║ 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.]