Room 504, Thursday Afternoon (After Classes)

[intraspective]

Ino had to admit that, really, she was pleased as anything about the fact that she got to show off her plants and have them be admired by someone who actually knew a bunch about them.

Which would be why she was fussing with her plants, rearranging them infinitesimally while she waited and tried not to look like she was waiting. Luckily, her plants were a rather good distraction.

Even if she was tired, and kinda wanted a nap instead.

[Expecting one, totally open for all. Door is open!]

Comments

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"But you do," she said softly.

[intraspective]

"Fine," she sighed, trying not to snap. "I don't want to care. I'm not sorry for what I said. At all. He needed it said to him and no one else was going to."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"May I ask what is wrong with him other than his wanting sympathy?" She had a very good idea of who Ino was referring to.

[intraspective]

"Ugh. It's not just wanting sympathy, it's like, turning almost every conversation around to make himself look like the victim. It's in the way he 'loves' someone, they do something, start disagreeing with him, find him too over-powering, and he just... moves on to the next person like the one they were with before doesn't even count. Never even counted. It's how when you're his 'person' he clings and clings until you can't barely breath without running into him because he can't seem to manage a single disappointment without it being earth-shattering and needing someone else to stablize his balance because he can't be arsed to do it himself. He uses people and acts all wounded when you say so, and then tries to turn the conversation back on you until you feel bad about whatever and he can be the victim again. And that's revolting. You're not supposed to use people that way. There's a huge difference between, like, a shoulder to cry on and 'I can't live without, don't ever leave me, I'm too pathetic to keep breathing if you let go, but if you do, oh you don't matter anyway and this person here will do just fine'."

Ino had... issues. But she still thought she had a lot of points.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

Penelope was frowning. Wow. Really. Just wow.

"I..." she shook her head "...think I might feel for his girlfriend. That and... I have no idea what to say because I don't know him like you do, and he must have really hurt you and for that I am terribly sorry."

[intraspective]

"Me too," she said feelingly. "I should probably talk to her, we get along okay sometimes you know, but we're too temperamental to always get along, right? But we always make up, so it's okay. But I don't know how she'd take it, I mean, that's not a very nice bunch of things to say 'bout someone else's significant other. But it's a pattern, and so..."

Ino shrugged a bit. "I like helping people out, you know? I like being useful. But people need to help themselves if my help is going to do anything, and I won't stand for being a support like the way he uses people."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

She nodded, understanding. "If I were being used, I would want to know. It would give me the chance, the opportunity to deal with it because that would be a hurtful thing."

Very hurtful. Who would want to know they were being used simply because they were there?

"There is nothing wrong with helping people, Ino. You seem to have a knack for it."

[intraspective]

"It hurts, and you feel stupid because you actually care and then they don't--"

She shook her head. "I'll never be tactful, Penelope. But I always want to help, if I'm blunt it's just 'cause that's how I talk."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

She nodded. She has been there. Max.

She couldn't help but wonder where he was and what he was doing.

"Being blunt sometimes works the best," she replied. "I've never been able to be so myself, and it is why I admire others who are."

[intraspective]

Ino quirked a bit of a smile at that. "Blunt is a lot faster too, and saves on misunderstandings--it's harder to get confused when you're speaking plainly and straight-out than if you're going 'round in circles trying to say something but sparing their feelings."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"I would hate to hurt someone's feelings," she admitted. "Thankfully nothing has yet happened here where I have to talk to someone so bluntly. I'm not sure I could."

[intraspective]

"I would rather hurt someone's feelings a million times over than have them get hurt because I couldn't bring myself to tell them something," she explained. "It's, like, the reason I'm learning to heal--I, personally, would rather get revenge on anyone who hurts my precious people, but if it's a choice between saving their lives, and getting even... it's not a choice at all, and I'll swallow my pride and my anger."

Both of which she could have a lot of.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"You're a very strong person, Ino," she commented. "I don't know if I will ever be able to be like you."

[intraspective]

"I think," she said quietly, "we all envy the strength we see in other people. I don't think I'm strong at all, but I do think you're pretty strong, in your own way."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Cal calls me brave," she said, her voice low. "I don't see it at all."

[intraspective]

She glanced sideways at her. "Cal's got his reasons," she said, not wanting to tell his secrets. "But, yeah, I can see why he'd call you brave."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

Penelope blinked at her and smiled. "If you want to believe it, I won't stop you."

[intraspective]

That got a grin.

"No one can stop me when I really want to do or think something."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"I would never think anyone could," she said.