[seasonality] catchall for rupert

[wtfox]

Comments

[heartlands]

[a beat.]

You sure? You know you can talk to me if you aren't, right...?

[wtfox]

...I'm not good at talking to people about this kind of stuff. No one really wants to hear it.

[heartlands]

I want to hear it.

[sincere!]

[wtfox]

[she peeks out from under the blanket]

...really?

[heartlands]

Of course.

[wtfox]

[she's quiet for a few long moments as she tries to decide whether or not to actually open up.

and then she sighs.]

...I moved around a lot because of my mom's work. Whenever I left a school, the friends I made there would always say that they'd keep in touch. And sometimes they did at first, but... then their emails or calls would come less frequently, until they just stopped coming at all, and it was like I'd never been there.

[...]

It happened every time. I don't expect this time to be any different.

[heartlands]

...That sounds really hard. I'm sorry that you had to go through that, I know how hard it can be to feel lonely.

[still, after a moment...]

That kind of feels like something that would make you sad, though, more than angry...?

[so - he's a little confused about where that resentment is coming from.]

[wtfox]

...the first couple of times, it's just sad. But then it keeps happening, and...

[well.

she pulls the blanket back over her head.]

[heartlands]

...I get it. I would be angry too if people kept breaking their promises to me like that.

[wtfox]

Even my mom...

[she sighs.]

You saw it, before. In that memory. She always said she'd come home, but she never did.

[heartlands]

...Yeah, I remember.

[and there's a fresh wave of concern.]

I'm sorry. Parents are... They're supposed to have your back no matter what, instead of leave you behind like that.

[wtfox]

...she always brought me along with her to whatever country she was working in.

[but... that doesn't really lessen any of the resentment she's feeling at all.]

But if even my mom can't be bothered to come home and see me, why would people who only knew me for a few weeks try to see me again...? It's better not to get my hopes up about it at all.

[heartlands]

Being in the same country as your kid is a really low parenting bar...

[but anyways.]

I know it might sound hollow, but - even if they don't choose you, you have to know that doesn't mean they don't care, or that they don't want to see you again.

[wtfox]

...it's like Aikawa said. What matters isn't the length of time you know someone, it's how important they are to you. And the other way around, it's... how important you are to them.

[her vibes are just like. edging from resentful and angry to resentful and sad.]

I don't want to be like... "If they don't pick me, I guess I know I'm not important." That's not fair. But it made me think about my mom and the people I knew from home.

[heartlands]

You are important to them, though. I know you are. I talked to so many people who were just - devastated.

[he nods, though.]

But I get how... things can hurt even if you know they aren't logically true.

[wtfox]

They'd have been devastated no matter who it was if someone who hadn't gotten the votes died during the expulsion.

[retreating back under her blanket.]

...it doesn't matter. I'm used to it.

[heartlands]

I mean, nobody here wants anyone to be hurt, but... That doesn't mean people cared less about you. I talked to a few people afterwards about how - kind and helpful you had always been, how you were our friend. People were hurt because it was you, and they're going to be so glad to see you back, whether it's a few days or a few weeks from now.

[wtfox]

...

[her vibes plummet.]

Sorry. Can - can you just go away for a little while, Rupert?

[heartlands]

[ah... there's a sudden spark of confusion, of guilt and disappointment (in himself, not lila), but he nods and stands up to leave.]

...Yeah, of course.

[wtfox]

[she is staying under this blanket and she's not coming out.]