This guy talks a lot

@ellis-rp

[RP Blog] PFP by @@diego-wants-to-draw @Ellis-the-lightguide sideblog for long rp threads. No need to follow this one <3

1,751 posts

ellis-the-lightguide

Hey @eclipse-4-oc dear, is everything ok? Some guardians told me that you've been acting... off? Wanna talk?

I’m fine, Ellis… I’ve been granted full freedom to enact The Traveler’s Will, a war unending for me and my Radiant Dawn. Everything I’d ever wanted…

not so much as a waver in his voice, he’s completely composed and focused now

Many lightbearers see my or my hunters’ righteous inflictions of judgment against our enemies and think there’s something “wrong” with us. I don’t care what they think, nor do any of us. We only care about doing defending our god that cannot defend itself.

ellis-the-lightguide

Good to know! I'm just checking. Some of the stuff I heard... I...

-Ellis lowered his head and sighed-

Anyways! I guess I worried for nothing then!

They’ve always been scared of me, thought that I’m unstable. Others think that I’m a victim of my own success, but I’m not. I’m the champion of it.

He then tilts his head, his optics narrowing

Save your concern for Sol and its people, especially Earth. It’ll downright be removed from existence if we don’t put the remaining menders of The Nine on their leashes.

They weren't scared of you... well not all of them. They were scared for you!

-He smiled and placed his right hand on his hip-

You're also part of Sol and its people. And I know that these uncertain times are harder for those of us who were... how do I put this... specially favored by the Traveler!

He feels a discomfort that isn’t noticeable to Ellis at the contact of the hand on his hip, covered in the thin layer of his cloth shorts that are worn by him as casual attire along with his equally thin tanktop

They shouldn’t have been. Scared for me, I mean. This transient period is good for me, it means my purpose and service to The Traveler has been renewed.

Well, it doesn't hurt to care for fellow guardians! I'm happy you're fine and happy!

-He hummed and hugged the other-

Now, if you excuse me, I have to clean my locker! I wont be staying here for much longer.

Eclipse instinctively responded by wrapping his arms around Ellis’ torso, cracking ribs and vertebrae and causing deep tissue injuries due to the pressure, before he then lets go

Huh… typically only captains or barants, maybe even knights try that with me…

-Ellis quickly regretted his choice, poorly managing to cover the pain with an uncomfortable laugh-

Yeah not sure why I did that...

-He said, quickly casting an arc bullet to heal himself-

Me neither.

He steps back a bit, and allows Ellis to proceed with what he was doing

Thanks...

-He throws the bullet to his chest, quickly healing most of the damage caused by the exo-

Huh... must me a good day...

…Uh… for which one of us?

For me! My bullets usually hurt me when I use them on myself... it didn't do it now... maybe I'm getting stronger!

Hm… maybe.

He sits down on his bed, before taking out one of his Suros and cleaning it

Well, if you're okay then I think I should be going then! I'm happy you're doing fine!

-He's about to blink away when he smiles at the exo-

If you ever need talking... you can call me, you that, right?

-"Lord Shaxx bailed him out" was the answer Freija got when she asked to visit Ellis at the low risk cells on the Tower. Lord Shaxx himself didn't gave a clear answer to where his "Little Fox" was, probably because he didn't knew either. However he did mention to her that Ellis had comms open-

The question was, did she really want to contact him. Really. Really. Because she wanted to yell at him, and that wouldn't help. But neither would leaving him alone.

Fine.

She thumped inside and opened the comm link. She didn't bother being nice about it, either.

"Are you at least staying off your fucking leg?"

ellis-the-lightguide

Of course I am! I promised that to you! Actually I asked dad to get me out because of that!

-He seemed to take offense at the question-

I'm a man of my word! Most of the time...

titanicfreija-rp

"You put a lot of effort into that," Freija said sarcastically. Specifically arranging your words so you can squirm out of whatever you need to, because telling an outright falsehood makes your tongue tie itself down, but speaking a technical truth that absolutely doesn't answer the question being asked? Oh you'll do that one. "Where are you being so very careful?"

Some hunter friends help me make a quick hunter nest on a pretty peaceful part of the EDZ! And I'm laying in here, unbothered, happy and most importantly far up in the tree, away from the floor so I can't step on my leg! Wanna come?

titanicfreija-rp

Freija was not keen to believe him, but she'd learn not to predict anything, just in case. "Yeah, I'll be there in a little while."

Since she was already on Earth, it was no trouble to get to the EDZ. She could only hope he was easy to find from the LZ.

I'll be waiting for you! Remember to look up, guardian!

-Ellis sounds happy as usual, though a little bit more energetic-

titanicfreija-rp

Sunny tracked him down and led the way with an indicator, and Freija trekked more or less straight to him. "Hey, Ellis!"

-Ellis was laying on a considerably big hammock-like structure made from different pieces of cloths, tarps and old hunter cloaks that were tied to the trees. A few extra pieces covered a part of it to work as a roof and under it are a bunch of coolers and boxes with food, magazines and supplies for Ellis' different hobbies-

Hi Sunny!

titanicfreija-rp

The cloth treehouse reminded Freija of her own hammock tent she used on the field. That he made one into an entire house was not a surprise.

She didn't want to disrupt the thing, so she hauled herself into the branches of a neighboring tree and laid her body carefully along the length of it to lean close. "And you didn't use your leg in the crafting of this?" she challenged, gesturing at the shelter. "I want to be nice but being nice just lets you neglect yourself."

I didn't use my leg, at all! I just had a bunch of friends help me!

-He turned to the side to look at the titan-

See? I don't surround myself only with people who mistreat me, I have friends who help me! Like you!

titanicfreija-rp

"I know how you act when I try to help," she replied dryly, not trying to argue with him about it. Until he could understand the link between 'but my leg shouldn't be broken' and 'i deserve a broken leg', it would just make her angry and him crazy.

That's because I don't ask your help and you insist anyways!

-He crossed his arms-

This is how I act when I actually wanted the help.

titanicfreija-rp

"I'd let you have that point, but Sunny's also helped upon your request and you ignored the information she gave you," she pointed out. She wouldn't believe him no matter what he said, she didn't know why she was bothering. "Anyway, I'm glad you're alive and not walking on the broken leg anymore." She started to get up to get down, moving over the tree branches more ably than could be expected of anyone in that much plated armor. "Seen you and gotten an idea of how you're doing. Need anything from home?"

That was me asking for an opinion, not help. It's different!

-He hummed, turning his head to the side-

Not really, you were the one looking for me.

titanicfreija-rp

"Yes, because I worry about you," she replied. "I was also asking if you needed anything because I worry about you, and I was about to leave and that's one of my ways of making sure people are taken care of."

"Asking my opinion about the toxicity of black mold feels a lot like asking for help instead of an opinion," Sunny objected. "Especially since I know you didn't come across any information or opinions to the contrary and yet you ate it anyway."

I asked your opinion because I needed it, and I'm thankful that you worry about me! Though it confuses me a bit...

-He lifted himself and sat on the structure-

But I've already told you I don't need anything. I'm fine, I'm always fine!

titanicfreija-rp

"You said that while you were walking on a broken leg," Freija sighed. She was clearly trying to get a good jump to get straight down and hesitating. "Even if you do think it's fine, I very clearly don't think it's fine for anyone to go around walking on broken legs. I'm used to you starting fights you know you can win, but you always lose that one. Why do you keep saying it to me? Hoping I'll get annoyed and ignore you like everyone else?"

Force of habit, I'm just used to say it... I'm sorry.

-The hunter looked around for something, not finding it and rolling to the edge of the nest to look down, groaning and rolling back-

titanicfreija-rp

"Do you honestly think anyone really believes it?" she huffed. "Habit or not, we--everyone that hears you say it-- knows it's not true. The only reason it works is because we know you don't want help and won't take it and there's no point in trying to argue with you about it, because even if we do try to force it, you'd rather break your good arm than accept it. I'm just not exhausted with it, yet, so I keep arguing with you." She didn't want to admit how badly he was wearing her down, too. Part of it was not wanting to give up hope on anyone, but the other part was mostly sheer bullet-headed stubbornness.

Hey! Everyone believes it! I'm convincing!

-He laid on his back, looking at the sky-

You're just too insistent.

titanicfreija-rp

"I am insistent, but I'm not the only one that doesn't think you're okay. No one else is willing to argue with you about it," she insisted. "I'm just the kind of asshole that's going to argue with you about it."

Maybe they don't argue with me because they know I'm fine! And you're not an asshole, you just like arguing! That's fun to do sometimes.

titanicfreija-rp

"They don't argue because you've said you're okay and at that point you are clearly not going to say anything else. I bet they even do the same face when they hear you say it." She crossed her arms. She knew there were a lot of people in his life that didn't care, but the ones that asked if he was okay were not on the list, presumably. She knew she was special for having gotten the chance to comfort him when he was grieving, but he wasn't that subtle.

They give me a warm smile and say "good to know!". Because they know I'm fine!

-Ellis yawned, and stretched out to have more of his body be covered by the warm sun-

titanicfreija-rp

"Mmhm," she said. "They must be convincing." She scanned the area again, still looking for a clean drop, somewhat artificially.

Why are you so focused on making me feel bad now? I'm convincing!

titanicfreija-rp

"I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I'm just saying it doesn't matter if you're convincing, they wouldn't argue about it because they're respecting your desire to be left alone, whether they believe you or not. I just can't stop being a self-righteous jerk. And I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I'm just stating a fact. But I can tell, and I'm really bad at telling when people are lying. Your," she mimicked his usual tones (if not his voice) impressively, "'fine, I'm always fine'," she returned to her own, "is a subconscious reflex. Every single person you've said it to has noticed, at least every once in a while, that you're lying. They are being polite, not blind."

But I don't need help! Everyone knows that when I say "I'm fine" it mean "I'm fine", I'm too dumb to have underlining intentions... and everyone knows that too!

-He protested, turning to the side, now noticing the titan was looking for a way to go down-

I'm pretty but dumb!

titanicfreija-rp

Freija hesitated for several seconds, then laughed. "And now I know how it feels," she sighed. "I always pull that one... Pretty much everyone any time they pick on my lack of finesse, that I'm a dumb Titan and they shouldn't expect more." She was putting on the show about it but she didn't really want to leave, either, and she couldn't decide if she wanted to stay until they were upset or run now. "None us are fooled every single time, even if some of us are some of the time. We simply know our help isn't welcome."

Uh huh, yeah...

-He said sarcastically, rolling his eyes-

But I'm truly dumb... a warlock lady of the hidden once put it as "Will remember everything he hears and will believe it despite contradicting previous information." on a report about me to Ikora.

titanicfreija-rp

"I don't call that dumb, I call that crazy," Freija said. "Plus the warlock is wrong. You don't just believe whatever you hear. You are fully prepared to deny anything whenever you want. You don't change your mind about the earth being flat every time you hear someone say it's not, you heard one time out of a bazillion that it was flat and you decided to keep that one and refuse to be moved by evidence. Sure, you changed your mind to believing it was flat when someone said it, but if it was as simple as you hearing something, regardless of previous experience, you would change your mind back just as easy. The part where you were told it was flat and picked it up, I can see where they were coming from, but the rest of their conclusion doesn't make sense. You want to believe stuff, so you believe it, it's not about being dumb." She smiled bright, as though this was a normal conversation. "Plus, you're a medic with fifty hobbies and you're preternaturally good at some of those, I'm not gonna let you tell me you're dumb because some Warlock got mad you wouldn't listen."

Honestly I'm not sure about the earth anymore. Someone explained to me how my star maps couldn't be posible if there wasn't a curvature...

-The hunter turned his head to the side, confused-

I'm not naturally good at anything! I just have a weird memory that allows me to do stuff with less practice than others... it's like saying you're naturally good at making solar hammers!

titanicfreija-rp

Freija quirked a brow at him. "You can't tell me you're dumb and then tell me that you're really really good at things because you figure them out. That doesn't make any sense. Which isn't odd for you, but it does give me reason to think you're not dumb."

Me figuring things out doesn't mean that I'm smart. Most of the time I know how things are supposed to be done but for one reason or another I don't do it that way...

-Ellis paused for a moment, thinking of something to give as an example-

Like the black mold! I knew it was harmful, everyone told me it was harmful and I could've done some experiments before going straight to eating them, but I didn't! That's stupid.

titanicfreija-rp

"I have no idea why you do that dumb shit, but your excuses are that you're doing experiments, which is also not dumb person behavior, and I personally suspect you're self-harming when you do that kind of shit. What would you call smart if not being able to figure things out?"

I think someone smart knows when to use their previous knowledge to solve their actual problem... I often find myself brute forcing my problems instead of going through my memories to look for a better solution.

