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[victory road] IC CONTACT
[For private communication, Pokegear or otherwise!]
[Oh god. Okay.
Grant's reply takes a while, as well, which probably isn't too much of a surprise, as he takes it all in, processes both what he'd heard but not quite retained, and the information that's truly new to him. He... might end up getting up and pacing around a bit in the process, reading the transcript and screencaps a bit at a time.
When he sits down to respond, it's with some careful thought and a distinct shift in mindset. This had been a messy, unpleasant interaction that he just hoped everyone could move on from. Now it's... it's something else. Something that might involve more work to resolve than he had thought.]
Okay
Yeah, I think i remember a bit more of that, now that I've read over it, thank you.
And I don't mind you telling her - I mean, it was probably pretty obvious to anyone who knew what to look for, anyway. That said, I do want you to know that while I appreciate your intent to keep eyes off me at the auction, there's no need to do anything like that for my sake again in the future.
[He hesitates a bit, thinking over how to lead into this next part, before he continues.]
I know you may have just messaged me to vent, and I'll gladly listen if you've got more to say and talk about what's come up already if you don't. But I also want to message Shiro. This has gotten way too far out of hand, and while I do feel bad since he doesn't need this stress, it's already happening and I think going through him might be our best bet for any kind of resolution. Is it okay if I tell him what you've told me here?
Grant's reply takes a while, as well, which probably isn't too much of a surprise, as he takes it all in, processes both what he'd heard but not quite retained, and the information that's truly new to him. He... might end up getting up and pacing around a bit in the process, reading the transcript and screencaps a bit at a time.
When he sits down to respond, it's with some careful thought and a distinct shift in mindset. This had been a messy, unpleasant interaction that he just hoped everyone could move on from. Now it's... it's something else. Something that might involve more work to resolve than he had thought.]
Okay
Yeah, I think i remember a bit more of that, now that I've read over it, thank you.
And I don't mind you telling her - I mean, it was probably pretty obvious to anyone who knew what to look for, anyway. That said, I do want you to know that while I appreciate your intent to keep eyes off me at the auction, there's no need to do anything like that for my sake again in the future.
[He hesitates a bit, thinking over how to lead into this next part, before he continues.]
I know you may have just messaged me to vent, and I'll gladly listen if you've got more to say and talk about what's come up already if you don't. But I also want to message Shiro. This has gotten way too far out of hand, and while I do feel bad since he doesn't need this stress, it's already happening and I think going through him might be our best bet for any kind of resolution. Is it okay if I tell him what you've told me here?
The only reason Grant isn't a liar right now is that he's here and speaking, quite frankly. Chip had been just about to level a punch at Felix's face when he squeezed, and they jerk their gaze up to him before a guilty look falls over them. They shuffle around to Grant's back, still clinging tightly and burying their face against him.
"...stupid..."
"...stupid..."
Edited 2021-07-30 04:57 (UTC)
Felix has trouble with new people, too, but at twelve years old he's far from self-aware. His posture does relax a little, as he removes his hand from his sword and fails to be inconspicuous about wiping tears away from his eyes.
"That doesn't even make any sense. You're the one who hated me before you even met me. That's stupid." He folds his arms in a huff. "Do you even know how to fight? Picking fights when you don't know how is going to get you hurt. That's even stupider. I've been studying swordplay since I was little. You're not even armed. Even my friend Sylvain knows to always carry a weapon, even if he doesn't like fighting."
"That doesn't even make any sense. You're the one who hated me before you even met me. That's stupid." He folds his arms in a huff. "Do you even know how to fight? Picking fights when you don't know how is going to get you hurt. That's even stupider. I've been studying swordplay since I was little. You're not even armed. Even my friend Sylvain knows to always carry a weapon, even if he doesn't like fighting."
Do you mean share the screenshots? I'm. Not sure about that part. Just because it doesn't show either of us in a very good light and I know Pidge is an important person to him (She's a hypocritical little bitch in my opinion, but I'm not Shiro and I'm sure she's kinder to people who don't scold her husband.)
