026 ~ [Voice/Action] | Forward-dated to Sunday

[distressedude]

[It's been two weeks since the incident with Arietta, and there was still no sign of Anise in the village. They never even had a chance to speak before she left for a mission, likely in an attempt to put some distance between herself and Ion after their argument. It's strange to think that the last time they went this long without speaking to each other by choice was around this same time last year, though for a very different reason. He's been so caught up in dealing with all of this that he actually let the anniversary of the day he first confessed his feelings for her pass by without a single thought!]

[It was strange to think so much time had already passed. He wasn't entirely sure how to feel about it really.]

[But sometime in the late afternoon, he opens his journal. There's no need to bother with a filter while Anise is still out of the village, and it isn't as though Arietta is the one he's trying to reason with here. Her anger is easier to understand and deal with. There's an uncharacteristic hint of exasperation in his voice when he speaks, having spent the last week and a half mulling over this without any obvious solution coming to mind.]

How do you stop two people who hate each other from continuing to hate each other? [Not a very eloquent way of asking, but it's the simplest way he can think of to explain the situation.]

Though this isn't the sort of problem I'm expecting an easy answer to, I was hoping someone might be able to offer some suggestions. Or perhaps if anyone's had any experience in dealing with a situation like this, it might be of some help.

[And regardless as to whether he's heard any solutions to this problem or not, he'll be spending the remainder of the evening in various places around town. He spends about an hour at the library, not quite able to concentrate on his reading. Giving that up, he goes for an aimless walk, lingering on the various bridges around town for a few minutes before moving on again. He probably looks more spaced out than he usually is, and the cold chill in the air probably isn't helping matters. By the time he arrives back home, it's been dark for awhile and he's shivering quite a bit. He probably should have worn his winter coat today.]

Comments

action;

[metalbends]

[Toph is MINDING HER OWN BUSINESS in house 56, but late in the evening she definitely doesn't miss "seeing" Ion walking outside the house, and for a split second, she's a bit petrified that he's come to see her. HE SHOULD HAVE SENT A NOTE AHEAD, SHE WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THIS.

But he doesn't come to the door; instead he just keeps walking about, and Toph can't help but notice he's shivering.

...She's going to regret this, isn't she.

She grabs her cost and steps outside into the front yard.]

What the heck are you doing out here?

action;

[distressedude]

[Ion jumps a bit when he hears Toph's voice, having not even noticed she was around until after she spoke up. He'd make the worst earth bender ever.]

[He takes a quick glance behind her, as if only now making the connection of where he is. After walking for so long, it shouldn't surprise him that he's wound up on the opposite end of the village... but it does. After a brief pause, he replies with a smile.]

I was just taking a bit of a walk. I guess I must have taken a wrong turn... I didn't realize I'd walked quite this far.

voice;

[ex_tessen852]

It really depends on the people and the reason for their hate. I mean, it might just take them forcing to work together to finally be able to befriend one another, but then again, it might never work out.

voice;

[distressedude]

I'm hoping that won't be the case for the particular situation, but even still... I think expecting them to ever be friends might not be plausible at this point.

But even if they can never be friends, it should be possible for them to stop holding so much animosity for one another, shouldn't it?

[Or, you know, at least stop threatening to kill each other in public. That'd be a nice first step.]

[Voice]

[savedtheworld]

Send both of them candies and make it look like each came from the other person!

[Voice]

[distressedude]

[That... is the most creative solution he's heard so far. It actually manages to get a soft chuckle out of him, despite his mood.]

I'm not quite sure how effective that would be, but it's certainly an interesting idea. Has that ever worked for anyone you know?

voice;

[happyends]

Um.. I'm probably not too good at this, but let me think.. [ she wants to help out, after all, even if she can already just guess from the very question how difficult this problem is to begin with. ]

I think it usually starts with seeing things from both sides.. thinking about why they hate each other, you know..?

voice;

[distressedude]

I've tried to talk to them, but it's a rather delicate situation. I know there must be another reason as to why they're both being so stubborn, but I'm not entirely sure what it is.

It's just difficult when neither side is very willing to listen...

who dares interrupt the Avatrain?

[markofthewise]

I guess letting them kill each other isn't an option, huh?

COMBO BREAKERS

[distressedude]

Not at all!

[Sokka look what you did you made him make this face.]

That's exactly the sort of situation I'm hoping to prevent. And I'm afraid of how things may escalate between them if things are allowed to continue like this.

[action]

[fabrecation]

[In the library, Ion might find one redhead near the back, a book near the middle, but right now, it looks like it's being used as a pillow. Luke's bent over the table, got his arms crossed beneath his head to help further cushion him and a coat acting as a blanket, and judging by how he shifts and turns his cheek against his arm, he's more just lightly sleeping than anything too deep.

He just needed to get away for a while, honestly. Even if that meant reading or sleeping somewhere that isn't his room.]

[action]

[distressedude]

[Ion had just given up his own attempts at reading, and it's only on his way to put back the book he'd grabbed that he notices Luke. He considers nudging him awake, but given his own present mood, he's rather not subject Luke to poor company.]

[And so he just goes to put away this book, which happened to be on a rather high up shelf. And he doesn't really think about this before climbing up the nearest ladder to put it away. As he reaches to slide the book into place, his eyes just happen to trail downward...]

