SPRING CATCHALL

[pyronic]

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[framestory]

[ Ellis nods to that easily. He has no pride about being called a coward. In fact, he knows he is one, so it doesn't bother him. ]

It's really strange to be treated as if we're equals.

[pyronic]

[The thick plottens...?]

( You've got serious issues. )

Do you think that lowly of yourself?

[framestory]

[ Seeing Diluc's thought bubble makes him smile a little. The goddess isn't done with Ellis yet regarding secrets, so he'll tell Diluc too. ]

You're real, after all. I'm not. I'm just a character from a story.

[ ...

Surprisingly, he doesn't feel as bad about it this time. He went into total meltdown in front of Gaku when he did the first time. ]

[pyronic]

[Is it strange that Diluc doesn't doubt him? His speech bubble is oddly empty, too many thoughts churning in his head to come up with one cohesive answer, but he's settled on one before too long. It's less an answer and more a demand, really.]

Explain.

[framestory]

[ Ellis just tilts his head as if to say, "why should I?". ]

[pyronic]

You're the one who brought it up.

( Asshole. )

[framestory]

[ Indeed he did. Ellis doesn't strive to be a greater person when stuck in this sort of mindset like he's supposed to be guarded. ]

Since you're so sweet, I'll tell you.

I'm just a character from a story within a frame story. An extra. A very minor character. My existence has little meaning--so little meaning that I got exiled from the story that I was supposed to be in before I got to perform my role in the story.

A character that is forgotten by the story is worth nothing.

[pyronic]

...I see. And who determined your role in this "story," Ellis?

[framestory]

My maker and the creator of the story.

[ Yeah, they're two different people. Imagine that. ]

I hope you don't feel bad for me. I can't change what I am. Gaku also tried to convince me otherwise that I can do certain things, but I can't. I'm incapable.

[pyronic]

Me? Feel bad for you?

[Please. The only person he feels bad for is the fool fighting hard to change Ellis' mind and snap him out of the delusion that he's nothing more than an afterthought in someone else's story.

Then again, that's exactly the kind of person someone like Ellis needs: a stubborn ass who refuses to give up even when he long since has. That particular narrative is all too familiar to Diluc, and so the story continues just as it should, one stubborn fool refusing to let the coward give in.]

Hardly. But if you want my honest opinion, I find it shameful that you've given up as easily as you have. No one's life is entirely in their own hands, but when you refuse to so much as try and carve your own path, you're only proving your maker and creator right. Like a coward, you're giving in.

[framestory]

That's right. I'm a coward. I don't like them, but I don't really care what they think.

[ Is Diluc wrong? Ellis was always a coward ever since he was created. That's why he was paired with crazy survival instincts to keep himself alive. The same thoughts pop up when he talked about this with Gaku though, "it must be nice to be a real person, to have choices like that". Ellis is aware that "you're a real person and I'm not" doesn't mean anything to most people. ]

It must be nice to have ambition and drive even if it's destructive.

[pyronic]

[He's allowing Ellis to deflect because what he's saying only affirms Diluc's stance. If he pities Ellis at all, it's only the part of him that's so deeply pathetic as to settle for taking the coward's way out.]

You'd find it ideal, wouldn't you? It doesn't take eyes to see where I'm headed, but do you envy me regardless? My story can only end one way, but I've chosen my ending. Nothing you say can convince me that you're any different no matter what leaps you go to lie to yourself.

[framestory]

[ If nothing else will convince Diluc, that is fine. Ellis won't bother trying to defend himself, because all of what he said was true and he feels that Diluc didn't understand anything he said at all. It reminds him of when he and Gaku argued about it. It was basically the same thing. This should really be the norm, huh.

He sits there for a moment, blankly looking down at the notepad. Ellis could be using this time to brush his dog instead and just quietly sighs. He brought the apple smoothie, so he should be done. Should he just leave? He thinks Diluc would probably like that.

So he gets up. ]

[pyronic]

[No, he wouldn't like that at all. This is exactly what Diluc doesn't want, actually, taking Ellis gently by the wrist when he stands up to leave.

He can break his hold if he wants, tentative as it is, but he would rather Ellis stay. In his own way, Ellis has chosen his path. Stubborn as Diluc is, it isn't his place to dissuade him. Still...]

...You came here to spend time with me, didn't you? So stay. We don't have to discuss anything in particular, but you shouldn't go home feeling as you are.

[He knows you're upset, Ellis. There's no sense in going back to stew in your sorrows.]

[framestory]

[ He can just stabilize himself. It's fine! Mental health check? Just stabilize yourself and it's all good.

So that's what he does. He doesn't seem upset in any way and he doesn't shake off Diluc's hold on him. He just stands there for a moment until flipping his notepad to a previous page where it says: ]

You still care about me?

[ That sure means he's written it to someone else before. ]

[pyronic]

[Yikes. Yikes?? Yikes. Diluc drops his hold on Ellis' wrist rather quickly.]

There. Nothing's stopping you from writing now.

[Don't give him someone else's answer, Ellis. He won't accept it.]

[framestory]

[ Ellis looks confused. Look, he can't write while he's standing and one of his wrists are held, so he needs to get a previous page to get his point across!!!

He already wrote this! They're just words!! ]

[pyronic]

( I don't want the words you've written for someone else. Try again. )

[Your wrist is free now, Ellis! Figure it out!!]

[framestory]

[ But he has to write it again!! Ugh, fine. Ellis flips the page to a new one and writes, shoving the notepad near Diluc's face. Is he happy now?! ]

Are you the type who only scolds people you care about?

[pyronic]

( Why did I even bother? You're a pain in the ass. )

[That's a yes. If Diluc didn't care, he'd have ushered Ellis out the door by now. How annoying... but he isn't giving up, only proving Ellis' point.]

If I didn't think you were worth the trouble, I wouldn't have stopped you. You can put two and two together, can't you?

[framestory]

Saying "I care about you" is only four words long.

[ aka why do you talk so much to justify your actions, Diluc. Embarrassing. ]

[pyronic]

Is that what you want me to say? That I care about you?

[Diluc huffs. Scoffs, really.]

Those are big words coming from you. "Nothing" is three less.

[Hypocrite!!]

[framestory]

"You're worth the trouble" is also four words. You talk so much. It's kind of endearing.

[ He's still not allowed to lie so lmfao ]

[pyronic]

And you're far more unpleasant than I originally thought, but that's fine. So long as you remain honest, I can forgive your nasty tongue.

[Hear that, Ellis? Diluc has expectations of you, and now that he knows your true nature, you'd better not expect him to let you off the hook easy.]

( It should be obvious that I care. Stop saying such pointless things. )

[framestory]

[ Oh. Ellis is actually surprised that he thought he interpreted things wrong for a bit, but it really just seems like Diluc.

Anyway. ]

I'm trying to say that you should be more up front about what you're feeling in simple terms. People can misunderstand.

[ Like maybe Kaeya?? ]