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 Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 6:44 pm
He was slightly taken aback by the force of the answer. Arorangi ate another strawberry and resisted the urge to offer them again to the man.
"Sometimes it is a happy thing," he said carefully. "But sometimes things about it may not make us happy at times."
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Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 6:48 pm
He didn't like this. He didn't feel like himself, and it was becoming easy to lash out in frustration. This wasn't like him. He loved making new friends, and he was ruining an opportunity to make a new one. He opened his mouth to apologize, to say something nice. To laugh. Anything. But he closed it, and said nothing at all.
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Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 6:52 pm
He shifted a little on the counter, watching Dylon with worried eyes. Arorangi shuffled the food a little closer, just in case he changed his mind about it, and chewed on another strawberry, trying to think of what he should say to help the other man.
"If you do not want to talk, I can talk," said Arorangi, smiling. "Or if you want to talk, I can listen."
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 5:05 am
Dylon looked down, finally acknowledging the offered strawberries. He took one of the smaller ones, dipping it in whip cream. He only held it, and didn't seem interested in actually taking a bite yet. "I think I'm more in a listening mood." At least until he was done in here, and retreated back to his room. He'd at least try and work Vahn's plan, and wait it out with company. With company right there in front of him, he was less tempted to do anything he might regret. He was still looking the berry over; his finger tips becoming red from the fruit's wet surface.
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 4:33 pm
Arorangi counted the fact that Dylon had actually picked up the food to be progress, even if he wasn't exactly eating it yet. He gave the other an encouraging smile, hoping to ease him into a state of relaxation, in spite of his apparent woefulness.
"What would you like to listen to?" Arorangi asked brightly. "I can talk about my life, if you want, though it might be a little boring!"
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 4:53 pm
"Your hair." Dylon said randomly, taking the smallest of bites out of the fruit.
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 5:01 pm
He was eating another strawberry, eyebrows raised a little in surprise. "My hair?" Arorangi repeated thickly before swallowing. "Do you mean the dreadlocks?"
A tattooed finger tapped his chin thoughtfully. "They were done when I was a teenager! Maori hair is very thick, very coarse usually! I wanted to grow my hair out but it was not growing the way I wanted it to. My father was the one who suggested that I get these!"
A fond smile touched his lips, quiet and gentle. "I have maintained the tradition ever since."
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 5:20 pm
Dylon nodded along, idly licking the small part of berry he'd taken a bite out of. Even eating was a chore, so licking seemed to be the best alternative. His plan was failing. Hearing him talk didn't make him want to converse any more than before. He knew, were this any other day, he'd have talked with this man for hours. Now he could barely handle one minute. "That's a long time." He murmured, absently placing the strawberry in the sink, of all places.
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 5:27 pm
Arorangi ate another strawberry, eyes watching as the other stuck his in the sink. There was still a stiffness, a distance to his movements, everything almost slow-motion somehow, and he wasn't entirely certain where it was coming from. He seemed a pleasant enough man on the surface, but...
"It is," said Arorangi agreeably, swinging his legs a little. "A very long time."
He reached for a napkin and then dabbed at his mouth, his expression turning concerned once more.
"You know, sometimes it is nice to...say things, even if you do not want a response back at all," he said hesitantly. "Just to get them outside of yourself and outside of your head. Thoughts can rattle around painfully inside if they stay inside of your head too long."
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 5:38 pm
Dylon slowly licked the berry residue off his fingers, his empty gaze flicking to Arorangi. "Sometimes it's better for them to stay where they are." He did not want to voice these thoughts. They weren't safe, they weren't comfortable.
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 6:00 pm
He gave a little nod, frowning slightly.
"Maybe," said Arorangi, sweeping a few dreadlocks from his shoulder. "But are you sure they will not...eat away at you?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 6:07 pm
"They always go away." He said dismissively. "Eventually." He tried for a smile. It seemed hollow, even if the technique was there.
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 6:10 pm
The smile was painful to look at. Arorangi wasn't quite certain why he kept trying to force himself into looking happy when it was clear that he wasn't at all. Dylon seemed a very nice man, but whatever was bothering him seemed strangely deep rooted.
"Do they take something away from you when they do?" Arorangi asked, still looking with concern at him.
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 6:14 pm
The fake smile fell like a cheap toy from the dollar store. He didn't like that question. Not at all.
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 6:27 pm
He was a little uncomfortable with that smile; it felt so off, and Arorangi didn't even know anything about the young man except for his name.
"You are trying too hard to smile," he said hesitantly. "It does not fit you."
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