flatteries | overflow post for labyrinthum

[He doesn't, but that's not always a strength. He could probably use more thinking before he speaks, sometimes.]

Of course. I see someone that's worth my respect.

Don't you?

[ There's another big pause between when Fang Duobing sends his message and Inigo's reply arrives. ]

No.

I don't think there is anything to be seen in me at all.

[ Any other answer would just be an act. ]

[He doesn't really like the long pauses or the answers he's getting back. How could there be nothing to see in him? How could no one else see the things that he does? That Inigo is a good person. That he's kind and loyal and brave. Surely, he's the sort of person who would go far in the world-- The kind of mettle he's shown, the determination to make the future better... Those are difficult things to find.]

Well, I can tell you that you're wrong.

I just don't understand why you don't see it yourself. Is it because of what those other people have said?

I don't know.

[ It sounds avoidant, though it's more Inigo genuinely not knowing. That's why this entire conversation is so hard for him. He knows some answers, but just doesn't want to talk about them. And for other questions-- Well, he doesn't know the answer at all.

The next part feels a little pathetic to type, but Inigo is pretty sure Fang Duobing of all people won't leave him alone until he elaborates, or otherwise the other might assume he's just being avoidant, so.. ]

I have just never felt any other way.

Is that so strange?

It's not strange, if that's how you feel about it. But I do think it doesn't do the justice you deserve.

[Inigo has only ever been kind to him. Why he won't show that same kindness to himself is as much as mystery to him as, well... Any time Li Lianhua offers advice that he's never once taken. How can it be so easy to treat others sensibly but themselves with such strictness and disdain?]

I take back what I said before. I won't bully you.

I still think you have more worth than you can see, but I'll find some other way to show that to you.

[ ... ]

You don't have to do that. You know that, right?

[ Judging by those latter words, it's not a total rejection on Inigo's end. There are definitely circumstances under which he would have totally shut this down, but he's feeling emotionally vulnerable enough in this moment to be completely unable to pull up some front right now.

So, it's just.. ]

I don't want you to feel obligated. I will be fine either way.

Tch, what obligation? If I thought of it as a burden, I wouldn't have offered.

Besides, friends should share both their joys and their troubles with one another. I won't let you battle with this alone. Just trust me, alright?

[ Should friends share their troubles? That sounds fake, Fang Duobing. Inigo is pretty sure that's not how it works. Maybe that's why his fingers hover over the device, unsure of how to reply for a moment.

Maybe he should start with the obvious. With the truth. ]

I trust you.

[ You have no idea just how much, Fang Duobing. He means that so much. ]

It's just that I am not used to this. It makes this feel like it isn't right. [ Not that it's a total rejection of what the other is saying.

It's just Inigo trying to explain his ~~trauma~~ messy, messy feelings.. Because he cares for Fang Duobing. Because the other is so nice. Inigo is making a real effort, because he cares too. ]

Would I ask you to do something that wasn't right?

[Inigo says he trusts him, so he hopes the answer to that is No. But he understands the ways that doubt can creep in, even when you don't want it to.]

I don't think so.

[ There's a slight delay to the answer, but it's not too long.

There is - after all - a difference to something not feeling right and his trust in Fang Duobing telling him it. Or so Inigo thinks, after all. ]

Sorry if it seemed like I doubted you.

It didn't. You sound more like you doubt yourself.

All I mean to say is that I won't steer you wrong. If you can't trust in yourself, then trust in me.

overflow post for labyrinthum

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