No Different (Rose)

[John A. Downing]

John waited, having messaged Rose to meet him outside of the prison, "Pier 14". He leaned against a low wall that surrounded half the place, checking the clock on his phone before tucking it into his pocket.

While he disdained the idea of having team mates, he felt it was better to get to know them personally than it was to remain distant. If he had no choice in the matter...might as well sort some shit out. He massaged the muscles in his hand, turning to look up the rode for the small woman he knew would be coming soon.

[Stigma Wyatt]

Indeed she was, looking nervous as usual...though the reason why could be just about anything.

She hugged herself a bit, glancing around at the place she'd never been to, occasionally looking at John like she's making sure he didn't suddenly disappear on her way over.

Once she was close enough, she'd offer an awkward smile.

"H-hello..?"

[John A. Downing]

"Hi."

He removed one hand from a pocket, then pointed at the facility of Pier 14.

"Do you know what that is?"

[Stigma Wyatt]

"N-no." she replies immediately, before looking up at the building for a possible name.

Not that she was stellar at reading yet, but at the very least she was giving an effort.

[John A. Downing]

"Pier 14. It's a prison, for people like you and me."

He would gesture for him to follow as he started toward the building, walking at a slow and easy pace.

"You and Elias...tell me, why exactly does he own you?"

[Stigma Wyatt]

"E-eh?!"

She gives a flurry of blinks, following him almost automatically as he starts towards the building.

Why would they have a prison for people like them? What does he mean people like "you and me" exactly?

Before she can overthink it further, he surprises her with his next question.

"B-because he saved me." she says, nervously messing with the tips of her uneven hair.

[John A. Downing]

"I see. Saved you from what?"

He continued walking, watching her.

[Stigma Wyatt]

Everything about her screams anxiety, from the closed up posture, to the nearly permanently knit brows.

"W-well. H-he killed everyone who used to h-hurt me. Mostly m-my parents."

I mean he killed her too but she came back to life so it's totally negligible.

[John A. Downing]

"I'm sorry you were hurt by others. But why do you believe that means he gets ownership of you?"

He cocked a brow.

[Stigma Wyatt]

"W-well I owe him my life." she mumbles, not really being one to have questioned it.

"So...I'll do anything he wants."

[John A. Downing]

"I apologize if I seem like I don't understand but....again I ask, what makes you think that him saving you earns him the right to your life?"

He faced forward again, continuing before she could answer.

"You see...I've killed before. I've saved lives. To expect any of them to dedicate their life to me moving forward is crude minded. You live, and breathe, and feel- but if others didn't do evil, you would be doing that anyway. His act of kindness is not your requirement for ownership."

He glanced at her. Maybe this wasn't making sense.

[Stigma Wyatt]

It was in some ways, but, it seemed to be a vast difference in their...culture. If you could call hers that.

"N-no...It's not...like that..." she says, fidgeting a bit before hurrying a bit to catch up with him as he started off again.

"I love Elias more than anything...that's why I don't mind. I don't care if he ever loves me too...I just want to repay him..."

Of course this was all part of the illusion that she had a choice. Unfortunately, Rose didn't really know the extent of how much Elias was manipulating her. He was nicer to her now, sure. But he still only ever referred to her as his property.

"I c-could leave or stop anytime I want..."

Haha, not really.

[John A. Downing]

"Uh huh. I see."

He shrugged.

"I wanted to show you Pier 14, because it's full of people that seem just like you. They form gangs, they find safety together....there is a whole world in there, full of people who trick themselves into believing that they are free. And the guards allow it, because it makes them easier to control."

He glanced at her.

"I would tell you to just try and leave to test it, but I suspect any smart man could trick you out of it. So instead, I'll say that if you need someone to talk to- a friend, if that word means anything these days- you can find one in me. That is....if you're allowed to have those."

He smirked.

[Stigma Wyatt]

As John describes Pier 14, it does indeed start to sound like home. The one from her childhood mostly, since it DID start to change recently. She doesn't really let the false freedom thing sink in, though.

Unlike most people, the insult doesn't make her mad. It just sends her into a panic.

"Ahh!! W-wait! You think I'm stupid!" she stutters along, starting to pull on her hair in distress.

"Heh...heheh..but you want to be my friend...." she stops panicking for about two seconds to be happy about that before starting to panic again.

"I'm sorryyyyy!! I-I'm sorry! I'm l-learning t-things all the t-time I promise I won't be s-s-stupid! D-don't hate me!! I-I'm allowed to have frieeends!! E-Elias said I had to m-make sooome!"

[John A. Downing]

He turns, planting a firm hand on her shoulder and stopping them both. He frowned.

"Stop that."

He would search her face, his own scrunched up a little.

"I did not say I thought you were stupid. Merely that I think Elias is cruel. But even if I did, you shouldn't be so...I don't know, invested in the opinion of others."