citizendetective | IC contact for lastvoyages

You're not telling Natalie you won't see her in person.

No. There's reasons for that.

But the big one is that she needs me.

Just like I'm sure you've needed Pagan for this.

It's more complicated, but that's between us. I hope you understand.

[She absolutely does not. She wants those complications.]

Why is it between you?

Because she's my inmate and I'm her warden.

Just like there are things between you and Pagan I'd never ask you about.

She's from my world. We're teammates.

By that logic, I should

I said should

I didn't say 'did'

I didn't say 'intend to'

I said SHOULD

tell Arthur everything in Natalie's file.

But we both know it doesn't work like that.

[Without really seriously considering it as an option, Misty thinks about turning the audio back on, and turning on the waterworks. She wonders if guilting him would work here.

But she doesn't do that, which means that the message she actually sends is both more matter-of-fact, and more honest.]

You can just say it: it's because you like her more than me.

Will you believe me if I say that isn't it?

Because it isn't.

That isn't it.

No.

I'll consider the possibility that you're telling the truth, but if you are, that doesn't make much sense.

Why?

Because the only two reasons that *do* make any sense are you preferring her, or you being her warden, and you already said the second thing isn't the whole story.

Are there times where you have to work yourself up to something because you know it's going to be difficult?

Edited 2022-12-07 00:26 (UTC)

Sure, but why wouldn't you have to work yourself up to it with Natalie? You're basically living with her now. Obviously you don't have any issue being around her.

Because things are much simpler with Natalie.

Not better or worse, just more simple.

I also know that she did what she did because she cares about me. Even if she was wrong, even if I'm angry, her intention was to help me.

It's not the same with you.

You still think I try to mess with you, don't you.

[ He has to stare at the communicator for a minute. ]

Misty? You don't get to pull that 'woe is me' persecuted bullshit right now.

Not right now. Not after what you did.

Not after the irrefutable actions you chose and took.

That's not what I'm doing, and that's not an answer. How can you claim you don't think the worst of me?

If I thought the worst of you, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

I wouldn't be talking about WHEN I'm going to talk to you.

I have killed people for less than what you did to Arthur.

So no, Misty, I don't think the worst of you. You need to get that out of your head. The evidence doesn't support it and every time you say it, it just sounds like you're ignoring all the ways I've tried to make it clear that isn't true.

You're accusing me of manipulating you for asking if you still think I only did this to mess with you. How is that not thinking the worst of me? It's also very hypocritical of you to be upset with me for not instantly believing what you say, when you're always questioning what *I* say.

Misty?

Get over this thing where you say I'm accusing you of things when I haven't said any such thing. I'm not accusing you of manipulating me. I'm pointing out that YOU are not the wounded party here. You are *literally* not the person wounded. I was. Arthur was.

And that ISN'T what you said: *you* accused me of believing something. Instead of asking me what I think, you decided what I think and then you put me in the position of defending myself and my thoughts.

If you want to know what I think, stop deciding beforehand and just ask me. If I haven't told you enough, ask about the things you want to know more about.

How is accusing me of playing the wounded party not accusing me of manipulating you?

I am TRYING to figure out what you think. I'm making GUESSES.

Because I don't think you're pointing out your hurt to manipulate me. I think you're pointing it out because you want to deal with it because it's bothering you.

Please stop trying to guess. Look at this whole conversation: how many times have I told you that what you guessed wasn't the truth?

If you want to know, just ask. I have no reason to lie to you.

But you have plenty of reasons to say that you won't tell me.

I do.

And yet, I keep talking to you. And I'm offering that.

[There's another pause between replies.]

I'll stop trying to guess if you stop trying to guess, because it's really clear that you're not right any more often than I am. No more accusing me of looking for things to use against you when that's not what I'm doing. If I ever do that, I'll be sure to tell you!

IC contact for lastvoyages

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