xavier_institute

Entry tags:

bioshock: jack ryan

[video]

[Well... Jack's turned on the video feed, but he doesn't seem sure of what to say. Or rather, he knows what he wants to say, but not how to say it. It takes a few tries of opening and closing his mouth, but finally he speaks.]

I made my- I made... Jun... sad.

[He's regressed to holding his wrench like a safety blanket, and his voice is very quiet.]

I yelled at her and now she's scared of me and I don't know what to do.

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[Alric takes a moment to answer, himself, more than a little sympathetically. He knows a thing or two about being a little too much for most people. He also hesitates a little, since this seems as though it was perhaps meant to be kept private; and yet, it's clearly not. He does speak up, though, after that brief pause.]

...mm. Please, pardon the intrusion, if this was not meant to be shared... but the simplest answer is to offer an apology--and, if she is not yet ready to receive it, to respect that as patiently as you are able. I might suggest that you give her some time--at least as much time as you feel you might need, yourself, to recover from an upset--and then offer an apology in as calm and unobtrusive a manner as you are able.

I know it can be difficult, making amends after causing someone such distress, but I know no way to rectify such an error, besides patience, respect, and penitence. I certainly wish you both the best in making peace, and please, let me know if there's some way in which I can be of assistance.

[He sighs quietly.]

I made her some cocoa and said sorry. She wouldn't take either of them.

...She's been hiding in her room for a while...

I see. It may merely be a matter of giving her a little more time. A few days, at least. If at that point you are still unable to resolve matters with Miss Jun, let me know, and I will see if I'm able to mediate.

Thanks. But I don't know if I can explain the problem to you... it's really between me and her.

Of course, I certainly don't wish to intrude. However, if I can do anything--with your mutual consent--to help smooth things over, I would be glad to do so. At times, two parties see things so differently, or are... so emotionally bound up in their own perspectives, that an independent third party can make it easier for them to understand on another.

You... talk really strange.

[Says the kid with the constant toddler tone of voice.]

[...Alric pauses at that, deciding it won't help much to try and explain it's a matter of perspective, but smiles a little and tilts his head, yielding that point.]

...I was trained to... speak for a certain sort of audience. And I've found speaking... very carefully often helps to maintain one's self-control, as well.

Oh.

[He pauses.]

I guess I'm used to talking carefully too.

[But more because he can remember getting smacked if he made his creators angry.]

[He smiles a little sheepishly at that.]

Mm. I do apologize if it is... very different from what you're used to. I've... made some efforts to speak in a more...... American... fashion, but I fear it still sounds rather peculiar in my ear.

You just use a lot of big words.

[He scratches his neck awkwardly.]

But it's... fine. My cousin's english, he talks weird too.

[Although he's disregarding for the moment that this cousin does not exist.]

...well. I certainly appreciate your understanding.

No problem... I guess?

[This is awkward.]

You should leave her alone and stop being a weirdo idiot, that's what you should do!!!

I'm not an idiot!! [And he's adamant enough about that to shout at the top of his lungs.

And then he mumbles the rest.]

I just- I can't help it, I need to make her happy, but I... She looks just like my little sisters and I thought they were all dead, there has to be some way- she's got to be one of them, I don't know how but she is...