> CC : Pale Talk
(( our prompt is : cc, with an interesting appalled/distaste expression, reading his tablet ))
ML: "Cronus?" His moirail had spotted the expression- he attempted to lean in over to see what the sea dweller was looking at. CC: He'd scrolled up a little ways past it, so there was nothing too terrible on screen. Just conversations of hours past. CC: "...Nothing. Lovwe." CC: "..just followved by a clowvn, and followved back." ML: Kankri pulled up his tablet and signed in to check his moirail's blogs, since he wouldnt show him. CC: Cae made a face, then settled back and kept scrolling. After a minute, he did decide to shuffle over some, and lay his head in Kankri's lap.
ML: Kankri smoothed his fingers into Cae's hair. "..You should block him, love. The posts you've put on your vent are horrific." CC: "...He wvas trying to help someone plot against her." ML: "I do not care, he is going to be bad for you." CC: Cronus made a soft thoughtful grumpy little noise, and turned his head, letting his tablet rest face-down on his leg. CC: He rested his cheek against Kankri and thought quietly. CC: ".. I'm not, going to be rude to him." ML: "I do not think its rude" fingers scratched into his hair and stroked at his fin. CC: "Trolls complain about losing followvers nowv and again. It /wvould/ be rude to suddenly cease the one convwersation he's started wvith me." CC: "He.." The unrealistic fear that somehow this asshole /knows/ when he's being talked about reared briefly, but Cronus tried to shove it back down. "...is wvatching me, wvhether I pay him any mind or not." ML: "..and blocking him would force him to stop watching you, he cannot follow your blog if hes blocked, nor send you messages. This is not good for you." he shook his head. CC: "...blocking him wvould definitely be rude." ML: "Cronus." CC: "I wvant to unfollowv him, I'm just thinking about /howv/." ML: He leaned down and kissed the sea dweller. CC: He returned it only afer a moment, his cheeks starting to burn for no reason he could assess. ML: ".There is the mute option, I believe it can be employed without unfollowing someone, if you have xkit?" he bumped his nose against Caesurae's CC: The seadweller acquired the most relieved expression. "--once the thread's died out, I wvill. " ML: "you have been away long enough he may think nothing of you not replying, now?" CC: He grumbled softly. CC: "... It's his reply. The first time it goes three nights wvithout answvering, I'll call it done." ML: "..mute him love, you can see his replies from your activities tab" ML: "You need see nothing else" CC: His fingers curled and uncurled, grumbling softly. ML: "I could do it for you if you are finding it difficult?" CC: A slightly displeased sound. "...I wvill nevwer see it if he says something I Must knowv." ML: "Good." ML: "His life does not need to intersect yours, a passing few words need be all you ever were to each other." ML: .. he reached for the tablet CC: Fins lowered, and he whined softly, but it wouldn't take much tugging to loose the thing. ML: Kankri soothed at him with one hand while he went about getting that blog muted, he knew in theory how to do this, and it wouldn't take long. CC: "Are you absolutely certain it wvon't be rude?" He seemed to need the reassurance. ML: "I'm certain, he doesn't know you, you do not know him, there is no attachment, this should gracefully solve it, after you haven't interacted in two weeks you will unfollow him and that will be that." CC: He grunted softly, wrapped his arms around Kankri's waist, and settled in against him. CC: "...and you're sure it's this important?" ML: He set the tablet down and wrapped arms back around his head, stroking hair gently. "Yes." CC: He let his eyes close. ML: "He has significantly less tact or care with others feelings than Arlequin or Muralist, and they were already low threshhold." CC: "..those wvere the wvorst of wvhat he said." ML: "In the first night you knew him." ML: "You already have issues with them, he will only make it worse, even if there is no intention there to do so" CC: He nuzzled into his moirail gently. CC: "..vwisiting muralist to lend a hand wvent wvell." ML: "I'm glad that it did" CC: "... It feels like a sickness. I knowv I'll peek." ML: He stroked at his hair. "You cannot force yourself to be better, in this way" CC: "Nor by sticking my head in the sand." ML: "This is not that." CC: "...I lovwe you." CC: ".. It really is sticking my head in the sand." ML: "It is not, you have faced your killer, you continue to face him every night, you do need uncertain twisted versions of him like to your nightmares as well" CC: He pressed his face into Kankri again. Somehow, the word killer made his heart pound. ML: He