runs_on_batteries | IC Inbox/ Interactions 2.0

Is having no sense of humor one of the things you bond with Era over?

[He stepped back and gestured for the man to enter. As with most of these townhouses, the layout was pretty similar. However, the living room had been painted a pleasant shade of light blue. The kitchen off to the side had a latte color and both smelled like these were recent additions.]

Make yourself at home. The zip drive's on the coffee table.

[Just as he was saying that, the whistle of a kettle could be heard from the kitchen.]

Let me go get that, do you take anything with your tea?

Ah, no, we simply tried killing each other.

[This is offered completely deadpan and without so much as missing a beat as he steps inside - while he does mean it as an example of his own brand of humor it is also the truth. How much more of the context for it he means to answer is a little more up in the air - and the whistle of the kettle spares him from needing to.]

Sugar, and a little lemon.

[The phrase "zip drive", on the other hand, means absolutely nothing to him. Still, he does at least know what a coffee table is, and once Tony starts making his way towards the kitchen, he drifts off to the table in question, as much out of curiosity as anything.

It's only once he actually catches sight of the zip drive that recognition dawns.]

Ah. A tomestone.

[This is murmured mostly to himself, though in all fairness, he's not exactly paying attention to whether or not Tony is close enough to overhear the comment.]

Ha!

[Tony was starting to like this guy.

It took him a just a minute to get the lemon wedge and tea. Bringing it back he passed it over and sat down, gesturing for the other man to do so too if he hadn't already. He, unfortunately, missed the word Solus used.]

So Sully, how've you been? I can't be too popular at your household right now.

[Given that he'd been a little more interested in satisfying his curiosity than actually taking a seat, he's still standing when Tony returns. But he takes the tea without a second thought, and takes a seat a moment thereafter.

Admittedly, he does also take a sip of the tea before answering, but that's probably not any particular surprise - and when he does make to answer he's sure to carefully set it down first.]

Much the same as ever.

[There's a shrug with the words, the gesture expansive and casually dramatic, though it seems to be no more so than his baseline level of dramatic.]

And by and large, matters have been focused... elsewhere. Although I can hardly say I would blame either of the others should that be their opinion.

[Tony raised an eyebrow at him and waited a moment, before sighing.]

What does that mean? You're clearly here for a reason. It can't just be to pick up the literature, is it?

[There's a pause, and a blink.]

Would it be so surprising if I were?

Well when your girlfriend and I have a heated argument and then you come in her stead, yes, I would be surprised if you have nothing to say to me.

[He smirked.]

Or should I just assume you love my company so much you couldn't resist the invitation?

An argument which began - be it intentional or no - as a result of your words and actions.

[By the tone of his voice, he's not mad about the fact. Merely pointing out how he'd understood the conversation as it had happened.]

That I should wish to spare her another argument so soon is surely no surprise.

Really? You think all that was solely because of me? You know it doesn't help her any to treat her like a child.. unless she really is six? Then Ardbert has some explaining to do.

She is a woman grown - I should guess her age as some twenty-five years - who has naught but six years of memory.

[Despite the way he leans into the latter half of the sentence, it's still not more than irritation as opposed to genuine anger, and much of it fades away again as he continues on.]

Of which she has spoken little and less, for the most part.

[Indeed, prior to Tony's mention of it he had not had any concrete details on how much memory she had to her name, save for 'less than would be expected'. Nor has it much been a topic that he has cared to delve too deeply into. It is her past, and should she wishes to mention it, he trusts her to do so.]

I will grant that it takes two to argue. But neither will I fault her for choosing to do so.

Ah! That makes sense then.

[Claiming to be six because that's how much you remember sounded pretty silly, but at least there was some logic behind it.]

I do, to an extent. One of the things I had to deal with when I was getting assistance dealing with my condition was being called out whenever I tried to blame someone else for something that was really my fault or my choice or when I wasn't seeing reality correctly. That's how mental illness works. It puts up barriers so you don't have to face hurtful truths. Unfortunately anything repressed like that eventually will come out in other ways- like Era's rage. That's not healthy.

She also doesn't seem to understand boundaries. She claims others don't respect hers, but she doesn't respect mine even while I'm helping her. I'll help her as much as I can, but I won't be lied to, manipulated, or abused while doing it. I believe she's learned some very classic manipulative, emotionally abusive tactics to protect herself. I don't think it's to be a bad person or intentionally to harm anyone, but to protect herself.

What do you think?

I am aware of how such afflictions work.

[He might not have any great experience with fixing any of the various ailments of the mind, true. But he's familiar enough with them to know how they work, if nothing else.]

Though I would ask as to what you see as manipulative, in her actions.

[Ah, that was the sticking point. He could understand why someone who cared about the girl would be offended by his claim.]

Well suck it up, Buttercup. I don't care if you are aware of how PTSD works. If we're talking about this condition, the conversation I had with Era, and working toward a solution that can help her then it's imperative that we understand each other's definitions on these terms and subject matters since that seems to be something she and I were having a lot of problems with. We're from very different worlds with very different values. So are you willing to hear me out and work on this to her benefit or are you just here to fight?

If I were here to fight, you would be more than aware of it. But by all means, continue with your explanations.

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