Besides, it's better if I'm dumb but pretty!

titanicfreija-rp

Freija laughed genuinely. "It's really weird, how much we have in common! Yeah, me, too. It's easier, usually. But I guess by that measure, I can see why you say you're dumb, but we both know you're not. You just don't like remembering shit. Which is super unfortunate for a perfect recall, but makes perfect sense." She rolled her head to a side and sighed dramatically. "For once."

Honestly, is just easy to go by feeling than by experience. Everything in my mind is neatly organized so I could go over anything without much problem, but... I don't know, I do the stuff then I think.

-He looked at her and smiled, patting the stop next to him-

You should try joining me here, it's comfy!

titanicfreija-rp

"I'll break it, no thanks," she said quickly. Plus she was trying to get out of here before they ended up yelling at each other again. "I do the same thing, especially when I'm talking, but fieldwork of most kinds just doesn't give me the time I need to remember all the details. Leaves me scrambling on the fly a lot."

Come on, it's sturdy! And the sun feels good here!

-He stretched again and rolled around to get more comfortable-

I don't usually like sunbathing but today is not so warm, I like it.

ellis-the-lightguide

Hey @eclipse-4-oc dear, is everything ok? Some guardians told me that you've been acting... off? Wanna talk?

I’m fine, Ellis… I’ve been granted full freedom to enact The Traveler’s Will, a war unending for me and my Radiant Dawn. Everything I’d ever wanted…

not so much as a waver in his voice, he’s completely composed and focused now

Many lightbearers see my or my hunters’ righteous inflictions of judgment against our enemies and think there’s something “wrong” with us. I don’t care what they think, nor do any of us. We only care about doing defending our god that cannot defend itself.

ellis-the-lightguide

Good to know! I'm just checking. Some of the stuff I heard... I...

-Ellis lowered his head and sighed-

Anyways! I guess I worried for nothing then!

They’ve always been scared of me, thought that I’m unstable. Others think that I’m a victim of my own success, but I’m not. I’m the champion of it.

He then tilts his head, his optics narrowing

Save your concern for Sol and its people, especially Earth. It’ll downright be removed from existence if we don’t put the remaining menders of The Nine on their leashes.

They weren't scared of you... well not all of them. They were scared for you!

-He smiled and placed his right hand on his hip-

You're also part of Sol and its people. And I know that these uncertain times are harder for those of us who were... how do I put this... specially favored by the Traveler!

He feels a discomfort that isn’t noticeable to Ellis at the contact of the hand on his hip, covered in the thin layer of his cloth shorts that are worn by him as casual attire along with his equally thin tanktop

They shouldn’t have been. Scared for me, I mean. This transient period is good for me, it means my purpose and service to The Traveler has been renewed.

Well, it doesn't hurt to care for fellow guardians! I'm happy you're fine and happy!

-He hummed and hugged the other-

Now, if you excuse me, I have to clean my locker! I wont be staying here for much longer.

Eclipse instinctively responded by wrapping his arms around Ellis’ torso, cracking ribs and vertebrae and causing deep tissue injuries due to the pressure, before he then lets go

Huh… typically only captains or barants, maybe even knights try that with me…

-Ellis quickly regretted his choice, poorly managing to cover the pain with an uncomfortable laugh-

Yeah not sure why I did that...

-He said, quickly casting an arc bullet to heal himself-

Me neither.

He steps back a bit, and allows Ellis to proceed with what he was doing

Thanks...

-He throws the bullet to his chest, quickly healing most of the damage caused by the exo-

Huh... must me a good day...

…Uh… for which one of us?

For me! My bullets usually hurt me when I use them on myself... it didn't do it now... maybe I'm getting stronger!

patiencetheguardian

-The hunter waited for the other in the tea place they agreed upon. He sat in a table close to the entrance, a single crutch resting against the chair he was sitting on-

Patience walks through the front door, his bright combat armor reflecting the dull lamps of the tea shop. He's still wearing his helmet, too, though he seems at least to have had the good grace to leave his weapons outside.

The clank of armored boots echoes as he sidles up to the table.

"Ellis." the hunter acknowledges, as perfunctory as ever.

ellis-the-lightguide

Patience, dear! Hi!

-He waved at the other hunter-

How have you been? Anything interesting?

-Ellis spoke in the softest yet most enthusiastic way. Trying his best to not disturb anyone else around-

patiencetheguardian

Patience shares none of Ellis' tact. He noisily drags a chair towards him and takes a seat.

"Not much. Some odd patterns in the Nessian currents. Introjects from Tharsis, probably."

"You?"

ellis-the-lightguide

-Ellis looked as the other dragged the chair. The noise on the, otherwise silent, shop causing everyone to turn and look at them-

Those are many words that I know the meaning off, but I don't understand together...

-The hunter mumbled-

Me? I'm fine! I'm always fine! Though the intel I gave just now clashed with the one they already had so I think either me or someone else is getting killed this week... I hope it's me!

patiencetheguardian

"You... hope it's you?"

Even through an opaque mask and a voice filter, the words convey incredulity.

ellis-the-lightguide

Well yes! I would feel terrible if I found out someone died because of my intel...

patiencetheguardian

Patience stares for a moment. The silence lingers just a bit too long.

"So. Any chance I could hear what it is?"

ellis-the-lightguide

It's supposed to be secret... besides I don't see why you would be interested on the dealings of the Imperium with Dredgens and the Shadow Legion.

patiencetheguardian

Another few seconds of silence.

"Kept that box for you, didn't I? Didn't even look inside."

A small light blinks on Patience's visor. Slowly, calmly, he reaches up, presses a button, and it stops.

"I can keep a secret."

It's not that I don't trust you to keep a secret...

-He looked around for any guardian that may be eavesdropping-

There's a group of Dredgens that usually ask me for supplies and information, they are pretty good guardians when they aren't threatening to kill me! Recently there were some members important members of the Shadow Legion that were thinking on joining the Imperium and asked me to act as witness, just in case anything happened.

However mid negotiation someone killed all of the cabal even the ones that were escorting the Dredgens! One of them claimed to have seen some Shadow Legion psion do it, but I'm sure I saw another guardian, a friend of them actually!

patiencetheguardian

Patience quiets down.

“Tried to wipe out the cabal and pin it on someone else. Pretty sure that makes you a loose end, Ellis.”

I hope it's that! Otherwise the guy that shoot the cabal is lying and he's getting killed... I don't like that.

patiencetheguardian

"You aren't worried about yourself?"

Without waiting to hear an answer, Patience will flag down a waiter. He'll return to a less conspiratorial volume as he turns back to face Ellis.

"What do you want?"

A little, but at the end of the day... I'm not as useful as a guardian as that dredgen. If we were to lose someone, I'm the most logical choice!

-Ellis stopped for a second, the question scaring him-

I-I never want or stop wanting anything... I don't- Oh- you mean to drink! I would like the strawberry tea... with ginger!

patiencetheguardian

Patience raises a hand to the waiter, then gestures to Ellis.

"That for him, please. Nothing for me."

With his other hand, he raises up a tiny cube of glimmer. The waiter apparently finds it acceptable; they snatch it up and carry it off.

"Take it you don't do much work for the City?". Patience hasn't turned back to face Ellis, but the question is directed at him. Probably.

I don't do something that another guardian o just a normal civilian couldn't do...

-Ellis shrugged-

If I knew you weren't going to order anything I wouldn't have asked for anything...

patiencetheguardian

"I know."

It's a little unclear which of the two sentences Patience is responding to.

"Why not? You can..."

Patience waves his armored fingers around, miming the sparkle of paracausal energy.

"...right?"

Well, yes but I'm a pacifist... the light was made to hurt and there's not much else to do when I refuse to do just that.

-He laid back on his seat-

Though I have my arc healing bullets! That's something nobody else can do... though it's pretty useless.

patiencetheguardian

"That does sound pretty neat."

Patience stares at Ellis. He leans forward in his seat, just a little bit.

..."I knew someone. Took off for one of those... enclaves. Out..."

He gestures broadly to indicate distance. At a neighboring table, someone flinches.

"Pacifists. I'm sure you've heard of them."

I have, it's just not my thing. Most pacifist guardians are just somewhat pacifist, wouldn't doubt for a second if they're against the scorn or the vex.

-He shrugged-

That's just not my thing. The only reason for pulling my gun is to heal, no matter who's at the end of it.

patiencetheguardian

“The old you disagreed. Assuming you consider him… you.”

“Something change?”

I killed someone...

-He said lower. That too was on his personal archive, he had beaten someone so much they ended up in a vegetative state and died a few days later. In fact, besides from the missing reports, that's the last recorded thing about Ellis before becoming a guardian-

At the time it made no sense. Only guardians did that, only guardians were cruel enough to kill a father, only guardians caused death and the sorrow that was left for the ones who lived... but that time... I did it...

patiencetheguardian

Patience stares, and stares, and stares. If he's thinking words of comfort, none of them escape his helmet. If he feels concern, the polished metal reveals none of it.

Without either of the guardians noticing, the waiter slides a cup of strawberry tea (with ginger) onto the table.

"You remember."

-The hunter froze in place. He thought the other knew, why else would he ask him about his past-

No... I was just... guessing...

-He tried lying, giving a nervous laugh at the end-

patiencetheguardian

“…Nice guess.”

Patience looks down, noticing the cup of tea. He slides it across to Ellis. Steam curls upwards from the cup, condensing on his helmet and distorting the visor.

“My condolences. Can’t have been easy.”

I didn't live it, so it never happened!

-He claimed rapidly-

Anyways you were the one who asked me to talk, what did ylu want to talk about?

-The hunter tookthe cup in front of him and starting to sip from it. Ellis couldn't speak if he was drinking so he wouldn't had to lie. Perfect plan, he thought-

patiencetheguardian

"mmm." Patience shifts in his chair.

.

.

.

"You said you encountered some... disciplinary problems. In the tower. I was wondering why you weren't reporting them."

Why would I? They're just having fun and I don't mind.

patiencetheguardian

"Not sure I understand. You're being... killed? Repeatedly?"

"Everything else... aside, that's against tower rules. Won't even let us duel up there."

Well, yes it is against Tower rules, it's specially illegal if I don't fight back... but I can't be a snitch! How are guardians supposed to trust me if I go telling on them the second they do something illegal?

patiencetheguardian

"'As opposed to trusting a man who won't stand up for himself? You want trust, you need integrity."

But I have integrity! I just don't tell, I never tell! I can keep secrets and I know everyone!

patiencetheguardian

"...you juuuuuust told me about a top secret negotiation."

But I didn't give you names, did I? Or a place, or anything and the entire thing went "poof!" so there's really nothing important to share now...

patiencetheguardian

"Fair enough." Patience turns his head slightly, staring into space for the barest half-second before turning back to Ellis.

"How's the tea?"

Pretty good! But that's to be expected from this place!

-He hummed, taking another sip from it. The hunter then looked at the other and narrowed his eyes-

Dear, please tell me you're not going to start a protection group for me... I can't deal with another one of those...

patiencetheguardian

“No. You…”

Patience drags a gauntleted finger back and forth across the table. The wood blackens as it passes, faintly scorched by invisible arc light.

“…could protect yourself, if you wanted to. Besides- “

Patience draws a data-pad from his belt. He holds it out in front of him, indecipherable numbers streaming across its surface.

“I have things to do”.

That's great! You know how hard is to deal with my contacts when there are twenty guardians around me trying to make sure I don't get shot?

-Ellis sighed and took another sip from the tea-

Crow set like four different groups to protect me, but now I have to avoid all of them before going to do any favors. I know he does it because he's concerned, but he's only making my job harder!

ellis-the-lightguide

Hey @eclipse-4-oc dear, is everything ok? Some guardians told me that you've been acting... off? Wanna talk?

I’m fine, Ellis… I’ve been granted full freedom to enact The Traveler’s Will, a war unending for me and my Radiant Dawn. Everything I’d ever wanted…

not so much as a waver in his voice, he’s completely composed and focused now

Many lightbearers see my or my hunters’ righteous inflictions of judgment against our enemies and think there’s something “wrong” with us. I don’t care what they think, nor do any of us. We only care about doing defending our god that cannot defend itself.

ellis-the-lightguide

Good to know! I'm just checking. Some of the stuff I heard... I...

-Ellis lowered his head and sighed-

Anyways! I guess I worried for nothing then!

They’ve always been scared of me, thought that I’m unstable. Others think that I’m a victim of my own success, but I’m not. I’m the champion of it.

He then tilts his head, his optics narrowing

Save your concern for Sol and its people, especially Earth. It’ll downright be removed from existence if we don’t put the remaining menders of The Nine on their leashes.

They weren't scared of you... well not all of them. They were scared for you!

-He smiled and placed his right hand on his hip-

You're also part of Sol and its people. And I know that these uncertain times are harder for those of us who were... how do I put this... specially favored by the Traveler!

