[ It comes back to her faster than she would have liked it to. Rose had known what it would mean to infiltrate this prison world as one of the lower caste but had chosen to anyway. It was fine, she told herself. It was just like going back to the war again. She could do this. That what she convinced herself until she stepped in the deadly woods with their tricks and traps and people trying to kill her at every turn.

It wasn't like the war. It was so reminiscent of the ring in ways that she didn't anticipate; the broadcasts of bloodshed, the cheers calling for more. People who only cared about money and entertainment watching on with morbid fascination. They even call her the name they did back then, the Black Rose. One of the best. She's good at this and she doesn't want to be but she isand that's what's going to keep her alive. She'll take the advantage despite the way it makes her skin crawl with revulsion at herself. She'll take it despite the way that she can't look at her own reflection for too long anymore because it's a monster staring back at her instead of the woman she's tried to be the past few years. ]

Don't, [ is all she warns to whoever is encroaching on her campsite. Whether to kill her or just to investigate, she isn't sure. ] I will kill you but I really don't want to. [ She's done that enough to last her several lifetimes. The amount of blood on her hands tears away at her soul some days. She doesn't need to add anymore. Not today. ]

[ Even the best of them make mistakes. That's exactly what happens to Rose, she makes a mistake. Or maybe she doesn't. It's hard to tell, really, on the replay exactly what happened. The only fact that is clear is that she's hurt. Badly. It isn't long after though that she's informed she's been bought. The word makes her skin crawl; it's just like what had almost happened to her when she first arrived in humanity's hold. She was meant to be sold off and prized by some collector of rare and exotic creatures. Part of her wonders if it really would have been worse or better than the brawling and blood of the ring.

It looks like she's going to find out.

This isn't actually how she thought their reunion would go in this world. She thought it'd be something sweeter, where there'd both be happy to see one another. It's not that she isn't happy to see him but bruised, battered, and bloody leaves her looking every bit as disgusting as she feels. This is what she meant when she said she didn't deserve him. This is what she meant when she said she felt like she didn't deserve anything. ]

Hey, [ she greets, far more casually than she has any right to. She even manages to muster up a tired smile for him despite herself. ] Sorry you have to see me like this.

(( ooc: hit me up at puddingandpie for something specific or if you had another idea! ))