lili

[whitewalls]

I WILL PUT A MEME HERE LATER

Comments

[coastal]

[the bad thing is that lili appreciates the sincerity]

I just wanted to be sure...

... thank you, then.

[sometimes she remembers to be polite]

[whitewalls]

[ she smiles

... ]

Could you teach me? When you get more practice in?

[coastal]

[ . . . oh?

lili pauses at that]

You want to learn...? [ . . . ] Sure, I can do that.

You seem like the type of person who would be good at it.

[whitewalls]

I'm not sure about that, but... it looks fun.

[coastal]

... I guess it's not bad, every now and then.

It's something that ladies of nobility are expected to be able to do. This, dance, flower arrangement...

[and naminé seems very much like a gentle and well-behaved young lady, who just so happens to have a way of life that lili agrees with?

so that's what she means that she thinks naminé would be good at it]

[whitewalls]

I see...

Well, if you're doing it for fun instead of because someone told you to, it's better, right?

[coastal]

... Yeah.

I think that goes for everything, doesn't it?

[whitewalls]

Hm... most things, maybe.

[coastal]

What doesn't count?

[whitewalls]

Probably a few things? There are a lot that I was forced to do, but I don't think I'd enjoy it if I tried it on my own.

[coastal]

Eh? Like - things with memories...?

[whitewalls]

Hm... I guess that's the main thing, yes.

[ she's Tired ]

[coastal]

I can't believe there are other things too.

What the hell have you been through?

[this coming from lili is kind of funny]

[whitewalls]

[ lili,,, ]

It's not that bad. It's not like anyone can hurt me where I was before I came here, so...

[coastal]

... but just because you're not being hurt doesn't mean that it's not awful, right?

[she'll just idly strum at the strings of the koto]

At least - that's what I thought, whenever Father locked me in my room.

[whitewalls]

Back in your tribe?

[ ... she did say that she wasn't allowed to leave. ]

[coastal]

Yes.

[and she considers leaving it at that but... she'll play another chord]

Ladies are expected to learn the arts... but I thought it was all dull and stupid, when I heard about the ways that my people were suffering. There'd been a drug crisis... so I would leave the castle and escape to try to learn more, and actually try to get things done.

Father would always catch me, and lock me up to try to get me to - cool my head.

He said it was for my own safety... but I thought that being safe is useless, if you're not able to help anyone when you have the power to do so.

[whitewalls]

... you were doing the right thing.

Who would he even rule over, if all of your people got hurt?

[ like ???

she frowns. ]

You're brave, for trying to make a difference when you didn't know how.

[coastal]

[ . . . . ]

It's normally the policy of the Water Tribe to wait and see, to assess, and then to take action if we must. I never agreed with it - but my father always believed in that.

[she lets her fingers press against the strings of the koto - they're calloused now, from all the fighting she's practiced]

Don't get it wrong or anything... My reckless actions have put the people I love in danger, and I've nearly been killed.

I don't want to be called brave... when I'm only just barely managing to help anyone.

[whitewalls]

... I think a lot of people here think the same way. Everyone thinks they should be doing more, and aren't working as hard as everyone else. But that can't be true if we're all saying it, right?

[ ... ]

You're still working hard. Even if it's not to your specific standards, that doesn't change that you're doing something.

[coastal]

... I'm just not interested in growing complacent, I suppose.

[she doesn't want to be like her father, someone who accepts it as soon as it's 'good enough']

[whitewalls]

... no, that's understandable.

That's not a good way to be.

[coastal]

... did I say something wrong?

[naminé's reaction got so subdued, lili's a little surprised]

[whitewalls]

[ she shakes her head ]

No, you didn't.

[coastal]

If you're sure.

But if something bothers you, you ought to speak up.