They always resist

[hardedge]

How many times do I have to tell ya?

[Here it comes...]

I. AIN'T. INTERESTED!

Comments

[fragileprophet]

It's really not all that bad.

[That's not even close to being completely true.]

It's...well...one can meet some very nice and very interesting people there.

[hardedge]

Not that bad? Then I suppose that collar is just for show?

[He knows you're forced to wear them.]

Wake up, kid. Nice and interesting people doesn't change the fact that you're being held captive!

[fragileprophet]

[Ion's face turns down sadly. There's even a slight twinge of hurt in his eyes, but it's gone almost immediately.]

You're right. It doesn't.

[He shakes his head.]

But I'd rather try to find some good in my situation, seeing as I can't so easily change it. [He smiles again, if a bit awkwardly.] Doesn't that sound at least a bit more appealing than being completely unhappy?

[hardedge]

Tch, happiness. Don't make me laugh.

[If anything, things were only growing more complicated.]

There ain't nothin' happy about what you're going through, and I'm not 'bout to start enjoyin' it.

[fragileprophet]

I guess I wouldn't exactly call it happy, either. Still, I'll take it if, after what's happened so far, it allows me a small piece of mind.

[Ion doesn't want to admit how discontent he is in the Tower, of course, but he can't very well lie.]

I...I'm sorry if I sounded like I was trying to tell you how you should feel. I'm not expecting you to enjoy the idea of being put there. It's not a nice place to be.

[He looks down.]

I just thought that maybe I could help somehow--even if all I have to offer is a small comfort.

[hardedge]

[Tch, now he was acting all sad. A small part of InuYasha might have felt guilty about it, but he wasn't going to show, or admit to it.]

Look, kid. You can cope however you want.

[This entire situation is stupid.]

I can survive on my own. [He has for this long, it wasn't until recently that he started accepting help from other.]

[fragileprophet]

Oh, I'm sure you can.

[No really, he did. Asch was the same way. So was Luke...to an extent. But most of that was simply bravado.]

You seem very capable and strong. [A pause.] But don't you ever get lonely?

[hardedge]

[This kid didn't argue much.]

Of course I don't. [He does.]

[fragileprophet]

Really?

[Ion has a hard time believing that. It would be rude to say such a thing, though.]

You're lucky, then. I doubt I could ever be that resilient.

[hardedge]

Trust me. It makes things easier.

[fragileprophet]

How so? If you don't mind me asking, I mean.

[From Ion's experience, he'd always been able to deal with hardships more easily when he had people to stand with. But then...he supposed to be fair he wasn't very capable on his own. Even when he did try to be.]

[hardedge]

In the end it's just more people to worry about.

[Truly InuYasha just didn't want to lose anyone he considered important to him. It was a road he's been down before and one he didn't care to revisit.]