Er... (Sorry) [Visual]

[like_a_dragon]

[Chie's in front of the video again, except her hooves are shuffling and she's having trouble looking directly into the camera. Her face is flushed and she's sweating profusely.]

So... ["To be honest, this is really hard. I'm not very good at admitting my mistakes... and talking in front of people I don't know actually makes me really shy! But this is important. I know that I've been worrying everybody, especially my friends. "]

[She takes a deep breath, making a small gesture with her hoof.]

Um... ["Remember that thing that happened a few weeks ago? I've been thinking about it and I just feel terrible for responding the way I did. I mean it wasn't entirely my fault and all, but I didn't have to respond to it as badly as I did."]

And... ["...this place seems pretty cool when it's not in the middle of a world-wide crisis? There are some people here that are really nice and I would hate for them to get the wrong idea."]

Yeah... ["That's all I want to say, really."]

[She takes a deep breath and motions to turn off her scroll. At least that is over wit-]

Oh! ["Oh!"] Does anybody here like kung fu movies?

Comments

[want_a_vacation]

Well, would you rather apologize or have people stay hurt and angry?

*Considering his ears are still lowered, he's probably still in a bad mood...*

[like_a_dragon]

People will get over it eventually...

[want_a_vacation]

If that's what you think, go ahead. But some things are hard to just 'get over' without hearing that the person didn't mean what they said.

[like_a_dragon]

Dude, what's your problem? You're acting like I did something horrible against you.

[And frankly, it's ticking her off.]

[want_a_vacation]

Obviously you've never had someone tell you flat out that you're useless after spending years trying to keep up with people who are obviously better than you.

*It hurt because it was reinforcing what he was trying to convince himself wasn't true.*

[like_a_dragon]

...oh, come on. When did I tell you that?

[Guess who completely forgot about that?]

[want_a_vacation]

*Wow Chie, you're good at finding his sore spots! For a second, all he can manage is a few frustrated sounds. Come on Allen, temper, try to be reasonable...or at least coherent in your indignation.*

When you were asking for people with medical skills. I offered my healing abilities and you said I was useless because I couldn't help with the specific problem you were dealing with without technology from my world. Do you remember now, or am I just that bad at leaving an impression?

[like_a_dragon]

...[and then her eyes are wide.]

...dude, really?

That's what this is all about?

[GUESS WHO ISN'T IMPRESSED? Hint: you're talking to her.]

Colored parentheses are inner monologue.

[want_a_vacation]

Yes, that! Or does 'useless' mean something different where you're from?

(Or do I just have no right to be getting offended over it? What have I even done here that's really significant?)

1/2

[like_a_dragon]

[For a minute her eyes flash and her nostrils flare. There's a moment where she's staring him down an there's a second where she even considers saying anything at all.]

2/2

[like_a_dragon]

[Fortunately or unfortunately, Chie was never really one to keep down her angry feelings.]

For your information, I walked in to my home with the front in shambles, like there was a fight, and when I walked in I found out my friends without any memories. So, when I made that call, I was looking for somebody to come help me find a way to bring their memories back, and while I was doing that I found out that people coming back without memories might have mean that the Pale Pony took them away for a little while! So I had more on my mind then hurting your precious ego!! I was more interested in helping my friends who for all I know could have been hurt!! And if I was in a bit of a panic about it, then maybe you should just stop talking to me, because I DON'T THINK I CARE ABOUT YOU ENOUGH NOT TO HURT YOUR FEELINGS IF THAT WERE TO EVER HAPPEN AGAIN!!!

[want_a_vacation]

If you were looking for something specific, don't you think it would have been better on both sides to say that, instead of sifting through random people who match a general ability description and then belittling the ones who don't have the exact skills you're looking for? And then on top of that, you tell someone you insulted in a way that brings up bad memories that he's getting upset over nothing when he comes hoping for an apology.

Well, fine. I know I'm useless, I know I'm insignificant and not even worth the breath it takes to insult me, let alone to take it back. And if it makes you feel better, I'll never pollute your ears with the white noise of my presence again.

[like_a_dragon]

Yeah, so? I was in a panic, and I don't know you enough to worry about your apparent inferiority complex!

[want_a_vacation]

Right, so not knowing someone means you don't have to give a rat's ass about them. I'll remember that the next time someone I don't know is asking for help and I think I can do something.

It'll probably just keep me from wasting their time anyway, since what can I do?

[like_a_dragon]

Oh, sure, that's real mature! But I suppose if I find you bleeding in a ditch somewhere I will go find help and then stop when somebody cries because they don't know where the hospital is and they are crying from their lack of direction.

[want_a_vacation]

...First off, if someone is crying just because they can't help, then they're obviously too sensitive. That's a lot different from being upset because you attacked their self-worth over the fact that they can't help.

Second, you're acting like psychological states aren't anything worth taking into consideration. Reinforcing someone's existing insecurities and then blowing them off when it hurts their delicate feelings is a good way to get someone seriously hurt. What if you said that to someone who barely had enough confidence to keep their job and that was enough to tip them over into thinking they weren't even good enough for that? Would you just yell at them for taking something you said while stressed to heart and then believing it even more when you mocked them for being offended?

[like_a_dragon]

...uh-huh...

...how old are you, mister?

[want_a_vacation]

Twenty-six.

Let me guess, now you're going to accuse me of acting like a child for not ignoring emotions as irrational like some military robot or Realian right out of the factory, right?

[like_a_dragon]

...no, I'm going to tell you that you're clearly smart and an adult and that you are handling this situation very badly.

And that you're acting like a crybaby trying get the respect of a 16-year-old girl that you barely know. And that you are acting like it is going to be the end of the world if you don't get it.

[want_a_vacation]

Look, I'm going to be blunt here. I've spent my entire life with something or other saying that I'm insignificant and not good enough. It's not an issue of the respect of someone I don't know, it's an issue of being smacked down and having those beliefs rubbed in when I tried to offer help. After a certain point, it doesn't matter if you know the person or not, all that matters is that something external is echoing the thoughts you've been trying to push aside and remind yourself you shouldn't listen to.

[like_a_dragon]

I don't care if you're blunt. Say what you want, but I'm saying that maybe if you have these issues you should talk it over with somebody that knows you more and cares.

We're not friends, you know. We've talked maybe, what? Ten minutes? And already you've pushed some pretty heavy stuff. Especially when things are already crazy enough as it is.

[want_a_vacation]

All I was really looking for was an apology for what you said, you're the one who acted like I was absurd for even being offended. Since I'm obviously just wasting both of our time here trying to explain why that was an issue, I'll just say forget about it and go on with your life. I'll just take my unreasonable beliefs about what warrants an apology and get out of your hair.

*And he's moving to roll up the scroll now.*

[like_a_dragon]

...okay?

I mean, that sounds like what you want. I'm not going to stop you.