006 ✞ [video]✞ Encrypted from Damian times a million

[unetrustworthy]

(A million, of course, meaning the highest she currently knew how to code, which was a solid 60%. Thus, he theoretically could still hack it, should he choose to do so)


[It had been more than a week, and Midii was still at a complete loss. So much so, she was finally desperate enough to go to the Network for help. Something that, under most any other circumstance, she would never do. Which spoke volumes about the situation as a whole. And how she felt about it.]

[After more than a full ten seconds of silence wondering how to phrase her problem, before she gave up and just blurted out the first question that came to mind:]

How do you get someone to admit he's being a jerk?

Comments

video:

[grigio]

Unfortunately, some people can't admit that kind of thing. No matter what we do.

video:

[unetrustworthy]

[Whether or not Julie can actually see the deadpan expression on her face, Midii's tone equally betrays her frustration at this answer.]

There must be something. He was never like this before. [Well...not to her, specifically.]

Re: video:

[grigio]

[She heard it. That's what matters.]

Sit them down and try being frank with them and if that doesn't work, leave them alone for a while. Give them time to consider what you said.

video;

[iguanasolution]

You tell them.

[The answer is kind of mechanical and comes from Frank's wrist instead of his mouth, but he's honestly glad to be able to communicate anymore. He'll take it.]

video;

[unetrustworthy]

[It takes her a moment to adjust to the mechanical voice. Even though she had already seen it once prior. Around the same time he started pelting her with snowballs.]

[But once she does, her eyes immediately look back up at him.]

I already did.

video;

[iguanasolution]

[He isn't really sure why he's answering, it's not like he's an expert on the matter. Leo has only recently started not being a full time jerk towards Frank, and the son of the war isn't even sure why.]

What did he say?

video;

[asoothingvoice]

[This is a boy problem, isn't it.]

The best thing to do is to tell him how and why he's being a jerk, even if he won't admit to it. Otherwise they just won't listen at all.

[Boys have rocks for heads sometimes, so it isn't necessarily going to work.]

Re: video;

[unetrustworthy]

[Actually, it's a Damian thing. So maybe]

I already did. [She might be a bit on the introverted side, but she wasn't shy when it came to telling people the truth.] Either he didn't understand what I was saying...or he just didn't care.

video

[violetsedanchair]

If they are being particularly obstinate... Have you tried hypnosis?

video

[unetrustworthy]

[It was fairly obvious by the way her brows furrowed and her lips pressed together in a thin line that the suggestion wasn't something she was particularly pleased with.]

I don't believe in hypnosis.

And even if I did...that would be like tricking him into doing something he doesn't want to do. It wouldn't count.

Re: video

[violetsedanchair]

Ah, but people under hypnosis can't do what they don't want to do. That whole thing where someone innocent is hypnotized into murder by some outlandish Svengali, that can't happen.

He has to believe himself to be a jerk for this to work, of course. I think it's axiomatic here. That he may not be willing to admit it is natural, but if he does realize his 'jerkiness', if you will, then hypnosis would allow him to process it and come to understand it more consciously.

[ video ]

[jondrette]

Would that I knew, p'tite! [She threw her head back and laughed.] Men will not admit it. They believe it is their nature.

[ video ]

[unetrustworthy]

[Big sis, halp. She doesn't understand.]

But he was so kind to me before. I mean, I thought we were...

['friends']

[Not a word she used lightly. And not a word she could apparently use right then.]

I don't understand what changed.

Re: [ video ]

[jondrette]

[Sweetie, Eponine is the last person to ask for advice on this sort of thing. She's a certified stalker. And tried to get Marius killed. Don't ask.

Too late.]

Boys are fickle. That is why they are boys. Tell me! When did things change? What happened?

video;

[unconchonable]

Perhaps he's a jerk because someone is giwin' him reason to be.

[It isn't that Eridan knows the situation, clearly he doesn't, but you know. Devil's advocate and such.]

video;

[unetrustworthy]

[Definitely not the answer she was looking for.]

Why would you say something like that?

video;

[unconchonable]

[Eridan typically isn't one to give answers anyone is looking for. Part of his charm, really.]

Well, I ain't rulin' out the possibility that this guy you're gossipin' about don't got the capabilities a bein' a jerk on his own, but it could wery well be that you or someone else is aidin' in his shitty attitude.

video;

[mccallmemaybe]

I wish I knew how. Some people are too stubborn to admit it.

video;

[unetrustworthy]

[Another new face, though one she recognized from seeing him occasionally over the Network.]

[Well...she had opened herself up to strangers replying, hadn't she? At least he seemed like he was trying to help, not mock her like the last person.]

Stubborn...that describes him pretty well.

Except I don't think he even knows how big of a jerk he is. He just thinks he's always right.

video;

[mccallmemaybe]

I wish there was a way you could trade places with someone, just for a little while. Sometimes I think it's easier to see how stupid you've been acting when you see it from someone else's perspective.

video;

[shotofsherry]

They're usually too stupid and thick-headed to realize they are in the first place.

video;

[unetrustworthy]

He's not stupid. But he is stubborn. And he wouldn't listen to me...which was so strange, because he listened before.

[wherethestoryis]

Depends how he's being a jerk, and what kind of person he is. Sounds like a cop-out, but it's true.

I've handled all kinds of men. If you walk me through it, maybe we can come up with a battle plan.

[Lois has made a life handling difficult men. Her voice of experience? Totally justified.

[unetrustworthy]

He was never like this before. Not to me.

[Although Midii was strongly beginning to suspect she had been slightly delusional about his nature, the truth of the matter was, she somehow still wanted things to go back to the way they were. Even knowing what she knew now.]

It was my birthday. I'd just left my room, and Damian was there. I don't know why--he lives in Fire, too, so it might have been a coincidence. We were talking. Then...he called me by my last name, which was strange, because he'd always called me 'Midii' before.

I told him I didn't really like it, and that I wanted him to call me Midii, like always. I told him it was important to me. But he either ignored me, or simply didn't care. We argued. Badly.

I haven't talked to him since then.

[A petty argument, but for the twelve-year-old, it meant something to her. Considering the world and mindset she grew up with.]

[wherethestoryis]

[Lois almost says something, when something distracts her.]

Damian Wayne?

[If it weren't for secret identities at risk, Lois might well have just told her, 'Even if you tell him he's being a jerk and even if he knows it and even if he feels bad about it, there's a better than even chance he'll just go right on doing whatever it is. Just give up now.'

Except secret identities, and it's not really fair to Damian (or any of the Bats, really), so she doesn't.]

...Right. And you have no idea why this happened?

[Bats usually have reasons--sometimes semi-psychotic, emotionally stunted reasons, but they are there nonetheless. For Damian, especially.]