Matthew Callahan (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
onthe_threshold) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
sixwordstories2018-06-24 06:57 pm
onthe_threshold) wrote in sixwordstories2018-06-24 06:57 pm
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So.
Feelings.
What do you do?
Feelings.
What do you do?
--Or have manners. Just throwin' it out there.
[Like she's one to talk.]
I'm not givin' you grief for doin' your job, I'm pissed because she shouldn't have needed a professional.
Where th'fuck was I, that I couldn't tell she was in trouble?
Wait... What? That don't even begin t'make sense.
[Like she's one to talk.]
I'm not givin' you grief for doin' your job, I'm pissed because she shouldn't have needed a professional.
Where th'fuck was I, that I couldn't tell she was in trouble?
Wait... What? That don't even begin t'make sense.
Losers. [He grins.]
Oh, knock it off. It's not your fault she's gotten herself into a life of crime. Look, you're her friend, right? You're not her mom or her babysitter. And she's doing good! She's growing up. It's kinda cool.
I have a hard time trusting women.
Oh, knock it off. It's not your fault she's gotten herself into a life of crime. Look, you're her friend, right? You're not her mom or her babysitter. And she's doing good! She's growing up. It's kinda cool.
I have a hard time trusting women.
Yup. I mean, it was my idea.
I do?
Yes. I think you know why.
I do?
Yes. I think you know why.
[She sticks her tongue out at him.
And groans dramatically when he points out that Ezera was never her responsibility.] Not cool. I'm her friend and friends are supposed t'look out for each other.
Is... That... Somethin' you maybe wanna talk about? 'Cause judgin' me on account of the business between my legs seems kinda harsh...
And groans dramatically when he points out that Ezera was never her responsibility.] Not cool. I'm her friend and friends are supposed t'look out for each other.
Is... That... Somethin' you maybe wanna talk about? 'Cause judgin' me on account of the business between my legs seems kinda harsh...
You DO look out for her, dummy. And your job as a friend isn't to work for her, it's to talk to her and support her and shit.
[He sighs.] I know. Look. [He stops and frowns. He's not sure what to say.]
I dunno how to explain without pissing you off.
[He sighs.] I know. Look. [He stops and frowns. He's not sure what to say.]
I dunno how to explain without pissing you off.
Good. Well, I think. I mean her whole situation is going to be a clusterfuck if she didn't get someone with some experience and strength behind her. You've got both.
Yes. It softens your face and brings a light to your eye.
I'm not sure I do? I mean, I know you haven't had a lot of relationships. I know you often seem like you're waiting for an emotional hit or random cruelty. I how you reacted when I said the words. That you said nobody loves you. So, I've been putting together a picture. If you told more, it might help.
Yes. It softens your face and brings a light to your eye.
I'm not sure I do? I mean, I know you haven't had a lot of relationships. I know you often seem like you're waiting for an emotional hit or random cruelty. I how you reacted when I said the words. That you said nobody loves you. So, I've been putting together a picture. If you told more, it might help.
I do. And I like hurting people.
...huh.
I've been in love once. She didn't love me, as it turns out. I guess in retrospect it's easy to see, but I didn't know. The only other person I cared about was my sister. [He stops, thinking.]
I don't like my sister.
Anyway. Ivana. She was my boss. I'd have died for her. She was strong and beautiful and ruthless. I dunno, it all seemed normal at the time, but I guess out here you don't test drugs on your lover, huh?
...huh.
I've been in love once. She didn't love me, as it turns out. I guess in retrospect it's easy to see, but I didn't know. The only other person I cared about was my sister. [He stops, thinking.]
I don't like my sister.
Anyway. Ivana. She was my boss. I'd have died for her. She was strong and beautiful and ruthless. I dunno, it all seemed normal at the time, but I guess out here you don't test drugs on your lover, huh?
I never said I was gonna work for her. But if I implied that I was gonna commit several acts of violence, that was deliberate. Like it or not, I'm in th'mix now.
[Now it's her turn to sigh.] I get what you're sayin'. And I'm doin' my best t'be supportive of her; it's just not in my nature t'leave it at that.
Why would it piss me off, unless... Merde, somebody did somethin' t'you, didn't they?
[Her jaw hardens, a muscle ticking in her jaw. It was becoming apparent that she's been a shit friend to Matthew, too.] I realize I don't have th'best track record of hearin' you out without halfway losin' my shit. But, if this is somethin' you wanna talk about... I'll do my best t'listen. I may need t'let off some steam afterwards, but that can't be helped.
[Now it's her turn to sigh.] I get what you're sayin'. And I'm doin' my best t'be supportive of her; it's just not in my nature t'leave it at that.
Why would it piss me off, unless... Merde, somebody did somethin' t'you, didn't they?
[Her jaw hardens, a muscle ticking in her jaw. It was becoming apparent that she's been a shit friend to Matthew, too.] I realize I don't have th'best track record of hearin' you out without halfway losin' my shit. But, if this is somethin' you wanna talk about... I'll do my best t'listen. I may need t'let off some steam afterwards, but that can't be helped.
Edited (I have handwaved SO MANY THINGS XD ) 2018-06-28 23:23 (UTC)
I'm fine with that. No point squandering your talents.
I'm just saying don't beat yourself up about it.
Not recently, no.
Okay. You asked, I'll tell you.
[A deep breath.] Women are insatiable, devouring monsters.
I'm just saying don't beat yourself up about it.
Not recently, no.
Okay. You asked, I'll tell you.
