9th Mistake, an anniversary mistake [video]

[moralperil]

[Mahdi is wearing his hair down, a rarity for him. He's dressed in a loose-fitting shirt, nothing too impressive, sitting in his room and smiling.]

I've learned a lot since I arrived here a year ago. Most of all, I learned that people are more than just a sum of their good and bad deeds, People are much more complicated than I ever understood at first. So I want to thank everyone for being patient with me - or uh, not, as the case may be - because it's been a chance for me to learn. Thanks.

Have you learned anything really surprising while you've been here? I'd like to know.

...On the note of anniversaries, um, I'd like to go out dancing? Somewhere with really upbeat electronic music, that's my favorite. Sort of as a personal celebration for making it this far. Maybe I'll have a dinner or something too, if I can think of something nice to make. Would anyone like to come with me? Dancing, not to dinner. Dinner's still in planning stages. I'll need a buddy, or um, a bodyguard, because I'm so small. It's not good for me to go crowded places on my own. I'd feel more comfortable if I had someone big and tough by my side! Or just tough. Pretty much anyone's tougher than me.

[As if to prove him right, a small black kitten crawls up his arm and begins chewing on his hair.]

Truffle! How many times have I told you, I'm not your mama! You don't need to groom me!

Comments

[moralperil]

[WAIT WHAT.]

Sorry if anything I said made you think that's what I wanted! I'm not the type of person who's going to go after someone doesn't even want to be regular-type friends.

But that can't stop me from caring about you in a platonic way!

[heartsink]

That's pretty hypocritical of you, isn't it?

[moralperil]

I don't think so? Romantic and platonic affection are very different. And I can care about someone from a distance. Just like you can't control your feelings toward others, I can't control mine. But that doesn't mean we HAVE to be friends or get along. Doesn't mean I'll stop caring.

[heartsink]

They're not so different. When feelings are genuine, anyway.

I will be very cruel to you, if you try to keep this up.

[moralperil]

Why

[heartsink]

Why should I be anything but?

[moralperil]

it's mean

[heartsink]

And?

[moralperil]

it's unnecessary

i said i'd leave u alone but that doesn't mean i'll stop caring

[heartsink]

I know what you said.

[moralperil]

so there's no need to be mean

[heartsink]

If I cannot "stop you from caring," then you can not stop me from being cruel in return.

[moralperil]

okaaaaaay i guess if it's a stalemate you want then u got it

[heartsink]

Call it what you want.

[moralperil]

i just did!

[heartsink]

But no matter what optimistic title you give it, it won't change me.

[moralperil]

k