on reserving at exsilium

[metousiosis]

Ah, you're back again. And you promise to stay for a while this time, hm?

Your ideas are... interesting. Your perception of me differs from reality. Didn't you know? It's not in my nature to care about being alone. They're glasses to break.

--Dangling that bit of unfinished business in front of me, I see. Well. He does have a sister to avenge, after all.

Comments

[l_elf]

So, according to you, your mundande's analysis presents a deficit in your personal relations field?

[metousiosis]

Didn't you know people have terrible judgment of character?

[l_elf]

They do that just as frequently as they deny to be honest with themselves.

[He is impartial here. It could be either of them who is wrong.]

[metousiosis]

Well. Humans are one of the few animals who can lie, but it's a survival skill.

I lie quite often. It's how I save the last donut from being eaten.

[l_elf]

We can be. The habit extends beyond humanity; other sentient species lie just as often.

You are honest to admit that.

[Which likely increases the probability of lying about relevant matters that don't involve pastries and baked goods.]

[metousiosis]

[ "Increases the probability of lying about relevant matters that don't involve pastries and baked goods"; congratulations, you're not far off. ]

How would you know if I were telling the truth then?

[l_elf]

[ Heh. ]

You lie quite often.

[ Honesty about being dishonest. If he had been dishonest, his statement was still truth. ]

[metousiosis]

And if I were lying about telling the truth about lying?

[ His unfunny muscle apparently needs to be stretched out. ]

[l_elf]

You remain a liar.

[ Firm. ]

[metousiosis]

A good thing I never claimed to be honest, then.

--Ah. You would not mind if I smoked. [ It sounds like a question that doesn't expect an answer. ]

[l_elf]

Your claim was to be a liar.

[ Which means he was honest. Although his motive could have been deception, the claim in itself was sincere. He doesn't bother to elaborate that. L-Elf already knows he's right.

He doesn't answer to his second question. It doesn't sound he'll wait for an answer. ]

[metousiosis]

And you think I am honest about being a liar. Can a liar ever be trusted?

[ you are correct, listen as that lighter clinks without your approval ]

[pointb]

Well, they try. Perception can be a funny business.

[l_elf]

I trust myself.

[ His analysis, his observations, his judgment.

He doesn't flinch by the lighter click or moves farther away. One has to grown attached to the scent of smoke when they operate in warzones. Tobacco smoke is more bearable. ]

[metousiosis]

Intriguing how little one learns in so many years. --Ah, but this girl here is so very sure of herself, all the same.

[pointb]

But aren't they adorable? I want twenty of them. [shrugs] Suppose you could always trade her in for one who's unsure, see where that leaves you.

[metousiosis]

Always?

[ You might get a good whiff of that smoke coming your way--heavy, dark, lung-blackening. ]

[metousiosis]

Someone to pass some time with, to be sure. And she's as much a liar as most people are.

[ yep lung-blackening time ]

[l_elf]

Unless the circumstances somewhat compromise the clarity of my judgment, I do.

[ A methodical answer amidst the sudden cloud of smoke. He doesn't cough or waves his hand to stir the air. It takes a lot more to break his composure. ]

[pointb]

There's that thing with perception again. I can be willfully naive sometimes, some days I want to believe in the best in people. You could see a liar, and I could see someone who believes what they want to believe.