shushed him softly, and papped and petted his head, letting his words lay for a moment. CC: "--I'm -- At peace, wvith Arlequin. WVe'vwe handled it." ML: "Your dealings with Arlequin are very brave, I still cannot face Meenah and she does not even remember what she did" CC: Cronus thought Kankri's death might have been more immediately painful, but maybe that wasn't the most diplomatic quibble. He buried his face, fins lowering. CC: "...He did wvrong, but he's more than wvhat he did." ML: A gentle thumb smoothed against a fin. "..some of them might not be. And many behave as he did at his worst, or worse than that." CC: The fin was trying to fall fast and press against his scalp, but it only pressed more firmly against the finger. CC: "... I'd really rather not consider that possibility." CC: "Trying to avwoid them -- -- It, .. It only made things wvorse, before I livwed again," he tried to explain. ML: He hummed a soft sound and stroked his thumb then spoke gently. "you have friends and quadrants now, we will not allow them to harrass you" CC: Cronus's initial response was..unflattering, so he gave himself time to think about it, and lean softly into the contact. Finrubs helped, but weren't enough to dispel his concentration on this subject. CC: ..no, there was nothing for it. "..I havwe you. I had you then. ... To an extent." ML: "And mother, and two of the younger Captors, and Arelquin and Muralist and Nadaya.." CC: He made a soft dubious noise, but it was hard to deny how..protective, at least one of those trolls had been via the tumblr IM system. ML: "You are not alone, Cronus" CC: ".. It seems somehowv uncouth to rely on that." ML: "Why? There is nothing wrong with the aid of your allies friends and clade that you have won for yourself" CC: "... Relying on outside aid encourages wveakness that can be crippling wvhen alone." ML: "..You have been alone all your life, Cronus, but you are not now" A kiss and a litte nudge against his head. "It is help freely given, because you are valued." CC: His cheeks heated despite himself. "..it doesn't change the fact that I could be again somenight, especially briefly." His voice softened noticeably. "...howvevwer pleasant it is that you're right." ML: "Do not poke them, but do not leat fear of them control you. .. you learn to live with it after some time" Soft words. CC: "..That is the least comfortable thing I have ever hoped to aspire to." ML: "That is, in a nutshell, what being a lowblood is like." CC: "I really rather prefer pretending wve're all equals, lovwe." ML: "Here, we can be- out there? unfortunately not yet" CC: ".. He might not be as bad as he seems. One of the first things Grand said to me wvas suggesting he'd do something to my gills." ML: "No." his tone was scolding CC: Cronus tilted his head to eye his moirail skeptically. ML: "He may be lovely but right now he is complecated your tendency toward panic, you may revisit him later perhaps" CC: He grunted softly and nuzzled in again, apparently satisfied. "... It's not panic," he objected, entirely on principle. ML: He squeezed him. "..It is, but thats fine" CC: "..I lovwe you. I hate panic." ML: "I know you do" ML: "I love you too, Cronus." CC: The seadweller hugged him back gently. CC: "I should really be stronger than this." ML: "You are extremely strong love" CC: "I suspect most highbloods wvould disagree." ML: "They can stick it." He smiled CC: Cronus made a face at him. ML: He continued smiling. ML: "A great many people can be wrong, Cronus." ML: "That there are more of them doesn't make them right" CC: "You're oppressing my culture, lovwe." ML: "I'm fairly certain I'm not" CC: "No seriously, highbloods vwalue different things," ML: "Some of the cutural norms you face as a highblood are toxic and detrimental to your well being" CC: "Vwaluing independant strength isn't one of them though." CC: "Highbloods that /don't/ vwalue that, die." CC: "..or used to." ML: "I am not saying that you should not take pride in your own strength, only that when you have clade and you are . not well, there is no shame in allowing them to help you, for so long as you have them. Not hide behind them, or allow them to become a crutch, but help." CC: He chuffed softly. "There is shame in being not wvell. Howv is this not hiding behind them, again?" ML: ...he flicked a horn hard with his fingers. "There is not. And you are not. I cannot see how it would be." CC: "--Hey!" He startled a bit, blinking accusatively up at him like a cat dumped off of something it wasn't allowed on. That stung, why... CC: He chuffed again, more argumentatively. "--There is. Someone not wvell may not be able to do any better, but they still ..." CC: He stalled, then went lax, laying his head back and