Room 504, Tuesday Morning

[intraspective]

After first period Ino was back in her room, sprawled on her bed, and carefully making notes on how best to poison Logan-sensei for class on Thursday.

What? He’d pretty much told her to. Ino was only listening to his instructions.

And, well, playing with poisons was an excellent thing to focus her fury on.

...in her opinion anyway.

[Expecting one, but open. ETA: ...I know what day it is. Really. ^^;;]

Comments

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

Oh, he was pretty sure he got it. But he was going to make her be specific.

"What I don't understand" he said slowly, "is your complete and utter lack of faith, or even trust, in me."

She'd been through explosions and gun battles and she hadn't even thought to talk to him. He'd come seeking her on Wednesday. She'd put Cable and the baby and the Arms in front of him for a time because that was what made sense.

But he'd never questioned her affection for him. Not even a little.

[intraspective]

That got more staring at her hands.

What was she supposed to say? Everybody left her behind at some point. It wasn't surprising that he'd do the same, even if it hurt, and how was she supposed to trust him when she couldn't trust anyone else?

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

Perhaps because Liir could say the same and he trusted her?

"Why?"

[intraspective]

She shrugged, lips firmly sealed.

Her issues were her own, thanks.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Coward."

He'd take whatever punishment that earned him

[intraspective]

Her face shut down even more.

"No one is strong all the time." Monotone.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"And nothing is true all the time."

[intraspective]

"Well spotted."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"I watch a lot."

[intraspective]

"Congratulations."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"None needed."

He looked at her.

"Really, Ino?"

Was she really going to do this?

[intraspective]

She looked away.

Yeah, she really was.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Are you trying to drive me away?"

[intraspective]

That got a small shake of her head.

But wasn't he leaving anyway? Replacing her with someone else?

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He stood but didn't move to leave.

"You're the liar," he said firmly.

[intraspective]

That got an unfriendly raise of her eyebrows.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"What I say or do doesn't matter," he said.

"You have your mind made up. And nothing will change it."

[intraspective]

"How am I lying?" Even with that.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"You said actions matter."

He knew what it meant when there weren't answers, when yelling and silence and 'you're wrong' were supposed to cover everything. It'd taken him a while here to really figure it out in more than just a practical sense, but he knew.

"They don't. You had your mind made up well before I walked into the Underworld.

"I just finally gave you an excuse."

[intraspective]

...

...

"...that's a nice load of assumptions there."

Nice as in really really not.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"No, it's something I'm well used to."

He refused to be cowed.

"Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me I'm wrong and I'll believe you, Ino. Look me in the eye and tell me."

[intraspective]

"I..." she made herself look at him, "...I didn't think it."

But she'd felt it, underneath the surface.

Ino looked down again.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"But..."

That wasn't 'You're wrong'. That was 'I'm trying to misdirect without lying.'

[intraspective]

She fiddled with her hands.

"...there might have been some believing it."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

Some of the stiffness in his shoulders smoothed out.

"Well, then."

He breathed out.

"All right."