RULEUS: *It's not a total surprise when Ruleus finds Pythia hanging out at the pool like she is. It's the best form of exercise there is. He arrives in his swimming trunks and pool shoes, towel over his shoulder, missing his goggles, but here nevertheless. What's Pythia up to?* PYTHIA: *EATING HAM. in thye pool. Because shye's an ADULT. except not reallyh, shye's a teenager, not an adult* *shye's just kinda floating around on hyer back, slipping slices of hyam into hyer mouthy like a queen* RULEUS: *Well she did look highly regal as usual. He's not sure whether this should make him feel better or not. He lowers his legs down into the water, sitting at the edge before speaking.* Hello Pythia. PYTHIA: *shye glances over at hyim and SMILES* :3 hyyheyhhy ruru come for a swim RULEUS: In a matter of speaking. *dangles his feet into the water, sloshing it through it* I am almost surprised to find you here but almost. RULEUS: It always seems as if you're up to SOME business or another. PYTHIA: yheahy ive been prettyh busyh latelyh hyuhy *puts her chin on her fist* whyat about yhou RULEUS: Fairly occupied. *gives her a flat look* Citrin and I broke up. PYTHIA: *SPITS HAM* PYTHIA: WHYAT RULEUS: *Pythia that's LITTERING. Ruleus pulls a face and turns away from her.* It's true. PYTHIA: *SHE DIDNT MEAN TO* but PYTHIA: whyyh RULEUS: *lowers his eyes to the water* I... had to. RULEUS: I was hurting him in ways I could not fix while also allowing him to love me. We were not speaking, could not speak. It was not fair to him. PYTHIA: hyow were yhou hyurtin hyim RULEUS: Expecting him to have answers to questions he should not be obligated to be asked. *sighs tiredly* It was a matter of self worth. That much I will take responsibility for. PYTHIA: so basicallyh yhou were askin lots of loaded questions wroghyt withy unsecurityh RULEUS: No. We were communicating so little, I did not ask him questions. But still expected the answers. *shakes his head* But an incredible amount of insecurity is the root of the issue, correct. PYTHIA: mmmmm i see i see *strokes chin* anyhthyin else RULEUS: What do you mean anything else? What clearly matters is all I can control. That is my OWN short comings. *rubs at his temples.* That is all I can focus on now. PYTHIA: well PYTHIA: its not gunna be easyh but thyats kinda whyat yhou dont wanna do cuz thye more yhou thyink about whyats wrong thye less yhoull thyink about whyat isnt an yhoure never gunna be happyh RULEUS: As if I do not realize that. PYTHIA: well of course yhou do PYTHIA: but yhou gotta let it sink iiinn PYTHIA: like thyis PYTHIA: *SINKS INTO THE WATER* RULEUS: *slips into the water too, the words tumbling out faster in the water than he can stop them* What is not wrong is how hopelessly in love I am still with him. It seems as if I have ALWAYS loved him and if that is not worth conquering these self defeating thoughts then what is???? RULEUS: I should be ANGRY. RULEUS: I feel like it's appropriate. PYTHIA: *stares at him* if yhoure angryh thyen yhell its just us in here RULEUS: *stares back at her* I have a great reluctance but I realize if I don't, it will eat me glubbing ALIVE. As it has been. PYTHIA: exactlyh PYTHIA: so yhell PYTHIA: let it all out rul RULEUS: Okay. If you are sure. RULEUS: Pythia. RULEUS: You did not support me when I needed you the most. RULEUS: In fact, you were the OPPOSITE of a good friend. And even now I have to question what it is I did to earn such a treatment. RULEUS: When I would have NEVER. EVER. DONE SUCH A THING TO YOU. PYTHIA: *she sinks a little as he starts saying that stuff, feeling a little blindsided that this went from being about him and citrin to suddenly her. Her smile starts to droop* PYTHIA: *rubs arm uncomfortably as she looks to the wall, studying it* i did it because i didnt feel like everyhthyin i did for yhou all thyese yhears hyad even mattered to yhou like yhou hyadnt even noticed a thying PYTHIA: it made me feel invisible and unwanted PYTHIA: and cit made me feel betrayhed because he knew i liked yhou thyis whyole time PYTHIA: im not tryhin to sayh it was righyt hyow i reacted but its hyard to thyink whyen yhour hyeart feels like its bein ripped in two PYTHIA: i dont know i reallyh romantacized a lot and whyen realityh kinda sets in an