RO > call me out; a forever open RP post, version 2

[midvalley]

NEW OPEN RP POST

Comments

[animated]

[ it's clear he's crossed a line here, and his good humor fades almost instantly. He ducks his head, gaze dropping to his knees ]

I'm sorry. I was only joking. It won't happen again.

[redoubling]

[ Myriad falls silent, taking a moment to compose himself. At length, he lets out a breath, shaking his head. ]

I apologize. Clearly this is a sore subject for me. And for you as well, I would wager.

[ A pause, and he brushes away an imagined speck from his thigh. ]

I've tried very hard to forget our people. Our home. It's something of a shock to be confronted by it so suddenly, once again.

[animated]

No, no. It's my fault. I want to put that place behind me. I shouldn't have brought it up. [ please don't be mad at him, please don't ]

[redoubling]

[ He sighs. ]

Charlie, I would hate for you to think you must censor yourself around me. Quite the contrary, in fact: I would prefer you speak freely. I shall do my best to avoid taking offense.

[animated]

I-- If you're sure. I just... I don't want this arrangement to end before it even began all because I ran my mouth.

[redoubling]

[ He waves a hand. ]

Trust me, Charlie -- it would take far more than a careless word before I rescind back my offer.

[animated]

Still, I'll try to be less... like home.

[redoubling]

[ For a second, Myriad is silent, but then he leans forward, ducking down to get into Charlie's line of sight. ]

There's no need for that. Be yourself -- you're already far removed from the men and women I knew when I was a young man. What little I know of you so far would have been a breath of fresh air, had we met back home.

[animated]

[ For a moment, Charlie's at a loss for words. He's caught up marveling at the color of Myriad's eyes.

He blinks, clears his throat ] I could say the same about you.

[redoubling]

[ He offers a small smile. ]

And there we are -- about the greatest compliment I could have ever received. Thank you.

[animated]

I never expected to find kindness like this all the way out here, let alone from anyone from home.

[redoubling]

It pains me to say I'm unsurprised, but I am glad, at least, that I was able to intervene when I could.

[ He falls silent, watching Charlie carefully. ]

You really ought to be resting, you know.

[animated]

I know. [ It comes out in a sigh. ] I just doubt I’ll be able to sleep well, but I should at least try.

[redoubling]

I could tell you a bedtime story, if you like. I was always quite fond of the one they told us about the dutiful young man who sacrificed every shred of happiness for the good of his household.

Fun for the whole family.

[animated]

No, no. That one always gives me nightmares.

[redoubling]

Perhaps the one about the Princess of Riddles, or the one about the two brothers and the phoenix? There's no shortage of stories one might tell to renounce deception and celebrate modesty. The irony is an endless source of amusement for me.

[animated]

I think I've had enough of fairy tales, to be honest.

[redoubling]

I take it you're disillusioned by the absence of your own happy ending, thus far.

[animated]

I guess that's one way to put it.

There was a point where I was happy to believe it all. The promise of status, a wife and family. I spent a long time lamenting over the fact that I must be broken. Defective.

[redoubling]

And I sincerely hope you've dismissed those absurd thoughts, now that you're older.

[animated]

[ He laughs, the sound soft and sad around the edges ] Took me a while, but I'm okay with who I am.

[redoubling]

[ He sighs, as though relieved. ]

I'm glad. I made my career in breaking the law, not in reprogramming decades of conditioning.

[animated]

So you seriously steal things for a living?

[redoubling]

After a fashion.

Will that be a problem?

[animated]

I’m not here to judge how you make a living, especially not after all you’ve done for me.