But if you want to tell him that I'm frustrated because it feels like I'm not allowed to defend myself and my people, however poorly, from lurid insinuations—and that it's really damn annoying how it feels like the only acceptable response for me would have been to smile and eat shit... that you can probably tell him. You're the one person in this that everyone agrees is innocent. Maybe it'll sound better coming from you.
[At least he's replying before he picked that second fight with Lance, for better or worse.]
But if you want to tell him that I'm frustrated because it feels like I'm not allowed to defend myself and my people, however poorly, from lurid insinuations—and that it's really damn annoying how it feels like the only acceptable response for me would have been to smile and eat shit... that you can probably tell him. You're the one person in this that everyone agrees is innocent. Maybe it'll sound better coming from you.
[At least he's replying before he picked that second fight with Lance, for better or worse.]
Edited 2021-08-02 17:30 (UTC)
I absolutely understand. Should I tell him she messaged you at all or just keep it to the basic fact that it's seeming like Lance's BS is being overshadowed by the pressure being put on you for reacting?
Speaking of which, yeah, I guess that's convenient for the sake of communication, but... god, it's frustrating. Which I'm sure you can imagine. I don't like being left feeling like it's LUCKY that I don't know how to defend myself anymore.
Speaking of which, yeah, I guess that's convenient for the sake of communication, but... god, it's frustrating. Which I'm sure you can imagine. I don't like being left feeling like it's LUCKY that I don't know how to defend myself anymore.
Not sure. I suppose you could tell him that she did, as long as you don't tell him what she said beyond that she threatened me for threatening him and that I'm frustrated that I'm getting yelled at for threats I never made instead of nasty comments I did. Well. Frustrated is one word for it.
Ugh, I don't want to be *that guy*, but it's— it's like how back home you learn to keep your head down, right? Because you know that there are people who can get away with murder or at least get off with minimal penalties as long as they claim they felt threatened. And they'll interpret 'threat' out of just about *anything*.
I don't think it's like that *here* mind you, nor that *any* of our fellow otherworlders are the kind of people who would, at least not at this point in their lives, but being told repeatedly that I was threatening people when I didn't actually make any threats, even if I put my scary asshole face on... It puts me on edge, Grant. It really does.
Ah, not that you necessarily have to give that whole explanation to Shiro, mind you. He's from the future. Presumably it's better. And I wouldn't want him or Pidge to think I was implying that they're those kinds of people. I suppose I just wanted to explain that to *you* so you could tell me if I was being reasonable or not.
(But really, Grant, it's so *very* frustrating. I was starting to *relax* here. I was starting to think I could be myself as I am now, sharp edges and all, and not have to worry about being palatable to people so much. Hah hah.)
Honestly, *I'm* pretty pissed off for your sake. Your disassociation was *not* a healthy reaction and it burns that you're being treated as the 'good' victim because of it. I mean, I'm not *surprised* you are, even if I wish I could be, but *still*.
Ugh, I don't want to be *that guy*, but it's— it's like how back home you learn to keep your head down, right? Because you know that there are people who can get away with murder or at least get off with minimal penalties as long as they claim they felt threatened. And they'll interpret 'threat' out of just about *anything*.
I don't think it's like that *here* mind you, nor that *any* of our fellow otherworlders are the kind of people who would, at least not at this point in their lives, but being told repeatedly that I was threatening people when I didn't actually make any threats, even if I put my scary asshole face on... It puts me on edge, Grant. It really does.
Ah, not that you necessarily have to give that whole explanation to Shiro, mind you. He's from the future. Presumably it's better. And I wouldn't want him or Pidge to think I was implying that they're those kinds of people. I suppose I just wanted to explain that to *you* so you could tell me if I was being reasonable or not.
(But really, Grant, it's so *very* frustrating. I was starting to *relax* here. I was starting to think I could be myself as I am now, sharp edges and all, and not have to worry about being palatable to people so much. Hah hah.)
