Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no Lies

[thelongcon]

The Truth Meme






→ Comment to this entry with your characters.

→ No matter the question, your character feels compelled to answer truthfully. Even if it's the most personal question they've ever heard, or a query about something they would normally refuse to talk about -- too bad.

→ Watch the madness unfold.

SOURCE

Comments

[carcharhinidae]

You're wrong. [Unlike Sousuke, in this situation the impulse in Rin's gut doesn't allow him to self-regulate, instead letting everything tumble out entirely uncensored, including the passion behind it.]

When you leave the block it might just be you in the lane, but you're not swimming alone. Whether it's in a relay or not, if it's in school or nationally, you're carrying your team with you, because you're swimming for them as much as yourself. It's recognition for you and your team together, so you're never alone.

Swimming as though you're alone...it's meaningless.

[rhincodontidae]

[Well, don't beat around the bush about it, Rin. The emotion in Rin's response just fuels the same in Sousuke. He looks pained when Rin says it's meaningless but forces it off his face. Not now.]

You can't afford to carry your team with you. Do you really want to not be on that podium if your teammate can't pull their weight?

[Sousuke shakes his head and looks down at his hands.]

I just don't understand, Rin.

[carcharhinidae]

[The missing keywords there from Rin there were about how swimming alone was meaningless for him. The last few years had been a real experience for Rin in terms of discovering where he draws real strength from, and as far as he's concerned it has taken several false starts that nearly cost him his future goals entirely.

This does feel like a repeat of the fight they'd had as kids before Rin transferred to Iwatobi, with the memory of how the smell of chlorine and childish anger entangled around the imagine of Sousuke's resolute expression: he and Rin would not agree on that point.

So what would Sousuke have thought of the Rin in Australia who had convinced himself swimming for the team was what ruined his speed and motivation, and no matter how hard he tried the thing he'd loved most felt sour and disheartening? Would he have approved of that Rin more than the current version of himself, swimming his best times from drawing from a concept of swimming for the team and his friends?]

It's not like that. I want to stand there knowing who helped me to get there. It's not about pulling your team along, it's about wanting to take then with you, and them wanting to come too. Even if they don't make it with me, they're the ones who helped me get that far. I don't want to ignore that anymore.

[rhincodontidae]

[Sousuke never had a chance to approve or disapprove of that Rin. He knows the years between their meetings were not kind to Rin and he can tell his friend has changed but apart from brief, sentimental explanations about being saved, he can't know what it was like.

What he does know is that, at the end of the day, there are two teams Rin is swimming for now. He has to balance swimming for Samezuka, swimming for his friends in Iwatobi, and swimming for his own future. Out of those three parties, the only one Sousuke trusts is Rin. Realistically, he's certain that's also the only one Rin should be trusting, but Rin's not willing to hear it.

Sousuke can see he's not making any headway. Rin needs his swimming to have meaning; Sousuke's trying--for Rin's sake if nothing else, he wants to understand this great meaning--but it's all dark to him. They're just not going to agree.

He lifts his hands and shakes his head, still not looking up at Rin.]

I'm not saying you should ignore it. Probably better if we just drop it. I'm sorry I brought it up.

[carcharhinidae]

[Rin's lips pull into a thin line of a frown as he watches Sousuke, feeling the swirling tension between them rise again like it has done back and forth since Sousuke transferred to Samezuka; it's like the tide rising and falling, sometimes deep and sometimes far away, but always there in some form.

His shoulders sag, then he lifts a hand a lightly smacks his palm against his friend's upper arm.]

Hey, what's with that kind of face? It's fine, isn't it?

[He smiles, a warm and honest kind of smile as he shrugs a single shoulder.]

After all, we're swimming together. Whether we agree or not, that part's undeniable and I'm glad you're part of my team.

[rhincodontidae]

[Sousuke lets his head hang until he feels Rin's hand on his arm. He wants to feel that little pop, that moment when the tension breaks for good. It doesn't happen, but it does decrease a bit. He knows it'd go further away, maybe even give him the break he wants if he'd let it; he also knows he can't let it. Not yet.

He can smile, though, so he does. It's not as easy as Rin's but it's real.]

Yeah, it's fine. And I'm glad to be here, on your team. That's the whole reason I'm even here.