[Voice]

[dissonates]

[There's a brief shuffle, and a strained gasp, before a voice speaks up. Someone's back from a little excursion with John. He doesn't have the energy to lock it.]

...Guy?

Some... help.

Comments

[Action]

[knightofratatosk]

"Are you a man or are you a dog"...

[Action]

[dissonates]

[Asch takes an educated guess with that one.]

...Richter said that?

[Action]

[knightofratatosk]

Yeah. He said that to me when we first met.

[Action]

[dissonates]

You're not an animal, Emil. No one can bully you unless you let them.

[Action]

[knightofratatosk]

Unless I let them...

[Action]

[dissonates]

...Just think about it. You're strong enough to hold your own now.

[Action]

[knightofratatosk]

[He clenches his fists slightly.]

So... you're saying I let the entire town treat me like I was some kind of monster? That I let my aunt and uncle do what they did to me?

[Action]

[dissonates]

[Asch looks away at that. He can't answer the way he'd like to, because the circumstances just aren't the same. And he really doesn't feel like yelling at Emil again.]

...They're at fault, too. But it's still your choice of how to deal with it.

[Action]

[knightofratatosk]

I wouldn't have stayed if I had anywhere else to go, but I didn't have a choice.

[Action]

[dissonates]

There's always a choice. Even dogs know how to run away.

[Action]

[knightofratatosk]

But where could I have gone? They were my only family.

[Action]

[dissonates]

Anywhere could've been better, if you were being treated that badly.

[Action]

[knightofratatosk]

... then I really would've been alone.

[Action]

[dissonates]

So you'd rather be abused than alone?

[Action]

[knightofratatosk]

Why do I have to choose? Why can't I just have a normal life like everyone else?

[Action]

[dissonates]

[...Emil, for god's sake.]

This is just in theory, okay? It's not like anyone's forcing you to pick.

[Action]

[knightofratatosk]

Then... I'd rather be alone.

[Action]

[dissonates]

Good. [At least he's not a total chickenshit |D] When you're alone, you can always find more allies. People who risk their well being for company are just pathetic.

[Action]

[knightofratatosk]

It doesn't bother you if you're alone?

[Action]

[dissonates]

No. [Maybe.] Even if it did- like I said, allies aren't that difficult to find when you have a common goal.

[Action]

[knightofratatosk]

But allies aren't the same thing as friends... being allies just means you're working together. You don't have to actually like each other at all.

[Action]

[dissonates]

Even allies are better than what you had. And they can become more later. [Emil you're too goddamned specific.]

[Action]

[knightofratatosk]

So... does that mean you're my ally?

[He's not sure if he'd use the word "friend" with Asch given how easily Asch seems to get annoyed with him.]

[Action]

[dissonates]

[.....Well. There goes any notion that they might be friends.]

We sure as hell aren't enemies.

[Action]

[knightofratatosk]

[HE LIKES YOU, ASCH. :( He's just not sure how you feel about him, especially given how snappy you've been lately.]

No, I didn't mean we... n-never mind.