voice testing a shaky muse.

[imusntrunaway]

It doesn't matter what I think about the games you're looking at. My opinion doesn't matter. Why are you bothering to ask me?

... I don't like any of them. That's what you want to hear, right?

... sorry.

Comments

[okei]

Eh? What makes you say that?

[imusntrunaway]

She's only asking to be polite. But no matter what I say... she'll do what she wants.

[okei]

Sounds to me like you're just assuming she's only asking to be nice.

[Jonathan folds his hands at the crown of his head.]

She'll only end up doing what she wants because you won't offer input, man.

[imusntrunaway]

... I know that.

[okei]

And you're happy with that?

[In spite of himself, he frowns. Not out of disgust, merely out of...pity? No, not quite that either.]

[imusntrunaway]

I'm not...

But... I know speaking up won't help. Besides. I'm used to it.

[okei]

You have to speak up sooner or later. You're not happy now, imagine if it's something major down the road. You're gonna be miserable.

[He already looks it. Jonathan tilts his head and surveys him. Shinji doesn't come off as confrontational in the least...]

Just gonna lay there and take it?

[imusntrunaway]

[He's possibly the least confrontational human being on the planet. Confrontations are unpleasant. He'd rather avoid them. But the way Jonathan words his question makes him uncomfortable.]

I... I can't avoid it.

[okei]

Says who?

[He shakes his head.]

Yes you can.

[imusntrunaway]

But Muns like to--they like to see their muses unhappy, don't they? Even if I tell her I don't want to go...

[okei]

Sometimes, there are things beyond your control.

[And boy does Jonathan know a thing or two about that.]

But there are times when you can influence things, maybe even compromise or change it altogether if you'd just, you know, let your voice be heard. It may not always work but it's better than just accepting things as they are like Eeyore or something.

[imusntrunaway]

... you're probably right.

But, even so. I don't think we can compromise.

[okei]

Why not?

[The corner of his mouth tilts in amusement.]

Did you even try?

[imusntrunaway]

[He flexes his hand, a nervous habit.] She wants me to go somewhere, but... I don't want to go anywhere.

[okei]

Well, in this case, you're pretty much going to go somewhere, be it one of those games, or a meme or a dressing room. Maybe you'll have to settle on trying to go somewhere low-key where a kid like you can relax.

[Because you look like you really need it, Shinji.]

[imusntrunaway]

[He doesn't like that answer. But he's used to hearing things he doesn't like. He might as well choose his poison.]

Um... like where?

[okei]

Can't help you there.

[Oops.]

My mun has me in memes and stuff to tide me over.

[imusntrunaway]

O-Oh.

Aren't most of the memes... um... strange? [To say the least.]

[okei]

[Yeeeaah. Strange is putting it lightly.]

Yeah, a lot of them are weird. But some are also fun. You get to do a lot of things you wouldn't normally do. And -- and! -- you get to meet a lot of people.

[imusntrunaway]

Right... meeting people...

[His enthusiasm shines like a bright light.]

[okei]

[No worries. Jonathan's shines bright enough to light up Rockefeller Center.]

Oh, it's not so bad.

[imusntrunaway]

You seem like you spend a lot of time at the memes.

[okei]

Yeah, I do. Since my mun can't commit to a game or find a suitable one, I'm usually tossed into memes.

[He shrugs.]

I don't mind them. They're no problem.