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What a splendid kid. Truly. Like the sun. It's more than anyone deserves. ]
It's... [ Yes i No, the logic stands. ] I'm not dodging.
[ At least Lion can be content, because being called out so bluntly means he looks away. There's no second attempt, because already got caught, dodging further is going into farce. So he does the sane thing and down what's left of the coffee. It's mostly dregs, more grinds than coffee, and for one brief moment the acid sensation and the constant arguing of clerics coalesces into something almost like home.
But then Lion starts setting up the chess pieces for an argument and while it's not home, it's actually better. ] Yeah. I know. It was just an unthinking outburst.
[ What a good time to grab their own cup before it cools too far to be drinkable. It's totally not just an excuse to pause before they speak, because, well...
If ever they needed to get something right on the first try, it'd be now. It might not survive a second attempt. ]
...Just because it's unthinking doesn't mean it doesn't have a point. [ Staring deeply into the teacup means they don't have to look anybody in the eye, right? Right. ] Even though, um.
[ ... there's no eloquent way to put this ffffffffff-- ]
... I wish you hadn't tried to die for me.
[ Oh. ]
Because then I'd be left alone, and I don't think-- no, I don't want to do this on my own. A-anymore, I mean.
[ Oh.
It's dumb, really. They know from before that it's at least somewhat mutual - thinking otherwise would cause another shouting match, and they're not that dense - but a part of them still has to acknowledge that they've known each other for, like. A week at best. The world's longest week, but it's still a week.
But surely everything in that week counts for something, right? ]
[ There's not much a word to use other than zen. It's kind of hard to be disappointed when nothing's expected in the first place. So within the next few minutes he'll get canned; then... what. Same as last time, probably. Let Makara have the dorm, sell off Master privileges to the director or something, closest he'll get to serving out the proper punishments. Then Lion can be left alo- ]
[ There's plenty of things to dispute about it, all rooted in one Voice that freezes the world that bends to His commands. One day, long ago, He spoke and the world Obeyed. Humans are to be cared for, but never closely. That is Forbidden. You are blessed with life, but you must never question Him. That is Forbidden. Even little things people take for granted like freedom of thought was drowned out by the Voice.
Since coming here (before, since the director, before, since backtracking to that Fragment) there has been only silence. It has been nerve-wracking, near to make someone start screaming to drive it out, but no one else hears it so then oh, you're insane, go wait in purgatory for a few millennia, but it's different for once. The silence is actually welcome for this.
For the first time, it's nice. ]
I... don't... know. ...How to stop that. I mean. [ It's tentative, but more lost than confused. Navigating something that isn't quite real. ] I won't leave. I... want to stay here. But us as. Is...
Not you. Me. Just- With anyone. It's forbidden. But. [ He's not here. He's not here. ] I won't leave. Not unless you command it. But don't decide anything based on a week, Lion. That amount of time is... nothing.
[ They can see when it clicks. Good. There's no need for shotguns or elaborate ritual suicides here today, all is forgiven.
Which means they can stop worrying over whether everything was pointless, and instead worry over what was actually said. He normally speaks in bits-of-sentences, so this is nothing new, merely... an extended lesson of sorts. Learning which sentence to stitch to which, with the threads of what was left between.
There's a lot to unpack, here, so breathe. One at a time. ]
A week isn't long, no. But it's also... um, not long enough to completely throw everything out over, either, by that logic.
[ Framing it in pieces makes it easier to answer it in pieces, too. Leaving one thread loose might end badly later. ]
Which just means we can figure it out together, right? Because I'm not-- I won't order you to do anything. [ oh boy here we go- ] Leaving, o-or staying- should be your choice. Ordering you one way or the other wouldn't be- that's not how-- [ How words. How do, in fact, words. ]
We're partners. None of this changes how we treat each other- or, it... shouldn't, anyway.
