[009] honesty is rarely the best policy

[notafuckingnut]

We crash into things, we stop at fucking weird places, and now the damn boat floods?  What's next, we get hit by pirates?

...Actually that would be kinda cool.  Maybe then I would get to kill people without everybody hassling me about it all the time.  Or join them; I like their philosophy.  Their eye patches?  Not so much.  They creep me out.

Although they are kinda cool underneath; did you know eyeballs don't squish as much as you'd think?


[Cheerful, AFFECTED Richie is both cheerful and affected!  Warning: he also shares ENTIRELY too much and is likely to run his mouth until you tell him you really would like him to stop talking.  And even then he might try to continue anyway.

Belated, and I really should have put this up sooner:

Trigger Warnings: contained below is casual discussion of rape, torture, animal abuse, accidental murder, and confusion between kink and domestic violence, as well as TERRIBLE anti-rape advice.]

Comments

Spam! - omg! and g'night!

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[True to his word, he was waiting. He'd contemplated leaving, going back to his room and working out his frustrations in one way or another, but he told himself he'd wait just a little longer, just another minute, and one became two, two became four, and after that he stopped keeping track.

It seemed to have paid off when he saw her approaching. He smiled in greeting, the same goofy, unassuming, utterly harmless expression he usually adopted, as if their earlier conversation had never happened.]

Hey. I was starting to wonder if you weren't gonna show.

Spam!

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[She just bobbed her head once, a polite enough smile on her mouth.] Yeah, well, gotta work and all.

[Claire moved past him to set her things aside and relieve the previous shift. She did a quick once-over on the gym to get a handle on who all was present and the state of the place. ] So, what's up, Richie? Something tells me you're not here to work out.

Spam!

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

...Well yeah, but I usually miss you. So. [Richie fussed with his glasses, adjusting them even though they didn't really need it, and shrugged.

As she walked he followed, trailing after her like a lost puppy attaching itself to the nearest moving object. Even when her attention diverted to this or that, his didn't; it wasn't as if he were here for any other reason, after all.]

Nah, I...don't really do that, it always seems like a lotta work. And boring. I'd rather watch cartoons. No, um. I'm actually here to see you. Like I said earlier. [He seemed a little confused as to why she was asking his reason for being here; it wasn't as if he'd been vague about it before.]

Spam!

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[She leaned back against the wall, her hands on the small of her back and flat against the surface behind her. When speaking to him, her eyes would alternate between looking at Richie and looking across the gym, but when he spoke, she kept her gaze on him.] No, no, I got that, I just meant was there a reason you came to see me? Something you needed or wanted to ask?

Spam!

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

Yes, um.

[The way she stood only attracted his attention further, drawing his gaze like moth to flame, and it was some moments before he pulled himself away from the distraction enough to respond.]

Well I just wanted. Want. To know if there was anything I could...you know. Do for you? [All the hopeful.]

Spam!

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

Well...

[She looked around for something she might need help with and nodded at some weight benches.] You could help me wipe those down, if you want?

Spam!

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[Blink. And more confusion.]

That's...not really what I meant. Is that a...euphemism or something?

Spam! - xD

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[Oh, GDI, he meant sex. Her shoulders sagged and she moved her arms in front of her, crossing them defensively.] No, that was not a euphemism, Richie. I thought you wanted to help me out here. We can't have sex.

Spam! - *sigh*

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[This face? So disappointed.] ...I do, though. Want to help you out.

[Hi Claire, have you met Richie? Of course he meant sex. He ALWAYS means sex. Especially when he's for all intents and purposes uncensored. Why are you still surprised?]

...So now it's can't. Why not?

Spam! - <3

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[So.very.confused.]

What do you mean 'now it's can't', what did you think it was before?

[She remembered the fiasco with the showers, but when else had she supposedly indicated she wanted to bang him?]

Spam!

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

...Well...before. You said you would've except you had a guy who would've gotten pissed if you did. That's not really a "can't," it's just a..."not right now".

[...It makes sense in his head. Somehow. Nevermind that it was a flood and therefore doesn't actually count.]

Spam!

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[Claire nearly chokes on her words, blinking at the rate of a hummingbird's wing flaps.] W-what? When did I ever...[shakes her head vigorously] nonono, you're doing it again. We're not having sex, Richie, okay? I just want us to be friends, from now until you graduate. We're friends. And not friends with benefits! [she quickly adds before he can ask.]

