[So Atem knows about Diavolo's obsession with secrecy, huh? She hadn't known the flowers got to him too. It seemed to be caused by weird insects, and Diavolo hardly ventures outside, so the fact he was affected is interesting to note.
Trish doesn't think further on that, however. She doesn't think further on anything for a blessed minute, startling a little when Atem's warm hand takes hers, lacing their fingers together and resting that link on even warmer stone. None of this is real, but she can see...how Ryslig can make even things that aren't real seem so true and present. The Atem under the illusion is cold and dead, and she's completely inhuman herself. But then...in a way, this is the real them. This is Atem as he was back home, before becoming a ghost. This is how he recognizes himself. Just like she still sees herself as a person deep down. That's not less real than the lie the fog god forces them to wear, when she thinks about it, when she feels Atem's hand in hers and thinks about what really, truly matters.
As for Diavolo, Trish isn't sure what she ultimately wanted from him. She certainly didn't want to be a gangster, not after living an average, comfortably mundane life. She'd be in danger the rest of her days as the daughter of a mob boss hounded by traitors eager to topple him. What Bruno told her to comfort her...only made her feel that much colder, honestly. She'd be taken from everything she ever knew, and be safer for it, but she would still never know her father, still be under the thrall of Passione. The best thing Diavolo could have done, then, was exactly what took place. He stole her away to kill her himself, but she lived because of that. She was handed over to Bruno's group, and was given a new future when Bruno betrayed an entire organization to uphold his ideals and save her life. He freed her. He freed Italy. Bruno Bucciarati and Giorno Giovanna, they changed everything.
Still, it's touching that Atem sees her pain and wants to soothe it before anything else, even if Diavolo is almost tangential to it now. It's not why she brought it up, but she squeezes his hand once, appreciatively.]
...It's alright. Like I said, I'd never met him once before then. So I wasn't surprised he wanted me dead.
I was the only one who knew from the start, I think. Everyone else tried to reassure me, just like you have, but you know better now. He wanted to keep his secrets, and I shared his blood. That alone was too much for him.
[Just like she thought Atem getting too close to Doppio might be too much. The fact he shared his name, however, even with the threat of death...that, and Atem hasn't mentioned any retribution for it.
Curious.]
But none of that matters here, does it? That's why I want to be able to coexist with them. Not because I think they deserve it, but because it would be pointless to fight them. If they're content to leave Italy and everything with it behind and start over, I won't stop them from doing that.
It's why I think you have a good chance with them. You have nothing to do with Italy or us, as far as either of them know. That's probably why Diavolo sought you out to speak his name to you.
[Spoken from her lips, it would be a curse. From Atem, it's just a name.]
no subject
Trish doesn't think further on that, however. She doesn't think further on anything for a blessed minute, startling a little when Atem's warm hand takes hers, lacing their fingers together and resting that link on even warmer stone. None of this is real, but she can see...how Ryslig can make even things that aren't real seem so true and present. The Atem under the illusion is cold and dead, and she's completely inhuman herself. But then...in a way, this is the real them. This is Atem as he was back home, before becoming a ghost. This is how he recognizes himself. Just like she still sees herself as a person deep down. That's not less real than the lie the fog god forces them to wear, when she thinks about it, when she feels Atem's hand in hers and thinks about what really, truly matters.
As for Diavolo, Trish isn't sure what she ultimately wanted from him. She certainly didn't want to be a gangster, not after living an average, comfortably mundane life. She'd be in danger the rest of her days as the daughter of a mob boss hounded by traitors eager to topple him. What Bruno told her to comfort her...only made her feel that much colder, honestly. She'd be taken from everything she ever knew, and be safer for it, but she would still never know her father, still be under the thrall of Passione. The best thing Diavolo could have done, then, was exactly what took place. He stole her away to kill her himself, but she lived because of that. She was handed over to Bruno's group, and was given a new future when Bruno betrayed an entire organization to uphold his ideals and save her life. He freed her. He freed Italy. Bruno Bucciarati and Giorno Giovanna, they changed everything.
Still, it's touching that Atem sees her pain and wants to soothe it before anything else, even if Diavolo is almost tangential to it now. It's not why she brought it up, but she squeezes his hand once, appreciatively.]
...It's alright. Like I said, I'd never met him once before then. So I wasn't surprised he wanted me dead.
I was the only one who knew from the start, I think. Everyone else tried to reassure me, just like you have, but you know better now. He wanted to keep his secrets, and I shared his blood. That alone was too much for him.
[Just like she thought Atem getting too close to Doppio might be too much. The fact he shared his name, however, even with the threat of death...that, and Atem hasn't mentioned any retribution for it.
Curious.]
But none of that matters here, does it? That's why I want to be able to coexist with them. Not because I think they deserve it, but because it would be pointless to fight them. If they're content to leave Italy and everything with it behind and start over, I won't stop them from doing that.
It's why I think you have a good chance with them. You have nothing to do with Italy or us, as far as either of them know. That's probably why Diavolo sought you out to speak his name to you.
[Spoken from her lips, it would be a curse. From Atem, it's just a name.]