Day 88:: Can you hear me, I know I'm just a whisper...

[bastionpc]

Who: Everyone!
Status: Open
When: Day 88
Where: The Bastion
What: NPC and PC mingling
Format: Action
Warnings: None

[The excitement of the day before moves in to the quiet of the day after in the Bastion. It's fairly calm after all that, and the two new arrivals have been mostly healed. Current residents will find the once-armored woman bandaged still but in surprisingly good spirits, and the male with the guitar skittish and likely to jump at the smallest thing.

This would be a good point to talk to them, other NPCs or even your fellow NPCs.]

Comments

[blackblooded]

That's how it is. I don't know how to deal with a world where it's different.

[bastionpc]

I'm sorry to hear that... this must be difficult for you then.

[blackblooded]

[Just a nod. Most things are difficult for Crona.]

[bastionpc]

[poor thing]

I'm not sure if will help you at all, but when I can't deal with something, I try to take a few deep breaths and think of the things I can normally handle. Then I tell myself "If I can handle these things, surely I can deal with one more thing!"

[blackblooded]

... things... they aren't all the same, you know? One thing might be easy but different things aren't.

Besides, there aren't many things I can deal with...

[bastionpc]

Well, it takes small steps. You certainly won't be able to change your disposition overnight.

[blackblooded]

Everyone... they say things should change. Maybe it would be better to just... just... [Ah, saying things like this to a stranger? No, Crona shouldn't do that. Maybe this person just doesn't understand.]

[bastionpc]

... ah, well... truthfully? I can give all the advice I have, but you have to be the one that wants to change. It only comes from within.

If you don't want to, then don't. It's entirely up to you.

[blackblooded]

I....

[That's not what Crona meant. But Crona is never going to be able to speak clearly when stress is involved.]

I-i-if people are all right with the way other people are, then it's easier to change. You know?

[bastionpc]

I suppose so, yes.

[It doesn't take much for Ahime to realize she's pretty off base, and she offers an apologetic smile for it.]

I'm used to giving my own daughter and the children of my friends life advice. It's difficult to remember that not everyone's situations can apply to what I have to say, especially when they're not that old yet.

[blackblooded]

... you have a daughter?

[bastionpc]

Mhm. Christina. She's only four but she's already smart as a whip.

[blackblooded]

... y-you sound proud of her. [Crona has never had a positive interaction with a mother.]

[bastionpc]

Of course I am. I may be a warrior, but my family is what's most precious to me.

[blackblooded]

She's lucky.

[bastionpc]

Is she? Why do you say that?

[blackblooded]

[Again, that deep gray blush colors Crona's cheeks.]

Y-you're a... a nice person.

[bastionpc]

Oh. Well. Thank you. I think you're very nice, too.

[blackblooded]

I....


I'm not, not really.

[bastionpc]

No? Why do you say that?

[blackblooded]

[Crona sort of curls up more, not making eye contact.]

When... a person... hurts other people, just to be stronger, that's not good. That's not a good person.

[bastionpc]

Well... no, I suppose not. But is it something you still do? Do you still want to hurt people to be stronger?

[blackblooded]

No. No, I never want to hurt anyone again. No one should be hurt because of me.

[bastionpc]

Then you're a better person than you give yourself credit for.

[blackblooded]

... I... I'm trying. That's all I can do.