HONESTY MEME

[cactusy]

1) Post your characters, one per comment
2) Go around with your characters and have them ask other characters questions-- anything goes!
3) Forced honesty time! Lying is impossible because of reasons
4) ICly discuss the confessions and revelations

Comments

[cactusy]

Aiming for casual does not mean aiming for mediocre.

I'm not looking for revelations. If you are, that'd become a problem eventually.

[in_extremis]

I think you should strive to have at least one a day. How is that a problem?

[cactusy]

Your life sounds exhausting.

Strictly casual's a hard line for me, buddy; take it or leave it. I'm not looking to have anybody get attached. Believe it or not, I don't think breaking hearts is fun.

[in_extremis]

I'm leaning toward 'not' on that one.

I'm not sure I can do that, though. I try. A lot. I wouldn't make it your problem. I don't make it a habit to chase people.

[cactusy]

Then I guess no matter how limited the options are here, it's my job to say "This sounds like a bad idea" and resign myself to not getting laid. You don't make a habit of chasing people, and I don't make a habit of hurting people who don't deserve it.

[in_extremis]

Oh, I thought I earned it at least a little bit.

[cactusy]

You're annoying. Doesn't mean I want to encourage you if there's a risk of you wanting something I can't give, and I'm not into relationships.

[in_extremis]

It wouldn't be your fault, you know, if some idiot got his heart broken. You're doing that to people every day, I guarantee you, you can't be taking it that personally. Is it just me that you're protecting? You can't just not do relationships, you can't build anything that way.

[cactusy]

I'm talking romantic relationships specifically. We can all still be teammates or whatever; I'm not saying I'm unwilling to work with people.

[in_extremis]

What's the difference?

[cactusy]

What's the-- are you serious? Are you in a romantic relationship with everyone you work with?

[in_extremis]

Kind of. I don't know. You would be a little bit in love with them, too, if you knew them, I don't think that's on me.

[cactusy]

You know, I was just joking about your life sounding exhausting, but-- holy crap, dude. I don't have real social needs, I can do fine without people, and I know that's not normal. But how do you not collapse from all that weight?

[in_extremis]

I don't think I've ever felt like it was a weight. It's not always easy, I guess, but--the universe has infinite capacity for stars, even the heaviest one won't break it. Is that what other people are to you, heavy?

[cactusy]

Sometimes. Depends on the person. I want to say I'd hate being like you, but... if I was like you, I wouldn't be like me.

People can be important to me. I'm not incapable of having people matter. It's just that I can do fine without them if I need to.

[in_extremis]

It would be nice, though, if you never needed to.

[cactusy]

That's not how life works.

[in_extremis]

Some people have that. I couldn't tell you what the process is, but I've seen the results.

[cactusy]

I've had it. But they're all dead now.

Look at me, though. Still here.

[in_extremis]

The uncertain possibility of that happening again, is worse than the sure thing of keeping people at a distance now?

[cactusy]

Hey, I told you I was willing to work with you guys as a team; that's not keeping people at a distance. My last job taught me all about the joys of teamwork, okay.

[And if she sounds a little sarcastic... well. Her voice is just Like That^TM sometimes.]

[in_extremis]

The one you couldn't stand anymore, and are happy to be on the other end of the universe to get away from? That team?

[cactusy]

No.

[She snaps the word, sounding something close to angry for the first time in this conversation. ]

I told you what happened to them. They died.

[in_extremis]

I didn't realize this thing was that thing, and it was still-- I'm sorry. That can't be easy.

[cactusy]

It was always a risk. It was what we signed up for.

[A fact she believes on technicality, even if it doesn't actually make any of it any easier.]

Only two are dead for sure. The other two-- if they're alive and they haven't gotten in touch, it means they don't want to be found. I can respect that.

All I can do is find a new job.