║ ninety-fourth stanza ║ voice

[mumbled_truth]

No matter what they say, it--

Nobody will listen to you.

It doesn't matter.

Why even bother?

You'll never live up to anyone's expectations.

All it is is just-- it's the City using our own insecurities.

You have nothing of value to say.

It does this all the time, in different ways, but... it doesn't make any of it true.

Comments

Action because deal with it

[had_not_lived]

[Later-- because really, Neil has very little motivation to use the all-too-public Network to talk to Todd-- Neil will be giving those balloons a very sullen look indeed.]

Action? ugh, fine. /deals

[mumbled_truth]

[ And Todd, weary from dealing with them, will give Neil a meek little smile as he does. Sitting on the sofa, still hounded by them, and doing his best to retain his defiance of their statements. ]

They get kind of repetitive.

[had_not_lived]

[Awful things, aren't they? As he comes to sit beside Todd on the couch he tries to bat them out of his way.]

It's nonsense. None of that's true. Everything you say has value.

[mumbled_truth]

[ They're continuing on, of course - but he really isn't paying them any mind. He just smiles at Neil. ]

Well, I don't know about everything. But, I know. They're not right.

[had_not_lived]

[Sitting beside Todd is probably a bit misleading, since actually he's going to sit right up against Todd, leaning his chin on Todd's shoulder.]

Everything, [he insists.] I mean it.

[mumbled_truth]

I say a lot of ridiculous things.

[ It's not really an argument, definitely not with his smile. ]

[had_not_lived]

So? That doesn't mean they don't have value.

[He's relaxed a bit, holding onto Todd's arm.]

And you've exceeded everyone's expectations and you always will. And I listen to you. All the time. And. [He laughs.] Okay, I forget what else they said.

[mumbled_truth]

[ Todd was just about to remind Neil that he's said the most ridiculous things of all time - OF ALL TIME - but the earnest reassurance is simply too much for him to joke. He just smiles. ]

I think I get the idea.

[had_not_lived]

What if I'm not done?

[He will never run out of nice things to say to you, Todd.]

[mumbled_truth]

[ Watch out, he's going to start blushing soon. He gives a small laugh. ]

You're as bad as they are. Just, well... the other way around.

[had_not_lived]

Except that everything I say is true and everything they say is stupid.

[mumbled_truth]

Well, yes, that would be the obvious difference.

[had_not_lived]

[Leaning closer-- which, okay, kind of involves leaning rather heavily on Todd-- Neil kisses him, clumsily swatting at the closer balloons.]

[hexuality]

Oi, I'm listening. And all I'm hearing is rubbish. Ignore them, that's the right idea.

[mumbled_truth]

They are a little insistent. But really, it's the same kind of thing the City always does.

[hexuality]

Trying to make us miserable for fun. Yeah. I'm sorry it's having a go at you, though.

[mumbled_truth]

It's okay - I mean, really, I'm okay. I can't really say you get used to it, but you do learn how to listen to the voices that matter.

[hexuality]

Exactly. I suppose being here for as long as we have does teach a few things.

[mumbled_truth]

It definitely makes it easier to deal with... almost anything, actually.

[hexuality]

I wonder if that can be a bad thing. Too used to all this, maybe. Though I don't think we could ever be entirely used to it, thank Merlin.

[mumbled_truth]

I'll never be used to all of it, but... it probably is. Nobody should be as used to this kind of thing as we become here.

[hexuality]

Not given much of a choice, though, are we? But at any rate, I'm glad it's not bothering you too much. Say something if it is, though, yeah?

[mumbled_truth]

No, we're not. Maybe all we can really do is just... keep reminding each other that we're worth more than the City thinks we are.

And... yeah. I will. Thanks.

[hexuality]

We certainly are.