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[reparator]

Who: Cerealians from all over!
When: Various
Where: Various
What: This is a general overflow log! Use this whenever posts hit captcha and a new one will be put up each time this post also hits captcha.
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GENERAL OVERFLOW
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Comments

[immobileyes]

But humans aren't so bad here...

[ So please don't go around trying to murder them. ]

[cutebutexpendable]

Yeah, yeah, that's just what they want you to thi-

[ Styx shoots Mary another side-eyed glance and figures that he should maybe tone it down a notch. ]

Alright, well, here's the thing: they don't try to kill me, and in return, they get to stay refreshingly free of daggers in the back. Great words to live by, nice and simple.

[immobileyes]

[ Look at that, he's learning. If she'd realized that, she'd be very proud! ]

Well, I guess... that makes sense. If they don't attack you, you don't have to defend yourself.

[cutebutexpendable]

Right? And I'm already being generous. Back home, I couldn't afford to give anyone that chance, 'cause life ain't that simple.

[ ... well, learning for a given value of "learning." ]

[immobileyes]

... You're different, from the others, you said. So there's a chance people can be different, too. It's just that sometimes you can't know for sure.

[ Yeah, she knows. ]

[cutebutexpendable]

[ If it was anyone else saying this, Styx would verbally tear into them. Here, the goblin just gives her a long, world-weary look. ]

Kid. Look. Before coming here, over the last few very exciting months, every single goddamn misfortune I've suffered came about because me or Ark was stupid enough to think that some human or other would be different.

[immobileyes]

[ She at least has the decency to wince a little-- she's not that naive, but still... if she can meet people who are different, can't he? ]

Here, though...

[cutebutexpendable]

[ He waves a hand dismissively. ]

Yeah, yeah, it's not the same here, I know. Here, we're all working for the same thing, so we won't get people stabbing each other in the back or suddenly turning on the monsters in their midst.

... yet.

[immobileyes]

Styx-san...

[ She's trying to be a little braver here! ]

[cutebutexpendable]

[ AWWWW MAN, give him a break, he's totally being diplomatic here! ]

Okay! Okay! Look, I'm not saying that's GONNA happen, alright!? It's just that it might happen! You can't seriously vouch for every single person living in this goddamn city- er, place, right?

[immobileyes]

I-I know, and I'll be careful, but... I don't want you to give up, either!

[ He'll make friends!!! ]

[cutebutexpendable]

Give up on what? Believing in the goodness in the hearts of people everywhere? Sorry, kid, but you're like a hundred years too late on that count.

[ ow the edge ]

[immobileyes]

...

[ She actually has no response to that. Because she can't tell him that there's good everywhere. She knows there isn't. But there's also not bad everywhere, and that's what makes her chest ache. If he gives up entirely... ]

[cutebutexpendable]

[ Styx doesn't notice the sudden silence from Mary's end, at least not yet. So he keeps talking. ]

Lemme tell you something. People like you- like us- we gotta learn to stick up for ourselves. Comes with the territory, if you get my drift. Fuck, I can't even keep track of how many times I've had to cut ties with some group of friends or other. Either a hideout ends up part of a greenskin purge, or some asshole backstabs the rest, or-

[ He snorts, rolling his eyes. ]

Look, what I'm getting at is, always prepare for the worst-case scenario: being left to survive on your own. What d'you think your chances are?

[immobileyes]

I've been left on my own for a very long time before.

... I never want to be like that again.

[ It's just that. Because after she's known friendship, had people care about her... being on her own sounds like the worst possible fate. ]

[cutebutexpendable]

... huh. Damn. Well, can't blame you for that.

[ As is often the case with Styx, morbid curiosity wins over being considerate and/or not tearing open old wounds. ]

So how'd you survive the first time around?

[immobileyes]

I stayed inside for... one hundred years, I think.

[ Such a simple thing. ]

[cutebutexpendable]

[ There are precious few things that are able to render Styx completely speechless (for a few moments, at least), and Mary's just uttered one of them. ]

The fuck? Are you serious?

[ He knows better than most what one hundred years means. ]

Did you at least have a goddamn window or something?

[immobileyes]

I wouldn't lie about it... [ It's a soft mutter, but she nods. ] But yeah, of course. I used to look outside all the time.

[ Don't laugh. ]

[cutebutexpendable]

[ Man, laughing is, like, the last thing on his mind. He DOES snort, though, and his mouth twists into a grimace. ]

Stuck inside for a hundred years, and you were fine with just looking outside? Shit, if I was in your position, I'd have broken through the window and given new breathing holes to anyone trying to stop me.

[ There's no pity in his voice, but there might be something close to grudging understanding. ]

[immobileyes]

I... didn't want to go outside. I thought if I went out there, the world would take something else away from me.

[ Even though she'd still wished, sometimes... that she could get out, that someone would be able to take her away. ]

[cutebutexpendable]

[ That's pretty heavy stuff. Styx shakes his head. On one hand, it'd be an embarrassment if he made her cry again, but on the other hand, he's already blabbing away. ]

Well, the world damn well took something away from you anyway, didn't it? Time, kid. A hundred damn years.

[immobileyes]

Losing time isn't as painful as losing family.

[ And that will never change. ]

[cutebutexpendable]

Yeah, well...

[ He trails off, shaking his head. ]

You got me there, kid. Although to be honest, I'll just have to take your word for that.

[immobileyes]

I don't want you to ever have to really understand what that feels like.

[ It's never a good feeling. ]