The Nineteenth Trial

[hot_mess_express]

Who: Everyone
When: Day 43, evening
Where: The Mermaid's Beach

Come on, come on heroes...! Come hither!

[ There's a playful giggle and the sound of splashing as the Mermaid's beach appears in the clearing. ]

Let's play a game...!

Comments

[voreaciously]

Of course not, because you are stubborn and you meddle and you cannot leave well enough alone.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Yep.

So, square?

[voreaciously]

I am finished with you.

[she is going to turn to leave.

why is she even angry?]

[schrodingerscockroach]

Why are you angry?

[Because he's rude as fuck.]

[voreaciously]

I am fine.

[schrodingerscockroach]

...people who push people away are not incapable of making bonds.

They're afraid.

And the fact you're so angry that someone would still want to bond with you despite your efforts just adds more evidence to that.

[voreaciously]

If you believe that is the case you truly have not been paying attention. Which does not surprise me. All you care about is pushing what you wish instead of listening, which is fine, truly. Good day.

[he can follow, but she is making strides to get away. she isn't running, but she's not stopping for anything.]

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Welp]

[Nope, he's following, and he's got long strides too.]

You can't tell someone they haven't been paying attention when everytime they ask to understand, you shut down. Why do you think I keep asking questions?

[voreaciously]

I have no idea why you keep asking anything1

[honestly, why hasn't he given up by now?]

[schrodingerscockroach]

Because I care about you and I want to help!

[voreaciously]

Why? We are not friends, we are not teammates, we are not anything!

[schrodingerscockroach]

Because I like your humor, I find you interesting to talk to, you have a lot of qualities I admire in a person, you helped me, you help my team, multiple times!

I think people who do good deserve to have good done for them in turn, and I personally like you, what reason do I have to not?! Literally the only reason we aren't friends is because you say no, I'd be friends in a heartbeat.

[voreaciously]

I am and have none of those things and I only ever helped you for my own personal gain!

[schrodingerscockroach]

I've already told you my views on people helping for selfish reasons. As long as those selfish reasons aren't 'earn your trust to stab you in the back' variety then it's still good that deserves to have good done in turn. God knows I've done good things for selfish reasons.

And you're smart, you can handle things pragmatically, keep your head in terrible situations, you're strong, those are things I admire, can you really say you don't have those?

[voreaciously]

I do not require friends, nor am I permitted them.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Why not?

[voreaciously]

They are not necessary.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Who says?

[voreaciously]

My--it does not matter.

[schrodingerscockroach]

You're shutting down again.

But that was a my, so it's someone else. Whose not here.

Here, where bonds are necessary.

[voreaciously]

Yes, I am, because it is not important. I will leave the bonding to those capable of doing so.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Then tell me the not important things!

[voreaciously]

If it is not important, you do not need to know it.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Why are they not important?

[voreaciously]

Because I said so. Let it go.

[for once in your life.]