Every situation is different, Priscilla. I can no more tell you what to do than I can recommend what course of action might be wisest to take, because I do not know the circumstances surrounding the betrayal, or what it entails... and I will not pry for details.
However, I can tell you what I have done in the past.
I have killed for lesser things. I've killed for greater. I have also spared the life of someone to double-cross me.
Ask yourself: how much does this person mean to you? Is the betrayal one that can be forgiven? If so, is it one you want to forget about, put completely behind you?
The individual whose life I spared was forgiven, but the transgression has not been forgotten. It never will be.
[Well, she was going to say something about how she wouldn't betray anyone unless she had absolutely no choice, and this doesn't really qualify, and it's horrifying and she doesn't know what to do, and--
Well she was going to say a lot of different things, but then he says that last bit, and she goes quiet instead.]
He agreed to help me with a certain task, one of great importance to me, and then decided at the final moment he could no longer do what he had been set to do previous.
[ Isley frowns. ]
You came to me about your own predicament, however. We ought to focus upon that, and... I will help as best I can.
...a long time ago, before you even came here, he promised me he would never become involved with the three of you in any way. It was part of a... deal, I guess. The reason I didn't go after someone he considered dangerous. Our um. Pact to each other, to keep each other safe.
It was kind of annoying, to be honest. He was always trying to protect me, even though I... really don't need to be protected. And anything I couldn't protect myself from, he wouldn't do any better against.
But I went along with it anyway, because that wasn't true in reverse - I could handle myself against his enemies, but he can't handle himself against mine. And he meant a great deal to me, then.
[...]Since then he's thrown himself into a fight with Riful, provoked Luciela and started spending time with you
( ... )
[She pauses, considers asking what he wanted with Zack to begin with. Except that she can probably guess, based on that voice mail Irene left her a while back.]
[As it turns out, she can't quite decide. So she goes with the subject shift... at least for the moment.]
It's not as though I asked her not to report everything I say back to that woman. And I guess I shouldn't be surprised, either. [Her voice picks up volume... and intensity as she speaks. ...it also begins to tremble as she fights back tears.] But I don't think it's too much to ask that anything said in a personal conversation, especially such a personal one, should be considered confident!
[...and then another click as she changes her mind and turns it on again. There's wind in the background.]
What do you do if someone betrays your trust?
[She doesn't even mean you.]
What would you recommend?
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However, I can tell you what I have done in the past.
I have killed for lesser things. I've killed for greater. I have also spared the life of someone to double-cross me.
Ask yourself: how much does this person mean to you? Is the betrayal one that can be forgiven? If so, is it one you want to forget about, put completely behind you?
The individual whose life I spared was forgiven, but the transgression has not been forgotten. It never will be.
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What if I say... they meant more to me than almost anyone, and if they didn't... if they didn't, it would be easier to forgive.
I wonder if that's really fair.
[...]
Who was it?
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[ Really? Did he just say that? ]
It was Zack.
[ ...So it was. Hmm. ]
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Well she was going to say a lot of different things, but then he says that last bit, and she goes quiet instead.]
What? What happened?
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He agreed to help me with a certain task, one of great importance to me, and then decided at the final moment he could no longer do what he had been set to do previous.
[ Isley frowns. ]
You came to me about your own predicament, however. We ought to focus upon that, and... I will help as best I can.
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[Her voice is a bit... flat. Cold. Whether the chill is directed at Isley or Zack (or both) isn't especially obvious.]
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[ Does it? ]
Why do you sound troubled?
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It was kind of annoying, to be honest. He was always trying to protect me, even though I... really don't need to be protected. And anything I couldn't protect myself from, he wouldn't do any better against.
But I went along with it anyway, because that wasn't true in reverse - I could handle myself against his enemies, but he can't handle himself against mine. And he meant a great deal to me, then.
[...]Since then he's thrown himself into a fight with Riful, provoked Luciela and started spending time with you ( ... )
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Do you think you will ever be able to forgive him?
After all, I was the one to approach him, and initially he was... quite hesitant.
[ He pauses. Feels as though he is treading through a field of landmines. ]
A better question...
Do you want to be able to forgive the people that have wronged you?
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Given that, it doesn't really matter who approached who or how hesitant he was or wasn't.
I don't forgive people easily.
[...in fact.]
Usually I don't forgive them at all.
No matter how much I love them.
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[She pauses, considers asking what he wanted with Zack to begin with. Except that she can probably guess, based on that voice mail Irene left her a while back.]
[As it turns out, she can't quite decide. So she goes with the subject shift... at least for the moment.]
It's not as though I asked her not to report everything I say back to that woman. And I guess I shouldn't be surprised, either. [Her voice picks up volume... and intensity as she speaks. ...it also begins to tremble as she fights back tears.] But I don't think it's too much to ask that anything said in a personal conversation, especially such a personal one, should be considered confident!
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Did the individual who betrayed you have reason to believe that the nature of what you divulged to them might lead to the danger of others?
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What do you think?
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Isn't it obvious? I am not trusted with you, either.
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