He feels a discomfort that isn’t noticeable to Ellis at the contact of the hand on his hip, covered in the thin layer of his cloth shorts that are worn by him as casual attire along with his equally thin tanktop

They shouldn’t have been. Scared for me, I mean. This transient period is good for me, it means my purpose and service to The Traveler has been renewed.

Well, it doesn't hurt to care for fellow guardians! I'm happy you're fine and happy!

-He hummed and hugged the other-

Now, if you excuse me, I have to clean my locker! I wont be staying here for much longer.

Eclipse instinctively responded by wrapping his arms around Ellis’ torso, cracking ribs and vertebrae and causing deep tissue injuries due to the pressure, before he then lets go

Huh… typically only captains or barants, maybe even knights try that with me…

-Ellis quickly regretted his choice, poorly managing to cover the pain with an uncomfortable laugh-

Yeah not sure why I did that...

-He said, quickly casting an arc bullet to heal himself-

Me neither.

He steps back a bit, and allows Ellis to proceed with what he was doing

Thanks...

-He throws the bullet to his chest, quickly healing most of the damage caused by the exo-

Huh... must me a good day...

-"Lord Shaxx bailed him out" was the answer Freija got when she asked to visit Ellis at the low risk cells on the Tower. Lord Shaxx himself didn't gave a clear answer to where his "Little Fox" was, probably because he didn't knew either. However he did mention to her that Ellis had comms open-

The question was, did she really want to contact him. Really. Really. Because she wanted to yell at him, and that wouldn't help. But neither would leaving him alone.

Fine.

She thumped inside and opened the comm link. She didn't bother being nice about it, either.

"Are you at least staying off your fucking leg?"

ellis-the-lightguide

Of course I am! I promised that to you! Actually I asked dad to get me out because of that!

-He seemed to take offense at the question-

I'm a man of my word! Most of the time...

titanicfreija-rp

"You put a lot of effort into that," Freija said sarcastically. Specifically arranging your words so you can squirm out of whatever you need to, because telling an outright falsehood makes your tongue tie itself down, but speaking a technical truth that absolutely doesn't answer the question being asked? Oh you'll do that one. "Where are you being so very careful?"

Some hunter friends help me make a quick hunter nest on a pretty peaceful part of the EDZ! And I'm laying in here, unbothered, happy and most importantly far up in the tree, away from the floor so I can't step on my leg! Wanna come?

titanicfreija-rp

Freija was not keen to believe him, but she'd learn not to predict anything, just in case. "Yeah, I'll be there in a little while."

Since she was already on Earth, it was no trouble to get to the EDZ. She could only hope he was easy to find from the LZ.

I'll be waiting for you! Remember to look up, guardian!

-Ellis sounds happy as usual, though a little bit more energetic-

titanicfreija-rp

Sunny tracked him down and led the way with an indicator, and Freija trekked more or less straight to him. "Hey, Ellis!"

-Ellis was laying on a considerably big hammock-like structure made from different pieces of cloths, tarps and old hunter cloaks that were tied to the trees. A few extra pieces covered a part of it to work as a roof and under it are a bunch of coolers and boxes with food, magazines and supplies for Ellis' different hobbies-

Hi Sunny!

titanicfreija-rp

The cloth treehouse reminded Freija of her own hammock tent she used on the field. That he made one into an entire house was not a surprise.

She didn't want to disrupt the thing, so she hauled herself into the branches of a neighboring tree and laid her body carefully along the length of it to lean close. "And you didn't use your leg in the crafting of this?" she challenged, gesturing at the shelter. "I want to be nice but being nice just lets you neglect yourself."

I didn't use my leg, at all! I just had a bunch of friends help me!

-He turned to the side to look at the titan-

See? I don't surround myself only with people who mistreat me, I have friends who help me! Like you!

titanicfreija-rp

"I know how you act when I try to help," she replied dryly, not trying to argue with him about it. Until he could understand the link between 'but my leg shouldn't be broken' and 'i deserve a broken leg', it would just make her angry and him crazy.

That's because I don't ask your help and you insist anyways!

-He crossed his arms-

This is how I act when I actually wanted the help.

titanicfreija-rp

"I'd let you have that point, but Sunny's also helped upon your request and you ignored the information she gave you," she pointed out. She wouldn't believe him no matter what he said, she didn't know why she was bothering. "Anyway, I'm glad you're alive and not walking on the broken leg anymore." She started to get up to get down, moving over the tree branches more ably than could be expected of anyone in that much plated armor. "Seen you and gotten an idea of how you're doing. Need anything from home?"

That was me asking for an opinion, not help. It's different!

-He hummed, turning his head to the side-

Not really, you were the one looking for me.

titanicfreija-rp

"Yes, because I worry about you," she replied. "I was also asking if you needed anything because I worry about you, and I was about to leave and that's one of my ways of making sure people are taken care of."

"Asking my opinion about the toxicity of black mold feels a lot like asking for help instead of an opinion," Sunny objected. "Especially since I know you didn't come across any information or opinions to the contrary and yet you ate it anyway."

I asked your opinion because I needed it, and I'm thankful that you worry about me! Though it confuses me a bit...

-He lifted himself and sat on the structure-

But I've already told you I don't need anything. I'm fine, I'm always fine!

titanicfreija-rp

"You said that while you were walking on a broken leg," Freija sighed. She was clearly trying to get a good jump to get straight down and hesitating. "Even if you do think it's fine, I very clearly don't think it's fine for anyone to go around walking on broken legs. I'm used to you starting fights you know you can win, but you always lose that one. Why do you keep saying it to me? Hoping I'll get annoyed and ignore you like everyone else?"

Force of habit, I'm just used to say it... I'm sorry.

-The hunter looked around for something, not finding it and rolling to the edge of the nest to look down, groaning and rolling back-

titanicfreija-rp

"Do you honestly think anyone really believes it?" she huffed. "Habit or not, we--everyone that hears you say it-- knows it's not true. The only reason it works is because we know you don't want help and won't take it and there's no point in trying to argue with you about it, because even if we do try to force it, you'd rather break your good arm than accept it. I'm just not exhausted with it, yet, so I keep arguing with you." She didn't want to admit how badly he was wearing her down, too. Part of it was not wanting to give up hope on anyone, but the other part was mostly sheer bullet-headed stubbornness.

Hey! Everyone believes it! I'm convincing!

-He laid on his back, looking at the sky-

You're just too insistent.

titanicfreija-rp

"I am insistent, but I'm not the only one that doesn't think you're okay. No one else is willing to argue with you about it," she insisted. "I'm just the kind of asshole that's going to argue with you about it."

Maybe they don't argue with me because they know I'm fine! And you're not an asshole, you just like arguing! That's fun to do sometimes.

titanicfreija-rp

"They don't argue because you've said you're okay and at that point you are clearly not going to say anything else. I bet they even do the same face when they hear you say it." She crossed her arms. She knew there were a lot of people in his life that didn't care, but the ones that asked if he was okay were not on the list, presumably. She knew she was special for having gotten the chance to comfort him when he was grieving, but he wasn't that subtle.

They give me a warm smile and say "good to know!". Because they know I'm fine!

-Ellis yawned, and stretched out to have more of his body be covered by the warm sun-

titanicfreija-rp

"Mmhm," she said. "They must be convincing." She scanned the area again, still looking for a clean drop, somewhat artificially.

Why are you so focused on making me feel bad now? I'm convincing!

titanicfreija-rp

"I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I'm just saying it doesn't matter if you're convincing, they wouldn't argue about it because they're respecting your desire to be left alone, whether they believe you or not. I just can't stop being a self-righteous jerk. And I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I'm just stating a fact. But I can tell, and I'm really bad at telling when people are lying. Your," she mimicked his usual tones (if not his voice) impressively, "'fine, I'm always fine'," she returned to her own, "is a subconscious reflex. Every single person you've said it to has noticed, at least every once in a while, that you're lying. They are being polite, not blind."

But I don't need help! Everyone knows that when I say "I'm fine" it mean "I'm fine", I'm too dumb to have underlining intentions... and everyone knows that too!

-He protested, turning to the side, now noticing the titan was looking for a way to go down-

I'm pretty but dumb!

titanicfreija-rp

Freija hesitated for several seconds, then laughed. "And now I know how it feels," she sighed. "I always pull that one... Pretty much everyone any time they pick on my lack of finesse, that I'm a dumb Titan and they shouldn't expect more." She was putting on the show about it but she didn't really want to leave, either, and she couldn't decide if she wanted to stay until they were upset or run now. "None us are fooled every single time, even if some of us are some of the time. We simply know our help isn't welcome."

Uh huh, yeah...

-He said sarcastically, rolling his eyes-

But I'm truly dumb... a warlock lady of the hidden once put it as "Will remember everything he hears and will believe it despite contradicting previous information." on a report about me to Ikora.

titanicfreija-rp

"I don't call that dumb, I call that crazy," Freija said. "Plus the warlock is wrong. You don't just believe whatever you hear. You are fully prepared to deny anything whenever you want. You don't change your mind about the earth being flat every time you hear someone say it's not, you heard one time out of a bazillion that it was flat and you decided to keep that one and refuse to be moved by evidence. Sure, you changed your mind to believing it was flat when someone said it, but if it was as simple as you hearing something, regardless of previous experience, you would change your mind back just as easy. The part where you were told it was flat and picked it up, I can see where they were coming from, but the rest of their conclusion doesn't make sense. You want to believe stuff, so you believe it, it's not about being dumb." She smiled bright, as though this was a normal conversation. "Plus, you're a medic with fifty hobbies and you're preternaturally good at some of those, I'm not gonna let you tell me you're dumb because some Warlock got mad you wouldn't listen."

Honestly I'm not sure about the earth anymore. Someone explained to me how my star maps couldn't be posible if there wasn't a curvature...

-The hunter turned his head to the side, confused-

I'm not naturally good at anything! I just have a weird memory that allows me to do stuff with less practice than others... it's like saying you're naturally good at making solar hammers!

titanicfreija-rp

Freija quirked a brow at him. "You can't tell me you're dumb and then tell me that you're really really good at things because you figure them out. That doesn't make any sense. Which isn't odd for you, but it does give me reason to think you're not dumb."

Me figuring things out doesn't mean that I'm smart. Most of the time I know how things are supposed to be done but for one reason or another I don't do it that way...

-Ellis paused for a moment, thinking of something to give as an example-

Like the black mold! I knew it was harmful, everyone told me it was harmful and I could've done some experiments before going straight to eating them, but I didn't! That's stupid.

titanicfreija-rp

"I have no idea why you do that dumb shit, but your excuses are that you're doing experiments, which is also not dumb person behavior, and I personally suspect you're self-harming when you do that kind of shit. What would you call smart if not being able to figure things out?"

I think someone smart knows when to use their previous knowledge to solve their actual problem... I often find myself brute forcing my problems instead of going through my memories to look for a better solution.

Besides, it's better if I'm dumb but pretty!

titanicfreija-rp

Freija laughed genuinely. "It's really weird, how much we have in common! Yeah, me, too. It's easier, usually. But I guess by that measure, I can see why you say you're dumb, but we both know you're not. You just don't like remembering shit. Which is super unfortunate for a perfect recall, but makes perfect sense." She rolled her head to a side and sighed dramatically. "For once."

Honestly, is just easy to go by feeling than by experience. Everything in my mind is neatly organized so I could go over anything without much problem, but... I don't know, I do the stuff then I think.

-He looked at her and smiled, patting the stop next to him-

You should try joining me here, it's comfy!

ellis-the-lightguide

Hey @eclipse-4-oc dear, is everything ok? Some guardians told me that you've been acting... off? Wanna talk?

I’m fine, Ellis… I’ve been granted full freedom to enact The Traveler’s Will, a war unending for me and my Radiant Dawn. Everything I’d ever wanted…

not so much as a waver in his voice, he’s completely composed and focused now

Many lightbearers see my or my hunters’ righteous inflictions of judgment against our enemies and think there’s something “wrong” with us. I don’t care what they think, nor do any of us. We only care about doing defending our god that cannot defend itself.

ellis-the-lightguide

Good to know! I'm just checking. Some of the stuff I heard... I...

-Ellis lowered his head and sighed-

Anyways! I guess I worried for nothing then!

They’ve always been scared of me, thought that I’m unstable. Others think that I’m a victim of my own success, but I’m not. I’m the champion of it.

He then tilts his head, his optics narrowing

Save your concern for Sol and its people, especially Earth. It’ll downright be removed from existence if we don’t put the remaining menders of The Nine on their leashes.

They weren't scared of you... well not all of them. They were scared for you!

-He smiled and placed his right hand on his hip-

You're also part of Sol and its people. And I know that these uncertain times are harder for those of us who were... how do I put this... specially favored by the Traveler!

He feels a discomfort that isn’t noticeable to Ellis at the contact of the hand on his hip, covered in the thin layer of his cloth shorts that are worn by him as casual attire along with his equally thin tanktop

They shouldn’t have been. Scared for me, I mean. This transient period is good for me, it means my purpose and service to The Traveler has been renewed.

