If it makes you feel a little better, I'd never heard of a 'vampire' until I met you all. [ stop bringing up your boyfriend zieks
anyway - he does look a bit surprised, at the first part. ] Do you think? Admittedly, it is strange... I usually am able to heal fairly quickly from anything, so to be down like that was frustrating...
Aha. [ a-qing... touches heart... ] We are from very similar places. She has a daozhang that she treasures. From what she has told me, the two of us are quite similar, and from what I saw of her memories, it is true - right down to the way that we dress.
It is nice, to have a touch of familiarity here, so I am glad that I can provide that comfort.
...it never hurts to be kind to others, Mr. Van Zieks. [ this is not a lecture. but.
[ at least, he is very sympathetic, and it comes through clearly in his tone. ] We are in a very stressful situation - I certainly do not hold it against you. You are human, no? It happens.
...Even so, I think it would be good to talk to Rin, in private. He might appreciate it, if you have not already.
"Yeah?! Well! Well! You were a big -" [ a pause, here, like he's trying to pick out an insult that rin would use ] "-Butthead about it!" [ who taught you that word ] "Why do you think I'm a bad influence, huh?!"
"Well, I wanna be a good influence! I'm a good person, I just get mad sometimes!"
[ he makes the most rin face he can possibly make, like, angry but also with his lower lip sticking out like a puppy being scolded? he's doing his best. ]
"You get it, right?!" [ and then wiggles his eyebrows like "eh? eh?" YOU CAN DO IT ]
"We have that in common! Maybe that's something we can make common ground over."
[ ok this is getting less convincing so - he, stops there, with a little laugh, holding up his hands. ]
... Sometimes, that is all it takes - finding common ground, you know. You are successful, and very smart, which can make you a wonderful role model. I think you'll find more success with others like Rin when you try to understand them, and you'll find it easier to understand them when you realize the things you have in common.
[ would you like some evidence? can you believe the protagonist treatment you're getting now ]
Well. You have organized us and helped to lead the charge in many different areas. You said that this job is like yours, but, yours is far more organized, and these trials themselves are quite difficult as they are, so I imagine to do them on the daily and be successful at them means you must be very intelligent.
Those all seem like very good qualities to emulate, to me.
[Evidence is everything. And he cannot believe it.]
I feel you are oversimplifying things, but... I suppose. I have just been acting because I feel that someone has to. I am sure there are others out there who would have been more effective than me.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
anyway - he does look a bit surprised, at the first part. ] Do you think? Admittedly, it is strange... I usually am able to heal fairly quickly from anything, so to be down like that was frustrating...
no subject
I mean that you seem to be the sort of person who attracts kindness.
no subject
he makes a little noise to that, rubbing the back of his neck. ]
...Maybe. If that is so, then - it is I hope because I do my best to be kind to others, and try to appreciate gestures like that when they are given.
no subject
I would imagine so. Miss A-Qing in particular regards you very highly.
no subject
Aha. [ a-qing... touches heart... ] We are from very similar places. She has a daozhang that she treasures. From what she has told me, the two of us are quite similar, and from what I saw of her memories, it is true - right down to the way that we dress.
It is nice, to have a touch of familiarity here, so I am glad that I can provide that comfort.
...it never hurts to be kind to others, Mr. Van Zieks. [ this is not a lecture. but.
it is a tiny, tiny bit pointed. ]
no subject
... Someone has to be the "bad guy" if we are to not devolve into chaos.
no subject
There is a fine line between keeping order and instituting cruelty.
no subject
... And when I crossed a line, I apologized, did I not?
no subject
[ he does deliver this very gently and evenly, though - no judgement. ]
no subject
[He is very stressed out and it is making him extra mean.]
no subject
[ at least, he is very sympathetic, and it comes through clearly in his tone. ] We are in a very stressful situation - I certainly do not hold it against you. You are human, no? It happens.
...Even so, I think it would be good to talk to Rin, in private. He might appreciate it, if you have not already.
no subject
I suppose I could. But do you truly trust me not to make things worse?
no subject
Oh! I'll help you! What would you say to him? Imagine that I am Rin, at this moment.
[ he will
attempt to make an angry rin like face.
>:C ]
no subject
I...
[He is having trouble pretending he is in this other hypothetical situation. He's clearly awkward.]
Mr Okumura. It was not my intention to upset you. I was merely trying to look out for Power's best interests, and I overstepped.
no subject
he clears his throat. ]
"Yeah?! Well! Well! You were a big -" [ a pause, here, like he's trying to pick out an insult that rin would use ] "-Butthead about it!" [ who taught you that word ] "Why do you think I'm a bad influence, huh?!"
no subject
I think a particularly stiff breeze could be a bad influence on miss Power.
[It's not hard.]
no subject
"Well, I wanna be a good influence! I'm a good person, I just get mad sometimes!"
[ he makes the most rin face he can possibly make, like, angry but also with his lower lip sticking out like a puppy being scolded? he's doing his best. ]
"You get it, right?!" [ and then wiggles his eyebrows like "eh? eh?" YOU CAN DO IT ]
no subject
I... yes. I understand. There are times when I lose my temper as well.
[And then tables get kicked.]
no subject
"We have that in common! Maybe that's something we can make common ground over."
[ ok this is getting less convincing so - he, stops there, with a little laugh, holding up his hands. ]
... Sometimes, that is all it takes - finding common ground, you know. You are successful, and very smart, which can make you a wonderful role model. I think you'll find more success with others like Rin when you try to understand them, and you'll find it easier to understand them when you realize the things you have in common.
no subject
I do not know what you are basing these statements on. But... I will keep your words in mind.
[He seems slightly embarrassed.]
no subject
Well. You have organized us and helped to lead the charge in many different areas. You said that this job is like yours, but, yours is far more organized, and these trials themselves are quite difficult as they are, so I imagine to do them on the daily and be successful at them means you must be very intelligent.
Those all seem like very good qualities to emulate, to me.
no subject
I feel you are oversimplifying things, but... I suppose. I have just been acting because I feel that someone has to. I am sure there are others out there who would have been more effective than me.
no subject
[ xie lian smiles up at him, though. ] Maybe there are, but, you are the one who has been acting. And that matters. Doesn't it?
no subject
[Hmph.]
... Do you have any siblings, your highness?
no subject
I don't, no. I suppose Qi Rong and I were raised close to each other, but... [
we. all see how that went. ]
Why do you ask?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)