COURT: Heart Game!

[upmoving]

[Your consciousness drifts in to the sound of discordant whispers. It sounds like a hushed argument in another room, something you can't quite catch. You're cold. Your skin tingles slightly, and then...]

Comments

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

Not anything. You could sit with me awhile, if you wanted. Eat something. You can write on the board, but what you write can change everything.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

Then let's share a meal together.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

As you wish. What would you like? [moving to the fridge, because haha like he really can cook even in his heart]

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

Whatever you have.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

Alright, then... [We are having parfaits. He pulls out two, then waits for Tristan to move.] If you'd take a seat.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

[He will take a seat and wait for Ariel.]

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

[He sets the parfaits down on the table, then sits across from Tristan to poke at his, still nervous, still bruised.] Is this alright?

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

[It feels stiff and awful and he resents it vehemently but he's probably a better actor than Ariel at this point. His smile is gentle and relaxed.]

This is lovely.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

I'm glad you think so.

[He doesn't trust it. But he plays along, smiling back, trying to act natural.]

What do you think of what you've seen so far, inside of me? And him?

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

I think you're my brother. Both of you.

[Is that a shitty answer? But it's the end result of anything, anything he sees here won't change that.]

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

Well, that's true. [A bit depressing but true.] Is that a good thing?

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

You would have to tell me. What do you think, is that a good thing?

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

I think we wouldn't be who we are otherwise. I don't know if I want to be someone else or not.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

Mm. I think whether it's "good" or "bad" is the wrong question for both of us. Would you change it, if you could?

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

...No. I don't want any more resets. Besides, I can say "I wish things had been different" all I want, but that's not valuing the work I can do now, as me.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

But you do wish they'd been different.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

Don't you? Or rather, doesn't a part of you wish you hadn't been hurt? It doesn't mean I wish I hadn't known you, or anyone else. It's just a wish for better circumstances. But I wouldn't give up the person I am, even so.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

I wish for a great many things, Ariel. But this isn't about me.

I hope the person you are remains valuable to you. There was a while, still is, that I've worried you wanted to simply disappear.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

...Ah, well. There are good days and bad days.

[He still does want that, sometimes. There's a reason this place is so perilously fragile, as is the person in it. He's only just beginning to form this identity, and a sense of confidence.]

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

I'd appreciate it, if you stuck around.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

I'm doing my best.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

Yes...

[He hasn't touched his parfait, though he loves them. So now he does, picking up a spoon and avoiding a response by taking a bite, thinking.]

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

...Mm. [He's not really eating his either. Tristan's presence is still far too unnerving. But he at least steals the whipped cream from on top, trying not to be too obviously on edge.]

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

Would I be correct in assuming there's nothing I can do here that won't hurt you?

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

Mostly, yes. I'm sorry for that.