Honestly, *I'm* pretty pissed off for your sake. Your disassociation was *not* a healthy reaction and it burns that you're being treated as the 'good' victim because of it. I mean, I'm not *surprised* you are, even if I wish I could be, but *still*.
Edited (Pressed enter too soon) 2021-08-03 00:33 (UTC)
Got it - if possible I'll stick to just letting him know there have been problems continuing to pop up.
Oh, I absolutely get you. To this day, I get nervous if I feel like there's a CHANCE someone might TRY to provoke me; you just get so wired to be ready for those situations to get really messy, and it's just... exhausting. And you're totally right, even though I doubt nobody here thinks that way, it just... sucks so much to hear. It almost makes it worse in some ways, at least for me - it ends up feeling inescapable, and I'm not even the one on the receiving end of that treatment.
Yeah, that can just be between us - though. I'm halfway tempted to explain my own situation to Shiro here if necessary? Knowing him I feel like there's a good chance it won't BE necessary, but... I don't know, part of me just really wants him to fully understand where I'm coming from here, why this all hits so hard.
[It might be the gay part.]
Christ, right - I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this now.
Ugh, yeah; I hate having that crap VALIDATED, you know? The last thing I need is more ammo for the worst parts of my psyche to use to tell me I need to keep reacting that way to stress. I'm sure you can imagine, this kind of reaction is why I ended up wiring myself to respond passively to begin with, and I really hate it sometimes.
Oh, I absolutely get you. To this day, I get nervous if I feel like there's a CHANCE someone might TRY to provoke me; you just get so wired to be ready for those situations to get really messy, and it's just... exhausting. And you're totally right, even though I doubt nobody here thinks that way, it just... sucks so much to hear. It almost makes it worse in some ways, at least for me - it ends up feeling inescapable, and I'm not even the one on the receiving end of that treatment.
Yeah, that can just be between us - though. I'm halfway tempted to explain my own situation to Shiro here if necessary? Knowing him I feel like there's a good chance it won't BE necessary, but... I don't know, part of me just really wants him to fully understand where I'm coming from here, why this all hits so hard.
[It might be the gay part.]
Christ, right - I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this now.
Ugh, yeah; I hate having that crap VALIDATED, you know? The last thing I need is more ammo for the worst parts of my psyche to use to tell me I need to keep reacting that way to stress. I'm sure you can imagine, this kind of reaction is why I ended up wiring myself to respond passively to begin with, and I really hate it sometimes.
Oooh, god, yeah. Just ends up feeling like a matter of safety - sometimes even in a place like this where it doesn't seem, objectively, like it's quite so necessary. I absolutely believe that you guys get it, yeah.
Shit, that sounds awful... no wonder Thace wants to move away from that image of his people.
Shit, that sounds awful... no wonder Thace wants to move away from that image of his people.
From what I can tell, things got better at some point after Thace's death back home, due in no small part to Shiro and his friends, but yeah. The Galra were pretty screwed up by their emperor's policies and the people they conquered suffered worse. Thace ended up joining a revolutionary group that wanted to restore the old ways before the corruption.
So Thace is always very conscious of how he can't really show too much negative emotion lest people find it threatening. It comes from a place of power over other people rather than weakness, but it was one of the things I was grateful to see that he understood.
(And while I hate that you've had enough experience to understand, I'm also slightly grateful that we aren't alone in that here, that there's other people outside us that understand.)
So Thace is always very conscious of how he can't really show too much negative emotion lest people find it threatening. It comes from a place of power over other people rather than weakness, but it was one of the things I was grateful to see that he understood.
(And while I hate that you've had enough experience to understand, I'm also slightly grateful that we aren't alone in that here, that there's other people outside us that understand.)
Ah, yeah. Disassociation. Can't... say I'm a big fan of it, but it's got its purpose, I guess.
[And then... he stops, and re-reads that. He almost has to laugh. He doesn't, but almost.]
