isawallflower | RYSLIG; ic inbox

[Just saying, Riley, he deserves some rude sometimes. He's very rude. But you do you, girl.]

[He does quiet down, though, listening carefully to what she tells him. Riley is like him, he knows. She worked very, very hard to be likeable, to be charming, to be perfect. The best. But back then, she didn't even think to try. Just like Haruno, she existed, and even that was some days too much.]

[He never had someone like that when he was a child. The closest he had was Mista, who just . . . decided they were friends, and that was that. But even that was after he'd taken deliberate action to make himself admirable. Nothing he did in front of any of them was lacking in calculation. He was always deliberate. Cairo, though, just decided. And Riley doesn't understand.]

[He's not sure he understands, either.]

I don't know. It's strange, isn't it? It's so different from the way we were. I never . . . acted, really, when I was younger. I never did anything. So seeing someone take action in that way, it's hard to understand what could motivate them. But me now, today, I think I would do something like that if what I was watching was wrong and I knew I could stop it. Or fix it.

[A beat.]

You really have to stop not talking to people for months when you're upset, you know. [Hypocrite.]

[ It's the contrast between the softness of the moment and how he utterly drags her that sparks a soft, offended little squeak. Riley's feathers puff up a bit as she fights to keep from pouting. ]

You're one to talk! And I was- it was 'cause she'd know, okay? [ Ah... Those ruffled feathers flatten, because they're talking about it again. About what she did. ] She knows me better than anyone, if...I even looked at her, she'd figure me out.

[ And then, she'd really lose her for good. That's what Riley thought. They've established that's what Riley thought. ]

...Maybe it would've been...better, if she did.

Edited 2021-10-04 01:33 (UTC)

[That makes sense, when she says it like that. And that's another difference. Cairo could see through Riley no matter what. She has someone who can tell when something's wrong, regardless of the situation. Giorno's never had that. It's such a strange thing to think about. The closest would be Mista, but he can lie to Mista. It's not even very hard. He just doesn't like to.]

. . . Maybe. It's hard to know with something like that. And you like to — hm. [The ghost of a smile. He bumps her shoulder.] Control optics, just like I do. Maybe it would have been worse to have her figure it out just by looking at you. I'm starting to think that the only way to control things in such a situation is by being forthcoming and honest.

[Which, yuck. He wrinkles his nose.]

Although she obviously didn't figure out you've got a big crush on her, so she can't be completely all-knowing.

[ With a barely contained screech: ]

Giorno, stooop, this is really difficult!!!

Okay, okay . . . !

[He doesn't apologize, because he isn't sorry. He just smiles at her, gentle and encouraging, even if also a little bit wicked.]

You're doing really well, for what it's worth. It's more complicated for you than it should be, given the situation, and it's already complicated enough by default.

[ Her feathers slightly ruffled, she bites her lip as her talons twirl idle patterns in the dirt. Initial distress has faded to the normal lowkey anxiety constantly buzzing beneath her skin. ]

You shouldn't praise me all that much. It's my own fault it's like this anyway.

Sure.

[Easy enough. That he can't really deny, but it's not that simple either, is it.]

But you could have made things complicated and then just refused to look at it forever. You're trying, which is hard. You can't make me discount the strength that that takes.

[ Typical Giorno. Shooing away her poisonous thoughts with a wave of his hand. She wonders...if anyone's ever known her in this way before. ]

...It's only thanks to that dream. I dunno...if I ever would've looked at it, without that. Or...looked at me.

Mm . . . those dreams.

[He's quiet for a moment. Contemplative, leaning into her and staring forward at nothing. Is that really right, though?]

Maybe. I haven't done much self-reflection about the whole thing, though. I've mostly tried to forget about it. So I can't say it's exactly a universal experience.

Edited 2021-10-14 02:23 (UTC)

[ She shrugs the shoulder he's not leaning against. ]

I just... I never thought about it before, you know? Not- I mean, not like that. Never thought about...having her for a- um, girlfriend, or even...liking girls. But there it was...

[ She breathes out, slowly. ]

I was so happy.

[I was so happy.]

