EVE'S HEART

[aprettygirl]

A dark veil slips over you, obscuring your vision; it’s cool and clinging, and blocks out all outside sensation. You drift downward . . . as you do, you grow more and more aware of the pulse of your own heartbeat, until it’s a ringing, unpleasant throb in your ears.

. . . after some time, it’s interrupted by a soft splash, and you feel solid rock underfoot.

((Please join #fleshbloodbone. All your character’s skills are on and uncapped; they will also have access to any items they carry normally!))

Comments

Re: bones of the matter

[mirroredvalue]

...Is there?

[Well, let me think about this... I know people have thought I'm a freak but still okay to hang out with... Is it a bit like that...?]

Re: bones of the matter

[aprettygirl]

"If you hate someone for one aspect of themselves, without trying to understand them . . .?"

She shrugs.

"Unwise."

Re: bones of the matter

[mirroredvalue]

...Seems like people do that anyways, though? Maybe it's just my world, but like...

Star couldn't even talk back home, and people made that into a bunch of other things that didn't have anything to do with Star. It kind of happened so often that... It has to be normal, right? Like, people wouldn't keep doing it if it wasn't normal, right?

[Well, you said I'm a pessimistic girl from a pessimistic world, so let me word that in a more coherent way this time so you can tell me how that's off.]

Re: bones of the matter

[aprettygirl]

She takes a deep breath and lets it out.

"It may have been normal under the circumstances, in your world, but that doesn't make it universally normal; and neither does it make it right."

Re: bones of the matter

[mirroredvalue]

Never said it was right, but... That's really not normal?

[You mean people aren't judging me right now? I always just kind of assumed people were judging me and everyone else for every little thing they did.]

Re: bones of the matter

[aprettygirl]

"It's . . . it's not, no, Star."

Re: bones of the matter

[mirroredvalue]

Oh.

[Well, okay then.]

Oh, right, wanted to ask you this for a while, but... Hard to ask in the real world... Do you think there's something wrong with being selfish?

Re: bones of the matter

[aprettygirl]

"That's very broad. What kind of selfishness...?"

Re: bones of the matter

[mirroredvalue]

Like someone doing things for others so they like them back.

[I'm sorry, this is still the gifts game stuff. That was a sensitive thing for me, since it's kind of how I approach interaction with other people as a point.]

Re: bones of the matter

[aprettygirl]

True Heart is, at least, more patient than Eve was.

"Mmm . . . there's nothing wrong with it, really. If you give gifts selfishly, then you're giving gifts selfishly, but you're still giving gifts, and you're realistic about your reasons for doing so.

I still maintain that unselfish altruism is a thing that exists, but if you think differently, then you think differently; and if you yourself are not that sort of person, then you are not."

Re: bones of the matter

[mirroredvalue]

Nnn... It might exist, but... Dunno, unselfishness seems kinda... scary to me.

Re: bones of the matter

[aprettygirl]

"It's not for everyone."

Re: bones of the matter

[mirroredvalue]

But it also kind of feels like people think Star's a bad person for not being like that? So it ends up being like... "what's the whole point of even trying, you're automatically a bad person that nobody likes no matter what you do."

Re: bones of the matter

[aprettygirl]

"I like you."

Re: bones of the matter

[mirroredvalue]

[Blink. Blink blink.]

...Wait, really?

[Seriously, the amount of people that have actually told me that is... pretty small.]

Re: bones of the matter

[aprettygirl]

She shrugs, with a little half-smile. "Yes."

Re: bones of the matter

[mirroredvalue]

[...Well, under the circumstances, I think there's only one question that needs to be asked.]

...Why?

[I mean, seriously. I'm pretty unlikeable, and I don't think I've actually... done anything for you, really...]

Re: bones of the matter

[aprettygirl]

"For being you. For doing your best. For trying to understand. Because we live together and it's not bad. For being a person who I know who is likeable. Because I do."

Re: bones of the matter

[mirroredvalue]

Eh, but, um...?

[Are we talking about the same person here...?]

Well, Star'll keep trying to do her best, and trying to understand, at least...? Star'll do her best to make sure living together isn't bad, too...

[I er... Wasn't actually expecting compliments back...?]

Re: bones of the matter

[aprettygirl]

"Thanks . . .

Ehh, I think you're going to wake up soon . . . is a hug before you go weird?"

Re: bones of the matter

[mirroredvalue]

Not if you'd be okay with it!

[Are you kidding, I would hug everyone if I didn't think they would push me away or act like I'm poisonous. I'm pretty sure some Jaspers would do that.

But yes, totally hugging.]

Re: bones of the matter

[aprettygirl]

She's solid and warm, and hugs back readily. A curl of emotion's in her touch as well, unintrusive but very present: that you are welcome, that you are a friend, that she grows frustrated at you on occasion but never angry, that she would like to help you if ever she can.

You wake up in endgame afterwards . . . the warmth of it lingers.