[A deep breath.] Women are insatiable, devouring monsters.
[A wry look.] You don't know what my talents are.
Oh, alright! I'll stop. [No she won't.]
[She very obviously braces herself for whatever she's about to hear... But then she just looks confused again, awkwardly rubbing the back of her neck.] Uhm.
I... I've heard that before, just not usually as a complaint.
Oh, alright! I'll stop. [No she won't.]
[She very obviously braces herself for whatever she's about to hear... But then she just looks confused again, awkwardly rubbing the back of her neck.] Uhm.
I... I've heard that before, just not usually as a complaint.
No? Easier question then.
Would you do what happened to you and your family to someone else and their family?
Would you do what happened to you and your family to someone else and their family?
[She looks a little uncomfortable, then has to snort a short laugh at her own hypocrisy.] ...Yeah. I kind of get that. At least when they deserve it.
I might get jealous if you just go easy smiling at everyone, though. [She's clearly teasing.] Okay, so maybe not if you were actually that happy.
[Jen listens to him with a quiet focus. She clearly has an emotional reaction but doesn't want to say anything about it that would stop him in his narrative. The break from his sister is clearly important, but maybe a for a different conversation. Ivana seems bad enough.]
No, you don't. At least not if you actually care about them or if it's not a life and death situation. You should be able to expect respect and decent treatment. Ruthlessness isn't necessarily off the table, but it should never be aimed at you. But, well, it's not unusual to have a couple really bad or abusive relationships out here, either. I've definitely had some.
[She reaches up to touch his cheek.] You can take the time you need. I'm not pushing you. To feel and to learn how much you trust me. How much you trust yourself when you love someone. I might not say it much, but I still feel it. You taking time won't change that.
I might get jealous if you just go easy smiling at everyone, though. [She's clearly teasing.] Okay, so maybe not if you were actually that happy.
[Jen listens to him with a quiet focus. She clearly has an emotional reaction but doesn't want to say anything about it that would stop him in his narrative. The break from his sister is clearly important, but maybe a for a different conversation. Ivana seems bad enough.]
No, you don't. At least not if you actually care about them or if it's not a life and death situation. You should be able to expect respect and decent treatment. Ruthlessness isn't necessarily off the table, but it should never be aimed at you. But, well, it's not unusual to have a couple really bad or abusive relationships out here, either. I've definitely had some.
[She reaches up to touch his cheek.] You can take the time you need. I'm not pushing you. To feel and to learn how much you trust me. How much you trust yourself when you love someone. I might not say it much, but I still feel it. You taking time won't change that.
I have suspicions.
Liar.
It's not a complaint exactly, just...
If you tell anyone what I'm about to say, I'll kill you. Okay?
[Sigh.] I'm scared of women.
Liar.
It's not a complaint exactly, just...
If you tell anyone what I'm about to say, I'll kill you. Okay?
[Sigh.] I'm scared of women.
See, this works great! I get to hit people and you don't need to be upset because they're scumbags!
I don't think you have to worry about that, babe.
Abusive? [Clearly this is not a word he thinks of in connection to himself.] Hm. You have?
I know you're not. I just wanted you to know. Because I am aware I have some... issues with women.
I don't think you have to worry about that, babe.
Abusive? [Clearly this is not a word he thinks of in connection to himself.] Hm. You have?
I know you're not. I just wanted you to know. Because I am aware I have some... issues with women.
Don't we all?
[She mutters.] Goddamn psychics.
Who I'mma tell?! And I think we're settin' a new record number of times you've threatened t'kill me in a single night.
[Oni quirks an eyebrow at him.] I didn't think you were afraid of anything.
[She mutters.] Goddamn psychics.
Who I'mma tell?! And I think we're settin' a new record number of times you've threatened t'kill me in a single night.
[Oni quirks an eyebrow at him.] I didn't think you were afraid of anything.
Probably.
Yet you keep hanging out with us.
I only threatened once! My previous threat was not death.
Yeah. Well. They keep fucking me over, so.
Yet you keep hanging out with us.
I only threatened once! My previous threat was not death.
Yeah. Well. They keep fucking me over, so.
Well, I'm not trying to make supersoldiers.
God. It's like pulling fucking teeth with you. You don't make it easy and I'm not patient enough to have this conversation.
A therapist will do wonders if you don't already see one.
A therapist will do wonders if you don't already see one.
[She gives a headshake of agreement and yielding.] You're right.
[Her brow crinkles a little.] I wouldn't be upset if I did.
Yes. To both. [She frowns, thinking of Jameson.] It took a long time to get over it. [Well, mostly over it.]
I'm glad you told me, and that you wanted to talk about it. And would be glad to keep talking about it as long as you want to. Especially if you want to get into some of those issues or your concerns about them.
[Her brow crinkles a little.] I wouldn't be upset if I did.
Yes. To both. [She frowns, thinking of Jameson.] It took a long time to get over it. [Well, mostly over it.]
I'm glad you told me, and that you wanted to talk about it. And would be glad to keep talking about it as long as you want to. Especially if you want to get into some of those issues or your concerns about them.
Only because I don't see what you're getting at.
I do not. Do you?
I do not. Do you?
[He looks very satisfied.]
How long?
[He absorbs this offer.] ...I think sexual women freak me out the most. Working for Ezera means seeing strippers. She does not care for my attitude towards them.
How long?
[He absorbs this offer.] ...I think sexual women freak me out the most. Working for Ezera means seeing strippers. She does not care for my attitude towards them.
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