[Voice]

[count_gardios]

Comments

[couldhavedanced]

[You know how sometimes you get a message on your phone that you should return right away but you don't? That's what Emma does to Guy. She sees this, goes about her day for a while, and then finally decides to say something. Is she bitter about being preemptively accused of malpractice? Why, just a little!]

Yes? How can I help you?

[Filtered]

[count_gardios]

I would like to employ your services.

[Filtered]

[couldhavedanced]

You do? I mean, um. Yes, what can I help you with?

[Filtered]

[count_gardios]

...is there a chance we could speak about it in person? I don't really trust my ability to filter on these things.

[Filtered]

[couldhavedanced]

Yes. Certainly. Where would you like to meet?

[Filtered]

[count_gardios]

Anywhere that's most convenient for you; I wouldn't want to cause you any trouble.

[Filtered]

[couldhavedanced]

Anywhere's fine, really. I can meet you at the fountain, or you're welcome to come to my apartment.

[Filtered]

[count_gardios]

Let's go with the fountain, that's nice and neutral.

Thank you very much; I'll head there now.

[Filtered]

[couldhavedanced]

[Emma will be there really quickly. She decides to make dinner after meeting with Guy, so she gets a coat on, gets to the fountain, and eats her gummy bears...one by one. All of them are red because she sorted them by color earlier.]

[Action]

[count_gardios]

[Guy arrives after she does and jogs up, sweeping his arm before him in a bow.]

Thank you for agreeing to meet with me; it's good to see you in person. My name is Gailardia Galan Gardios, but please just call me Guy.

[Action]

[couldhavedanced]

That's a very...impressive name, Guy.

[She didn't expect that. She stands, extends a hand. She has a glove on, but not a plastic one! It looks like part of her outfit.]

Emma Pillsbury, but you already knew that.

[Action]

[count_gardios]

It's stuffy, I know. [Guy shakes her hand with a sheepish smile.]

I really am sorry for how I grilled you last time. This is very unfamiliar territory for me.

[Action]

[couldhavedanced]

Oh, um. Don't worry about it, I probably sound very, very flaky.

[She feels bad for not responding right away now.] What would you like my help with?

[Action] do you already know tota canon, should i handwave the long story

[count_gardios]

[Ugh. This is the hard part. Guy rubs the back of his neck.]

I have this...problem. I have a kind of-

Well, it's... [UGGGHHHH.] I have certain issues with a friend's father. Very, very serious issues. And for a long time, I took out my frustrations on that friend. But...I'd like to stop doing that. Unfortunately I have...no idea how. Most of the time I don't even realize I am until a few days later.

[Action] ...orz I haven't finished TotA yet, I tried to, but had to put it off again. Um. Um. >o<

[couldhavedanced]

[She takes a seat on the edge of the fountain again, listening carefully. Normally, she'd prefer her speaker was sitting as well, but she knows he wanted someplace neutral.]

I see. Please continue, if that's okay.

[Action] i don't mind o/ i just didn't want to bore you or spoil you

[count_gardios]

[Guy does have a seat next to Emma on the fountain, though with a healthy distance between them. He leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands together.]

It's really become a problem. I used to be very cruel to him...but I resolved to try and give our friendship a shot. I thought I'd put that part of my life behind me, but...

[It feels very unnatural to speak about this to someone he hardly knows; he doesn't even talk that openly about these things with his closest friends. Then again, that was the point of asking Emma.]

I guess what I'm asking is if you think you'd be able to help me deal with this.