Oh my god, Thace, I'm so sorry that's been bothering you - you don't have to apologize to me for that. For one thing, in all honesty, I barely noticed. For another
[Might as well explain that now... he suspects, from all he knows, that Thace will be pretty understanding.]
I'm... I guess you could say a different type of human from most humans here? Snarling isn't really that new or alarming to me, I promise.
[And then... he stops, and re-reads that. He almost has to laugh. He doesn't, but almost.]
Oh my god, Thace, I'm so sorry that's been bothering you - you don't have to apologize to me for that. For one thing, in all honesty, I barely noticed. For another
[Might as well explain that now... he suspects, from all he knows, that Thace will be pretty understanding.]
I'm... I guess you could say a different type of human from most humans here? Snarling isn't really that new or alarming to me, I promise.
[Thace's--
Shit.
Well, that's something he's gonna have to process, because it feels... somehow inappropriate, weirdly, to draw attention to it?
God, he hopes Dimitri doesn't find out about that.]
Yeah, absolutely - that's always an odd experience. Being bothered by knowing someone else has suffered, but appreciating that you have experiences in common. While it'd obviously be best if neither of you had been put through the experiences that left you with those feelings at all, it does sound to be good for you both to have each other's understanding and support on that.
Shit.
Well, that's something he's gonna have to process, because it feels... somehow inappropriate, weirdly, to draw attention to it?
God, he hopes Dimitri doesn't find out about that.]
Yeah, absolutely - that's always an odd experience. Being bothered by knowing someone else has suffered, but appreciating that you have experiences in common. While it'd obviously be best if neither of you had been put through the experiences that left you with those feelings at all, it does sound to be good for you both to have each other's understanding and support on that.
Oh- hey, Grant, I saw you're starting selling eggs, right?
( don't mind her poppin up between various explorations, teams coming and going. despite the casual ninja stealth, she's offering a water bottle too- it's a hot day, after all. )
I was thinking, since I've been making a point to load up on TMs, if you ever wanted to borrow any of my pokémon, you're free to. It'd help everyone out, right?
( don't mind her poppin up between various explorations, teams coming and going. despite the casual ninja stealth, she's offering a water bottle too- it's a hot day, after all. )
I was thinking, since I've been making a point to load up on TMs, if you ever wanted to borrow any of my pokémon, you're free to. It'd help everyone out, right?
I don't really get how the whole thing really works? So I was thinking of just, pulling up some information on mine and seeing who'd be best for you right now.
( gotta help that woofdad, after all. but given that she's been dipping into tms... a lot of her pokemon are terrifyingly good stock, honestly. freesia has always been a little nightmare bee. )
( gotta help that woofdad, after all. but given that she's been dipping into tms... a lot of her pokemon are terrifyingly good stock, honestly. freesia has always been a little nightmare bee. )
I know that Freesia and Theo would both be good options- they hatched knowing a lot of moves already. Add in that I get a lot of TMs, and it adds up. ... Prim would be good too, if you can get another in the clefable line? Maybe I should look into that, actually.
[He thinks over that, nodding.] I've got a Cleffa, but she's a girl... once she's grown up, I could try and breed for a boy from her, but in the meantime, I've got a few males in the same egg group. I could see how their movesets would line up, if you'd like... oh, same for Freesia and Theo - do you think you'd be able to send me their move lists over the Gear?
[He's getting audibly sort of excited as he talks, tapping his fingers on his palm as he thinks over the options at hand faster than he can speak.]
[He's getting audibly sort of excited as he talks, tapping his fingers on his palm as he thinks over the options at hand faster than he can speak.]
( even as he makes the request, jinx is already bringing the gear out and copying the information down. have fun with this, grant, because you're getting three new messages in a row: primrose, freesia, and theodore. and really, with her dives into tms lately, there really is a lot to inherit. )
Prim's definitely the most versatile, since she can learn so much- I also have a reusable TM for Fire Punch, if you ever need to borrow it? Not everyone can learn it in my team, but I'm trying to get Grimm all the elemental punches.