Well, it doesn't hurt to care for fellow guardians! I'm happy you're fine and happy!

-He hummed and hugged the other-

Now, if you excuse me, I have to clean my locker! I wont be staying here for much longer.

Eclipse instinctively responded by wrapping his arms around Ellis’ torso, cracking ribs and vertebrae and causing deep tissue injuries due to the pressure, before he then lets go

Huh… typically only captains or barants, maybe even knights try that with me…

-Ellis quickly regretted his choice, poorly managing to cover the pain with an uncomfortable laugh-

Yeah not sure why I did that...

-He said, quickly casting an arc bullet to heal himself-

ellis-the-lightguide

Hey @eclipse-4-oc dear, is everything ok? Some guardians told me that you've been acting... off? Wanna talk?

I’m fine, Ellis… I’ve been granted full freedom to enact The Traveler’s Will, a war unending for me and my Radiant Dawn. Everything I’d ever wanted…

not so much as a waver in his voice, he’s completely composed and focused now

Many lightbearers see my or my hunters’ righteous inflictions of judgment against our enemies and think there’s something “wrong” with us. I don’t care what they think, nor do any of us. We only care about doing defending our god that cannot defend itself.

ellis-the-lightguide

Good to know! I'm just checking. Some of the stuff I heard... I...

-Ellis lowered his head and sighed-

Anyways! I guess I worried for nothing then!

They’ve always been scared of me, thought that I’m unstable. Others think that I’m a victim of my own success, but I’m not. I’m the champion of it.

He then tilts his head, his optics narrowing

Save your concern for Sol and its people, especially Earth. It’ll downright be removed from existence if we don’t put the remaining menders of The Nine on their leashes.

They weren't scared of you... well not all of them. They were scared for you!

-He smiled and placed his right hand on his hip-

You're also part of Sol and its people. And I know that these uncertain times are harder for those of us who were... how do I put this... specially favored by the Traveler!

He feels a discomfort that isn’t noticeable to Ellis at the contact of the hand on his hip, covered in the thin layer of his cloth shorts that are worn by him as casual attire along with his equally thin tanktop

They shouldn’t have been. Scared for me, I mean. This transient period is good for me, it means my purpose and service to The Traveler has been renewed.

Well, it doesn't hurt to care for fellow guardians! I'm happy you're fine and happy!

-He hummed and hugged the other-

Now, if you excuse me, I have to clean my locker! I wont be staying here for much longer.

ellis-the-lightguide

Hey @eclipse-4-oc dear, is everything ok? Some guardians told me that you've been acting... off? Wanna talk?

I’m fine, Ellis… I’ve been granted full freedom to enact The Traveler’s Will, a war unending for me and my Radiant Dawn. Everything I’d ever wanted…

not so much as a waver in his voice, he’s completely composed and focused now

Many lightbearers see my or my hunters’ righteous inflictions of judgment against our enemies and think there’s something “wrong” with us. I don’t care what they think, nor do any of us. We only care about doing defending our god that cannot defend itself.

ellis-the-lightguide

Good to know! I'm just checking. Some of the stuff I heard... I...

-Ellis lowered his head and sighed-

Anyways! I guess I worried for nothing then!

They’ve always been scared of me, thought that I’m unstable. Others think that I’m a victim of my own success, but I’m not. I’m the champion of it.

He then tilts his head, his optics narrowing

Save your concern for Sol and its people, especially Earth. It’ll downright be removed from existence if we don’t put the remaining menders of The Nine on their leashes.

They weren't scared of you... well not all of them. They were scared for you!

-He smiled and placed his right hand on his hip-

You're also part of Sol and its people. And I know that these uncertain times are harder for those of us who were... how do I put this... specially favored by the Traveler!

-"Lord Shaxx bailed him out" was the answer Freija got when she asked to visit Ellis at the low risk cells on the Tower. Lord Shaxx himself didn't gave a clear answer to where his "Little Fox" was, probably because he didn't knew either. However he did mention to her that Ellis had comms open-

The question was, did she really want to contact him. Really. Really. Because she wanted to yell at him, and that wouldn't help. But neither would leaving him alone.

Fine.

She thumped inside and opened the comm link. She didn't bother being nice about it, either.

"Are you at least staying off your fucking leg?"

ellis-the-lightguide

Of course I am! I promised that to you! Actually I asked dad to get me out because of that!

-He seemed to take offense at the question-

I'm a man of my word! Most of the time...

titanicfreija-rp

"You put a lot of effort into that," Freija said sarcastically. Specifically arranging your words so you can squirm out of whatever you need to, because telling an outright falsehood makes your tongue tie itself down, but speaking a technical truth that absolutely doesn't answer the question being asked? Oh you'll do that one. "Where are you being so very careful?"

Some hunter friends help me make a quick hunter nest on a pretty peaceful part of the EDZ! And I'm laying in here, unbothered, happy and most importantly far up in the tree, away from the floor so I can't step on my leg! Wanna come?

titanicfreija-rp

Freija was not keen to believe him, but she'd learn not to predict anything, just in case. "Yeah, I'll be there in a little while."

Since she was already on Earth, it was no trouble to get to the EDZ. She could only hope he was easy to find from the LZ.

I'll be waiting for you! Remember to look up, guardian!

-Ellis sounds happy as usual, though a little bit more energetic-

titanicfreija-rp

Sunny tracked him down and led the way with an indicator, and Freija trekked more or less straight to him. "Hey, Ellis!"

-Ellis was laying on a considerably big hammock-like structure made from different pieces of cloths, tarps and old hunter cloaks that were tied to the trees. A few extra pieces covered a part of it to work as a roof and under it are a bunch of coolers and boxes with food, magazines and supplies for Ellis' different hobbies-

Hi Sunny!

titanicfreija-rp

The cloth treehouse reminded Freija of her own hammock tent she used on the field. That he made one into an entire house was not a surprise.

She didn't want to disrupt the thing, so she hauled herself into the branches of a neighboring tree and laid her body carefully along the length of it to lean close. "And you didn't use your leg in the crafting of this?" she challenged, gesturing at the shelter. "I want to be nice but being nice just lets you neglect yourself."

I didn't use my leg, at all! I just had a bunch of friends help me!

-He turned to the side to look at the titan-

See? I don't surround myself only with people who mistreat me, I have friends who help me! Like you!

titanicfreija-rp

"I know how you act when I try to help," she replied dryly, not trying to argue with him about it. Until he could understand the link between 'but my leg shouldn't be broken' and 'i deserve a broken leg', it would just make her angry and him crazy.

That's because I don't ask your help and you insist anyways!

-He crossed his arms-

This is how I act when I actually wanted the help.

titanicfreija-rp

"I'd let you have that point, but Sunny's also helped upon your request and you ignored the information she gave you," she pointed out. She wouldn't believe him no matter what he said, she didn't know why she was bothering. "Anyway, I'm glad you're alive and not walking on the broken leg anymore." She started to get up to get down, moving over the tree branches more ably than could be expected of anyone in that much plated armor. "Seen you and gotten an idea of how you're doing. Need anything from home?"

That was me asking for an opinion, not help. It's different!

-He hummed, turning his head to the side-

Not really, you were the one looking for me.

titanicfreija-rp

"Yes, because I worry about you," she replied. "I was also asking if you needed anything because I worry about you, and I was about to leave and that's one of my ways of making sure people are taken care of."

"Asking my opinion about the toxicity of black mold feels a lot like asking for help instead of an opinion," Sunny objected. "Especially since I know you didn't come across any information or opinions to the contrary and yet you ate it anyway."

I asked your opinion because I needed it, and I'm thankful that you worry about me! Though it confuses me a bit...

-He lifted himself and sat on the structure-

But I've already told you I don't need anything. I'm fine, I'm always fine!

titanicfreija-rp

"You said that while you were walking on a broken leg," Freija sighed. She was clearly trying to get a good jump to get straight down and hesitating. "Even if you do think it's fine, I very clearly don't think it's fine for anyone to go around walking on broken legs. I'm used to you starting fights you know you can win, but you always lose that one. Why do you keep saying it to me? Hoping I'll get annoyed and ignore you like everyone else?"

Force of habit, I'm just used to say it... I'm sorry.

-The hunter looked around for something, not finding it and rolling to the edge of the nest to look down, groaning and rolling back-

titanicfreija-rp

"Do you honestly think anyone really believes it?" she huffed. "Habit or not, we--everyone that hears you say it-- knows it's not true. The only reason it works is because we know you don't want help and won't take it and there's no point in trying to argue with you about it, because even if we do try to force it, you'd rather break your good arm than accept it. I'm just not exhausted with it, yet, so I keep arguing with you." She didn't want to admit how badly he was wearing her down, too. Part of it was not wanting to give up hope on anyone, but the other part was mostly sheer bullet-headed stubbornness.

Hey! Everyone believes it! I'm convincing!

-He laid on his back, looking at the sky-

You're just too insistent.

titanicfreija-rp

"I am insistent, but I'm not the only one that doesn't think you're okay. No one else is willing to argue with you about it," she insisted. "I'm just the kind of asshole that's going to argue with you about it."

Maybe they don't argue with me because they know I'm fine! And you're not an asshole, you just like arguing! That's fun to do sometimes.

titanicfreija-rp

"They don't argue because you've said you're okay and at that point you are clearly not going to say anything else. I bet they even do the same face when they hear you say it." She crossed her arms. She knew there were a lot of people in his life that didn't care, but the ones that asked if he was okay were not on the list, presumably. She knew she was special for having gotten the chance to comfort him when he was grieving, but he wasn't that subtle.

They give me a warm smile and say "good to know!". Because they know I'm fine!

-Ellis yawned, and stretched out to have more of his body be covered by the warm sun-

titanicfreija-rp

"Mmhm," she said. "They must be convincing." She scanned the area again, still looking for a clean drop, somewhat artificially.

Why are you so focused on making me feel bad now? I'm convincing!

titanicfreija-rp

"I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I'm just saying it doesn't matter if you're convincing, they wouldn't argue about it because they're respecting your desire to be left alone, whether they believe you or not. I just can't stop being a self-righteous jerk. And I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I'm just stating a fact. But I can tell, and I'm really bad at telling when people are lying. Your," she mimicked his usual tones (if not his voice) impressively, "'fine, I'm always fine'," she returned to her own, "is a subconscious reflex. Every single person you've said it to has noticed, at least every once in a while, that you're lying. They are being polite, not blind."

But I don't need help! Everyone knows that when I say "I'm fine" it mean "I'm fine", I'm too dumb to have underlining intentions... and everyone knows that too!

-He protested, turning to the side, now noticing the titan was looking for a way to go down-

I'm pretty but dumb!

titanicfreija-rp

Freija hesitated for several seconds, then laughed. "And now I know how it feels," she sighed. "I always pull that one... Pretty much everyone any time they pick on my lack of finesse, that I'm a dumb Titan and they shouldn't expect more." She was putting on the show about it but she didn't really want to leave, either, and she couldn't decide if she wanted to stay until they were upset or run now. "None us are fooled every single time, even if some of us are some of the time. We simply know our help isn't welcome."

Uh huh, yeah...

-He said sarcastically, rolling his eyes-

But I'm truly dumb... a warlock lady of the hidden once put it as "Will remember everything he hears and will believe it despite contradicting previous information." on a report about me to Ikora.

titanicfreija-rp

"I don't call that dumb, I call that crazy," Freija said. "Plus the warlock is wrong. You don't just believe whatever you hear. You are fully prepared to deny anything whenever you want. You don't change your mind about the earth being flat every time you hear someone say it's not, you heard one time out of a bazillion that it was flat and you decided to keep that one and refuse to be moved by evidence. Sure, you changed your mind to believing it was flat when someone said it, but if it was as simple as you hearing something, regardless of previous experience, you would change your mind back just as easy. The part where you were told it was flat and picked it up, I can see where they were coming from, but the rest of their conclusion doesn't make sense. You want to believe stuff, so you believe it, it's not about being dumb." She smiled bright, as though this was a normal conversation. "Plus, you're a medic with fifty hobbies and you're preternaturally good at some of those, I'm not gonna let you tell me you're dumb because some Warlock got mad you wouldn't listen."

Honestly I'm not sure about the earth anymore. Someone explained to me how my star maps couldn't be posible if there wasn't a curvature...

-The hunter turned his head to the side, confused-

I'm not naturally good at anything! I just have a weird memory that allows me to do stuff with less practice than others... it's like saying you're naturally good at making solar hammers!

titanicfreija-rp

Freija quirked a brow at him. "You can't tell me you're dumb and then tell me that you're really really good at things because you figure them out. That doesn't make any sense. Which isn't odd for you, but it does give me reason to think you're not dumb."

