Thank you for calling. Unfortunately, I am unable to answer your call at this moment. Please, leave your name and a message and I shall reach out promptly.
I chose to work on my birthday. The job was arranged in advance. In order for it to work as planned, the next opening would have been in another two weeks.
I do apologize for not disclosing it was my birthday. You are correct. It does put a hamper on us getting to know one another. However, I will say, meeting you was a gift of fate to me for my birthday. One I am still enjoying very much.
[When in doubt, answer a conniption with calm charisma.]
[CRITICAL HIT! He's taking a screenshot of that second part, give him a moment--]
You are doing this deliberately. You see my rage, and you are responding in turn with charm. I greatly dislike that it's working.
Fine. It was something you chose to do, I can give you that. But really, speaking of me as if I'm some sort of birthday gift from the universe... I have only been in your life for a day, I can't have made such an impact.
I am grateful I met you. Believe me or do not. I will seek to prove to you my words and their sentiments are true, Louis.
I was and I thank you. I will put it in my calendar. Would you like to do something for your birthday. What sort of celebration, if any, would you prefer?
Unfortunately, for now, I'll have to go with "do not". If you truly are grateful to have scraped me up off the floor of a shop I'd been attempting to rob, then I'm sure you will find a way to impress this upon me strong enough that I can't deny it.
Until then, I choose to believe I'm simply the greatest conman of all time, tricking someone as charming as yourself into believing I'm much more than I am.
As for my birthday... to be honest with you, I don't know. The last time I celebrated my birthday was over a decade ago, and even then, my "celebrations" mostly consisted of my parents sending me a cake from overseas. Not much in terms of a celebration.
It would be quite the achievement if you were the world if not the universe's greatest conman. But I doubt that is the truth.
I would recommend dinner, cake, and presents. It is a classic. Though if you are one to enjoy crowds, a full party with music is always an option. With a wide spread of food and everyone signing Happy Birthday to you.
Well, I am certainly a conman, if not the greatest. Regardless of whether you are someone who's fallen for my tricks or not, I have done many to others worth calling me a conman. It would be doing my skills a great disrespect if I suddenly decided I wasn't one at all.
And... I must say, I am tempted by the idea of being the center of attention for my birthday...
[... Of course, little do either of them know, Evangeline's planning to get Louis completely railed for his birthday. He knows it's going to happen! She explicitly asked permission to do so, considering it involves sharing a sex tape the two recorded. He just has no idea it's for his birthday.
Either way, though, something about that seems to have left him torn - the typing indicator pops up on the bottom of their messages for a few minutes, stopping here or there, before he finally manages to respond.]
I don't have any friends for such a thing, though.
You're asking someone completely without friends if he'd like to have a party with a huge gathering of all of his friends. I hope you see the flaw with that idea, I'm not sure I could make it any more obvious beyond painting neon circles around it. Perhaps cartoonish arrow signs that light up, pointing directly at it.
A conman can be redressed into an acquisitions expert. Or retrieval specialist. Which are terms that do not hold the same connotations. It would not be disrespectful to use more professional language. I would not want you to deny any part of yourself.
Surely here in Ellipsa, that is untrue. You have myself as a friend. And other friends you have made here, is that not accurate? Perhaps the number, for now, does not meet the criteria for a large gathering. But that does not mean it will not be so come November.
I am merely stating the different options and opportunities. You can also invite and and all to your party, be them friend or stranger. That would accomplish the same thing.
I have you and Evangeline. Friendship isn't something I've been interested in pursuing. They don't end well. Not with me.
[Lycaon won't get to see it, considering this is over text... but that's immediately followed with Louis unconsciously tracing the deep scars gouged into his face.]
Well... I suppose I also have Rinku, though that is also a very recent development in an attempt to raise her morale. I don't fear the idea of betrayal from her, which is a first. Perhaps because I could fight her with ease, if it came to it? I don't know. Something about her makes me feel as if I have no reason to fear her, which in itself is somewhat scary.
Sorry, I'm rambling. Anyway.
Whatever you think would work best is alright with me.
There's a short pause, and suddenly the "goated is typing..." bubble pops up for a solid minute or so, before:]
No. I ought to be honest. Friendship terrifies me, and thus I do my best to reject it wholly. It's much easier to sort people by their uses, instead.
However, I recognize that is a cold way to approach the world. It has lead me to do awful things in the past to a lot of people. So I am trying to be better.
But this does mean I lack friends. I have you, and I have Evangeline.
For some, such a way to look at the world, can become a survival tactic. Betrayal and abandonment can lead to adopting a more pragmatic viewpoint of others.
Who is useful. For what. And who is not and a waste of resources.
I am glad you are working on altering that mindset here in Ellipsa. And I will assist in any way I can. And I am quite happy being your friend, one of two or one of many.
Also, I was referring to myself as well with the comment on betrayal and abandonment. Though the words do not capture the emotions, they are the closest thing I have.
It is not something to find joy in, true. Though there is a solace in it. Regretable as it may be.
I understand. As do you. And we both value trust above most other things, I am certain. Which is why our first conversation, trust was one of the centerpieces. I trust you. And you trust me.
[It's a good thing this isn't over text, because the breath he takes in, reading that, is pretty telling in how he feels about it. Deep, but sharp.]
I see. More we can relate between each other, I suppose. My own scars are the ones from my death. Aside from the one above my eye. That one, I've had since I was rather small.
The rest, however, yes. I imagine the only reason I still have an eye to fill that socket at all is due to my form being made from my subconscious. Had I a physical form, like you... I wouldn't have anything there at all, either.