[For not being all that high up, it's still enough to get to him. And in his haste to get back down, he missteps and slips down the front of the ladder with a short, yet fairly loud, cry.]

[Hope Luke doesn't mind the wake-up call -- though Ion managed to keep from tumbling all the way to the ground, he's kind of just standing in front of the ladder and shaking now.]

[Can't even go to the library without something trying to kill him, huh...]

[Voice]

[mysicksadlife]

You're not going to be able to do something like that. [This might sound unnecessarily harsh, and Daria doesn't exactly soften it much with her next words.] It's something that has to happen between them.

[Not that Trent hadn't helped her patch things up with Jane once or twice back home. And her mom had helped her with Jodi...]

I guess if you really want to do something, give them a chance to talk once they're ready to.

[Voice]

[distressedude]

[The idea that there's nothing he can do to help has certainly crossed his mind, but it's just not an answer he can accept on good conscience. Especially after what Anise had said... would she really go so far as to kill Arietta?]

And what if they're never ready to talk? I can't just let things stay the way they are now...

[Video]

[fierybluebird]

I've got some experience with it. Though it depends on how strong the hate is.

Why do they "hate" each other?

[Video]

[distressedude]

I'm afraid it's rather complicated to explain. They were on opposing sides of a conflict back on our world. But the circumstances of that conflict just don't apply here, and there's no reason for them to continue to hold so much animosity for each other here in Luceti.

[At least, as far as Ion can tell. Without Van here, what reason did Arietta have to align against them?]

I don't expect them to ever be friends, but I'm afraid of what will happen if things continue to escalate between the two of them.

[spohkh]

If it is at all possible, you find a commonality between the two parties.

[distressedude]

A commonality? What do you mean?

[Voice]

[knightofratatosk]

I think that all depends on why they hate each other in the first place.

[Voice]

[distressedude]

I figured that would be the case, but I'm not sure how much I'm at liberty to say without violating their privacy... though I'm sure they'll know I'm talking about them when they see this regardless.

[Siiiigh.]

Have you ever been in a situation like this before, Emil? Having two friends who hate each other?

Video

[hero_of_smiles]

[Someone was in need of help and advice!? Well, Cross here is willingly here to give it...whether you want it or not.

However, he's seen this situation happen before, at least in books. He's never actually encountered one but hey, he thinks he knows how to help.]

If these two people care about you, maybe you just need to let them know how it makes you feel about their hatred towards each other.

Video

[distressedude]

How it makes me feel? [That actually sounds like it makes perfect sense -- though he still can't help but wonder how effective it would be. He's already spoken with Anise on the matter, but...]

They already know I disapprove of their fighting. I'm not sure what else I could say to them about it...

[action]

[seleniahymn]

[Ion isn't the only member of House One who happens to be walking aimlessly, Tear just so happens to catch sight of him while crossing the bridge closest to their home. She had heard his question over the journals earlier, but hadn't known how to answer at the time the same way she hadn't known what to do when she overheard snippets of the argument with Anise. That didn't mean she could pass by him without saying anything.]

Don't you think you're not dressed enough to have been out for this long, Ion?

[action]

[distressedude]

[Ion looks up quickly when he hears Tear's voice, having been gazing out towards the water while crossing over the bridge. He'd been taking his time making his way home by now, but he was still a little spaced out. Perhaps even more so, given he was a little tired by now.]

[It takes a few moments before he responds with a tired smile.] I suppose not. I wasn't expecting to be outside for very long when I left the house today.

[written - private]

[imatreenow]

[He considers the question for a moment, and ends up replying out of boredom and a pressing compulsion to spread negativity.] You cannot stop hatred. People's hearts will not be swayed so easily.

[written - private]

[distressedude]

[Well, that's a rather negative response. It seems almost stronger when it's written down in front of him rather than a voice. And on a private filter no less...]

I'm sorry, but I just can't believe that. Though I don't think it would be an easy process by any means, hatred isn't an absolute. After all, people are capable of changing.

[Voice]

[blessingone]

[Her voice is solemn as she replies. The question reminds her of herself, back when she was much more full of hatred. She managed to work past much of it, but it was only because some of the people she hated had been willing to reach out to her in spite of it. If the people in question hated each other, without one trying to make ammends.]

There mightn't be a way. ...Hatred is a hard habit to break. Even when one side wants to reach out to the other, it doesn't always work. And if neither wants to take the first step...I don't know if there's anything an outsider can do.

[Voice]

[distressedude]

...but I can try to convince one of them to make that first step, can't I? Even if it something that needs to be settled between the two of them, there's no reason someone can't try to help from the outside...

[...] I wouldn't be asking if I thought there was any chance they could work things out on their own. Not the way things are now.

[Voice]

[broji]

[When you live with one of the lolis in question, it's kind of hard to miss when things get rocky.]

Let me guess, you mean Anise and Arietta, right? That's a tough one.

[Voice]

[distressedude]

Yes, that's right. They've each held a grudge with one another for so long, I'm not quite sure where to start in trying to deal with it. I'm not even sure if there's anything that can be done, at this point.

{ voice } I'm on time for everything, clearly.

[fallenchosen]

Hell, if I know. I usually stay out of those kind of situations. Hatred runs pretty deep, it gets too personal to intervene.

{ voice } Awwwyeah

[distressedude]

Unfortunately this isn't the sort of situation I can just ignore. I'm already rather involved with both of them, after all.