crushyes yhour dreams its hyard to act *she pauses trying to find her words and sighs* PYTHIA: dignified and mature PYTHIA: im sorryh rul im not proud of hyow i acted whyen i found out about yhou two PYTHIA: *sighs again and crosses her arms, hugging herself tightly* yhou two didnt PYTHIA: break up because of me did yhou *she feels tears start to sting the corners of her eyes* i wasnt thye reason yhou felt so insecure was i RULEUS: *br!ngs a hand up to press at the br!dge o? h!s nose, bloodpusher ?ull o? regret* Please do not cry, Pyth!a. ! understand... you had your a??ect!ons spurned. But how could ! have known ! was spurn!ng them !? ! never knew they ex!sted??? RULEUS: You meant EVERYTHING to me, don't you realize? You still do! Perhaps that's exactly why being told I was stupid for never seeing it hurt so much. What else had I not realized?? I felt as though I hurt you in such a way I couldn't ever think to fix... but then. RULEUS: It was never my responsibility to fix it in the first place! *exhales in exasperation before... fixing her with a glance.* I just... never knew. PYTHIA: *the tears are really starting to flow now, although she's trying desperately to fight it.* no it wasnt thyis was all myh own dumb fault all of it RULEUS: *he has to edge closer to her, setting a hand against her shoulder. His pain wasn't the only one here after all.* Pythia... I refuse to let you shoulder the brunt of all that's happened. How logical is the conclusion that you are soley responsible for everything?? It's ridiculous! RULEUS: Yes. We have hurt each other but... isn't the point to accept it happened and move on? I do not hold your feelings against you whatsoever. In fact. I would very much like to get things back to how they used to be. RULEUS: And let you... continue. RULEUS: *brushes a thumb against her cheek* Ryan is reely... very pretty, did you know? She is. Not that you need reminding. PYTHIA: ... *she sniffles again and stares into his eyes* omg.... rul... *she has to laugh a little now* were talkin about me an yhou not myh dumb obvious new crushy *gives him a playful shove* PYTHIA: but yhoure righyt shyes fuckin gorgeous RULEUS: *SNRKS as he's shoved* Well??? If it were so OBVIOUS, it's no wonder you think of me as stupid for not picking up on it! RULEUS: So as you can see. Clearly, I cannot hold you accountable for obvious facts. PYTHIA: see now yhoure gettin it :3 *she sniffles again and wipes the rest of her tears out of his eyes before swimming a little closer to him. IF HE LETS HER, she's going to give him a quick platonic peck on the cheek before wrapping her arms around him* i missed yhou yha goofy nerd RULEUS: *Why would he deny her such a sweet smooch? He chirrs at the contact, and even more so when she wraps arms around him. Brings her in close and gives her a squeeze in return.* ...Not as much as I missed you Py. PYTHIA: daaaaaw yhou fuckin chyarmer *she rests her head on his chest and closes her eyes happily* yhou and cit are gunna be okayh alrighyt PYTHIA: mark my words RULEUS: *closes his eyes too, holding her as he swallows the bittersweet twinge in his bloodpusher.* ...Yes. I will not rest until the desired outcome is achieved. PYTHIA: yhoull get thyere thyink of thyis time awayh from hyim as a good thying *starts rubbing small circles into his back* ill talk to cit okayh RULEUS: It's all I can bring myself to do in all honesty. *a string of bubbles escape his gills when he sighs again* As well as reevaluate myself and... improve where I have previously failed myself. RULEUS: It sounds impartial and ridiculous, I know. PYTHIA: not reallyh just dont wait till yhoure perfect myh guyh RULEUS: I used to be perfect!!!! Those were the days, weren't they. *He's joking... maybe.* PYTHIA: PFFFFFFT *okay shes laughing now* sure sure well get yhou back on top RULEUS: Yes! And I shant settle for anything less! *fins flare out with DETERMINATION* PYTHIA: likin the spunk rul *lets go with one arm just so she can pat his cheek* kick that self loathyin righyt in the butt PYTHIA: righyt PYTHIA: in PYTHIA: the butt RULEUS: AND NUMBERS I SHALL TAKE. *If yelling is possible underwater, Ruleus is yelling. But then looking down at her, his expression much more genuine.* ...Thank you. Pythia. PYTHIA: *nods* of course :3
