[Despite the mood he's in, that particular remark Iskandar makes first puts a slight smile on Ren's face, even if it's also a faintly bitter one. He can't drop the attitude that easily right now, but it is a little bit funny, and he supposes he should expect it from someone like a conqueror.]
That's funny, it usually goes the other way around. [People meet him, assume he's purely a benign and sweet airhead, and then recoil as soon as he demonstrates otherwise. Even a lot of the people who know full well what he's capable of fear these kinds of sides of him coming out. But at the same time, it feels fitting in some way - part of the reason he trusts those people so much is because they're well aware of his darkness as well as his light, and appropriately wary of it without failing to accept him as he is.
It's something he feels will be difficult to replicate with anyone here, but as a start, he supposes...yes, it's useful to have people who are willing to help. Loneliness is merely going to drive him further back towards the friends that remain asleep instead of trying to move forward, as loneliness always drives him to undesirable places. He's been working to try and rectify that since he came here, and though he hasn't been here long enough to form a real connection with anyone, he feels as if there are at least a few with potential.
And really, he'd rather not spend this entire conversation reeking of bitterness, so he forces his smile to linger a little longer.] I probably don't sound very grateful for it right now, but that's sweet of you to offer. I'll see if I can find a fitting use for it.
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That's funny, it usually goes the other way around. [People meet him, assume he's purely a benign and sweet airhead, and then recoil as soon as he demonstrates otherwise. Even a lot of the people who know full well what he's capable of fear these kinds of sides of him coming out. But at the same time, it feels fitting in some way - part of the reason he trusts those people so much is because they're well aware of his darkness as well as his light, and appropriately wary of it without failing to accept him as he is.
It's something he feels will be difficult to replicate with anyone here, but as a start, he supposes...yes, it's useful to have people who are willing to help. Loneliness is merely going to drive him further back towards the friends that remain asleep instead of trying to move forward, as loneliness always drives him to undesirable places. He's been working to try and rectify that since he came here, and though he hasn't been here long enough to form a real connection with anyone, he feels as if there are at least a few with potential.
And really, he'd rather not spend this entire conversation reeking of bitterness, so he forces his smile to linger a little longer.] I probably don't sound very grateful for it right now, but that's sweet of you to offer. I'll see if I can find a fitting use for it.