Flatman: Y'know what? Turns out that a lot' of super heroes have the exact same speech planned out ahead of time. It's actually a lot like the "let's be friends" speech when you think about it. Spider-Man: Look, there's a very good reason why I can't... Wolverine: ...I'm a loner, okay? And that means I work best alone. I can't help it...
Daredevil: ...I'm just not a team player. Never have been, never will be.
"You lost the game on the very first day you chose to train me to rule by your side—or better still under your thumb. Teacher, yes, and for that I will be eternally grateful. But Master—never."
Jemorille: Eden had always walked alone. For her entire life - one that spanned thousands of years - she had trusted nobody while expecting none from others. She had been focused on her goal with a tenacity and dedication that even a platonic - ironically - would have admired. She had worked with others beings times, calling them "allies", "associates", and maybe even "partners". But never "friends". She knew what the word meant, but not its connotations. She'd only used the word for her own ends, gaining "friends" to use and manipulate when she saw the need, leaving them behind when she did not. In the end, she always worked alone.
And she had, at first, seen the same that day when her jailer - the Damned Magician Girl - was replaced, the title passed to someone calling herself Belle...
Jemorille: As much as Eden despised Beatrice, she admitted the point she'd made was valid. As much as she truly wanted a true purpose to guide her, she had always hoped it wouldn't be something as petty as revenge. Still, she hoped now that Belle's soul rested easier. Of all the companions Eden had gained and lost, Belle stood out. A prisoner like herself who had pretended to capitulate and convert to the mad platonic's side, she had learned the gautiere's true goal, offering both help and emotional support. At first, Eden had suspicions that Belle's concern was not genuine, and that she had intended an eventual betrayal. She did little to hide these feelings, which did not ebb for years. The patience Belle had shown rivaled even her own, and resulted in more progress towards Eden's goal than she'd made in centuries. It took awhile, but Belle had become the first person Eden had truly trusted. She had shown Eden that she did not have to walk alone. Not being able to save Belle had indeed been her greatest regret. As much as she hated Beatrice, Eden had to admit she'd made a valid point. And it seemed her true goal was in sight. A goal that she - and Belle - had toiled so long to reach.
