ellipsanet | UN: FreeDyver

What do you mean the talk?

I brought up something to a person and it turned out to be private. Since I don't know the why or even what it was, he's going to teach me.

Oh, are you sure it's okay to ask about it if it's private?

Well he said it's more dangerous not to know, so I figure most adults probably do.

Hmmm... maybe it's a human thing?

I don't think so. Red Son's not a human.

[ This explains a few things, like why Cole let him eavesdrop on him and MK. He didn't realize what he was letting MK talk about in front of an unknown-to-him third party. ]

[ Macaque has seen that this kid has a good head on his shoulders for the most part, and he did avoid making MK feel awkward or angry about being spied on, so lets refrain from expressing disbelief or anything similar. ]

It's something you should know, if that's what you're asking. How dangerous it is depends on if anyone is around you that could take advantage.

There's always someone who will take advantage of something, given a way to. So you're not wrong.

But I'm getting the impression that this is another of those adult things I missed out on.

Well, I'm almost back with food so we can talk about this in more detail then?

It's a thing I'm sure plenty of people miss out on. [ Used to be there weren't classes or anything, you just hoped there was a friendly person around to clue you in. And then instincts and hormones will do what they do, so you find out eventually. Absolutely rife for unpleasantness of varying kinds. ]

It doesn't take any studying unless you really want to get into the weeds. [ Red Son might be a poor source on this just saying. ] Just someone willing to be honest. Some people get squirmy about it.

[ Macaque isn't not among them, but not out of embarrassment about anatomy or whatever. It's the emotional thing. But this kid did help him out, so. ]

[Thankfully, or not, Cole hasn't gone through that unpleasantness either.]

Well my new teacher definitely was. I don't know about getting into the weeds, since I don't know really anything about it. So I'll learn I guess.

This is one of those "too much information is better than too little" situations. [ So good, Cole's taken care of, he can move on with his life. ]

[ ... ]

You get that it's really personal, though, right? What MK told you was showing a lot of trust. More than just a usual chat about someone he's in a thing with. [ Why is he saying this? It's probably obvious. Even if this post sure makes one wonder. ]

[ He had mixed feelings about eavesdropping before, since it did net him some good information that could be used to good ends. Now he's starting to veer toward the "I should probably apologize" end of the spectrum and he hates that end. ]

Fair. The thought of actually needing to study to understand why sex is personal is...a bit intimidating though.

I know it was. I only spoke to Red Son about it to let him know I'm happy for them. I don't tell anyone most of what MK tells me about anything. I wouldn't willingly abuse his trust like that.

Sure thing.

I'm not sure that's anything you can study, kid. [ The fact that Cole is MK's friend must have sunk in because Macaque is being oddly gentle. Not patronizing, just not his usual. ] Personal means you have to decide what it means to you.

It's like... music. You can study notes on a page, rhythm, how to play an instrument... but none of that is the same as hearing a song. Some things don't make sense until they do. [ Where did that metaphor come from?! He's got to do something about this sentimentality, stat. ]

[ Let him know he's happy for him... okay. ] Well, I'll give you this, you're polite.

Red Son's implication not mine. If someone needs to make a lesson plan and then you still might need to visit the library...that sounds like studying.

[If Cole knew enough, he'd be flattered to be handled so gently.]

That's an interesting way to describe things...are you a teacher too?

And thanks. I try.

Sounds about right. He's a bookworm. But his way doesn't have to be your way. Yes, for the basics use books and he'd be able to narrow that down with an enthusiasm almost no one else would bother with, but past that, it's your call.

It doesn't have to be music... take anything that means something a little different from one person to another. Art. Literature. Dance. Martial arts. Magic. Whatever you're into.

[ Is he a teacher too... Cole he's going to regret being nice if you keep making him think about certain others. ] Not really. Only when it's needed to counteract some of Wukong's unfortunate instruction.

[ Someone so perceptive has to have picked up on the animosity by now ]

Makes sense I guess. I'm not eager to suddenly feel like I need to relearn school, so I'll take it being my call.

There should really be a teachers' guild here. there are so many of you guys. [Maybe if you stopped fixating you'd know there were other people to talk about, Macaque. Geez. Cole's not even in Wukong's circle. He's in MK's.]

...I feel like someone should, so I'll bite. Did something happen with you and Wukong? You bring him up a lot.

I'm not a teacher really [ his tone remains even but he does want to be clear on this point ], but I'm sure some of the others would probably like the idea.

[ He can find a way to associate anything with Wukong. It's his special talent, shadows be damned. ]

That's centuries of history. We used to be closer than anyone, but things changed. Now the only time we can interact is when it's about MK, and we spend most of it unhappy about the proximity.

If you say so. [No disrespect, but he doesn't believe you, Macaque. He believes you believe it, but not that it's true.]

Sounds like my entire friend group.

I've got nothing but time and no context if you ever need to vent, someone to listen, or just some quiet. And depending, it could help me out without costing you anything.

Sounds like you could use some new friends. [ He realizes this is equally disparaging to himself and Wukong, and it's not an accident. ]

[ He's about to say no, as it's not necessary and some things would go into stuff Macaque doesn't want MK knowing even if he wanted to, but ]

What do you mean help you out?

Maybe, maybe I just need to protect what matters though.

[He watches Macaque, trying to guess at what he's thinking.]

Just because I'm telling you about MK's weremonkey friend troubles doesn't mean I've told you anything truly secret. If you don't want me to tell anything that you share then I won't. You'll have my word.

But there's something I get from the feelings of interacting with people that helps me. No harm to the person or secret traps, or anything you could think of.

It's not a matter of trust only. This place has mental effects from its magic, or so I've heard, so you might be compelled or have your mind read. And there are things he can't know.

[ ...It's a little funny how he hasn't, and wouldn't, throw Wukong completely under the bus. Knowing how devastated MK would be if he knew that Wukong killed Macaque keeps him from even entertaining the idea. ]

Do you need someone to talk, or is being in the same place enough to give you the benefit?

People like me know the value of finding ways to keep our word, so we don't do it lightly. The cost of being an oathbreaker is almost never worth it in any sense. Magic is funny that way.

[Everyone has skeletons, and everyone has a right to caution.]

It has to be interaction that has a strong emotional effect.

[ It's a bad idea. The sort of thing that only ends one way, and that's with a big mess. ]

[ ... ]

I can't tell you everything. [ He can stick to the stuff MK saw in the scroll, that'll be enough to get whatever Cole needs out of it without risk. ] If I hold some things back it won't matter as long as the emotions are there, I assume?

UN: FreeDyver - Voice

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Private (cw: discussion of consent probably)

Re: Private (cw: discussion of consent probably)

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