ninth.

[eaglet]

[Connor sounds slightly out of breath when he dictates into the journal, mostly because it's so cold outside but also because he's been working pretty hard out there.]

Before I came to this world, I had left my village for six months. I have now been in this place for nine. There are still things I do not understand about both this world and the world outside my village, but I am learning, I think. And there is much to learn.

I have been interested in exploring the Dead Zone again. The god of this place has the power to move us and to transform our surroundings, but I would like to explore on my own terms. There is much to learn here amongst each other, but I feel as though there is even more to learn out there.

[Connor can be found on the castle lawn, packing a long wall of snow about a foot tall, taking care to carve a furrow down the middle. He has acquired some gloves that don't really match the rest of his outfit -- they have a reflective strip down the side and are also neon pink.]

Comments

[molotov]

[Molotov spins to abruptly shove at his shoulder when he follows her. This does approximately nothing, since he's already bigger than she is, but it's the message that matters.]

You do not want to be my friend? Fine, like I care. Arrogance means nothing, call me that all you want. Your people are not being converted by atheists, and they are choosing to follow another false god. What would change in your world if you gave up believing in magical sky people and accepted responsibility for your own actions? Like I said, child, believe whatever you want, but that does not make it right.

And don't follow me.

[eaglet]

[Connor frowns at the shove, stumbling backwards a step, but he frowns even more when she says she doesn't even care about being friends with him. Then why did she even bother being nice to him in the first place?

He's quiet, looking down at her, then spreads both hands down at his sides, palms forward. It's just proving all his insecurities and fears right; there's no one here who understands him and no one who bothers to try. He's alone.]

If I mean so little to you.

[molotov]

[Molotov goes quiet too. She has such a nasty habit of saying things she doesn't really mean when she's agitated, and this is one that she immediately regrets, if only because it's so obvious how much it hurt him.]

Connor, no, I... I did not mean it like that. You said you didn't want to be my friend. I think of you like my... my friend, you know.

[Isn't it obvious? Molotov spent a week caring for him like he was her own son, while Ezio galavanted around Stepford with little regard to his fake family.]

We cannot agree on everything. And... and I know I can be harsh. But you cannot get so angry all the time, you know.

[eaglet]

[He's still frowning, but now he's just standing there a little awkwardly, too. He always feels more fluid when he's angry about something, when he can gesture and move -- now his hands hang limply at his sides and he doesn't know what to do with them.]

And you as well. Harshness does not engender friendship, Molotov.

[If you don't have anything nice to say....!!! In other words.]

[molotov]

[She understands the feeling -- case in point, her arms are now awkwardly crossed over her chest as she gives a shrug.]

Everyone has things to work on.

[eaglet]

[Then work harder, is what he wants to say, but he should probably also practice what he preaches.]

I suppose so.

[molotov]

[Who's to say she isn't! Molotov just has a tiny little fuse, it's a lifelong problem that she's only ever had to deal with in Paradisa. Shut up, little baby.]

So... we are okay?

[eaglet]

[Connor looks at her for a long moment, then inclines his head.]

I am not angry, but you must not be so flippant about the beliefs of others.

[molotov]

And you must stop blowing up over every little thing.

[eaglet]

[Frowns...]

I do not.

[molotov]

You do. You get angry so easily.

[eaglet]

That is because there is so much to be angry about.

[molotov]

Not as much as you think, although you will learn this when you get older. And besides, your anger will do nothing here, except maybe give you heart palpitations.

[eaglet]

There is much here to be angry about. The ignorance of other people, the passivity of our situation.

[molotov]

Connor, the people here are not passive. Do you know how many have come before you, how hard they tried to break the spell and get out? It is not so simple as "try", you know.

[eaglet]

[He shrugs.] I know this. But there is a difference between acceptance and passivity.

[molotov]

And what more, in your opinion, should we be doing?

[eaglet]

Work to understand why the -- castle is the way it is.

[molotov]

There is only so much of a mystery that you can discover each day.

[eaglet]

[He also may be basing this assumption on Ezio, whom he only sees like... carousing... constantly...]

I do not see many people looking for discoveries at all.

[molotov]

Do you ever look through the journals? Of course people will not find huge revelations every day, but people question and look, and many things have already been discovered. Plus, people go on those expeditions when the weather is better, so that is something too.

[eaglet]

[He shrugs.] I am only saying I am not satisfied.

[molotov]

And that is why I asked what you think we should be doing.

[eaglet]

I do not know.

[He is like a baby, give him a break!!!!]

[molotov]

Well, I just thought you might have some idea. There is no right or wrong, it is just your ideas.