IC Contact + Overflow

[gunslingerqueen]

Wanna continue a TFLN thread? Wanna text or call Nariko, or just play in general?

Here's the place to do it!

Comments

[hairrowing]

[they're important to him, so she wants to meet her....trying to wrap his head around it somehow, for all the smarts the kid has]

Sometimes she's wary of them, but if I vouch for you she'll be fine.

[gunslingerqueen]

[Processing the care you deserve is time consuming, indeed.]

She sounds smart.

[People are, indeed, worthy of side-eyeing.]

Whenever I'm worth vouching for, then! I look forward to it.

[hairrowing]

She's incredibly smart, and kind and good.

[watch him gush about his baby sister]

You're worth vouching for. Always.

[gunslingerqueen]

[Oh, they're just taking turns with this, huh?

There is ..... No actual response at first, just surprised blinking for a few seconds, eyes welling up with tears, and then in a slightly warbling tone:]

Why do you keep saying nice things that make me want to give you a hug?!

[hairrowing]

[he winces-- he didn't want that either! the tears, actually]

I didn't mean to?

[gunslingerqueen]

[Look, they’re good tears!!! And she sucks them up with an impressive quickness.]

It’s sweet, thank you. Feeling worth anything means a lot right now.

[To put it lightly.]

What’s your sister like? I’m sure she’s adorable, at minimum.

[hairrowing]

Well, it's true. [muttered just loud enough]

Lillie? She's very sweet and soft spoken. One of the kindest people I know...when she gets mad it's kind of cute because she puffs up.

[gunslingerqueen]

[Alright, well, this is just adorable.]

Clearly, she had a good example in the kindness department! I’m kind of surprised you didn’t whip out a picture or something.

[She has … an entire small photo album of nothing but her brother. So, y’know, if he does, then he’s got company at least!]

[hairrowing]

[he blushes hot red because--

yes maybe he does have his wallet halfway to the table to show her]

I'm not embarrassing.

[gunslingerqueen]

Being a little embarrassing is a good thing. Free yourself. Be absolutely mortified.

[He can't be worse than the scrunchy hand motions she's making at that wallet.]

[hairrowing]

[and now he's rolling his eyes-- yes the scrunchy hand motions are incredibly embarrassing

he hands the wallet over, and the multiple pictures of his adorable and sweet little sister spill out]

[gunslingerqueen]

[That ...... That's a lot of pictures, Gladion.]

Oh, wow!

[She picks up one, two, and then three, holds them like cards, staring with an unreadable expression for a few seconds, and then:]

She is so freaking cute!!! Oh my god!

[hairrowing]

[he waits with bated breath-- both for any embarrassment, and also whether or not this friendship can be salvaged if she says something in the negative.

then, he smiles]

Yeah, I have to agree she is.

[gunslingerqueen]

I probably shouldn't be too close, you're really cute, too! It stands to reason she would take after her big brother.

[The wallet is a real one for keeping all of this in for him, seriously.]

[hairrowing]

[he makes a face, and it isn't very flattering]

Don't say that. I think we take after my mother, though.

[gunslingerqueen]

Handsome? Dashing? Heartthrob in the making?

[Okay, okay, she should have picked a word a boy might like better than 'cute' but she does try to make up for it!]

Yeah? What's she like?

[And, for once, there is mindful hesitation, an invitation to sidestep it entirely. Nariko is ... Hardly the one to go around asking people about their mothers, given her own.]

[hairrowing]

[continues to just Make Faces because he's a boy, and boys are just. BOYs


his expression sobers into something contemplative]

She's very intelligent. And beautiful. A powerhouse.

[gunslingerqueen]

[She tries so hard not to snicker at him and probably only succeeds because of the resulting topic - teasing it put on hold in favor of ... well, that.]

Huh.

[Not the most satisfying response, admittedly, but it's just also how she'd describe her own mother so it's A Lot.]

Is she a good mom to you?

[hairrowing]

[he pauses, brow furrowed as he contemplates]

Not for a long time, no.

[gunslingerqueen]

[Oh, Gladion ...]

I'm sorry for that, then.

[Not an it was my responsibility apology or it's going to be okay one, because maybe it won't be, or still isn't.

It's just a pure, honest you shouldn't have to carry that weight, and I am sorry its had to make you strong, variety.]

[hairrowing]

Mmmm.

[just a grunt, a sigh. there's not much he can do for it at the moment....just keep trying to find a way to, to stop her.]

[gunslingerqueen]

Is this why you ended up joining a gang?

[Look, Nariko will buy a house if he actually needs somewhere stable to live! That is too much!!]

[hairrowing]

I needed to be stronger...and I thought they'd help me.

[it did not help, actually it was Worse]

[gunslingerqueen]

Doesn't sound like it worked out.

[Gentle, assessing and then:]

So, you still have unfinished business to deal with?

[hairrowing]

Mmm. I can always be stronger.

[a little shrug]

Yeah.