HARPER
He leaves her patiently to her thoughts. It's not something that is easy to accept, and he knows that well. If Maea has any regard for Phoebe at all it will not be easy news to swallow. Though he doesn't expect for her to bring Sunjata into the conversation, he nods his head in deference to what she says.
"I don't doubt it. Inherent evil is incredibly hard to find, even in those who take joy in harming others. It takes two to tango after all, neither is fully blameless." He may be Phoebe's friend, and can't say whose side he would take (if any at all) were he forced to pick a side, at least Harper is aware that the situation is complex. "All we can do is support them in the aftermath. It's not my place to give an opinion on their past choices." Harper shrugs helplessly here. It was why he hadn't pressured Phoebe into leaving or continuing with the marriage one way or the other. A stance he continues to hold even now.
"I understand. At least you know you would be biased which is very mature of you, though...perhaps you should still try. If you know they are both hurting, isn't it unfair to leave one to suffer while tending to the other?" No judgement filters through his voice, offering the suggestion tenderly. Letting her choose to shoot it down without backlash. "I don't want her to have to lean on me alone as her crutch. That's just as unhealthy unfortunately. If you know any of her other friends, perhaps you can send them her way? Or tell me their names so that I can." The best method of healing is surrounding yourself with loved ones after all. Harper can't take the entire weight of Phoebe's pain on his shoulders unfortunately. And it would be unfair to her as well, likely leading to a codependency that will only further hurt her.
"I don't doubt it. Inherent evil is incredibly hard to find, even in those who take joy in harming others. It takes two to tango after all, neither is fully blameless." He may be Phoebe's friend, and can't say whose side he would take (if any at all) were he forced to pick a side, at least Harper is aware that the situation is complex. "All we can do is support them in the aftermath. It's not my place to give an opinion on their past choices." Harper shrugs helplessly here. It was why he hadn't pressured Phoebe into leaving or continuing with the marriage one way or the other. A stance he continues to hold even now.
"I understand. At least you know you would be biased which is very mature of you, though...perhaps you should still try. If you know they are both hurting, isn't it unfair to leave one to suffer while tending to the other?" No judgement filters through his voice, offering the suggestion tenderly. Letting her choose to shoot it down without backlash. "I don't want her to have to lean on me alone as her crutch. That's just as unhealthy unfortunately. If you know any of her other friends, perhaps you can send them her way? Or tell me their names so that I can." The best method of healing is surrounding yourself with loved ones after all. Harper can't take the entire weight of Phoebe's pain on his shoulders unfortunately. And it would be unfair to her as well, likely leading to a codependency that will only further hurt her.
if brokenness is a form of art
I must be a poster child prodigy
I must be a poster child prodigy
