more oc brainstorming
dandelion is arrogant, divinely arrogant. the sort of disconnection from the world nearly beyond being capable of being hurt, a sort of godlike curiosity and condescension.
it's not exactly warranted. and dandelion can be rash, but rarely. she possesses a sort of cruelty of ripping open someone's deepest insecurities, at least as far as she can figure them out. she rarely does this much... since she's rarely ever that angry... .... ...... she doesn't usually allow herself to be angry, she's been angry before and always regretted it.
chicory is arrogant too. and prideful as sin. but also, out of necessity, humble. it's easy to imagine it as false humility. and, if you get on her bad side (god help you..) you'll understand her humility as false, but it is in fact true. but it's not the sort of humility one should ever wish for. it's the humility of having some sense. chicory is the sort of person to innately view herself from an external point of view. rather than being the protagonist, when she is humble she understands her role in the world.
chicory is utterly unwillingly obsessed with dandelion, as soon as she arrives to pluto. (dandelion... reminds her of herself and of her companions on her previous voyage. the attunement process leaves a permanent impression of another's psyche... and departure leaves a gap... a psychic void)
dandelion too is obsessed with chicory when they meet. part of dandelion's training as a sacrifice to the stars was establishing a psychic feedback loop with her flower, an unattenuated output would result in overstimulated input and psychic damage results. the easiest way to do this is block external psychic connections to other travelers. however, dandelion constantly stole away time to establish psychic links...
to dandelion, chicory is the first person to make any sense, and possesses such a deep horrifying and beautiful love that she cannot help but be drawn to her
to chicory, dandelion is many things. full of potential, gentle, vicious, noble, and wretched. chicory loves her so deeply, beyond affection. but, knowing what journey lies ahead and the demands of attunement, her love often looks like cruelty.
who may determine what is love and what is violence?
who has the right to decide if you're being hurt?
can you hurt someone "for their well being"? if you do, does your cause justify their suffering?
dandelion is... far too trusting at times (and in a way, far too distrusting as well). she would say she's willing to be hurt, so long as you say it is for her wellbeing. there is a form of cowardice in this though, it denies responsibility in understanding her own pain.
chicory would say only the person being hurt can truly say if it is harm or help. and if you are to hurt someone for their benefit, you must do it so well that they cannot deny your help and you must accept their blame when they recognize the harm you've done. it must be a selfless act, recognition of your help is not to be expected.
unfortunately, chicory only knows how to help with the use of her flower and to apply psychic violence.
naturally, she helps as she can, but... won't go out of her way.
dandelion is the sort to assume she can help and blame others when she fails (she meant well!) but secretly blames herself quite horribly when anything goes wrong.
over time (pre attunement) she has learned to be quite cautious and patient. sometimes, anyway... she has a temper.
chicory does too.
in her heart, dandelion believes she cannot be loved as a person, she can be a pet or a(n irresponsible and loveless) pet owner, but nothing in between. (before the events of the story) she doesn't believe she can be anything else and still sincere, so she hides her heart away and just wishes not to hurt anyone else anymore...
chicory fears she can only be either (a pet or a (responsible and loveless) pet owner), but she dreams very strongly that there is a something beyond this, and so she needs to prove to dandelion that such a life is possible, that living with your true heart hidden is lonely but sometimes necessary, but that you should never lose touch with it, and that life and a future are possible aboard their vessel headed for the stars.
a question that haunts both dandelion and chicory: is it justified to live?