Prim's definitely the most versatile, since she can learn so much- I also have a reusable TM for Fire Punch, if you ever need to borrow it? Not everyone can learn it in my team, but I'm trying to get Grimm all the elemental punches.
[Sorry Grant, he doesn't know where you are Right This Instant, so Dimitri is just calling because he has a very important question.]
Grant, is the concept of a... a... manekineko familiar to you?
[He ABSOLUTELY just butchered that term, but, goddess bless him, he tried]
Grant, is the concept of a... a... manekineko familiar to you?
[He ABSOLUTELY just butchered that term, but, goddess bless him, he tried]
[Good news, whatever he's been up to, it's not so important that he can't set it aside.
...Or maybe he was just glad to take an excuse to talk to his boyfriend instead. Same thing, basically, right?]
Manekineko...? Uh, it sounds familiar, but I can't say for sure off the top of my head. Where'd that come up?
...Or maybe he was just glad to take an excuse to talk to his boyfriend instead. Same thing, basically, right?]
Manekineko...? Uh, it sounds familiar, but I can't say for sure off the top of my head. Where'd that come up?
[....Because Dimitri feels he needs to explain slightly better here.]
I was speaking with a young woman name Ochako, and she compared Meowth to such a creature from her own homeland. She said they were "lucky cats" that make money, and -
[Dimitri doesn't say anything else. He just raises one hand and curls it by the side of his face, a little beckoning motion.]
I was speaking with a young woman name Ochako, and she compared Meowth to such a creature from her own homeland. She said they were "lucky cats" that make money, and -
[Dimitri doesn't say anything else. He just raises one hand and curls it by the side of his face, a little beckoning motion.]
[Oh, okay, video now! Strictly speaking, Grant doesn't need to also switch to video, but he'll go ahead and do that anyway. Following Dimitri's lead or something.]
Oh! Oh, yes, I know those-- or, uh, I've seen statues like that, at Japanese restaurants and stores and stuff. It's probably based on the prevalence of intrinsic luck magic in domestic cats.
[Or. At least it is where he's from.]
Meowths do kinda look like those statues, actually... that's interesting, for sure!
Oh! Oh, yes, I know those-- or, uh, I've seen statues like that, at Japanese restaurants and stores and stuff. It's probably based on the prevalence of intrinsic luck magic in domestic cats.
[Or. At least it is where he's from.]
Meowths do kinda look like those statues, actually... that's interesting, for sure!
Edited 2021-10-22 19:54 (UTC)
[He now has 15P-]
Really? That is.... curious. I now wonder if a similar concept exists somewhere in my own home, simply in another country that Fodlan never learned about...
[There were so many that Fodlan never bothered to learn about, was interested in fighting more than anything else...]
Cats are intrinsically lucky?
Really? That is.... curious. I now wonder if a similar concept exists somewhere in my own home, simply in another country that Fodlan never learned about...
[There were so many that Fodlan never bothered to learn about, was interested in fighting more than anything else...]
Cats are intrinsically lucky?
Yeah. It is.
[There's a long pause where Steven's typing out another reply, deleting it, and typing it out again, before he finally sends,] And it helps, I think, that we both believe in each other when we can't believe in ourselves.
[There's a long pause where Steven's typing out another reply, deleting it, and typing it out again, before he finally sends,] And it helps, I think, that we both believe in each other when we can't believe in ourselves.
Could be!
[He wobbles a hand side-to-side.] Some of them. See, sometimes magic will sort of affix itself to an animal, and luck-based natural enchantments seem to be especially common among cats - kind of like extra eyes!
[Yeah, you know, how cats frequently have extra eyes. That well-known cat fact.]
[He wobbles a hand side-to-side.] Some of them. See, sometimes magic will sort of affix itself to an animal, and luck-based natural enchantments seem to be especially common among cats - kind of like extra eyes!
[Yeah, you know, how cats frequently have extra eyes. That well-known cat fact.]
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