aita?

[insertusername]

am i the asshole?

Life isn’t always black and white. Sometimes it’s hard to tell who’s really at fault, and no one wants to believe they’re the bad guy. Sometimes you need an outside opinion. Or several.

Tell your side of the story and crowdsource an honest answer to the age old question; Am I The Asshole?

Top Level

with your character explaining a situation where they might have been the asshole.

Comment

with your hot takes. Anon or IC.

Comments

[dreamofrain]

What I want is for you to feel like you can tell me when you're hurt! When you're in pain, physical or mental or any sort!

[ 6O didn't mean to shout, but it just... it just came out, a reflex at Lys' own anger, born from the new parts of her that their bonding together had formed, new pieces of her that seemed to form from the ether of her emotional matrix, processes that were new and... a little scary. ]

I want you to be able to trust me to not turn away when you need me... To tell me what weighs on your heart and mind, instead of just pretending you're always okay...

[pawper]

Why? So you can feel dependable?

[In a way, the shouting is a relief. Lys has always tried to encourage 6O to express what she feels, to say what she wanted to say no matter how uncomfortable it might be. Maybe it’s not so ironic that, if only in the here and now, 6O has taken that encouragement to heart better than Lys ever had.]

I’m not some plant you can weed and prune until I’m perfect. You...I tell you so many things, 6O. I tell you more than I’ve told anyone else, so can’t you just...can’t you just sit with me, be with me, without needing me to talk? Can’t you?

[The anger is slipping away despite her best efforts, sliding out of her grasp like a greasy knotted rope a half-length at a time with each breath that jerks into her. Exhausted despair fills the space left behind, certain that 6O won't listen. Because no one ever listened, especially not when it got in the way of something they wanted.]

[dreamofrain]

[ Honestly that... hurt. It felt like Lys cut to the quick, without having even really meant to. 6O draws into herself, settling down and hugging her knees to her chest and just... saying nothing. She didn't want to press the argument any further, as Lys was obviously really upset. And she felt like anything else would only make things worse.

What's more she... she saw what Lys was getting at. It was difficult for her to consolidate with what ran core to her, with her programming through YoRHa, but... She felt like she understood. Maybe...

But still, she said nothing, for fear that she didn't. ]

[pawper]

[The silence stings more than the shouting, stretching out and out and out. Lys stares resolutely at the far wall, not turning around, refusing to, clinging to the dregs of her anger and righteous offense—and then those feelings were gone, burning themselves out like an overloaded electrical wire. Despair fills the emptiness left behind and then flows out again. What was the point? This was exactly why she shouldn’t be honest.

Sighing, Lys rolls over and reaches out to gently touch 6O’s elbow.]

...sorry. I'm sorry, 6O. I shouldn’t have said that.

[dreamofrain]

I... shouldn't have pushed so firmly, either... [ 6O sighed, shifting her arm so she could reach for Lys' hand. Just that, only that... for now. It was all she felt she could manage, in the state they were both in. ]

I think... I think I understand where you're coming from, in all of this... [ She really hoped she did. ]

More than anything... I just want you to feel comfortable, safe, and happy with me. And that... shouldn't need you to disclose everything, all the time. I need to have faith that you'll tell me what I need to know, when I need to know it...

[ She took in a deep breath, the exhale leaving through a shiver. ]

I love you, Lys... I don't need you to be perfect, because I love you, no matter what... I need you to have faith in that, too.

[pawper]

[Now it's Lys' turn to not push, gently taking 6O's hand but careful not to squeeze it, keeping their fingers unlaced, letting the smaller girl decide how much she wanted to be touched. Emotionally drained, there's nothing left to do but allow intuition to guide her.]

...I'm trying, 6O. For you. I'm trying really hard. And I think...I can try sharing a little more, without you needing to ask me.

[She doesn't want to. She doesn't want to. The most frightened and cowardly part of herself cringed away from the very thought, the pain and humiliation it could open herself up to. But for 6O, she'll try.]

But it's not a weed you can just pull out of me. Okay? I have to be ready to say it...whatever it is. [A soft sigh that's not quite a surrender.] But I'll say it eventually. Because I love you, and I want you to be comfortable and safe and happy with me, too.