Which is, of course, all just to say that I relate. Not to the level of pain you've gone through, but at the very least, I understand more than another might.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
wolfishlycharming
Re: yes, that day specifically
I do apologize for not disclosing it was my birthday. You are correct. It does put a hamper on us getting to know one another. However, I will say, meeting you was a gift of fate to me for my birthday. One I am still enjoying very much.
[When in doubt, answer a conniption with calm charisma.]
(no subject)
He's taking a screenshot of that second part, give him a moment--]
You are doing this deliberately. You see my rage, and you are responding in turn with charm.
I greatly dislike that it's working.
Fine. It was something you chose to do, I can give you that.
But really, speaking of me as if I'm some sort of birthday gift from the universe... I have only been in your life for a day, I can't have made such an impact.
[... A pause.]
November 26th.
In case you planned to ask.
(no subject)
I am grateful I met you. Believe me or do not. I will seek to prove to you my words and their sentiments are true, Louis.
I was and I thank you. I will put it in my calendar. Would you like to do something for your birthday. What sort of celebration, if any, would you prefer?
(no subject)
If you truly are grateful to have scraped me up off the floor of a shop I'd been attempting to rob, then I'm sure you will find a way to impress this upon me strong enough that I can't deny it.
Until then, I choose to believe I'm simply the greatest conman of all time, tricking someone as charming as yourself into believing I'm much more than I am.
As for my birthday... to be honest with you, I don't know. The last time I celebrated my birthday was over a decade ago, and even then, my "celebrations" mostly consisted of my parents sending me a cake from overseas.
Not much in terms of a celebration.
What would you suggest?
(no subject)
I would recommend dinner, cake, and presents. It is a classic. Though if you are one to enjoy crowds, a full party with music is always an option. With a wide spread of food and everyone signing Happy Birthday to you.
(no subject)
It would be doing my skills a great disrespect if I suddenly decided I wasn't one at all.
And... I must say, I am tempted by the idea of being the center of attention for my birthday...
[... Of course, little do either of them know, Evangeline's planning to get Louis completely railed for his birthday.
He knows it's going to happen! She explicitly asked permission to do so, considering it involves sharing a sex tape the two recorded. He just has no idea it's for his birthday.
Either way, though, something about that seems to have left him torn - the typing indicator pops up on the bottom of their messages for a few minutes, stopping here or there, before he finally manages to respond.]
I don't have any friends for such a thing, though.
You're asking someone completely without friends if he'd like to have a party with a huge gathering of all of his friends. I hope you see the flaw with that idea, I'm not sure I could make it any more obvious beyond painting neon circles around it.
Perhaps cartoonish arrow signs that light up, pointing directly at it.
(no subject)
Surely here in Ellipsa, that is untrue. You have myself as a friend. And other friends you have made here, is that not accurate? Perhaps the number, for now, does not meet the criteria for a large gathering. But that does not mean it will not be so come November.
I am merely stating the different options and opportunities. You can also invite and and all to your party, be them friend or stranger. That would accomplish the same thing.
(no subject)
They don't end well. Not with me.
[Lycaon won't get to see it, considering this is over text... but that's immediately followed with Louis unconsciously tracing the deep scars gouged into his face.]
Well...
I suppose I also have Rinku, though that is also a very recent development in an attempt to raise her morale.
I don't fear the idea of betrayal from her, which is a first.
Perhaps because I could fight her with ease, if it came to it? I don't know.
Something about her makes me feel as if I have no reason to fear her, which in itself is somewhat scary.
Sorry, I'm rambling.
Anyway.
Whatever you think would work best is alright with me.
(no subject)
(no subject)
[...
There's a short pause, and suddenly the "goated is typing..." bubble pops up for a solid minute or so, before:]
No. I ought to be honest.
Friendship terrifies me, and thus I do my best to reject it wholly. It's much easier to sort people by their uses, instead.
However, I recognize that is a cold way to approach the world. It has lead me to do awful things in the past to a lot of people.
So I am trying to be better.
But this does mean I lack friends. I have you, and I have Evangeline.
(no subject)
Who is useful. For what. And who is not and a waste of resources.
I am glad you are working on altering that mindset here in Ellipsa. And I will assist in any way I can. And I am quite happy being your friend, one of two or one of many.
(no subject)
With you, though, I know that I'll be able to do better eventually. Someday.
Thank you.
(no subject)
Also, I was referring to myself as well with the comment on betrayal and abandonment. Though the words do not capture the emotions, they are the closest thing I have.
(no subject)
You've been hurt deeply then, as well?
I can't say I'm happy that we have that in common. But at least it's something we share.
(no subject)
I understand. As do you. And we both value trust above most other things, I am certain. Which is why our first conversation, trust was one of the centerpieces. I trust you. And you trust me.
(no subject)
But, this has me wondering, and please forgive my curiosity if asking this offends. But beneath your mask, do you happen to have a scar?
Like my own?
It's alright if you would rather not answer.
(no subject)
That was when I was betrayed.
(no subject)
Deep, but sharp.]
I see. More we can relate between each other, I suppose.
My own scars are the ones from my death. Aside from the one above my eye. That one, I've had since I was rather small.
The rest, however, yes. I imagine the only reason I still have an eye to fill that socket at all is due to my form being made from my subconscious.
Had I a physical form, like you... I wouldn't have anything there at all, either.
Which is, of course, all just to say that I relate. Not to the level of pain you've gone through, but at the very least, I understand more than another might.
(no subject)
I appreciate your understanding and knowing that, with our painful pasts, we have found one another in this world.