[ And then they, belatedly, catch the 'forbidden' comment, which starts to make them freeze - is. is this gonna be a disaster, somehow? But no, one freak-out at a time, later. ]
... ah, I probably sound silly, don't I. [ Which means time to aggressively hyperfocus on their tea and recover for the next round, yes. ]
[ A week is nothing, but Lion gets away with it, because the rest of the words have to get wrestled with. It's not the lack of orders that's a problem. Everyone is trained to run on autopilot when they're out on loan. It's the choice part that's a problem. That's like telling someone to leave their post of their own volition. That. That doesn't happen. It shouldn't happen.
But thankfully that bit of blue-screen terror gets avoided because Lion throws a wrench into the mix with terminology. Partners. It's always used as a corollary of something else: business partners, dance partners, partners in crime. Even in relationships, it's just another adjective to add to the usual give/take dynamic, but the word itself is kind of weak. A partner is someone who works together with another, as an equal.
Such a weak little word. But it's more than the definition. ]
...No. It's not silly. Partners is exactly right. [ Because that's how it always felt after that initial disconnect. They've always just Worked. As- ] I'm sorry. If you thought I wasn't treating you as an equal. That wasn't my intention.
[ Whoops. If they knew how badly that went internally, they'd probably apologise - as it is, they're just... going to continue focusing on the immediately positive part of this. Yes. ]
...good. I'm glad. [ And the lingering worry just bleeds away, because whatever else comes of this, that's now on the table where they can both see it. Partners is partners, and nothing will ever change that. ]
If it wasn't your intention, then does that mean you'll actually let me help with things, now? Since we're equals and all.
[ Happy fluffy no-shame zone ended like five seconds ago. Back to Dunktown for everybody. ]
Edited (needs a more direct call-out) 2018-11-26 05:29 (UTC)
[ It's not like it fixes anything. There's still five hundred little questions to ask, problems that will inevitably arise, but like the narration said before: it's on a the table now. It's something they can work on bit by bit, or just ignore forever, as is needed. No need to worry about the whole thing in one sitting. Also, if he thinks for too long about it, it feels viscerally like a parent who isn't around anymore is very, very disappointed.
Thankfully, Lion brings the train right back to Dunktown and everything snaps back into arguments and jerkassery. What a little brat - but their escape route is acknowledged. And granted. ] Hmm... Got it. You can help when I file taxes.
[ Rome wasn't built in a day. Besides, they need fodder for future arguments, obv.
Like this one! Even if it wasn't really an escape route, oh well, progress ever onwards anyway - only how to respond. An old man joke just seems incredibly awkward give, uh, That, so not that one. The arm is obvious, but would lead into another nest of Not Talking About It...
-ah. Got it. ]
I suppose if that's the only topic you're worried about, at least then I'd know they were being properly filed.
[ It is absolutely bait for the sole purpose of being a shit. They know that. He knows they know that. They know he knows they know... and so on. ]
After all, it's likely going to be an electronic form, and typographical errors are apparently a problem... [ Please ignore that the brat only learned that electronic forms and/or autocorrect were/was a thing, like, yesterday. 1980's what's up. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
What a splendid kid. Truly. Like the sun. It's more than anyone deserves. ]
It's... [
Yes iNo, the logic stands. ] I'm not dodging.[ At least Lion can be content, because being called out so bluntly means he looks away. There's no second attempt, because already got caught, dodging further is going into farce. So he does the sane thing and down what's left of the coffee. It's mostly dregs, more grinds than coffee, and for one brief moment the acid sensation and the constant arguing of clerics coalesces into something almost like home.
But then Lion starts setting up the chess pieces for an argument and while it's not home, it's actually better. ] Yeah. I know. It was just an unthinking outburst.
no subject
If ever they needed to get something right on the first try, it'd be now. It might not survive a second attempt. ]
...Just because it's unthinking doesn't mean it doesn't have a point. [ Staring deeply into the teacup means they don't have to look anybody in the eye, right? Right. ] Even though, um.
[ ... there's no eloquent way to put this ffffffffff-- ]
... I wish you hadn't tried to die for me.
[ Oh. ]
Because then I'd be left alone, and I don't think-- no, I don't want to do this on my own. A-anymore, I mean.
[ Oh.
