006 - [Text] / [Spam]

[triggered_it]

To those it may concern:

I apologize for my attitude during the flood. At fifteen, I had yet to learn many manners.

[Spam for Hayley]

[Despite the fact that she now practically lived with him, both Hayley and Adrian had been keeping to themselves since the breach. Now, he was sitting in an armchair, attempting to lose himself in a book he had

Comments

[Spam] Thanks, chum!~

[victimofnoone]

[Hayley was pulled from her reverie by the inquiry and she slowly sat up from the top of her sleeping bag on the relatively uncomfortable couch. Her arms extended up in a stretch and she looked at him with the same subtle sadness that she had worn since the end of the flood.]

"I'm okay, thanks." [She replied after a feigned pause of thoughtfulness, hoping he would ignore the fact that she had barely eaten anything else all day.]

[Spam] Anytime!

[triggered_it]

[He doesn't look pleased, but he's not going to make an issue out of it, either.]

There's nothing wrong with withdrawing from the world for a few days. I'm only wondering how long you intend to keep it up.

[Spaaam]

[victimofnoone]

[Her head twisted to look at him with a defensive stare almost automatically. Even though she appreciated him, they weren't enormously close and his judgments, however accurate, still bothered her.]

"If you want me to leave, you can just say that."

[Spam]

[triggered_it]

I know. I never mentioned leaving. [Choosing words carefully here.] There is a difference between choosing to live in a different place in order to feel safe and completely cutting yourself off from all social contact. I was talking about the latter.

[Spam]

[victimofnoone]

"I'm being social.. with you." [Her tone was of frustration. Sometimes Hayley hated his kindness and logic because it prevented her from taking out her anger on him. He knew the exact way to respond to her in every situation, it seemed, and she appreciated it more than he would ever know.. just, not right now.]

[Spam]

[triggered_it]

You've barely spoken to me since the flood. [Again, direct and simple logic. Yes, she was probably annoyed, but he hated being here as much as she did. He was bored, perhaps equally frustrated, and he wanted some conversation to distract him. Perhaps he also felt a vague sense of responsibility toward her, resembling the way he once felt responsibility toward the entire world.]

[Spam]

[victimofnoone]

"What do you want me to say?" [She responded with even more defensiveness biting at her words, now refusing to look at him. Hayley laid back down on the sleeping bag again, staring up at the ceiling as she spoke to him. It was entirely true.. she had barely been eating or speaking since the flood; she only ate when he insisted and slept as much as he would allow. It was probably good that he was watching out for her.]

[Spam]

[triggered_it]

Anything.

[He's not going to pull a "let's talk about what happened." It sounds a bit too warden-y, something Martha would say. He just wants some assurance that she will be alright.]

[Spam]

[victimofnoone]

[She lays there without speaking, the length of silence that stretches out suggesting that she doesn't mean to speak at all. At last, she breaks that potential misconception, voice softened and quieter now.]

"I miss Harvey. That.. Joker touched me in places I don't even want to think about.. I'm angry and I'm hurt and I'm frustrated and I can't.. I can't do anything about it because nothing is permanent here." [She admitted as though she were on a shrink's couch, then rolled to face the back of the couch, curling in on herself until she was nearly a ball.] "I just want to sleep, okay?"

[Spam]

[triggered_it]

That's understandable. I just ask that you pardon me if I seem annoying. I believe in having a healthy body in order to have a healthy mind. I would feel much better if you allowed me to bring you a light dinner.

[Spam]

[victimofnoone]

[Hayley sat up suddenly, lifting a hand to the back of the couch to help lift her as quickly as she wanted to turn to stare at him.] "Do you even have feelings?"

[Adrian was fantastic, but he was too calm too much of the time.] "I mean, you were gay and had nazi grandparents. Doesn't that bother you at all, even if it was just a flood?"

[Spam]

[triggered_it]

[Outwardly calm and counting to ten inside his head. It doesn't help much.]

I am gay, and actually my parents were. [Unusual sentence structure for him, but he doesn't even want to say the last word to finish the sentence.] The former I don't feel is the business of many people, and the latter I don't feel inclined to talk about with anyone, ever. [He purposefully makes a very human gesture in brushing some hair back from his face.]

[Spam] Sorry about my tense flopping

[victimofnoone]

[Oh, so that's what it's like to feel your foot in your mouth. She looks to the side, then down, then up. As if any place might have the words she's looking for before she can face him again. When she finally looks at him again, there's an apparent regret and her face reads more vulnerable than prepared.]

"I'm sorry, I didn't-- I didn't realize." [She drops her eyes again.] "I'm not any good at this.. I'm horrible at letting people in and I have trouble talking about myself, even when I want to trust someone. I just.. I want to sleep until it goes away, until I forget everything or until the next flood comes along and distracts me."

[Spam] Because i never make that mistake.

[triggered_it]

I'm the same way when it comes to people. I'm sure you've noticed.

[He's not very good at parenting, but he can be very caring, in his own distant way.]

You know that's not realistic. You're not going to forget everything so easily, and the next flood may not be for another couple weeks. [It's said softly; he's not going to command her to get out of bed or to eat dinner. She can do what she wishes, but he would be remiss not to talk to her a little more.]

[Spam] Ever. >:|

[victimofnoone]

[She listens, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs. Then Hayley sighs and finally concedes.]

"Okay. I'll eat dinner with you if you go grab it."

[It's odd pairing. With Harvey, it was like having a roommate and a close friend-- a best friend. Adrian is more akin to a father.. her father, in a way; though the fact that he cares at all and is gay helps distinguish the two.]

[Spam]

[triggered_it]

[She gets a simple nod in response, before he exits the room. When he returns, he has a light meal for the both of them. He hands Hayley a plate and some of the Barge plastic ware. It's an eternal picnic on this prison ship.]