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[altusimperius]

tell him how pretty he is

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[armd]

(Smoothly,) Nope.

(But nice try.) Yseult.

[altusimperius]

[Another pause that feels a bit fraught somehow, like with Flint; he endures it this time.]

You get that I’m not into women, right?

[armd]

... Yes, I know, but if I can think people are objectively hot so can you. Don't be a baby.

[altusimperius]

Don't tell me what to do. [or what not to be, in this case]

The Provost.

[armd]

Ha.

[altusimperius]

Ha?

[armd]

He doesn't like me.

[altusimperius]

Really?

[time to be a hypocrite,] why?

[armd]

He knows what happened between me and Ellie. Guess he picked a side.

[altusimperius]

What did happen between you and Ellie?

[He's trying not to sound too curious, but: dish, bitch]

[armd]

(Pause.)

I don't mind telling you, (this is honest,) but it's fucked up.

[altusimperius]

[Say what one will about Benedict, he can read a room (most of the time). Abby's sincerity inspires some from him in turn, perceptible in how all wryness is gone when he says:]

Go on.

[armd]

(Oh boy.

Okay:) I hunted down and killed somebody she loved. She didn't see... all of it, but she was there when I ended it.

[altusimperius]

...oh.

[Well that's a little more than the standard drama one expects from This Kind Of Woman.]

Shit.

[He's silent for a long moment, then:]

Why?

[armd]

(Tonelessly,) Because he murdered my dad.

(So. There you go.)

[altusimperius]

Oh.

[Another pause.]

There are worse reasons.
...I think.

[armd]

Probably.

(She feels weird now.

Impulsively,) D'you wish you didn't ask.

[altusimperius]

What?

[He hesitates, but:]

No.

[armd]

... Okay.

(She's trusting him, here.)

[altusimperius]

[Her trust isn't misplaced, despite how it may seem.]

It's fine.

People do bad shit to each other sometimes.

[armd]

(Abby laughs. He says it so plainly it sounds insane.)

I don't want people 'taking sides'. (The thought sickens her, really.) But- people keep coming to start shit with me. This doesn't happen to her.

[altusimperius]

You’ve got a toughness about you. They’re probably trying to prove something to themselves by picking a fight.

[armd]

Maybe. (But she can see what he's trying to do.) Thanks.

(... Actually, it's suspicious.) You're being kinda nice to me.

[altusimperius]

[oh no ew]

Uh, and… you dress like a mud farmer.

[armd]

(Much better!) As if that's a real thing.