thebastion | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who: Colin Starfury, Anyone Else
Open: Open
When: Day 113, Late "Morning"
Where: Arriving from the Skyway
What: Someone new arrives at the Bastion
Format: Action
Warnings: None

[Well, here's something to behold. It looks as though someone's come back from the skyway. Only, this isn't an established resident of the Bastion. Someone new has been added!

Colin's trudging past the onsen with heavy footsteps, he seems to have been traveling for a while. But he's got a wide grin on his face. Oh, and he's got a holstered pistol and a bulky-looking pack hanging on his belt, if that might make anyone wary.

Once he's sure that the ground is solid and not going to behave weirdly, Colin stops in his tracks and starts looking around, taking in his surroundings. He also raises his hand to drum his fingers on his left wrist. Anyone feel like approaching the new guy?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, that's good!

I thought you seemed like a nice person, but it's good to have some confirmation.

.... All these people say things like that, you know? "Crona, you're a nice person." "Crona, you're a good person."

I don't think you're right.

That's certainly your choice.

I don't see any reason to say otherwise, though.

Do you not think you're a good person?

Maybe. I don't know. You know, everyone has a different way of knowing who good people are.

What about you?

Do you think you're not a good person?

Not what anyone else thinks, just what you think.

Why do people want to know this? You're not the first person here who asked me. Why is it so important?

I'm inquiring so that I can better understand you and your morality.

[He smiles a little sadly]

Also, I'm a little worried that you might have been hurt in the past. I'd rather avoid hurting you again, if that's the case, and if I know, I can take steps to prevent it.

It's all right, you know. I'm stronger than I look.

All right.

[He nods, that's an acceptable answer to him.]

I'm still curious about your morality, but I won't push the matter.

Maybe people will tell you things if you don't ask such straightforward questions.

Maybe, maybe not.

But I'd rather be honest with myself and take what I can get.

Greedy.

I've never met a greedy person who was a good person.

Did I ever say I was a good person? I try not to make such claims.

I prefer to let my actions speak for me.

You're not a good person, but you want to know how other people think.

Did I ever say I wasn't a good person?

[Have that same calm, gentle smile Crona]

I try not to make such claims, and let my actions speak for me.

They did.

[That gets a grin, and Colin gives Crona a wink.]

But are they saying what you think they're saying? You see me as Greedy, that's fine. I can think of far worse things to be seen as.

But you can't learn new things without being inquisitive.

And you can't keep from being burned by curiosity without being careful.

If you let everyone decide without telling them the answers, you're going to get a lot of different answers. You can't let everyone decide on their own and then be unhappy when they don't agree with you.

It doesn't work that way.

Who said I was unhappy? I can't change everyone's mind with words, they're going to come up with their own opinions one way or another. So long as they don't pull a gun on me, it doesn't affect me either way.

And besides, your answers and statements are telling me quite a bit. I'm surprised you're not asking me more, frankly.

I don't have a gun.

[Yes, Crona, that was the important thing here.]

If you were happy, you wouldn't say anything.

[But that last statement stings.]

You don't know anything about me. You're not as good at guessing as you think.

Or maybe I'm naturally inquisitive. Happiness is irrelevant. I like knowing stuff. Puts me more at ease. That's a freebie, by the way...

On the other hand...

You don't trust people. You've been hurt, bad, in the past. You've probably been abused. Family, if I had to guess.

[He puts his hand to his chin, just for show, as he studies Crona]

70% chance it was your mother figure. 30% it was your father figure. You're not reacting to me with blatant hostility, so it was probably a feminine figure rather than a masculine, but that's not a totally accurate indicator...

You're trying to throw me off my game so you can feel more in control of the situation. You're also trying to feel me out so you know whether or not you should avoid me, or eliminate me as a threat. You were leaning towards the former. Now you're starting to consider the latter. Not seriously, yet, but my words are probably giving the option more weight as I keep talking.

That's... about it, at the moment. I haven't had long to study you, yet.

[Now, here's the question he's asking himself... is he provoking Crona to attack, is he gonna run, or is she going stand up to him? Those are his top three choices... sadly, in order of expectation...]

[Crona listens, eyes going wide as Colin talks. Just talking, saying things that shouldn't be so easy to know. A shift of weight from one foot to the other, eyes flicking between Colin and everywhere else.

Say nothing, do nothing, wait and see what happens next.]

[Colin watches Crona for just a moment. When it's clear that Crona's not going to do any of his top three predictions, he smiles just a little sadly]

My wife was abused as a child. I know the indicators. You're not giving anything away that most people wouldn't know.

Your nervousness when I first approached you was what tipped me off. The... defensive responses to some of my statements, the attempt to turn me around and get me to be the bad guy. I've seen it before.

You don't have to worry, I'm not going to say anything to anyone. It's not my place. Not that you're comforted by words alone, I suspect, but it's another gesture.

I... apologize for putting you on the spot. As you might imagine, I've had a rough day. If you'd prefer to leave, I won't stop you. I hope you won't hold this against me, I don't intend to be a threat to you.

[Crona wonders if it's that obvious, if everyone looks and says "That child is damaged".

But Crona is not the type of person to give up and turn away.]

D-do you want me to show you your room?

If you want to, I certainly would appreciate it. I've got no 'link network here to grab a map, and it's going to annoy me for a while.

But if you're not comfortable around me, I won't be offended if you take some time to collect yourself. I know I'm not the easiest guy to be around.