He tries to laugh, but it falls short of the definition. "I've been a coward for a century and a half. I thought it was obvious in the way I've continuously failed you to protect myself."
He bows his head. "I think you would have liked me better before I went in the river. I was a lot braver back then."
Darcy rolls her eyes and restrains the reflex she always has to try and soothe his ego.
"I don't know you before the river, I know the you that's here now, who's continuing to refuse to do absolutely fucking anything to actually fix shit or change. You know you have to actually stop doing the thing when you apologise, right?"
Darcy makes her way over to the door, gripping hard on the outside handle.
"Everyone fucking sucks, Skulduggery. I've picked fights with half the fucking ship. I straight up murdered Steven. I killed people back home, too. But some of us aren't sitting around feeling fucking sorry for ourselves because we're shitty people, some of us are actually trying to do good. Like Erin, and like me. I fucking expect better from you, even if you don't."
He almost goes after her. He wants to go after her. The strange length in the shadows, the way his head swims with sudden vertigo... it is almost enough to overwhelm him.
But it isn't enough to drown out the thought that none of it will ever be enough, or the rage that comes after. Skulduggery throws a hand out and the empty chair crashes against the door. It won't repair itself, nothing is fucking repairing itself, this whole fucking ship is falling apart and he can't fix any of it!
Darcy thinks he isn't doing anything. Maybe she's right. But for now, doing nothing will keep her safe. It's the only thing keeping anyone safe.
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He bows his head. "I think you would have liked me better before I went in the river. I was a lot braver back then."
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"I don't know you before the river, I know the you that's here now, who's continuing to refuse to do absolutely fucking anything to actually fix shit or change. You know you have to actually stop doing the thing when you apologise, right?"
Darcy makes her way over to the door, gripping hard on the outside handle.
"Everyone fucking sucks, Skulduggery. I've picked fights with half the fucking ship. I straight up murdered Steven. I killed people back home, too. But some of us aren't sitting around feeling fucking sorry for ourselves because we're shitty people, some of us are actually trying to do good. Like Erin, and like me. I fucking expect better from you, even if you don't."
And she slams the door shut.
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But it isn't enough to drown out the thought that none of it will ever be enough, or the rage that comes after. Skulduggery throws a hand out and the empty chair crashes against the door. It won't repair itself, nothing is fucking repairing itself, this whole fucking ship is falling apart and he can't fix any of it!
Darcy thinks he isn't doing anything. Maybe she's right. But for now, doing nothing will keep her safe. It's the only thing keeping anyone safe.