brother dearest

What?

How is torturing anyone fun? Regardless of how they look?

Honestly, I just like annoying attractive people. It’s fun.

Oh. Wait -- what?

I just don’t like being nice to you. I’m fine with it when it’s other people. 

Right. And what did I do that made you not want to be nice to me again?

A red light? I’d never heard of that be—before, but thank you for the tip. I’ll give it a try, if I can bring myself to give up the candlelight; there’s nothing quite—quite like reading by it. Oh, that’s very responsible of you, you must be a good brother. How many siblings do you have?

Yes because blue lights are bad for your eyes. It's why most people that rely on computers or phones a lot have worse eyesight and night vision than the average person. Candlelight? How can you manage to see anything with that? I'd think it'd only light up small parts of the book you're reading. Two. One's twelve and the other's eight.

What’s that supposed to mean?

You don't like being nice so of course you don't want to do it.

As a chronic reader in the dark, [he indicates to his glasses and chuckles] it didn’t bother me so— so much, but I understand that it might. Yes, I hope so.

That's not too good. You should get a red light of some sort to read by. It'll help keep your eye sight better for longer. Not that I can do much talking. I usually bring my younger siblings to the library so they have a place to work on their homework in peace.

Hm, perhaps - the lights always would flicker, so that could— could be it. It is indeed a nuisance, especially since I have a book due to be returned tomorrow. 

Right? A terrible thing when I'm trying to read and not strain my eyes. But, it's always better than reading somewhere else because then you can just go grab more books when they're needed. Oh? Maybe they'll be open again by then and so it won't really matter that much.

Sounds strange to me. I wan’t nothing to do with it.

I sort of figured you wouldn't.

Exactly my r-reasoning — I might write to the librarian, and enquire why it is closed. And no, surprisingly, there was no n-note, only a closed gate, and, well, I wouldn’t have known if there was anything on the web— on the website.

It's possibly because they're doing some renovation or there's work being done on the electricity. They sometimes close it for those reasons, but I really hadn't heard anything. That's a pain.

Don’t know the meaning of the word.

Pleasant. Easy to get along with. Someone that doesn't act rude to other people just for the hell of it.

Hmm… what a shame.

You could be nicer, you know.

I don’t believe in you.

That's a shame. I believe in you.

Eh, I’m not sure if I’m good at finding them or not. I think you can only know of someone’s true faults if you’re close to them. I’d be basing my judgement off of an opinion and not the facts behind them, so until I know someone really well I try to not look for problems. The bond you create with that person is what makes you overlook the things that aren’t perfect about them, you know? It’s, like, mostly an acceptance thing. I’m not an extrovert but I’m also not an introvert; I’m in between. I remember seeing the word for that somewhere once, however I totally forgot what it was. I’ll just have to look it up. That’s cool, good luck to you finding more strangers to exchange new ideas with. Yeah, but even if you ask someone how their day is going, there’s going to be a pause after that. Awkward silences aren’t my thing. I’ll admit that most of the time I couldn’t care less, but people seem to appreciate it. It’s a nice thing to do, so I guess that’s the reason why I always ask. I’ll make sure to bring headphones everywhere I go from now on. Hopefully I won’t run into any of those annoying people who talk to you despite the fact you have headphones on. That’s one of the most obnoxious things, I swear. Got it.

I’m terrible at it. It’s easier for me to find reasons to like someone rather than hate them. I agree, but you can figure out a few without being all that close to them. You just have to catch them on the right day or during the right time. All judgments are based on opinions, even after you know someone. Because, well, we all put on a mask when it comes to even our closest friends. We don’t tell them every little thing about us and the way we think. So, it’ll always be an opinion. I suppose, but it’s not so much overlooking the problems. It’s loving the person regardless, loving the person for the problems. It’s why, when you’re angry, you can still get rather mad at a person you’re close to for the problems you overlooked before. An ambivert then? Most people are that. You have moments when you’re both. I think I sit somewhere in the middle as well, but I lean more towards extrovert than introvert. Oh, well, thank you. I wish you luck in finding one that makes you think more. I suppose, but I really don’t see what’s so wrong with silence. Why do you need to have it filled with words? Just be fine with standing in an elevator next to someone. It’s not like after you leave that moment you’ll run into them that often in the future, or even at all in most cases. They appreciate it, yes, but it’s mostly to fill the silence and show that you somewhat care about the person. But the thing is, we only ask because we know the person won’t give an honest answer. They won’t go on about their day or how shitty their week has been. They’ll say that they’re good or that it’s fine and then you’ll both move on. You don’t even have to bring an iPod, you know. Just have them in your ear and hide the other end in your pocket and no one will bug you. Ignore them if you do, they’ll give up when they think you can’t hear them.

Inex — Inexplicably, the library is closed. I suppose I ought to take to a bench, and hope that it doesn’t rain.

That's a bit odd seeing as people are taking summer classes. Was there no note on the door or website that would explain it?

Magic.

I don't believe in magic.

Your family’s just strange.

How'd you guess?

Alright, and I’ll forget you told me anything about you being a bad influence so I don’t go looking for reasons. You’re right, I guess it just all depends on the stranger you end up speaking with. I’m not sure I’ve had an inspirational conversation with someone I had met five minutes ago, but we’ll see. I get why it occurs because it’s polite to ask people how they’re doing and whatnot. It really only gets uncomfortable after you have nothing else to say to each other and there’s a silence you have no idea how to break. I know I’ve said this a bunch of times already, but thanks again. 

That’s probably for the best. You’d find them very easily if you went looking for them. Well, depending on how good you are at finding them. Some people are rather blind to other people’s mistakes. That usually only happens if you’re close to someone, but people that trust rather easily can be blind as well. Or, maybe yourself as well. Because if you’re not all that outgoing then the stranger you bump into won’t matter much. Oh, I have. Some of my most interesting conversations have been with people I only met a few minutes ago. Polite, maybe. But, you don’t always have to continue a conversation after you ask and so it never gets too awkward. Most people don’t really care about how you’re doing in the long run, even those you know don’t when they ask half the time. I think the pause only happens if you’re walking in the same direction or you’re in an elevator with them. Then just have an iPod or something to listen to. You’re welcome, though you really don’t have to continue saying it.