IC Inbox

[matchmade]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, CHARACTER NAME/ALIAS. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 018.07.154.55 *** CHARACTER NAME/ALIAS has joined 018.07.154.55 <USERNAME> First sentence of message. <BANNED USER> SCREENED MESSAGE. UNSCREEN? Y/N -- sample for when you ban someone <USERNAME> First sentence of message. <USERNAME> First sentence of message.

Comments

[onegreeneye]

[...What has even been happening to this poor child. He probably shouldn't pry, but... he's really bad at not getting into other people's business. And if this wasn't the first time it happened, well, that just makes him feel worse about the whole thing.] Someone else?

[matchmade]

[ She's quiet, really quiet, for a long time. She doesn't look at him, she just sniffs and tries to breathe normally, find a way to once again shove her emotions deep down inside.

When she finally speaks up, her voice is soft but stretched thin, like it takes all her effort to force the words out.]

Grunkle Stan. He died in Rota, I guess, and...I found him in the junkyard.

[onegreeneye]

[Oh god. Dipper had mentioned Stan being missing, but... Ginko never had found out what happened there.]

...I'm sorry.

[He doesn't even know what else to say to that. At this point, he's not sure that anything he says won't just make things worse.]

[matchmade]

It's okay. He's okay now.

[ But her voice cracks when she says it, because it's not okay and no amount of sequins and glitter made it any better. ]

[onegreeneye]

[His frown deepens. She clearly doesn't actually believe that.]

...If it bothers you, you don't have to pretend that it doesn't.

[matchmade]

Yeah, but--

[ She bites her lip and shrugs and motions vaguely with her hands. ]

I can't just act all mopey. Everyone's--everything's so different, now. It's hard for everyone, you know? So I can't be sad, I have to cheer everyone else up.

[onegreeneye]

[...Oh, god. This poor kid actually thinks it's her responsibility to keep everyone happy through this crap? Ginko gives a quiet sigh, one ear flicking slightly.]

Mabel, trying to force yourself to be happy, with everything that's happening... you really don't need to do that. There's nothing wrong with letting yourself be upset. If you try to pretend that you aren't, you're only going to make things worse for yourself. And people are going to notice.

[Look who's talking.]

[matchmade]

[ She knows, logically, that he's right. It's only making all the stuff she's shoved down make her feel worse and worse. It's weighing her down and tiring her out. Just look at how she lost it a few minutes ago, that's proof enough.

But her heart overrides her mind, and even though the truth is in his words, she still feels like it is her job. She's always loved making people's days, turning their frowns upside down. But Ryslig is different. It's not just romance drama or family feuds. It's serious, and she has her own baggage she's been avoiding.

She shakes her head. ]

...How can I let myself be sad, if everyone around me is all gunked up with emotional biz? I can't just. I can't ignore it. I'll never be happy again if the people I care about are having a hard time.

[onegreeneye]

Then do what you can to help them. But, please, don't let it be at the cost of ignoring your own feelings. [He attempts a very slight smile.] Other people are trying to look out for you, too, you know.