Me figuring things out doesn't mean that I'm smart. Most of the time I know how things are supposed to be done but for one reason or another I don't do it that way...

-Ellis paused for a moment, thinking of something to give as an example-

Like the black mold! I knew it was harmful, everyone told me it was harmful and I could've done some experiments before going straight to eating them, but I didn't! That's stupid.

titanicfreija-rp

"I have no idea why you do that dumb shit, but your excuses are that you're doing experiments, which is also not dumb person behavior, and I personally suspect you're self-harming when you do that kind of shit. What would you call smart if not being able to figure things out?"

I think someone smart knows when to use their previous knowledge to solve their actual problem... I often find myself brute forcing my problems instead of going through my memories to look for a better solution.

Besides, it's better if I'm dumb but pretty!

Gerda, dear, I need to ask for a favor.

What do you need?

ellis-the-lightguide

I need to get rid of a corpse... actually two but I can deal with one.

If these corpses are of value, I will take them. Who died?

ellis-the-lightguide

Some wanted warlords that tried hiding from the vanguard with Dredgens... there was a price for their head, you should try to see if you can claim it.

I'm not interested in prey I didn't kill. Besides, if I needed human bones, I'd just head back to one of the cemeteries.

And there's no point in me biting a similar leg, because, Ellis, they're not the only ones being hunted. Although it seems they don’t want to catch me.

ellis-the-lightguide

So... you can't help me?

So, you mean to say that you came onto MY territory without MY permission and dare to drag corpses across MY hunting grounds?!

I swear by the Hive gods, Ellis, I'll hang your guts from the nearest tree as soon as I find you...

The bodies were already here!

-After some time, she appears behind Ellis, grabs him by the hair, and forces Ellis to his knees and shoves his face into the planetoid's ground-

You're a bad boy, Ellis, bad!!

Now why?

-He protested, managing to put his head sideways to avoid eating dirt-

Because this is my territory! This is my domain!

-She shook the guy by the scruff of the neck and threw him away, causing him to fall backwards to the ground-

How many times do I have to tell everyone not to come here anymore?!

-The hunter grunted when he hit the floor, shaking his head befor blinking up to stand-

You did choose the most common place in Nessus to be your territory, it's just practical to be here! Lady Hati even takes bath in the radiolaria lakes.

Well, take that old nag and get lost! The last thing I need right now is trespassers on my property.

-The huntress isn't shy, grabbing Ellis again, this time by the hair at the back of his head, and tugging painfully-

Or should I hang you from the pole by your harness again, like a piñata?

You can't just- argh! It hurts!

-He whined, biting his lip to avoid screaming from the pain-

This is a common place! You can't just claim it!

No! This is mine! This is my territory, this is my home!

-Gerda pounces on Ellis, tossing him to the ground with her, and starts tugging at his hair. Her behavior isn't aggressive, but rather childish and capricious, like someone who's had their favorite toy taken away from them-

And the corpses are mine too!

Have you talked with Crow about this?

-He said between whines-

I'm not going to ask permission from someone who has nothing to do with my territory! Crow is not the master of these lands!

-The huntress steps away from the boy, straightening her back, but almost immediately hunches over and crosses her arms over her chest, her hands tucked under her armpits, as if she were cold-

And I've told him more than once that I don't serve him.

You used to call him "your highness"...

-He shook the dirt out of his head and stood up-

Dear, you can't just claim this place! It's pretty convenient to be here... can't I just pay you a fee for crossing here?

A former prince has been dragged into the Tower, and you all must learn to respect those who still exist, even if they've lost their former status.

-Gerda crossed her arms over her chest, twitching her white "ears" like an animal, as if hearing something distant-

And you have nothing you could use to pay me for access to this place.

I respect him- No... actually... I don't...

-He mumbled-

Well I do respect him as a person, I just don't respect his authority... but that doesn't matter! I'm sure there's something I can give you! More leaf-beds? Or food! I make tasty food! You know that!

Oh, come on, Ellis, you're bargaining so pathetically, hoping that because I accepted that payment before, I'll accept it now.

-The exo can't smile, but she squints her optics and glimmers slightly, as if "smirking-

No, "darling," times change. And so do the payments. Suggest something else.

You don't want them anymore?

-He looked down, and sighed-

I can get you food! Or lumen, or glimmer, why don't you tell me what you want? I'll get it!

No, Ellis, I don't need that. If I need food, I'll kill a deer. If I need glitter, I'll rob an eliksni. Now, if you want to pay me, bring me something no one else has yet. Otherwise...

Your body will serve as a reminder to everyone else why they shouldn't trespass on my territory~

I can get you a... a new pet! I know you like pets!

-Ellis took a step back at the treat-

Do you really want to mess with me like that Gerda? You know who my dad is, if you kill me I won't be able to tell him to not hurt you... and between us, you couldn't deal with Lady Crimson, I doubt Lord Shaxx will be easier.

-"Lord Shaxx bailed him out" was the answer Freija got when she asked to visit Ellis at the low risk cells on the Tower. Lord Shaxx himself didn't gave a clear answer to where his "Little Fox" was, probably because he didn't knew either. However he did mention to her that Ellis had comms open-

The question was, did she really want to contact him. Really. Really. Because she wanted to yell at him, and that wouldn't help. But neither would leaving him alone.

Fine.

She thumped inside and opened the comm link. She didn't bother being nice about it, either.

"Are you at least staying off your fucking leg?"

ellis-the-lightguide

Of course I am! I promised that to you! Actually I asked dad to get me out because of that!

-He seemed to take offense at the question-

I'm a man of my word! Most of the time...

titanicfreija-rp

"You put a lot of effort into that," Freija said sarcastically. Specifically arranging your words so you can squirm out of whatever you need to, because telling an outright falsehood makes your tongue tie itself down, but speaking a technical truth that absolutely doesn't answer the question being asked? Oh you'll do that one. "Where are you being so very careful?"

Some hunter friends help me make a quick hunter nest on a pretty peaceful part of the EDZ! And I'm laying in here, unbothered, happy and most importantly far up in the tree, away from the floor so I can't step on my leg! Wanna come?

titanicfreija-rp

Freija was not keen to believe him, but she'd learn not to predict anything, just in case. "Yeah, I'll be there in a little while."

Since she was already on Earth, it was no trouble to get to the EDZ. She could only hope he was easy to find from the LZ.

I'll be waiting for you! Remember to look up, guardian!

-Ellis sounds happy as usual, though a little bit more energetic-

titanicfreija-rp

Sunny tracked him down and led the way with an indicator, and Freija trekked more or less straight to him. "Hey, Ellis!"

-Ellis was laying on a considerably big hammock-like structure made from different pieces of cloths, tarps and old hunter cloaks that were tied to the trees. A few extra pieces covered a part of it to work as a roof and under it are a bunch of coolers and boxes with food, magazines and supplies for Ellis' different hobbies-

Hi Sunny!

titanicfreija-rp

The cloth treehouse reminded Freija of her own hammock tent she used on the field. That he made one into an entire house was not a surprise.

She didn't want to disrupt the thing, so she hauled herself into the branches of a neighboring tree and laid her body carefully along the length of it to lean close. "And you didn't use your leg in the crafting of this?" she challenged, gesturing at the shelter. "I want to be nice but being nice just lets you neglect yourself."

I didn't use my leg, at all! I just had a bunch of friends help me!

-He turned to the side to look at the titan-

See? I don't surround myself only with people who mistreat me, I have friends who help me! Like you!

titanicfreija-rp

"I know how you act when I try to help," she replied dryly, not trying to argue with him about it. Until he could understand the link between 'but my leg shouldn't be broken' and 'i deserve a broken leg', it would just make her angry and him crazy.

That's because I don't ask your help and you insist anyways!

-He crossed his arms-

This is how I act when I actually wanted the help.

titanicfreija-rp

"I'd let you have that point, but Sunny's also helped upon your request and you ignored the information she gave you," she pointed out. She wouldn't believe him no matter what he said, she didn't know why she was bothering. "Anyway, I'm glad you're alive and not walking on the broken leg anymore." She started to get up to get down, moving over the tree branches more ably than could be expected of anyone in that much plated armor. "Seen you and gotten an idea of how you're doing. Need anything from home?"

That was me asking for an opinion, not help. It's different!

-He hummed, turning his head to the side-

Not really, you were the one looking for me.

titanicfreija-rp

"Yes, because I worry about you," she replied. "I was also asking if you needed anything because I worry about you, and I was about to leave and that's one of my ways of making sure people are taken care of."

"Asking my opinion about the toxicity of black mold feels a lot like asking for help instead of an opinion," Sunny objected. "Especially since I know you didn't come across any information or opinions to the contrary and yet you ate it anyway."

I asked your opinion because I needed it, and I'm thankful that you worry about me! Though it confuses me a bit...

-He lifted himself and sat on the structure-

But I've already told you I don't need anything. I'm fine, I'm always fine!

titanicfreija-rp

"You said that while you were walking on a broken leg," Freija sighed. She was clearly trying to get a good jump to get straight down and hesitating. "Even if you do think it's fine, I very clearly don't think it's fine for anyone to go around walking on broken legs. I'm used to you starting fights you know you can win, but you always lose that one. Why do you keep saying it to me? Hoping I'll get annoyed and ignore you like everyone else?"

Force of habit, I'm just used to say it... I'm sorry.

-The hunter looked around for something, not finding it and rolling to the edge of the nest to look down, groaning and rolling back-

titanicfreija-rp

"Do you honestly think anyone really believes it?" she huffed. "Habit or not, we--everyone that hears you say it-- knows it's not true. The only reason it works is because we know you don't want help and won't take it and there's no point in trying to argue with you about it, because even if we do try to force it, you'd rather break your good arm than accept it. I'm just not exhausted with it, yet, so I keep arguing with you." She didn't want to admit how badly he was wearing her down, too. Part of it was not wanting to give up hope on anyone, but the other part was mostly sheer bullet-headed stubbornness.

Hey! Everyone believes it! I'm convincing!

-He laid on his back, looking at the sky-

You're just too insistent.

titanicfreija-rp

"I am insistent, but I'm not the only one that doesn't think you're okay. No one else is willing to argue with you about it," she insisted. "I'm just the kind of asshole that's going to argue with you about it."

Maybe they don't argue with me because they know I'm fine! And you're not an asshole, you just like arguing! That's fun to do sometimes.

titanicfreija-rp

"They don't argue because you've said you're okay and at that point you are clearly not going to say anything else. I bet they even do the same face when they hear you say it." She crossed her arms. She knew there were a lot of people in his life that didn't care, but the ones that asked if he was okay were not on the list, presumably. She knew she was special for having gotten the chance to comfort him when he was grieving, but he wasn't that subtle.

They give me a warm smile and say "good to know!". Because they know I'm fine!

-Ellis yawned, and stretched out to have more of his body be covered by the warm sun-

titanicfreija-rp

"Mmhm," she said. "They must be convincing." She scanned the area again, still looking for a clean drop, somewhat artificially.

Why are you so focused on making me feel bad now? I'm convincing!

titanicfreija-rp

"I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I'm just saying it doesn't matter if you're convincing, they wouldn't argue about it because they're respecting your desire to be left alone, whether they believe you or not. I just can't stop being a self-righteous jerk. And I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I'm just stating a fact. But I can tell, and I'm really bad at telling when people are lying. Your," she mimicked his usual tones (if not his voice) impressively, "'fine, I'm always fine'," she returned to her own, "is a subconscious reflex. Every single person you've said it to has noticed, at least every once in a while, that you're lying. They are being polite, not blind."

But I don't need help! Everyone knows that when I say "I'm fine" it mean "I'm fine", I'm too dumb to have underlining intentions... and everyone knows that too!

-He protested, turning to the side, now noticing the titan was looking for a way to go down-

I'm pretty but dumb!

titanicfreija-rp

Freija hesitated for several seconds, then laughed. "And now I know how it feels," she sighed. "I always pull that one... Pretty much everyone any time they pick on my lack of finesse, that I'm a dumb Titan and they shouldn't expect more." She was putting on the show about it but she didn't really want to leave, either, and she couldn't decide if she wanted to stay until they were upset or run now. "None us are fooled every single time, even if some of us are some of the time. We simply know our help isn't welcome."

Uh huh, yeah...

-He said sarcastically, rolling his eyes-

But I'm truly dumb... a warlock lady of the hidden once put it as "Will remember everything he hears and will believe it despite contradicting previous information." on a report about me to Ikora.

titanicfreija-rp

"I don't call that dumb, I call that crazy," Freija said. "Plus the warlock is wrong. You don't just believe whatever you hear. You are fully prepared to deny anything whenever you want. You don't change your mind about the earth being flat every time you hear someone say it's not, you heard one time out of a bazillion that it was flat and you decided to keep that one and refuse to be moved by evidence. Sure, you changed your mind to believing it was flat when someone said it, but if it was as simple as you hearing something, regardless of previous experience, you would change your mind back just as easy. The part where you were told it was flat and picked it up, I can see where they were coming from, but the rest of their conclusion doesn't make sense. You want to believe stuff, so you believe it, it's not about being dumb." She smiled bright, as though this was a normal conversation. "Plus, you're a medic with fifty hobbies and you're preternaturally good at some of those, I'm not gonna let you tell me you're dumb because some Warlock got mad you wouldn't listen."

