002; elevator of forced honesty

[memefox]

elevator of forced honesty

» POST: a top level for your character(s) » RESPOND: to other characters ICly. your characters are now trapped in an elevator together. » UH OH: neither character can lie. » ADDITIONAL, OPTIONAL COMPLICATIONS: at player discretion characters may also... a. be unable to remain silent when asked questions b. be unable to speak around the truth when answering c. be compelled to reveal truths/secrets unprompted THE POWER OF THE ELEVATOR COMPELS YOU.

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[franciscoramon]

Yes.

[ He seriously can't catch a break here, can he? ]

I don't think very much of myself.

[ Wow. He'd really opened his mouth trying to say he knew awesomeness came on a spectrum and it all depended on how you looked at it, and it really just came out as that, instead. Yikes. ]

[umbrastaff]

Oh, sweetheart... you're the it guy, the guy that makes people smile, because you're clever, funny and passionate. Y'know I'm telling the truth, too.

[She shakes her head a bit.]

Whatever hurt you to feel like that, you're far more than what you think.

[franciscoramon]

[ He does know she's telling the truth, which is why his throat is suddenly feeling tight and he's doing a whole lot of rapid blinking and not looking at her. Wow, this sure did get heavy fast. He hadn't been ready for all that, doesn't know how to respond to it. At first, all he manages is a shrug. The he clears his throat. Then, in the closest he can approximate to a normal voice: ]

Sounds fake but okay.

[ When in emotional distress, make a joke! It's a foolproof system. He just hopes that's a meme Taako has gotten around to showing her by now. ]

Sorry to get all depressing on you. I didn't mean to say any of that. Normally I lie about this shit.

[umbrastaff]

[Joking shit away was a Taaco family coping method™, so she's not even surprised.]

I was very unhappy with myself for a long time when I was a kid. It changed when I came to terms with who I was. Maybe that is what you need as well. Finding your balance and shit to not pull yourself down.

[She bumps her shoulder against his.]

I won't push, though. Just flick your ear every time you think you're less.

[franciscoramon]

Really?

[ Cisco's a little surprised, to hear there was ever a time when Lup didn't like the person she is. He has a bad habit of just assuming that wonderful people know they're wonderful, and always have. But he'd been wrong about Eddie, and he guesses maybe that's not true about Lup, either. ]

It probably is. You're super smart about this stuff. Just haven't found it yet I guess.

[ He smiles faintly, bumping her shoulder back. Between Taako's threats of pep talks and Lup's threats of ear-flicking, he's going to have to get better self-esteem just to have a moment's peace. ]

Believe it or not, I'm better than I used to be. I gave up trying to be the person other people wanted me to be, mostly 'cause I fucking sucked at it.

[umbrastaff]

Yes.

[...and that's all she's gonna say, at least for now. Everyone had baggage, no matter how perfect they seemed on the outside.]

...and of course I am! You'll get there, Cisco. You're a fucking star.

[Better than most people here, no matter how powerful or 'cool' they were. She smiles as her shoulder is bumped back, and it kind of reminded her of bonding with Taako.]

I knew you were smart. You always gotta be true to the real you, or it's gonna start chafing you raw inside your skin.

[franciscoramon]

That's pretty much what it felt like, yep.

[ He looks down, tugging at the tips of his hair as he says: ]

I... grew out my hair, and saved up to buy the clothes I wanted, and stopped trying to make myself like stuff I hated, like fucking... sports and all that shit, and just sort of gave up trying to be exactly like my brother. I figured if no one was gonna like me either way, might as well do what I wanted.

[umbrastaff]

[It's pretty close to home, honestly. Aside from the sports. She had tried to be more like Taako when they were little baby elves, but it was wrong. The first time he called her his sister, everything had been right.]

Strange, how becoming yourself made everyone like you.

[She smiles at Cisco.]

You become a better person when you accept yourself.... and people see that. You're amazing, Cisco, and I'm so fucking happy to be your friend.

[franciscoramon]

[ Oh no, his throat's going all tight again and his vision is getting all blurry; Cisco is way too used to being the one saying affectionate encouraging things. It's weird, being the one they're being said to.

And Lup seems to know just what to say to cut right to the bone, in a good way. Does she really think that? That everyone likes him? But... when he thinks about it, there are so many people here who he considers friends. Who have been kind, and helpful, and welcoming to him. Maybe she's right. Maybe people could see that he was just being true to himself, somehow. ]

I'm really really happy we're friends, too. Even if you're totally making me cry right now.

[ He swipes quickly at the corners of his eyes with the back of his hand, laughing softly at himself, and Lup, and the whole situation. ]

Thank you. Like... a lot.

[ Here's hoping Lup doesn't mind an impulsive hug - it is quick, but tight and heartfelt. ]

Are you really gonna flick my ear? Is that a thing people do?

[umbrastaff]

[Damn, he's so adorable and emotional. It aches a little inside her to know that Cisco doesn't seem to see himself in her light, but she was more than willing to help him realize it.

Then she's being hugged, and Lup is definitely more okay with random hugging than Taako, returning it freely with a little laugh.

Nothing to thank for, my dude... but you're welcome.

[If he felt like thanking her, she was not going to deny him. It would be dismissing his feelings, after all. This was a friendship, though, not her being nice and polite or anything. Lup really enjoyed Cisco's company and everything.

...then he asks about the ear thing and she laughs again.]

Well, it is for elves! Look at these babies! [She reaches up her hands to wiggles her ears a bit.]

Sure as fuck keeps little elflings in line, but I've gotta make do with your roundies.

[franciscoramon]

Roundies?!

[ But Cisco is laughing, holding his hair out of the way and feeling at his own ear. He can see how ear-flicking would be more common for elves, where they present a much bigger target. ]

Your ears are so cool, by the way. I never know if that's a weird thing to say but they totally are.

[umbrastaff]

They are super round, you gotta admit that. Like, it's cute and all but so tiny!

[She makes a little curved gesture with her fingers, and then points at her own ears.]

...and of course they fucking are, they're my ears!

[She wiggles them a little bit for his amusement.]