Who wants to go home?

[paradisamods]

[It's been a long and busy past few days, and the giraffes of Terre Haute can sense the uneasiness among the weary travelers. Though some may not quite grasp why, others have a better sense of what's going on.

The three most vocal giraffes approach the group, who seems eager to depart. It seems they have a parting gift for the group, as well as a rather generous offer.]


[RAFFLE'S GIFT | BARRY'S OFFER | RAFFY'S SEND OFF | THE RIDE HOME]

Comments

[ino]

[ a bit of an exasperated noise. WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE SO DIFFICULT. ]

Enough with that crap, I know you don't mean it!

[ well, maybe he does. but she knows, at the very least, he doesn't TRULY want to be alone. so now, more seriously: ]

Do you care about him at all?

[whichwayyoulean]

[Because he is one of most difficult men in existence]

Except I do. Otherwise I wouldn't keep saying it.

[He doesn't, of course. The thought of being alone terrifies him, but he also knows it's his penance. It's what he deserves. Her question does pull him out of his misery long enough to look at her in surprise]

What? Of course I do. Why wouldn't I?

[ino]

[ IGNORES THAT COMMENT. SHE KNOWS YOU BETTER THAN THAT, MISTER. :/ ]

If you both care about each other, then there's no reason you should be acting petty and stupid. Both of you will regret it if that's the last thing you get to say to each other.

[ because either of them could go home at any moment, she knows that all too well ]

So! No more of this bitching and moaning about how you deserved it. Zelos is upset because he thinks you don't care about anyone else, and I know that's not true. Prove him wrong!

[whichwayyoulean]

...Maybe.

[Sadly, the Once-ler had been swayed to that side of thinking...except that did not know the exact reason for Zelos being upset, and so, his frown deepens]

That's what he's angry about?

[ino]

[ she nods ]

That's what he said.

Which ... you know, after that post you made ... it wouldn't be too hard to get that idea.

[whichwayyoulean]

[That frown sure isn't going anywhere]

And I need to prove that I can...what? Be a decent person? That's what he wants? Actual solid evidence?

[His tone is not a happy one. Not even a tiny little bit]

[ino]

[ ... it's creepy, because that was basically the exact wording, so she looks a little surprised, but-- ]

Show him that you value him. As a friend, and as a person.

[whichwayyoulean]

So it's about me proving that I can care about him? [Proving that he can be GOOD ENOUGH is what keeps creeping into his mind and lodging in there]

[ino]

[ a bit of an exasperated sigh ]

It's about you proving that you realize your own happiness and sadness is not the only thing at stake here. That you want to apologize and make up because he's upset, not just because you feel guilty that you upset him.

[whichwayyoulean]

...But if I don't feel guilty about him being upset, me apologising to him about it wouldn't be sincere? I mean...you can't say 'I'm sorry' for something if you're not.

I am, but that's besides the point. Whatever happens in these situations, your own feelings are at stake too, or they wouldn't be real feelings.

[ino]

[ RUBS HER TEMPLES ]

Zelos asked you why you were sorry about what happened at home, didn't he?

[whichwayyoulean]

[No Ino why are you bringing this up]

...Yeah?

[ino]

And you told him that it was because you felt bad that you drove off your friends. Right?

[whichwayyoulean]

Given that it meant I'm going to face five decades of being absolutely alone? Yeah. But I told him it was because it hurt them. They actually cared about me, trusted me, and I betrayed them.

[Like he will with her, with all of them, he wants to say, but even he knows this is not the time for that]

[ino]

So, if they weren't your friends, if you never cared about them at all ... would you still have felt bad?

[whichwayyoulean]

[Sorry, Ino, he's looking at you like you've grown an extra head]

Ino, I destroyed an entire ecosystem. I messed up the future for people I'll never meet. Of course I would have still felt bad. I still do feel bad. You think I just sit in my tower wallowing in self loathing over nothing?

[His frown softens] The fact they were my friends just made it worse.

[ino]

[ SHE knows that, but ... ]

I know that, but Zelos doesn't.

[whichwayyoulean]

...How does he not know that? I told him my story.

[He even sounds a touch hurt. After all, only those he truly, honestly trusts even get to hear the story from the man himself]

[ino]

But you made an entry in the journal about how nobody could have it worse than you, and then told him you felt bad about all that because it drove away your friends. Can you see how that would make you look really bad?

[whichwayyoulean]

[He squints a little. HE'S TRYING]

Generally I kind of look really bad anyway.

[ino]

[ annoyed ]

You're completely missing the point, here!

[whichwayyoulean]

Probably? [He looks confused, INO HELP]

[ino]

Don't you see how acting like that makes people think you don't care about anyone else?

[whichwayyoulean]

[He shrugs]

It's how I've always been, Ino. I've explained this to you guys. A lot.

1/2

[ino]

[ clenches her fists ... ]