Spam! - haha that face

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[A momentary pause, then a look of pure confusion.]

...Why not?

Spam! - :D

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[Claire is very careful with what she says next, despite what she really wants to say. Course, that might very well be the route she should go. But not yet.] Because you're older then me and we've only just met. Because you expect sex and that's insulting for me to hear. You obviously don't have a very high opinion of me and that's not a way to kick off a relationship.

Spam!

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

...I've known you for a few weeks, that's practically forever; usually it would've already happened by now. ...And that's probably part of the problem; if we'd already...you know, I woulda gotten over it an' I wouldn't keep trying 'cause it'd be out of my system. [...Yes, because apparently his issues are all her fault. Nice job, Richie. Either way he's shifting uncomfortably and fidgeting, as if, at least subconsciously, he knows this isn't a valid thought process.]

No, that's not it. I have a high opinion of you. I do. I like you a lot. I just...I dunno. [Lamely; he really has no explanation for himself and no current means to try to scrounge one together. It's not supposed to be this complicated, and now he's just unsettled and confused.]

Spam!

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[Claire knows all about forever but she just gave him a look instead of arguing any further. They clearly weren't going to see eye to eye.]

Look, I don't exactly have a lot of experience with that, floods and ports aside. Before I came here I had only been with one person and I had so many walls that it took a lot to trust people, to even want to get close to people. So I'm not the kind of girl who sleeps with whoever and whenever. I prefer to be at least dating that person and...[Groan. Why is this so difficult?]...we're friends, Richie. Just friends. I'm sorry you want more, but I can't give you that.

Spam!

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[Plaintive, almost to the point of desperation; this is evidently the Most Important Answer Ever.]

...And you're serious about that. You mean it. 'Cause you said something like that before too, and then you took it back and said it was for a different reason. And now you're back to what you said before. I can't...I need a constant answer, if you keep changing your mind like that we're gonna have a problem.

Spam! - You on AIM by chance?

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[She grabs her hair and practically growls. Was he not listening to a damn thing she was saying?! She'd scream if they were the only people in the gym but they're not, and so, she takes a deep breath with her eyes closed. She opens them and presses her hands together as if in prayer.] Richie. We.are.not.having.sex. I apologize for saying "can't" again, but I'm trying to be nice, despite how many times I feel like I'm repeating myself. I just want us to be friends.

Spam! - I am!

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[Of course he was listening! Hey, he thought he made a perfectly reasonable request; he's just checking. He gives her a hurt look, as if she's the one being ridiculous and he's the victim.]

Okay, I got it. Geez. Fine. I'm just saying. It's confusing. But okay. No, not ever, definitely. Even if you say yes, it's still no. ...Right?

Spam!

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[ -___- ]

[Claire reaches out and gives his forearm a quick squeeze. She has no idea why, she refuses to feel guilty here.] I know, and I'm sorry, I don't mean to be confusing. [Pause. This could be a mistake, but:] And we'll cross that bridge if we ever get to it, alright?

Spam!

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[Shrug] It's not just you; a lot of people are. But...thanks? [Why is she apologizing? This just seems weird to him.]

[SUCH a mistake, Claire. Why must you do things like this? You give him hope only to crush it and restore it later by accident.]

...Okay, sure. You're sure?

Spam!

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[I know, she's stupid and trying to be stupid nice.] If we get to that bridge. Waaaaay down the road. Not now.

[Huffs.]

Spam!

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

Okay. I got it. Not now. That's pretty disappointing, but okay. I guess that's...fine.

...How far down the road are we talking, though?

Spam! - *snerk* Had to.

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

Richie! I have work to do, okay? Now, you can either help or make like a tree and leaf. Either way, this is me walking away.

[Cleany clean clean the benches.]

Spam! - heeee!

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[Yep, see? SO not ending the way he envisioned it. He looks dejected, but is entirely content to take in the view as she shifts her attention. He watches for a little while, then finally speaks, sounding more than a little distracted.]

...You have a nice ass. And...everything else. I bet your feet are just as nice.

[A tiny bit more with-it, although he still sounds like he's more likely to continue to stare than actually be much help with...anything.]

I think I'll stay. What do you need help with?

[Nevermind that she already suggested things earlier, he's CLEARLY forgotten by now.]