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Well...but...

[ This is kind of making her head hurt, but she perseveres. ]

If she hated humans that much...well, you don't! I've seen you. You like humans, you like learning from others and doing...like...normal human things? Like reading books! Or sharing food. Or friends, or having tea together, like this. [ Blake's not so hot at the human stuff either, to be honest. ] Isn't that proof enough that you're different from her? That you have a mind of your own?

That’s sweet of you to say, but I’ve already done things thinking I was doing them because I wanted to, but learned it was exactly what Mother expected of me. I even tried to hurt people because my programming got the better of me. That’s why I’m not sure of myself.

[ She puts the cup down. She frowns and her shoulders sag. ]

Like right now. Am I having tea with you because you’re a kind, charming person who I’d like to be friends with? Or am I learning about you because you’re likely to get in the way if I were to try to hurt hu—um, people?

Oh. That sucks.

[ She takes another bite of her sandwich while she thinks about that one. ]

When you say hurt people...what kind of hurt do you mean?

[Elphelt furrows her brow and closes her eyes as the recites something.]

'Elphelt Valentine. Exterminate all redundancies. Without exception.'

[Elphelt takes a moment to eat half of one of her muffin slices in one bite and swallows.]

I will kill every last person in the world. I'll be the only one left. That's the only reason I was created.

[Hence 'monster'.]

...I'm lonely enough. I don't want to be the only one in the whole world.

[ Well, that's dramatic. ]

That's kind of dramatic. [ Coming from Blake Belladonna, that means something. She furrows her brow. ] Unless you can, like, blow up an entire planet in an instant, I'm sure there are people who would stop you along the way! I mean, who could talk you down, or remind you who you were, or something.

That's happened once already, thankfully. So I know it's possible. Before I came here, though, Mother kidnapped me to complete me. I don't know if it'll be possible then. But my sister promised to save me. Our friends are helping, too.

[Her shoulders slump.]

That's why I don't want to go home. It may be strange being the only one of my kind here, but I want to stay here to avoid...everything.

It sounds like there are people looking out for you. [ She remembers the conversation they had, about friends. About accepting help. It's more poignant now. ]

I was upset about being here at first, but I think I'm starting to get what you mean. I'm the only one of my kind here too. I mean, there are other people who look like me, but they're not from my world and they don't have the same experiences. It's nice to be able to be away from all that...but at the same time I feel like I'm avoiding the things I have to deal with.

Maybe. But the things you need to deal with will be there when you get back. In the meantime, you can tell me about your problems.

[Elphelt takes another sip of her tea.]

Also? Being one-of-a-kind here, is...lonely in a lot of ways, but remember you're not alone, okay?

[There is nothing Elphelt loathes more than loneliness, so the thought Blake may be feeling something similar to herself is upsetting. They may be very different, but Elphelt at least feels some similarities.

She takes half of the remainder of her muffin and holds it out to Blake across the table.]

Here! You may have important things to do, but enjoying herself when you can isn't going to make those things worse.

Oh...

[ She accepts the muffin half, then after a moments pause offers Elphelt half of her tuna sandwich. ]

Fair's fair.

[ She hasn't had all her questions answered yet, though. ]

The things you were talking about. Exterminating people, and stuff. Do you think that could happen here, or only in your world?

[Elphelt thinks to insist Blake doesn't need to trade anything, but keeps that to herself. If Blake wants to share, then that's fine. Sharing food makes it more fun. Plus, the idea Blake felt obligated is kind of cute.]

Yeah. Mother isn't here to complete me, but so long as I'm here, I'm a danger to the people around me. It's only a feeling in my gut, but I am sure it's possible something may set off my latent programming.

[She stares at the tuna sandwich with her brow furrowed intently.]

I'm going to do my best to not let anything bad happen, even if I don't know how to accomplish that.

I don't either, but...

[ She scoops up a fallen bit of tuna with her finger and eats it. Her next words are tentative. Even though she's been trying to rethink how she relates to people, lately, making anything that might be construed as a promise still feels tremendously risky. ]

If that ever happens, and there's any way I can help...I want to be around. Whatever it takes to stop you from becoming this, this thing you don't wanna be. [ And there's a somber note in her voice there. ]

[Elphelt stares at Blake for a long moment in silence. She looks away and furrows her brow, thinking. She looks back to Blake, tilting her head, clearly confused.]

I don't understand. Why do you want to help? You're not likely to get anything from it, except a headache.

[ Blake looks back at her. Her own expression is no less bewildered. ]

I guess...I don't really know. But I've had people help me when I needed it. Even when I didn't ask for it. So I know how much it means, and...

[ She shrugs. ]

My team -- [ and even after having been in Empatheias a while, it still makes her heart jump in a certain way, when she says that ] -- me and Weiss and Ruby and Yang, we try to protect people. That's what we were training for, in school. So, if anything bad really happened...we'd probably get tangled up in it anyway.

[ It's not the most articulate profession of friendship, but it's sincere enough. ]

[Elphelt stares. Blinks. Blake is serious as far as Elphelt can tell. She is still not used to people being so nice to her, especially after they learn how troublesome she is. Articulate or not, Elphelt understands just fine. She is more than used to people who stuggle with putting their feelings into words.

She looks away, blushing and putting her hands to her cheeks.]

So, just in a day’s work for a hero, is that it? If that’s the case, then trying to change your mind would be a waste of time.

[El isn’t used to having friends, even after a few months with a few.

Blake...is a good cat. ]

[ Oh...now they're both embarrassed. Again. Is this just always how it's going to be, when they have a conversation? ]

Yeah. Probably. [ She says, quietly. ] So...if you feel like anything's starting to happen, you can call me. Or one of my teammates. I guess...telepathically is the best way? I still haven't totally got the hang of this telepathy thing.

[ Elphelt is embarrassing. Thankfully, she gets over embarrassment quickly, for whatever that is worth. It's probably necessary given how frequently it happens.]

It is strange, isn't it? I'm not sure what to think about having voices in my head. I really do prefer doing things like this. It's nice being around people, getting to see them as opposed to...just voices. It's better than nothing at all, though.

[Even the other methods of communication aren't nearly as enjoyable as physically spending time with someone else, especially with how lonely it can be living alone.]

But, that said, I can't ignore how earnest you are, so if I'm ever in trouble, you'll be the first I ask. You wouldn't have some shining armor you could wear, would you?

Ha. I've never worn armour. [ She says the words lightly enough but there's years of fighting behind them, and a flicker of expression across Blake's face that makes her look older than she is, just for a second. ] I don't need it. My abilities allow me to dodge most attacks. That's more my style, I guess. Not really a knight, more like a rogue, or something.

A rogue...?

[Look, she knows what Blake means, but with all that she has read and with how firmly her head is lodged in the clouds, the term brings to mind one particular type of rogue: the dashing variety. There is a faint sparkle in her eyes.

Elphelt nods.]

Yes, I can see it. That’ll do just as well as a knight. Better than a ninja, even.

[She has no idea what she is talking about, but she sure looks positive about this.]

I wish my abilities were cool like that. I’m not sure how I’d look in black, though.

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