[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

[be-safe-hal.livejournal.com]

Do you want me to answer that or should I just growl? I know.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

[nods solemnly and looks uncharacteristically fragile. his gaze drops and he says nothing, just tracing the faint wrinkles in his hands]

[be-safe-hal.livejournal.com]

... so what do you want to ask? Or was asking about Mom's failure as a parent it?

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

Don't blame her. [leans his head back against the sofa back, eyes shut tiredly] Forget I said anything.

[be-safe-hal.livejournal.com]

I can't blame you, Hal.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

[quietly] And we both know why.

Don't blame Julie, Emma. Please.

[be-safe-hal.livejournal.com]

I'm older now, Hal. I've seen you happy with Snake. I've gotten to reconnect with you. It's still there, that crush I had when I was six. But it's usually overshadowed by the love I have for you as a sister.

Hal, here's the list I gave the teenage you. One, she was much older than you. Two, you were a minor then. Three, she was an authority figure. Four, the pool thing. Hal... Mom knew better. You didn't.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

[grits his teeth] Do you honestly think I didn't know it was wrong? I didn't realize exactly what I was doing? I was naive, but no one is that naive.

[be-safe-hal.livejournal.com]

You were also alone. And young. And full of youthful stupidity. Mom wasn't.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

[insistent, but still looking away. even now, some things were still painful. he'd had dreams like this, the visage of Emma yelling at him for what he'd done to their family. this hurt nearly as much.] The blame's not just hers.

[be-safe-hal.livejournal.com]

Hal, why are you so insistent on being guilty? [She places a hand on his shoulder] I don't blame you. At all. The days that I did are gone. Right now... I just want to be your sister. Help you out.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

Because I was there. I know what I did. And I couldn't even tell you I was sorry before you died because I was too much of a coward. [sighs] I've made a lot of mistakes in my life. Ruining your life was one of the bigger ones to me.

[be-safe-hal.livejournal.com]

And I helped ruin my own life. I stayed with Mom. I didn't try to get in touch with you. I held onto your memory like that. It's not your fault.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

You were also just a child. [rubs his face, so tired...] We could argue in circles about this for hours. The Hal in your timeline, doesn't he still have guilt over what happened?

[be-safe-hal.livejournal.com]

... he does. He never told me about Mom.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

If he has guilt and you two are actually on good terms, you're chances of convincing an old bastard version of your brother? Not great.

[be-safe-hal.livejournal.com]

I'm going to try, Hal.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

[siiiiighs] Emma, I'm old and I've lost almost everyone I care about. Changing this one thing isn't worth the effort.

[be-safe-hal.livejournal.com]

That doesn't mean you can't gain anything.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

And what exactly would I be gaining? [stares sharply at Emma]

[be-safe-hal.livejournal.com]

Peace of mind.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

I don't want it. [covers his eyes with one hand, willing himself to shut up] My very not peaceful mind is all I really have.

[be-safe-hal.livejournal.com]

... [She comes over, giving him a hug]

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

[flinches at the contact, not fond of being touched as everyone but Sunny usually learned, but otherwise doesn't respond]

[be-safe-hal.livejournal.com]

You deserve some peace.