Honestly I'm not sure about the earth anymore. Someone explained to me how my star maps couldn't be posible if there wasn't a curvature...

-The hunter turned his head to the side, confused-

I'm not naturally good at anything! I just have a weird memory that allows me to do stuff with less practice than others... it's like saying you're naturally good at making solar hammers!

titanicfreija-rp

Freija quirked a brow at him. "You can't tell me you're dumb and then tell me that you're really really good at things because you figure them out. That doesn't make any sense. Which isn't odd for you, but it does give me reason to think you're not dumb."

Me figuring things out doesn't mean that I'm smart. Most of the time I know how things are supposed to be done but for one reason or another I don't do it that way...

-Ellis paused for a moment, thinking of something to give as an example-

Like the black mold! I knew it was harmful, everyone told me it was harmful and I could've done some experiments before going straight to eating them, but I didn't! That's stupid.

-"Lord Shaxx bailed him out" was the answer Freija got when she asked to visit Ellis at the low risk cells on the Tower. Lord Shaxx himself didn't gave a clear answer to where his "Little Fox" was, probably because he didn't knew either. However he did mention to her that Ellis had comms open-

The question was, did she really want to contact him. Really. Really. Because she wanted to yell at him, and that wouldn't help. But neither would leaving him alone.

Fine.

She thumped inside and opened the comm link. She didn't bother being nice about it, either.

"Are you at least staying off your fucking leg?"

ellis-the-lightguide

Of course I am! I promised that to you! Actually I asked dad to get me out because of that!

-He seemed to take offense at the question-

I'm a man of my word! Most of the time...

titanicfreija-rp

"You put a lot of effort into that," Freija said sarcastically. Specifically arranging your words so you can squirm out of whatever you need to, because telling an outright falsehood makes your tongue tie itself down, but speaking a technical truth that absolutely doesn't answer the question being asked? Oh you'll do that one. "Where are you being so very careful?"

Some hunter friends help me make a quick hunter nest on a pretty peaceful part of the EDZ! And I'm laying in here, unbothered, happy and most importantly far up in the tree, away from the floor so I can't step on my leg! Wanna come?

titanicfreija-rp

Freija was not keen to believe him, but she'd learn not to predict anything, just in case. "Yeah, I'll be there in a little while."

Since she was already on Earth, it was no trouble to get to the EDZ. She could only hope he was easy to find from the LZ.

I'll be waiting for you! Remember to look up, guardian!

-Ellis sounds happy as usual, though a little bit more energetic-

titanicfreija-rp

Sunny tracked him down and led the way with an indicator, and Freija trekked more or less straight to him. "Hey, Ellis!"

-Ellis was laying on a considerably big hammock-like structure made from different pieces of cloths, tarps and old hunter cloaks that were tied to the trees. A few extra pieces covered a part of it to work as a roof and under it are a bunch of coolers and boxes with food, magazines and supplies for Ellis' different hobbies-

Hi Sunny!

titanicfreija-rp

The cloth treehouse reminded Freija of her own hammock tent she used on the field. That he made one into an entire house was not a surprise.

She didn't want to disrupt the thing, so she hauled herself into the branches of a neighboring tree and laid her body carefully along the length of it to lean close. "And you didn't use your leg in the crafting of this?" she challenged, gesturing at the shelter. "I want to be nice but being nice just lets you neglect yourself."

I didn't use my leg, at all! I just had a bunch of friends help me!

-He turned to the side to look at the titan-

See? I don't surround myself only with people who mistreat me, I have friends who help me! Like you!

titanicfreija-rp

"I know how you act when I try to help," she replied dryly, not trying to argue with him about it. Until he could understand the link between 'but my leg shouldn't be broken' and 'i deserve a broken leg', it would just make her angry and him crazy.

That's because I don't ask your help and you insist anyways!

-He crossed his arms-

This is how I act when I actually wanted the help.

titanicfreija-rp

"I'd let you have that point, but Sunny's also helped upon your request and you ignored the information she gave you," she pointed out. She wouldn't believe him no matter what he said, she didn't know why she was bothering. "Anyway, I'm glad you're alive and not walking on the broken leg anymore." She started to get up to get down, moving over the tree branches more ably than could be expected of anyone in that much plated armor. "Seen you and gotten an idea of how you're doing. Need anything from home?"

That was me asking for an opinion, not help. It's different!

-He hummed, turning his head to the side-

Not really, you were the one looking for me.

titanicfreija-rp

"Yes, because I worry about you," she replied. "I was also asking if you needed anything because I worry about you, and I was about to leave and that's one of my ways of making sure people are taken care of."

"Asking my opinion about the toxicity of black mold feels a lot like asking for help instead of an opinion," Sunny objected. "Especially since I know you didn't come across any information or opinions to the contrary and yet you ate it anyway."

I asked your opinion because I needed it, and I'm thankful that you worry about me! Though it confuses me a bit...

-He lifted himself and sat on the structure-

But I've already told you I don't need anything. I'm fine, I'm always fine!

titanicfreija-rp

"You said that while you were walking on a broken leg," Freija sighed. She was clearly trying to get a good jump to get straight down and hesitating. "Even if you do think it's fine, I very clearly don't think it's fine for anyone to go around walking on broken legs. I'm used to you starting fights you know you can win, but you always lose that one. Why do you keep saying it to me? Hoping I'll get annoyed and ignore you like everyone else?"

Force of habit, I'm just used to say it... I'm sorry.

-The hunter looked around for something, not finding it and rolling to the edge of the nest to look down, groaning and rolling back-

titanicfreija-rp

"Do you honestly think anyone really believes it?" she huffed. "Habit or not, we--everyone that hears you say it-- knows it's not true. The only reason it works is because we know you don't want help and won't take it and there's no point in trying to argue with you about it, because even if we do try to force it, you'd rather break your good arm than accept it. I'm just not exhausted with it, yet, so I keep arguing with you." She didn't want to admit how badly he was wearing her down, too. Part of it was not wanting to give up hope on anyone, but the other part was mostly sheer bullet-headed stubbornness.

Hey! Everyone believes it! I'm convincing!

-He laid on his back, looking at the sky-

You're just too insistent.

titanicfreija-rp

"I am insistent, but I'm not the only one that doesn't think you're okay. No one else is willing to argue with you about it," she insisted. "I'm just the kind of asshole that's going to argue with you about it."

Maybe they don't argue with me because they know I'm fine! And you're not an asshole, you just like arguing! That's fun to do sometimes.

titanicfreija-rp

"They don't argue because you've said you're okay and at that point you are clearly not going to say anything else. I bet they even do the same face when they hear you say it." She crossed her arms. She knew there were a lot of people in his life that didn't care, but the ones that asked if he was okay were not on the list, presumably. She knew she was special for having gotten the chance to comfort him when he was grieving, but he wasn't that subtle.

They give me a warm smile and say "good to know!". Because they know I'm fine!

-Ellis yawned, and stretched out to have more of his body be covered by the warm sun-

titanicfreija-rp

"Mmhm," she said. "They must be convincing." She scanned the area again, still looking for a clean drop, somewhat artificially.

Why are you so focused on making me feel bad now? I'm convincing!

titanicfreija-rp

"I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I'm just saying it doesn't matter if you're convincing, they wouldn't argue about it because they're respecting your desire to be left alone, whether they believe you or not. I just can't stop being a self-righteous jerk. And I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I'm just stating a fact. But I can tell, and I'm really bad at telling when people are lying. Your," she mimicked his usual tones (if not his voice) impressively, "'fine, I'm always fine'," she returned to her own, "is a subconscious reflex. Every single person you've said it to has noticed, at least every once in a while, that you're lying. They are being polite, not blind."

But I don't need help! Everyone knows that when I say "I'm fine" it mean "I'm fine", I'm too dumb to have underlining intentions... and everyone knows that too!

-He protested, turning to the side, now noticing the titan was looking for a way to go down-

I'm pretty but dumb!

titanicfreija-rp

Freija hesitated for several seconds, then laughed. "And now I know how it feels," she sighed. "I always pull that one... Pretty much everyone any time they pick on my lack of finesse, that I'm a dumb Titan and they shouldn't expect more." She was putting on the show about it but she didn't really want to leave, either, and she couldn't decide if she wanted to stay until they were upset or run now. "None us are fooled every single time, even if some of us are some of the time. We simply know our help isn't welcome."

Uh huh, yeah...

-He said sarcastically, rolling his eyes-

But I'm truly dumb... a warlock lady of the hidden once put it as "Will remember everything he hears and will believe it despite contradicting previous information." on a report about me to Ikora.

titanicfreija-rp

"I don't call that dumb, I call that crazy," Freija said. "Plus the warlock is wrong. You don't just believe whatever you hear. You are fully prepared to deny anything whenever you want. You don't change your mind about the earth being flat every time you hear someone say it's not, you heard one time out of a bazillion that it was flat and you decided to keep that one and refuse to be moved by evidence. Sure, you changed your mind to believing it was flat when someone said it, but if it was as simple as you hearing something, regardless of previous experience, you would change your mind back just as easy. The part where you were told it was flat and picked it up, I can see where they were coming from, but the rest of their conclusion doesn't make sense. You want to believe stuff, so you believe it, it's not about being dumb." She smiled bright, as though this was a normal conversation. "Plus, you're a medic with fifty hobbies and you're preternaturally good at some of those, I'm not gonna let you tell me you're dumb because some Warlock got mad you wouldn't listen."

Honestly I'm not sure about the earth anymore. Someone explained to me how my star maps couldn't be posible if there wasn't a curvature...

-The hunter turned his head to the side, confused-

I'm not naturally good at anything! I just have a weird memory that allows me to do stuff with less practice than others... it's like saying you're naturally good at making solar hammers!

-"Lord Shaxx bailed him out" was the answer Freija got when she asked to visit Ellis at the low risk cells on the Tower. Lord Shaxx himself didn't gave a clear answer to where his "Little Fox" was, probably because he didn't knew either. However he did mention to her that Ellis had comms open-

The question was, did she really want to contact him. Really. Really. Because she wanted to yell at him, and that wouldn't help. But neither would leaving him alone.

Fine.

She thumped inside and opened the comm link. She didn't bother being nice about it, either.

"Are you at least staying off your fucking leg?"

ellis-the-lightguide

Of course I am! I promised that to you! Actually I asked dad to get me out because of that!

-He seemed to take offense at the question-

I'm a man of my word! Most of the time...

titanicfreija-rp

"You put a lot of effort into that," Freija said sarcastically. Specifically arranging your words so you can squirm out of whatever you need to, because telling an outright falsehood makes your tongue tie itself down, but speaking a technical truth that absolutely doesn't answer the question being asked? Oh you'll do that one. "Where are you being so very careful?"

Some hunter friends help me make a quick hunter nest on a pretty peaceful part of the EDZ! And I'm laying in here, unbothered, happy and most importantly far up in the tree, away from the floor so I can't step on my leg! Wanna come?

titanicfreija-rp

Freija was not keen to believe him, but she'd learn not to predict anything, just in case. "Yeah, I'll be there in a little while."

Since she was already on Earth, it was no trouble to get to the EDZ. She could only hope he was easy to find from the LZ.

I'll be waiting for you! Remember to look up, guardian!

-Ellis sounds happy as usual, though a little bit more energetic-

titanicfreija-rp

Sunny tracked him down and led the way with an indicator, and Freija trekked more or less straight to him. "Hey, Ellis!"

-Ellis was laying on a considerably big hammock-like structure made from different pieces of cloths, tarps and old hunter cloaks that were tied to the trees. A few extra pieces covered a part of it to work as a roof and under it are a bunch of coolers and boxes with food, magazines and supplies for Ellis' different hobbies-

Hi Sunny!

titanicfreija-rp

The cloth treehouse reminded Freija of her own hammock tent she used on the field. That he made one into an entire house was not a surprise.

She didn't want to disrupt the thing, so she hauled herself into the branches of a neighboring tree and laid her body carefully along the length of it to lean close. "And you didn't use your leg in the crafting of this?" she challenged, gesturing at the shelter. "I want to be nice but being nice just lets you neglect yourself."

I didn't use my leg, at all! I just had a bunch of friends help me!

-He turned to the side to look at the titan-

See? I don't surround myself only with people who mistreat me, I have friends who help me! Like you!

titanicfreija-rp

"I know how you act when I try to help," she replied dryly, not trying to argue with him about it. Until he could understand the link between 'but my leg shouldn't be broken' and 'i deserve a broken leg', it would just make her angry and him crazy.

