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

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Maybe they need someone neutral to talk things over with, someone who isn't going to take sides. That way they could both explain what was bothering them without getting into an argument in the process.

...I'd like to think I could have been a neutral party in such a conversation, but now I'm not so sure.

[Would he take sides, though? It's a tough call. It seems almost common sense for him to immediately side with Anise, but looking back at that argument, he can't exactly rule out the idea of possibly siding more closely with Arietta...]

If they could only be honest about what really makes them hate each other so much, maybe they could work out their differences... but at the same time, I know some of the reasons are due to misunderstandings neither wants to admit are untrue. [Or admit they don't understand, in Arietta's case.] Even if they talked things out, I don't know if it would do anything to lessen the hatred they hold for each other.

Oh. That does make it a lot more complicated. But... I'm not sure they can fix anything until they're honest with themselves about what the problem is. I mean, if they won't admit it to themselves, then they aren't going to be able to admit it to anyone else either, right? Otherwise they'll probably just keep having the same arguments over and over without actually getting anywhere.

Not unlike the situation they're in right now.

[There's an understated weariness in his tone to imply this has been going on for quite some time.]

Unfortunately, it's not so easy to get either of them to even consider that the other may have a valid point. Were it simply something I could avoid altogether by keeping them apart, I'd do it, but it just isn't feasible in a village this small. They're bound to run into each other eventually, whether intentionally or by chance...

Yeah. It's hard to avoid anyone here in Luceti, even if you're trying hard.

Are you sure talking to someone else won't help them work things out? It doesn't have to be you... maybe just someone who doesn't know any of them at all, so they can't take sides.

I suppose I wouldn't know unless I let someone try, but I'm not entirely sure either of them would be willing to talk to someone they didn't know.

I wouldn't even feel comfortable involving anyone else if I weren't already at my wits end for what to do about this. But I'm afraid if things go on like this, others will find themselves involved whether they want to be or not.

[He can't imagine it would be an easy thing, breaking up a fight between the two of them.]

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

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]