

It'd have to be gold and covered in rubies. [ She never stops. ]

All right, I think I've accepted what must be done.

[ If their offer doesn't work, then she'll have to die. It's not the first time she's seen death, but something about their situation tugs at her mind. Her eyes fall back on the untouched knife in the room. ]

Will I have to do it myself?

[He's about to say some smartass remark along the lines of "but then it won't stand out from all the other shiny stuff in the tent" when she brings up the potential manner of her death.

Brady's quiet for a minute, just until he can set aside his immense discomfort. After all....a 50/50 chance made for better odds than they were used to, but it was no guarantee. He was certainly cynical enough to understand that wishing and hoping rarely played a hand in one's luck.]

....dunno, is that how you'd wanna go out?

Edited (wow such typo much shame) 2013-12-30 10:36 am (UTC)