It's dumb, really. They know from before that it's at least somewhat mutual - thinking otherwise would cause another shouting match, and they're not that dense - but a part of them still has to acknowledge that they've known each other for, like. A week at best. The world's longest week, but it's still a week.
But surely everything in that week counts for something, right? ]
no subject
no subject
no subject
that's a thing ]
no subject
Since coming here (before, since the director, before, since backtracking to that Fragment) there has been only silence. It has been nerve-wracking, near to make someone start screaming to drive it out, but no one else hears it so then oh, you're insane, go wait in purgatory for a few millennia, but it's different for once. The silence is actually welcome for this.
For the first time, it's nice. ]
I... don't... know. ...How to stop that. I mean. [ It's tentative, but more lost than confused. Navigating something that isn't quite real. ] I won't leave. I... want to stay here. But us as. Is...
Not you. Me. Just- With anyone. It's forbidden. But. [ He's not here. He's not here. ] I won't leave. Not unless you command it. But don't decide anything based on a week, Lion. That amount of time is... nothing.
no subject
Which means they can stop worrying over whether everything was pointless, and instead worry over what was actually said. He normally speaks in bits-of-sentences, so this is nothing new, merely... an extended lesson of sorts. Learning which sentence to stitch to which, with the threads of what was left between.
There's a lot to unpack, here, so breathe. One at a time. ]
A week isn't long, no. But it's also... um, not long enough to completely throw everything out over, either, by that logic.
[ Framing it in pieces makes it easier to answer it in pieces, too. Leaving one thread loose might end badly later. ]
Which just means we can figure it out together, right? Because I'm not-- I won't order you to do anything. [ oh boy here we go- ] Leaving, o-or staying- should be your choice. Ordering you one way or the other wouldn't be- that's not how-- [ How words. How do, in fact, words. ]
We're partners. None of this changes how we treat each other- or, it... shouldn't, anyway.
[ And then they, belatedly, catch the 'forbidden' comment, which starts to make them freeze - is. is this gonna be a disaster, somehow? But no, one freak-out at a time, later. ]
... ah, I probably sound silly, don't I. [ Which means time to aggressively hyperfocus on their tea and recover for the next round, yes. ]
no subject
But thankfully that bit of blue-screen terror gets avoided because Lion throws a wrench into the mix with terminology. Partners. It's always used as a corollary of something else: business partners, dance partners, partners in crime. Even in relationships, it's just another adjective to add to the usual give/take dynamic, but the word itself is kind of weak. A partner is someone who works together with another, as an equal.
Such a weak little word. But it's more than the definition. ]
...No. It's not silly. Partners is exactly right. [ Because that's how it always felt after that initial disconnect. They've always just Worked. As- ] I'm sorry. If you thought I wasn't treating you as an equal. That wasn't my intention.
no subject
...good. I'm glad. [ And the lingering worry just bleeds away, because whatever else comes of this, that's now on the table where they can both see it. Partners is partners, and nothing will ever change that. ]
If it wasn't your intention, then does that mean you'll actually let me help with things, now? Since we're equals and all.
[ Happy fluffy no-shame zone ended like five seconds ago. Back to Dunktown for everybody. ]
no subject
Thankfully, Lion brings the train right back to Dunktown and everything snaps back into arguments and jerkassery. What a little brat - but their escape route is acknowledged. And granted. ] Hmm... Got it. You can help when I file taxes.
no subject
Like this one! Even if it wasn't really an escape route, oh well, progress ever onwards anyway - only how to respond. An old man joke just seems incredibly awkward give, uh, That, so not that one. The arm is obvious, but would lead into another nest of Not Talking About It...
-ah. Got it. ]
I suppose if that's the only topic you're worried about, at least then I'd know they were being properly filed.
[ It is absolutely bait for the sole purpose of being a shit. They know that. He knows they know that. They know he knows they know... and so on. ]
After all, it's likely going to be an electronic form, and typographical errors are apparently a problem... [ Please ignore that the brat only learned that electronic forms and/or autocorrect were/was a thing, like, yesterday. 1980's what's up. ]