Nexus Forest Outskirts [open]

[megadidit]

Curled up beneath a Nexus tree and scribbling in a notebook, Rock did not appear to be enjoying himself. He would write a few sentences before scratching them out, turning the page, and starting over. It was a project assigned to him by his therapist; since he couldn't talk to her about certain things, he would write them out instead. But writing

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[fortis_tacit]

Given Rock's current state of mind, he could be forgiven for not noticing the lanky figure leaning against a nearby tree. Or maybe it was for the best, anyway.

Unfortunately for Rock's state of mind, said individual didn't stay quiet forever.

"... Something wrong?"

[megadidit]

Rock suddenly was very quiet. He couldn't let Forte, any Forte, see him like this. Freaking out was one thing but crying?

So in an attempted, forced calm, he answered. "N-no."

He still wasn't looking up at Forte, wondering if he could somehow leave before things got worse without being completely rude.

[fortis_tacit]

At first Forte's only response was a drawn-out, rather long-suffering sigh. Then he sidled around the tree-trunk, so that not much more than a shoulder -- and part of his ponytail, clinging to the bark -- was visible.

"You're not very convincing right now, Rock."

"What happened?"

He knew damn well he wasn't likely to get an answer. But he had to ask anyway.

[megadidit]

Rock might not have convinced him that he was fine but he still didn't want to talk about it. So Forte was right about not getting an answer. "I didn't think....you'd ever want to talk to me again..." His voice was shaky but that seemed to be more from his earlier crying then panicking, so far.

And now with Forte not watching him, he could snatch up his notebook before anyone else decided to come this way and happen upon it.

[fortis_tacit]

"Maybe he can't leave Wily, or at least he can't understand the idea because of program limitations. I wouldn't be surprised if some version or other of the old jerk pulled a stunt like that."

Forte's expression suddenly looked rather more thoughtful.

"If you see him again, you could always just try to find an excuse for him not to go back? I'm guessing you met him here, and you found some reason -- besides the obvious -- that he could be having problems."

"But still -- Ballade. Damn."

[megadidit]

"But he's so close! He disobeyed Wily right in front of me and I don't think he even realized it!" He was a bit focused on the whole Ballade thing, motioning with his hands at certain points.

"But then what do I do with him? I can't offer him a place at a house that's not mine. And I don't know what he'd do on his own."

"You keep saying that. What's wrong with Ballade?" Of course here he turned to look at Forte and suddenly looked a lot more uncomfortable again.

[fortis_tacit]

"He probably didn't, but maybe with some more nudging he'll actually disobey for good."

"I don't know, Rock. I suppose sometimes there aren't any easy answers."

Spotting the discomfort, Forte fidgeted a bit before answering.

"... The Ballade I'm used to only changed his mind once. Now he heads Wily's pack of lunatics. Maybe the old man did something to him, I don't know."

[megadidit]

Turning away, Rock gave his head a quick shake and tried to focus on the conversation. He'd been doing good and then there'd been that flash of memory. He needed to focus on what he was talking about not who he was talking to, and keep himself grounded in the present. Which was so much easier to do when you did by accident.

"If I could get him to believe he was more then a thing...?" He shrugged his shoulders helplessly.

"Probably. Wouldn't put it past him."