[Voice / Action]

[fairly]

[Backdated to this afternoon, because Akai is slow.]

Hey, Brave Vesperia! I got us a job, if anybody wants to help out. Atsuki's asked if we can build a hang-out spot in the southern half of the village, so people don't have to walk all the way to the plaza just to have some fun. I wanna get started with scouting out the area, but I want to know if anybody's interested in helping out.

Same goes for anyone not in the guild- if you're bored and looking for some hard labour to keep you busy, I won't say no to the help!

[Zack is wandering through the village, doing just what he said- scouting out a spot that would work for the new building. What's most noticeable is that a) he's wearing a brilliant pink shirt and b) he's got a pink bow tied in his hair. Yes, it seems that he took Aerith up on her bet to wear pink like the manly man he is. He's got his journal ready to respond to whatever.]

Comments

[wingenvy]

So it's better to leave him guessing and hide that part of you from him? Because that's not how it works.

[count-gardios.livejournal.com]

This isn't really the sort of thing you get over, Zack.

You should know.

It's better just to keep the issues as quiet as possible. Dredging it up for the sake of analyzing yourself is just going to make yourself and everyone around you miserable.

[wingenvy]

Nobody's saying you need to get over it. But... I dunno. Being honest with somebody means being honest with your own feelings, too.

[count-gardios.livejournal.com]

I'm perfectly honest with my own feelings.

But Asch isn't like you or me. I know him. Knowing that I'm still actively carrying this around will make him uncomfortable, or upset. He has enough issues with his father without adding mine to them.

[wingenvy]

If you're never going get over it, then it's something he's gonna have to live with if you want this to be long-term. Stuff like this is bound to come up.

[count-gardios.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty confident in my ability to hide it. It's just been a rough couple months; it's not even as bad as it was a few weeks ago.

[wingenvy]

But is that really fair to him? I mean, he won't get better at dealing with issues if you just brush them all under the carpet. It'll just make things worse if something happens.

[count-gardios.livejournal.com]

Do you think it's unfair to him?

[wingenvy]

I'm not the one you should be asking.

[count-gardios.livejournal.com]

Do you think I'd still be trying to hide it if I thought it was unfair?

[wingenvy]

How come you're the big authority on what's best for him?

[count-gardios.livejournal.com]

Because somebody has to be.

[wingenvy]

...Guy, I'm gonna be real blunt with you, okay?

[count-gardios.livejournal.com]

You say that like I can't handle it.

[wingenvy]

Might just blow your mind.

You need to stop being his servant.

[count-gardios.livejournal.com]

...that's like asking me to be a different person, Zack.

[wingenvy]

Hear me out.

That thing you just said a minute ago? That's not a lover talking. You sounded like you were his guardian or something- like Asch is your charge and you keep him around so you can take care of him.

[count-gardios.livejournal.com]

That is not why I "keep him around."

[wingenvy]

You make it sound like that. You're an adult, and he has to be one, too. The big authority on what's best for Asch should be Asch.

[count-gardios.livejournal.com]

...he wasn't given the opportunity to get there under his own steam.

I don't mind looking out for him until he's able to do it himself.

[wingenvy]

Well, I can't tell you what to do. But I don't think either of you are gonna be honest enough until you're on equal standing.

[count-gardios.livejournal.com]

Then I'll wait 'til he gets there.

Asch is smart. He's already much further along than he once before we got together.

[wingenvy]

How do you think you'll know he's ready?

[count-gardios.livejournal.com]

I'll know.

Because I'm a damn good servant.

[wingenvy]

...I don't even know what to say to that.