[TRUTH ROOM] and I wanna hear what you have to say about me

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

[The Oldacon's found a room where one of the kitchens used to be. It's not remarkable in any way other than it's irritating non-kitchenness. There are some comfy chairs, a nice plush carpet, some reddish mood lighting-

-and a door that won't open again.]

Oh, you... come on. [He fights with the door momentarily, getting nowhere at break-neck speeds. He sighs and moves to sit in a chair, looking somberly around. He has no idea what the room wants, but it's not letting him go just yet.]


((OOC: This is a room that forces people to say truths they normally wouldn't divulge. You can only get out after saying one of these truths aloud for someone else to hear. The effects could last for as long or as short a time as you wish. Feel free to either bother Hal or just wander in alone or wotever.))

Comments

[jailbait-guilt.livejournal.com]

[This is not a kitchen, and he still hasn't had his coffee. Sadness.]

[He spots the older Otacon.] Uhm... hi?

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

I wish I could put a sign on the door. No longer a kitchen, just a one-way door. [belatedly,] Hello.

[jailbait-guilt.livejournal.com]

Are we trapped here?

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

That or I'm getting so weak in my old age I can't manage a door. [waves vaguely to the offending, still shut door]

[jailbait-guilt.livejournal.com]

Y-you're not that old! [Sigh. He goes to try the door and nope, it doesn't open.]

Maybe there's something we, ah, must do first?

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

Getting close to it.

That's usually the way of it. Hope it's not a fight to the death. You'd probably win. [smiles a bit to soften his words for Hal]

[jailbait-guilt.livejournal.com]

Not t-that much. [He smiles back.]

I don't think it's a fight to the death, though. The room looks, uhm, far too normal for that.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

Tell that to my back. Word of advice, don't slouch so much. You'll pay for it later.

It'd be a shame. Such a nice room. I'd let you win anyway. [feels his eyes widen slightly, but otherwise doesn't react really]

[jailbait-guilt.livejournal.com]

I-I'll try to remember that. Feel uncomfortable when sitting straight, though.

[You would let him win? That surprises him, in a nice way. Hal doesn't comment on it yet, though. He sighs:] I think it would, ah, be nicer if it had a coffee maker...

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

I always did to. Slouching, hunching, makes you seem smaller. More invisible.

I just wanted some breakfast. Nexus couldn't even let me have that. [belabored sigh]

[jailbait-guilt.livejournal.com]

[Hal nods slowly. It's not like he can deny that.] Can't help it. E-even here, I can't stop being me.

You haven't eaten yet? B-but it's quite late already. [He tilts his head.]

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

I know that feeling. But isn't it a little better, knowing what we do with our lives? Bad things happen, but in the end we set a goal and succeeded, helping change the world.

To misquote someone you probably haven't read yet: Time is an illusion, dinnertime doubly so.

[jailbait-guilt.livejournal.com]

Not at all. Instead of making me feel safer, I just feel like I won't measure up to it.

Y-yeah, but still... [He pushes his glasses.] I-it's like you don't take care of yourself...

[... Okay, the first one may had been a slip up, but /that/? He hadn't intended to say it out loud. And he did realize it was quite hypocritical, coming from him.]

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

But you already did. That's the point. [smiles reassuringly]

Hal, I eat when I'm hungry. Sometimes I make a bagel and sometimes I attempt a chicken dinner. I'm not trying to waste away. I just don't bother trying not to.

[jailbait-guilt.livejournal.com]

The universes are similar, n-not the same.

[He pushes his glasses. That answer had saddened him a bit.] Uhm. I know it's not my place... it's just... [Sigh.] I c-can worry too.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

And in which one did Philanthropy fail, Hal?

Don't worry about it. Sunny does the same thing, for what little good it does. In the end, I'm going to do as I wish. It's selfish, but I think I've earned that much from life.

[jailbait-guilt.livejournal.com]

M-maybe in mine. No way to know 'till I get there.

I don't think I've... uhm, earned the right to care, though. But I like you. It's just... You do the same things dad did.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

I could recount to you the many times some mistake I made almost ruined the organization. It's not easy, but you'll do it.

[That's... interesting. Hal rarely thought about his father anymore, so the parallel surprises him.] Really.

[jailbait-guilt.livejournal.com]

[He just nods, wondering if he overstepped his boundaries.] Yeah... you do. I-I'm sorry.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

Don't be. I'm not upset. I just wasn't expecting that. [hums, contemplative]

Is this the faint smell of retcon... D8

[jailbait-guilt.livejournal.com]

Uhm. M-maybe it was different for you? May-- may I...?

[Sigh.] Dad was always pushing people away, too. Whenever he didn't feel well... [Attempts to smile and fails.] A-and that happened a lot. Always stressed and in pain, between the wheelchair and his job.

AKA the aroma of MGS4

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

I know. I remember. [quiet for a moment] I think I understand him better now. Aging isn't graceful and fatherhood is more taxing than anyone lets on. All the worrying, there's sometimes no room for anything else.

[bringsuffering.livejournal.com]

Hey, Hal.

[He waves hello.]

[jailbait-guilt.livejournal.com]

H-hi! [He waves back.] Did you, uhm, got trapped in here too?

[bringsuffering.livejournal.com]

Indeed I have. No sign of how to get out yet has shown itself either.

[No idea that he already can.]

It looks like we're stuck.