If no truths are spoken then no lies can hide [ OPEN ]

[sting_to_death]

Characters: Lin (sting_to_death) and OPEN!
Date/Time: From the 21st to the 23rd, plus the 27th and the 28th, take your pick!
Location: Outside the Hatchery during her shift/Bazaar/outside Bastet's window/Melee Island/Section 3/idk she gets around. Ask if you aren't sure ♥
Rating: TBD.
Summary: Lin has a beautiful speech bubble over her head giving away what she'

Comments

The Bazaar, the 21st, late afternoon?

[live_ringer]

When Lyle had joined Bastet in the bumper car earlier that day, he thought the resulting joyride might be entertaining. "Entertaining" wasn't exactly the word for it. "Harrowing" would likely be a better fit. But he had come out of the ordeal whole and not mowed down in a fit of rage, so he supposed he could not complain.

Right up until he realized he had left something in the car, that is.

Normally he would not make much fuss about a lighter, particularly since he had quit smoking, but this one had a bit of sentimental value attached to it. He would just have to track Bastet down to ask for it back. He did not know her schedule, but the clothing store seemed as good a place as any to start looking.

let me know if I'm godmodding too much |D;

[sting_to_death]

She had to go, the more time she spent outside the more likely it was she'd run into someone she knew, and they'd read her thoughts and it'd be annoying, and awkward, and embarrassing. But... Lin was already at the bazaar, so it couldn't hurt to walk by Bastet's shop and maybe peek in. Maybe even say hi!

No, who was she kidding? She'd never actually go in on her own without being invited or at least letting Bastet know first. And the woman was surely working, she couldn't disturb her.

Furthermore, we've been almost always together for so many days, she must be sick of seeing my face by now. And who could blame her?

She almost bumped into him as she hurriedly walked around the shop for the fourth or fifth time, trying to find the courage to knock.

"What are you doing here?"

Are you here to see her?

You're fine!

[live_ringer]

"Whoa!" Lyle took a step back, recoiling as they nearly collided. Lin's brusque statement got a sardonic brow raise.

"Hi to you, too."

The bubble over her head was new. He'd seen a few people walking around with similar things, but he hadn't really bothered to read them. It seemed to be a natural extension of what she had already said, though.

"If by 'her' you mean Bastet, yeah. I came by to see if I left something in her little auto."

[sting_to_death]

"Wh--" right. For a moment Lin had almost forgotten he could read her mind like he would have read any street sign. She was even at the perfectly right height to have the bubble exactly in front of his eyes, how convenient!

What little auto? When have you been there? Why? appeared over her head before she could open her mouth.

Lin raised an eyebrow but didn't really think she needed to add anything. And telling him to ignore it would have been completely useless. She pointed at the bubble.

"What it says."

[live_ringer]

How convenient, indeed. With his arms crossed and a vaguely amused look on his face, Lyle cocked his head to the side and read the text before him.

"The tiny car she got stuck in. Earlier today. And because it sounded like she was ready to murder somebody if left to her own devices." His gaze dropped to meet Lin's unimpressed expression and his faint smile stretched into a smirk. "Why do you care?"

Considering Lin was Bastet's own personal stalker and far too invested in her business, it was hardly necessary for him to ask that question, but the temptation to needle her with it was too great.

[sting_to_death]

Because I have to keep an eye on this kind of things.

Okay, so Lin seriously had to learn not to... think so fast. Or not to think at all. Was that even possible?

"None of your business. I was just curious."

He's making fun of me and might ask dangerous questions. I better go home before anything else happens. She glanced to her right at the clothing shop for a moment. Some other day.

"I have to go." Why was she even bothering lying when he could read her thoughts, Lin didn't know. Force of habit. "It was a coincidence that you met me here, don't tell her strange things. I wasn't following her around. Have I been clear?"

Not following her around. But since I was here anyway...

[live_ringer]

"So you get to ask about my business, but I don't get to ask about yours? That seems awfully one-sided."

The exposition from the thought bubble got a raised brow. He had to admit, it was interesting to see inside someone's head. Kind of powerful, really. Like hell he would want to be in her position, though, so he could see why she was anxious to bugger off.

"If you were about to step into the shop, I'm going to assume you don't actually have somewhere else to go." Nevermind that her thoughts blatantly said as much. "If that's the case, don't let me stop you."

He stuck both hands in his pockets and started ambling towards the entrance. "I don't know what counts as a 'dangerous question,' but who knows? I might surprise you and manage to behave myself."

[sting_to_death]

"Don't talk to me about one-sided." Seriously? With that bubble screaming out her thoughts while he had all the privacy he wanted? That just wasn't fair.

His next words only got him a glare, and it was only when he moved towards the shop that Lin reconsidered her decision.

Stop him.

It was a purely instinctual reaction, she had no proof there was anything between him and Bastet, and knew she could get in his way only momentarily, eventually he'd go meet the woman anyway. Lin clenched her fists and and averted her eyes.

"Oi. You didn't reply. You won't tell her anything, right?"

[live_ringer]

Her remark about one-sidedness was brushed off with a shrug. It still didn't change the fact that she expected him to answer her questions without returning the courtesy.

When she called out he turned around just in time to catch the 'Stop him' in the bubble. What a strange girl. What exactly was she expecting him to do?

"There's nothing to tell. If you say you weren't following her and the little bubble over your head said you weren't following her, then I'm going to assume that's the case."

[sting_to_death]

She really needed to go. Be on her way and try not to run into anyone else, and try not to think about... anything, actually. About him and Bastet, about herself and Bastet, maybe she could focus on the way the way her shoes looked. Maybe she could count her steps and then only numbers would appear over her head-- still weird, but safer.

Lin nodded, serious. I will find out if you do, she will probably tease me about it next time we meet.

But he was right, there wasn't much to tell. Bastet knew already that Lin had a tendency to gravitate around her, anyway. So she could only turn around and keep walking, glancing at him from over her shoulder after taking a few steps.

[live_ringer]

"Oh, I don't doubt you'd have your ways of finding these things out," whether via Bastet's teasing or Lin's own 'investigative' tendencies.

Lyle regarded her with a nonplussed expression as she began to leave, but when she glanced back he offered a sardonic grin and a wave. Lin really did seem to be making things far more difficult than they needed to be. It was almost a little sad, but as long as she persisted in interpreting things as badly as possible he figured he was going to end up pushing her buttons whether he meant to or not. Might as well make it intentional, however subtly so.

[sting_to_death]

Lin shoot one last glare in his direction.

She doesn't like you anyway.

And then she turned around and kept walking, the bubble over her head getting smaller and smaller as she went.

Or she does.

I don't actually know.

More than she does me, probably.

[live_ringer]

Reading the bubble was a little like rubbernecking. Sure, he had somewhere to be. Yes, it would probably do more harm than good to keep it up. Still, the curiosity was just too great.

And alright, maybe he wasn't enough of an asshole to just leave it at that. He rolled his eyes and called out, "I doubt she would bother with either of us if she didn't like us. Isn't that enough"

Chances were she wasn't bothering to listen at this point. Ah well, he'd said his piece. Turning on his heel, Lyle made his way to the shop to finally track down his damned lighter.

[sting_to_death]

Lin stopped, but this time didn't turn around. He was right, but it seemed to her like Bastet bothered with other people a lot more than she bothered with her.

She could pretend she hadn't heard, and next time they happened to talk over the journals or meet, she could pretend this conversation had never happened. And hopefully he really wouldn't say Bastet anything, that was still the most important thing.