InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Little of life goes as planned"

Sam Winchester (tallerthanthou) wrote in marinanova,
@ 2013-09-16 17:49:00

Entry tags:

:mingle, bak chang, bro strider, buffy summers, charlotte charles, daniel osbourne, dirk strider, elena gilbert, helen magnus, hikaru hitachiin, ianto jones, jack harkness, jake english, james watson, jean-luc picard, jessica hamby, lacus clyne, lelouch vi britannia, lyle dylandy, martha jones, miranda lotto, rebekah mikealson, rogue, sam winchester, sookie stackhouse, sougo okita, terry mcginnis, yuuki kuran, zero kiryuu

[Day 237] Relationship Issues Group Therapy mingle
[The relationships group therapy attendees will all get a message telling them to report to The Winery in Sector 2. Sadly for them the alcohol is locked away, but there is an assortment of food and non-alcoholic beverages along the bar for consumption. Many of the tables have been cleared out and the chairs rearranged into a circle with booths along the edges for more intimate therapeutic discussions.

And don't forget the party favors! The wardens have left some helpful games and activity ideas to get them started. There's a bowl full of folded slips of papers with various questions.]

How many people have you slept with? Do you regret any of them? Why?

How many relationships have you been in? Why do you think that is?

What was your longest relationship? Most serious? Shortest? Most casual?

Why did your last relationship end?

What do you look for in another person?

Are you happy?

Who is your ideal mate?

What was the biggest problem/complication in your previous or current relationship?

What do you need out of a relationship? Sexual experience?

How long have you been single between relationships? Why do you think it was so long/short?

What is the best way to break up with someone?

Do you believe in soul mates? Do you think you have or will meet yours?

Would you rather spend your life with one important person or several acquaintances? Why?

Are there any similarities between the people you've been with? If so, what are they?

Do you have trouble making choices? Give examples.

Do you think with your heart, your head, or your genitalia? Are you satisfied with this behavior?

Do you have trouble relating to people? If so, in what way?

[In addition to the questions there are cards with various prompts. One explains the game, I Never. Another suggests people pair off and roleplay they are in a relationship and then deal with various scenarios like what do to if one partner flirts with someone else or comes home late without calling.]

Who should do the dishes?

When is it appropriate to discuss getting blue bands/having sex?

When should you move in together if ever?

What do you do if you suspect the other is keeping secrets?

What do you say if your partner comes home with a haircut you don't like?

How do you respond if you find your partner crying?

How do you decide how to spend your time together?

Your partner's family doesn't like you. What do you do?

One of you is critically hurt. How does the other respond?

Your friends don't like the person you're with. What do you say to them? What do you say to your partner?

One of you wants sexual relations and the other does not. How do you balance your needs?

How do you communicate your desire for a particular sexual desire to your partner?

It is your partner's birthday. How do you prepare?

At a party your partner leaves you to socialize with others. How does this make you feel and how do you respond?

How do you show your affection?

(OOC: Mingle style. You are not limited to the questions, scenarios, or games listed above. Assume there are more! I recycled a lot of this from last time so if someone was in this group twice they can feel free to notice, but assume there are lots of questions and prompts, so they probably didn't see them all.)

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	trappedinresin 2013-09-16 09:52 pm UTC (link)
	[Wha...] I kind of wonder if the majority of the disapproval would come from your side though... [The hunters in general, she means. She scratches a cheek and smiles weakly.] The majority have been looking for an opportunity you know. Any sort of slip up. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	notamasochist 2013-09-16 10:19 pm UTC (link)
	That's my point. Why should you care what any of them thought? It isn't as if they would have any control or say over any of it. [Don't think he didn't see what you did there--avoiding the other issue.] They'll deal with it. They won't like it but they'll deal with it. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

trappedinresin
2013-09-18 03:57 pm UTC (link)

I don't care what people think.

[She really doesn't. That's not typically what she worries about.]

But if things were in a position at home where we were in relationship, I wonder if they would really allow it. Headmaster's only a puppet head, isn't he? But does Zero really have authority yet either?

[A genuine question. Not condescending in any way, simply honest. She barely has enough authority to stand up to anything the Hunter's Association says. She can run away, sure. But without the backing of her own society she has little ground to stand on. And technically she's supposed to still be under house arrest, of sorts, by Zero's own group.]

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

notamasochist
2013-09-26 12:26 am UTC (link)

You honestly think my side of it would be the worst? I'm a controversial choice for them anyway. There are a lot of members that aren't happy with a vampire being chosen.

[Besides, you're forgetting something. He messes with his headset for a moment, going to his crime list before taking it off and handing it to her.]

You seem to think I'd let them control my choices and not go against their wishes.

[See that word, Yuuki? It says 'treason'.]

I chose to go with you that day, even if I knew it would put the association at risk and not what they wanted.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	trappedinresin 2013-09-26 10:29 pm UTC (link)
	[Treason...? She blinks, glancing back up at him.] Why... did you follow me? Even though I had kept telling you that you should go back. I'd even tried to sneak out without making a scene. [She tilts her head.] What had you been thinking of during that time? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

notamasochist
2013-09-27 01:29 pm UTC (link)

[He frowns, needing time to actually think about it. It wasn't that he hadn't thought about it during the time. He knew she'd try to skip out without him, so he'd been waiting. The issue now is how truthful had he been with himself back then about the real reason.]

I don't know. Stuff like that is sort of difficult to determine in hindsight. Were my reasons just excuses? What part of everything was I lying to myself about?

I had questions for him as well, that wasn't a lie. About myself. About you. About us. About why he did everything he did from the beginning.

Even then, I knew that a large part was just because I knew that emotionally you wouldn't be able to handle it alone. I had suspicions of his intentions for you and wanted to make sure nothing happened.

In the end, a lot had happened leaving me to question who exactly I could trust. Things said to me or done around or to me that I was left feeling like nothing but just a piece everyone was fighting over.

So I guess I chose a team myself where I knew ulterior motives didn't exist, where my existence would make a difference but would never resort to sophistry to obtain.

[Or to put it in more layman's terms.]

You were the only one I could trust and I'd already promised to be the one you could rely on. I didn't want to let you down again.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	trappedinresin 2013-10-08 05:56 pm UTC (link)
	[The open and honest confession is more than she is expecting. Glancing down she smiles, but it's a bitter expression. In the end, even then he had been trying to protect her. He was tired of being used by the people around him. He had trusted her.] . . . And in the end, I turned out to be like the others. [She's so ashamed.] I destroyed Zero's trust. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	notamasochist 2013-10-08 06:31 pm UTC (link)
	[Hand reaching out, Zero grasps her chin gently with his fingers, lifting her gaze back up to his.] I didn't choose wrong. If I really thought my trust was broken, I wouldn't be here like this right now. I made a lot of mistakes too, you know. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	trappedinresin 2013-10-08 06:39 pm UTC (link)
	[Her smile lifts just a little bit.] That just makes us stupid, then? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	notamasochist 2013-10-08 10:38 pm UTC (link)
	Is that what you really think? [The question isn't as lighthearted as it might sound. He's genuninely curious on it.] Am I going to regret all this? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	trappedinresin 2013-10-08 10:42 pm UTC (link)
	[Her lashes flutter open wide.] That isn't... [It's not what she meant.] Are you...second guessing? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

notamasochist
2013-10-08 11:29 pm UTC (link)

[His hand drops from her chin in surprise.] Am I...what is there even to second guess for me?

[Don't you understand? It's never been his choice. Ever.]

You can't force something. What I want hasn't changed and won't change. What we are has always been something you've held in your hands. It's static. The only thing that's changed for me is actually telling you what I want.

I can only make myself a choice. I can't actually make the choice for you. I know the risk. I know that everything I have at this moment could just be gone tomorrow. That's the only choice I've been given in all this.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	trappedinresin 2013-10-13 03:43 pm UTC (link)
	You can't leave that kind of weight just on me, Zero. [Maybe it's recent events at home that sets a spark of fear in her gut, but she shakes her head.] I've already agreed-- Have I given Zero a reason to think you might regret? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

notamasochist
2013-10-15 12:37 pm UTC (link)

[He exhales deeply, not sure he wants to start this conversation.]

Maybe regret isn't the word I'm looking for. Considering the situation we're in and everything that has happened, I know I can't regret even a moment. Like I said, I've made this choice with everything in mind. Especially the risks.

I fear new inmate day much more than I fear losing you to a destablizer accident.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

trappedinresin
2013-10-23 08:02 pm UTC (link)

[A breath, eyes closing. She knows what he's trying to say. He doesn't need to spell it out any more.]

Zero... I wont change my mind.

[The whole conversation aches a little, though.]

I know... I know, in the past I've made a lot of mistakes. You might not trust me completely, and I understand that, but...

[She shakes her head]

I don't have the intention of leaving Zero. I love Kaname. I do. I always will. And I think Zero knows that, too.

[Even though she knows it's wrong. And is sorry for it.]

But I don't forgive him for everything he's done. I want to stop him. But even if I do so outside of my original plan... I'm not under the illusion that things will return to the way they had been before. And I- I don't know if I want them to, either.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

notamasochist
2013-10-23 10:18 pm UTC (link)

[Zero quietly absorbs her response. He knows the words are meant to ease his mind, but they don't. At all. As much as he'd like to believe her. As much as he knows she loves both of them in her own way, he's experienced too much to ever believe her words on this subject.

As much as he knows she genuinely wants to believe her own words. He just can't.

It is intention verses reality.

Her intention is always good. Reality is why this subject is such a sore and taboo topic between them.]

Just--don't make me promises you can't keep. Even now as you speak you're wavering. You've gone from the certain "I won't" to the lesser "I don't intend" and all the way down to "I don't know if I want things to go back to how they were".

[He sighs, raking a hand through his hair.]

What you wish things to be and reality are two totally different things when it comes to that person. I know you want to believe that what you say is how things will happen, but forgiving that person and wanting to be with him--I had just told you how he had been responsible for everything that had happened to me. How he's not a good person--when he appeared in front of us.

I had to physically restrain you from going to be by his side literally seconds after you found out what he did to me.

[The words are honest and incredibly brutal, he knows. But this is something he doesn't want to sugarcoat. That putting himself in this situation is a choice he's made that includes knowing exactly how quickly he can lose it all. No matter how good her intentions are, he might be completely left behind and shattered.

That he was willing to take that risk with no guarantee of anything working out how he'd like.]

Your credibility in that single department is none. There are words and there are actions. This is one of those things that personal experience has a substanial amount of backing against your word.

So unless I'm ever proven otherwise--your words are nothing more than what you wish you will do. Not reality. Don't try to give me something you can't when I'm content with what I have.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

trappedinresin
2013-10-23 11:11 pm UTC (link)

[His words cut like a knife. Maybe it's the truth of his example, but she can't even think up a response to refute his words. Even if she believes completely otherwise. Hurt, her jaw tightens.]

I see.

[All she can manage to get out, to start. Her hands fist at her side, curling into her skirt. Defensive, she glares, obviously upset with the situation. Partially at him, but mostly she's angry with herself.]

If you can't trust me with something like the fact that I wouldn't betray you in that way, then I don't know why you would want to be with me to begin with.

[Moving forward she brushes past him, biting her bottom lip to keep it from trembling. Abruptly she turns back around, rounding on him again, though.]

A-And just so you know I don't know why I did that! I just felt funny all of a sudden. [Which she doesn't entirely understand, either. All at once her mind had just become so full of him and like a magnet she'd felt drawn forward. But she knows better than that now, and what to look for. She's determined not to fall under that kind of spell again.]

I said it wouldn't happen again and I mean it, absolutely! But just believe whatever you want.

[Rounding back on her heel, she scrubs a hand across her eyes and marches toward the door. Right now she really doesn't want to stay here any longer.]

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notamasochist
2013-10-23 11:46 pm UTC (link)

[Honestly, he knows her way too well to be surprised at her reaction. She's more stubborn than him in many ways and unlike someone else--she never has issues showing that side of herself to him. Which he tends to believe is one of the positives about their relationship. Though they both have tended to lie about feelings and emotions in the past, they've never been afraid to show the other their bad sides. It just has the downside of them being more willing to hurt each other more.

She's upset about what he said, Zero knows that's from where the defensiveness is coming. He also knows she wants to believe her words and prove him wrong.Even if he has doubts, she's still adorable as she gets all offended at his take on their relationship.

He's not upset, because the words he told her were his reality and cross to bear. It's up to him to give Yuuki a reason to stay with him that was stronger than her reason to leave. Something he'd never tried before.

But speaking of leaving...Yuuki continued to hightail it toward the door.

Oh. He's not worried about that at all. She'll be back.

And he can't wait to see what sort of face she makes when she realizes the bots won't let her leave. Or how she'll try to avoid him.

Watching the show, Zero waits with his back against the wall for her to get stopped.]

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trappedinresin
2013-10-24 12:03 am UTC (link)

[Make a face she does. At first her eyes widen when the bots intercept her at the door. And then the arguing begins. Because she came, she talked, and clearly that should be more than enough! But apparently not.

She makes an attempt to pass again, but more bots appear. Two of them grab her arms and even pull her back. Furious, her face crinkles as she's released and huffily rights herself.]

I said I get it already!

[Back straight and arms stiff at her sides, she turns back around.

... Only to realize that Zero had a clear view of the entire spectacle. Face flushed, she turns away immediately. Doesn't he have something else he could do now? Like go talk to someone else about how much he can't trust his girlfriend!?

She stalks off toward one of the corners of the room and tries to look busy, organizing some of the papers on a side table.]

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notamasochist
2013-10-24 12:36 am UTC (link)

[She doesn't disappoint him at all, even stooping to argue with the bots for several minutes just to get away from him. Alas, escape does not come for her and he has to say he's grateful for that. Eventually she'd come around, but he wants to follow up on this before she overthinks it more than she already has.

Once she settles down and distracts herself with the papers, he moves back over to her side and sits on the table next to her, feet reaching to the floor as he watches her. He doesn't say anything, just sits there waiting to see what she'll do and trying to guess which one of his three predictions it will be.]

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trappedinresin
2013-10-24 12:52 am UTC (link)

[Back straight, she stiffens when he approaches, hands pausing for a moment. They continue again almost immediately. And for as long as she can last, she does her best to try and ignore his presence. Which is nearly impossible to say the least.

And after just a minute or two more, she finally stops shuffling the papers uselessly around to indignantly face him.]

What are you doing?

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	notamasochist 2013-10-24 01:10 am UTC (link)
	[Nailed the two he thought she'd do. Ignore and Fight. She'd already tried 'Flight' so she knew that was no longer an option. And of course she can't ignore him for too long. That's why he's sitting there, watching her every move. To knock her offkilter and leave her unable to ignore him.] Watching you. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	trappedinresin 2013-10-24 01:17 am UTC (link)
	[URK URK] Well I'm busy now, so go do something else. [Grabbing the papers and flipping through them as though trying to find something important.] (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	notamasochist 2013-10-24 01:22 am UTC (link)
	That's fine. I'll just wait for you to finish. [Try harder, you aren't fooling him.] I like watching you. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

trappedinresin
2013-10-24 01:26 am UTC (link)

[Oh don't go saying things now suddenly like enjoying watching her after a conversation like they just had.

Flustered, she still doesn't look at him.]

I might be a while.

[ . . . How in the world can she even prolong this.]

Anyway, you should be busy talking with everyone else about how difficult your relationship problems are. Go on and tell them about how you can't trust your girlfriend because you're convinced she'll cheat on you.

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notamasochist, 2013-10-24 02:03 am UTC

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trappedinresin, 2013-10-24 07:37 am UTC

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notamasochist, 2013-10-24 03:47 pm UTC

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trappedinresin, 2013-10-24 09:18 pm UTC

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notamasochist, 2013-10-25 12:05 am UTC

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