[For a good handful of seconds, it's Sparkling's turn to just...sit there, gobsmacked. He was not expecting to have all of that praise just lavished on him- it does not go unappreciated, of course Sparkling soaks up attention like this like a god damn sponge- but he wasn't actually expecting it when he gave Vicious his answer. So he's a good person, then...on a surface, technical level, he'd absolutely believe that. He follows rules, doesn't start fights with people, generally tries to present himself as kind and helpful to a fault.
But does that necessarily make you good, even if you're going through all of the motions to present yourself that way? He sometimes wonders...
That attempt to lighten the mood leaves Sparkling chuckling in spite of himself, so it seems that it landed in the way Vicious had hoped it would, despite everything. Even if Sparkling looks tired (dead tired, you might say) he's still genuine in the way he's holding himself here- at least he hopes.]
Well...the only grand adventure I can claim fame to involves pirates, but I wasn't really doing anything wrong then...just happened to end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
[He leans back in his chair again, shrugging one shoulder as he brings a hand carefully up to rest near his chin. While the tension hasn't been fully eased between them, it's clear that they've made some headway. Something...has changed about their budding friendship irrecovably, but it's not necessarily in a bad way. Sparkling would argue it's just paved the way for things to be more...on an even keel between the two of them. Less coworkers who just know one another at what they present to the public, and more of who they are really. And that's not something Sparkling can say he gets with a lot of people.
He just wishes this didn't feel so weighted in his own favor. Vicious has poured so much of his life out for Sparkling to know about, and even if there are still secrets he doesn't know, it feels like he knows far more than he should as it is.]
But...thank you, truly. It means a lot for you to say that.
[He rubs at his cheek a little, letting his gaze shift to one side a bit.]
I...I do hope I haven't pressured you, Vicious. I just felt like I needed to tell you how I felt about all of this, so you weren't left wondering.
My, and what a claim. I'd love to hear that story.
[His brows raise at the concept of "pirates," and then further once he considers they would probably have been some sort of cookie pirates, which is just fascinating in and of itself. It's hard not to envision Sparkling's life as having been like living inside of a children's book; pure and innocent, full of adventure, but where no true harm could come to the heroes of the story or the citizens of the kingdom... Then again, he doesn't know much. There's a very good chance he could be completely wrong! He just hopes that one day Sparkling would feel comfortable enough to regale him of more tales from his life back home, but not at the expense of dredging up more unpleasant thoughts.]
Oh, think nothing of it, it's just... the truth. I like you, even if I don't know all of you, yet. I just appreciate you giving me the chance to get to.
[He watches the young vampire with a warm smile, hoping the sincerity would read more evidently than the sadness lining his eyes. This has been... a hard conversation for him, but one he likes to think he's navigating well enough. The gratitude vastly outweighs the anxiety now, at least, since it does seem to be going better than before, but... he can't help but worry that one day soon, that disappointment will come and undo all this trust he's been so graciously given. Surely it's only a matter of time.
No-- don't think like that. He can be good. It will all be fine.]
I'm-- no, no, don't worry. Really, I'm glad you said something. I... had been thinking about you for the last few days, so I'm glad to hear from you at all, especially after all that, you know?
It's quite a long one...and a bit unbelievable, but I would be glad to tell it to you, anytime.
[It may change Vicious' opinion on whether or not Sparkling has ever gotten into any trouble before...but at least that trouble wasn't inherently his own fault. Mostly.
It's not unusual, hearing that he's liked. Sparkling craves those words, relishes in them when they're offered whether they're genuine or paying him lip service. He likes to think he's gotten good at being able to differentiate between the two, but there are some times that he knows that he just doesn't care. Real or not, it's good to be appreciated. It's good to be liked. It's a priority, actually.
Maybe it shouldn't be, and maybe it's not healthy, but that's where Sparkling is in his life. So he knows he's going to be leaving this conversation feeling...not exactly good, but better than he could have. Because even if Vicious could on the off chance just be saying whatever he can to save face with Sparkling, the sad thing is that it works. He's vain and prone to flattery enough for it.
It's a hollow sort of understanding about himself that gnaws at the backs of his senses, but it's something he's learned to ignore.]
Oh, is that so? And here I had no idea I was such a popular guy.
