[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

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[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?

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[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.]

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[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?

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[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?]

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[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.]

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[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?

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[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.

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[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.]

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[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.

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[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?

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[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?

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[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?

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[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.]

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[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.]

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[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[O-kay, not at all what she was expecting to hear. It surprised so much that she stumbled from no longer watching where she was walking and instead turning to look at him in disbelief. On one hand, yeah, sure, the compliment was nice because she didn't hear things like that often, but on the other, it was coming from the same person who couldn't take a hint, was affected by this gd flood, and one scary, creepy dude. Probably reasons to break whatever this was off, but she was more afraid of what would happen if she did, versus sticking this out. Besides, she could handle it. Or stupidly thought she could. She relied way too much on her ability sometimes.]

My...feet?

[Yes, that was what she was stuck on at the moment.]

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[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

Mhm. I mean...I've never seen them, so I can't say for sure, but. Based on the rest of you I'm pretty sure you have fucking amazing feet.

[Aaand now he's checked out a bit to fantasize about them. They are, in his mind, currently the BEST feet ever. He swallows thickly, eying her more than a little like a starving wolf, and whyyyy didn't you just tell him to leave, Claire? He doesn't need more encouragement.]

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[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[Oh, holy shit, she needs to get away now. She jumps, feigning being startled (despite being worried quite a bit at the moment), and pulls out her item, a teddy bear on a keychain.]

Great, [she mumbles, stuffing it away.] My item just went off, I have to go find my Inmate. Thanks for offering to help, though.

[Claire is already walking away, whipping out her communicator and shooting a fast and private text to Bourne, asking him to cover the gym while she pretends to find Mr. Pink. She calls over her shoulder,] Bye, Richie, see you.