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What happened? What'd you do?

[She stops packing for a moment.]

I... [She sighs, running a hand through her hair. Trying to sort out what she wants to say in her head. A few more moments pass before she responds.] I can't tell you when, and I can't tell you how--I promised that I wouldn't tell anyone else what I know, and even if he's being an ass I intend to keep that promise. But...

[Another sigh, this one much more deep and distressed sounding.]

Look. Sheena, I really managed to piss Kaneis off. I don't know how to fix things, or if I even can.

[She has a feeling she knows who this 'he' is-- and her suspicions are confirmed when Tori mentions Kaneis. Her reaction is a gigantic sigh, not directed at Tori specifically but the situation.]

That's... tough. And I guess you came to me because me and Kaneis are friends, huh.

Well, that's part of the reason. I'm not going to lie here, okay? But another part--maybe even a bigger part--is that I trust you more than most of the people here.

[Of course, that isn't saying too much. Allowing herself to care about others here has been an uphill battle as it is, with all her fears of losing people. But trust... trust is a whole different monster. Despite that, Sheena has given Tori no reason to be suspicious of her, no reason to not trust her. Tori just has to be careful, is all.]

I figured either way you could give me some sort of advice, and I would be comfortable talking to you about it. ...but if you're not comfortable, that's fine. [Really, she's already alienated one person today.]

I-- wow. You trust me? [Even though she's not really that cool?] ... Thanks. It's been a while since I heard that.

[She takes in a deep breath.]

It's fine, we can talk about it. I can't dally too long because I have a mission to go on, but I can try to make Kaneis a little less mysterious.

First off, when he's mad-- really mad, like you saw-- it's because he's hurt. He's like a little kid. If he so much as stubs a toe, he's gonna whine and yell and scream for attention. That's just part of his nature. At some point he'll get tired of hearing his own voice, and then you'll both be able to think straight.

Of course I do! It's not like you've given me a reason not to...

[She listens to Sheena. Kaneis... was hurt? Then, being a Chosen One in his world must really be a bad thing. Likely even worse than how it is with her back in her own world, since he got as angry as he did.]

Do you think he'll let me apologize, even after calming down? [A small sigh.] Sorry, I don't mean to sound like such a pessimist. I don't really think he wanted attention in that moment, though.

[Another sigh.]

But... I think I can get that. Lashing out because you're hurt. [Doesn't she do the same thing? Of course she does. She knows she does. She lashed out right back when all of that happened.

"I don't care!" What a joke.]

I think he will. If you're really honest about it, he'll give you another chance.

[At least... she hopes so.]

Do you want me to talk to him?

All right. If you say so...

[She doesn't say something for a few moments. Would Sheena talking to Kaneis just make him more angry with Tori? She doesn't know, but it's better than doing nothing.]

...if you think it would help, yeah. It would be a big help, thank you.

[Sheena smiles, a trace maternal, though Tori can't see it.]

Anything else?

Edited 2013-08-24 15:44 (UTC)

[Another pause of hesitation--however, this one is much longer than any of the others. It's not so much that her next question may or may not apply to Kaneis (she doesn't know, she doesn't know) as much as it is that it heavily applies to herself.

And that she's (mostly) asking it because of herself, because it's something she's tried so desperately to keep to herself and after what happened today... she really can't bring herself to more.]

...Sheena, is it wrong for someone to create a different image of themselves while they're here? [Her voice is terse, on edge. Almost afraid.] Say that someone's background wasn't happy back home--is it okay to pretend to lead a different life while they're here, even if it won't last?

[In a way, it's what she's been doing. Isn't it? How funny that she would never do that back home, but now that she's away from it all, well... here she is.

She has no reason to keep being who she was back home. Not without them.]

[Yeah, no, she just thinks Tori is talking about Zelos.]

Why would that be wrong? As long as they're not hurting someone, then they can live however they want to.

You really think that?

[She sounds happy, perhaps a little too relieved for it to be about Zelos.]

Because ever since I came here, I've been doing that. I mean, not to a huge extent or anything like that! But just pretending enough to distance myself from who I was back home. You know what I mean?

[It's a step. She doesn't trust Sheena enough to tell the other girl why she's been pretending, but enough to tell her that she's been hiding at all.

She's not even entirely sure why she trusts Sheena as much as she does, even. Perhaps it goes beyond being given no real reason to be suspicious of Sheena beyond the norm. Sheena... always seems concerned about her when they talk. It's comforting, familiar in a way Tori certainly doesn't mind.

It's a good, yet terrifying feeling.]

...sorry, I got off topic. But since I had already contacted you about Kaneis, I thought I'd get that off my chest too.

I think I understand. I mean... there's a lot of stuff at home I'm not proud of. But it doesn't matter here, I think.

[Oh, so it's not about Zelos-- that's easier to deal with. Okay. Calm the assumptions. Tori really doesn't know anything, huh.]

It's okay. We're friends, right? You can talk to me about anything.

At least... I think that's what friends are for. I'm... kinda not used to having them, but you knew that.

Yeah! I'm pretty sure it's what friends are for too. [At least, in her experience.] And you're a damn good friend, too. Thank you, Sheena.

[She laughs, relieved.]

And maybe you're right. Maybe none of it does matter here. And maybe I can learn to believe that, if I try hard enough.

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