35 - voice;

[stilldontgotit]

[Filtered from Xion/100%]

What do you think about betrayal? Is it possible to ever make up for it, and just how far do you have to go to make up, anyway?

It's something I've been thinking about lately. Any answers would help...

[/Filtered]

Comments

[filter]

[poppetry]

[ After everything she was told by so many people, about the meaning of trust and doing what is right versus what is easy, and learning how to move forward with your life even when it hurts, Xion's been left very conflicted about what to really do with Riku. The whole thing still hurts monstrously, and to be honest, she still wants space to think.

This is not space.

Resisting the urge to tug at her hair, Xion considers this in silence for a few moments. Then she forces herself to relax and breathe before she replies. ]

What is it?

[filter]

[stilldontgotit]

[There's some hesitance before he replies, if only because he doesn't want to make things worse. Xion still needs time to think, but if he doesn't get this out sooner or later, it could just be a problem.

Sigh. Before he stays anything, Riku runs one of his hands through his hair. How to phrase this...]

I wanted to talk about what I said before, if that's okay. I understand if it's not, but the way I see it, it's the main problem here, and I never did explain everything.

[And by everything he means his side of things. He's definitely explained what's happened since he left.]

[filter]

[poppetry]

[ ...

why isn't there a way to speed up time to get past the parts where all of this is just confusing and aggravating and awful? ]

Okay.

[filter]

[stilldontgotit]

Right. Just let me know if you want me to stop.

[Anyway, here goes nothing...]

I know what I said hurt you, and I know I practically betrayed you.

Truth is, I know what it's like to feel betrayed.

[filter]

[sortabeautiful]

It depends on how bad the betrayal is.

[filter]

[stilldontgotit]

Well, how about this? Suppose the betrayal wasn't intentional. What then?

[filter]

[sortabeautiful]

Then, depending on what it is, you apologize and make it up to the person as best you can.

[filter]

[stilldontgotit]

Right. Now, let's say someone said something selfish that hurt the person, and that person wasn't used to being betrayed.

I guess what I want to know is how to make up for it, since apologizing's not enough.

[Filtered]

[perplex_me]

Maybe. [And that's all he's saying, because he's kind of just going to be vague for a bit.]

[Filtered]

[stilldontgotit]

Well, it's a start.

[A beat]

Anyway, there's something I need to talk to you about.

[Filtered]

[perplex_me]

So talk. What is it?

[Filtered]

[stilldontgotit]

[Had circumstances been different, and had he not gone through hell and back, he'd be reluctant to admit this. However, times have changed. It's enough to get him to admit:]

You were right all along.

[Filtered from Xion/100% - Filtered to Riku/55%]

[soreplaceable]

[There's a moment of hesitance before a second filter pops up, attempting to make the reply more private. Feel free to notice it or not.]

I believe there are some things that may be too great to simply be forgiven. Even so, a person should always stride to redeem himself when he knows he's done wrong.

...although, whether a person will actually be forgiven or not usually depends on the person who has been betrayed, and for what reason.

[Filtered from Xion/100% - Filtered to Riku/55%]

[stilldontgotit]

[Give him a second to consider this. Ion does raise a good point. There really are some things that are just too huge to be forgotten... This reminds him not only of the situation with Xion, but what happened back home.]

You're right. Sometimes people make mistakes so huge that they can't just be pushed aside. But suppose someone does try to make up for it... You think they ever deserve a second chance?

[Filtered from Xion/100% - Filtered to Riku/55%]

[soreplaceable]

Yes, I think they do. It takes a lot of courage to own up to one's mistakes, and even more to take responsibility in trying to set things right. So long as they're sincere, everyone deserves a second chance.

[Filtered from Xion/100% - Filtered to Riku/55%]

[stilldontgotit]

Still, that doesn't mean everyone's willing to give them that chance.

[Filtered to Riku/70%]

[count_gardios]

I think that depends on the circumstances. Whether or not the other person is truly repentant, and what exactly they did.

[Filtered/70%]

[stilldontgotit]

So, suppose someone's made a huge mistake, but they'd do just about anything to make up for it. You think it's worth forgiveness?

[Filtered/70%]

[count_gardios]

Honestly, I don't think you should feel obligated to forgive anybody you don't want to. Or, if this is a hypothetical question, one shouldn't feel obligated to forgive anyone one doesn't want to.

That someone is willing to do just about anything to make up for it will probably be a big factor in deciding whether or not they'll be forgiven, though.

[Filtered/70%]

[stilldontgotit]

Maybe it's not an obligation, but what if someone tries as hard as they can, even after everything's said and done? To just brush it off as not good enough might be a bit harsh.