At What Price Respect

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity in the forum? Not a strange sight. Verity without coffee? Rather less common. Verity slumping, exhausted, into a couch? Unusual. Verity covered in scrapes, bruises, and dust? Definitely strange.

"Help isn't if it's forced on someone. This is true. Someone not in possession of all of the facts cannot give fully informed consent. This is also true. But nobody can be forced to listen." Of course Verity has things on her mind. Who here doesn't? "How do you reconcile that? Is ignorance truly bliss? Or do you do what's needed to save someone despite their choices?"

((A note before you come to play with Verity: she's got a magic spell stuck in her that lets her always know when someone is lying to her. This includes sarcasm and knowing when someone believes something to be true when it isn't. This doesn't include lies of omission. She can also see through illusions. Please respect this; if your character is trying to lie to her, please make that known so she can react appropriately. [I completely understand this isn't going to be everyone's idea of fun.] Thanks.))

Comments

[heirtothearcane]

Viatorus brightens at the thought of having helped, even if just a little. "I hope it will work. Or that someone else will think of something for you. This place has to be good for diverse ideas and opinions... Do you really want to live here? Almost everyone else is trying to get home."

((Verity is also awesome ^^ It's interesting to stumble over their own flaws.))

[brave_heart_verity]

And there goes the smile. It's okay, Viatorus, you didn't know. "Home's... not really an option anymore. And I am more comfortable here in a lot of ways, so it's... not a bad choice for me."

((Aww, thank you!))

[heirtothearcane]

When her smile goes, so does his. He didn't mean to turn the conversation like that.

"Oh..." He wants to ask about her home, but it's clear that the topic is upsetting so he carefully steers himself away from it. "Uh, you... you find it more comfortable? Have you explored much?"

[brave_heart_verity]

No, she knows that. This is the price of not telling anybody: nobody knows.

"Some? This place is so big... but I'm learning how to get around pretty reliably, and how to find all the sorts of places I'll need to visit regularly. It's a start. What about you?"

[heirtothearcane]

"I... I explored a bit, but then I found the library and started exploring that instead. There and the parks are where I know best."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Nothing wrong with exploring a library. I love to read. I heard one of the librarians is an orangutan, is that true?"

[heirtothearcane]

He casts his mind back and his brow lifts slightly in surprise. "I've seen one around but I haven't met him, o-or her, yet. I... I didn't know that was one of the librarians..."

[brave_heart_verity]

"He, or she, is probably great at getting to the high shelves." Verity's impatient about a lot of things, and demanding too, but there's no sign of her even noticing the stutter. He's earned the full measure of her patience.

[heirtothearcane]

He stops to consider and then nods. "That is true... Maybe I'll talk to him, or her, once I've gone through everything I can reach." As Viatorus is prone to stuttering, that is going to be a very good thing.

[brave_heart_verity]

She's prone to nasty comments she can't take back, and that's harder to forgive. She needs to build up some goodwill early. "Or you could ask for some recommendations next time you're there."

[heirtothearcane]

The thought of socialising even more than he has already knocks some of the wind out of his sails and he fidgets. "I... I guess I could, yes."

[brave_heart_verity]

She knows that feeling. "Would it help to go with a friend?"

[heirtothearcane]

"I... I don't know. Maybe." He shifts awkwardly on the spot, shrugging. "But I... I don't need to talk to him, or her, yet."

[brave_heart_verity]

"No. Of course not." She'll back off the subject for now.

[heirtothearcane]

"Thank you for the suggestion, though."

[brave_heart_verity]

"You're welcome. And... offer stands, if you feel like some company."

[heirtothearcane]

He smiles slightly and nods. "Thank you. I'll remember it. And you too. If... If you want company."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Thank you." She appreciates the offer, and has some idea how hard it is for him to make.