rolling his eyes skywards. CC: "...It's not .. a proud place to be." ML: "You are wallowing in self pity Cronus and I shant allow it." he scolded him. "You were hurt, physically, mentally, it takes time to heal." CC: "--It's been forevwer!" CC: "--Possibly literally!" ML: "You were trapped in terrible physical nightmares the entire time, that is hardly recovery." CC: He produced a soft, frustrated sigh, and snagged a cushion to press into his pace. ML: "You are not weak for this, Cronus." CC: "Howv? Howv not?" ML: He attempted to peek under the pillow. "is a troll with only one leg weak for becoming a cavelreaper instead of infantry?" CC: "/Yes/." CC: "Yes, a troll wvith one leg is wveaker than one wvith twvo. He can wvork to overcome it, but he'll nevwer be wvhat he wvould havwe been." CC: The seadweller reluctantly peeked up at him, then decided to move the cushion to cover his horns. ML: "..That was not the question, cronus." ML: "You have been injured, you cannot become uninjured, you must now deal with being injured, wishing it away will not make it so. You can find new ways to strength or keep trying to walk on one leg without a prosthetic." CC: "I can find newv strength. ..But I havwen't." ML: "You've been too busy trying to walk." he murmured. CC: His fins drooped. ML: "You're doing better, lately. Listening more." he offered. CC: "Listening more?" ML: "To me" CC: "...so talk to me. WVhat do I do nowv?" ML: "We've got him muted, and youve acctually been asking people to tag, where you need it, I suppose then what remains for now is to actually speak to Muralist and Arlequin, and we will go from there" CC: His fins went down and back. "--speak to them about--?" ML: "Not doing things that are problematic to you." firm tone. CC: His fins went back, expression firming. "Arlequin Knowvs." CC: "He slipped, he apologized, it's fine." ML: "You're certain?" CC: "Aye." At least he sounded like it. ML: Fingers stroked through his hair. "and Muralist?" CC: "He.." Eyes closed. "...wvas exhausted, not in his right pan." ML: "Love. Its worth speaking on." CC: "WVith you, yes." CC: "One of his stirling advwances is that he only harms seadwvellers that have broken the lawv. WVhat could I ask of him?" ML: He sighed and set his head on his moirail's, curled on himself. "It is fair enough." CC: "..wvould talking help, in any wvay?" CC: "I cannot scold him." ML: "I wouldn't recommend scolding, but if he knew it was an issue of gravity, he is a reasonable troll." CC: ".. He is also a highblood, as am I." ML: "Primarily I'm to understand he objects to sea dwellers being pompous" CC: "Most of his alternates do." CC: "... I havwe a mild advwerse reaction wvhen I notice I'vwe been doing that." ML: He stroked his hair. "Because of what Arlequin did?" CC: A few uncertain, not-quite-nervous finflicks. ".. Aye." ML: He kissed the nervous fin. "..I am sorry, love" CC: "..It isn't often, is it?" CC: "I don't come across that wvay, I mean." ML: "Sometimes, it isn't on purpose, just from a lack of perspective." CC: ".. wvhen?" He asked, fins lowering. ML: "I could not tell you a specific instance, Cronus." gently stroke the cheek. "I will point it out the next time I notice? ML: " CC: "...Thank you." ML: "you are doing fine, Cro." CC: "..I lovwe you." CC: "... surely he knowvs it unsettles me." ML: "He likely doesn't" CC: ".. Howv wvould he not?" ML: "Because hes terribly oblivious" CC: ".. I hadn't noticed." ML: "Had you not?" CC: "He replies slowvly, but seems attentivwe enough." ML: "There are many issues he overlooks if they do not line up with the way he veiws the world, to the point of absurdity" CC: "Oh. ... That's not oblivwiousness, lovwe, that's closemindedness." ML: "I'm fairly certain its both." ML: "He often doesn't know what he will do will upset, because it doesn't enter his mind that it could be so, and he overlooks the signs" CC: His fins flicked again, as he realised how it could actually apply, and ... grunted softly. CC: "..I'll..think on it." CC: ".. Thank you, lovwe." ML: The mutant nuzzled his head. "Of course. .. now I think perhaps its winding down time for a bit." CC: "Pile and pampering?" ML: "Or tea and cooking, something to unwind" CC: He purred softly, leaning his cheek into him. CC: "I could try and remember the apple buckle thing." ML: He rubbed his cheek against the sea dwellers. "Why dont we then, that seems a treat" CC: The seadweller sat up, finally, to give his moirail a proper hug. Only after would he try to reclaim his tablet. ML: Kankri allowed him to have his tablet back and gave him a few small chaste kisses CC: The seadweller smiled for him, kissed him back, and thanked him on and off while trying to make tasty apple food with moderate to mild success.