08

[asea]

Who: Walter, Tiir, and Guriko
Where: Forest, near the lake
When: Later afternoon
Style: Either
Status: Closed

[Walter is before the large lake in the forest today, not really doing anything but thinking. With little choice in the matter of allowing Shirley more freedom -- or so he's convinced himself -- it's all that's left to be done.

His thoughts are fragmented, plaguing his mind with loathsome ideas. He stands there, quiet but scowling at the surface of the still water.

At one point, he goes forth and dips a hand in it with an upturned palm. He's still for a moment before he pulls the hand out, his expression blank.

This water has neither a voice nor a conscience, as far as he can tell. And it bothers him.]

Comments

[contemptibility]

Am I not allowed to be curious?

[asea]

I'm not interested in sharing.

[contemptibility]

Would you rather I asked your friend?

[Not that Tiir plans on going out of his way to, since he's not that curious, but.]

[asea]

Don't go near her.

[It's a blurt, but there's momentary silence as he holds his tongue afterward.]

She won't tell you anything, either.

[contemptibility]

I don't take orders from you.

[A smile!]

Though if she won't say anything, then very well. I won't ask.

[asea]

[ . . . ]

[contemptibility]

I'll respect her decisions... though I wonder if they're purely her own, admittedly.

[asea]

She has chosen to decide such.

[She wouldn't have thought to hide the fact on her own, knowing her big heart. It's not necessarily bad, but Walter won't risk her good quality becoming a flaw here.]

[contemptibility]

Without any persuasion from you?

[His tone isn't particularly judging—it's just a simple question.]

[asea]

[Not that he trusts non-Ferines to refrain from judging.

But Walter doesn't sound particularly cornered, either; he believes what he asked her to do is for the good.]

It was necessary.

[contemptibility]

You're certainly choosing to be rather secretive about this. Why is that?

[asea]

No good can come of otherwise.

[contemptibility]

Well, I wouldn't know. My friends and I have never had the option of secrecy.

[He tilts his head.]

Though I already understand that you're not like others. Why does it matter now how much I know?

[asea]

. . . You're all the same. One word can change everything.

["You" is used as a general address, though he wouldn't deny it for Tiir as well.]

[contemptibility]

Oh? Unless you're like the humans who would lie to and kill those around them, including their own people, I've no reason to look down on you and your own.

[asea]

[Ideal words coming from someone Walter associates to be Orerines. It really just kills the buildup once he's reminded of news regarding the Legacy, as relayed by Shirley.

Walter whirls around with a look of anger-filled doubt.]

You've said it yourself. Humans lie. Why would I believe anything you say?

[He's convinced. So convinced that Shirley has agreed to a trap set by the Orerines to doom their kind, and it bothers him because she doesn't deserve that kind of manipulation, that he wasn't there to prevent it -- ]

[contemptibility]

[He just blinks.]

I'm not human, though.

[asea]

[He was calm before. Now he's angry again, and he's done.]

I don't trust you.

[contemptibility]

Fair enough. I'm not of your people.

[...]

It seems your friend has yet to pick up on that attitude, however.

[Well, he can empathize with Walter's feelings there, at least.]

[asea]

[That Tiir would have the gall to drag Shirley back into the conversation in such an upsetting manner gets a yell out of Walter.]

She was led astray by the lies of you Orerines. Had she not been deceived, she would never have spoken with the likes of you!

[contemptibility]

[... Tiir just smiles faintly at that.

He understands, honestly. Being deceived by humans...]

That sort of kindness can be rather frustrating, yes. Isn't it your duty, then, to save her from that?

[asea]

[!

That effectively shuts him up. His mind catches up in time to keep him from saying anything he'll regret, and for the better: he has no intention of spilling his failure to anyone.

He's always meant to save her from that damning kindness. Always. Always. Always. ALWAYS.

He starts off low, barely able to be heard before his volume gradually escalates to a guttural yell.]

You . . . you know nothing about her or my duty!

[contemptibility]

[Having dealt with the hatred of others his entire life, Tiir isn't daunted by Walter's escalating anger, and instead shrugs and calmly replies—]

Because you don't say anything. What do you expect me to know?

[asea]

[After that outburst, he calms just enough to stop yelling, though it does nothing for his snapping.]

Then don't talk as if you do. You don't know anything.

[contemptibility]

And who are you to decide that?