Other things in Rosethorn's file that might be of interest to Papyrus are her birth name, Nivalin Greenhow, and the mention of her connection with plants, to the extent that she is dependent on their presence for emotional stability. Rosethorn can't go extended periods without them unless she wants to risk psychological damage.
The small greeting smile that Papyrus usually earns from her fades as Rosethorn turns to answer him, "An epidemic that went through Summersea four years ago. How did you- oh..."
Her own question is answered with that look at Papyrus' information. She inhales sharply as it goes past, eyes widening slightly. How many times has he died? There doesn't seem to be any end to the list, and she doesn't really need the brief glimpse of Chara's name to know it's on there. Gods, suddenly, she understands. Rosethorn knows exactly why Sans tried to kill Chara, and vows or no, her hands curl into fists as she thinks about how hard it would be to avoid doing the same, if it were a member of her own family in question. Lark, Briar, any of the girls, Crane.
Rosethorn died once, and reviving her was a miracle. An impossibility. Something Briar and his sisters could only manage thanks to the unique connection of their magics, never seen before or since. Papyrus has died more times than she can count, and all of it malicious rather than accidental or due to disease or natural causes. She's seen just how hard he works to stay positive, to believe the best in people, even to the point of denial, but Rosethorn has no idea how he's maintaining that in the face of everything that's happened to him.
It isn't the cruelty that surprises her. Rosethorn stopped being surprised by the depths of human (or, she supposes, perhaps nonhuman) cruelty years ago. It's Papyrus.
She doesn't speak again for a moment, needing time to process all of it, and then she offers quietly, "I'll tell you about it, if you want."
no subject
The small greeting smile that Papyrus usually earns from her fades as Rosethorn turns to answer him, "An epidemic that went through Summersea four years ago. How did you- oh..."
Her own question is answered with that look at Papyrus' information. She inhales sharply as it goes past, eyes widening slightly. How many times has he died? There doesn't seem to be any end to the list, and she doesn't really need the brief glimpse of Chara's name to know it's on there. Gods, suddenly, she understands. Rosethorn knows exactly why Sans tried to kill Chara, and vows or no, her hands curl into fists as she thinks about how hard it would be to avoid doing the same, if it were a member of her own family in question. Lark, Briar, any of the girls, Crane.
Rosethorn died once, and reviving her was a miracle. An impossibility. Something Briar and his sisters could only manage thanks to the unique connection of their magics, never seen before or since. Papyrus has died more times than she can count, and all of it malicious rather than accidental or due to disease or natural causes. She's seen just how hard he works to stay positive, to believe the best in people, even to the point of denial, but Rosethorn has no idea how he's maintaining that in the face of everything that's happened to him.
It isn't the cruelty that surprises her. Rosethorn stopped being surprised by the depths of human (or, she supposes, perhaps nonhuman) cruelty years ago. It's Papyrus.
She doesn't speak again for a moment, needing time to process all of it, and then she offers quietly, "I'll tell you about it, if you want."