voice.

[traumata]

I'm glad everyone's alright.

[ alright here being a subjective term. not dead might be better, though that's also a subjective term in this instance. the message is a bit late on the tail-end of the previous week's violence, and some clarification would probably be helpful, but kieren's second-guessed starting this discussion about a thousand times. now that he's finally going for it, the tactic's too leap before you look to be completely coherent. ]

It's not your fault. That's what people will be saying, anyway, about any damage you've done or harm you've caused, but I know it's difficult to believe. And it isn't true, really, because if you hadn't been alive, then maybe it wouldn't have happened.

Acting like the guilt's not there doesn't help. But if you can accept it, there's a chance you can learn to live around it.

[ except now he's getting insanely awkward group therapy flashbacks. the attempt to make the conversation less dire is a mildly panicked afterthought, tacked on quickly. ]

And I know I'm late to space Christmas, but if anyone wants any pictures — paintings, portraits, anything like that for belated gifts, I'd be happy to do something if you've got the materials.

[ super awkward pause, then: ] Thanks.

Comments

[invisibilitea]

You paint?

[traumata]

[ well at least that's an easy question. ]

No. I just thought offering paintings would be a great incentive to learn. [ sarcastic, but his tone's friendly. ] Do you?

[invisibilitea]

[DON'T BE MEAN-]

No. But I would love for someone to paint a friend of mine. I could probably pay you.

[traumata]

[ it's ok annie it's how he shows affection. ]

I'm not too worried about payment, really, I just haven't got loads of materials. Do you know if anyone's got any paint? I know someone's got a big stash of red, at least.

[ yo creepy warnings on the walls. ]

[invisibilitea]

Oh, I don't know, but I can likely find some.

Hullo, then, I'm Annie.

[traumata]

Here's hoping you've got better connections than I do.

[ not that he's tried super hard to find paint until now. ]

Kieren. So who did you want me to paint? Or is it meant to be a secret.

[invisibilitea]

Oh, my boyfriend, Mitchell, I'd love a painting of him.

[Because it's not like she can get a photograph.]

Um, I don't know when he'll be available for it, though.

[traumata]

[ a slight pause while he considers the name. ]

Mitchell— Irish, right? He wasn't hurt, was he?

[invisibilitea]

Hurt?

No, he wasn't hurt.

[HURT HOW.]

[traumata]

Oh. Sorry, you'd said he was unavailable, so I just thought...

[ coNVERSATIONS. ]

After everything that happened in the hallways.

[invisibilitea]

Oh, he's just-

Busy! Very busy!

[traumata]

Oh. Well, that's fine, just... let me know. Or you could give me a photo.

[invisibilitea]

Oh, right, a photo-

[God damn it]

See he doesn't like taking pictures, he says he looks like rubbish in all of them, so that's why I wanted a painting. I can make him find time. And sit still.

[traumata]

Yeah, alright, it's fine. [ said with a slight hint of amusement at the flustered response. ]

Just let me know when he's available again. It'd just be for the sketch anyway, so it won't take very long.

[invisibilitea]

Yes? All right, thank you!

[She does actually seem a bit pleased, now.]

[traumata]

[ ok that's great but also ]

Isn't there a chance he'll hate a portrait? If he's so against photographs.

[invisibilitea]

At some point he'll have to just get over that, won't he? A portrait is a work of art.

[traumata]

Well, in that case, I appreciate your faith in me.

[ what if he draws stick figures, annie. ]

[invisibilitea]

[Then it'll be a stick figure with wavy hair, of Mitchell.]

Of course-

You did say you could paint.

[traumata]

Yeah, but it could be like those people who end up on the X-Factor. Maybe my parents have convinced me I'm fantastic, but they're just being nice.

[invisibilitea]

I'm sure you're quite good.

[traumata]

I'll do my best not to disappoint. Just let me know when you've convinced him, yeah?

[invisibilitea]

Yes, and ah-

You know, parents aren't always wrong.

[traumata]

[ you haven't seen his dad's taste in fashion. ]

Not always, no. But when they are, they're usually quite spectacularly wrong.

[invisibilitea]

Oh, well.

Yes.