caughtinanetwork | [action/anon text] - Struggles - 020 [Backdated to afternoon of 4/2]

Gnomeday, Gnome Redecan 02, ND 2018

[The first thing Guy noticed upon waking up was how unbelievably sore he was.

The second? The barrier on Zelda's bed was gone. He could easily tell - he'd sprawled out a bit as he started to wake up, mixed up in the covers and the remains of the uniform he had last remembered wearing. He hummed wearily, giving a confused and clouded glance around the room as he propped himself to his elbows.

Had he fallen into a coma again? Guy grimaces, rubbing a crick in the back of his neck. He'd left Zelda here alone like this again, of all times? Damn it. How long had he been out?

Worrying wasn't going to help matters, though. He heaves himself out of bed, stretching his arms above him, straightening his back, and adjusting his clothes enough so that he could wander the house without being too embarrassed coming across another housemate (if they were awake by now.) He pads across the floor with bare feet, descending the staircase about halfway before finally bother to call out.]

"...Zelda? Hey, are you around...?"

----

[It's only after he' had a good share of time to talk to Zelda and get his bearings that Guy finally picks up his SFC, opting to keep himself anonymous this time around. There was too much that had happened while he was gone. It would just be nice to get a general sense of the city, if anything else.]

Breaking the ice around strangers is pretty hard, isn't it? I know we all have to do it all the time around here, with everyone coming and going. But it doesn't make it any easier.

Some people take to it easier than others, though. And I'm sure some of you have learned ways to interact with a new person just by being in this crazy place.

So tell me, Vatheon. How would you treat a stranger?

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It's something everyone can enjoy!

Even if it's because they're embarrassed or offended? That doesn't seem like the right way to treat a princess.

Heheh.

So, say I were a stranger, brand new to the city. What kind of pasta would you be making for me?

Spaghetti bolognese~

...Bolognese?

I don't know. Sometimes even the boring people tend to have something interesting to say if you have the patience to listen.

Good thing you met her, then.

Why the angry behavior to a stranger, though? No benefit of the doubt or anything like that?

Ideally is a good way to put it.

What about for those strangers that you just can't seem to approach well?

And if I didn't want the help? Or if I thought the help was foolish? What would you do?

[But... that's what hostile means...]

Well, uh... why are they attacking you?? Do you live somewhere where strangers are just like that to begin with?

It's spaghetti with sauce spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, garlic, and a lot of veggies and meat~

[He thinks about that, then remembers a certain someone.]

Now that you mention it, there is one person whom I've become friends with that I thought was boring at first. I've come to see you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, or so the saying goes.

You make a good point. I meant that as I said it, though-- a cute blush is a bonus, nothing more.

I do my best with what's thrown at me, y'know?

I would try to do something anyway. Or at least make sure that you'll be okay. And if I really were only a bother I would apologize.

Bandits, creepers, a couple big misunderstandings... That's most of it.

We'd be here all day otherwise ;)

Hmm... That has happened to me too. But I guess, you could try and help them remember. If they don't, then you've gotta start from scratch - but you know that you guys can be good friends, it'll just hurt a bit, and take more time is all. That make sense?

Well, to see who's tougher, of course! Besides, men like us talk with our fists.

[he means "us" as in "himself and this hypothetical stranger"]

Depends on the kind of person you are just as much as the kind of person they are. It's tough, but finding that out is pretty important. What works for me doesn't work for everyone, and vice-versa, so I can't really give you an exact answer. If "being yourself" keeps making it difficult, then don't be dishonest. They might not be someone you want to hang around too much. If you want to get to know them despite that--which I'd say is probably the better route, here, but don't force yourself--then find a means to compromise that. You'll probably find a way to even things back out to honesty pretty quick, if you do.

I'm also best friends with the coldest fish my world's ever seen, though, so I might not be the best person for advice.

Edited 2013-04-08 05:19 (UTC)

For me. His feelings for me. I made him feel, I dragged him out of his shell and I practically forced him to be my friend even though the notion made him panic and he was perfectly fine before I did so, he was just fine and I -

[Her alarm goes off, indicating that it's time to tell Gamzee to take his sopor.]

...excuse me. Gamzee needs his medication.

[Zelda takes out her SFC, shooting him a quick text and refusing to meet Guy's eyes.]

[It does.]

I step forward within their line of sight and greet them, but stay aware of their response. If it is not immediately threatening, I ask if they are a new arrival.

What happens next?

[Suddenly we are RPing RP characters RPing??]

[His expression holds steady and somber, just the edges of frustration flickering against the edges, propping a leg on his knee with his head still rested against his knuckles while he waits for her to finish. She was running in a circle again, but at least he could try to keep up with this one. She'd befriended him, something in an attempt to help Duke be a little less antisocial, maybe... and she now thinks it had backfired? Mmm.

It's only when she's put the SFC down that he bothers to speak again.]

So you think - for some outlandish reason - that he hurt himself because you tried to be friends and now he... well, has feelings for you.

[He raises a brow. Is he even close at all?]

[With her message to Gamzee finished, she doesn't have an excuse to not look at Guy anymore. Zelda raises her eyes.]

He has trouble processing emotions. While I am not certain he hurt himself purposefully, I know that those emotions make him more reckless. I should have left him alone the first time he asked me to, but I kept pushing.

[She can feel something from him. She knows it seems like she's blaming herself for things that aren't her fault again, but this IS her fault!]

...don't look at me like that. I did this. I did not learn my lesson with Sola, but this time I will. I should not approach such vulnerable people.

...

Well. You're very lucky, then. Not many people could say that. It's very easy to focus on the negative.

Thank you for trying so hard not to be like that.

Well, you must be a pretty easy person to get along with, then, right?

So. What's your secret?

Maybe? I think it's rare to someone that I don't like so I guess I get along with a lot of people!

[If there was that one person, it would be Ghetsis after all! So when she heard his next question, she was a little confused.]

Secret? There is no secret, I just act like myself! That's all there to it! If there is a secret, I don't know it so you'll have to tell me!

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[action/anon text] - Struggles - 020 [Backdated to afternoon of 4/2]

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