Fade Rift: Inbox

[keenly]

you know what to do

Comments

[sulahnan]

[ Oh, well that's a relief. ]

Ohhhh, okay. So it's more about being pitied, then?

[keenly]

Yeah. That, and it’s hard to talk to someone when they never talk about themself and you never talk about yourself. Usually people love talking about themselves.

[sulahnan]

[ She nods, sagely. ]

Right, right. I can let you in on the secret to getting Bastien to talk about himself, if that makes anything easier.

[keenly]

...Sure.

[sulahnan]

Ask him.

[ She grins. An overly simple answer, naturally. ]

[keenly]

[he deflates.]

Right. Of course.

[but talking is harrrrrrd.]

Maybe we need those spirits to come back. The ones that took us all to those awful dreams last winter. It was terrible, but it got some conversations out of the way.

[sulahnan]

[ A short bark of a laugh. ]

No thanks. I would still rather punch whatever spirits are responsible for all that.

[ Not only for the dreams that she shared with Colin, but with Bastien, and Deimos. She shakes her head. ]

It's easier to just talk to people.

[keenly]

For you.

[sulahnan]

[ Athessa let's out a fondly exasperated sigh and rests her head against the chair back, her withering glance ruined by her smile. ]

What's the worst that could happen? Specifically, with Bastien. Going through the rituals and stuff, [ She gestures with the journal. ] isn't gonna be any easier if you don't talk to him.

[ Especially with her being likely to say nothing for whole days at a time in the grieving process. ]

[keenly]

I could die?

[sulahnan]

From talking to him?? No.

[ Instead of a lazy swing of their hands, she gives the hold à little jostling shake. ]

I'm serious, Colin. It's important to me. Especially 'cos I'm not gonna be much for conversation while we're there; I don't want you to be miserable.

[keenly]

[He squeezes her hand.]

I know. You're right. I'll talk to him. Nothing bad could really happen, I just...yes. It won't be a problem.

[sulahnan]

I promise he doesn't think less of you for what he knows.

[ She hopes so, anyway. The sting of betrayal from the nightmare she shared with Bastien has lingered overlong, despite all reassurances. ]

He's always telling me that talking is good for me, that talking before I fall apart is important. But he understands when I tell him I don't want to. I'm sure he'd understand why you wouldn't want to talk, too.

[keenly]

He's right. I just. Don't like feeling like I'm nothing but a charity case for him.

Maybe I'd feel better if I did something for him in return. I could paint him something.

[sulahnan]

That's not a bad idea. I think maybe it'd also help if he knew more about you than that shit with Lutair. Obviously I don't think you're a charity case, or that he thinks you are, but if he doesn't know anything other than that...it's hard to make a very convincing argument to reassure you.

[ Apologetic. You're gonna have to talk about yourself, bud. ]

[keenly]

[If only people could be friends with you without knowing anything about you.]

He knows I had chickens when I was a kid, but that's...nothing. Giving him a painting would let him know it's something I like to do? Then we could talk about art, and things we like to do. I sound like I'm making a shopping list.

[sulahnan]

I didn't know you had chickens...

[ Not the point, Athessa. ]

Anyway, yeah, that sounds fine, but you could also just ask him about art, or stories. Do you know about Black Fox?

[keenly]

No.

[sulahnan]

That's something to get him talking, then. He loves the Black Fox, they're stories of this like, gentleman thief. I haven't read any of them but I love hearing him talk about them.

[keenly]

I'll ask him about that, then. Um. Thanks for this, and sorry. It's probably at least as awkward as when I asked Sonia what you're supposed to do at a party.

[sulahnan]

[ There's a laugh that she's trying very hard to contain, which just means she grins not unlike a chipmunk. ]

You...you asked Sonia what people do at parties?

[keenly]

Yes. When do you think I would have learned about parties?

[sulahnan]

I dunno, maybe at Bastien's mandatory etiquette lessons last year? Or at any of the parties we have to attend on Riftwatch business? Books that feature them? When do you think I learned about parties?

[keenly]

You're different. You're, you're social. You pick up on that sort of thing. I get into a place like that and I just, I just don't feel...safe.

[sulahnan]

Yeah but I wasn't always as vivacious and charming as I am now.

[ She gives her own little hair-flip, which takes more effort than his because there's just so much of it. ]

Whaddya think would make you feel safer?