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

[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?

[asea]

That's enough!

[contemptibility]

[...]

You're rather upset today, aren't you?

[asea]

[ . . . ! It wasn't supposed to be like this.

Unwilling to grace the obvious statement with affirmation, Walter moves aside to storm away.

Under ideal circumstances, he should have been able to ditch Tiir, but Vatheon has a different idea in mind when, keeping in line with its recent liking of inconvenience, a small (and filthy) creature suddenly appears and catches Walter's legs. And causes him to trip unceremoniously over the dog, falling too close to the lake's edge for his comfort.

His reflexes are working fine, so he lands on his side, at the least.]

. . . what . . . !?

[contemptibility]

[Blink.

Blink.

... Yeah, um. Tiir isn't too sure what just happened there. At least he wasn't the one who tripped?]

... Is it yours?

[medama]

[ And following shortly after the puppy, from the forest, comes a very familiar barefooted girl, with leaves and twigs sticking out of her raven nest of a hairdo.

Hello, family. Your Guriko has arrived.

... Really, though, she doesn't notice Tiir and Walter at the moment, she's a little preoccupied -- ]

I've got you, quick one! You cannot escape Guriko's mighty iron clasp!

[ -- leaping in the air, so she can land on the puppy, cradling it in her arms so the blow doesn't hurt it. The dog begins to munch on her hair when she notices the other two, looking at them with a confused face. She tilts her her, petting the dog. ]

Tiir-nii, Jellyman, what are you doing here?

[asea]

[Observing the scene before him quietly, Walter says nothing when prompted. He doesn't quite get up, yet, propped up on his forearms to return her question with a glare.

"Jellyman" is the least of his concern in this picture.

Why is she here?]

[contemptibility]

[This just gets weirder and weirder.

Fortunately for Walter, though, with Guriko in the picture, Tiir won't be pressing him any further.]

Ah... Guriko?

[A pause]

... When did you get a pet?

[medama]

Just now? Guriko has been following him all over the bubble for a few hours.

[ Why are Tiir and Walter hanging out? Are they friends now? Guriko is confused.

She stares at Walter for some time, because she's proving to him that staring and not saying anything is really rude, okay. But eventually, she brings her attention back to the puppy, picking at a dirty collar around his neck. ]

Cal... beck? Calberd? Cal... Calbert? Calbert!

[ Guriko grins, turning the dog over to show Tiir and Walter. Awww! Look how smelly. ]

Calbert, meet Tiir-nii and Grumpy!

[asea]

[Her scheme fails. Walter has had nothing proven to him.

That dog has a repulsive appearance. It may have been enough to motivate him to stand, since he's ready to get out of the general area and leave the three to their unimportant business.

He's still rather steamy from his conversation with Tiir, so he frowns at Calbert. Walter is not actually bothered by the nickname.]

[contemptibility]

[Well, Tiir is. Sort of, in a way.]

Guriko, it's not polite to call people names.

[Even if they're Walter.

... Also—]

... And are you certain that it doesn't already belong to someone?