[Despite himself, he finds a tiny smile growing on his lips. Despite the fact that the whole experience hurt so incredibly badly. Despite the fact that it didn’t teach him anything except that his ideal world is not achievable. Despite how easy it is to feel empty right now and how hard it is to care enough to change that—]

[He likes to hear that. That she was happy. It’s not something Riley talks about, really. Happiness.]

I see. So there's no way you can't think about it, because it comes as such a surprise.

[For a few moments he’s quiet, thoughtful. Just sitting in her presence, warm at her side. And then he moves one hand slightly and rests it on the inside of her wrist, a gentle tap. Like a reminder.]

You know . . . you can be happy like that, Riley. It doesn’t have to just be in the dream.

[ What he says sounds foreign. She's tried so hard to be happy. Forced herself. Forced herself so hard that something inside her broke.

She looks at Giorno with a fragile little smile. ]

I sure hope so.

[She breaks his heart, sometimes. When he smiles back at her, his smile is just as fragile.]

Can I give you a hug? I'm not very good at them, but I would like to try.

[ Oh, um. After a small moment, she nods and doesn't even wait for him to initiate. Riley just squirms into his arms and holds on for dear life. ]

[Ah. Yeah, she hits him like an anxious freight train, but — that's okay. That's good. With an exaggerated oof, he wraps his arms around her, squeezing tight around her shoulders and, on instinct, giving her a kiss on the top of her head.]

Let's keep trying, okay? I will if you will. And the things that don't feel safe to tell anyone else — about this, you know — I won't judge you. It's okay if it's messy. It's okay to . . .

[Oh. What's the best way to put this. He rests his cheek on top of her head, thoughtful.]

To still be hatching.

[There. That's good enough.]

[ Buried in Giorno's hold, she lets out a single little sniffle. Just one. ]

...Did you just...make a bird joke at me? [ It sounds like she might be smiling a little. Just a bit. ]

[Oh. There's a moment of perplexed silence.]

Not on purpose. But yes.

[. . .]

Wow, there are really a lot of bird jokes someone could make at you, aren't there? [Being a harpy must be troubling.]

[ It feels like she's shaking. She's— she's laughing.

Huh. She's never done that before. Not when she could be afraid of people laughing at her. ]

Yeah, and you're not allowed to make more!

I can't even make one bird joke on purpose?

[Quick, Riley's laughing, figure out how to make it happen more—]

No!! I don't like them!

[ But she's laughing. Because it's safe here. Giorno's safe. He'll never hurt her. ]

What about a dinosaur joke? Birds are basically dinosaurs.

[giorno's losing the thread here]

[But really he just wants her to keep laughing. That's the entire point. If he can keep her laughing, then he's done the best he can with this entire conversation. She's tried so hard. She deserves to finish this laughing.]

No!! I don't like any!

[ She smiles into his chest. She's content. She knows she can't, but she thinks she'd like to stay in this moment forever.

She doesn't quite realize this is happening. But, her tail shifts back and forth, which is something Giorno can...probably feel, given their close proximity. It's like it's wagging? That's not the weirdest thing, though. Because, between the laughter, there's another sound, like a low rumble in her throat.

Purring. ]

[Wagging tails are so normal in Ryslig as to be inconsequential, although Riley wagging is very cute. The other thing, though . . .]

[His mouth falls open in a perfect O. And then resolves into this.]

You purr?

—I what? [ Her high-pitched voice sort of rumbles, on account of that purr that's still going. ]

I do?!

[ This isn't normal Riley-evasive-behavior. She genuinely...had no idea. ]

You're purring right now!

[His eyes are enormous. He's delighted!]

That's so interesting. I didn't know harpies could purr! You're really incredible, Riley.

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isawallflower - 2021-12-20 09:43 (UTC) - Expand

RYSLIG; ic inbox

punches myself in the face for taking so long to reply to this honestly

punches myself back

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WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, CHEERYCHERRY. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 019.46.820.17 * CHEERYCHERRY has joined 019.46.820.17 <CHEERYCHERRY> It's Riley! <CHEERYCHERRY> Please leave a message! <CHEERYCHERRY>** Please be someone with their priorities sorted out properly!