That's because I don't ask your help and you insist anyways!

-He crossed his arms-

This is how I act when I actually wanted the help.

titanicfreija-rp

"I'd let you have that point, but Sunny's also helped upon your request and you ignored the information she gave you," she pointed out. She wouldn't believe him no matter what he said, she didn't know why she was bothering. "Anyway, I'm glad you're alive and not walking on the broken leg anymore." She started to get up to get down, moving over the tree branches more ably than could be expected of anyone in that much plated armor. "Seen you and gotten an idea of how you're doing. Need anything from home?"

That was me asking for an opinion, not help. It's different!

-He hummed, turning his head to the side-

Not really, you were the one looking for me.

titanicfreija-rp

"Yes, because I worry about you," she replied. "I was also asking if you needed anything because I worry about you, and I was about to leave and that's one of my ways of making sure people are taken care of."

"Asking my opinion about the toxicity of black mold feels a lot like asking for help instead of an opinion," Sunny objected. "Especially since I know you didn't come across any information or opinions to the contrary and yet you ate it anyway."

I asked your opinion because I needed it, and I'm thankful that you worry about me! Though it confuses me a bit...

-He lifted himself and sat on the structure-

But I've already told you I don't need anything. I'm fine, I'm always fine!

titanicfreija-rp

"You said that while you were walking on a broken leg," Freija sighed. She was clearly trying to get a good jump to get straight down and hesitating. "Even if you do think it's fine, I very clearly don't think it's fine for anyone to go around walking on broken legs. I'm used to you starting fights you know you can win, but you always lose that one. Why do you keep saying it to me? Hoping I'll get annoyed and ignore you like everyone else?"

Force of habit, I'm just used to say it... I'm sorry.

-The hunter looked around for something, not finding it and rolling to the edge of the nest to look down, groaning and rolling back-

titanicfreija-rp

"Do you honestly think anyone really believes it?" she huffed. "Habit or not, we--everyone that hears you say it-- knows it's not true. The only reason it works is because we know you don't want help and won't take it and there's no point in trying to argue with you about it, because even if we do try to force it, you'd rather break your good arm than accept it. I'm just not exhausted with it, yet, so I keep arguing with you." She didn't want to admit how badly he was wearing her down, too. Part of it was not wanting to give up hope on anyone, but the other part was mostly sheer bullet-headed stubbornness.

Hey! Everyone believes it! I'm convincing!

-He laid on his back, looking at the sky-

You're just too insistent.

titanicfreija-rp

"I am insistent, but I'm not the only one that doesn't think you're okay. No one else is willing to argue with you about it," she insisted. "I'm just the kind of asshole that's going to argue with you about it."

Maybe they don't argue with me because they know I'm fine! And you're not an asshole, you just like arguing! That's fun to do sometimes.

titanicfreija-rp

"They don't argue because you've said you're okay and at that point you are clearly not going to say anything else. I bet they even do the same face when they hear you say it." She crossed her arms. She knew there were a lot of people in his life that didn't care, but the ones that asked if he was okay were not on the list, presumably. She knew she was special for having gotten the chance to comfort him when he was grieving, but he wasn't that subtle.

They give me a warm smile and say "good to know!". Because they know I'm fine!

-Ellis yawned, and stretched out to have more of his body be covered by the warm sun-

titanicfreija-rp

"Mmhm," she said. "They must be convincing." She scanned the area again, still looking for a clean drop, somewhat artificially.

Why are you so focused on making me feel bad now? I'm convincing!

titanicfreija-rp

"I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I'm just saying it doesn't matter if you're convincing, they wouldn't argue about it because they're respecting your desire to be left alone, whether they believe you or not. I just can't stop being a self-righteous jerk. And I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I'm just stating a fact. But I can tell, and I'm really bad at telling when people are lying. Your," she mimicked his usual tones (if not his voice) impressively, "'fine, I'm always fine'," she returned to her own, "is a subconscious reflex. Every single person you've said it to has noticed, at least every once in a while, that you're lying. They are being polite, not blind."

But I don't need help! Everyone knows that when I say "I'm fine" it mean "I'm fine", I'm too dumb to have underlining intentions... and everyone knows that too!

-He protested, turning to the side, now noticing the titan was looking for a way to go down-

I'm pretty but dumb!

titanicfreija-rp

Freija hesitated for several seconds, then laughed. "And now I know how it feels," she sighed. "I always pull that one... Pretty much everyone any time they pick on my lack of finesse, that I'm a dumb Titan and they shouldn't expect more." She was putting on the show about it but she didn't really want to leave, either, and she couldn't decide if she wanted to stay until they were upset or run now. "None us are fooled every single time, even if some of us are some of the time. We simply know our help isn't welcome."

Uh huh, yeah...

-He said sarcastically, rolling his eyes-

But I'm truly dumb... a warlock lady of the hidden once put it as "Will remember everything he hears and will believe it despite contradicting previous information." on a report about me to Ikora.

patiencetheguardian

-The hunter waited for the other in the tea place they agreed upon. He sat in a table close to the entrance, a single crutch resting against the chair he was sitting on-

Patience walks through the front door, his bright combat armor reflecting the dull lamps of the tea shop. He's still wearing his helmet, too, though he seems at least to have had the good grace to leave his weapons outside.

The clank of armored boots echoes as he sidles up to the table.

"Ellis." the hunter acknowledges, as perfunctory as ever.

ellis-the-lightguide

Patience, dear! Hi!

-He waved at the other hunter-

How have you been? Anything interesting?

-Ellis spoke in the softest yet most enthusiastic way. Trying his best to not disturb anyone else around-

patiencetheguardian

Patience shares none of Ellis' tact. He noisily drags a chair towards him and takes a seat.

"Not much. Some odd patterns in the Nessian currents. Introjects from Tharsis, probably."

"You?"

ellis-the-lightguide

-Ellis looked as the other dragged the chair. The noise on the, otherwise silent, shop causing everyone to turn and look at them-

Those are many words that I know the meaning off, but I don't understand together...

-The hunter mumbled-

Me? I'm fine! I'm always fine! Though the intel I gave just now clashed with the one they already had so I think either me or someone else is getting killed this week... I hope it's me!

patiencetheguardian

"You... hope it's you?"

Even through an opaque mask and a voice filter, the words convey incredulity.

ellis-the-lightguide

Well yes! I would feel terrible if I found out someone died because of my intel...

patiencetheguardian

Patience stares for a moment. The silence lingers just a bit too long.

"So. Any chance I could hear what it is?"

ellis-the-lightguide

It's supposed to be secret... besides I don't see why you would be interested on the dealings of the Imperium with Dredgens and the Shadow Legion.

patiencetheguardian

Another few seconds of silence.

"Kept that box for you, didn't I? Didn't even look inside."

A small light blinks on Patience's visor. Slowly, calmly, he reaches up, presses a button, and it stops.

"I can keep a secret."

It's not that I don't trust you to keep a secret...

-He looked around for any guardian that may be eavesdropping-

There's a group of Dredgens that usually ask me for supplies and information, they are pretty good guardians when they aren't threatening to kill me! Recently there were some members important members of the Shadow Legion that were thinking on joining the Imperium and asked me to act as witness, just in case anything happened.

However mid negotiation someone killed all of the cabal even the ones that were escorting the Dredgens! One of them claimed to have seen some Shadow Legion psion do it, but I'm sure I saw another guardian, a friend of them actually!

patiencetheguardian

Patience quiets down.

“Tried to wipe out the cabal and pin it on someone else. Pretty sure that makes you a loose end, Ellis.”

I hope it's that! Otherwise the guy that shoot the cabal is lying and he's getting killed... I don't like that.

patiencetheguardian

"You aren't worried about yourself?"

Without waiting to hear an answer, Patience will flag down a waiter. He'll return to a less conspiratorial volume as he turns back to face Ellis.

"What do you want?"

A little, but at the end of the day... I'm not as useful as a guardian as that dredgen. If we were to lose someone, I'm the most logical choice!

-Ellis stopped for a second, the question scaring him-

I-I never want or stop wanting anything... I don't- Oh- you mean to drink! I would like the strawberry tea... with ginger!

patiencetheguardian

Patience raises a hand to the waiter, then gestures to Ellis.

"That for him, please. Nothing for me."

With his other hand, he raises up a tiny cube of glimmer. The waiter apparently finds it acceptable; they snatch it up and carry it off.

"Take it you don't do much work for the City?". Patience hasn't turned back to face Ellis, but the question is directed at him. Probably.

I don't do something that another guardian o just a normal civilian couldn't do...

-Ellis shrugged-

If I knew you weren't going to order anything I wouldn't have asked for anything...

patiencetheguardian

"I know."

It's a little unclear which of the two sentences Patience is responding to.

"Why not? You can..."

Patience waves his armored fingers around, miming the sparkle of paracausal energy.

"...right?"

Well, yes but I'm a pacifist... the light was made to hurt and there's not much else to do when I refuse to do just that.

-He laid back on his seat-

Though I have my arc healing bullets! That's something nobody else can do... though it's pretty useless.

patiencetheguardian

"That does sound pretty neat."

Patience stares at Ellis. He leans forward in his seat, just a little bit.

..."I knew someone. Took off for one of those... enclaves. Out..."

He gestures broadly to indicate distance. At a neighboring table, someone flinches.

"Pacifists. I'm sure you've heard of them."

I have, it's just not my thing. Most pacifist guardians are just somewhat pacifist, wouldn't doubt for a second if they're against the scorn or the vex.

-He shrugged-

That's just not my thing. The only reason for pulling my gun is to heal, no matter who's at the end of it.

patiencetheguardian

“The old you disagreed. Assuming you consider him… you.”

“Something change?”

I killed someone...

-He said lower. That too was on his personal archive, he had beaten someone so much they ended up in a vegetative state and died a few days later. In fact, besides from the missing reports, that's the last recorded thing about Ellis before becoming a guardian-

At the time it made no sense. Only guardians did that, only guardians were cruel enough to kill a father, only guardians caused death and the sorrow that was left for the ones who lived... but that time... I did it...

patiencetheguardian

Patience stares, and stares, and stares. If he's thinking words of comfort, none of them escape his helmet. If he feels concern, the polished metal reveals none of it.

Without either of the guardians noticing, the waiter slides a cup of strawberry tea (with ginger) onto the table.

"You remember."

-The hunter froze in place. He thought the other knew, why else would he ask him about his past-

No... I was just... guessing...

-He tried lying, giving a nervous laugh at the end-

patiencetheguardian

“…Nice guess.”

Patience looks down, noticing the cup of tea. He slides it across to Ellis. Steam curls upwards from the cup, condensing on his helmet and distorting the visor.

“My condolences. Can’t have been easy.”

I didn't live it, so it never happened!

-He claimed rapidly-

Anyways you were the one who asked me to talk, what did ylu want to talk about?

-The hunter tookthe cup in front of him and starting to sip from it. Ellis couldn't speak if he was drinking so he wouldn't had to lie. Perfect plan, he thought-

patiencetheguardian

"mmm." Patience shifts in his chair.

.

.

.

"You said you encountered some... disciplinary problems. In the tower. I was wondering why you weren't reporting them."

Why would I? They're just having fun and I don't mind.

patiencetheguardian

"Not sure I understand. You're being... killed? Repeatedly?"

"Everything else... aside, that's against tower rules. Won't even let us duel up there."

Well, yes it is against Tower rules, it's specially illegal if I don't fight back... but I can't be a snitch! How are guardians supposed to trust me if I go telling on them the second they do something illegal?

patiencetheguardian

"'As opposed to trusting a man who won't stand up for himself? You want trust, you need integrity."

But I have integrity! I just don't tell, I never tell! I can keep secrets and I know everyone!

patiencetheguardian

"...you juuuuuust told me about a top secret negotiation."

But I didn't give you names, did I? Or a place, or anything and the entire thing went "poof!" so there's really nothing important to share now...

patiencetheguardian

"Fair enough." Patience turns his head slightly, staring into space for the barest half-second before turning back to Ellis.

"How's the tea?"

Pretty good! But that's to be expected from this place!

-He hummed, taking another sip from it. The hunter then looked at the other and narrowed his eyes-

Dear, please tell me you're not going to start a protection group for me... I can't deal with another one of those...

-"Lord Shaxx bailed him out" was the answer Freija got when she asked to visit Ellis at the low risk cells on the Tower. Lord Shaxx himself didn't gave a clear answer to where his "Little Fox" was, probably because he didn't knew either. However he did mention to her that Ellis had comms open-

The question was, did she really want to contact him. Really. Really. Because she wanted to yell at him, and that wouldn't help. But neither would leaving him alone.

Fine.

She thumped inside and opened the comm link. She didn't bother being nice about it, either.

