A monster can be bad, or it can be good. It can be both. It controls the narrative. It isn't up to fate. [...] The choice to spare someone despite knowing you could hurt them is important. You don't think so?
[there's a little bit of irritation again that she's trying to smother.]
They're there because when they're not, I'm more likely to hurt myself and others. [and she wants to trust that she could exist without them, and that it'd be fine, and she'd have control, but.]
I don't want to do that. I promised Nahri and Vash that I would try.
[ The feedback loop of irritation. Wolfwood isn't really trying to repress his, because yes in 'this is how I feel so deal with it' mode rather than repression. ]
Fine. You wanna resign yourself to going back on the mountains when all's done, be my guest. I guess I don't know your life as much as you don't know shit about mine.
[ Wolfwood, always volatile with no physical restraint to hold him, always having to make that balance himself, doesn't really understand. And he figures sometimes it just has to remain like that. ]
[there's something that like - hurts, about that, like. he'll feel it, he'll feel the way she feels just... sad. resigned. this is what she's used to. you are fundamentally different.
she looks down at the flowers in her lap again.]
I don't know anything about yours because you won't tell me. I don't see how that's a failing on my part.
[she picks a petal off one of the flowers and flicks it to the ground.]
There's nothing worth sharing about my life, that's why.
[ There's a faint buzz of tumult, but this one is willfully squashed. It's just what he does, hurt people's feelings. Unfortunately, he's unwilling to bend. ]
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No horseshit about fate or inescapable destiny.
[ It's all on purpose. ]
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... Ylfa told me something, a few days ago. She said that in stories, monsters are the ones who decide who gets hurt, and who gets spared.
You have never hurt me.
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What'd you think "mercy" meant? Maybe you're just someone I chose to spare.
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Yes. You chose that. So, monster or no, you're choosing a kindness. [she tucks her hair behind her ear.] It's what I'm trying to do, as well.
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[ The little shreds or emotion do suggest that he doesn't think anywhere remotely that easy, even if he doesn't show it outwardly at all. ]
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a pause]
I'm not moving any posts...
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You can't say a monster chooses who gets hurt and who doesn't, and then saying I'm actually a nice guy for doing exactly that. Is what I mean.
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[poor wolfwood]
A monster can be bad, or it can be good. It can be both. It controls the narrative. It isn't up to fate. [...] The choice to spare someone despite knowing you could hurt them is important. You don't think so?
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[ He can be just as obstinate because they're the same. ]
Look, big girl. There's worse than me out there, I know that for sure. But who's lecturing who, here?
You wanna ban yourself from doughnuts for the rest of your life because some fate you can't even see told you you shouldn't?
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No. [she says, after a moment.] I don't want to. Not anymore.
[but there's a difference between want, and have to.]
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If you're not gonna let yourself, then why even bother with the ropes? They're there for a reason, aren't they.
[ He snorts. ]
Or, I dunno. Learn how to make 'em yourself. Take your own control.
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They're there because when they're not, I'm more likely to hurt myself and others. [and she wants to trust that she could exist without them, and that it'd be fine, and she'd have control, but.]
I don't want to do that. I promised Nahri and Vash that I would try.
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Fine. You wanna resign yourself to going back on the mountains when all's done, be my guest. I guess I don't know your life as much as you don't know shit about mine.
[ Wolfwood, always volatile with no physical restraint to hold him, always having to make that balance himself, doesn't really understand. And he figures sometimes it just has to remain like that. ]
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she looks down at the flowers in her lap again.]
I don't know anything about yours because you won't tell me. I don't see how that's a failing on my part.
[she picks a petal off one of the flowers and flicks it to the ground.]
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[ There's a faint buzz of tumult, but this one is willfully squashed. It's just what he does, hurt people's feelings. Unfortunately, he's unwilling to bend. ]
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Alright. [and another. and another.]
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Quit picking apart your flowers, you worked hard on that.
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picks another petal off while looking at him]
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You're such a baby.
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You are annoying.
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... You are annoying, but I still care about you.
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I wouldn't be annoying you about your restraint if I didn't care at least a little, probably.
[ This is the best you get from a guy who has a REALLY hard time saying he cares. ]
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and then she leans over to him and flicks him on the nose. or tries, anyway.]
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Quit it, why's everyone after my nose.
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