RITUAL 20 END

[wooliefrand]

WHO: Sheep
WHERE: The Pasture
WHEN: Day 58 MORNIN!!

[by mid morning the fireworks fade and any remaining sparkles or pink mists fades, along with the compulsory effects of your flower pins. Now they're just normal pins--and you can keep them! If that's your thing.

Doki Doki and Bon Bon cackle in the air.]

WAHAHAHA! MY REVENGE HAS REACHED ITS PEAK! Bet you know better than to mess with us again!!

But I GUESS you've had enough and I'm satisfied. Love love~! Maybe we'll play again later!

[and EXPLOSION and the two disappear in a burst of pink glitter. That may or may not get left in your hair.]

[OOC:
TURN IN | Winners/Results ]

Comments

[survivaltricks]

[hn. . .?]

Do you want to talk about it?

[terraria]

( he considers this, and then: )

Perhaps another point of view would be helpful.

Would you consider other flocks opponents?

[survivaltricks]

[a small smile, touched that Perci is willing to open up. and his response is immediate]

Of course not.

[terraria]

But they are not allies?

[survivaltricks]

I didn't say that, either.

[dips his fingers into his pockets, expression thoughtful as he gaze flickers up]

I think all of us are in this together. Flocks, weeds. . . even Red, Blossom and Stormy. I've never seen anyone as an adversary. And when shit hits the fan, we all work together as best as we can.

[terraria]

( a silent nod. )

I agree. That's exactly why... I don't think I could ever pick anything besides myself when it comes to choosing who to make hurt.

It's not sustainable. But I would lose a thousand limbs rather than hurt anyone in the pasture.

[survivaltricks]

[. . . so that is why. . .]

. . . that's very brave of you, Perci.

[. . .]

But what if. . . another flock said they were willing to share that burden with you?

[terraria]

( soft, wistful smile. )

That's quite a big ask to ask of several people altogether.

[survivaltricks]

Mmm. Yeah.

And I'm sure not everyone would feel that way.

[and he wouldn't blame them, either]

But. . . at the same time, nobody wants you to suffer alone.

["nobody" really meaning "Lupin himself"]

[terraria]

"Nobody", huh...

( smiles, rueful. )

[survivaltricks]

[. . . mmm. closes his eyes and pulls up a wry smile]

You know. . . I decided from the very first day I was Shepherd to put Thistle first. There are so many reasons I made that decision, and even now. . . I stand by it.

[but Perci knows all of those reasons. he heard each and every one, back when Lupin was falling apart at the seams after the betrayal ritual]

But that doesn't mean I think one person-- one flock-- should carry the burden of punishment all by themselves.

. . . especially when that person or that flock means something to me.

[terraria]

I don't think so, either. I care about so many here, on so many different flocks, and Weeds as well. I don't think anyone should shoulder all that suffering alone.

( closes his eyes. )

But... once bitten, twice shy. I can't honestly say I look at most people here the same, even if the pain was manageable for me. I don't want others to go through a similar paranoia, wondering who was willing to hurt you.

[survivaltricks]

[. . . it's different for him, isn't it? for someone who thinks everyone would be willing to hurt him. . . but Lupin pushes that thought aside, because this is not about him]

[it's about Perci, and his unrelenting kindness]

[Lupin opens his eyes again, turning his attention back to Perci]

In that way, is being a Weed. . . easier?

[terraria]

I think so. Perhaps that's why it doesn't bother me much. Having to be the hand that hurts another goes against everything I've stood for, for so long... I don't know if I could stand it.

( a little shrug, sheepish. )

Besides, I'm not fond of how it might seem as if I'm doing something "because Lily is doing it"? Or "to make Lily look good"? Inter-team politics is a headache.

[survivaltricks]

[IMMEDIATELY, with some amount of annoyance]

Team politics are stupid. Doing something just to make your entire team "look good" is also stupid.

[it probably isn't surprising that Lupin, master of FREEDOM and INDEPENDENCE, feels that way. it is also probably not a surprise considering Lupin didn't care at all about "repairing" Thistle's reputation after the betrayal game]

If being attached to a flock was starting to make you feel like you couldn't be yourself, then. . . maybe now is your chance to figure things out for yourself?

[terraria]

( pfft—amused, ruffles his hair, though he seems to sober up a bit at the question. )

Mm. Yes...

I need to find out who "I" am first, I think. It's easy to say "I'm a courtesan" or "I'm a king". None of those things are who, only what. I feel as if I should know by now.

( scrunches up nose. )

I'm starting to see how people don't quite see me as an adult, now.

[survivaltricks]

[ducks his head with a grin, but he allows for the hair ruffling!]

Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?

[not being seen as an adult, he means]

[terraria]

( he looks... torn, but not particularly sad. )

I don't know. I want to be dependable... to have a place and role only I could fulfill. I haven't really had one before. That seems like an adult aspiration, doesn't it?

[survivaltricks]

. . . I don't know about that.

[a thoughtful pause, and he rakes his fingers through his hair, gaze flickering down then up again]

I mean. . . I don't think of myself as an adult, and I'm not in any rush to become one. But having a place in the world. . . being dependable to the one's I love. . .

[. . .]

That was important to me, too.