"Are you at least staying off your fucking leg?"

ellis-the-lightguide

Of course I am! I promised that to you! Actually I asked dad to get me out because of that!

-He seemed to take offense at the question-

I'm a man of my word! Most of the time...

titanicfreija-rp

"You put a lot of effort into that," Freija said sarcastically. Specifically arranging your words so you can squirm out of whatever you need to, because telling an outright falsehood makes your tongue tie itself down, but speaking a technical truth that absolutely doesn't answer the question being asked? Oh you'll do that one. "Where are you being so very careful?"

Some hunter friends help me make a quick hunter nest on a pretty peaceful part of the EDZ! And I'm laying in here, unbothered, happy and most importantly far up in the tree, away from the floor so I can't step on my leg! Wanna come?

titanicfreija-rp

Freija was not keen to believe him, but she'd learn not to predict anything, just in case. "Yeah, I'll be there in a little while."

Since she was already on Earth, it was no trouble to get to the EDZ. She could only hope he was easy to find from the LZ.

I'll be waiting for you! Remember to look up, guardian!

-Ellis sounds happy as usual, though a little bit more energetic-

titanicfreija-rp

Sunny tracked him down and led the way with an indicator, and Freija trekked more or less straight to him. "Hey, Ellis!"

-Ellis was laying on a considerably big hammock-like structure made from different pieces of cloths, tarps and old hunter cloaks that were tied to the trees. A few extra pieces covered a part of it to work as a roof and under it are a bunch of coolers and boxes with food, magazines and supplies for Ellis' different hobbies-

Hi Sunny!

titanicfreija-rp

The cloth treehouse reminded Freija of her own hammock tent she used on the field. That he made one into an entire house was not a surprise.

She didn't want to disrupt the thing, so she hauled herself into the branches of a neighboring tree and laid her body carefully along the length of it to lean close. "And you didn't use your leg in the crafting of this?" she challenged, gesturing at the shelter. "I want to be nice but being nice just lets you neglect yourself."

I didn't use my leg, at all! I just had a bunch of friends help me!

-He turned to the side to look at the titan-

See? I don't surround myself only with people who mistreat me, I have friends who help me! Like you!

titanicfreija-rp

"I know how you act when I try to help," she replied dryly, not trying to argue with him about it. Until he could understand the link between 'but my leg shouldn't be broken' and 'i deserve a broken leg', it would just make her angry and him crazy.

That's because I don't ask your help and you insist anyways!

-He crossed his arms-

This is how I act when I actually wanted the help.

titanicfreija-rp

"I'd let you have that point, but Sunny's also helped upon your request and you ignored the information she gave you," she pointed out. She wouldn't believe him no matter what he said, she didn't know why she was bothering. "Anyway, I'm glad you're alive and not walking on the broken leg anymore." She started to get up to get down, moving over the tree branches more ably than could be expected of anyone in that much plated armor. "Seen you and gotten an idea of how you're doing. Need anything from home?"

That was me asking for an opinion, not help. It's different!

-He hummed, turning his head to the side-

Not really, you were the one looking for me.

titanicfreija-rp

"Yes, because I worry about you," she replied. "I was also asking if you needed anything because I worry about you, and I was about to leave and that's one of my ways of making sure people are taken care of."

"Asking my opinion about the toxicity of black mold feels a lot like asking for help instead of an opinion," Sunny objected. "Especially since I know you didn't come across any information or opinions to the contrary and yet you ate it anyway."

I asked your opinion because I needed it, and I'm thankful that you worry about me! Though it confuses me a bit...

-He lifted himself and sat on the structure-

But I've already told you I don't need anything. I'm fine, I'm always fine!

titanicfreija-rp

"You said that while you were walking on a broken leg," Freija sighed. She was clearly trying to get a good jump to get straight down and hesitating. "Even if you do think it's fine, I very clearly don't think it's fine for anyone to go around walking on broken legs. I'm used to you starting fights you know you can win, but you always lose that one. Why do you keep saying it to me? Hoping I'll get annoyed and ignore you like everyone else?"

Force of habit, I'm just used to say it... I'm sorry.

-The hunter looked around for something, not finding it and rolling to the edge of the nest to look down, groaning and rolling back-

titanicfreija-rp

"Do you honestly think anyone really believes it?" she huffed. "Habit or not, we--everyone that hears you say it-- knows it's not true. The only reason it works is because we know you don't want help and won't take it and there's no point in trying to argue with you about it, because even if we do try to force it, you'd rather break your good arm than accept it. I'm just not exhausted with it, yet, so I keep arguing with you." She didn't want to admit how badly he was wearing her down, too. Part of it was not wanting to give up hope on anyone, but the other part was mostly sheer bullet-headed stubbornness.

Hey! Everyone believes it! I'm convincing!

-He laid on his back, looking at the sky-

You're just too insistent.

titanicfreija-rp

"I am insistent, but I'm not the only one that doesn't think you're okay. No one else is willing to argue with you about it," she insisted. "I'm just the kind of asshole that's going to argue with you about it."

Maybe they don't argue with me because they know I'm fine! And you're not an asshole, you just like arguing! That's fun to do sometimes.

titanicfreija-rp

"They don't argue because you've said you're okay and at that point you are clearly not going to say anything else. I bet they even do the same face when they hear you say it." She crossed her arms. She knew there were a lot of people in his life that didn't care, but the ones that asked if he was okay were not on the list, presumably. She knew she was special for having gotten the chance to comfort him when he was grieving, but he wasn't that subtle.

They give me a warm smile and say "good to know!". Because they know I'm fine!

-Ellis yawned, and stretched out to have more of his body be covered by the warm sun-

titanicfreija-rp

"Mmhm," she said. "They must be convincing." She scanned the area again, still looking for a clean drop, somewhat artificially.

Why are you so focused on making me feel bad now? I'm convincing!

titanicfreija-rp

"I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I'm just saying it doesn't matter if you're convincing, they wouldn't argue about it because they're respecting your desire to be left alone, whether they believe you or not. I just can't stop being a self-righteous jerk. And I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I'm just stating a fact. But I can tell, and I'm really bad at telling when people are lying. Your," she mimicked his usual tones (if not his voice) impressively, "'fine, I'm always fine'," she returned to her own, "is a subconscious reflex. Every single person you've said it to has noticed, at least every once in a while, that you're lying. They are being polite, not blind."

But I don't need help! Everyone knows that when I say "I'm fine" it mean "I'm fine", I'm too dumb to have underlining intentions... and everyone knows that too!

-He protested, turning to the side, now noticing the titan was looking for a way to go down-

I'm pretty but dumb!

#Oh don't worry he does indeed always say it in the same tone #That's why it's the only thing he can be somewhat convincing when he lies about it

-"Lord Shaxx bailed him out" was the answer Freija got when she asked to visit Ellis at the low risk cells on the Tower. Lord Shaxx himself didn't gave a clear answer to where his "Little Fox" was, probably because he didn't knew either. However he did mention to her that Ellis had comms open-

The question was, did she really want to contact him. Really. Really. Because she wanted to yell at him, and that wouldn't help. But neither would leaving him alone.

Fine.

She thumped inside and opened the comm link. She didn't bother being nice about it, either.

"Are you at least staying off your fucking leg?"

ellis-the-lightguide

Of course I am! I promised that to you! Actually I asked dad to get me out because of that!

-He seemed to take offense at the question-

I'm a man of my word! Most of the time...

titanicfreija-rp

"You put a lot of effort into that," Freija said sarcastically. Specifically arranging your words so you can squirm out of whatever you need to, because telling an outright falsehood makes your tongue tie itself down, but speaking a technical truth that absolutely doesn't answer the question being asked? Oh you'll do that one. "Where are you being so very careful?"

Some hunter friends help me make a quick hunter nest on a pretty peaceful part of the EDZ! And I'm laying in here, unbothered, happy and most importantly far up in the tree, away from the floor so I can't step on my leg! Wanna come?

titanicfreija-rp

Freija was not keen to believe him, but she'd learn not to predict anything, just in case. "Yeah, I'll be there in a little while."

Since she was already on Earth, it was no trouble to get to the EDZ. She could only hope he was easy to find from the LZ.

I'll be waiting for you! Remember to look up, guardian!

-Ellis sounds happy as usual, though a little bit more energetic-

titanicfreija-rp

Sunny tracked him down and led the way with an indicator, and Freija trekked more or less straight to him. "Hey, Ellis!"

-Ellis was laying on a considerably big hammock-like structure made from different pieces of cloths, tarps and old hunter cloaks that were tied to the trees. A few extra pieces covered a part of it to work as a roof and under it are a bunch of coolers and boxes with food, magazines and supplies for Ellis' different hobbies-

Hi Sunny!

titanicfreija-rp

The cloth treehouse reminded Freija of her own hammock tent she used on the field. That he made one into an entire house was not a surprise.

She didn't want to disrupt the thing, so she hauled herself into the branches of a neighboring tree and laid her body carefully along the length of it to lean close. "And you didn't use your leg in the crafting of this?" she challenged, gesturing at the shelter. "I want to be nice but being nice just lets you neglect yourself."

I didn't use my leg, at all! I just had a bunch of friends help me!

-He turned to the side to look at the titan-

See? I don't surround myself only with people who mistreat me, I have friends who help me! Like you!

titanicfreija-rp

"I know how you act when I try to help," she replied dryly, not trying to argue with him about it. Until he could understand the link between 'but my leg shouldn't be broken' and 'i deserve a broken leg', it would just make her angry and him crazy.

That's because I don't ask your help and you insist anyways!

-He crossed his arms-

This is how I act when I actually wanted the help.

titanicfreija-rp

"I'd let you have that point, but Sunny's also helped upon your request and you ignored the information she gave you," she pointed out. She wouldn't believe him no matter what he said, she didn't know why she was bothering. "Anyway, I'm glad you're alive and not walking on the broken leg anymore." She started to get up to get down, moving over the tree branches more ably than could be expected of anyone in that much plated armor. "Seen you and gotten an idea of how you're doing. Need anything from home?"

That was me asking for an opinion, not help. It's different!

-He hummed, turning his head to the side-

Not really, you were the one looking for me.

titanicfreija-rp

"Yes, because I worry about you," she replied. "I was also asking if you needed anything because I worry about you, and I was about to leave and that's one of my ways of making sure people are taken care of."

"Asking my opinion about the toxicity of black mold feels a lot like asking for help instead of an opinion," Sunny objected. "Especially since I know you didn't come across any information or opinions to the contrary and yet you ate it anyway."

I asked your opinion because I needed it, and I'm thankful that you worry about me! Though it confuses me a bit...

-He lifted himself and sat on the structure-

But I've already told you I don't need anything. I'm fine, I'm always fine!

titanicfreija-rp

"You said that while you were walking on a broken leg," Freija sighed. She was clearly trying to get a good jump to get straight down and hesitating. "Even if you do think it's fine, I very clearly don't think it's fine for anyone to go around walking on broken legs. I'm used to you starting fights you know you can win, but you always lose that one. Why do you keep saying it to me? Hoping I'll get annoyed and ignore you like everyone else?"

Force of habit, I'm just used to say it... I'm sorry.

-The hunter looked around for something, not finding it and rolling to the edge of the nest to look down, groaning and rolling back-

titanicfreija-rp

"Do you honestly think anyone really believes it?" she huffed. "Habit or not, we--everyone that hears you say it-- knows it's not true. The only reason it works is because we know you don't want help and won't take it and there's no point in trying to argue with you about it, because even if we do try to force it, you'd rather break your good arm than accept it. I'm just not exhausted with it, yet, so I keep arguing with you." She didn't want to admit how badly he was wearing her down, too. Part of it was not wanting to give up hope on anyone, but the other part was mostly sheer bullet-headed stubbornness.

Hey! Everyone believes it! I'm convincing!

-He laid on his back, looking at the sky-

You're just too insistent.

titanicfreija-rp

"I am insistent, but I'm not the only one that doesn't think you're okay. No one else is willing to argue with you about it," she insisted. "I'm just the kind of asshole that's going to argue with you about it."

Maybe they don't argue with me because they know I'm fine! And you're not an asshole, you just like arguing! That's fun to do sometimes.

titanicfreija-rp

"They don't argue because you've said you're okay and at that point you are clearly not going to say anything else. I bet they even do the same face when they hear you say it." She crossed her arms. She knew there were a lot of people in his life that didn't care, but the ones that asked if he was okay were not on the list, presumably. She knew she was special for having gotten the chance to comfort him when he was grieving, but he wasn't that subtle.

They give me a warm smile and say "good to know!". Because they know I'm fine!

-Ellis yawned, and stretched out to have more of his body be covered by the warm sun-

titanicfreija-rp

"Mmhm," she said. "They must be convincing." She scanned the area again, still looking for a clean drop, somewhat artificially.

Why are you so focused on making me feel bad now? I'm convincing!

This guy talks a lot @ellis-rp - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag