Rooftops

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

He was startled by the shove, eyes widening at him. But he scooted back into place and slowly, silently, he wrapped his arms around Mordecai's shoulders, not saying a word. There was nothing he could say.

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

"... I was released from a stone prison. And with that, so were .. basic human functions. My humanity was returned to me, of course at a cost. But everything comes with a cost, doesn't it Mordecai?" he replied quietly, still trying his best not to provoke the man.

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

"You've lost through gain" He explained calmly, noticing how tired he was, "... you're sleep deprived. You aren't thinking straight, I imagine it's been a long time since you've eaten as well." he pointed out, shaking his head slowly.

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

He didn't answer for a few moments, contemplating his words. When he was in the Void he could pluck them like ripe fruit from the air, formulate sentences that flowed off of his tongue, silken honey dripping from his lips. But now he had to put thought into it. He had to be meticulous in everything he said, so he spoke slower, carefully. Attention undivided. "... You are only pathetic when you allow yourself to be." he spoke calmly.

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

Oliver didn't speak, watching him closely. He was patient. Four thousand years could do that to you. So he would let Mordecai sleep, and when he woke the two would converse.

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

Oliver remained beside him, still not replying as he reached down and ran his hand through Mordecai's hair carefully, trying to soothe him.

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

Oliver hadn't moved much, aside from retrieving a blanket from the store below. He settled it on Mordecai's shoulders, dabbing away old blood with a warm, wet cloth. He liked the different textures of the world around him, the way they mingled with one another. He especially liked warmth, though he figured that was to be expected.

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

Oliver pulled back, gazing over Mordecai's face and slowly nodding, "You can't expect to survive much longer here if you don't allow yourself basic human functions" he pointed out.

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

Oliver thought for a few moments, "... Three weeks and four days... six hours..." he trailed on, furrowing his brows as he contemplated his escape from the void, something he didn't completely remember to the fullest. He could recall a great dispersion, the shattering of rock around him, gasping for breath, and then nothing. Something had to have happened.

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

Oliver thought to himself and slowly nodded, "Learning to live, enjoying what was taken from me, experiencing the world in all of its negatives and positives. The suffering, the pleasure." He explained, sighing quietly.

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

Oliver turned to him and slowly nodded, "Humans are animals of habit, I've come here other times. Visited this location. But the world works in strange ways, dearest Mordecai. There were things I needed to see before I saw you." He explained.

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

He shook his head, "I see a broken man, that doesn't make me sick Mordecai. I see potential. You can pull yourself out of this hole" he replied calmly.

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

Oliver blinked and narrowed his eyes, "Again I have approached you and offered a hand, again I have gone out of my way to cater to you without asking a single thing in return and again you have refused to do anything but wallow in that addiction to self pity. I have no sympathy for those that put themselves into the positions they loathe. You will be no exception" he stood, shaking his head slowly, "One can draw a horse to water but it cannot be forced to drink. Change requires effort. And if you refuse even that, I'm afraid there is no further need for me here" he spoke firmly.

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

He stopped, listening and furrowing his brows, "Happiness is not something you can earn, not something you can steal or con or even buy. It is a state of mind, you choose to be happy. What else do you need? What else would make you feel fulfilled? Another god to approach perhaps? To escape yet another life threatening situation within an inch of your life? Be honest, Mordecai, would a three story estate, a wallet bulging with cash and access to everything you've ever wanted really make you happy?" he demanded.

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

"Have you learned nothing Mordecai? There is no "deserving" in this life. Material value is nothing to the void and who you chose to be in this life is meaningless when you are face to face with the abyss itself. The only thing that has any value in this world is the honesty within yourself - and frankly it's quite clear that you've been lying. Dishonesty gets you nowhere. Deny yourself an identity and you can never build upon it, for your identity is the very foundation you settle upon, you are hanging by a very loose thread." He scrunched up his nose, clasping his hands together behind his back.

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

Oliver shook his head, sighing and pacing back and forth as he had back then when he was nothing but an apparition of the void, "That is your problem Mordecai. You build your identity based on the way that others view you. Your values are arranged around the validation of those around you. I am Oliver. I am the boy that survived. And that, in essence, is who you are. You are a survivor, Mordecai"

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

"You are incorrigible" he huffed, staring away. Being human waa absolutely frustrating. "Why do you require people to care?" he demanded.

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

Oliver's expression softened and he looked away ashamed that he'd blown up. He was still getting assimilated into society, he was still struggling to understand his hormones and emotions. He was afraid that his once unbiased position had been muddied with self righteousness but he didn't vocalize that. He figured saying sorry would just encourage Mordecai to be more self pitying than before. So he sat back down beside him and carefully toyed with his slightly disheveled hair, smoothing it back into place and bothering the rings between his fingers, "... There are storms you need to weather on your own before you're ready to have a companion of any sort. What you yearn for cannot be received if you're impatient, unprepared. How are you to respect someone else, if you can hardly respect yourself?" he asked, shaking his head slowly.

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

Oliver thought for a moment, eventually nodding in agreement, "... Yes. I concur." he replied, standing and gently dusting himself off. he sure did keep himself spotless.

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

Oliver shook his head, though he know many places within Serkonos they they could visit. He knew all of them actually. But he'd only been to few. He'd never really experienced much of it, something he was looking to change as soon as possible. "Take me... somewhere nice" he replied, lingering on the first words.

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

<< I can make a cafe real quick? if you want I can make Mordecai's residence and they could just eat there, or you can make it and add pics?

[The Outsider (Whales or Whatever), Did nothing wrong]

<< ah okay that's chill!