[Okay that's OBVIOUSLY a joke, especially with the way the words almost titter their way out of him, but it's a good sign that the mood has been lifted.]
But I do understand. This whole...business with changes, and everything...it's been a lot. I apologize for not keeping in touch, but I'll try to be better about that in the future. For when...I don't know, I start growing talons or something.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
transilience
From:
no subject
But does that necessarily make you good, even if you're going through all of the motions to present yourself that way? He sometimes wonders...
That attempt to lighten the mood leaves Sparkling chuckling in spite of himself, so it seems that it landed in the way Vicious had hoped it would, despite everything. Even if Sparkling looks tired (dead tired, you might say) he's still genuine in the way he's holding himself here- at least he hopes.]
Well...the only grand adventure I can claim fame to involves pirates, but I wasn't really doing anything wrong then...just happened to end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
[He leans back in his chair again, shrugging one shoulder as he brings a hand carefully up to rest near his chin. While the tension hasn't been fully eased between them, it's clear that they've made some headway. Something...has changed about their budding friendship irrecovably, but it's not necessarily in a bad way. Sparkling would argue it's just paved the way for things to be more...on an even keel between the two of them. Less coworkers who just know one another at what they present to the public, and more of who they are really. And that's not something Sparkling can say he gets with a lot of people.
He just wishes this didn't feel so weighted in his own favor. Vicious has poured so much of his life out for Sparkling to know about, and even if there are still secrets he doesn't know, it feels like he knows far more than he should as it is.]
But...thank you, truly. It means a lot for you to say that.
[He rubs at his cheek a little, letting his gaze shift to one side a bit.]
I...I do hope I haven't pressured you, Vicious. I just felt like I needed to tell you how I felt about all of this, so you weren't left wondering.
From:
no subject
[His brows raise at the concept of "pirates," and then further once he considers they would probably have been some sort of cookie pirates, which is just fascinating in and of itself. It's hard not to envision Sparkling's life as having been like living inside of a children's book; pure and innocent, full of adventure, but where no true harm could come to the heroes of the story or the citizens of the kingdom... Then again, he doesn't know much. There's a very good chance he could be completely wrong! He just hopes that one day Sparkling would feel comfortable enough to regale him of more tales from his life back home, but not at the expense of dredging up more unpleasant thoughts.]
Oh, think nothing of it, it's just... the truth. I like you, even if I don't know all of you, yet. I just appreciate you giving me the chance to get to.
[He watches the young vampire with a warm smile, hoping the sincerity would read more evidently than the sadness lining his eyes. This has been... a hard conversation for him, but one he likes to think he's navigating well enough. The gratitude vastly outweighs the anxiety now, at least, since it does seem to be going better than before, but... he can't help but worry that one day soon, that disappointment will come and undo all this trust he's been so graciously given. Surely it's only a matter of time.
No-- don't think like that. He can be good. It will all be fine.]
I'm-- no, no, don't worry. Really, I'm glad you said something. I... had been thinking about you for the last few days, so I'm glad to hear from you at all, especially after all that, you know?
From:
no subject
[It may change Vicious' opinion on whether or not Sparkling has ever gotten into any trouble before...but at least that trouble wasn't inherently his own fault. Mostly.
It's not unusual, hearing that he's liked. Sparkling craves those words, relishes in them when they're offered whether they're genuine or paying him lip service. He likes to think he's gotten good at being able to differentiate between the two, but there are some times that he knows that he just doesn't care. Real or not, it's good to be appreciated. It's good to be liked. It's a priority, actually.
Maybe it shouldn't be, and maybe it's not healthy, but that's where Sparkling is in his life. So he knows he's going to be leaving this conversation feeling...not exactly good, but better than he could have. Because even if Vicious could on the off chance just be saying whatever he can to save face with Sparkling, the sad thing is that it works. He's vain and prone to flattery enough for it.
It's a hollow sort of understanding about himself that gnaws at the backs of his senses, but it's something he's learned to ignore.]
Oh, is that so? And here I had no idea I was such a popular guy.
[Okay that's OBVIOUSLY a joke, especially with the way the words almost titter their way out of him, but it's a good sign that the mood has been lifted.]
But I do understand. This whole...business with changes, and everything...it's been a lot. I apologize for not keeping in touch, but I'll try to be better about that in the future. For when...I don't know, I start growing talons or something.